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

[redhead09]

A BIG Ol'YUCK!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it - even if it's not what I want to hear!

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

2648, top right corner room. And the view:

love this room! it would worth paying the upgrade to wateview if it could be guaranteed. I'm very nervous about room location as we are going for two weeks and like to be central to the main pool and food court. It's a long time to stay if you're not happy with the location.

 

[Yarna]

A BIG Ol'YUCK!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it - even if it's not what I want to hear!

Aw, who cares what your hair looks like. You're at WDW!!!

 

[cnktruitt]

I always try to look pulled together everywhere I go whether it is down to the market to out to lunch but at WDW I'm too busy running to the rides & playing with the kids to bother with my hair. My solution? Pony tail......I know how boring! But it gets the hair off my neck (a must in the sun) and out of my eyes (good for watching parades).

Don't worry about your hair.......People are only going to notice the huge, mickey induced smile on your face anyway!

 

[Chelmarie53]

What is the bus route for POR?

I've been wondering because I've seen some conflicting reports. Some say the buses stop at POFQ first, then head on over to the main bus depot at POR, and then to all of the other bus stops scattered around POR. Other DISers say it's POFQ, then the small bus depots at POR, and the last stop would be the main depot. Others even say the buses don't stop at POFQ at all.

I'm just trying to figure out where would be best to wait early in the morning to go to the parks.

 

[Yarna]

^^ Well, after two stays at POR I can honestly say I never could figure out the rhyme or reason behind the bus routes. There is definitely a stop at POFQ. Sometimes POFQ was first, sometimes it was POR. When POR was first, sometimes the south stop was first, sometimes it was the west stop. Maybe it had to do with which park you were coming from, or maybe it was just how the driver felt that day.

As far was which stop to catch the bus in the mornings, I can't help you - I'm on vacation and I like to sleep in!

 

[gigi1313]

What is the bus route for POR?

I've been wondering because I've seen some conflicting reports. Some say the buses stop at POFQ first, then head on over to the main bus depot at POR, and then to all of the other bus stops scattered around POR. Other DISers say it's POFQ, then the small bus depots at POR, and the last stop would be the main depot. Others even say the buses don't stop at POFQ at all.

I'm just trying to figure out where would be best to wait early in the morning to go to the parks.

our experience last week was "it varied" and not by time of day, nor destination... it just varied! one word of advice though... don't wait at the east depot... the buses were few and far between in the morning as they got full at previous stops so that stop was skipped... it was so bad one morning that i called the transportation dep't and they sent a cruiseline bus for us!

 

[Pixiedust34]

What is the bus route for POR?

I've been wondering because I've seen some conflicting reports. Some say the buses stop at POFQ first, then head on over to the main bus depot at POR, and then to all of the other bus stops scattered around POR. Other DISers say it's POFQ, then the small bus depots at POR, and the last stop would be the main depot. Others even say the buses don't stop at POFQ at all.

I'm just trying to figure out where would be best to wait early in the morning to go to the parks.

As others have said, the order of the bus stops seem to vary. We've stayed at POR for a total of 32 nights (from combined trips--not all at once) and the order of the bus stops has not been 100% consistant.

The South Depot is always the most crowded stop, so I prefer waiting at another stop if possible.

 

[sarbah77]

Yep, like everyone else said, it's pretty inconsistent. We generally caught the bus from the busier South Depot because we'd be getting breakfast/soda/something and it didn't make sense to walk back to the stop closer to our room.

We only had a problem once at the South Depot and it was on the last day of my trip so I was pretty much DONE with the transportation system. Otherwise, it never seemed to matter where we caught the bus!! (it was one of those days where every little thing magnified into something huge and my husband decided I should have had a time out so take my complaint with multiple grains of salt)

 

[dormouse72]

but the more I read the more questions I have!!!

We're staying in a standard view room at POR from 10/10 to 10/17 - 8 people in 2 rooms...

Rm. 1

Me
My BF
BF's BFF since Jr. HS (my co-worker and neighbor D - 1st trip ever to WDW)
My DD #3 (7) - we're looking to stay in AB for the trundles.

