Port Orleans French Quarter Q&A Thread, New for 2012 (Read first posts for FAQs)

[pwdebbie]

Originally Posted by Kathy Z

I'm a member of AAA. If I book a WDW room only reservation with a AAA discount can I do that directly through WDW reservations or do I need to do it through my AAA office? If a room discount becomes available prior to our stay can I simply convert my AAA reservation (assuming the booking I want is available) to a non-AAA reservation take advantage of the lower rate?

I had to change a room-only reservation for April 2012 to April 2013 directly by phone with Disney. They told me to call back when the new room rates come out (which might be any day now) and then my AAA discount (which I had on the reservation I had to cancel) can be applied. As of right now, my reservation doesn't have a discount. (Much to my surprise, my reservation number didn't even change, just the dates.)

If you book through the AAA office then you don't "own" your reservation and you can't contact Disney about it or make any changes, it all has to go through AAA. If you don't mind that, then use the AAA office. But, if you want to have control over your reservation, then just go ahead and book now yourself directly by phone with Disney and then when the new room rates come out, call and have them apply your AAA discount.

As far as I know, you would be able to change your AAA discount to another better discount if one becomes available. I certainly plan to! Even your AAA TA would be able to do that, should you decide to use them instead of booking the reservation on your own.

[Kathy Z]

Originally Posted by pwdebbie

I had to change a room-only reservation for April 2012 to April 2013 directly by phone with Disney. They told me to call back when the new room rates come out (which might be any day now) and then my AAA discount (which I had on the reservation I had to cancel) can be applied. As of right now, my reservation doesn't have a discount. (Much to my surprise, my reservation number didn't even change, just the dates.)

If you book through the AAA office then you don't "own" your reservation and you can't contact Disney about it or make any changes, it all has to go through AAA. If you don't mind that, then use the AAA office. But, if you want to have control over your reservation, then just go ahead and book now yourself directly by phone with Disney and then when the new room rates come out, call and have them apply your AAA discount.

As far as I know, you would be able to change your AAA discount to another better discount if one becomes available. I certainly plan to! Even your AAA TA would be able to do that, should you decide to use them instead of booking the reservation on your own.

Thanks, Debbie. I would much rather book directly with Disney on my own than through my AAA office. I have read that many AAA TA's don't really know enough about WDW. Our 4 recent trips I have happily booked through a Disney specialist (not AAA) TA. Each of the 4 trips we did with great discounts. But I think I'm ready to do this on my own, taking control of my own reservation. I just was not sure if I could ask Disney to apply my AAA discount. Of course I would keep watching and looking for a better rate if one becomes available.

[Divaofdisney]

Just booked our long awaited trip to WDW at POFQ- our favorite moderate resort to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. It will be in November and I can't wait. Called and was able to get the free dining plan included although its not public yet. I was thrilled because I thought we would have to wait till next year but got an excellent rate of 2,683 for party of 4 including the free dining plan. It's been a few years since my last trip back in 2006 and I can hardly wait. So excited!!

[Alderbrook]

Hi there, I keep looking at old photos of the POFQ & am wondering if bread, peanut butter, cereal & those types of things are still available in the store at the resort (we are heading there in Sept). I am bringing snacks & things for my 15 month old but would like to limit what I am bringing, especially bread LOL. We have FD but I need to have snacks on hand for her during the day and being able to make a sandwich for her makes things so much easier. A hungry melting down baby is not fun & doesn't understand "you'll have to wait, our reservations aren't for another hour"

We haven't stayed there since it was Dixie Landings in 1997! I'm sure things have changed

[PoohsFan1]

DH and I just booked a getaway stay for this weekend . I am so excited to be back at our beloved POFQ with just the hubby . Our girls are visiting their grandparent's for the next couple of weeks (they live 3 hours away) and they all are planning on some getaway trips themselves. So, DH surprised me today and said that he wanted me to book a 2 night stay at POFQ....I was floored since we have never gone on a trip without them, especially to Disney . This is going to be a nice little Disney fix before our huge trip (yes the girls included in that one) in August. We only plan on going to 1 park (Epcot), and we both are really looking forward to slowly walking around WS and watching all the performers perform, shop, do all of the shows, and just slowly watch the world go by .

[millerjmls]

Will be arriving at POFQ in 2 weeks. This is our first stay at Port Orleans and am wondering which building to request. I normally don't make requests, but since we arrive at the ariport at 8pm, I don't think we will be checking in until around 9:30. We have a garden view room and am hoping that we aren't stuck with whatever is leftover since it is late in the evening. Any suggestions?

