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

[andrewilley]

If you've paid for Preferred category then nothing is really too far away (that's the whole point, in fact). I'd suggest maybe not 15, as there's more chance of getting a parking lot view, but otherwise they're all fine.

Andre

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

We are going in August and staying at PORS for the first time. We are five and paid for a preferred room. What building should I request? I don't need to be super close to everything, just did not want to be too far Is 14 too close (hectic?)

Thanks in advance!i

BLDG 14 is our personal favorite. I don't find it hectic at all just very convenient. The whole resort is so laid back and peaceful. BLDG's 18 and 27 are also good.

 

[seadd67]

On my request I said bldg#14,18 or 27, with my paid Perfferd. I love AB. 14 is so great,you can run and get coffie in the morining with out walking to far or get pop refills going to and from the room. The walk along the river,getting to those Buildings are so peacefull, specialy at night it, is truly one of my favorit moments at WDW. Watching the water move slowly along drinking a nice cup of tea.

 

[anorman]

I just found out that I got my vacation time AND a seat sale came out for my dates! Now I finally have the whole thing booked and all that's left is the waiting ........come on August!!!!


This will be our first stay at POR and I can't wait to get there. Last year we stayed at POFQ and really enjoyed it but since we spent a lot of our time up at POR (any time we wanted to do anything extra) I decided that this time I would stay here. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping for a riverview Mansions room.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I just found out that I got my vacation time AND a seat sale came out for my dates! Now I finally have the whole thing booked and all that's left is the waiting ........come on August!!!!


This will be our first stay at POR and I can't wait to get there. Last year we stayed at POFQ and really enjoyed it but since we spent a lot of our time up at POR (any time we wanted to do anything extra) I decided that this time I would stay here. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping for a riverview Mansions room.

You sound exactly like us! We are going in August too! And we want so badly to stay in the Mansions with a Riverview!

 

[Minniemouse07]

On my request I said bldg#14,18 or 27, with my paid Perfferd. I love AB. 14 is so great,you can run and get coffie in the morining with out walking to far or get pop refills going to and from the room. The walk along the river,getting to those Buildings are so peacefull, specialy at night it, is truly one of my favorit moments at WDW. Watching the water move slowly along drinking a nice cup of tea.

This is where we prefer to be as well. I've had three opportunities to stay at POR. All three visits we requested 14, 18, or 27. Two visits we stayed in 18 but last June they couldn't give us ANY AB rooms and we stayed in the Mansions.

To be honest... we REALLY didn't like it there. Felt it was way too far away from the main building and I wasn't impressed w/ the decor at all. It felt more like a random hotel rather than the specialized theming we experienced in AB.

I would definitely consider paying extra for a preferred room next time we stay at POR.

 

[Missytara]

You sound exactly like us! We are going in August too! And we want so badly to stay in the Mansions with a Riverview!

I had one for the first time last year at Parterre Place and it was the greatest trip I ever had. My favorite building is Oak Manor, but this location could not be beat.

I wasn't thirty feet from the edge of the river. I ended up turning it into an 8-day, no parks trip.

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I had one for the first time last year at Parterre Place and it was the greatest trip I ever had. My favorite building is Oak Manor, but this location could not be beat.

I wasn't thirty feet from the edge of the river. I ended up turning it into an 8-day, no parks trip.

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya.

Thank you!!! I actually requested Oak Manor as our 1st choice! And also added a riverview if available.

 

[jen42002]

It was posted on the POFQ thread yesterday that the final building was rededicated. The rehab at POFQ is complete and POR should start in about 6 weeks!

Anyone that is heading to POR in late May, keep an eye out for some construction and let us know what you see!

 

[Greta]

Are the King rooms only in the Mansions or are they in AB too?

 

[Missytara]

Are the King rooms only in the Mansions or are they in AB too?

King bed rooms are scattered throughout the resort.

They are a booking category, and some of the rooms are handicapped accessible, so they would get first pick for those rooms.

 

[Missytara]

I found my home resort, POR, on my third stay at Disney. I have loved it ever since.