Rm. 2

My BFF
Her DH
My DD #1 (14)
My DD #2 (11)

Joining us for our trip are also:

SIL, Darling Niece (turning 6 in WDW), SIL's Mom - they have a separate reservation and are staying at POFQ
My Mom - has her own reservation; arriving on 10/13; staying at POR

Now for my questions:

1) Given that it's a standard view room, what are the odds of my getting one of my first choice buildings in AB (14, 15, 18, or 27) if I put in a room request with my online check-in? Are these mostly water views? The resort is huge and it is Columbus Day weekend when we arrive, but I REALLY don't want to get stuck in the back 40 between the North and West depots. D has mobility issues (nothing major but he's a BIG guy who is not in the best shape and is starting to have early size-related health issues; one of the reasons for including him on this trip was to give him a fitness goal of "getting ready for Disney") and when you combine that with "childhood dream coming true" giddiness, I hate to think about how he'll hold up with a long walk after a potentially crowded bus.

2) Given that two of my kids are staying with BFF in her room, do they have connecting rooms with two double beds in each? For TRUE POR fanatics - know the room numbers for connecting rooms with two double beds in each in buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27?

3) Let's say there's nothing else available but rooms nowhere near my older girls in the buildings furthest from the pool and food court; if I keep politely pestering the front desk (I am a master of the polite pester) would they move us? What would be the best hour for polite pestering? I usually try to time it for after check-out at 11 but before check-in at 3.

4) I'm assuming that since we are all staying at the same resort, it wouldn't be a HUGE deal if any of the DD's had "sleepovers" with SIL in POFQ or with my mom in her room, would it? DN is an only child and she and DD #3 swear they will have "sleep-overs every night". My BFF and her DH will be celebrating their 4th wedding anniversay while we are there and after my mom comes I figure they could have some privacy - the girls and I were in the wedding party and we're glad to share in celebrating their anniversay but they should have "alone time"

5) How much are the "mommy beverages" in the River Roost or at the pool bars? SIL and I are looking forward to kicking back on vacation since we don't usually get a chance to at home - one of us always has a long drive with at least one kid in the car.

6) Would a twin-sized air-mattress fit in the rooms? If we brought one, would Mousekeeping turn us in to the front desk if it's not deflated every morning? This is really regarding SIL in POFQ - SIL had a traumatic split and DN has only recently started sleeping in her own bed. DN insists that she is "sleeping by herself at Disney" but SIL is caught between possibly setting back her progress OR sharing a bed with HER mom (which she does not want to do). LIKEWISE if we could use an air-mattress for DD #3, we could look into staying in one of the mansion rooms (the elevator would be good for D and my mom will undoubtedly want one of those - her idea of "roughing it" is no room service)

7) When does the campfire start for the "winter season"? Will we be there for it in October? Do they still do it and do they do it every night or just some nights? If they have the campfire, do they have s'mores? We LOVE s'mores!

8) The carriage rides in FW become "spooky" for the Halloween season - do they do this at POR too? We were going to stay at FW (before free dining came along and we upgraded) and the big girls were really looking forward to the spooky carriage ride but I don't want to make a special trip over there just for that.

9) I want to arrange a "Happy Birthday" wake-up call for DN on her birthday - do I have a choice of characters or is it usually just Mickey? She's not a huge phone kid so if it's not someone she REALLY wants to talk to she'll refuse to get on the phone

Thanks for any and all help you can give me with this!

 

[Neesy228]

Can someone tell me the correct address to ship items to the resort? There are two different ones I keep seeing: the one on the first page of this thread, 1251 Dixie Drive and on other sites it says that the address is 1251 Riverside Drive....

TIA!

 

[andrewilley]

Can someone tell me the correct address to ship items to the resort? There are two different ones I keep seeing: the one on the first page of this thread, 1251 Dixie Drive and on other sites it says that the address is 1251 Riverside Drive....

TIA!

It's Riverside Drive, the Dixie Drive road name was changed in 2001 when the resort was renamed from Dixie Landings to Port Orleans Riverside.

