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

[kkayluvsdis]

Here now! ! We got in last night just before the peak of the thunderstorms hit. Apparently they actually shut down MCO for a bit. We have never arrived for a WDW vacation in the evening and I don't think I will plan it that way again. Just doesn't seem as magical to arrive when everyone is tired from a long day! One thing that we've never had happen. . The magical express got all the way to POFQ and then bus driver told us we had to get off and ride over to POR in a van? ? He never explained why and we actually ended up in a big golf cart with the pouring ran splashing around us! A Disney first for us!

Anyway, we booked preferred and are in building 15. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of our friends who will be in the connecting room to us. . Their first disney trip! It's been really nice to have a down day today. Been organizing the room and swimming. Heading to the poly for dinner tonight. Excited to get that first magical glimpse of Cinderella castle!!

Thanks for the helping the days pass as I counted down the days til our trip everyone!

 

[maryj11]

How long would it take to get to the Beach Club by taxi ? How do we go about getting a taxi and how much would it be ?

 

[andrewilley]

How long would it take to get to the Beach Club by taxi ? How do we go about getting a taxi and how much would it be ?

About 15 mins, and about $15. Both give or take a bit of course.

Andre

 

[maryj11]

About 15 mins, and about $15. Both give or take a bit of course.

Andre

Thanks , do we tip the taxi driver and if so how much do most tip ? Can we just go out front and ask for a taxi or do we need to call ahead of time ?

 

[DisneyJillian18]

Hello all, I am about 500 days out from my trip. Yes I'm one of those planners! We have decided to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, first time in a moderate resort!
I have been scanning through the thread and not too much stands out as far as "insider tips" go for the resort, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Anyone know of any secrets they wouldn't mind sharing?! We are looking at a river view room fingers crossed for building 14 or so. Figured I would make the request at booking and again a few weeks before. We are also hoping for free dining, as we are going in September. Thought about upgrading, but not really sure? :
TIA!

 

[SunshineDaydreamnVA]

Thank you for your responses, and yes Venomhatch, I live in Chesterfield, right beside Richmond. Can't wait to be in Florida Saturday though!

 

[LuzzBightyear]

Hi

I have a question about the preferred rooms in the Alligator Bayou section...

Can you get them without paying the surcharge? Has any one had any luck getting luck getting one by just requesting it? Or are they reserved exclusively for those paying the rate for a preferred room?

 

[Venomhatch]

Luzz - it is possible with a little magic and a nice CM.

 

[tbone00]

So we are booked for POR in November in a preferred room, but hoping and praying for FD, it's looking good. But was just running numbers, to go up to a a Royal Room, our daughters will be 7 & 5, it's only an extra $100 for the trip. Is it worth it? I think my girls would love them and it will feel a little more Disneyish than a AB room. Input?

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I checked and 2013 attendance for the IACP conf. was under 14,000 so 22,000 seems a little overstated. Plus I find it hard to believe that they would all bring families with them. I was at a conference a few weeks ago at Gaylord Palms and there were not many people that had brought family in with them. If they did it was the weekend before or the weekend after and only for a couple of days.

I attended the conference last October when it was in Philadelphia. That was a record LOW for attendance as it started 2 days after the federal government shutdown ended, and a lot of agencies were unable to get funds sent through for travel. It's an international event and I'd guess more people want to visit Orlando/Disney than Philadelphia -- I know I do! So, I wouldn't be surprised at 22,000.

Just my $.02.

 

[melissac]

I'm such an idiot, I put off renting a stroller and now all companies are sold out for this coming week. The guy at Orlando stroller suggested calling there hotel to see if they happened to have any that were left behind. I did that and the bell hop said no. Any other suggestions? I can't believe it, I walked a double but now I just want a single!

Try a different person at bell services. We have done this many times at different resorts and plan of strollers to chose from

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Hello all, I am about 500 days out from my trip. Yes I'm one of those planners! We have decided to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, first time in a moderate resort! I have been scanning through the thread and not too much stands out as far as "insider tips" go for the resort, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Anyone know of any secrets they wouldn't mind sharing?! We are looking at a river view room fingers crossed for building 14 or so. Figured I would make the request at booking and again a few weeks before. We are also hoping for free dining, as we are going in September. Thought about upgrading, but not really sure? : TIA!

Building 14 is a preferred room building - we like it but we always pay for preferred. Don't want to chance being far away. We've stayed in 14 & 18 both of which are preferred & loved having the quiet pool right there but everything close at hand. Haven't ever been pixie dusted but learned the hard way if you want to be close book it & pay for it. We've been going over 25+ years.

 

[JamieLM]

How many Royal Rooms are there at POR?

 

[GrandCalifornian]

So we are booked for POR in November in a preferred room, but hoping and praying for FD, it's looking good. But was just running numbers, to go up to a a Royal Room, our daughters will be 7 & 5, it's only an extra $100 for the trip. Is it worth it? I think my girls would love them and it will feel a little more Disneyish than a AB room. Input?

We chose to go with a preferred room because we really want the close to lobby location and prefer the more rural feel of the AB section. Royal rooms can be tempting though, especially with young girls.

How many Royal Rooms are there at POR?

512 Royal rooms, which makes up about one quarter of the resort.

 

[ebradley23]

Thank you for your responses, and yes Venomhatch, I live in Chesterfield, right beside Richmond. Can't wait to be in Florida Saturday though!

Hey, we're neighbors!

 

[snorkelyn]

Building 14 is a preferred room building - we like it but we always pay for preferred. Don't want to chance being far away. We've stayed in 14 & 18 both of which are preferred & loved having the quiet pool right there but everything close at hand. Haven't ever been pixie dusted but learned the hard way if you want to be close book it & pay for it. We've been going over 25+ years.

Building 14 also has river view rooms. And, the river view category costs more than preferred. When we went over spring break, we booked preferred, and requested a room with pleasant views/ river view if available. We got a room in building 14 overlooking the river.

Book what your priority is. I didn't book riverview because it was more important to me to be in a preferred building.

 

[tbone00]

Building 14 also has river view rooms. And, the river view category costs more than preferred. When we went over spring break, we booked preferred, and requested a room with pleasant views/ river view if available. We got a room in building 14 overlooking the river. Book what your priority is. I didn't book riverview because it was more important to me to be in a preferred building.

The royal rooms don't look to far to walk, the preferred was more so we weren't stuck in the "back 40" to say and have to walk far to the main area, I just think my girls would love the royal rooms and make it that much more of a special trip.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

The royal rooms don't look to far to walk, the preferred was more so we weren't stuck in the "back 40" to say and have to walk far to the main area, I just think my girls would love the royal rooms and make it that much more of a special trip.

Yes they aren't super far. One other factor is all of the preferred rooms have the extra fold down bed, which would give them each their own bed. Either way it should be great.

 

[tbone00]

Yes they aren't super far. One other factor is all of the preferred rooms have the extra fold down bed, which would give them each their own bed. Either way it should be great.

Well right now I told our agent to shoot for Royal Rooms if included in free dining, then preferred, then anything else before switching resorts if need be.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Thanks , do we tip the taxi driver and if so how much do most tip ? Can we just go out front and ask for a taxi or do we need to call ahead of time ?

Yes, you should tip the taxi driver, about $2 or $3 should be fine. Go out in the front of the main building and have bell services call you a taxi. They're usually waiting in the main parking lot.