I am fifty, single with no children, and started traveling when I turned 40 in 2000; it was my first real trip to Disney; but my third overall. I have gone back almost every year since then, the week after Thanksgiving.

This past year, my wonderful next door neighbors, Alex and Holly, asked if they could go with me this year. They are a wonderful young couple who I adore, that watch out for me all the time. I got them the planning DVD, the maps, a couple of Disney movies, etc.

Not long after Christmas, they found out that Alex was being deployed to Afghanistan at the end of April/early May and would return about 10 - 15 days before we leave. He was so excited to tell me that he was happy to really have something to look forward to when he comes home, and for he and Holly to talk about while he was away.

About six weeks ago, a former roommate of theirs, Sarah, and her six year old daughter Skylar (this loveable bundle of energy that hugs everyone she sees), moved in to stay with Holly while Alex was away. Well, last night, we got to talking and Holly asked if it was okay to ask Sarah and Skylar. Well, let me tell you, I was almost in tears, I was so happy. Sarah was crying, Holly was crying, we were all crying.

Well, we have decided not to tell Skylar until about a week before we go. She is just such a joy to be around and it will just make this trip so special for all of us! I cannot wait to share my love for POR with all four of them!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I found my home resort, POR, on my third stay at Disney. I have loved it ever since.

I am fifty, single with no children, and started traveling when I turned 40 in 2000; it was my first real trip to Disney; but my third overall. I have gone back almost every year since then, the week after Thanksgiving.

This past year, my wonderful next door neighbors, Alex and Holly, asked if they could go with me this year. They are a wonderful young couple who I adore, that watch out for me all the time. I got them the planning DVD, the maps, a couple of Disney movies, etc.

Not long after Christmas, they found out that Alex was being deployed to Afghanistan at the end of April/early May and would return about 10 - 15 days before we leave. He was so excited to tell me that he was happy to really have something to look forward to when he comes home, and for he and Holly to talk about while he was away.

About six weeks ago, a former roommate of theirs, Sarah, and her six year old daughter Skylar (this loveable bundle of energy that hugs everyone she sees), moved in to stay with Holly while Alex was away. Well, last night, we got to talking and Holly asked if it was okay to ask Sarah and Skylar. Well, let me tell you, I was almost in tears, I was so happy. Sarah was crying, Holly was crying, we were all crying.

Well, we have decided not to tell Skylar until about a week before we go. She is just such a joy to be around and it will just make this trip so special for all of us! I cannot wait to share my love for POR with all four of them!

awwww that's a really nice story. enjoy the planning and looking forward to the trip for you all

 

[poohgirl6]

I found my home resort, POR, on my third stay at Disney. I have loved it ever since.

I am fifty, single with no children, and started traveling when I turned 40 in 2000; it was my first real trip to Disney; but my third overall. I have gone back almost every year since then, the week after Thanksgiving.

This past year, my wonderful next door neighbors, Alex and Holly, asked if they could go with me this year. They are a wonderful young couple who I adore, that watch out for me all the time. I got them the planning DVD, the maps, a couple of Disney movies, etc.

Not long after Christmas, they found out that Alex was being deployed to Afghanistan at the end of April/early May and would return about 10 - 15 days before we leave. He was so excited to tell me that he was happy to really have something to look forward to when he comes home, and for he and Holly to talk about while he was away.

About six weeks ago, a former roommate of theirs, Sarah, and her six year old daughter Skylar (this loveable bundle of energy that hugs everyone she sees), moved in to stay with Holly while Alex was away. Well, last night, we got to talking and Holly asked if it was okay to ask Sarah and Skylar. Well, let me tell you, I was almost in tears, I was so happy. Sarah was crying, Holly was crying, we were all crying.

Well, we have decided not to tell Skylar until about a week before we go. She is just such a joy to be around and it will just make this trip so special for all of us! I cannot wait to share my love for POR with all four of them!

Awww...thank you so much for sharing this with us. What a lovely story. Please, keep us updated as your trip approaches, and for sure do a trip report when you return so we can enjoy it with you.

