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

[Texas Mickey]

We were there last week and service was quite good. We were uploading tons of pics and had no problems. The only place I had no service was in the laundry room (near building 17 in AB). It was a complete dead spot for me.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Planner2012]

I need some advice. We originally had a preferred room booked, but switched to river view when we added on the new promotion as there were no discounts left on preferred rooms. I am now second guessing whether I should have just stuck with the preferred room.
We originally booked preferred due to location, and I love the look of the alligator bayou rooms (especially the pull down bed).
We will not be arriving at the resort until about 10pm. What do you think the chances are that we will get an alligator bayou room? Are the locations of the river view rooms good?
Any advice appreciated.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

I need help please! It may have to come from someone VERY VERY familiar with the resort, though.

Okay, I very much want to book the Royal room on my military discount in May. Now the military discount has been released through May for all resorts...but the lady on the reservation line told me that POR has not released any discounts except through March. She said I should keep calling back and they should be released any time now. Personally, I'm concerned it was an oversight, as it seems (to me) that POR would release all their discounts at the same time as the other Disney resorts. OR-the lady on the phone could have made a mistake? But I've tried to book the military discount on a royal room about five times now, and it's never come up as available, so her saying it looks like the discounts haven't been released past March may be the case. If that is correct, is there any approximate time I should expect for them to be releasing their discounted rates for May, please? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[tiriggs1]

I need help please! It may have to come from someone VERY VERY familiar with the resort, though.

Okay, I very much want to book the Royal room on my military discount in May. Now the military discount has been released through May for all resorts...but the lady on the reservation line told me that POR has not released any discounts except through March. She said I should keep calling back and they should be released any time now. Personally, I'm concerned it was an oversight, as it seems (to me) that POR would release all their discounts at the same time as the other Disney resorts. OR-the lady on the phone could have made a mistake? But I've tried to book the military discount on a royal room about five times now, and it's never come up as available, so her saying it looks like the discounts haven't been released past March may be the case. If that is correct, is there any approximate time I should expect for them to be releasing their discounted rates for May, please? Thanks in advance for any help!

Check the thread... 2013/2014 Official Disney Military Promotion. I bet someone on there will definitely be able to answer your question about military discount availability.

 

[MagicKisses2]

We just switched from POFQ to POR for our upcoming trip in Jan '15. I'm so excited, we will be staying in the royal rooms and this will be our first time at POR. I'm so enjoying reading through this thread (not far into it yet).

Just had to share my excitement.

 

[sharilee]

16 more days until we come "home". To POR! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! M

 

[siskaren]

Has anyone ever booked 5 adults before? Having a few issues with our reservation and wanted some insight to see if anyone has ever booked this way before?

Are you trying to book 5 adults in one room? Because while the Alligator Bayou rooms do have beds for 5, I wouldn't try to put 5 adults in one AB room because the Murphy beds are smaller than twin beds, and I can't imagine that most adults would find that comfortable.

 

[andrewilley]

I need some advice. We originally had a preferred room booked, but switched to river view when we added on the new promotion as there were no discounts left on preferred rooms. I am now second guessing whether I should have just stuck with the preferred room.
We originally booked preferred due to location, and I love the look of the alligator bayou rooms (especially the pull down bed).

Put in a request for Alligator Bayou 14 or 27, both of which include River View rooms. 38 does too, but it's a bit further away. Explain that you would prefer not to be in a mansion building as you plan to use the fold-down bed. See http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for more details on making requests.

Are you trying to book 5 adults in one room? Because while the Alligator Bayou rooms do have beds for 5, I wouldn't try to put 5 adults in one AB room because the Murphy beds are smaller than twin beds, and I can't imagine that most adults would find that comfortable.

It is a valid option, but as you say the fifth adult would have to be fairly short to make it work (no taller than around 5ft 3in I'd suggest). Also bear in mind that the three extra adults would each be charged a $15 additional occupancy fee per night.

Andre

 

[BandMom1]

We will be staying at POR for two nights (Jan. 1 - Jan. 3, 2015). When making the reservation, I asked for a room fairly close to the main buildings, food court, etc. as my daughter has a spine and leg defect and we'd like to minimize the amount of extra walking she has to do as much as possible. I also requested Alligator Bayou as she will be more comfortable having her own bed (we are a family of 4). Just wondering if there is anything else I should do to (hopefully) have these requests fulfilled....?? I think I asked for bldg. 14 or 18 - can't remember off the top of my head!

 

[siskaren]

I think I asked for bldg. 14 or 18 - can't remember off the top of my head!

