Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2014 (Please read first post for FAQs!)

[yooperfan]

20 min. Until we board our plane for WDW from Detroit! We've been up since 4am for our flight out of Marquette. I can't believe the snow at the airport in Detroit! Hoping we get out on time....

 

[EpcotBill]

I have been reading that some people are not happy with the buildings in AB. Can I ask why?
We go in a month with "pool view" rooms. Should I worry about being placed in AB?

thanks all

I would ask the people who said they were not happy with AB. You didn't say where you read that. Was it in this thread?

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I have been reading that some people are not happy with the buildings in AB. Can I ask why? We go in a month with "pool view" rooms. Should I worry about being placed in AB? thanks all

DH & I love the AB rooms in fact we just checked out of one. We tried the mansions but found them too stuffy feeling. We always book preferred & usually end up close to a quiet pool each time which we love.

 

[siskaren]

I have been reading that some people are not happy with the buildings in AB. Can I ask why?
We go in a month with "pool view" rooms. Should I worry about being placed in AB?

thanks all

The most common complaints are not liking the rustic theming (which I prefer over the formal theming of the mansions), and some of the AB buildings are rather remote, which I also don't mind.

 

[PHScar]

next month, I will be visiting WDW for the 3rd time. This will be my 3rd time also staying on property.

It will be my first time staying at a Moderate resort. The last 2 times were at one of the all-stars.

the only thing I hope for by switching is that I wont be awakened by cheerleaders at 8am... practicing on the lawn in front of my room

 

[Dr Gunnie]

We stayed at POR over New Years - it was our first stay on property. We were in an AB building - #28. We liked the rooms. We weren't expecting too much, but that third fold down bed was really nice. It meant our 9 year old and 4 year old didn't have to share a bed which they liked. The decorating was fine, again, we weren't expecting the Ritz. The room was bigger than I thought it would be and it was clean. The bathroom is a little tight, but not too bad. The walk wasn't too bad either, but we had a minor issue with the delivery of our stroller, so going to the front desk, then back to the room to check, then to the front desk, then back to the room to check again, then to the bell hop was a bit of a workout! Our room in building 28 faced the pool, and there was no good way to get to our room without having to walk all through the building, so it took some time to get to the actual room. Overall it was a very nice stay and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed staying on-site. We had no issues with the busses even though it was a busy time of year, everything went smooth... so smooth that we booked a bounceback to Disney next year before Christmas - this time at the Beach Club!

 

[RustManFan]

We always stay at POR and AB. Never disappointed. How many people are you talking about? They may be technically designed for 5 but one has to be a small child. We also always request one of the most remote buildings.

To each his own as they say!

 

[andrewilley]

I have been reading that some people are not happy with the buildings in AB. Can I ask why?
We go in a month with "pool view" rooms. Should I worry about being placed in AB?

It's mostly a completely personal thing, whether the rustic theming style suits you better than the 'plushness' of the mansion buildings. Some people like cats, some people like dogs, some love both, but it's hard to be sure which you are until you experience them - and your feelings certainly won't change someone else's opinion.

From a purely objective point of view, the AB rooms have an extra bed (great for larger families) but at the expense of a little storage space. Also the AB lodges are smaller and more spread out than the mansion buildings, and they have two stories and no elevators (compared to the three floors in the mansion buildings) . For more thoughts on this subject, try: http://www.portorleans.org/faqs.php#Choice

Andre

 

[shaneray]

I have been reading that some people are not happy with the buildings in AB. Can I ask why?
We go in a month with "pool view" rooms. Should I worry about being placed in AB?

thanks all

More than likely just personal preference. AB is more woodsy rustic, mansion section is more manicured elegant.

 

[jess20k]

I am sooo excited!! We are leaving for the airport hotel soon and flying out tomorrow morning! This is our first time staying in the Royal Guest Rooms! We booked a standard room. Did anyone get lucky and get a nice view even though it was a std view? I am hoping for something other than a parking lot view, I will just keep my fingers crossed!

 

[keahgirl8]

I am sooo excited!! We are leaving for the airport hotel soon and flying out tomorrow morning! This is our first time staying in the Royal Guest Rooms! We booked a standard room. Did anyone get lucky and get a nice view even though it was a std view? I am hoping for something other than a parking lot view, I will just keep my fingers crossed!

Good luck! I am hoping for pixie dust too! I do have a garden view, but I would love to be near the river if possible.

