Port Orleans Riverview?

[supersuperwendy]

Does this mean that unless we pay for the new "Preferred" category at Riverside that we won't get Alligator Bayou Buildings 14, 15, 18, etc.? We have booked our first ever stay at Riverside for May 27-June 5 and I don't want to pay another $250.
Do we even know what buildings are considered preferred yet? How do we find out? Forgive me for so many questions.

Thanks!
Carla

I booked preferred the other day and they weren't sure either. The CM guessed that it is those buildings you mentioned.

 

[threedisprincesses]

We were there in February of 2010 and put in a mansion request. We were in magnolia, right across from the bridge. It was the best location! Close to everything. I would study the map and just make a request based on what is important for your group.
Remember a water view could mean a pool view. If it's warm it could be quite noisy.
I could not agree more about not paying extra. That's crazy. This is a great resort.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Does this mean that unless we pay for the new "Preferred" category at Riverside that we won't get Alligator Bayou Buildings 14, 15, 18, etc.? We have booked our first ever stay at Riverside for May 27-June 5 and I don't want to pay another $250.

Respectfully, there was never a promise of getting a room in the aforementioned buildings. Now, likely, with the different designations, there will be. Frankly, until the specific Preferred locations are announced, there's no way to tell if it's just these three buildings, or more of Alligator Bayou, or if some of the Mansions are included as well.

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks everyone for the replies!! I'm really excited to finally be staying in a Moderate especially Riverside so I'm not going to stress myself silly worrying about location.
My two boys (20 and 17) will love the boat to Downtown. They love "traveling" without my husband and I so a new mode of transportation will be very exciting for them!!

Carla

 

[dsnydaddy]

Frankly, until the specific Preferred locations are announced, there's no way to tell if it's just these three buildings, or more of Alligator Bayou, or if some of the Mansions are included as well.

That's my point exactly. They should have delineated better before or when offering the new category. Since I like the mansions, I really don't want to pay the extra if it places me in building 14, I'd rather that room go to someone who'll appreciate it more. Now, I'll pay more if I can choose the particular area that they'll place me it doesn't have to be very specific. Just a general area. Like I'd pay the $200 if I could request let's say Magnolia terrace with a waterview. That to me would be worth the extra $$

 

[mickeymouse108]

Hi I dont think I can help you but i was just there in july and we asked to be in the mansions in magnolia bend and we payed for a standard room no extra and we had a parking lot view and that worked out great for us we drove from ct and had lots of luggage so it was great not far to unpack from the truck and it is soo nice that we never felt robbed of a good room it was close to the bus depot and that was great after walking all day at the park and it was a nice walk to the main pool and then another nice walk to the food court.
it is soo pretty that you do not even feel like you are walking far we were also close to the laundry and quiet pool it was just around the corner we loved it.
so we loved it even though we had a parking lot view.

 

[AndyFL]

Personally I'd say what you plan to do while at Disney would impact your decision the most. We stayed at POR earlier this month and we spent our time in the parks so access to bus stops and our vehicle was the most important. I remember mentioning to my Wife that I was glad we didn't opt for the waterview rooms because that would have had us farther from both.

Now when we go back in Nov the parks will be closing early so WHERE the room is will be more important. We're just not the type who roams around the grounds of where we are staying....but if you are then POR is the place to be. I would go for walks in the morning with a cup of coffee and the landscaping is second to none.

 

[goofy4tink]

When I have stayed at POR, preferred rooms were rooms with views of some type of water. Standard rooms had no water views. Those water views could have been of a pool or the river, or even (as in our case) a very small peek at the river if you went outside your room and hung over the railings.
I will not pay for preferred views at a moderate...ever.
This should pretty much explain the room cats at POR....

Room Type Description Maximum
Occupancy Prices in USD
Riverside Standard View 2 double-size beds
Table and chairs
Vanity area with 2 sinks
Ceiling fan
Privacy curtain between the vanity and room
Bathroom
Some rooms offer a trundle bed
All rooms are non-smoking
In-room wall safe
Voice mail
High-speed Internet access (for an additional fee)
Hairdryer
Iron and ironing board
Mini fridge
Coffee maker
Pack 'n Play playard is available upon request
Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available
Views of the Resort hotel landscaping, courtyard, garden or bayou
5 $149

Riverside Water View 2 double-size beds
Table and chairs
Vanity area with 2 sinks
Ceiling fan
Privacy curtain between the vanity and room
Bathroom
Some rooms offer a trundle bed
All rooms are non-smoking
In-room wall safe
Voice mail
High-speed Internet access (for an additional fee)
Hairdryer
Iron and ironing board
Mini fridge
Coffee maker
Pack 'n Play playard is available upon request
Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available
Views of the riverfront or courtyard pool
5 $174

