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

[Missytara]

I don't know the reason. However, last summer when we went with our family of 5 they let us stay in the Mansions. I asked, because my son was too big for the trundle bed and he wasn't willing to sleep with one of his sisters 4 and 6. So we brought an air mattress for him and I asked since we wouldn't be using the trundle bed, could we please stay in the mansions buildings. The CM went to check and sure enough since we had our own air mattress it was ok. I really staying there.

This year we will only be at POR for a couple of nights so I am going to tell my son he is just going to have to deal with sharing with one of his sisters for a couple of nights.

The CM didn't allow you to stay in the mansions because you said you didn't need the trundle bed and had an air mattress.

Most likely the AB section was overbooked when you got there. The fire marshal will allow a very, very, very small number of rooms in the mansions to hold a 5th if needed. This will not effect the overall exiting in the case of a fire.

If they had to do more than one, they would most likely scatter them around the complex, in order to not violate the fire code.

But as I stated previously, only the buildings in AB could accommodate 5 in a room, if ALL the rooms were occupied by 5 people (the Fire Marshal considers worst case scenario), the aisleways and stairways at AB could handle the load in case of a fire.

The mansions could not physically exit everyone if every single room had 5 people. You have to remember that elevators go down in case of a fire and cannot be considered fire exits, because they are shafts and carry a fire upward through the building. So they go down automatically. When you look at the size of the buildings in the Mansions, the aisleways and stairs could not physically exit that amount of people in time in case of fire (again, considering worst case scenario), if ALL the rooms were occupied by 5 people.

In the case of fire exiting, you always have to consider the worst case.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We will be there tonight!!!!
Hoping for 1st room floor in AB, closest building, and lots of fun!

Hoping you are having a great time and that you got the first floor AB room! Also hoping you take lots of pictures and post them.

I'll be there in 16 days (never did update my ticker properly lol)!

 

[JessicaKnits]

This may be a question that has been asked/answered a few hundred times, but are their any plans to renovate Riverside now that the French Quarter is done?

 

[Iron Mouse]

This may be a question that has been asked/answered a few hundred times, but are their any plans to renovate Riverside now that the French Quarter is done?

I think it is supposed to start sometime in June.

 

[Mickman0_3]

I just read this on another board's weekly updates.

More news on resort rooms

We have a little more information about the new resort rooms coming online within the next year.

When we told you about the Royal Guest Rooms on May 2, we didn't know where at Port Orleans the rooms they would be. Originally, it was assumed that they would be distributed throughout the resort. We now know that these rooms will be located in a complete conversion of two buildings at Magnolia Bend and nowhere else. Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace will consist entirely of these new rooms. This decision is likely so that it will be easier to make sure that the royal linens go to the right rooms. Of course, this also means that families won't be able to get connecting rooms with a princess theme for the kids and standard furnishings for the parents.

 

[andrewilley]

I just read this on another board's weekly updates.

I'd love to know which one. Some of their general stuff is accurate (if a bit old) but not this bit:

Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace will consist entirely of these new rooms.

Everything I've been told so far points to it being Parterre and Oak that will be getting the Royal rooms.

But then it is a well known fact that Disney's plans are cast in solid jello, so until they actually start work it could still all change again.

Andre

 

[mskermit]

Is there any way to speed up time? I'll be at POR in 91 days (not that I'm counting or anything) and that seems like a horribly long time to wait! I'm done tweaking my reservation.....changed from POFQ to POR, all my ADRs are done, and just this week upgraded the age of my DD8 to 10 years of age to place her on the adult dining plan (she's very excited!). Now, it's all over except for the waiting!!! Come on August!

ugh! i wish i only had 91 days!! we are going in aug 2012 so i have 451 days to go... i was thinking about doing the room only reservation then adding to it as promos come out. not sure if its worth doing, but it does give me a few more months to make payments

 

[anorman]

ugh! i wish i only had 91 days!! we are going in aug 2012 so i have 451 days to go... i was thinking about doing the room only reservation then adding to it as promos come out. not sure if its worth doing, but it does give me a few more months to make payments

451 days!!!! Ouch!!!

 

[Viking_53]

There have been no confirmed cases of bedbugs at POR, or any of the other resorts.

A lot of people posting on that website don't even know what bed bugs look like.

