Several questions about Port Orleans Riverside.

[DisneyMommy77]

Hello all,

Anybody who has stayed at POR can you please tell which area of the resort you prefer. We stayed in the Magnolia Bend area on our honeymoon and really liked that area. (I don't remember the exact building). However, this time we will be traveling with DD3 so I am trying to maybe find an area that is close to a bus stop, or maybe the pool or food court area. Also, does Magnolia Bend have elevators? For those that have stayed at Alligator Bayou, why do you like that better than Magnolia Bend?

Also, maybe this is a little strange, but I read somewhere that there was a bear sighting and bobcat sighting at POR. I realize Disney World is surrounded with lots of open land, but if I see any creatures like this I will freak! What about alligators? I don't remember seeing any last time on the boat taxi to DD, but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. Does Disney keep the alligators away from the resorts? I don't really want to run into one especially with DD3.
Also, I read this horrible thread today about people running into snakes all over WDW, so I am freaking myself out about all the critters I might come across. I read someone even had a snake in their room once at POR. For this reason, I am thinking about requesting the 2nd floor!!!!

Last question, does Disney offer bed rails at all for kids?

I realize any requests I make will only be requests, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try to get an area that may be closer to the food court or a bus stop.....and furthest from alligators, snakes, bear and bobcats.

Thanks for anyone who can give me any advice!

 

[General Panic]

Hihi
We stayed in the Arcadia building a few weeks ago and would try and get this one again next year. Maybe a 8 min stroll to food court and shop , small pool right next door to our building and 3 mins to the main pool. Bus stop depot 2 mins walk behind our building which was great.

Only wildlife i've ever seen here (5 visits) are lizards the odd frog and of course squirrils

No kids in our party so no idea about the bed rails sorry.

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

We stayed in Oak Manor and loved it. It was very close to the bus stop, near a quiet pool, but a short walk to the main pool too.

As far as wild life, we saw a few birds. That's it. No creepy things. I don't do creepy things.

 

[Nermel9]

I just got back from staying at POR last week and we stayed in Oak Manor. It wasn't a far walk at all to the main building or the pool, but after walking all day in the parks, it felt like a long walk!

I was actually disappointed I didn't see more wildlife there, all we saw were squirrels and birds. No lizards, no bunnies, not even any snakes (although that would have freaked me out)!

 

[jlk806]

Never stayed at POR so cant answer the questions about the different areas of resort.

On the wildlife topic - Ive never seen a gator at Disney and have been many times, but I know they are there. Where there is a lake there is a gator in Florida. Snakes are everywhere also. They have been spotted at all resorts and theme parks. Never saw any on previous trips but wasnt looking hard. This Sept trip I was more aware thanks to DIS My husband spotted a small black snake on one of the paths at POP. Never saw one there or at AKL where we stayed 2nd half of trip. And I was keeping my eyes peeled. But then, the 2nd to last day of trip, we were on the boat from dinner at WL back to MK and there, like 10 feet from boat, was a water moccasin "standing" straight up in the water! OMG scary!

We had a 2 year old with us so were very cautious about not letting him near bushes, etc. Just be aware of your surroundings, dont cut through brush or let kids play near it and you should be fine. I think the snake in the room thing is very very rare occurence but of course possible, at any resort anywhere. I actually was worried about this before our trip also. Request an upper floor room if you are worried, it will cut down your chances (though not eliminate it.).

Personally, since there are poisonous snakes in all lakes on property, I would not rent one of those little jet ski things and risk coming into contact with one! Though Ive never heard of this happening I wouldnt personally take risk. Just my opinion, though. Have a great trip!

 

[disneymom06]

POR does have bedrails, you just call housekeepping when you get to your room and they will bring you one.

We have stayed in the AB section, Magnolia Bend and Oak Manor. I loved Oak Manor, it was beautiful and we had been upgraded to a river view. (very nice especially when we spent the day in the room because of a sick child).

You really should look at a map of POR to see the locations of a pool, the food court and a bus stop. When we were in AB, we were in the back on the side of the food court. It was a walk to the food court, very close to a quiet pool and a short walk to the bus stop, (through a wooded walkway). I liked it, it was a very quiet section. In Magnolia Bend, because the room was close to the water, it was a walk just to get out of the buildiing and then through the parking lot to the bus stop. IT was further that AB bus stop. Quiet pool was one building over and the food court was a walk over the bridge, not long but not next door. (You might be interested in a preferred location, I am just too cheap to pay the difference.)

As for animals, salamders, (I think that is what they are called), on the pathway. Nothing unexpected that ever startled me or excited the children.

It is a beautiful resort, you can't go wrong here.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[DisneyMommy77]

Thanks for the responses!!

 

[wickersham]

We have stayed in the Alligator Bayou section twice at POR and have been quite happy. The last time we were there in summer 2009 we were steps from a quiet pool and laundry area which was handy. The bus was a short walk, enough to wake us up early in the morning but not too far.

As for the wildlife, no one has mentioned the rabbits! On our first visit to POR, our daughters were young and loved a family of wild rabbits that lived in a clump of azalea bushes near our room. They would save the packets of carrots from kids meals around the world to feed the bunnies. Still a favorite memory years later!!

 

[*ThinkTink*]

Stayed at POR Mansions side and absolutely loved it! Our next trip in 61 days is POR AB. My parents have stayed there and I trust their judgement. They loved it! AB seems like a longer walk, because it's on little pathways that turn and twist, but really you're not walking any further.
The only creatures I have seen at WDW are tiny salemanders, birds, squirrels, and the occassional bunny. Other then that, nothing dangerous, ever. Don't let the possibility of critters occupy your thoughts. Have fun and enjoy yourself, instead of watching the bushes!!