[bookgirl]

Originally Posted by Kathy Z

I'm a member of AAA. If I book a WDW room only reservation with a AAA discount can I do that directly through WDW reservations or do I need to do it through my AAA office? If a room discount becomes available prior to our stay can I simply convert my AAA reservation (assuming the booking I want is available) to a non-AAA reservation take advantage of the lower rate?

I booked my AAA room on the telephone direct with WDW. You can always call and change a room only to a diferent type of reservation but, they do not issue refunds, so if you have paid more towards your room than the new deposit they will only credit your total bill, not refund the difference.

[Kathy Z]

Originally Posted by bookgirl

I booked my AAA room on the telephone direct with WDW. You can always call and change a room only to a diferent type of reservation but, they do not issue refunds, so if you have paid more towards your room than the new deposit they will only credit your total bill, not refund the difference.

Thanks. A credit would work for us because we would be eating OOP and normally charge the more expensive meals to our room and we could make use of a credit there. When it is just DH & I we much prefer to eat OOP because we like appetizers but don't need or want a dessert for every meal. (I've done all the math for the places we like to eat.)

[andrewilley]

Originally Posted by millerjmls

Will be arriving at POFQ in 2 weeks. This is our first stay at Port Orleans and am wondering which building to request. I normally don't make requests, but since we arrive at the ariport at 8pm, I don't think we will be checking in until around 9:30. We have a garden view room and am hoping that we aren't stuck with whatever is leftover since it is late in the evening. Any suggestions?

A lot of people like building 5 as it's pretty close to everything. Many of the garden view rooms there overlook the courtyard where they show the movies at night though, so if that concerns you try for 2 instead. Building 4 is generally closest for the bus stop/food court (although some rooms in 5 are very good too).

Take a look at the map in the first post, or see: www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php.

Andre

[Caseystigger]

Originally Posted by Kathy Z

Thanks, Debbie. I would much rather book directly with Disney on my own than through my AAA office. I have read that many AAA TA's don't really know enough about WDW. Our 4 recent trips I have happily booked through a Disney specialist (not AAA) TA. Each of the 4 trips we did with great discounts. But I think I'm ready to do this on my own, taking control of my own reservation. I just was not sure if I could ask Disney to apply my AAA discount. Of course I would keep watching and looking for a better rate if one becomes available.

We had initially booked through AAA but cancelled and booked directly through Disney because they gave us wrong info and the lady was downright rude when we asked to have it noted on our reservation for a deep room cleaning. I have asthma and can't stay in a room that is musty smelling so we always ask for a deep cleaning. The rate was the same at both places so we weren't really missing out on anything.

[disneychic2]

Originally Posted by Princesca

We just got back from a trip at the end of April - it was my first grownup trip to Disney, and we stayed at Pop Century. It was okay... no complaints about the room size or anything like that, but wow, it was chaotic, and we weren't even there in a peak week! In fact, yourfirstvisit.net listed our week as one of the ten best to go. I think Pop is popular (pardon the pun) with big families, because it's more affordable, and I think in a lot of those cases, the parents are outnumbered and have less control over the kids, which adds to the havok. (Not all, mind you - I've known some big families who had angelic children.) Anyway, my DH and I don't have kids at present, so the theming was sort of lost on us, and the food court was at pretty much all times of the day.

Anyway, DH, who was a terrible WDW curmudgeon about the trip, decided he had a fantastic time and that we can go back, so I'm setting my sights now on POFQ in November 2013. We popped over to see what all the POFQ fuss was about, and we LOVED it! We had jambalaya, and beignets, and a moonlit stroll along the riverwalk. It was a much different atmosphere than Pop, and much more US. Even if we had kids, I think we'd want where we rested our heads to be more peaceful and romantic, a respite from the chaos of the parks.

So now I just have to figure out how to convince him to go, almost a year and a half after our last trip. Suggestions?!

Hey there, Amy! We were on the same April planning thread together. :good vibes I totally get what you said about Pop. DH and I weren't thrilled with it either. But, we love, love, love FQ! We've stayed there more than any other resort. As for convincing your DH about going in 18 months, I think he sounds like he would be open or it. Just work out on paper how you plan to finance the trip and show him how it is feasible and I think he'll go for it. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Princesca

Hey everyone... we're looking at PO for our next stay, and I had gotten the impression that people tended to like POFQ a little more than POR. For those of you who have stayed at both, I wondered what caused you to prefer one over the other?