Although to confuse matters still further, Disney officially recommends the following:

Guest or Party Name (with Room Number if known, otherwise check-in date)
c/o Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Post Office Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista
Florida 32830-1000
USA
​

However I used the Riverside Drive one a few weeks ago, as the company I was ordering from didn't allow PO Box addresses, and Fed Ex coped fine.

Andre

 

[Neesy228]

Thank you!

It's Riverside Drive, the Dixie Drive road name was changed in 2001 when the resort was renamed from Dixie Landings to Port Orleans Riverside.

Although to confuse matters still further, Disney officially recommends the following:

Guest or Party Name (with Room Number if known, otherwise check-in date)
c/o Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Post Office Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista
Florida 32830-1000
USA
​

However I used the Riverside Drive one a few weeks ago, as the company I was ordering from didn't allow PO Box addresses, and Fed Ex coped fine.

Andre

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We will be heading down for a few days after Christmas. We have never been to POR or POFQ. What do we NEED to know about the resort? I'm really excited as this will be the 5th different resort we've stayed at.

 

[andrewilley]

We will be heading down for a few days after Christmas. We have never been to POR or POFQ. What do we NEED to know about the resort? I'm really excited as this will be the 5th different resort we've stayed at.

Well for starters I'd suggest having a look through the posts in this thread, and also checking out www.portorleans.org.

If you've then got any more specific questions, or want to let us know what sort of things your family tends to enjoy on your vacations, we'd be really glad to help. I assume if you're Disney-veterans you'll already know that the week between Xmas and New Year will be very, very busy at the parks...

Andre

 

[Incredimom3]

The bedbug posts on another thread have me nervous. I can handle the occasional palmetto bug/spider. I realize that is part of the package in FL, but I would really love some reassurance on POR. Please tell me that you haven't had problems with the afore-mentioned pests. POR sounds so heavenly and we are so excited - I'd just like to hear some encouraging words.

 

[sersee05]

I have to agree about the bed bug post..I am so freaked out by that post and someone mentioned POR...it skeeves me to think my son is sleeping on that trundle that is under the bed and close to the floor..(i know it doesn't make a difference for bed bugs..but it grosses me out)..I mean ..I am an anxious girl as it is..and this is really bothering me..

 

[Villains_Rock]

I am also nervous about the bedbugs after reading that post! I have told my hubby to not forget to leave the luggage outside so we can check the room, but my worry is that they will deliver our bags before we get to the room (ie. We get in at noon and our room isn't ready so we go out for a bit and when we get back the bags have already been delivered). Anyone have a strategy for this?

 

[webstah]

We just got back Saturday from a 9 day stay at POR.
No issues with bed bugs at all.
The buses seem to be
For all parks except MK, POFQ is picked up first, then south, west, north, and finally east.
For the MK bus, POFQ and POR have their own, and at POR the order was west, north, east, south.
If you don't want your bags delivered before you get to the room, you should probably not use ME, but leave your bags with bell services when you get to the resort.
Then you can pick them up when you are ready.

 

[andrewilley]

C'mon folks, if bedbugs were any sort of real infestation, parts of the resorts would be shut down for deep cleaning. Disney has a reputation to uphold.

Do bed bugs ever happen at Disney resorts? Sure, bound to.

Does it happen often, or at any specific resort, or is it worth worrying yourself about? Nope.

The fact is bugs could happen anywhere, at any priced resort, and are much more likely to be down to the last visiting guest than to a resort's overall cleanliness. In short, it is nothing to do with POR, or the Grand Floridian, or any other specific resort - it's a one-off issue which Disney takes very seriously if they do happen to discover any bugs. I guess statistically speaking, the larger the resort, the larger the total number of cases that you might see reported though.

IMHO, it's rather like those email messages which get spread around by well-meaning individuals to all their friends about everyone's computers exploding if you open a message entitled "Good Times". All the ensuing recurring messages, internet chatter and general panic are often far worse than any problem which might actually have exisited.

However, as this is not a Port Orleans discussion as such, could I suggest that comments and question go into the bed bug thread please? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2280235


Oh, and to one of the earlier posters, as far as I know, luggage won't normally be delivered from Bell Services to your room until you are present to receive it (apart from Magical Express).

Andre