Riverside King Bed Room 1 king-size bed
Table and chairs
Vanity area with 2 sinks
Ceiling fan
Privacy curtain between the vanity and room
Bathroom
All rooms are non-smoking
In-room wall safe
Voice mail
High-speed Internet access (for an additional fee)
Hairdryer
Iron and ironing board
Mini fridge
Coffee maker
Pack 'n Play playard is available upon request
Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available
Views of the Resort hotel, landscaping, courtyard, garden, bayou, riverfront or courtyard pool
2 $174

 

[dsnydaddy]

Goofy4Tink, The categories have changed at POR that that is what is causing the confusion. If it were just waterview vs standard view I'd completely agree with you. Here are the new categories:

Standard View- These rooms offer views of the Resort hotel, landscaping, courtyard, garden or bayou.

Water View- These rooms offer views of the riverfront or courtyard pool.

Preferred Room- These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities.

River View Rooms- These rooms offer views of the riverfront

Now that Preferred room is the kicker. There's lot of people who'll pay for a preferred location, myself included. However, What consititues "close proximity" some have suggested that all of the river facing rooms of the mansions are "close proximity" but I'll tell you, I was not really thrilled with the walk to and from Partierre Place when I stayed there. I "preferred" Magnolia Terrace which was exactly where I wanted to be.

If I pay for a "preferred" room, I like to be able to either choose the area that I want or know the areas that fall into that category so I can make an informed decision.

 

[Missytara]

That's my biggest problem with the disney website! They are quite possibly the worst source for information on their own resorts. I get much better information from privately run sites like this one.

Actually, there is a description on their website, for the existing categories, as well as the new categories of "preferred room" and "riverview room."

 

[Missytara]

Goofy4Tink, The categories have changed at POR that that is what is causing the confusion. If it were just waterview vs standard view I'd completely agree with you. Here are the new categories:

Standard View- These rooms offer views of the Resort hotel, landscaping, courtyard, garden or bayou.

Water View- These rooms offer views of the riverfront or courtyard pool.

Preferred Room- These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities.

River View Rooms- These rooms offer views of the riverfront

Now that Preferred room is the kicker. There's lot of people who'll pay for a preferred location, myself included. However, What consititues "close proximity" some have suggested that all of the river facing rooms of the mansions are "close proximity" but I'll tell you, I was not really thrilled with the walk to and from Partierre Place when I stayed there. I "preferred" Magnolia Terrace which was exactly where I wanted to be.

If I pay for a "preferred" room, I like to be able to either choose the area that I want or know the areas that fall into that category so I can make an informed decision.

That is correct; I normally stay in Oak Manor, which is the preferred location in the Mansions, because of it proximity to the Main building, etc., as now listed under preferred room.

My quandry is that I have always gotten Oak Manor, and I am wondering if I pay for a preferred room, and request Oak Manor, is it a possibility that I may end up at 14, 15, and 18, which would be the preferred buildings at AB?

I am guessing that time will tell after the first of the year and we see what people booked and how they end up in rooms.

 

[dsnydaddy]

That is correct; I normally stay in Oak Manor, which is the preferred location in the Mansions, because of it proximity to the Main building, etc., as now listed under preferred room.

My quandry is that I have always gotten Oak Manor, and I am wondering if I pay for a preferred room, and request Oak Manor, is it a possibility that I may end up at 14, 15, and 18, which would be the preferred buildings at AB?

I am guessing that time will tell after the first of the year and we see what people booked and how they end up in rooms.

Missytara,

I'll look closer on the website but I could not find anything that made a distinction. Just the generic " These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities." And your concern is the same as mine. I really would rather not have Building 14 or 15, I'm a mansions person. Besides with my 4 person family, I'd be taking a trundle from some 5 person family.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Standard View- These rooms offer views of the Resort hotel, landscaping, courtyard, garden or bayou.

Not responding to dsnydaddy, just pointing out to anyone who fears a 'view' of a parking lot - that's not shown here. POR's landscaping would prevent it.

However, What consititues "close proximity" some have suggested that all of the river facing rooms of the mansions are "close proximity"

Now, that wouldn't be reasonable. It wouldn't even make sense that all the rooms in, say, Parterre Place could be considered "Preferred", given the size of that building. Walt Disney World has 'split' building before when designating Preferred/Standard [see Pop Century] and it makes complete sense they'd do it again. It also makes absolute sense there would be Preferred rooms in both the Mansions and Alligator Bayou.

