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

[nan1217]

Can someone tell me which buildings are considered the preferred locations? I would like to stay close to the main building on the Mansion side for my next trip. I see there is an option to reserve preferred, water, river or standard views. I would really love preferred with river views but don't see that option.
The proximity to the main building is more inportant than the views.
Thanks for any help you can offer!

The http://portorleans.org site has all the info you probably ever wanted about POR, including recommended buildings. I'll be requesting building 14 in Alligator Bayou.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Last I knew there were only standard and water view, but Andrew would be the one who knows for sure.....oh, Andrew???/

 

[snykymom]

Can someone tell me which buildings are considered the preferred locations? I would like to stay close to the main building on the Mansion side for my next trip. I see there is an option to reserve preferred, water, river or standard views. I would really love preferred with river views but don't see that option.
The proximity to the main building is more inportant than the views.
Thanks for any help you can offer!

Last I knew there were only standard and water view, but Andrew would be the one who knows for sure.....oh, Andrew???/

"Preferred" rooms will be available for booking beginning in January 2011, along with "water view" and a new "river view" category. Of course, prices will be higher.

Unfortunately, Disney hasn't released yet which buildings at POR (or CSR, with the same changes) will be considered "preferred."

 

[webstah]

Good news! Odd that it's Magnolia first though, as so far we've only heard of work permits for the guest rooms at Parterre Place, plus the elevators (only) at the other three mansions.

Andre

We returned on Sunday from a 10 day trip. POR was awesome a usual.
We went to the main pool on Wednesday, the 8th, and there were barrackades blocking all access to Magnolia Terrace.
It looked like they were pressure washing the outside of the buildings, and we didn't go by there again, so I don't know if they were still up the rest of the time.
We were in Parterre Place, so had a reasonably short walk to the main building.
We were, however, disappointed in Boatwrights this trip.
We didn't eat there last year, but this year, the food didn't seem up to par.
Everyday was very hot and humid, heat index over 100 most days.
We basically walked on just about every ride, except TSM and Soaring.
Crowds were relatively low, but I have seen it less populated.
Our rooms were clean, and housekeeping did their usual great job.
The grounds were well kept and beautiful as always.

 

[andrewilley]

The details of preferred rooms have not been announced yet. However as far as the mansions go I would expect that it will be sections of each building (maybe the west-facing areas of Acadian, Magnolia and perhaps Oak?) that would be counted.

Andre

 

[gw8721]

Wonderful! Only 16 days and I'll be there. If anything has changed while I'm there, I'll let you know

 

[Missytara]

The details of preferred rooms have not been announced yet. However as far as the mansions go I would expect that it will be sections of each building (maybe the west-facing areas of Acadian, Magnolia and perhaps Oak?) that would be counted.

Andre

Here is the description right off of Disney's website:

Preferred rooms - These rooms offer close proximity to the registration building, dining, transportation and Resort amenities.

By amentities, I am thinking the Main Pool and the Marina.

If you look on the resort map, it would be areas that are in close proximity to the bridges over to the Main Building or the Food Court side. So it looks like it would be on wing of Parterre Place, the front part of Oak Manor and the front part of Magnolia Terrace. On the AB side, it looks like 14 and 18, with a possible 15 thrown in for good measure.

I often wondered why it took them so long to look at the buildings that people most requested (the ones above) since they were close to everything and decided they could make them preferred rooms and charge more for them.

 

[tripplanner2]

So far they are not charging extra for the preferred rooms, which I found shocking,. I asked for a room close to the facilities and the CM said, oh you want preferred. I did not realize until I went to the online site that they added a formal request option. It does make it easier than saying building 14, close to restaurant, close to pool, etc. But I am sure once the economy starts to pick up it will be an up charge.

 

[Missytara]

So far they are not charging extra for the preferred rooms, which I found shocking,. I asked for a room close to the facilities and the CM said, oh you want preferred. I did not realize until I went to the online site that they added a formal request option. It does make it easier than saying building 14, close to restaurant, close to pool, etc. But I am sure once the economy starts to pick up it will be an up charge.

Through 2010, there have never been a preferred room category or a river view category - those are the two new categories starting in 2011.

The charges will begin with packages booked for January 2011. I noted on my trip it is about $196.00 extra for a preferred room for the week after Thanksgiving.

 

[tripplanner2]

Through 2010, there have never been a preferred room category or a river view category - those are the two new categories starting in 2011.

The charges will begin with packages booked for January 2011. I noted on my trip it is about $196.00 extra for a preferred room for the week after Thanksgiving.

