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

[andrewilley]

How soon will outdoor movie schedule be posted for POR? I know where to find schedule on portorleands website. But it still only shows May.

That's because it is still only May. In June the June schedule will be posted (or hopefully a few days earlier, if I'm lucky enough to be sent one in advance).

Just switched to POR for our stay in August and haven't been able to find the answer to my question anywhere. I know they have recently changed out the fridges in the rooms..do they now have a freezer section in them? Thanks in advance!

Officially there aren't any freezer compartments, but a few people have reported that they have had fridges which included them - I guess in the problems of last year, when they had to replace most of the fridges, an odd few arrived which had freezer sections.

I would like to know how booked the resort was for the week of 5/3 - 5/10 as reference. I heard from another guest that they heard the resort was booked.

To be honest, Port Orleans runs at close to full capacity for most of the year, it's one of the most popular resorts on site. But you'd never know it when you walk around.

Andre

 

[SunshineDaydreamnVA]

Hi, I just got back Sunday and wanted to say, for what it's worth, that we did not do online check-in, and did not fax requests, and did not get our requests, which were only to be in MB on an upper floor. I struggled deciding about online check-in, and decided against it. The upper floor thing was mainly for our 8 yr old DD, who had never been in a hotel before, and just wanted to be, well, up, and we had ground floor in MB. It's OK though. When she wanted a different view, I just told her to go upstairs and look down! Her Dad and I were actually quite happy NOT to have to go up the stairs. Overall, we loved POR!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Just back today from quick over night stay. As always we consider POR our "home" when at Disney. I did online check in like I always do & this time faxed a request because I wanted to try the mansions & wanted Magnolia Terrace. We got everything requested - which we loved. DH & I both decided that we really prefer the AB preferred section. Plus we like the ease to the South Depot. The resort was gorgeous, the boat to DTD a pleasure & the buses good.

 

[kansasdisneygal]

Apologies if this has previously been asked. We are staying at POR in 15 days!!! And are planning on shipping a few things to our resort. I did this the last two times I stayed at POP, but can't remember how title the package so it is held for us. Could someone provide an example of how this should be done? I know it has to have POR address and our arrival date...etc...

 

[TeachTink]

Does anyone have any experience with making special room assignment requests when you are checking in Mid-Week? We are coming in on a Thursday afternoon and I am afraid that we won't be able to get a room close to the foot bridge and on the ground floor as most families come and go on a Saturday or Sunday. We have reserved a Royal Room with a River View. This is the first time we have ever come in mid week. Does anyone have any thoughts to ease my mind?

I am checking in on Wednesday (in 2 days) and I have a Royal Room - Garden View booked. I faxed in a request on Saturday to be close to the foot bridge going to the main building. I can let you know if I get it.

 

[lillykat]

Here now...checkin was a breeze. We did online checkin and had faxed. We got a fabulous room in building 14 and the nicest CMs we have had at any resort. So far everything has been excellent. So nice to have everyone with big smiles and so helpful and friendly.

I think they are training some new CMs in the food court as one or two minor things (DH ordered a kids bounty platter for our children the person must have put bacon on their plate. DH did not ask for it -but at check out the CM gave him a hard time about it, at first they wanted him to take it back but she said well I will let it slide this one time). Nothing though that would bother anyone but it has slowed down some of the service as they appear to be learning. All very friendly though, just slower.

Room has been very clean but no towel animals or special things we have always had. I will take very clean any day though over dirty but towel animals. Not sure if that is person specific or just something they do less of. Room has been very clean and requested items came very quickly (we had no blanket for the pull down only a sheet).

Took the boat to DTD our 1st night. No sign of roof work in the front of oak manor so they must have moved over to the back.

We were in a royal room last year and loved the room, but love the location of building 14 more. We will definitely do preferred rooms again at POR when we return someday.

The CMs working the marshmellows were very friendly and it is a very nice thing that the resort offers.

Anything you would like me to check if I get a moment?

 

[PoshMom]

That's because it is still only May. In June the June schedule will be posted (or hopefully a few days earlier, if I'm lucky enough to be sent one in advance).


Thank u!

 

[disneymademoiselle]

I just got back from an 8-night stay at POR and the resort exceed my already high expectations. I still cannot get over how stunningly beautiful and peaceful POR was.

All of our fax requests were met. We stayed in AB #38 on a corner, second floor room overlooking one of their themed swamp areas. The room was very clean and we loved all of the cute Disney-themed touches in the room.

We were a less than 5-minute walk to the main building and a less than 3-minute walk to the north depot. We could not have asked for more convenience.

My only complaint would be the bus system and that is entirely on Disney and not on POR. With the popularity of this resort, there needs to be more buses in operation for POR. Every single time we waited at a bus stop at one of the parks, the line for POR was always three to four times longer than any other resort. These sentiments were also echoed by nearly all the other resort guests in line with us.

I miss POR already and would stay there again in a heartbeat.

 

[andrewilley]

Apologies if this has previously been asked. We are staying at POR in 15 days!!! And are planning on shipping a few things to our resort. I did this the last two times I stayed at POP, but can't remember how title the package so it is held for us. Could someone provide an example of how this should be done? I know it has to have POR address and our arrival date...etc...

You've got it by the sounds of it, but for the full details see www.portorleans.org/services.php#Mail.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Anything you would like me to check if I get a moment?

Well if you've got a few minutes next time you're passing through the food court, I haven't had any menu price update pics for about 6 months, so there might be some changes I need to note?

Just a quick phone-camera snap of each of the 2-3 pages from each menu screen would be very helpful. Ideally a set for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but whatever anyone feels able to get would be helpful.

