Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2014 (Please read first post for FAQs!)

[Sue M]

Yep...that is exactly what I said to the teacher when we met with her at parent teacher interviews.

There is a weight room in our off site hotel that we are in the night before we check in to Disney. We will just take some photos of her there and then go with the pedometer plan!

What about packing some resistance bands? Those should due for weight training? And as mentioned the walking paths around POR & POFQ are beautiful. Not to mention all the walking at the parks.

 

[kugelette]

'Nother q: how low can you drop the thermostat on the rooms? If it's high 90's, can you get the room comfortably air conditioned? (It may sound silly, but it's the deciding factor for me - I just can't be comfortable in a warm room...)

 

[andrewilley]

Getting ready to fax... what do you think?

My only thought in a quick scan over your message was that you used the word magical three times in one paragraph. That rather smacks of using a stock "key phrase" which is likely to get a favourable response; once works well, but three times starts to look a bit obvious.

Generally, just be yourself - they have copies of cut'n'paste fax templates and can spot them a mile off.

How do the buses run at Port Orleans Riverside? Is there a pattern where they always start at one bus depot and then go to the next or do they alternate. If there is a set pattern where is the best place to get on the buses so that you aren't excluded from a fully loaded bus?

For more detailed info, see www.portorleans.org/buses.php.

Does anyone know why there are no standard view rooms for Port Orleans Riverside available for most of September?

No idea, perhaps people making provisional bookings in the hope that free dining occurs then? Are you looking at basic availability, or with any kind of discount by the way?

On one day of our trip, we plan to do a breakfast buffet at the Contemporary Resort well before MK opens for the day. Will a bus come to the South Depot around 7 am? I'm nervous to make an ADR for 7:30-7:45 am...

There will be some buses starting that early, but to be certain of getting there in time I would get to the bus stop at 6:30, just in case - or perhaps better still just get a taxi, they are not expensive.

'Nother q: how low can you drop the thermostat on the rooms? If it's high 90's, can you get the room comfortably air conditioned?

I've always been able to get the room as cool as I wanted, even in August. Don't worry about it.


Andre
(catching up a bit, I've been away for a few days on a family break in Europe)

 

[T4K]

What about packing some resistance bands? Those should due for weight training? And as mentioned the walking paths around POR & POFQ are beautiful. Not to mention all the walking at the parks.

This or body weight exercises. I lift very heavy normally but a few days of push-ups, sit ups, squats, lunges, burpees isn't child's play. She should be able to get a good workout.

 

[LGTD]

"No idea, perhaps people making provisional bookings in the hope that free dining occurs then? Are you looking at basic availability, or with any kind of discount by the way?"



I have checked using room only and package settings not using any discounts. I am trying to get an idea of how much a trip would cost in
case free dining comes out next week. When I entered my prefered dates sept 9-17 there was no availiablity for standard rooms for our family of 5. I thought this was odd and started entering other possible date combinations and found mostly the same. Another poster on the free dining page has encountered the same thing and had this to say-

"I agree! The only days available at POR for a standard room in September are:
1st-7th
10th
27th-28th

It makes me wonder if they are already booked or closed for refurb or something. I don't even know how many of the rooms are considered standard. Its not a huge deal because garden view is only $11 more a night but just curious as to why they would be unavailable during a slow time of year when no major discount has yet been offered unless like you suggested people are making provisional bookings.

 

[sle1977]

It makes me wonder if they are already booked or closed for refurb or something. I don't even know how many of the rooms are considered standard. Its not a huge deal because garden view is only $11 more a night but just curious as to why they would be unavailable during a slow time of year when no major discount has yet been offered unless like you suggested people are making provisional bookings.[/QUOTE]

I saw on the unofficial POR website that there were some roof repairs going on in one of the buildings or sections. It was going to be finishing up before September, but perhaps they are moving on to other parts? That's my hope, anyways.

 

[Kislaklan]

It's going to be our first time staying at POR. My DH's boss just came back from POR and said that the pools closed at 11pm. Does anyone know if this applies to all the pools? Or maybe he just the main pool with the slide? We like to swim late at night specially after a long day at the parks. We never had a problem swimming late at any of the resorts we have stayed at. TIA.

 

[dansdad]

It's going to be our first time staying at POR. My DH's boss just came back from POR and said that the pools closed at 11pm. Does anyone know if this applies to all the pools? Or maybe he just the main pool with the slide? We like to swim late at night specially after a long day at the parks. We never had a problem swimming late at any of the resorts we have stayed at. TIA.

The main pools close at 11. The quiet pools are open 24 hours and don't have lifeguards.

 

[Kislaklan]

The main pools close at 11. The quiet pools are open 24 hours and don't have lifeguards.

Awesome. Thanks for the response.

 

[Just Love Disney]

I have read on the boards that it is best not to book a resort reservation too early because it can "ruin" the chances of FD being offered for everyone.

That being said, I have NOT booked our room for POR yet, but today is our 180 day out for booking our ADR's. I got up early this morning and made our first day reservation and since we don't have the resort ressie I wasn't able to book any other days yet but will continue to wake early for the next week to get them done one at a time.

I used a different email address than I normally do for booking because I didn't want to ruin my chance of getting a PIN if one should come out. My thinking was that if Disney sees that I have already booked the dining then there is no reason to offer FD. I don't know if that's true or not but I didn't want to ruin my chances. Does anyone have any input on this?

