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

[andrewilley]

Hopefully, they will contact me and let me know they fixed it.

Neat, good idea.

Now if we can just get Disney themselves to stop referring to the "Colonel's Cotton Mill" on their own website, then even disneyworld.com won't be too innacurate...

Andre

 

[phoebec]

Has anyone heard any updates as to which building at Riverside will be worked on first? We are staying in the AB in June in a preferred room and I keep hoping they might start there first.

 

[Missytara]

Has anyone heard any updates as to which building at Riverside will be worked on first? We are staying in the AB in June in a preferred room and I keep hoping they might start there first.

There has been no firm information on whether they are going to start POR right after they finish POFQ and there has been no firm information on whether they will start in AB or the mansions. If things continue to go well in POFQ they could be finished in late April. If they get started right away in POR, I wouldn't expect much to be done by June at any of the buildings. POR is much, much bigger than POFQ and it is going to a longer walk to get materials into the buildings.

But being in construction management, there are two ways to go at POR - AB first, because it will be a bit faster or Mansions first, because it will take longer. The elevators are being refurbed in the mansions.

Also expect POR overall to take much longer, as the site is so much bigger and the buildings are not as close to the parking lots as they are in POFQ. I watched them do building no. 7 at POFQ and it was a relatively straightforward walk to each building with materials (drywall, paint, fixtures, etc.). The longest time was to get all the way around the other side of the building facing the river.

Think about how sprawling POR is and how long of a walk it is going to be from each parking lot to each room. I would expect them to go into the end of the year.

 

[andrewilley]

Most of the talk I've heard is that the Mansion Buildings will most likely be first, and if they do decide to do it that way then I'd guess that Parterre Place would be the best starting point.

As for timescales, I would think each 256-room mansion building will take at least 6 weeks to complete (maybe as much as two months?) but we'll know more once they start work.

At the moment, it's pretty much all guesswork.

Andre

 

[donnajz]

We'll be going to POR the last 2 weeks of June and requested one of the 2 buildings closest to pool/main building. It would be GREAT if our room was refurbished!

 

[goiu]

We are coming here the end of Feburary beginning of March any suggestions of things to do with a 2 and 4 year old?

 

[Carrie772]

If the beds at POFQ are changed to Queens, will the beds at POR as well? Will that eliminate the AB trundle bed rooms?

 

[andrewilley]

If the beds at POFQ are changed to Queens, will the beds at POR as well? Will that eliminate the AB trundle bed rooms?

Yes, POR will be getting queen beds too.

I've heard (unofficially) that the extra bed option will be staying at AB, but it may not be a trundle bed. Certainly they are still selling the five-person option right up until the end of this year, by which time I'd have thought they would be getting around to refurbing the AB section.

Andre

 

[anorman]

Right now I am booked at POFQ for August but I am considering a possible change to POR. Does anyone have any opinions to offer as to why one or the other would be a better place to stay? We did stay at POFQ last summer and really enjoyed it but POR seems like it has a lot to offer as well.

Also, right now I have the free dining deal secured with my POFQ reservation. If I were to try to switch to POR, would I then lose my free dining?

 

[Missytara]

Right now I am booked at POFQ for August but I am considering a possible change to POR. Does anyone have any opinions to offer as to why one or the other would be a better place to stay? We did stay at POFQ last summer and really enjoyed it but POR seems like it has a lot to offer as well.

Also, right now I have the free dining deal secured with my POFQ reservation. If I were to try to switch to POR, would I then lose my free dining?

Yes, it is a distinct possibility; if you want to change, I would do it now. POR sells out a lot quicker because it is the most affordable mod for a family of 5.

I have never had the chance, except once when I had a pin code, to take advantage of a discount at POR. Usually, once the discount goes public, POR fills up faster than any other mod. So it hardly ever has discounts.

 

[Carrie772]

Yes, POR will be getting queen beds too.

I've heard (unofficially) that the extra bed option will be staying at AB, but it may not be a trundle bed. Certainly they are still selling the five-person option right up until the end of this year, by which time I'd have thought they would be getting around to refurbing the AB section.

Andre

Thanks for that! I hate to think I would need to go 2 rooms at Pop or always stay at Poly. I mean, I would , but it's nicer to have more options for a fam of 5.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

On my up coming honeymoon in November I am thinking of staying here!!

I am so confused by the options on Disney's site. WIth the river view how close to a bus stop will we be? If we are the last stop at the resort will we likely be standing room only?

I just want this to be the best ever and am trying to figure out which option to pick and not have a long walk to a bus stop!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

On my up coming honeymoon in November I am thinking of staying here!!

I am so confused by the options on Disney's site. WIth the river view how close to a bus stop will we be? If we are the last stop at the resort will we likely be standing room only?

I just want this to be the best ever and am trying to figure out which option to pick and not have a long walk to a bus stop!

If a short walk is the most important to you, pick a preferred room. They are buildings 14, 15, 18, and 27.

Here's a map:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

 

[seadd67]

So with the refurb,will it be done by Sept?. I am currently book at POP,but I was considering POR. If there is a bunch of construction going on that would diffently change my oppion.

 

[andrewilley]

So with the refurb,will it be done by Sept?. I am currently book at POP,but I was considering POR. If there is a bunch of construction going on that would diffently change my oppion.

The refurb will have only just started really. However they will only close one building at a time (maybe two for Alligator Bayou?) and the reports coming from FQ are that most guests hardly even notice work is going on.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

The refurb will have only just started really. However they will only close one building at a time (maybe two for Alligator Bayou?) and the reports coming from FQ are that most guests hardly even notice work is going on.

Andre

Seriously doubt they would close two buildings at AB at one time; this is the only affordable moderate option for a family of 5 in a moderate and they wouldn't take that many rooms out of inventory - in addition, four of the buildings are now "preferred", so that would be a lot of lost extra income for them.

 

[ShhhQ]

I wonder... does anyone know what would happen if they are doing a refurb at the time you have already booked.. is it possible they would overbook due to buildings being closed? I hope our trip ISN'T affected, as I fell in love with the room pics for AB and really want that! Very much hoping not to be on the mansian side.

 

[Missytara]

I wonder... does anyone know what would happen if they are doing a refurb at the time you have already booked.. is it possible they would overbook due to buildings being closed? I hope our trip ISN'T affected, as I fell in love with the room pics for AB and really want that! Very much hoping not to be on the mansian side.

They are going to try and anticipate how many rooms are in inventory during the refurb. If they are overbooked, they may move you to another resort.

Also, staying in the AB is only guaranteed if you are a family of 5, or you stay in the preferred rooms, which are extra and are the four closest AB rooms to the Main Building.

Other than that, you are not guaranteed to be placed in AB.

 

[andrewilley]

Seriously doubt they would close two buildings at AB at one time; this is the only affordable moderate option for a family of 5 in a moderate and they wouldn't take that many rooms out of inventory.

I kinda doubt it too, but I still wonder if it might be an option for them. Don't forget that the AB lodges only have 64 rooms each - compare that to FQ with 144 rooms per building, and Magnolia Bend with 256.

Andre

 

[Racemom17]

Is walking from POR to Epcot completely out of the question?