Port Orleans Riverside

[lnfan4life]

Does anyone know of a good building to stay at? we want to stay in alligator bayu, but don't know what building to stay in.

 

[kcandbella]

We (me, dh, dd25, ds8 and dd5) stayed at POR from 11/28-12/6. My cousin's family was in a connecting room with her, her dh, ds9, ds5, dd4 and dd2. Neither room was exceptionally crowded. We did not find the trundle to be comfortable - of course I was the one who was supposed to sleep on it. I couldn't - my hips started hurting minutes after laying down. So I climb in with dd25 and put ds8 on the trundle. My cousin's ds9 slept on their trundle and said it was comfortable. The next night we went to Target (we went for a camera because I blew ours up when I plugged the DVD charger into it) and got a twin sized airbed. Dd25 slept on it for the remaining 7 nights and said it was actually more comfortable than the beds. If you want to stay at POR and are worried about the sleeping arrangements, think about taking an air mattress for your ds13 - it fits nicely in the spot where the trundle pulls out and Mousekeeping brought us extra sheets, blankets and pillows for it.

I had wanted to stay here for years - had actually booked it twice before but ended up changing for one reason or another. This was the only moderately priced resort that would fit my cousin's family of 6 so I finally got to stay here. I loved the resort from the beginning. I was really excited when I got our room assignment - building 14, corner room, ground floor (cousin's dd2 wears braces on her legs and used a wheelchair). Also, we (me, dh and ds8) arrived at 9:00 am and our room was ready. The rest of the group arrived around noon - my cousin's room was not ready until 4:00 pm. We were very close to the main buildling and just a short walk to the main pool or quiet pool. We got the refillable mugs because we were so close, but honestly, the only one that got the $$ worth was mine. My dd25 and I took a stroll around the resort one day while dh was at the pool with the kids (we were gone when they got back and they didn't have a key - and it was like 60 degrees out).

The only downside I found at the resort was the bus service. There's just too many people for the number of busses they send. Of course, with having a large group with a wheelchair, we sometimes had to wait for the next bus - which took another 15-20 minutes to arrive. The night of Christmas party, dd25 and I waited 45 minutes for bus to the MK - busses for the other parks were consistently coming through and sometimes even leaving the South Depot practically empty.

Would I stay here again? Absolutely but I would like to have a car to transport us to the parks (we did have our car which seats 6 - but there were 11 of us including 6 children - 4 of them required car seats or boosters so we would have had to make several trips between the resort/parks).

Here's a few pictures:

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Awesome review and pics!!! We can't wait to stay here in May!

 

[DisneyPete]

Just because they give you the trundle bed doesn't mean you have to use it. A twin sized inflatable mattress fits great between the beds or by the window and is much more comfortable.

It can be quickly inflated and even deflated if you want more room during the day.

 

[lnfan4life]

Question.... What is the best building number in alligator bayou to request, we don't know what to request, but we want to know what everyone on here says. thanks.

 

[danmoss]

Love this resort and like the seclusion if you stay near the back of the resort.

 

[lnfan4life]

Thanks, but is there a certain room number that we should request?

 

[disneydad78]

This will be our first time also to stay at POR. we have 2 famS with side by side rooms. we have 6 kids and 4 adults,any suggestions on rooms or building we may want. oldest will be 13 and 2-9y/o;s and rest 7,6,4. any help or ideas we need to do,please help. This is our 4th time at WDW but we are bringing our best friends and we want this to be the best vacation in there life. We want to get them hooked just like we are,,IM A WDW NUT!!!
Both are fam of 5 !

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I am going back and forth trying to think of where we want to stay when we go in November. Our last trip we stayed at French Quarter, and loved it. I am hesistant with POR because of its size and the buses, should I be worried about this? I don't want to stay in the family suite, we really don't want to do a value. When I check on deluxes its almost another 2000.00......is there a middle somewhere that I am not thinking about. I wish I had a pin code, have registered for this and saved that but nothing. Anyone have any suggestions....I just don't know how to pay 7000 for a vacation, that seems so unreal even for Disney.