Andre

 

[lillykat]

The changing screens Andre or the ones on the wall? My DH brings breakfast to the room and we are gone for lunch but dinners we are there. I can definitely get the ones on the wall if that is what you need!!

 

[andrewilley]

The changing screens Andre or the ones on the wall? My DH brings breakfast to the room and we are gone for lunch but dinners we are there. I can definitely get the ones on the wall if that is what you need!!

The changing TV screens above each of the food counters if you could please. There are normally about 2 or 3 cycling pages for each menu screen, so a whole set for a given meal time is probably about 20 photos. As long as all of the text is readable, that's all I need - no fancy photography or anything. Some people have emailed from back at the room, some have sent via What's App from phones standing there in the food court, whatever works for you.

Thanks for the offer!

Andre

 

[ptcbass]

We just got back and was fortunate enough to have had great weather.
It was so beautiful and best of all when we checked in we were upgraded to a Royal Room!! It was so nice and getting a upgrade really made the trip magical. Now in saying that it was nice but probably not worth it to us for the price difference.

Also when we checked in the door lock's battery was dead and we had to spend about 1.5 hours dealing with trying to figure out why our bands wouldn't work (back an forth to the check in desk) and then waiting on a maintience person to come fix it for us. Everyone was was really nice and apologized. Even though it wasn't the ideal start to our day they made it as pleasant as possible. You could tell they were really trying to hurry and help us.

 

[DiSnEyLvR76]

Checking in on Thursday to a Royal Room River view! Hoping to be close to foot bridge and an upper floor! Gotta fax in my request today! Cant wait! Coming down to plan our Disney Wedding in October!

 

[disdream]

I am checking in on Wednesday (in 2 days) and I have a Royal Room - Garden View booked. I faxed in a request on Saturday to be close to the foot bridge going to the main building. I can let you know if I get it.

Thank you. That would be great. Hope you get everything you want for your Magical Stay. Have a great time.

 

[cindermama32]

Hi all. We just returned from a 5 night stay. We were in Parterre in a garden facing room which was in the back of the building. It was a walk down several hallways and the elevator to get out of the building which wasn't great but we had a corner room on 2nd floor which was the top in the section we were in. The walk to the main building wasn't too bad. Maybe 5 min but there is beautiful scenery to look at. We did not enjoy the busses. We took cabs mostly which was much better for us and the double stroller we had. The MK busses were too far and few between and they pack you in like sardines. We took a cab to the TTC and then the the monorail one morning and then the ferry back after Wishes. That was great bc we just wheeled the stroller on with our sleeping children in it. The Riverside Mill can be crazy at times. At lunch one day it took 30 min to get food. There are too many different areas and if you all want something different you could have to wait on each separate long line. I don't think its a good set up at all. All in all we enjoyed our stay and the pool. It was quiet by the rooms which I enjoyed. We would stay again but we would either rent a car or just use the taxi service again.

 

[robins91]

Hi, everyone. First, many thanks for all of the great POR info here - it is a HUGE help as I get ready for out POR stay next week! Two (probably strange) questions:
(1) About the MK fireworks: My two DDs (4 and 7) don't do well late at night, and they really don't like loud noises. I was hoping to find a distant (=quiet!) location to watch the fireworks where we could make an easy exit and get back to POR not too late. We have a car, if that helps. VERY distant is OK, since they have never seen fireworks before so would be excited by any view. (If there anyplace at POR where you can get a glimpse?)
(2) Anyone know what the A&E meet and greet has done for crowds on the POR buses getting to rope drop at MK? We're hoping to get there at magic hours rope drop on the 22nd, and I'm wondering what time we need to be at the bus stop. (South Depot is our best bet, right?)
Thanks so very much!

 

[andrewilley]

(1) About the MK fireworks: My two DDs (4 and 7) don't do well late at night, and they really don't like loud noises. I was hoping to find a distant (=quiet!) location to watch the fireworks where we could make an easy exit and get back to POR not too late.

I'd suggest the Polynesian beach (what's left of it anyway). Drive over there and let the security gatehouse know you are looking at the resort for a possible future trip and eating at their snack location (Captain Cook's, which is temporarily located in the main lobby for a few months). Get a bite to eat and some drinks, and then head down to the beach and watch the show from there. The music is piped via speakers located beside the beach, but it's a good mile away so the firework noise isn't too loud. Try and catch the electrical water pageant too, a floating musical light display which usually passes by the Poly beach at around 9pm. Then drive back to POR - via the back route if you can (drive back past the TTC area with the ferry and monorail stations, turn right at the lights and then follow the signs past Fort Wilderness to POR).

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

I'd suggest the Polynesian beach (what's left of it anyway). Drive over there and let the security gatehouse know you are looking at the resort for a possible future trip and eating at their snack location (Captain Cook's, which is temporarily located in the main lobby for a few months). Get a bite to eat and some drinks, and then head down to the beach and watch the show from there. The music is piped via speakers located beside the beach, but it's a good mile away so the firework noise isn't too loud. Try and catch the electrical water pageant too, a floating musical light display which usually passes by the Poly beach at around 9pm. Then drive back to POR - via the back route if you can (drive back past the TTC area with the ferry and monorail stations, turn right at the lights and then follow the signs past Fort Wilderness to POR).

Andre

Hey we still have a nice beach!!! Well mostly! But that is a very good idea!

Also don't forget to come inside and get a refreshing Dole Whip!

 

[mrsmomo]

Hello lovely Port ppl! We are going on a short trip in 2 wks. Unfortunately we will not be staying here :-( discount was better @ another mod but I love riverside!

However we would like to dine @ Boatwrights. Does anyone know how late they're open?