Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2013, Part One [Thread now FULL and closed]

[Chuckers]

Well, I got back yesterday from my 7 day trip.

Sadly, I will probably never stay at POR again unless it's a REALLY good deal money wise.

The resort is beautiful, but that's where it stopped for me. I was in preferred building 18, corner room, second floor with a king bed.

The resort is TOO big and too confusing. I booked a moderate because I wanted a hot tub, I got to the hot tub once. Even in a preferred building, the walk was just too far after a full day in the parks.

The room was okay... the bed was a little softer than concrete, the drapes didn't keep the light out well, the shower was extremely weak. A big negative was that the TV was mounted flat against the wall above the murphy bed. The only way I could watch TV was to be lying in the bed. I couldn't sit at the table, work, and watch TV.

The food court was a little better than a value resort and Boatwrights is only open for dinner. I would have had lunch and breakfast there.

However, the worst part had to be the buses. They were truly awful. I had my 45+ minute wait for an AK bus and this was BEFORE the parks opened. I had an hour wait for an EPCOT bus.. which is the closest park.. we watched 6 MK buses go by before an Epcot bus showed up. The 4 separate bus stops make the buses even more intolerable.

I think I'll just stick to values because I can't afford GF or Contemporary. I may try POFQ because the resort is more compact, one bus stop, and beignets are GREAT.

 

[photos_101]

You cannot pay online with room only, just packages. It sounds like you had a room only, since you tried to pay at online check-in. Payments for packages are due at 45 days before check-in and you can pay anytime you want online.

You leave a credit card at online check-in in order to charge at the resort, not pay off a balance. Online check-in should really be called pre-registration.

Lastly, your requests are supposed to be on your reservation. Online check-in is not meant for making requests.

Hope that helps clear up the confusion.

I did not know this! lol After I read your comment, I went to look up my Ressie and nope, no where to enter pmyt. uggh. And I pay with disney giftcards, so I will have to call in my payments. What a pain!
I guess as long as I get it paid for, it will not matter how I have to enter the pmyt. It is much easier to be able to do it online though.
Thanks for that info!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Well, I got back yesterday from my 7 day trip.

Sadly, I will probably never stay at POR again unless it's a REALLY good deal money wise.

The resort is beautiful, but that's where it stopped for me. I was in preferred building 18, corner room, second floor with a king bed.

The resort is TOO big and too confusing. I booked a moderate because I wanted a hot tub, I got to the hot tub once. Even in a preferred building, the walk was just too far after a full day in the parks.

The room was okay... the bed was a little softer than concrete, the drapes didn't keep the light out well, the shower was extremely weak. A big negative was that the TV was mounted flat against the wall above the murphy bed. The only way I could watch TV was to be lying in the bed. I couldn't sit at the table, work, and watch TV.

The food court was a little better than a value resort and Boatwrights is only open for dinner. I would have had lunch and breakfast there.

However, the worst part had to be the buses. They were truly awful. I had my 45+ minute wait for an AK bus and this was BEFORE the parks opened. I had an hour wait for an EPCOT bus.. which is the closest park.. we watched 6 MK buses go by before an Epcot bus showed up. The 4 separate bus stops make the buses even more intolerable.

I think I'll just stick to values because I can't afford GF or Contemporary. I may try POFQ because the resort is more compact, one bus stop, and beignets are GREAT.

So sorry to hear all this

What time of day was the hour long wait for EPCOT? We've been at BWI before and waited that long for a DTD bus in the evening and it was MADDENING! (We watched 4 AK buses come, but that was because it corresponded with that park closing.)

 

[brian95]

with all the horror stories of busses I am thinking of using taxis in the morning for adrs and rd. are there taxis there? do I have to call for one? do the cms call them?

 

[awfullybigadventure]

with all the horror stories of busses I am thinking of using taxis in the morning for adrs and rd. are there taxis there? do I have to call for one? do the cms call them?

We used the busses when we were there a couple of weeks ago and never waited more than maybe 15 minutes. We took breaks in the middle of the day so we were on the busses a lot. No problems at all. However, just for the sake of convenience, two time we used cabs to get to another resort. We got a phone number from concierge and called. It was really fast and not too expensive but I wouldn't do it for parks.

 

[Chuckers]

So sorry to hear all this

What time of day was the hour long wait for EPCOT? We've been at BWI before and waited that long for a DTD bus in the evening and it was MADDENING! (We watched 4 AK buses come, but that was because it corresponded with that park closing.)

The Epcot Bus was around dinner time. I had two times I was waiting for buses.. either first thing in the morning or around 3-5pm.

