Supercallifragilistic-ADR'sApproachUs! May '09 PTR *Trip Report has Begun! Pg. 208*

[Lady Lallie]

I have a severe case of Did I choose the right Disney Resort-itis.

I am really doubting Riverside. I'm worried about the buses being too crowded and wasting precious park time waiting for the buses. But there is a little something that is keeping me from taking the plunge and trying to see if I can switch to POFQ.

I need advice.

Here is my pro/con list for Riverside. Of course it's in list form.

Riverside Pros.
*The multiple pools. You know how we love our nighttime swims! Plus those POFG alligators freak me out a bit.
*Boatwright's. We like that there is a table service there. When I looked at pictures of Riverside online, it was just heavenly. I don't get that feel with POFQ as much even though it does look beautiful.

Riverside Cons.
*Transportation. We like to have breaks but don't want all our time eaten up with less than stellar transporation.
*Too big...? I am worried that all the walking at the parks plus the resort will make us crabby.

Help me decide. Marc is no help, he's happy staying anywhere. Plus when I asked him he was all about CSR and CBR. So doesn't help to throw in more choices.

 

[Megablocks]

Marc sounds like my boyfriend--whenever we are trying to make plans, he has little to no input. He tells me that he's happy with anything. Must be a guy thing.

As for your resort dilemma...we stayed at POR many times, and we loved it. It's a gorgeous resort. My parents aren't big on pools, but my brother and sister and I are, and we really liked them. I don't think we ate at Boatwrights, we mostly settled for the food court when we were there, so I don't really have any input on that. The food court was good, though!

I don't really remember much about the transportation. It seemed pretty consistent to me, but the last time we stayed there was in 2004, I think, so I don't know if that counts.

You're right about the size of it--it is a big resort. For us, that was really the only downside. Especially for me because I am super directionally challenged. I remember there was a "main depot" for the buses (right by the main building), but after that, there were a few other depots to stop at. We were always closest to the main depot--not sure if that was because my mother requested it, or if we just got lucky--but I always felt so bad for the people at the other stops. If you really want to stay there, can you request a building close by the main area?

Good luck--I hope you get it sorted out. It's a good thing that we stayed at CBR in 1994, otherwise I might have wanted to throw something in about that.

 

[stitcharoo]

breanna:

i'll admit it, i sang the title out loud.
and then again, because it was clever.
and then again, because it was catchy.
and then again, because i couldn't stop.

love this PTR.
it's positively darling.

 

[ILuvCrush]

Hey LL!!

We stayed with the kiddos at POR in 06. I loved it. We were in the Alligator Bayou part...so we were near the 1st stop, no problems getting a bus .

The bus loop (at that time) started in Alligator Buyou and then went clockwise around the resort. The LAST stop was the one at the Main building (where the food court/restaurant are). I know you want the mansions. If you want a early bus stop to guarantee getting on, try to get a room toward the BACK of the resort. If getting a refill in your mug/having close access to the main building is a priority, stay near the main building, but if you travel to the parks at peak times... you may want to stroll to one of the other stops (while you're still fresh for the day) So you will not have to watch loaded busses drive on by

OK I made this map... I love playing with my new little creative program

I circled the bus stops in RED
I circled the part of the mansions I'd stay in in BLUE
I made a little GREEN path from the mansions to the main building

As you can see... there are 2 stops not far from this area (Bus stop #2 is on the top and #3 on the right). It is a nice walk to the main building, but not too terrible, because you can cut thru the "Old Man's Island" area.

I really liked POR... I'd have no problem staying there again! I'm not a big breakfast eater anyway, so we often would get OFF the bus at the main building, pick up some bfast stuff/grub and then walk back to the room in the evenings. We'd eat our bfast stuff (there's a fridge/coffee pot) in the room and head to the bus in the AM at the bus stop closest to us....worked like a charm

Paula

 

[Charleston Princess]

LL, I think you should stay with POR -- it really is very pretty, and the transportation was NEVER an issue with us when we stayed there. We went the week before Christmas so it was super busy, but the buses were always on time, and there was always room on them. Keep in mind, too, that CSR and CBR are much bigger resorts.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh dear. Disney-did-I-pick-the-right-resort-itis. The DISease for which there is no cure! Plus I haven't stayed at Riverside, CBR or CSR so I'm no help. I guess I'd say that unless you really have a burning desire to stay at another specific resort to stick with this one. Consider it "research" for your resume should you ever become a travel agent or just to round out your advice/opinions here on the DIS. It's Disney afterall so you're going to have a great time no matter what! And I think just the sound of "the mansions" is very romantical.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Marc sounds like my boyfriend--whenever we are trying to make plans, he has little to no input. He tells me that he's happy with anything. Must be a guy thing.