I just went to the Disney site and I am seeing that they are now charging for the preferred room. I booked the day free dining came out which was pretty close to when the 2011 rates had been released. At that point, it was not an upcharge but it definately is now. It will be interesting to see what happens when we get closer. I was not charged but it does say preferred room on my invoice.

 

[team disney]

Thanks everyone! I did book a preferred room for my 2011 trip. I was just wondering if a preferred room would be a riverview. I stayed here a few weeks ago in Parterre Place room 9513 the view was of grass and a parking lot (I actually was booked for Caribbean Beach but we had some problems and switched resorts. This became our first stay at POR) . Location was pretty good as far as being of good walking distance to the main building but, I was wondering how the new preferred rooms were going to work. I want to be close to the front but I would like a better view then my recent stay. I will call, when I get the chace, to see if I can get any more info.

 

[Missytara]

Thanks everyone! I did book a preferred room for my 2011 trip. I was just wondering if a preferred room would be a riverview. I stayed here a few weeks ago in Parterre Place room 9513 the view was of grass and a parking lot (I actually was booked for Caribbean Beach but we had some problems and switched resorts. This became our first stay at POR) . Location was pretty good as far as being of good walking distance to the main building but, I was wondering how the new preferred rooms were going to work. I want to be close to the front but I would like a better view then my recent stay. I will call, when I get the chace, to see if I can get any more info.

The categories are now:

Standard
King Bed
Waterview
Riverview
Preferred

If you look at the cost and the descriptions, it is possible to have a preferred room, and a water view which is either riverfront or courtyard pool. It says there is no upcharge for waterview, if you pick preferred. But I believe that you would most likely have to request a waterview.

The riverview is another additional charge, which guarantees riverfront.

 

[Missytara]

I just went to the Disney site and I am seeing that they are now charging for the preferred room. I booked the day free dining came out which was pretty close to when the 2011 rates had been released. At that point, it was not an upcharge but it definately is now. It will be interesting to see what happens when we get closer. I was not charged but it does say preferred room on my invoice.

If you booked before the 2011 rates came out, then you were booked at the highest rack rate for that time of year. The rate would be adjusted to the preferred room rate when the 2011 packages were released.

Therefore, if you go into your itinerary and access your trip, it will most like be updated for the preferred room rate and yes, you were charged for it.

 

[team disney]

The categories are now:

Standard
King Bed
Waterview
Riverview
Preferred

If you look at the cost and the descriptions, it is possible to have a preferred room, and a water view which is either riverfront or courtyard pool. It says there is no upcharge for waterview, if you pick preferred. But I believe that you would most likely have to request a waterview.

The riverview is another additional charge, which guarantees riverfront.

But would a riverview guarantee it to be preferred? I would like both but I don't see a preferred riverview category Of the 2, preferred or riverview, the location is more important for me, but paying for a preferred rate and getting a parking lot view would be a bummer. Driving myself crazy here!! haha I will call soon

 

[Missytara]

But would a riverview guarantee it to be preferred? I would like both but I don't see a preferred riverview category Of the 2, preferred or riverview, the location is more important for me, but paying for a preferred rate and getting a parking lot view would be a bummer. Driving myself crazy here!! haha I will call soon

If you go to the disney site, just plug in some dates and POR and you will see the different categories and charges.

Then read my post again and it will make perfect sense. As I stated there is an upcharge for a preferred room, but not for waterview if you choose a preferred room(which could be river or pool).

If you want to guarantee riverview, then there will be an additional upcharge.

For the week I am going, it is an additional $196.00 for a preferred room and then another $28.00 if I want to guarantee a river view room. It is an additional $0.00 if I just want to get river or pool; leaving it up to the room assigner.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I was just wondering if a preferred room would be a riverview. I was wondering how the new preferred rooms were going to work. I want to be close to the front but I would like a better view then my recent stay. I will call, when I get the chace, to see if I can get any more info.

You've raised a very good point. And one that I've been wondering about myself. Essentially, if you have a preferred room in the Mansions Section (if preferred rooms are the Amenities facing rooms) you also have a River View room. However, (take my trip for instance) the preferred view was a $200 upsell and the River View is $240 beyond standard view. This makes nearlyall of the preferred Rooms in the Mansions A river view. So, If you only buy the preferred room are you locked out of the Mansions? This means that Preferred rooms would be located in bldgs 14, 15, 16,17, 18 and 27. (with some of the 14, 18, and 27 rooms set aside for river view) Bad news for those Mansion fans who thought they were buying their favorite spots in the Mansions and now are locked into AB. Really bad news for those who have 5 person families who now have fewer rooms to choose from because a lot of 2, 3, or 4 person families who bought preferred are now taking up those AB rooms that would have normally been set aside for 5 person families.