 

[disneyobessed]

Anyone know if they only have the HA roll in shower rooms for a family of 5 in building 15? That's where we were last month and it was a preferred room facing parking lot.. it was great. Hoping to maybe get the same room..

 

[firstwdw]

Well, I got back yesterday from my 7 day trip.

Sadly, I will probably never stay at POR again unless it's a REALLY good deal money wise.

The resort is beautiful, but that's where it stopped for me. I was in preferred building 18, corner room, second floor with a king bed.

The resort is TOO big and too confusing. I booked a moderate because I wanted a hot tub, I got to the hot tub once. Even in a preferred building, the walk was just too far after a full day in the parks.

The room was okay... the bed was a little softer than concrete, the drapes didn't keep the light out well, the shower was extremely weak. A big negative was that the TV was mounted flat against the wall above the murphy bed. The only way I could watch TV was to be lying in the bed. I couldn't sit at the table, work, and watch TV.

The food court was a little better than a value resort and Boatwrights is only open for dinner. I would have had lunch and breakfast there.

However, the worst part had to be the buses. They were truly awful. I had my 45+ minute wait for an AK bus and this was BEFORE the parks opened. I had an hour wait for an EPCOT bus.. which is the closest park.. we watched 6 MK buses go by before an Epcot bus showed up. The 4 separate bus stops make the buses even more intolerable.

I think I'll just stick to values because I can't afford GF or Contemporary. I may try POFQ because the resort is more compact, one bus stop, and beignets are GREAT.

WOW!!! Just goes to show how everyone has different opinions and likes and dislikes and experiences overall. Sorry you didn't love POR. We were also in building 18, top floor, corner room just two weeks ago and we LOVED our location (room 1836)! We have a 7year old and none of us found any of the walks too far at all to get to bus, food court, main pool and we had to deal with rain a lot. The drapes kept out the light great in our room and we found no issues with our room whatsoever. Well...I would agree that the shower is weak but we didn't care. We also thought the beds were super comfy.
We just had one issue with buses and we used them a lot as we came back for a mid-day break and went back out around dinner. We thought the buses were fabulous! So, over the course of a week we rode the buses 24 times(6days am, 6 days lunch time coming back from parks, 6 days afternoon going to parks or DTD and 6 evenings coming home) and again just had ONE Issue......and that was due to them closing the boat service from DTD to POR due to lightening in the area.
Anyway, again sorry to hear you did not have a wonderful experience.

 

[zabache]

Hey all
Can I request and early check-in instead of it being at the normal afternoon check-in time? We might be driving down a day the day before our actual check-in date and wanted to know if this could be requested. Also, what about a late check-out?
Thanks

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

When I went in February, I had my travel agent request a top floor room in either Magnolia Terrace or Oak Manor. I also did the online check in and I requested top floor and corner room. A few days before my trip, my travel agent faxed the same requests that she initially made with the reservation. When I checked in, I received a 3rd floor (inside) corner room in Magnolia Terrace. I would highly recommend online check in. I didn't feel that my online requests negated the initial requests that were made. Then again, I believe the fax was sent in after I did online check in but I didn't request a corner room with the initial reservation nor with the fax and I received it.

Also, something that everyone should keep in mind when wanting to have no neighbors above you, be sure to request top floor, not 2nd floor particularly if you're in the mansions since there are some rooms in the middle section of the buildings that have 3 floors. Our room was very quiet. The only bad thing about being on the 3rd floor is that there is a bit more walking to get to the front or back of the building but it didn't bother us at all. I much prefer that the room be quiet.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

The Epcot Bus was around dinner time. I had two times I was waiting for buses.. either first thing in the morning or around 3-5pm.

Thanks! Again I'm sorry it happened and tarnished your view of the resort. (But I certainly understand why it would.)

 

[Missytara]

Hey all
Can I request and early check-in instead of it being at the normal afternoon check-in time? We might be driving down a day the day before our actual check-in date and wanted to know if this could be requested. Also, what about a late check-out?
Thanks

You can check-in as early as 7 am when the computers roll over and get your tickets, etc. Your room may not be ready. You can do online check-in, indicate you will be there early and they will give you the first available room. If you have requests, I would just wait and check-in there.

There is a late check-out, but housekeeping will have to approve it and you won't know until the morning of check-out; there is a fee for doing so and it is done based on availability.

 

[Towmater Blue]

also, something that everyone should keep in mind when wanting to have no neighbors above you, be sure to request top floor, not 2nd floor particularly if you're in the mansions since there are some rooms in the middle section of the buildings that have 3 floors. Our room was very quiet. The only bad thing about being on the 3rd floor is that there is a bit more walking to get to the front or back of the building but it didn't bother us at all. I much prefer that the room be quiet.

ita!