As for your resort dilemma...we stayed at POR many times, and we loved it. It's a gorgeous resort. My parents aren't big on pools, but my brother and sister and I are, and we really liked them. I don't think we ate at Boatwrights, we mostly settled for the food court when we were there, so I don't really have any input on that. The food court was good, though!

I don't really remember much about the transportation. It seemed pretty consistent to me, but the last time we stayed there was in 2004, I think, so I don't know if that counts.

You're right about the size of it--it is a big resort. For us, that was really the only downside. Especially for me because I am super directionally challenged. I remember there was a "main depot" for the buses (right by the main building), but after that, there were a few other depots to stop at. We were always closest to the main depot--not sure if that was because my mother requested it, or if we just got lucky--but I always felt so bad for the people at the other stops. If you really want to stay there, can you request a building close by the main area?

Good luck--I hope you get it sorted out. It's a good thing that we stayed at CBR in 1994, otherwise I might have wanted to throw something in about that.

It's frustrating that Marc is like that but it's nice too because he really is open to anything. So I can't complain too much.

I have requested a Mansion building because that is where I would like to stay. I'm glad you liked the pools too. Thanks for letting me know how you liked it, it really helps me calm down.

breanna:

i'll admit it, i sang the title out loud.
and then again, because it was clever.
and then again, because it was catchy.
and then again, because i couldn't stop.

love this PTR.
it's positively darling.

Thank you so much! I sing it constantly. So much so that Marc just laughs at me now.

Hey LL!!

We stayed with the kiddos at POR in 06. I loved it. We were in the Alligator Bayou part...so we were near the 1st stop, no problems getting a bus .

The bus loop (at that time) started in Alligator Buyou and then went clockwise around the resort. The LAST stop was the one at the Main building (where the food court/restaurant are). I know you want the mansions. If you want a early bus stop to guarantee getting on, try to get a room toward the BACK of the resort. If getting a refill in your mug/having close access to the main building is a priority, stay near the main building, but if you travel to the parks at peak times... you may want to stroll to one of the other stops (while you're still fresh for the day) So you will not have to watch loaded busses drive on by

OK I made this map... I love playing with my new little creative program

I circled the bus stops in RED
I circled the part of the mansions I'd stay in in BLUE
I made a little GREEN path from the mansions to the main building

As you can see... there are 2 stops not far from this area (Bus stop #2 is on the top and #3 on the right). It is a nice walk to the main building, but not too terrible, because you can cut thru the "Old Man's Island" area.

I really liked POR... I'd have no problem staying there again! I'm not a big breakfast eater anyway, so we often would get OFF the bus at the main building, pick up some bfast stuff/grub and then walk back to the room in the evenings. We'd eat our bfast stuff (there's a fridge/coffee pot) in the room and head to the bus in the AM at the bus stop closest to us....worked like a charm

Paula

I can't believe you made a map!! You are just so awesome. We are not big breakfast eaters either but in case we aren't feeling the parks at a certain time it's nice to know we have more than a food cart back at the resort. I'm feeling much better with your report on the buses. Thank you so much!

LL, I think you should stay with POR -- it really is very pretty, and the transportation was NEVER an issue with us when we stayed there. We went the week before Christmas so it was super busy, but the buses were always on time, and there was always room on them. Keep in mind, too, that CSR and CBR are much bigger resorts.

I don't even want to put CSR or CBR into the resort pool for this trip. Their size scares me. When I was thinking about all this yesterday, I kept thinking about how much you loved POFQ last summer so the fact that you are saying stay with Riverside makes me feel a lot better!

Oh dear. Disney-did-I-pick-the-right-resort-itis. The DISease for which there is no cure! Plus I haven't stayed at Riverside, CBR or CSR so I'm no help. I guess I'd say that unless you really have a burning desire to stay at another specific resort to stick with this one. Consider it "research" for your resume should you ever become a travel agent or just to round out your advice/opinions here on the DIS. It's Disney afterall so you're going to have a great time no matter what! And I think just the sound of "the mansions" is very romantical.

Seriously. It's like a disease!! I know we are going to have a great time and the mansions do sound romantical after all.

 

[MRYPPNS]

OK LL I can give you my thoughts from having stayed at POFQ in 2006 with DH.

POFQ is really compact so you are always a short walk from everything.

I didn't find POFQ romantical like so many DISer's write about....but it sure ain't POP either!

