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

[Smile4Me]

That actually makes quite a lot of sense, as Parterre and Oak would have been my first guesses for the locations of any Specialty Rooms anyway (being the furthest away from the main area). 512 rooms is exactly two complete mansion buildings, and it wouldn't make sense to separate the themed rooms too far in terms of housekeeping requirements, etc.

I had been trying to figure out why the latest info that I was getting did not match with start dates that had been discussed before... but if they are now allowing some extra time for the Royal room fittings to be prepared, that might be the final piece of the jigsaw.

Anyway, this is what I have been told recently - but please take it as unconfirmed until we actually see the whites of the construction workers' eyes...

Acadian House: 19 June - 29 July 2011
Magnolia Terrace: 24 July - 2 September 2011
Parterre Place: 8 January 2012 - 17 February 2012
Oak Manor: 12 February - 23 March 2012

I'm assuming Alligator Bayou work may happen during the missing September-December period, but we'll have to wait and see.

I've heard nothing more about the Haunted Mansion Rooms idea at all - maybe it didn't score well with the surveys?

Andre

This is the very information I was curious about, because i figured they'd be setting it up much like the pirate rooms at the Caribbean Beach...and had always thought that some of the rooms in the Alligator Bayou section were the furthest away and that didn't make much sense to stick Royal Rooms over there! We are definitely requesting a Mansion room in Acadian House or Magnolia Terrace for September so we can share the updated rooms with everyone here!!

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Could anyone tell me which non-preferred building in Alligator Bayou would be closest to the main pool and the food court? We would probably be using the pool most of all, and the food court only to fill our mugs. I was thinking maybe 16 or 38, but I have never been to POR so I just can't tell. Also, would I be more likely to get my request if I just requested a building number and nothing more(like floor number, etc.)? Thanks!

 

[splashmtnfan]

OK... new issue to deal with... please help if you know anything about accessible rooms... I had to change my reservation and now only have 3 adults and one child in our room... Are we still going to be able to fit all of us in an accessible room? Also, anyone ever split/ change occupants with your reservations? We will start out with my my son in our room and his daughter (11) for the first week then they will leave and my daughter and her son (6) will be joining us... HOW did you actually do this? Does Disney switch out the room keys? Because we have FREE DINING I want to make sure it is all done right. My grandson is actually still considered a child but my grandaughter is a junior/adult(for dining). When I called them they said to tell them at check in but it somehow seems like I need to tell them ahead of time to make sure it is all straight. My daughter and her son will need tickets added too, whereas the original group on our package will have tickets when we first arrive. Does this even make sense?

 

[Sue M]

Just wanted to say hi POR is our fav Moderate, and looking forward to our 3rd stay in Aug.
We love the mansion section and have requested a new room for our mid to late Aug visit. Hope we get one! I can't wait to see what the new rooms are like.
I saw the new FQ rooms, last Jan and they did a really great job.

I sure hope they don't have 2 complete mansions with princess rooms, my daughter(s) that come with me- one or both, depending on availability are young adults, and not interested in the princess rooms. So for those wanting to stay in The Mansion section, but not in the speciality rooms, it sure would cut down the chances of getting a room in that area. Just my opinion.

 

[Sue M]

missytara Have fun planning, great story.

 

[Iron Mouse]

Hooray for this thread and definitely subbing! My family just booked our Thanksgiving week Disney trip and we were originally going to stay at the All-Star Music resort but found out that staying at Port Orleans Riverside was a better deal. I am very excited because we have never stayed here before and I have read so many fantastic reviews. We have always stayed at the values so this is our first time at a moderate.

Hopefully we can snag a refurbished room if available when we go up. Too bad the princess rooms wont be available until next year but if we absolutely love it then we will stay there again for our next vacation next year!

 

[Sammy Cat]

Could anyone tell me which non-preferred building in Alligator Bayou would be closest to the main pool and the food court? We would probably be using the pool most of all, and the food court only to fill our mugs. I was thinking maybe 16 or 38, but I have never been to POR so I just can't tell. Also, would I be more likely to get my request if I just requested a building number and nothing more(like floor number, etc.)? Thanks!

I would be interested to see if anyone has any definitive answer to your questions for this.

 

[Mom2HandR]

Could anyone tell me which non-preferred building in Alligator Bayou would be closest to the main pool and the food court? We would probably be using the pool most of all, and the food court only to fill our mugs. I was thinking maybe 16 or 38, but I have never been to POR so I just can't tell. Also, would I be more likely to get my request if I just requested a building number and nothing more(like floor number, etc.)? Thanks!

I am not sure where 16 is but I can tell you that I thought 38 was very close to the pool and also the main building with the food court. Less than a 5 minute walk.
Not sure about requests. We got a river view in 38 without asking. Pixie dust!

 

[Travel Mum]

I would be interested to see if anyone has any definitive answer to your questions for this.

So would I please

 

[kaffinito]

Could anyone tell me which non-preferred building in Alligator Bayou would be closest to the main pool and the food court? We would probably be using the pool most of all, and the food court only to fill our mugs. I was thinking maybe 16 or 38, but I have never been to POR so I just can't tell. Also, would I be more likely to get my request if I just requested a building number and nothing more(like floor number, etc.)? Thanks!

