Staying at Riverside : Show me pics, get me excited!!

[REL1203]

I'll second the early-morning tip. Coming from the UK, the 5-hour time difference means we tend to be awake really early on our first morning so my DD (8) and I always go "moon walking" (as she calls it) at about 5am.

Not sure if I've posted these before, but the resort is so beautiful and peaceful at that time, and the water is like a mill-pond:

Andre

Andre,

these are 2 wonderful shots, and rather diffacult ones I might add (Night shots and fog shots)... What kind of camera did you use?

 

[18 Hours]

I am Leaving Early June and I just cannot wait! I have weird memories/likes at this place. The sound of the air conditions when you walk past the room. The sound of the food court in the early morning, with kids eager to get going. I just love this resort. And anyone staying their first time, you'll love it too!

 

[dogodisney]

I am an early riser so I'll make it a point to take a "moon walk!" (that is a great term to use)

 

[andrewilley]

these are 2 wonderful shots, and rather diffacult ones I might add (Night shots and fog shots)... What kind of camera did you use?

Thanks for the compliments. Those pics were taken with a Canon DSLR, Digital Rebel XT. The fog one was hand-held, and the dawn one was supported on the footbridge handrail I think (0.8 sec, f4, ISO 100).

Andre

 

[REL1203]

Thanks for the compliments. Those pics were taken with a Canon DSLR, Digital Rebel XT. The fog one was hand-held, and the dawn one was supported on the footbridge handrail I think.

Andre

I figured those had to be from a dSLR.... Thanks... Great shots

 

[Zoebear]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Going to POR in 23 days !!
Yay yay yay
Thanks for this thread~!

 

[The Hill Family]

Thanks so much for this thread. We leave for POR in 8 days... can't wait! We have never stayed at POR or POFQ so I wasn't sure what to expect. This thread has me thrilled with our resort choice and I am looking forward to experiencing the resort myself.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Here is another shot of the slide:

 

[Maine-iac]

We're booked at the SOG next April (woo-hoo under 1 yr!), but I'm thinking that I might change my ressies to the POR because I have an anti-Disney spouse and the AB section is much more his style. These pics are making it hard for me, they are great! Did the Riverside section used to be Dixie Landings? I stayed there in April 95 on my graduation trip, it was great and I never once remember the busses being crowded or having excessive commutes.

DH are I are staying at POR Riverside for the first time in Dec and we are very excited. So I cannot help you with that resort. But it looks so beautiful and of course he can take the boat to Downtown Disney area.

Also Wilderness Lodge is gorgeous. My DH is an outdoors man and he loved it there when we went to WCC for lunch.

We have stayed at SOG many times and your DH may like it because it is very quiet there. Beautiful grounds and if he likes golf he can play a round or drive some golf balls. Evergreens Sports Bar and Grill always has a sports channel on it's big screen. He could also walk to the Poly and sit on the beach.
The buses are less crowded than the Disney ones.

Oh well good luck deciding and I will be crossing my fingers that he becomes a big Disney fan.

 

[18 Hours]

just two, but i will post more later

 

[teddygurl28]

We're booked at the SOG next April (woo-hoo under 1 yr!), but I'm thinking that I might change my ressies to the POR because I have an anti-Disney spouse and the AB section is much more his style. These pics are making it hard for me, they are great! Did the Riverside section used to be Dixie Landings? I stayed there in April 95 on my graduation trip, it was great and I never once remember the busses being crowded or having excessive commutes.

not sure if anyone has answered you or not but riverside was in fact dixie landings...the name changed when the combined that along with the french quarter to make it one larger resort whichever you choose im sure you will enjoy!

 

[bdiddy]

I have a question for you guys....Can you go to any resort you want and swim in their pool and check the place out??

I'm asking because we are about 99% sure we are downgrading from POR to POP (See earlier post) but I'm keeping my ressie for breakfast at Boatwrights on our day to stay at the resort. My husband suggested that we could just stay at POR after breakfast to swim, do the fishing and rent the bike like we planned even though we are staying at Pop and then had back there later in the afternoon to explore over there.

I know that might sound silly but I'm having a hard time letting go

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Nope you are not allowed to pool hop to any other resorts pools, unless they are sister resorts like POR/POFQ. You would only be able to use Pop's pool if that is where you were staying.