I asked DH and he agreed with me: if we were late night swimmer like you and Marc we wouldn't be so thrilled with just the one pool choice.

You can't go wrong with either resort for the boat to DTD.....that is wonderful! We had dinner at SSR one night using the boat to get there.

The buses from POFQ weren't bad. There is one stop there and then you go to POR so we always got a seat. Some mornings it would be standing room only for some of the later POR bus stops. We remembering it taking about 8-10 minutes to do the whole loop from POFQ to POR and then off to whatever park we were going to. I would assume that with it being slower in May Disney would continue to share buses. I could be wrong but I seem to remember that each resort had there own bus from the parks.

DH would stay at POFQ again, I would too but I would rather try POR first.

 

[Megablocks]

It's frustrating that Marc is like that but it's nice too because he really is open to anything. So I can't complain too much.

I have requested a Mansion building because that is where I would like to stay. I'm glad you liked the pools too. Thanks for letting me know how you liked it, it really helps me calm down.

Exactly! It does help but I do get frustrated because sometimes I just want some INPUT!

The mansions are awesome, they are sooo pretty. I loved the water and the bridge being right there. I'm so glad you're staying there, I hope you love it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I don't even want to put CSR or CBR into the resort pool for this trip. Their size scares me. When I was thinking about all this yesterday, I kept thinking about how much you loved POFQ last summer so the fact that you are saying stay with Riverside makes me feel a lot better!

Seriously. It's like a disease!! I know we are going to have a great time and the mansions do sound romantical after all.

Since you aren't from the South, POR will be a whole new feel for you. One of the reasons I love POFQ is because we have kids so it's nice not to have to walk a lot. It is lovely, but POR is lovely, too. POR has a little bit more to do than POFQ which is a plus in my book. Have you found a POR photo thread to get you excited?

 

[nts4wdw]

I'm probably gonna be no help at all because I love them both! I have a special fondness for POFQ because it felt smaller and I loved the architecture. We have stayed in both the Bayou and the Mansions of POR. The buses were crowded at times, but we always got one the first one that came. The grounds of both resorts are beautiful and the boat to DownTown Disney is lovely. If you are worried about the length of time you are on the bus, sometimes after it stopped it POFQ, it would go on to POR and pick up those guests too. I don't think it made that much difference timewise. (Now AKL that's a long ride to MK.) I think you will love POR. We stayed there our very first trip, in the very back mansion and still fell in love with it and have gone back many times. In the end, between the two, it's usually the AP rates that make the decision for us.

 

[jenjolt]

LL...oh another disease we share...YAY!!! I have heard some great things about both resorts...however I just got done reading this amazing trip report where they stayed at the POR and he simply gushed and it made me want to see if I could upgrade to the resort. So my suggestion is to stay with your heart's first desire!!!

 

[julezdisney]

I didn't read everyone else's comments but just to put in my 2 pennies- I don't like the PO-whatevers. Not that I'd ever turn down a free stay but ya'know....I'd just rather stay somewhere tropically inspired 9 times out of 10.

That said- I wanna know about the mansions. So you have to keep your plans as is. So there.

 

[Lady Lallie]

OK LL I can give you my thoughts from having stayed at POFQ in 2006 with DH.

POFQ is really compact so you are always a short walk from everything.

I didn't find POFQ romantical like so many DISer's write about....but it sure ain't POP either!

I asked DH and he agreed with me: if we were late night swimmer like you and Marc we wouldn't be so thrilled with just the one pool choice.

You can't go wrong with either resort for the boat to DTD.....that is wonderful! We had dinner at SSR one night using the boat to get there.

The buses from POFQ weren't bad. There is one stop there and then you go to POR so we always got a seat. Some mornings it would be standing room only for some of the later POR bus stops. We remembering it taking about 8-10 minutes to do the whole loop from POFQ to POR and then off to whatever park we were going to. I would assume that with it being slower in May Disney would continue to share buses. I could be wrong but I seem to remember that each resort had there own bus from the parks.

DH would stay at POFQ again, I would too but I would rather try POR first.

Thanks, Heidi. Those are great opinions and just what I needed to hear!

Exactly! It does help but I do get frustrated because sometimes I just want some INPUT!

The mansions are awesome, they are sooo pretty. I loved the water and the bridge being right there. I'm so glad you're staying there, I hope you love it!

Thank you so much!

Since you aren't from the South, POR will be a whole new feel for you. One of the reasons I love POFQ is because we have kids so it's nice not to have to walk a lot. It is lovely, but POR is lovely, too. POR has a little bit more to do than POFQ which is a plus in my book. Have you found a POR photo thread to get you excited?

