Port Orleans Riverside Warnings?

[ZJ5/9D47]

The horse poop from the carriage rides can be quite the challenging obstacle course on the path from FQ to Riverside. Hopefully the poop bag was just broken at the time and not a regular occurrence.

I’ve never felt unsafe and I prefer to wake up early to do laundry and will just nap or read in a hammock by the pool. There are CMs around at all hours of the day and night. Security patrols the guest room corridors and pathways. CMs are out and about doing maintenance, dropping off fresh linens, delivering pizza, doing whatever else needs done. I have to bring earplugs just to read because of how busy the CMs are at 6 AM by the main pool! Guests arrive and leave 24/7 so the lobby always has activity and those guests are going to and from their rooms.

I have traveled solo many times at WDW as a younger woman and have never felt unsafe due to being alone. I even tent camp at the Fort alone and have never felt uncomfortable.

 

[Disneylover99]

Never saw any. The horses have catch bags.

Well I guess the horses miss sometimes. Lol.

Last time we were there a jogger ran right through it. We tried to warn him but he was wearing earbuds and didn’t hear us. Poor guy.

 

[ColonelHathi]

Tips only, because it's very very safe.

YeHaa Bob Jackson - if you want a good seat get to the River Roost Lounge in plenty of time before the show and enjoy a drink/food as it can get packed once he starts. Bob comes around the room and has a little chat to get to know those in the audience too.

I agree on the creepy factor at night - but that applies to every resort we have stayed at. This is likely because a black snake slithered across our path one night at CSR on our first trip.... those hedges at POFQ... the path from TTC to the Poly... Stay on the path and move swiftly, LOL.

When the horse drawn carriages start in the afternoon, make sure you are aware and ready to step to the side.

Food court can get busy, but just knowing that helps with expectations.

If you wander over to POFQ for beignets, know they are made to order, so it's not super fast and there can be a line up. I didn't realize there would be a wait, but it is so worth it.

Boat to DS, it's a little easier earlier on in the afternoon/evening, definitely easier to catch at POR than POFQ.

Hammocks are tricky to get into.

 

[Sue M]

IDK, I must be the odd one out, but in my 5 stays, 7-10 days each, Ive never seen horse poop on the paths. So I don’t think it’s a regular recurrence but guess accidents do happen!

 

[Sue M]

Tips only, because it's very very safe.

YeHaa Bob Jackson - if you want a good seat get to the River Roost Lounge in plenty of time before the show and enjoy a drink/food as it can get packed once he starts. Bob comes around the room and has a little chat to get to know those in the audience too.

I agree on the creepy factor at night - but that applies to every resort we have stayed at. This is likely because a black snake slithered across our path one night at CSR on our first trip.... those hedges at POFQ... the path from TTC to the Poly... Stay on the path and move swiftly, LOL.

When the horse drawn carriages start in the afternoon, make sure you are aware and ready to step to the side.

Food court can get busy, but just knowing that helps with expectations.

If you wander over to POFQ for beignets, know they are made to order, so it's not super fast and there can be a line up. I didn't realize there would be a wait, but it is so worth it.

Boat to DS, it's a little easier earlier on in the afternoon/evening, definitely easier to catch at POR than POFQ.

Hammocks are tricky to get into.

I got creeped out one night at AK, we were the only ones it seems at the park during EMH way back when. And on another late night at MK, it seemed like we were the only ones on HM!

 

[potterfanatic]

the only heads up I like to give is we stayed at POR our first so time ever staying on Disney property and my husband was not too happy about the “motel” feel. He doesn’t like the doors outside and he felt like the rustic theme made it feel even more motel like. However it did grow on him and we are going back to por next month.

 

[buzznina]

the only heads up I like to give is we stayed at POR our first so time ever staying on Disney property and my husband was not too happy about the “motel” feel. He doesn’t like the doors outside and he felt like the rustic theme made it feel even more motel like. However it did grow on him and we are going back to por next month.

Disney resorts is the only hotel that we much rather stay in a room that has an outside door. I totally disagree with the comparison to a standard "motel". A basic motel you open the door and the parking lot is right in front of you, where at WDW your immediately immersed into the theme of the resort, from lush landscaping or ferry's to giant figures

 

[MomOTwins]

IDK, I must be the odd one out, but in my 5 stays, 7-10 days each, Ive never seen horse poop on the paths. So I don’t think it’s a regular recurrence but guess accidents do happen!

Might have been doggie doo now that they allow guests to bring dogs.

 

[Disneypro1]

Disney resorts is the only hotel that we much rather stay in a room that has an outside door. I totally disagree with the comparison to a standard "motel". A basic motel you open the door and the parking lot is right in front of you, where at WDW your immediately immersed into the theme of the resort, from lush landscaping or ferry's to giant figures

Agreed 100%

 

[a1tinkfans]

Worries... none that I can think of when you use common sense and follow rules/signage... like Yes.. it’s fla and there are animals that you’d prefer not to encounter, lol

Beautiful resort, wonderful Mod. amenities, great food court, so many pluses imho
Enjoy and Congrats!!!

 

[Best Aunt]

The only thing that ever bothered me there was on a solo trip, but that is the key word, solo, you won’t be solo. I am always one of the last to leave the parks, so a couple of nights I got off the bus at my stop and it was very late at night, like 1am or even later, and there was NO one around, it was quite creepy. So I was a little spooked on the way to my room! Not saying there was anything to be spooked about, I am not generally a spooky person, it was just unsettling!