Building 16 is by the quiet pool which is very near building 18 and 14. It is close to the food court, but it would depend on where in the building you are placed. I think you'd be better off asking for 38. It is right by one of the bridges going to the main pool, and then it's just a short walk from there to the food court as one of the pp's said.

 

[Missytara]

OK... new issue to deal with... please help if you know anything about accessible rooms... I had to change my reservation and now only have 3 adults and one child in our room... Are we still going to be able to fit all of us in an accessible room? Also, anyone ever split/ change occupants with your reservations? We will start out with my my son in our room and his daughter (11) for the first week then they will leave and my daughter and her son (6) will be joining us... HOW did you actually do this? Does Disney switch out the room keys? Because we have FREE DINING I want to make sure it is all done right. My grandson is actually still considered a child but my grandaughter is a junior/adult(for dining). When I called them they said to tell them at check in but it somehow seems like I need to tell them ahead of time to make sure it is all straight. My daughter and her son will need tickets added too, whereas the original group on our package will have tickets when we first arrive. Does this even make sense?

Accessible rooms have two full beds. You may want to take an air mattress for your grandson.

You would actually have two reservations; not sure you can get free dining with both. You would have to check in a second time when the first group leaves and then the second group arrives.

Everyone will have to have the same package; so same number of tickets, same no. of days of dining etc.

You should link the ressies, so they won't make you have to move to another room for the second week.

 

[Monkeyfish]

By Christmas about half of the rooms will have been refurbished to include queen beds, so you might be lucky... we don't know anything about a timescale for the Alligator Bayor rehab yet though.

Andre

Thanks, Andre.

If I have 5 in the room (3 kids) do we have to be in Alligator Bayou? If I don't ask for a trundle and use our roll-up toddler travel bed, would there be room on the floor for it in one of the other areas/buildings? I'd rather have 2 queen beds than 2 doubles even if it means giving up the trundle, provided there is floor space for the toddler bed. What do you think?

 

[andrewilley]

If I have 5 in the room (3 kids) do we have to be in Alligator Bayou? If I don't ask for a trundle and use our roll-up toddler travel bed, would there be room on the floor for it in one of the other areas/buildings? I'd rather have 2 queen beds than 2 doubles even if it means giving up the trundle, provided there is floor space for the toddler bed. What do you think?

You can certainly ask, as it has been done by many guests before, but the first assignment they normally want to make for you would be for an Alligator Bayou room.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

Thanks, Andre.

If I have 5 in the room (3 kids) do we have to be in Alligator Bayou? If I don't ask for a trundle and use our roll-up toddler travel bed, would there be room on the floor for it in one of the other areas/buildings? I'd rather have 2 queen beds than 2 doubles even if it means giving up the trundle, provided there is floor space for the toddler bed. What do you think?

The reason 5 are allowed in AB is due to the fire codes; not whether you do or don't want the trundle bed. The buildings are designed to allow proper exiting consistently with 5 to a room.

At POR, from time to time, due to overbooking they have put a minimal amount of families of 5 in the mansions. The mansion buildings are not designed for fire code to be filled with families of 5, but from time to time they can, at their discretion, do a few rooms.

However, they cannot do it consistently, or the Fire Marshal's office would come down on them pretty hard.

 

[Smile4Me]

Thanks, Andre.

If I have 5 in the room (3 kids) do we have to be in Alligator Bayou? If I don't ask for a trundle and use our roll-up toddler travel bed, would there be room on the floor for it in one of the other areas/buildings? I'd rather have 2 queen beds than 2 doubles even if it means giving up the trundle, provided there is floor space for the toddler bed. What do you think?

I believe all rooms at POR have double beds. With the rehab that will be starting soon they are putting in queen beds.

 

[Missytara]

I believe all rooms at POR have double beds. With the rehab that will be starting soon they are putting in queen beds.

What she was referring to is the time of year she is going, one of the mansions may be completed and she was hoping to stay in the mansions and get the queen sized beds.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Building 16 is by the quiet pool which is very near building 18 and 14. It is close to the food court, but it would depend on where in the building you are placed. I think you'd be better off asking for 38. It is right by one of the bridges going to the main pool, and then it's just a short walk from there to the food court as one of the pp's said.

This is good info to know. Can anyone advise about how long of a walk it is from building 38 to where you catch the ferry boat to DTD? Thanks

 

[andrewilley]

This is good info to know. Can anyone advise about how long of a walk it is from building 38 to where you catch the ferry boat to DTD? Thanks

About 5 mins.

Andre

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

About 5 mins.

Andre

thank you

 

[SV24]

We will be staying at POR in two weeks! I'm so excited. This resort looks great but I did have one concern. Alligator Bayou looks a little too woodsy for me. I'm worried about running into creatures. How likely are they to put us in AB if we didn't make any special requests? Does anyone know how that works? I'm not sold on the interior look of AB and I prefer not to be terribly far from the main buildings. Would they be able to accomodate a special request for a mansion room this close to our arrival? I like that the mansions are more open and much less crowded by shrubbery. From my experience, they tend to put people far away when they don't make special arrangements. So what's my next best move? Thanks! This site has been so helpful so far.