 

[FOCUS]

I found my home resort, POR, on my third stay at Disney. I have loved it ever since.

I am fifty, single with no children, and started traveling when I turned 40 in 2000; it was my first real trip to Disney; but my third overall. I have gone back almost every year since then, the week after Thanksgiving.

This past year, my wonderful next door neighbors, Alex and Holly, asked if they could go with me this year. They are a wonderful young couple who I adore, that watch out for me all the time. I got them the planning DVD, the maps, a couple of Disney movies, etc.

Not long after Christmas, they found out that Alex was being deployed to Afghanistan at the end of April/early May and would return about 10 - 15 days before we leave. He was so excited to tell me that he was happy to really have something to look forward to when he comes home, and for he and Holly to talk about while he was away.

About six weeks ago, a former roommate of theirs, Sarah, and her six year old daughter Skylar (this loveable bundle of energy that hugs everyone she sees), moved in to stay with Holly while Alex was away. Well, last night, we got to talking and Holly asked if it was okay to ask Sarah and Skylar. Well, let me tell you, I was almost in tears, I was so happy. Sarah was crying, Holly was crying, we were all crying.

Well, we have decided not to tell Skylar until about a week before we go. She is just such a joy to be around and it will just make this trip so special for all of us! I cannot wait to share my love for POR with all four of them!

That's a great story and I am so happy that you get to share your POR. Have any of them ever been to WDW?

 

[Missytara]

That's a great story and I am so happy that you get to share your POR. Have any of them ever been to WDW?

First timers, all four of them.

 

[FOCUS]

First timers, all four of them.

Awesome...I love the introducing people to WDW and just watching their faces as they experience everything.

 

[Missytara]

Aweosme...I love the introducing people to WDW and just watching their faces as they experience everything.

My favorite was when I took two friends a few years ago. The look on their faces when we walked into the Grand Floridian and saw the Christmas tree, their knees just about buckled underneath them.

The classic of course is always the first view of the Castle looking down Main Street.

 

[andrewilley]

First timers, all four of them.

I love going to WDW with first-timers and helping them see and do stuff that most visitors simply never see. Sitting on loungers on the beach at the Poly watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant with friends drinking Lapu Lapus, priceless. Hmm, perhaps skip the Lapu Lapu's for the six year old though, thinking about it - a Dole Whip instead, I think.

Andre

 

[kaffinito]

This is just like the review I posted on the main page.

I checked into POR for the second half of my solo trip on the 19th and stayed until the 22nd. Check in was super easy, with no line or wait. My room request of ground floor was met, and I was sort of close to two DSA's. I had requested a preferred room and was in building 14 with two doubles. The room was clean and dust free.

The resort is very beautiful, very green, and with a lot of wildlife. I saw an armadillo, a large heron, a very small alligator, several Monarch butterflies, a lot of squirrels, and there were also mosquitos thrown into the mix. I also saw some "love bugs" which were a surprise to me. I usually miss love bug season.

The bus service going to the parks was great - longest wait was 15 minutes for a bus to EPCOT. We didn't stop off at POFQ. Getting back was another story though - it took a while for buses to go back to POR from DHS, EPCOT, and MK.

My last day I waited 25 minutes for a bus back to POR, then ended up getting on the "Arctic Express" bus to POFQ figuring I'd walk back to POR. As we got to POFQ, the driver said he was being sent over to POR and would take me there, but I refused due to my blue lips and chattering teeth.

The walk from the main pool at POFQ to the lobby of POR took me 7:36. I walked slowly so I could get a good feel for how long it would take a normal walker to get there. The walk really is quite pleasant, and it looks longer than it actually takes.

The food court at POR was more crowded and with long lines. It was definitely a peak season, and the resort was at capacity. At 10:30 am it was standing room only at the food court, but it was empty at 6:00 am and in the early and late evenings.

Of course it was lovely wandering around the resort, and I loved the quiet pool by building 18. It was a lovely relaxing end to my trip. I can still honestly recommend POR to anyone.