We stayed at POR and liked it well enough. We were close to a bus stop, but the trek to the food court was huge! We did FQ a couple years later and it was love right away. It is so easy to get around, quiet, one bus stop, great pool and friendly knowledgeable CMs. With a short stroll, you can take advantage of the amenities at POR such as carriage rides, Boatrights ts restaurant and other boat activities.

Originally Posted by Robin K

Mom and I are staying at FQ for the first time in Sept.
I was wondering if we get a water view room, will we be able to hear the boat horn most of the night?
Thanks

Our first "water view" room was that of a fountain, so no boat noise to worry about That was actually at POR, but water view can mean just that. Now, a river view may put you where you will hear the boat noises, but did not hear it in from building 5 either time we stayed there. As was stated before, the boats stop running by 11:30, so it's not a problem after that.

Originally Posted by Divaofdisney

Just booked our long awaited trip to WDW at POFQ- our favorite moderate resort to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. It will be in November and I can't wait. Called and was able to get the free dining plan included although its not public yet. I was thrilled because I thought we would have to wait till next year but got an excellent rate of 2,683 for party of 4 including the free dining plan. It's been a few years since my last trip back in 2006 and I can hardly wait. So excited!!

Ohhh you got free dining already??? Nice! I wish we were planning a November trip this year, but it will be 2013 instead since we've already been this year. We went in November once and thought the crowds, weather and everything else was perfect! Great time to go. Sounds like you've got a wonderful trip planned and a wonderful occasion to celebrate. Good for you!

[Kathy Z]

Originally Posted by Caseystigger

We had initially booked through AAA but cancelled and booked directly through Disney because they gave us wrong info and the lady was downright rude when we asked to have it noted on our reservation for a deep room cleaning. I have asthma and can't stay in a room that is musty smelling so we always ask for a deep cleaning. The rate was the same at both places so we weren't really missing out on anything.

I don't have asthma but I do have a mold allergy and have considered asking for a deep cleaning. So far we've never had a problem with a musty smell upon entering a WDW room but I have read of many people experiencing this. Several times at non Disney properties I have walked into a room and had to turn around and go right back to check-in to tell them that I can't stay in that room. Fortunately there has always been another available room without mold that they could move us to.

Stay well.

[peeputt]

Hi folks! We just changed our September booking. We were originally going to stay in a deluxe resort for the 1st time (AKL) but decided to go back to POFQ to save money. I was happy they had one room available when I called that still qualified for the free dining plan, unfortunately the room is a Riverview Room. I was hoping to get a standard room and save even more money, oh well, we're still saving like $650 though
This will be our first time going to Disney in September. We've only been to Disney once prior (last year) and are now junkies!
Last time we went it was the end of February and the weather was perfect! Anyway, is it usually unbearably hot in Sept?

[Sydnerella]

Originally Posted by Alderbrook

Hi there, I keep looking at old photos of the POFQ & am wondering if bread, peanut butter, cereal & those types of things are still available in the store at the resort (we are heading there in Sept). I am bringing snacks & things for my 15 month old but would like to limit what I am bringing, especially bread LOL. We have FD but I need to have snacks on hand for her during the day and being able to make a sandwich for her makes things so much easier. A hungry melting down baby is not fun & doesn't understand "you'll have to wait, our reservations aren't for another hour"

We haven't stayed there since it was Dixie Landings in 1997! I'm sure things have changed

Yes those things are at the store... and perhaps even better, you can also place an order with Garden Grocer and have it delivered to the hotel. Then you can get cases of water and diapers or whatever things like that you may not wish to pack delivered to the hotel on your arrival day. Lots of good reviews of GG. I have not needed it as we had a van rental and stopped at Publix on our way to the resort. Just google the site and search it on the DIS to learn more.

Sydnerella's Mama

[disgram]

I have been taking my grandkids to WDW for the past 20 years. With the exception of 4 times, we have stayed at POFQ. I would not want to stay anywhere else! Neither would the kids. Well, now this will be the last trip with them as the oldest is 20 and the others don't want to be seen with their grandmother anymore! Now, I will be going by myself and still plan on staying at POFQ! The rooms are large enough to put a scooter in and still have enough room to walk around without bumping into anything and they are so beautiful! The resort area is beautiful and a wonderful walk around. The flowers are just beautiful as is all the landscaping. We could walk to the POR to see that resort and go swimming there. There is a real nice store there and to me, that is the only disapointment at the POFQ. It has all you could need but at the POR there is more. As for the noise, I don't think that it bothered any of us, even the toilets!The resort is small enough so I never had to worry about the kids getting into trouble or lost. They always found their way back! I would reccommend this resort to just about anyone!