I can't wait until this is clarified. But I wonder if once it is, it'll be too late for those on Free Dining to add or subtract their Preferred room status based upon where they want to be.

My real wish list? You pay for Preferred status and then get to choose a first and second building area choice as to where you want to be placed and Disney will guarantee that you will get one of those.

 

[Missytara]

You've raised a very good point. And one that I've been wondering about myself. Essentially, if you have a preferred room in the Mansions Section (if preferred rooms are the Amenities facing rooms) you also have a River View room. However, (take my trip for instance) the preferred view was a $200 upsell and the River View is $240 beyond standard view. This makes nearlyall of the preferred Rooms in the Mansions A river view. So, If you only buy the preferred room are you locked out of the Mansions? This means that Preferred rooms would be located in bldgs 14, 15, 16,17, 18 and 27. (with some of the 14, 18, and 27 rooms set aside for river view) Bad news for those Mansion fans who thought they were buying their favorite spots in the Mansions and now are locked into AB. Really bad news for those who have 5 person families who now have fewer rooms to choose from because a lot of 2, 3, or 4 person families who bought preferred are now taking up those AB rooms that would have normally been set aside for 5 person families.

I believe a lot of that statement is incorrect.

If you look at the description and the resort map, you can see what is closest to the amentities in the Mansions; it is one wing of Partarre, the front part of Magnolia Terrace and the front part of Oak Manor. These are both closest to the bridges. Not all of those rooms are facing the river. The back side of Parterre Place wing, one side of Oak Manor, and the one side at Magnolia Terrace have views of the quiet pools. That is where it comes into play that you can book preferred and get riverview or pool view, or you pay the extra upcharge to guarantee the river view.

The same can be said for AB, which I believe will be 14, 18, and 27. Those all have river view on the front side and 18 and 27 have pool views on the rear and side of the building respectively. I might also include 38, which has an excellent river view, but you do have to cut through the Island to get over to the main area.

A majority of the buildings at AB don't fit the criteria of the preferred definition, which leaves plenty of rooms for the families of 5 and there are more preferred rooms in the Mansions, so the Mansion people (like myself) will be happy as well.

It is just now we are paying for what I have received all along, which I have always booked Oak Manor, pool view and have always gotten it and have been in a room close to the side where the bridge over to the main building and amentities are located.

 

[nan1217]

So if we booked a standard view in AB and request building 14, does that mean our chances of getting it are slim? Or are there also plenty of standard view rooms? I would have done preferred or water view if I'd known. Still could I suppose but we're traveling w/2 other fams so I'd have to ask them about upgrading their ressies as well.

 

[dsnydaddy]

If you go to the disney site, just plug in some dates and POR and you will see the different categories and charges.

Then read my post again and it will make perfect sense. As I stated there is an upcharge for a preferred room, but not for waterview if you choose a preferred room(which could be river or pool).

If you want to guarantee riverview, then there will be an additional upcharge.

For the week I am going, it is an additional $196.00 for a preferred room and then another $28.00 if I want to guarantee a river view room. It is an additional $0.00 if I just want to get river or pool; leaving it up to the room assigner.

You are kinda correct.

There is a standard rate then an upsell to either Preferred or Waterview for the same amount of money. In this case I would think that Waterview would be a complete waste of your money as you could presumably be placed in a far off building with a great water view for the same amount of money that you would have spent for a preferred room that chances are will have a waterview. The next upsell would be the River View. This also could be a complete waste of money. Let's say you are a family of four or less and you purchase the Preferred room. IF Disney decides to hold the AB rooms for families of 5 then you are limited to the Mansions and it appears to me that with the mansions nearly all of the rooms that could be considered preferred (by way of easy access to amenities) would also be River View Rooms. In other words... Save your money.

Let me know if my logic is flawed.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I believe a lot of that statement is incorrect.

If you look at the description and the resort map, you can see what is closest to the amentities in the Mansions; it is one wing of Partarre, the front part of Magnolia Terrace and the front part of Oak Manor. These are both closest to the bridges. Not all of those rooms are facing the river. The back side of Parterre Place wing, one side of Oak Manor, and the one side at Magnolia Terrace have views of the quiet pools. That is where it comes into play that you can book preferred and get riverview or pool view, or you pay the extra upcharge to guarantee the river view.

The same can be said for AB, which I believe will be 14, 18, and 27. Those all have river view on the front side and 18 and 27 have pool views on the rear and side of the building respectively. I might also include 38, which has an excellent river view, but you do have to cut through the Island to get over to the main area.

I see what you mean. The back side of the mansion building segments that are preferred could be the upsold rooms with a small surcharge more for the river facing side of those same segments. That I could understand.