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Is Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside the Right Resort for You?

November 21, 2012 by Jodi 2 Comments

Port Orleans Riverside

My family has enjoyed a couple of weeklong stays at Walt Disney World’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. The question asked above, is it for you, depends on what you are looking for in a Resort, how much time you will actually spend at the Resort, and what types of amenities you prefer. My family stays at the Value and Moderate Resorts, because we do not spend a lot of time in our room or exploring the property. We get our fill of adventure at the Parks and Downtown Disney area and only hit the room to drop off souvenirs or catch a nap. Perhaps when the kids are older and we slow down a bit, we may justify the extra expense of the Deluxe Resorts and their magical appeal. Let’s look at the Pros and Cons of Port Orleans Riverside (POR):

PROS:

The property is absolutely beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and serenely scenic.
Bus service is excellent, with 4 convenient, covered stops. (POR shares buses with only neighboring Port Orleans French Quarter.)
All of the guest rooms have been recently refurbished to include queen beds and flat-screen TVs during 2011/2012 refurbishment.
The Riverside Mill Food Court is spacious and picturesque with lovely views of the Riverside Mill water wheel and Ol’ Man Island, and the food is delicious.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall table-service restaurant serves dinner only, but it’s a great place for hearty Cajun cooking.

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Filed Under: Chip Panel, Disabilities, Downtown Disney, Original Articles, Parks & Resorts, Places to Stay, Planning, Planning 101, Play Areas, Resorts, Tips, Tips &Tricks, Transportation, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: boats, Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Downtown Disney, fishing, French Quarter, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Resort, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Cruising The Waters Of The World

May 14, 2012 by Jeffrey 1 Comment

My favorite thing to do at Walt Disney World outside the parks, and now my son’s favorite, was always renting one of the little two-person boats for a cruise in one of the property’s many waterways. The “water mice” of my childhood have been replaced by Sea Raycers designed specially for Disney by Sea Ray. These little 10 foot beauties zip along powered by a 9.9 horsepower outboard engine and are tremendous fun!

You need not be a resort guest to rent a boat, so you can pick and choose where you’d like to take your cruise. Our favorite location is Bay Lake, which is accessible from all the Magic Kingdom Resorts including Fort Wilderness. The Sea Raycer is a great way to go have a look at the old River Country or Discovery island sites and view all the monorail resorts from the water. Chasing after the ferries is great fun as well, just don’t get in the way.

For a different experience, you can try renting at Port Orleans Riverside. From there, you boat in a river/canal rather than a lake. There are all sorts of wildlife to see and if you go down river a bit you can check out the Treehouse Villas, which are really cool.

Sea Raycers are available to rent at the Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Riverside, Beach and Yacht Club Resorts, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian Resort, Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort, Old Key West Resort, Fort Wilderness and at Captain Jack’s Marina in Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Renters must be 18 year of age or older, but children as young as 12 can drive as long as they are at least five feet tall. My son turned 12 since his last trip to Disney, so you can bet a Sea Raycer cruise is high on his list for our next trip. Rental rates are as follows:

$32+tax for 30 minutes

$40+tax for 45 minutes

$45+tax for 60 minutes

Two people may ride together as long as their combined weight is less than 320 pounds, but we find the boats go faster with only one rider, and that makes it a bit more fun.

As a kid, I was convinced the Contemporary Resort had the “best” water mice ( the predecessor to the Sea Raycer). Do you think one of the resorts has the “best and fastest” Sea Raycers? Do you have a favorite spot to cruise? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

10 Free or Cheap Things to do outside WDW Parks (chipandco.com)
What do you do on a Non-Park Day? (chipandco.com)

Filed Under: Around The 'Disney' World, Downtown Disney, Planning, Resorts, Tips &Tricks Tagged With: Bay Lake, boats, cruise, disney, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort, fun, Port Orleans Riverside, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort

Is Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort for You?