 

[Chuckers]

WOW!!! Just goes to show how everyone has different opinions and likes and dislikes and experiences overall. Sorry you didn't love POR. We were also in building 18, top floor, corner room just two weeks ago and we LOVED our location (room 1836)! ... <snip> ...
Anyway, again sorry to hear you did not have a wonderful experience.

I was in 1833.

After all the rave reviews, I was really looking forward to staying at POR. It didn't ruin my vacation, because I wouldn't let it

It's just not for me and that's okay. I tried it, I still had a wonderful vacation, and I look forward to trying someplace new next year

 

[firstwdw]

Now you know! next time you can try someplace else Your King room must have been very close to where we were.....I will admit it took a day or two to figure out the fastest way to get places and it seemed like there were a lot of different options of paths to take to get to the same place. By the last day we had it down to the quickest route but the first few days it was the POR maze!

I was in 1833.

After all the rave reviews, I was really looking forward to staying at POR. It didn't ruin my vacation, because I wouldn't let it

It's just not for me and that's okay. I tried it, I still had a wonderful vacation, and I look forward to trying someplace new next year

 

[Towmater Blue]

There is a late check-out, but housekeeping will have to approve it and you won't know until the morning of check-out; there is a fee for doing so and it is done based on availability.

I don't recall there being a fee for a late checkout up until 1pm. However, after 1 pm is a different story.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Well, I got back yesterday from my 7 day trip.

Sadly, I will probably never stay at POR again unless it's a REALLY good deal money wise.

The resort is beautiful, but that's where it stopped for me. I was in preferred building 18, corner room, second floor with a king bed.

The resort is TOO big and too confusing. I booked a moderate because I wanted a hot tub, I got to the hot tub once. Even in a preferred building, the walk was just too far after a full day in the parks.

The room was okay... the bed was a little softer than concrete, the drapes didn't keep the light out well, the shower was extremely weak. A big negative was that the TV was mounted flat against the wall above the murphy bed. The only way I could watch TV was to be lying in the bed. I couldn't sit at the table, work, and watch TV.

The food court was a little better than a value resort and Boatwrights is only open for dinner. I would have had lunch and breakfast there.

However, the worst part had to be the buses. They were truly awful. I had my 45+ minute wait for an AK bus and this was BEFORE the parks opened. I had an hour wait for an EPCOT bus.. which is the closest park.. we watched 6 MK buses go by before an Epcot bus showed up. The 4 separate bus stops make the buses even more intolerable.

I think I'll just stick to values because I can't afford GF or Contemporary. I may try POFQ because the resort is more compact, one bus stop, and beignets are GREAT.

OMG - your experience is totally opposite of the two recent visits my husband and I just had in April at POR. We had a preferred room in AB Building 18 the first time, and AB Building 14 the second. The room in Building 18 was on the first floor-middle of the building. The walk to the bus stop was practically right out the door & across the parking lot. We had no issues whatsoever with waiting for the buses to come. They were constantly coming no matter what time of day we went or what park we were going to. One time coming back from a park we actually took a POFQ bus back so that we could go through their resort & then caught the boat back to POR. Never had to stand on any of the buses either. We went to all 4 parks while we were there.

Building 14 is in the same quad as building 18 & we had a second floor room there. It was even closer to the bus stop, the food court & everything else. Loved the quiet pool right there by building 18. Never went to the main pool to swim, just to relax at the Muddy Rivers Pool Bar.

Food court was great - food was good. Alot better than we've gotten at POP, or any of the AllStars. We used the boat to DTD alot & also took a carriage ride around the resorts.

We've stayed at all levels of the resorts, but love POR & we are planning to go back there in the Fall and probably stay in the mansions to see what the other side of the river is like.

Our worst issues with buses, food courts & overall rooms has been POP & we won't ever stay there again.

 

[dramaticmissy]

Well, I got back yesterday from my 7 day trip.

Sadly, I will probably never stay at POR again unless it's a REALLY good deal money wise.

The resort is beautiful, but that's where it stopped for me. I was in preferred building 18, corner room, second floor with a king bed.

The resort is TOO big and too confusing. I booked a moderate because I wanted a hot tub, I got to the hot tub once. Even in a preferred building, the walk was just too far after a full day in the parks.