 

[goofy4tink]

Goofy4Tink, The categories have changed at POR that that is what is causing the confusion. If it were just waterview vs standard view I'd completely agree with you. Here are the new categories:

Standard View- These rooms offer views of the Resort hotel, landscaping, courtyard, garden or bayou.

Water View- These rooms offer views of the riverfront or courtyard pool.

Preferred Room- These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities.

River View Rooms- These rooms offer views of the riverfront

Now that Preferred room is the kicker. There's lot of people who'll pay for a preferred location, myself included. However, What consititues "close proximity" some have suggested that all of the river facing rooms of the mansions are "close proximity" but I'll tell you, I was not really thrilled with the walk to and from Partierre Place when I stayed there. I "preferred" Magnolia Terrace which was exactly where I wanted to be.

If I pay for a "preferred" room, I like to be able to either choose the area that I want or know the areas that fall into that category so I can make an informed decision.

Got that info right from the WDW site. I can't imagine that any room at POR is going to be 'preferred' based on closenes to the food court. No bldg is really close to the main pool, and there aren't that many bldgs that are considered to be close to the food court...maybe 2.
Where are you finding these 'catagories'?? If Disney isn't listing them on their site, for POR, I can't imagine where they are.

 

[skipperkim]

We had three standard rooms last year and they were all great overlooked a little fountain and were close to the bus stop. We had a corner room which seemed really nice! Close to food court , river. Very clean rooms.

This sounds more like POFQ, not POR.

 

[Missytara]

Missytara,

I'll look closer on the website but I could not find anything that made a distinction. Just the generic " These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities." And your concern is the same as mine. I really would rather not have Building 14 or 15, I'm a mansions person. Besides with my 4 person family, I'd be taking a trundle from some 5 person family.

I think it is pretty obvious to me that by saying you are close to the main building, registration, dining and the resort amentities (which is the big pool and the marina), if you look on the map, that would clearly be Oak Manor in the Mansions and Buildings 14, 15, and 18 in AB. Those are definately the ones that people always indicate they request, when wanting to be close to everything.

 

[Missytara]

Got that info right from the WDW site. I can't imagine that any room at POR is going to be 'preferred' based on closenes to the food court. No bldg is really close to the main pool, and there aren't that many bldgs that are considered to be close to the food court...maybe 2.
Where are you finding these 'catagories'?? If Disney isn't listing them on their site, for POR, I can't imagine where they are.

The Poster did get these descriptions directly from the website - I have been looking to book my trip for next year already.

If you look at a map and you read the descriptions carefully, the "closest" buildings would be Oak Manor in the Mansions, and 14, 15, and 18 in AB.

They are closest to the main building, registration, dining, the pool and the marina (which is what I interpret as resort "amentities").

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Not responding to dsnydaddy, just pointing out to anyone who fears a 'view' of a parking lot - that's not shown here. POR's landscaping would prevent it.

?? We stayed at POR in March and when we walked out of room, we had a wonderful view of nothing but a parking lot. There was very little mature landscaping. It was the corner of Building 15.

 

[Allison]

Got that info right from the WDW site. I can't imagine that any room at POR is going to be 'preferred' based on closenes to the food court. No bldg is really close to the main pool, and there aren't that many bldgs that are considered to be close to the food court...maybe 2.
Where are you finding these 'catagories'?? If Disney isn't listing them on their site, for POR, I can't imagine where they are.

Rooms at POR are going to be preferred based on location starting in 2011. I can easily see 3 or 4 buildings in AB being considered preferred and they are the buildings you always see people here requesting-14, 18 and the others in that area.

The room categories will now be like what CBR already has.

 

[goofy4tink]

The Poster did get these descriptions directly from the website - I have been looking to book my trip for next year already.

If you look at a map and you read the descriptions carefully, the "closest" buildings would be Oak Manor in the Mansions, and 14, 15, and 18 in AB.

They are closest to the main building, registration, dining, the pool and the marina (which is what I interpret as resort "amentities").

I stand corrected...you are looking at 2011 dates. Sorry.
The thing that confuses me is that those 'preferred' rooms have a limit of 4 as far as occupany goes..which leaves out AB. The vast majority of those rooms hold up to 5 due to the trundle bed. And bldg 14 is so close you can almost reach out and touch the food court back wall. And that bldg has the trundle beds.
I think Disney is getting carried away with their bldg views. It would make much more sense to just say bldgs 14 and 15 are 'preferred'. Disney isn't stupid....huge numbers of guests want these two bldgs..heck, so did I when I was there the last time.
I think Disney is really reaching on this one.