See, I think that will help too. I find them so charming and since we all know that I want to be a southerner so badly that it will be a nice choice for us.

I'm probably gonna be no help at all because I love them both! I have a special fondness for POFQ because it felt smaller and I loved the architecture. We have stayed in both the Bayou and the Mansions of POR. The buses were crowded at times, but we always got one the first one that came. The grounds of both resorts are beautiful and the boat to DownTown Disney is lovely. If you are worried about the length of time you are on the bus, sometimes after it stopped it POFQ, it would go on to POR and pick up those guests too. I don't think it made that much difference timewise. (Now AKL that's a long ride to MK.) I think you will love POR. We stayed there our very first trip, in the very back mansion and still fell in love with it and have gone back many times. In the end, between the two, it's usually the AP rates that make the decision for us.

Well, at least you love them both so that makes it easier for me to stick with POR.

LL...oh another disease we share...YAY!!! I have heard some great things about both resorts...however I just got done reading this amazing trip report where they stayed at the POR and he simply gushed and it made me want to see if I could upgrade to the resort. So my suggestion is to stay with your heart's first desire!!!

Do you have the link Trip Report that you read? I would love to read it too.

I didn't read everyone else's comments but just to put in my 2 pennies- I don't like the PO-whatevers. Not that I'd ever turn down a free stay but ya'know....I'd just rather stay somewhere tropically inspired 9 times out of 10.

That said- I wanna know about the mansions. So you have to keep your plans as is. So there.

Okay. This just made me laugh hysterically! See, I am not as crazy about the tropical inspired. POR appeals to me more.

 

[Lady Lallie]

"Jeez, man, I'm surrounded by amateurs. You want something done, you've got to do it yourself." - Sebastian, The Little Mermaid.

Who would like to partake in some dancing??

167 Days until our May 2009 Trip!!



and.....

364 Days Until our December 2009 Trip!



I am very very excited that our December 2009 Trip is less than year. Just makes both of our trips feel even more real!

I want to thank everyone for their help with keeping me sane about Port Orleans Riverside. You all made me remember the reasons we chose POR and I am very grateful I didn't do something rash, like try to change our resort.

With that said, I did call Disney Reservations today. I had a very nice CM who helped me calculate our trip packages. I have been chatting with some lovely ladies here on the DIS and we have been talking about taking a Spring 2010 Trip. Nothing like planning in advance. Anyhoo, we have decided on April 2010 for the time being which means that if I were to get an annual pass, that would mean I could use it for THREE trips. Now, I know everything is subject to change in life and if I lose money, then c'est la vie. I'm not going to lose sleep on it and then regret not getting the annual pass for this May Trip because truly it's going to save me money in the next year. Did you follow that? Because now I'm confused.

So. With our May Trip, we still need to buy the one day base ticket to get the 4 for 3 promotion. Fine by me BECAUSE I can then go to the Ticket Window at our first park and put that towards an Annual Pass. Or at least that is what the CM told me and I believe I have read about that on here. Annual Pass Gurus can you confirm or deny that for me? Not only that but we still have those one day tickets from our Wilderness Lodge portion of our last trip. How cool is that!? Now getting the annual pass for the May Trip is a little bit more cash upfront but I think it will be worth it in the long wrong. I am not completely sold on getting Marc an AP but he is iffy on the Spring 2010 Trip. I don't blame him, but the girls trip we won't be together all the time so if he decides it would be nice if we get the AP.

Plus we saved some money on our December 2009 Trip, about $500 from the package we had booked before the AP.

Another reason I am excited about the AP is that it comes with park hopping! Which makes me oh so happy. I wasn't planning on adding the park hopping this time around but I want my hopping dagnabbit! With the park hopper I can totally relax about ADR's and such. Plus I want to take advantage of some of the night time EMH's but not necessarily be at that park the whole day because of crowds. We had really good luck with the evening EMH's last time and want to try the same tactic. Plus Paula, (ILuvCrush) has been going on and on about how wonderful AK is at night and I want to see it at night now too. Granted in May it won't be as dark but I will get the idea.

I also received something in the mail from DisneyShopping this week.

My new toiletry bag!!

I'm really happy with it and think it will help us keep all of our bathroom stuff more organized.

All of the photos in this update were taken with Marc's new camera. Yes, I let him have it before Christmas, I am nice like that. It's too cute, he's been a picture taking fool.

Sully enjoying our new couch.

Sully's funny face.