The room was okay... the bed was a little softer than concrete, the drapes didn't keep the light out well, the shower was extremely weak. A big negative was that the TV was mounted flat against the wall above the murphy bed. The only way I could watch TV was to be lying in the bed. I couldn't sit at the table, work, and watch TV.

The food court was a little better than a value resort and Boatwrights is only open for dinner. I would have had lunch and breakfast there.

However, the worst part had to be the buses. They were truly awful. I had my 45+ minute wait for an AK bus and this was BEFORE the parks opened. I had an hour wait for an EPCOT bus.. which is the closest park.. we watched 6 MK buses go by before an Epcot bus showed up. The 4 separate bus stops make the buses even more intolerable.

I think I'll just stick to values because I can't afford GF or Contemporary. I may try POFQ because the resort is more compact, one bus stop, and beignets are GREAT.

I have to agree with the Buses issue last week when we were there, coming back to the resort in the afternoon for a break and then back to parks for dinners proved to be horrible and if you were doing a park that did not have EMH you were pretty much out of luck. they were the only ones that seemed to have lots of buses going back and forth in fact one bus from MK to POR on 5/12 in the evening was in an accident.

 

[andrewilley]

Thanks Andre, you and this site are so helpful. I. Opted 2 specific building requests in AB (I booked river view to stay "close" to facilities), but I'm thinking I should change that to just AB....

If you've booked River View then a simple AB request should hopefully get you 14, 27 or 38. 14 and 27 are very close to everything, and even 38 is pretty good too. Maybe request "Alligator Bayou, ideally buildings 14 or 27 if possible".

Upstairs / Downstairs, Corner Room, and I think but cannot remember for sure, near an elevator, which would put you on the Magnolia Bend side, as there are no elevators in the AB section.

When they started this new system, for a couple of weeks they had "water view" in the requests section. Given that this is a booking category not a request, the room inventory manager got them to remove that tick-box pretty sharpish!

Anyone know if they only have the HA roll in shower rooms for a family of 5 in building 15? That's where we were last month and it was a preferred room facing parking lot.. it was great. Hoping to maybe get the same room..

I assume you were in 1501/02? If so then, yes that's the only option for a party of five with wheelchair accessibility. It was set up especially for that purpose, as the other wheelchair modified rooms do not allow enough space to install the pull-down bed over the bench seat.

Can I request and early check-in instead of it being at the normal afternoon check-in time?

Sure, you can check-in as early as 6-7am - but they won't guarantee that your room will be ready before the official 3pm window. That said many people are given rooms a lot earlier, but obviously it's luck of the draw as to whether they have enough rooms cleaned and prepped for the next guests. To guarantee a room to be ready at 7am, you'd need to book and pay for the night before.

OMG - your experience is totally opposite of the two recent visits my husband and I just had in April at POR. We had a preferred room in AB Building 18 the first time, and AB Building 14 the second. The room in Building 18 was on the first floor-middle of the building. The walk to the bus stop was practically right out the door & across the parking lot. We had no issues whatsoever with waiting for the buses to come.

It's so strange how polarising POR can be. We hear loads of stories of people who love the place, and yet there are also horror tales such as Chuckers' recent stay. And he was in building 18, and yet thought the place was a maze, too far from the hot tub for quick access, etc. Yet you thought the opposite about the same building.

We used the busses when we were there a couple of weeks ago and never waited more than maybe 15 minutes.

And the buses can end up with horror/praise stories within the same day!

It's a funny old world...

Andre

 

[Chuckers]

It's so strange how polarising POR can be. We hear loads of stories of people who love the place, and yet there are also horror tales such as Chuckers' recent stay. And he was in building 18, and yet thought the place was a maze, too far from the hot tub for quick access, etc. Yet you thought the opposite about the same building.



And the buses can end up with horror/praise stories within the same day!

It's a funny old world...

Andre

I actually feel bad that I didn't like it. I will admit it got easier to navigate after a few days, but the signs were kind of confusing. There are two signs for South Depot right next to each other near building 18. One sign points to go AROUND the end of building 15 and the other points to a walkway between 14 and 15 - which is MUCH closer and quicker.

I found it pretty amazing that people had no clue which depot they used to get on the bus. Several people asked ME which depot they needed to get off on.. and when I asked them if they were in the mansions or the bayou, they didn't know. (All of the ones I spoke to turned out to be in the mansions.)

I was lucky in Bldg 18, because if I walked a little bit, I could usually see the top of Fulton's or the Dining area, so I could always figure out which direction to go.

I think the stay started off on the wrong foot when it took me two hours to check in because my reservation was totally hosed. And while that wasn't the resorts fault... the resort stay got soured from the start.