The New and Updated Port Orleans Riverside FAQ Thread for 2008 --- NOW CLOSED

[Yarna]

In one month we'll be back at POR and we can't wait! We felt like we were "cheating" a little by staying at CSR last year.

Now's the time to decide which Magnolia buildling we would like to request and then sit back and wait for February...

 

[phoebec]

We are booked June 5-12 in a preferred category which I believe is AB 14, 16, 18. or 27. How are these rooms? I know they won't be refurbished by the time we are there. I absolutely love the theming and the looks of the resort. I'm just a little concerned about the rooms. Can anyone ease my mind? Maybe some recent AB photos? Thanks!!!

 

[Missytara]

We are booked June 5-12 in a preferred category which I believe is AB 14, 16, 18. or 27. How are these rooms? I know they won't be refurbished by the time we are there. I absolutely love the theming and the looks of the resort. I'm just a little concerned about the rooms. Can anyone ease my mind? Maybe some recent AB photos? Thanks!!!

check out portorleans.org for photos.

 

[jeanylaser]

thanks for the info!

 

[Chicago Mo]

my 3 kids fight over who gets the trundle bed.

the girl usually wins, (as with everything)

isn't that the truth!!!

 

[downsouthca]

Our family of five stayed at POR in Dec 2010 and loved it. We had a trundle bed and it easliy fit my older kids ( who are about 5-2). The heated pool and spa feel great and Food court had many choices. Take time to watch Piano bob. He was a great treat. We had great luck with the busses to and from the parks.

 

[onelugnut]

any confirmation on the 5 in a room in the mansions?

also a confirmation on that heated pool?

never been to port orleans in winter, but when i was at POP in January, the pool did not feel heated.
(heated would be nice, going in no matter what, but heated would be nice)

and ditto on the piano player, Bob is the best part of POR.

my vacation too and wifey and I will have us a libation and a few silly songs with Bob in about 9 days!!

 

[eemmie1]

I thought that all of the resort pools were heated but I could be mistaken. I would be interested in knowing this as well.

 

[Megsmachine]

I'm pretty sure that if you have 5 people all over 3 years old, you will not get in the Mansions.

We were at POR in January of 2010 and they definately had the heat on in the pools.

 

[andrewilley]

If Alligator Bayou is full then they will put parties of five into a Mansion Building room, and provide you with a fold-up wheeled bed, but they only have a limited number of these beds available so their preference is definitely to use Alligator Bayou rooms if at all possible.

And yes, the pools are heated to 82 degrees. We went swimming last February, when the air temperature was around 50 degrees and it had been down to freezing overnight, and in the mornings you could see the steam coming off the pools.

Being in the pool was fine... it was getting out that came as a shock! Brrr! If it's very cold, they will shut down the slide and water features as no-one will want to use them.

Andre

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

Subbing...

Planning on staying here in December 2011 for our next trip. This is our first time movingup froma value resort after two trips to ASMo and ASMU...but with a fmaily of five, there is not a ton of choice at the Moderate level.

Looking forward to reading and learning and will probbaly pop in with some questions ...

 

[janiejake]

also a confirmation on that heated pool?


Pools (quiet pools and theme pool) are heated...nice and warm, like stepping into a bath tub! Just make sure you have a cushy robe or big towel to hop into when you come out, if it's a cool night.

 

[snykymom]

also a confirmation on that heated pool?


Pools (quiet pools and theme pool) are heated...nice and warm, like stepping into a bath tub! Just make sure you have a cushy robe or big towel to hop into when you come out, if it's a cool night.

All pools at Disney, be they resort or water park, are heated to approximately 80 degrees, all year round.

 

[pigletto]

Hello all

We've booked our second trip to POR and are arriving on February 28th. When I booked with Free Dining, the only room option available was "Water View".

Last trip we were in building 18 AB and the location was perfect for us.
Does anyone have any ideas where we should request to be this time if there is an option to request at all?

I understand that AB building 18 is preferred now, which I would have paid for, but it wasn't available.