 

[Golf4food]

I don't think anyone else confirmed, but all WDW hotels with more than two floors have elevators. We prefer the theming of the mansions.

 

[Ro Z]

We love POR. We like to be in the 9500's mansion rooms. As for wildlife we have seen the usual bunnies, squirrels ect. One time our taxi almost ran over 2 deer (the driver said he never saw the 2nd one) 1st floor at POP we had a lizard in our room.
We saw 2 otters and even an armadillo at CBR! I don't think the AB rooms have elevators.

 

[sumsmommy03]

We just got back from an 8 night stay at POR. We were in the front section of Oak Manor 9260s section. Great location! I'd say the best at the resort. It was close to either the East or South bus stop and a short walk over the bridge to the food court/lobby and the main pool. There's a smaller pool (was definitely not quiet) next to Oak Manor also.

We got off at the West Depot by mistake one night and OMG it was the longest walk ever to get back to our room. We didn't know where the heck we were. I would never stay in AB...just don't like the look of it or the location.

The only wildlife we saw there was some geckos or whatever they are. I would just stay on the paved/concrete paths. My 4 year old daughter stepped in a fire ant mound when we were off property one of the days on our vacation. It scared the life out of her As for other wildlife..I was on the lookout for all those snakes after reading that post here lol. I didn't see one. My DH did see a small gator at MK when we were on the train ride around the park. It was in the back between the "Pocahontas" section and Toontown. :S I was thinking we might see one on the boat ride from POR to DTD but no such luck!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I loved my stay at Riverside. I was in the Mansions section but I can't remember if it was Oak Manor or Magnolia Bend. The building I was in was near the last bus stop.

I can't remember if there were elevators. I always took the stairs since I wanted to work off the TS meals I ate.

You can request bed rails but if they are all being used by other people, there's nothing you can do so you may want to have a backup plan just in case.

We always look for alligators and snakes because DS wants to see them. In all of our stays, we've never seen either. Just keep an eye open, don't let your 3 year old wander off paths and into bushes and you'll be fine. We've also never seen bobcats or bears.
I have seen bunnies, lizards and ducks.

Have a great stay at Riverside.

 

[Agri]

I don't think anyone else confirmed, but all WDW hotels with more than two floors have elevators. We prefer the theming of the mansions.

We stayed in AB last month and the building we stayed in most definitely did NOT have an elevator.

 

[donnot]

We stayed in Bldg. 14 in Alligator Bayou earlier in the month (myself and 4 kids). It is the closest building to the main pool, main bus stop and foodcourt. There are no elevators because all buildings are just 2 stories. We liked the location a lot; very convenient to everything. The decor was fine to me, but there were a couple of big stains on the carpet. Some of the outlying buildings looked like they were a far walk to everything, so it may be worth putting in a request for the building you want. We asked for Bldg. 14, 1st Floor, and our request was granted (family grand gathering consisting of 4 rooms).

 

[disneyba]

We have stayed in both sections: Alligator Bayou twice and Magnolia Bend once. Both areas were beautiful, though quite different in appearance. It really depends on what you prefer.

In AB, we were in Bld 39 (close to quiet pool & bus stop but far from food court) and Bld 15 (close to everything). In MB, we were at the back of Magnolia Terrace (close to bus & quiet pool but a bit of a stroll to food court). Requested a bed rail on our last trip, and it was delivered promptly.

None of the buildings in AB have elevators. The mansion section buildings do. But these are very large buildings with one central elevator. Your room can still be a hike from the elevator.

My wife is not a big fan of some indigenous Florida wildllife, so we always request a second floor room. Having said that, in nine trip to Orlando, we have never seen a snake or alligator out of captivity. Bunnies and little lizards of course. Oh, and a bobcat on our trip to POR last January.

 

[BreezingBy]

I'm here right now (I realize this question is years old) but I did indeed see a snake two days ago. There is a gap in the hedge to the right of the pathway between the 8200 and 8300 block. The snake was in the gap but we could only see a curved section. I went closer because it looked just like a black garden hose. The curve section slithered and we all ran off.
Lots of little geckos or salamanders, whatever they are, and some grey squirrels. It's July and in five days I have gotten one mosquito bite. Besides that, a few small birds and one dragonfly. The snake excluded, the lack of wildlife is almost disappointing.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

POR is our favorite resort. We end up in Magnolia Bend every time (I believe Alligator Bayou is mostly for families of 5.) We personally didn't see any elevators, but we never really looked either. Since they aren't more than two floors I'm sure it wouldn't be a terrible hassle if there were no elevators.

As far as bobcats and bears, I can't say. We did have a conversation with a boat driver on our way to DTD, and he did confirm that there were a few alligators in the river (though probably not close to the buildings.) He said they were too afraid of the boats to be any trouble and there wasn't anything to worry about. So, unless one of you ends up overboard on your way to DTD, you'll be fine.

 

[Captain Swagger]

Be aware there's a really big mouse that hangs around the resorts and the parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think anyone else confirmed, but all WDW hotels with more than two floors have elevators. We prefer the theming of the mansions.

Not true. OKW has buildings with three stories and no elevators. I stayed in one and had a room on the third floor.

We have seen alligators in the MK and at BCV. And there was a black bear reported by OKW and POR/POFQ a few years ago.