One person even posted that they returned from one of the resorts and posted on the bedbugregistry because she had what she thought were bug bites around her ankles.

Turned out what she had was heat rash; people get it quite often down there - it is a reflection off the pavement (often also referred to as golfer's rash) that cause irritation to the skin.

I would take anything I read on that website with a grain of salt.

I hate to burst the bubble here, but we were actually moved out of our room at the Wilderness Lodge in September 2009, because of bed bugs. They took all of our clothes, suitcases, shoes, stuffed animals, etc, and had them disinfected.

I insisted we be moved to the Concierge Level for our trouble. They did give us $200 credit to buy clothing for a couple of days. We didn't get our own things back until late the next night.

So, they do exist (or did exist) at that time. I can't say anything about it now, but we did in fact have the issue on our trip.

Thankfully, nobody was bit.

 

[MamaJessie]

Disney's plans are cast in solid jello Andre

I've never heard this phrase before

I hate to burst the bubble here, but we were actually moved out of our room at the Wilderness Lodge in September 2009, because of bed bugs. They took all of our clothes, suitcases, shoes, stuffed animals, etc, and had them disinfected.
Thankfully, nobody was bit.

If nobody was bit, how did you know they were there? Not being snarky, really just curious.

4 months today until we go for a night at POR

 

[Chaitali]

We just got back from a 5 night stay at POR last week. We had a great trip and loved the resort! The bus stop was great. We never waited more than 10 minutes (and this includes the 2 times we just missed the bus). The buses were crowded at peak times but they weren't unmanageable. We took the boat to DTD once and it was great also. Our room was clean and mousekeeping was fine. We stayed in a Magnolia Terrace room. We only ate at the food court the last day for breakfast, so I can't comment on that too much. The food was fine. It was crowded but we didn't have to wait too long in line and found a table right away.

 

[mskermit]

451 days!!!! Ouch!!!

oh i know!!! its killing me!!! planning has already began tho!!

 

[Schmoodle]

We'll be at POR Aug 16 - 19. I'm so excited for our first stay here. We've stayed at CBR, CSR, and BWI, and still looking for our favorite, maybe this will be it! See you in August.

 

[Rekenna]

Being the wishy-washy person that I am it hasn't been decided whether we will be going in Sept or Oct. So if it's Sept it's 111 days, if it's Oct it will be more like 140 something days. Sigh...

I have decided though, to help stave off the Disney Blues next year, that I will be upgrading my ticket on our next trip to an AP and taking at least 2 solo trips next year, long weekend type things. The Disney monster is getting out of control, but maybe if I feed it with more trips it will be satisfied?

Anyways, can't wait for our first POR stay, very excited!

 

[KCmike]

We just got back last night from a 5 night Riverside and 3 night Grand Floridian stay. Have many pictures to show you. Here is the first. Also have many thoughts on the parks that I will share later as we have been to Disneyland the last few years. Now on with the show.

 

[DisneyGuess]

Ok, since we're all POR fans here, I want some other, honest opinions from POR lovers. We honeymooned at POR back in 2007 & I fell in love with the resort. That being said, we are a large family, there are 6 of us total but 1 under 3, so for room purposes, we are 5. I know all about the family suites, have picked them for now. But I adore POR & would love to stay here again before we can't, ie when we count as 6 or have to get 2 rooms. Give it to me straight, will we be miserable if I switch to POR? I know we'd only have 1 bathroom, not as much space, etc. We'll be there for 7 nights. The LO & I would definately be coming back for an afternoon nap, everyone else would stay in the park. We were thinking we'd bring a twin size air mattress for one of the boys. So, the 2 beds, the trundle & an air mattress, 1 bathroom, 1 TV. Would we hate each other by the end? Is it jut too much?!
Honest opinions please. I've asked on my own thread but everyone tells me, go deluxe, etc, etc. Or the family suites, which if the consenus here is no POR, that's what I'd go with, but wow, it's almost $800 more!