November 12, 2011 by Jodi 7 Comments

Port Orleans Riverside

Let’s look at the Pros and Cons of Port Orleans Riverside (POR):

PROS:

The property is absolutely beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and serenely scenic.
Bus service is excellent, with 4 convenient, covered stops. (POR shares buses with only neighboring Port Orleans French Quarter.)
The rooms are in excellent condition and are in the process of getting new queen beds in all rooms. (This creates a new CON below.)
The food court is spacious and picturesque with lovely views of the Riverside Mill water wheel and Ol’ Man Island, and the food is delicious.
Boatright’s Dining Hall table-service restaurant serves dinner only, but it’s a great place for hearty Cajun cooking.
Surrey bikes, rowboats, pedal boats, and canopy boats can be rented for leisure time. Also, fisherman, you can cast a rod-n-reel into the pond stocked with catfish, perch, bass, and bluegill (catch and release only).
The main pool on Ol’ Man Island features a lovely swimming area with slides, kids’ wading area, and hot tub. There’s also a shaded playground nearby. POR features five “quiet” pools throughout the Resort.
For the romantics out there, POR offers a private carriage ride for $35.
Friendships pick up Guests at POR and ferry them along the Sassagoula River to Port Orleans French Quarter and to Downtown Disney Marketplace until 11:00 p.m., running every hour until 4:00 p.m. and every 15 minutes after that.
Fulton’s gift shop is well stocked and the Cast Members are very nice.

Surrey bike at POR

CONS:

The resort is large, and some of the buildings are difficult to access. We had to walk from the lobby in pouring rain and blustering wind on a 40-degree night to our room on the backside of Building 18, to which there is not direct route.
Disney is in the process of replacing all full sized beds with queens. While that’s great news for families of four or fewer, as soon as that work is complete, those of us with parties of five will no longer be accommodated. *
POR is divided into two themed “parishes”: the backwoods-cottage styled buildings of Alligator Bayou and the stately Gone with the Wind styled mansions of Magnolia Bend. In Alligator Bayou, the multi-level buildings are elevator-less. Guests with handicaps should be sure to request ground floor rooms.

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort is a lovely resort with beautiful grounds and a well-maintained setting. My family has enjoyed staying at POR, because its relaxing atmosphere helps us unwind after busy days in the Parks.

Will we stay there again? We’d love to, but probably not, because as soon as all rooms are converted to queen beds, they will no longer accommodate our family of five. But that’s alright. There are many more Resorts left for us to explore!

*Author’s note: There seems to be some discrepancy in reports concerning the refurbishments. Parties of 5 WILL still be accommodated at POR when renovations are complete. However, that applies to the buildings of Alligator Bayou only, and there may be some time periods where trundles are not available while the work is in progress. Rumors state the trundles are being replaced with Murphy-style twin beds, but we’ve been unable to confirm that information at this time.

Opening in early spring 2012, the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside (chipandco.com)
Planning 101 – Scheduling Time for Free Disney Resort Fun (chipandco.com)

Filed Under: Chip Panel, Disabilities, Downtown Disney, Original Articles, Parks & Resorts, Places to Stay, Planning, Planning 101, Play Areas, Resorts, Tips, Tips &Tricks, Transportation, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: boats, disney, Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Downtown Disney, fishing, French Quarter, Jodi Whisenhunt, Port Orleans French Quarter, Resort, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Wednesday with Walt: Happiness Is…

June 1, 2011 by Brenda Leave a Comment

Walt Disney said, “Happiness is a state of mind, it’s just according to the way you look at things.”

Disney fans know all about happiness. Merriam-Webster describes happiness as “a state of well-being and contentment; or a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” All we know is that it is the sheer joy we feel when we visit the most magical place on earth. Happiness is manifested in different ways for different people. What is funny to me is that Walt said “it is in the way you look at things,” and I think our perspective actually changes just from being at Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

I went to some of the happiest Disney people I know, the Chip & Co writers, to get their opinions on where happiness comes from during their visits. This list is not all-inclusive but I am sure you can get the idea.

It’s in the memories

Looking back on past trips with our families and watching our children grow up in the pages of our photo albums makes us happy and proud.

It’s in a child’s eyes

The sheer joy in a child’s face when she sees her favorite characters is worth a million bucks.

It’s a walk down the street

Not just any street; it’s our first walk down Main Street USA. This brings joy to many people; whether it is the first walk or the 50^th makes no difference at all. It is the fact that we are finally on Main Street. For others it is the main street in any of the parks.

It’s a seat with a view

Finding the perfect seat for viewing the Magic Kingdom night parade is an easy shot to sheer joy.

It’s in our daily lives

Having pieces of Disney scattered all around our daily lives keeps many of us in a happier place. Mementos, pictures, collectibles are all things that remind us of happy times we have had or will have in the future.

It’s under the arches

No, it is not under the golden arches, but the ones you drive under when you are finally entering Walt Disney World. You know them.. and hopefully you will be seeing them again soon.

It’s in our wish for a better world

Disney guests and cast members alike take the time to treat each other as individual people. The kindness is infectious and it creates a sense of “home” like no other. It’s a magical feeling.