I was thinking of just asking to be as close as possible to the Main Building in the AB section.
Should I just ask nicely at check in or make a request during onlien check in?

Any advice appreciated. And I know that requests are just requests and I won't be too upset either way.. it's still Disney afterall!

 

[Missytara]

Hello all

We've booked our second trip to POR and are arriving on February 28th. When I booked with Free Dining, the only room option available was "Water View".

Last trip we were in building 18 AB and the location was perfect for us.
Does anyone have any ideas where we should request to be this time if there is an option to request at all?

I understand that AB building 18 is preferred now, which I would have paid for, but it wasn't available.

I was thinking of just asking to be as close as possible to the Main Building in the AB section.
Should I just ask nicely at check in or make a request during onlien check in?

Any advice appreciated. And I know that requests are just requests and I won't be too upset either way.. it's still Disney afterall!

You add your request to your reservation. You cannot make specific requests on online check-in and your room will already be assigned when you check-in.

Requests are always attached to your reservation; you have to call CRO to add it.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Just booked a two day stay at Port Orleans Riverside. We are CBR lovers all the way but needed somewhere to stay before our free dining reservation at the CBR. I'm so excited to be trying a new resort.

 

[mr.bungle]

I'm thinking about upgrading our ressies from POP to POR. We want to be near a good bus stop - can you shed light on which one is best and then what would be the best building to stay in with regards to our bus stop choice?

 

[Missytara]

I'm thinking about upgrading our ressies from POP to POR. We want to be near a good bus stop - can you shed light on which one is best and then what would be the best building to stay in with regards to our bus stop choice?

There are four stops, one at the main building and three perimeter ones.

To get nearest the one at the main building, it is now considered a "preferred" room, so it will cost more. But it also gets you close to the food court, marina, and main pool.

The other three are perimeter spots. One at AB; one between AB and Acadian House; and one at Magnolia Terrace. Usually I stay in the mansions in Oak Manor, so I use the main bus stop, because it is nice to stroll over, eat breakfast at the food court and then go right out to the bus stop.

One year I stayed at the Acadian House facing the parking lot and it was very convenient having the bus stop right there, if I opted to eat at the parks instead of the food court.

So it actually depends on which side you would like to stay on - AB or the Mansions.

Here is a link to the resort map; POR is in Green.

http://allears.net/acc/portorleansmap.jpg

 

[scottmel]

I recommended this resort to a friend going in June 2011 under the impression POR and POFQ would be completely updated by then. Am I correct? Is one updated already? Schedule for update completion if not done? And if you are a party of 5 - 2 adults, 6 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old you can stay in the mansions correct?

 

[Missytara]

I recommended this resort to a friend going in June 2011 under the impression POR and POFQ would be completely updated by then. Am I correct? Is one updated already? Schedule for update completion if not done? And if you are a party of 5 - 2 adults, 6 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old you can stay in the mansions correct?

You can check updates here or on portorleans.org.

They are working on POFQ now and should be (guesstimated) completed by April. Then POR starts sometime after that. POR will take a bit longer, because the building permits included refurbs of the elevators in the mansions. There has been NO indication by anyone exactly how long after POFQ they will start POR, what order they are going in and how long it will take. But expect POR to go into late fall at least.

There are a few disadvantages of POR over POFQ, that will add time.

POR is more spread out than POFQ. I watched them do Building no. 6 when I was there and they were able to park and bring materials right into the buildings from the parking lot. They also weren't refurbing the elevators, so they were available for use full-time to bring up the materials (green board, new fixtures, refurb a/c units, paint, supplies, etc).

POR will have to either (in the mansions) have the elevators done first or the rooms. I would suspect the rooms, just in case they do a bit of damage to the elevators bringing up materials, they can fix it during the refurb of the elevators. But at some point, they can do work on the rooms without the elevators, but it is sure more convenient to have them running, even if you have to deliver cases of paint up three flights of stairs.

Also, POR buildings are very spread out and it is a heck of a walk with a load of drywall on a cart from the back parking lot to the front of the mansion buildings. It is going to be a very slow and arduous process.