 

[fleeflicker]

I love this forum

 

[disneymom1229]

We went last Sept and used an air matress and the trundle. there were five of us. 2 adults, 3 kids (4, 9, 12). We were just fine...we were able to move the one bed a little closer to the wall and put the air matress between the two at night and stand up by wall during the day. That way no one had to worry about stepping on it in the middle of the night. One bathroom worked out fine also. But to be fair, we only have one bathroom at home, so no difference there. We didn't spend a whole lot of time in our room during the day anyway. Mostly just to change for the pool. We love POR so much that we wouldn't trade it for a chance at two bathrooms! In May of 09, we were 6. 2 adults, 4 kids (15, 11, 8, 2) and that also was fine. Same configuration but with a pack and play as well. Again, we were just fine! We were all just happy to be at WDW and be able to stay in one room at such a great resort. HTH and that you can work it out so that you can stay here!!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Ok, since we're all POR fans here, I want some other, honest opinions from POR lovers. We honeymooned at POR back in 2007 & I fell in love with the resort. That being said, we are a large family, there are 6 of us total but 1 under 3, so for room purposes, we are 5. I know all about the family suites, have picked them for now. But I adore POR & would love to stay here again before we can't, ie when we count as 6 or have to get 2 rooms. Give it to me straight, will we be miserable if I switch to POR? I know we'd only have 1 bathroom, not as much space, etc. We'll be there for 7 nights. The LO & I would definately be coming back for an afternoon nap, everyone else would stay in the park. We were thinking we'd bring a twin size air mattress for one of the boys. So, the 2 beds, the trundle & an air mattress, 1 bathroom, 1 TV. Would we hate each other by the end? Is it jut too much?!
Honest opinions please. I've asked on my own thread but everyone tells me, go deluxe, etc, etc. Or the family suites, which if the consenus here is no POR, that's what I'd go with, but wow, it's almost $800 more!

Family of 6 here.. I love POR It is mmy favorite disney resort and we have stayed there three times. We were fine with a family of 6. We only have 1 bathroom at home so thats not a big deal. I have stayed as many as 10 night and no, we didnt hate each other an the end

Last summer is was only sapposed to be 5 of us going.. but than my 18yo decided less that 2 weeks before he wanted to go.. we made due since it was to late to make any changes and that may of been our last disney family trip with him.

I am looking into the new hotel opening the other side of Pop for 2012 but I have a feeling I may go back to POR

 

[DisneyGuess]

We went last Sept and used an air matress and the trundle. there were five of us. 2 adults, 3 kids (4, 9, 12). We were just fine...we were able to move the one bed a little closer to the wall and put the air matress between the two at night and stand up by wall during the day. That way no one had to worry about stepping on it in the middle of the night. One bathroom worked out fine also. But to be fair, we only have one bathroom at home, so no difference there. We didn't spend a whole lot of time in our room during the day anyway. Mostly just to change for the pool. We love POR so much that we wouldn't trade it for a chance at two bathrooms! In May of 09, we were 6. 2 adults, 4 kids (15, 11, 8, 2) and that also was fine. Same configuration but with a pack and play as well. Again, we were just fine! We were all just happy to be at WDW and be able to stay in one room at such a great resort. HTH and that you can work it out so that you can stay here!!

Family of 6 here.. I love POR It is mmy favorite disney resort and we have stayed there three times. We were fine with a family of 6. We only have 1 bathroom at home so thats not a big deal. I have stayed as many as 10 night and no, we didnt hate each other an the end

Last summer is was only sapposed to be 5 of us going.. but than my 18yo decided less that 2 weeks before he wanted to go.. we made due since it was to late to make any changes and that may of been our last disney family trip with him.

I am looking into the new hotel opening the other side of Pop for 2012 but I have a feeling I may go back to POR

Thank you both so much for your opinions. I really want POR & I think this clinched it for me. You're right, we are also a family of 6 with only 1 bathroom at home, so that should make no difference on vacation, especially where we won't have to worry about the hot water running out like at home, lol.

Disneymom1229, our set up will be like yours in 2009. 6 of us, 2 adults, 15 yr old, 13 yr old, 10 yr old & 2 yr old. If my 15 yr old hadn't piped up & said he doesn't want to share a bed, I never would have thought of an air mattress, lol. The LO already sleeps with us, so no P&P needed. I think we'll be fine! Out playing most or all of the day, everyone will be too tired at night to fight, argue, etc. lol. I'm hoping by our trip in Dec. that some of the AB rooms will be refurbed with the bigger beds.

Ok, I think I'm gonna suck it up & switch to POR!