 

[DCLogs]

I am sooo excited!! We are leaving for the airport hotel soon and flying out tomorrow morning! This is our first time staying in the Royal Guest Rooms! We booked a standard room. Did anyone get lucky and get a nice view even though it was a std view? I am hoping for something other than a parking lot view, I will just keep my fingers crossed!

Last year we booked a royal standard room. We got a corner room, one side facing a pool and the other side facing the river. So yes magic can happen. Have fun

 

[ALD85]

Anyone have luck with sending a fax 2 days before arrival? I totally forgot and just did it last night and we arrive tomorrow. I didn't request much (closest to main building-paid for preferred and for all 3 of our rooms to be in same building) and they're not important. Just curious!

 

[Ceryssa]

I keep going back and forth on whether to upgrade to a royal room. I'm not sure my kids will enjoy it enough to justify the extra cost (I know it's not all that much but we are kind of trying to keep costs down). And I'm worried about it not having a ceiling fan (not a big deal to a lot of people I'm sure but we always sleep with one, as do our kids). Our girls aren't really princess crazy, but the older one I think would like the "royal" touches and the younger one would like the fireworks in the headboards, I'm sure. Any advice?

 

[siskaren]

I think that since you and you kids are used to sleeping with a ceiling fan, and you're not sure your kids will enjoy it, that you should pass on it.

 

[shaneray]

we packed a fan and did fine without the ceiling fan. I don't think I would spend more for a royal room unless it was pool or riverview though.

 

[twinmom2002]

What are the advantages to doing on-line check in? We arrive on Feb.9 and are staying in a pool view royal room. We would like to be in oak manor (although I know that's not a request we can do in on-line check in).

So I would like to request a corner room, but I am not sure what floor to request - ground, second or third (highest).

I would like to get some opinions on what floor you would recommend we request and why. Thanks for your help.

 

[Venomhatch]

Anyone have luck with sending a fax 2 days before arrival? I totally forgot and just did it last night and we arrive tomorrow. I didn't request much (closest to main building-paid for preferred and for all 3 of our rooms to be in same building) and they're not important. Just curious!

Send it! Better than not, if you had any requests that is!

I keep going back and forth on whether to upgrade to a royal room. I'm not sure my kids will enjoy it enough to justify the extra cost (I know it's not all that much but we are kind of trying to keep costs down). And I'm worried about it not having a ceiling fan (not a big deal to a lot of people I'm sure but we always sleep with one, as do our kids). Our girls aren't really princess crazy, but the older one I think would like the "royal" touches and the younger one would like the fireworks in the headboards, I'm sure. Any advice?

Honestly I wasn't too bad with no fan. The AC/Heater has no problem keeping it nice in there for you family! And no the ac is not obnoxiously loud or anything, its got a nice hum to it.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

What are the advantages to doing on-line check in? We arrive on Feb.9 and are staying in a pool view royal room. We would like to be in oak manor (although I know that's not a request we can do in on-line check in).

So I would like to request a corner room, but I am not sure what floor to request - ground, second or third (highest).

I would like to get some opinions on what floor you would recommend we request and why. Thanks for your help.

You would have to check (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) but I don't believe there are any pool view rooms on the third floor. I like those rooms because the third floor tends to be only in the middle section and therefore closer to the elevator.

I also prefer a higher floor room over ground floor because it
a. cuts down a tad on the noise in front of the room
b. While Disney is great at keeping the rooms clean it IS Florida home of the dreaded Palmeto Bugs (think cockroachs on steroids) and the higher floors cut down on the chance of one coming in the room (Though I will say that this is a minimal thing)
c. The higher floors offer a nice view on the walk to your room.

 

[Ceryssa]

I think that since you and you kids are used to sleeping with a ceiling fan, and you're not sure your kids will enjoy it, that you should pass on it.

I think *I* would enjoy it, does that count? Maybe I should just check and see what's even available.

we packed a fan and did fine without the ceiling fan. I don't think I would spend more for a royal room unless it was pool or riverview though.

This is what I was thinking we might do. Why the view upgrade though? I was thinking it wouldn't matter since we won't have a balcony, but maybe I'm wrong.

Honestly I wasn't too bad with no fan. The AC/Heater has no problem keeping it nice in there for you family! And no the ac is not obnoxiously loud or anything, its got a nice hum to it.

The noise is actually part of why my husband prefers one. So if we got a box fan we might be fine between the two...

Thanks for the feedback