Little Ruby Doobie.

I like to call this look, "Stop Taking Pictures of Me."

Overall, I think his new camera takes decent pictures. He loved it and it really excited about it. I'm not use to such a small camera, my camera feels substantial so this new one feels funny to me. I also don't like how it doesn't have an eye viewfinder, it just has the photo screen in the back but that's what he wanted. I'll stick to my camera.

I also received my Tripod this week. It's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be, that's what you get when you don't read the ENTIRE description on Amazon. But I do like it, I am going to play around with it some more and take some photos of it and with it before I give you my full review.

Still no May hours but I am going to make up a new tentative itinerary with the park hopping for a future chapter and I also have some more musings on my Disney wardrobe.

 

[Roxychica7]

An April 2010 trip now! Geeze LL, we're all going to want to be adopted by you and Marc soon. I'm certainly jealous

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I so love Sundays and LL updates! I am not an AP guru but that is my understanding of how it works. That you can put the value of your one day toward the purchase of the AP.

And don't forget that with the AP you can get the Tables in Wonderland card for 20% off your dining.

Your kitties are adorable!

Love the new couch!

And I like the new camera. The photos look great to me!

PS- I love your toiletry bag... especially the photo of Marc holding it up for the photo. You're pulling him into the DIS slowly but surely!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Who would like to partake in some dancing??

167 Days until our May 2009 Trip!!



and.....

364 Days Until our December 2009 Trip!

I want to thank everyone for their help with keeping me sane about Port Orleans Riverside. You all made me remember the reasons we chose POR and I am very grateful I didn't do something rash, like try to change our resort.

I'm so glad you didn't switch!!!

So. With our May Trip, we still need to buy the one day base ticket to get the 4 for 3 promotion. Fine by me BECAUSE I can then go to the Ticket Window at our first park and put that towards an Annual Pass. Or at least that is what the CM told me and I believe I have read about that on here. Annual Pass Gurus can you confirm or deny that for me? Not only that but we still have those one day tickets from our Wilderness Lodge portion of our last trip. How cool is that!?

I would get the full 4 days/3 free for your package. Use the ticket once, then upgrade it to the AP. You'll only be charged the difference between the GATE price for a 7 day ticket and the AP!! Granted it's only about $10 per ticket, but that's $20 more you can spend on something else!! That's what I did when I upgraded mine in Feb. We had a deal that was free PH and Water Parks (an extra $100 value on the 10 day ticket) I used it once at a park then upgraded it. I was credited for the $100 "free" part so my upgrade only cost me $145 (ish) instead of $245!! The only thing that could have burned me is if I had used one of the WP options I'd have ony been able to upgrade to a Premium AP... but since I hadn't, I was able to get a regular one

Plus Paula, (ILuvCrush) has been going on and on about how wonderful AK is at night and I want to see it at night now too. Granted in May it won't be as dark but I will get the idea.

Boy I better watch myself... if you all aren't as enamored as me with AK after dark... I'm gonna lose all my credibility

I also received something in the mail from DisneyShopping this week.

My new toiletry bag!!

I'm really happy with it and think it will help us keep all of our bathroom stuff more organized.

That is SOOOOO Cute!! I want one!!

Sully enjoying our new couch.

I just Love this pic!!


Paula

 

[Megablocks]

AK really IS awesome at night. It just feels like a completely different atmosphere than during the day (to me at least), and its lit up all pretty. I think that it has EMH on our arrival day in February, and I'm sooo excited. I can't remember if you did or liked EE, but it's really cool at night!

I'm so glad that you decided to stick with POR, it really is a beautiful resort. I'm sure you will be able to find lots of light fixtures, too.

I got DBF, Charles, a camera for Christmas, too, and I am having a hard time not saying anything. The only thing holding me back is that he has the uncanny ability to guess what I bought him.

I love the pictures of your kitties. I love cats, but I (along with my dad, sister, and brother) am allergic, plus I have a dog, plus Charles doesn't really like or care for cats, so even if I were dog-less and not allergic, I wouldn't be able to have one, no matter what my living situation. I will keep myself content with the pictures of your cuties.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

"Still no May hours but I am going to make up a new tentative itinerary with the park hopping for a future chapter and I also have some more musings on my Disney wardrobe.

OOOH can you have some musings about MY Disney wardrobe? I'm going in less than 2 months and I HATE that I can't come up with a wardrobe plan. I'm literally going to have to wait until that week and check the weather report!

So glad you decided to go with the AP. I'll let you know how it goes when I purchase mine. I'm a little nervous about the whole process.