Buildings 14 and 18 are both preferred - I don't know how likely you are to get one of those buildings if you didn't book a preferred room.

 

[polyfor4]

I need help please! It may have to come from someone VERY VERY familiar with the resort, though. Okay, I very much want to book the Royal room on my military discount in May. Now the military discount has been released through May for all resorts...but the lady on the reservation line told me that POR has not released any discounts except through March. She said I should keep calling back and they should be released any time now. Personally, I'm concerned it was an oversight, as it seems (to me) that POR would release all their discounts at the same time as the other Disney resorts. OR-the lady on the phone could have made a mistake? But I've tried to book the military discount on a royal room about five times now, and it's never come up as available, so her saying it looks like the discounts haven't been released past March may be the case. If that is correct, is there any approximate time I should expect for them to be releasing their discounted rates for May, please? Thanks in advance for any help!

We booked the Poly with the military rate for June 2015 already so I would keep checking daily!

 

[cornichon]

just sent my fax... keeping fingers crossed that we get a little pixie dust

 

[NYEmomma]

We've got a garden view room and were told we'd be in AB since we're a party of 5. I'm looking at the resort map... which building would you rather be in? 16, 17 or 38? 16 & 17 look a lot closer to food court, main building but I think my kids would enjoy the walk from 38 since they'd be going over some bridges. I just don't want the walk to be TOO ridiculously long.

 

[andrewilley]

which building would you rather be in? 16, 17 or 38?

For a Garden View room, 16 or 17. But if you get a River View then 38 is very nice too.

Andre

 

[keahgirl8]

Now that I have applied my discounts, I have a royal garden view room! I know this question can only lead to speculation, but is it possible that I could request a river view and get it?

 

[peralr194]

We are staying at POR in early November in the AB section. Can anyone who has stayed there recently tell me what the laundry facilities are like? I heard they are near the pools? How much do they cost, and how do you pay (do I need to bring a roll of quarters)?

 

[Kalea]

Thanks for the kind comments.

You could see if Boatwright's has started its new menu yet if possible? I know it was going to happen fairly soon into the new company year (which started this week) but I can't remember the exact date.

Also could you see if the road works near the bus stops are complete yet (allowing the new bendy buses to access the area)?

Otherwise, just concentrate on having a good time and let us know how you get on.

Andre

Sorry for the delay in response. We didn't take a laptop this trip, and my phone was very uncooperative. We got back late last night.

The Boatwright's menu looked unchanged. There was no construction whatsoever around any of the bus stops. I never saw any of the bendy buses actually at POR, however.

Overall, the resort was great. We didn't eat at Boatwright's, but we went to Riverside Mill. We used the bus system 100% of the time, and it was a bit hit or miss. We talked to a few people who waited 40-50 minutes for buses, but I think our longest wait was maybe 30 minutes (which I think is reasonable).

For us, the standouts this trip were
- The resort grounds
- MNSSHP
- The nap inducing boat ride to DTD
- dinner at 'Ohana
- Frozen Sing-a-Long at DHS

If I can answer any questions or help anyone, just let me know!

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

My husband and I have been toying with the idea of taking our next 2015 trip at POR. We stayed at WL last year for the first time (we are returning to WL in a month) and had originally booked a BB at POR. We switched back to WL because we could not get a preferred room.

My question is, has anyone switched from WL to POR and how was it? I am most worried about the bus service and length of time from the parks. Another concern is the building we get and how close we are to the food and buses. Hubby is visually impaired and it's hard for him to "re-learn" a resort.

If we do switch to POR we could possibly do 2 trip in 2015 or add more days.

 

[andrewilley]

My question is, has anyone switched from WL to POR and how was it? I am most worried about the bus service and length of time from the parks. Another concern is the building we get and how close we are to the food and buses. Hubby is visually impaired and it's hard for him to "re-learn" a resort.

I've stayed at WL many years ago, but Venomhatch told us he was there a week or so ago, so he's the one to ask for all the details. (Did anyone win the "Where's Venom" competition by the way? I don't recall anyone here mentioning that they had spotted him)

POR is a big resort, and for someone visually impaired the outermost sections (especially in Alligator Bayou) might be a challenge as there are a lot of twisting pathways. However if you request and get a room close to the main buildings, I'm sure it would work out well.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

We are staying at POR in early November in the AB section. Can anyone who has stayed there recently tell me what the laundry facilities are like? I heard they are near the pools? How much do they cost, and how do you pay (do I need to bring a roll of quarters)?

Yes, there are laundry facilities next to all of the quiet pools. The machines only take quarters at POR, but there is a change machine available. It's $2 for a washing load and $2 for drying.

Andre