 

[rutgers1]

Nope you are not allowed to pool hop to any other resorts pools, unless they are sister resorts like POR/POFQ. You would only be able to use Pop's pool if that is where you were staying.

Are you sure about that? I thought the only place one couldn't pool hop was the Yacht and Beach Clubs. Maybe it is a DVC thing, then. Either way, I just got back, and we went to the Beach Club pool to visit friends who were staying there and we didn't have a problem. In fact, when I left late at night, there were several other families in bathing suits/towels who were on the bus with us. I assume they were all doing the same thing......With that said, not that I think about it, I guess it was the wrong thing to do. I would probably be upset if I was paying top dollar to stay at the Beach Club and others were freeloading off of the pool.

 

[crzy4my2]

I have a question for you guys....Can you go to any resort you want and swim in their pool and check the place out??

I'm asking because we are about 99% sure we are downgrading from POR to POP (See earlier post) but I'm keeping my ressie for breakfast at Boatwrights on our day to stay at the resort. My husband suggested that we could just stay at POR after breakfast to swim, do the fishing and rent the bike like we planned even though we are staying at Pop and then had back there later in the afternoon to explore over there.

I know that might sound silly but I'm having a hard time letting go

I don't think anyone would know if you are not from the resort. when we went to the main pool (we did stay at POR) there wasn't anyone checking room keys. the pool towels are just off to the side so anyone can take them. when we were in Vegas we had to show the room key to get a towel. Not the case here and there was a sign at the bar. I don't remember the exact wording but something like a complimentary drink for hotel quests only. Must show room key to get the drink.

 

[gr8tdame]

When we stayed at the POLY we were asked to show our room key for pool towels. At Runaway Bay /Yacht Club each guest gets a wrist band.
You are only allowed to use the pool at your resort. Otherwise. the pools would get extremely crowded... especially the ones with great slides.
I wouldn't like the embarrassment of being asked to leave.
JMHO.

 

[Millie12591]

Your right about the not wanting to invade the pool of someone else's resort. It's frowned upon and certain lengths have been made to make sure people aren't doing this at some of the more popular pools (but meant for you not to do at any pool) around The World because of over crowding. I've even seen posted on the boards that people have been asked to leave from pools when people were just visiting others at their resort and not even swimming, just sitting by the pool.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you would probably be upset if others were invading your resorts pool when they didn't pay the money you would have paid for a deluxe resort. But hey I can't say I blame you for asking, it doesn't hurt to ask, but I will warn you, you won't always get a warm response when asking this question. LOL Specially on some of the "other" Disboards that start with a c, they are very passionate on the some of the "other" Disboards that start with a c.
<---this is some of the members when asking this ? about pool hopping and refillable mugs being used from last time you came.

Are you sure about that? I thought the only place one couldn't pool hop was the Yacht and Beach Clubs. Maybe it is a DVC thing, then. Either way, I just got back, and we went to the Beach Club pool to visit friends who were staying there and we didn't have a problem. In fact, when I left late at night, there were several other families in bathing suits/towels who were on the bus with us. I assume they were all doing the same thing......With that said, not that I think about it, I guess it was the wrong thing to do. I would probably be upset if I was paying top dollar to stay at the Beach Club and others were freeloading off of the pool.

 

[andrewilley]

Don't forget that although pool-hopping is a definite no no (apart from between the two Port Orleans resorts' guests) you can still take advantage of any of the paid activities (hey, this is Disney, they never refuse your money!). So you can still eat at any of the restaurants, go fishing, rent a Surrey Bike or boat, or take a carriage ride.

Andre

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Are you sure about that? I thought the only place one couldn't pool hop was the Yacht and Beach Clubs. Maybe it is a DVC thing, then. Either way, I just got back, and we went to the Beach Club pool to visit friends who were staying there and we didn't have a problem. In fact, when I left late at night, there were several other families in bathing suits/towels who were on the bus with us. I assume they were all doing the same thing......With that said, not that I think about it, I guess it was the wrong thing to do. I would probably be upset if I was paying top dollar to stay at the Beach Club and others were freeloading off of the pool.

Yes I'm sure, this is the case for normal guests. However I've read that DVC members ARE allowed to pool hop if the pool is not too busy.

 

[bdiddy]

Thanks for the info about pool hopping! I'll tell my husband it is a no-go! It would probably be a pain anyway swimming and then not even having a room there to go back to and change. The fishing and surrey bike might still be an option though!