Also, if FD is offered either via a PIN or regular roll-out, would I still be able to use the ADR's that I have booked or would I need to re-book all of them?

Thanks

p.s. does anyone else get heart palpitations for all the excitement that goes into planning

 

[dansdad]

I used a different email address than I normally do for booking because I didn't want to ruin my chance of getting a PIN if one should come out. My thinking was that if Disney sees that I have already booked the dining then there is no reason to offer FD. I don't know if that's true or not but I didn't want to ruin my chances. Does anyone have any input on this?

People have been trying for years to figure out how Disney decides who gets a PIN or not. I've yet to find anyone who has any clue.

Also, if FD is offered either via a PIN or regular roll-out, would I still be able to use the ADR's that I have booked or would I need to re-book all of them?

Yup. ADRs are completely separate from any room reservation or promotion.

 

[MinnieIV]

I have two questions!

Has anyone had troubles with Online check in? I've done about 8 times on MDE and have never gotten a confirmation email, FINALLY I went to the legacy online check in website and it went through and I got an email. But on the legacy website they were able to pull everything over from MDE. It was bizarre.

Also, my DBF made the reservations under his name, but the MDE is under my name. As we are not married we do not share the same last name. Disney for some reason does not believe this, and under all our room reservations has us listed as under the same last name. I just realized this happening on the early check in, even though my magic band has me under my actual name. Basically I have two different names, and Disney is trying to tell us something. I don't know. But, will this complicate anything at check in? Or with the use of our bands?

 

[JasMinnie]

Hello All- We head to POR May 4. CAN NOT WAIT.

Can I use regular coffee in the machines in the room? I read they are pods. Can't I just put some in a regular filter and tie it shut or something? Not a big deal by any means, just typically like better coffee than whats supplied.

Also, can I run water through the machine to get hot water for oatmeal?

Also, is there still construction at Oak Manor? Will send our reservation wishes next week.


Thanks!

 

[JasMinnie]

I have two questions!

Has anyone had troubles with Online check in? I've done about 8 times on MDE and have never gotten a confirmation email, FINALLY I went to the legacy online check in website and it went through and I got an email. But on the legacy website they were able to pull everything over from MDE. It was bizarre.

Also, my DBF made the reservations under his name, but the MDE is under my name. As we are not married we do not share the same last name. Disney for some reason does not believe this, and under all our room reservations has us listed as under the same last name. I just realized this happening on the early check in, even though my magic band has me under my actual name. Basically I have two different names, and Disney is trying to tell us something. I don't know. But, will this complicate anything at check in? Or with the use of our bands?

YES! I did it this week and never received anything. Nor could I could see anywhere if it had gone through.

 

[hammie59]

Just a tid bit on our experience so far:
Today we checked into POR without doing online check in. Never been here before so just figured we'd go the normal route. Room wasn't ready at 1:00, so they texted me about an hour later when it was. I was happy to find that we got all of our requests without faxing in advance (alligator bayou, building 17, top floor). The resort is very busy and DTD was a zoo. All of our magic bands seem to be working, (at least on the doors). Tomorrow will be the true test at the parks.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

"No idea, perhaps people making provisional bookings in the hope that free dining occurs then? Are you looking at basic availability, or with any kind of discount by the way?"



I have checked using room only and package settings not using any discounts. I am trying to get an idea of how much a trip would cost in
case free dining comes out next week. When I entered my prefered dates sept 9-17 there was no availiablity for standard rooms for our family of 5. I thought this was odd and started entering other possible date combinations and found mostly the same. Another poster on the free dining page has encountered the same thing and had this to say-

"I agree! The only days available at POR for a standard room in September are:
1st-7th
10th
27th-28th

It makes me wonder if they are already booked or closed for refurb or something. I don't even know how many of the rooms are considered standard. Its not a huge deal because garden view is only $11 more a night but just curious as to why they would be unavailable during a slow time of year when no major discount has yet been offered unless like you suggested people are making provisional bookings.

I was hoping there are no standard rooms for those dates because they are being held back for fd reservations

 

[lillykat]

I was hoping there are no standard rooms for those dates because they are being held back for fd reservations

I don't think they hold back any rooms. The point of the discounts like fd is to fill the rooms. I would bet people are holding reservations in hopes it will come out and they switch to the discount.

 

[lillykat]

14 days to go!!!!!!

Has anyone been recently? I know last trip we got life vests for the pool at the boat dock and they had us keep them for the trip. I remember someone said they are now at the pool? Is this the case? Can we still keep them for the week and return at the end of our stay? Are they enough? Last year we got two of the last ones in their sizes. Where by the pool are they?

 

[LGTD]

I don't think they hold back any rooms. The point of the discounts like fd is to fill the rooms. I would bet people are holding reservations in hopes it will come out and they switch to the discount.

. Does anyone know how many standard rooms there are compared to Gardenview rooms and Pool view rooms.

 

[Lynn1274]

I'm on page 19 and haven't seen my questions asked. Please forgive me if they have.

Is there a dresser /bureau in the preferred rooms?

If we don't go with the preferred room, are there any drink stations (for coffee especially) located around the resort?

Thanks