It’s in our interaction with cast members

Watching the Citizens of Hollywood at the Studios is a lot of fun and puts a smile on your face that will last all day. There are some special people I call cast members extraordinaire that have really made an impression on me at WDW.

It’s in the joy of the ride

Riding the Tower or Terror, Expedition Everest or Rock N Rollercoaster, just to name a few, takes you back to being a kid again. It is wonderful to feel that kind of youth and free-spiritedness again.

Riding the monorail and boats says “welcome back” and that is a fantastic feeling as well.

It’s the sounds and sights of a water parade

Watching a time-tested and treasured tradition such as the Electric Water Pageant can bring you nostalgic happiness – Walt’s favorite kind.

It’s in a special treat

Each bite of an ice cream cone on Main Street or a sundae at Beaches and Cream makes you happier and happier.

It’s in a hug from Mickey Mouse

The moment you walk up to Mickey and he puts his arms out for a hug is a time that love overflows from your heart. Be sure to snap a photo so you can feel that feeling over and over again.

It’s in the joy of knowing Disney friends from all over the country

As I said, I got much of the information for this article from my fellow writers at Chip & Company. Thank you to all of you for your input. I know and love these friends through a Disney bond, even though I have never met them in person. My happiness comes from friendships with people who have this special connection in common across the globe.

Another thing Walt said was, “We create happiness.” Well yes, Walt, you definitely did create happiness and we thank you very much for that.

He gave us the tools; we just have to use them!

Classic Disney – Walt Disney World – Journey into Magic (chipandco.com)
Accessible Ride Vehicles at the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)

Filed Under: Tips &Tricks Tagged With: boats, Cast Members, Disney characters, Electrical Water Pageant, family, Ice Cream, magic, Main Street Electrical Parade, Main Street USA, memories, mickey mouse, monorail, photographs, snacks

Oldies But Goodies – How Effective Is Disney Transportation For Seniors?

April 30, 2011 by Ken 1 Comment

Let me be up front with you, as a Disney consumer who happens to be an Oldie I really enjoy the Walt Disney World transportation system. There are a few reasons why. We have stayed off site and driven to the parks each day (that will never happen again), we have also rented a car for an 8 day visit and the only time we used it was for a 1 day trip to Universal so if that comes up again we will do a 1 day rental, but it has become our norm to rely strictly on the Disney transportation system to get us from place to place. On our upcoming visit in October we will be going to see Harry Potter for 1 day but the friends we are vacationing with are driving down so that is covered.

When people hear Disney transportation their thoughts seem to drift towards the bus system and any bad experiences they have had with it. Sure, we have had a few less than perfect experiences but never anything I would call bad. Yes, they get crowded (especially at park closing) and some fellow passengers can occasionally be somewhat rude or annoying but when you consider how many people that bus system moves and the complexity of Walt Disney World it works pretty doggone well. I know I am regularly offered a seat if I am standing but there are lots of folks who need that seat worse than I do so I always politely decline.

So much for the bus system, and yes it is very effective for seniors and those folks who might have some mobility issues. What else is available and how well does it work? Of course there is the monorail which works just beautifully for moving everyone from toddlers to Oldies. The ride is smooth and always well air conditioned. We have heard a lot about accidents but overall the safety record is excellent. The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t go everywhere in Walt Disney World and that’s not likely to happen. But, if you are staying in one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts it can’t be beat for efficiency. The ride from the TTC to Epcot is also a treat. Again, the monorail system is a very effective mode of transportation for us Oldies.

My personal favorite method of transportation at Walt Disney World are the many types of boats that navigate the World’s waterways. I’ll just list a few of them for you:

The ferry from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom
The smaller boats that go between their respective resorts and the Magic Kingdom on the Seven Seas Lagoon
The ones that sail in Bay Lake moving us to and from Fort Wilderness, the Wilderness Lodge, and the Contemporary
Then there are the Friendships that ply the World Showcase Lagoon from one side to the other (but it’s normally faster to walk)
There are also Friendships that go from Epcot to the Boardwalk and then to the Yacht Club and over to the Swan/Dolphin and on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Saving my favorite for last, the Sassagoula Steamboat Company that runs from Port Orleans Riverside to the French Quarter and on to Downtown Disney. There is also another line that goes between Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney.

Using the boats is a great way for Seniors (and everyone else) to relax after a hectic day and be ready for a good night’s sleep. So the answer to the question is Disney transportation is very effective for seniors and I didn’t even mention that it’s free!!! As Always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Photo By Disney