 

[jasonpicken]

I am going back and forth trying to think of where we want to stay when we go in November. Our last trip we stayed at French Quarter, and loved it. I am hesistant with POR because of its size and the buses, should I be worried about this? I don't want to stay in the family suite, we really don't want to do a value. When I check on deluxes its almost another 2000.00......is there a middle somewhere that I am not thinking about. I wish I had a pin code, have registered for this and saved that but nothing. Anyone have any suggestions....I just don't know how to pay 7000 for a vacation, that seems so unreal even for Disney.

we've been renting points from dvc members our last 4 trips. we've stayed at OKW, wilderness lodge, saratoga springs and animal kingdom lodge. the most we've paid is $140/night, and that's in peak season(march). i would highly suggest going to the dis dvc rent board. it's a disney life changer! you'll pay less for a deluxe then you do for a moderate with a discount. also remember, if you rent points you don't pay tax.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

If you rent points then can you still use the dining plan? The sound of 140 a night sounds wonderful.

 

[jasonpicken]

If you rent points then can you still use the dining plan? The sound of 140 a night sounds wonderful.

yes you can. i'm on the dining plan through a dvc member in march. the dvc member sets up the dining plan for you on your reservation, but you pay disney for it when you check in.

 

[mjp12831]

Someone has gone through the trouble of setting up a website with all sorts of information on the Port Orleans resorts - www.portorleans.org. Check that out and it will answer most of your questions.

 

[mjp12831]

has anyone already figured out if it's better to do the percentage off instead of doing the gift card promotion?

we're doing 7 nights at a moderate (POR)

ETA: Figured it out for me at least. Our dates start before but run after June 3rd. If they were all within that time frame, that total amount for the room, add on the tickets purchased separately...then add in the $500 gift card we would lose...it would be about $180 cheaper.

With the extension of both the % off and gift card promos, our trip now falls within the dates. I priced it out both ways (7 nights, POR July 6-12). We have 3 kids, DDP and 8 day hoppers in - not sure if that makes any difference.
Gift card promo for us would be $25 less (if you deduct the $500 from the quote), but you cannot use the card against the trip. That provided enough of a hassle to not be worth a $25 savings.

 

[annegirl]

It looks so pretty! I would love to stay there.

 

[luvdisney00]

Jumping in to this thread. I just booked a 5 night stay at POR for my family of 5 in Aug. I am a little worried about the size of the room, but we are bringing an air matress, so I hope it'll be OK. The resort looks beautiful and I am so happy to read that so many people like it so much. We will have a car so the buses are not that much of an issue. Now all I need is for FD to be released and I'll be set.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Jumping in to this thread. I just booked a 5 night stay at POR for my family of 5 in Aug. I am a little worried about the size of the room, but we are bringing an air matress, so I hope it'll be OK. The resort looks beautiful and I am so happy to read that so many people like it so much. We will have a car so the buses are not that much of an issue. Now all I need is for FD to be released and I'll be set.

I think you all will love it. A beautiful resort with a great food court One of the best IMHO) The pools is great for your kids too....try and not miss the piano show one night, visit POFQ and use that pool, and jump on that boat to DTD, another fun thing to do.....
Just love it there....maybe request a bldg close to main area/store/food court, you'll be glad you did.............enjoy!!!

 

[daisy2jae]

....try and not miss the piano show one night, court, you'll be glad you did.............enjoy!!!

What is the piano show?

 

[MassFamily]

I requested a room in Aligator Bayou. I know they don't guarantee rooms but can I assume that I will at least be in that area if it is requested.

 

[cornfarmer]

What is the piano show?

We were at the resort last March and the piano show was in a lounge area between the front desk and Boatrights.

It was like an old fashioned piano show where everyone is singing and the piano player is telling jokes. It was a lot of fun...mainly for the adults as people were drinking a little ( nothing wild ).

It is worth going to..I think there was a schedule posted by the lounge for the piano guy.

I loved walking the paths of the resort. It was incredibly beautiful, and there was music played ( kind of that southern zippidy do da music ). We stayed in one of the farthest buildings in the bayou area. Nice thing is there was a bus stop only 1/2 block from our building.

 

[3princess mommy]

We stayed here last year during the rain in May
It was a nice hotel the rooms were nice the only down fall was the food court. The boat to DTD was great