I felt this way on a solo trip and I did not stay at the parks very late. I was not comfortable walking alone in the dark to my mansion room. I’m not saying it was unsafe, just that I did not feel comfortable.

the only heads up I like to give is we stayed at POR our first so time ever staying on Disney property and my husband was not too happy about the “motel” feel. He doesn’t like the doors outside and he felt like the rustic theme made it feel even more motel like. However it did grow on him and we are going back to por next month.

In the mansion section, you do not walk in the front of the mansion to get to your room. You walk in the back and the door to your room opens to the outside. It did feel like a motel to me. I had not realized that when I booked. Maybe if you know before you arrive, it feels like a different experience.

 

[MomOTwins]

I felt this way on a solo trip and I did not stay at the parks very late. I was not comfortable walking alone in the dark to my mansion room. I’m not saying it was unsafe, just that I did not feel comfortable.


In the mansion section, you do not walk in the front of the mansion to get to your room. You walk in the back and the door to your room opens to the outside. It did feel like a motel to me. I had not realized that when I booked. Maybe if you know before you arrive, it feels like a different experience.

I do agree with this, very motel like to me, but it probably does depend on your room because mine did have a parking lot view.

I never felt unsafe when I was walking to the room, but I did get lost once when I got off at the wrong bus stop by mistake late one night. And it took a loooooong time to make my way back to the room.

 

[Searc]

Which leads to another warning...,..watch out for poop along the path.

The horses wear bags.

 

[Sue M]

Disney resorts is the only hotel that we much rather stay in a room that has an outside door. I totally disagree with the comparison to a standard "motel". A basic motel you open the door and the parking lot is right in front of you, where at WDW your immediately immersed into the theme of the resort, from lush landscaping or ferry's to giant figures

Unless you have a parking lot view lol! But I agree, aside from outside door you can’t compare them to a standard motel. But I wish the rooms were set up differently. I’ve stayed at places with outside door, but set up is different, you walk in and bathroom and closet are next to door, then you walk thru to bedroom area with window looking out to the grounds rather than like Disney where window looks out to walkway, and people walking in front of your window, looking in.
At least when the mods had blinds, you could adjust/tilt blinds to let light in but couldn’t see into room casually walking by.

 

[AngiTN]

Might have been doggie doo now that they allow guests to bring dogs.

Wow, that must be SOOOOOME dog if it's confused with something from a horse. LOL

 

[Starchild426]

My daughter and I stayed at POR for a week and never once did I see anything unsafe or dangers of any kind. I have to say, nothing of the sort ever crossed my mind. We enjoyed the resort and would stay there again. It's a nice plus to be able to take a boat to Disney Springs. My only negative memory is, because we were staying in the Magnolia Bend area (Princess room!), we had to walk all the way around the front of the resort to get to the bus area. But that is really a very minor, "1st world" problem IMO.

Thanks for that. I have heard several reports of the walking distance, but I am also keeping the mind set of logging 15-20 miles in the parks, so a little bit at the resort should be ok, LOL. Have you noticed anything regarding the actual buses in terms of difficulty getting on, finding room, times, etc? I recall in the past it was a large complaint of the resort. Buses always full or considerable late once they start hitting the last stops of the resort.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks for that. I have heard several reports of the walking distance, but I am also keeping the mind set of logging 15-20 miles in the parks, so a little bit at the resort should be ok, LOL. Have you noticed anything regarding the actual buses in terms of difficulty getting on, finding room, times, etc? I recall in the past it was a large complaint of the resort. Buses always full or considerable late once they start hitting the last stops of the resort.

Honestly, you can {Insert every single resort on property} in that sentence. EVERY resort has had that complaint. From the most expensive to the lowest price.. Someone somewhere has had a bad bus experience.

 

[Starchild426]

Thank you all for the information. I don't think I had any suspicions of there being any safety problems, but have encountered some at Art of Animation and Pop Century during the late night hours with odd vagrants wandering and less than ideal customers being out of the norm. Reported and removed, but still happened. I expected more out of Port Orleans, and sounds like its a non-factor.

I will also avoid the pizza room service. Better things to spend my DP credits on anyways Lol.

 

[Disneylover99]

Wow, that must be SOOOOOME dog if it's confused with something from a horse. LOL

Yeah. It was dark. But I know my poop. Lol.
I’m happy to know others haven’t experienced this. I’ve seen it on a few occasions.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Thanks for that. I have heard several reports of the walking distance, but I am also keeping the mind set of logging 15-20 miles in the parks, so a little bit at the resort should be ok, LOL. Have you noticed anything regarding the actual buses in terms of difficulty getting on, finding room, times, etc? I recall in the past it was a large complaint of the resort. Buses always full or considerable late once they start hitting the last stops of the resort.

We stayed there almost 2 years ago, and my recollection is that in the mornings the buses at the main depot arrived empty to pick up at that location. And we were packed full, and went straight to whatever park. We're rope droppers so I mean around 8 AM at the bus stop. The rest of the time must have been uneventful, because I don't remember any frustration regarding the bus situation, and we used them exclusively AND we had my 2 year old grandson with us (my daughter is the aunt) so we had a stroller, diaper bag, tiny person, etc. to deal with on the bus. It may be different now, or depending on the time of year.