| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 268.1 | descriptive articles | GEMINI::GIBSON | | Thu Jun 27 1991 14:09 | 56 |
| Following is an article which appeared in MAGIC Newsletter, the MKC Gold
Card Newsletter. Reprinted without permision.
NEW RESORT RECALLS NEW ORLEANS
This summer visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can
also take a trip back in time. Introducing Disney's Port Orleans Resort,
an exciting vacation experience that captures all the remance and adventure
of New Orleans' historic French Quarter along the mighty Mississippi River.
From the moment guests enter through the wrought-iron entry gates, the
color of the delta city surrounds them. A beautifully landscaped drive leads
to the heart of the "city" -- Port Orleans Square -- where the guest
registration area, guest services, bell services, merchandise locations,
refreshments and recreation center are located. As guests exit the area,
they will be entertained by a parade of Mardi Gras characters. A short stroll
from Port Orleans Square are the guest room buildings. These three-story
buildings, with a total of 1,008 rooms, exude all the character of the French
Quarter. Balconies and wrought-iron railings in a wide array of sizes, styles,
and colors provide a gay contrast to the pristine landscaping of the historic
Garden District of New Orleans.
Like all the Wlat Disney World resorts, Disney's Port Orleans Resort
offers guests a wide variety of recreational activities including boats,
bicycles, the Doubloon Lagoon pool, a challenging video arcade, shopping at
Jackson Square Gifts and Desires, and more.
There is also a good selection of colorful dining choices. The fun begins
at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, a 300-item menu food court filled
with the festive atmosphere of Mardi Gras. Themed props and floats hang from
the ceiling. Four specialty shops feature such delicacies as fresh baked
beignets, seafood jambalaya, spicy fried chicken, hand-formed burgers, whole
chickens roasted on an open pit, pasta dishes and fresh hot pizza served
directly out of an old-fashioned brick oven.
Bonfamille's Cafe is a 150-seat, full-service restaurant straight out of
the French quarter. Diners are greeted with colorful fabrics, paddle fans,
polished wood and tile accents surrounding an open courtyard. With a blend of
Creole specialties and American cuisine, Bonfamille's Cafe offers something for
everyone. And for guests who are looking for a quiet spot to relax and enjoy a
specialty cocktail, there is Scat Cat's jazz lounge or the Mardi Grog's pool
bar.
Reservations for Disney's Port Orleans Resorts are now being taken. It's a
trip into the deep South you'll never forget!
--------------------------------------------------------
In addition, from an article in Disny New too long to type in here, there are
seven buildings with guest rooms in them. They differ slightly in style and
color. If you would like a copy of the full article, please send me your
address and I will forward a hard copy to you.
The CRO also emphasized that there is no beach at this hotel, only a pool for
swimming.
Hope this helps.
Linda
|
| 268.2 | First person report on Port Orleans | AKOCOA::HILL | | Fri Jun 28 1991 01:17 | 62 |
|
Actually, while I was down at WDW last month, I stopped in at
Port Orleans to have breakfast as well as take a look around. Mind
you, less than half of the buildings in the concept were open at that
time -- but I was able to check out the check-in area, their
merchandise and food service center, as well as the resort's pool.
My initial reaction : Well, it won't as much fun as staying at
the Carribbean Beach Resort, but the Port Orleans Resort Hotel will
be a pretty pleasant place to stay while visiting WDW. The lobby and
check-in area is a great wrought-iron-and-glass confection of a
building -- very pleasing to the eye. As you enter, the check-in area
and main lobby is off to your right. If you continue down to your left
in this wing, you'll find the main merchandise area for the hotel.
( Nice selection of Mardi Gras hats and masks here, even if they are
a bit pricey. Cute display of the classic Disney characters -- Mickey,
Donald & Goofy -- as a marching band in the center of the store. )
Off to your left is Bonfamille's Cafe and the Sassagoula Floatworks
and Food Factory. Don't get to see Bonfamille's personally, but had a
truly great breakfast at the Sassagoula Food Factory. They do an
all-you-can-eat breakfast ( Actually, it's really as all-you-want-to
-have-heaped-on-your-plate breakfast, but -- I'll warn you -- the
Sassagoula staff serves with a very heavy hand. Ge sure to go here
hungry ) of eggs, bacon, omlettes, sausage, biscuit, fruit, and grits
for $ 5.95 a person ( Coffee, milk, or O.J. extra ).
But -- besides the over-sized breakfast -- the best part of eating
here is the over-sized Mardi Gras props that hang down from the ceiling
in the central dining room. Very colorful, really amusing. Even if
you're not staying at this hotel, make a point of swinging in here the
next time you're at WDW for a cheap breakfast in a memorable setting.
And -- speaking of memorable settings -- be sure to check out
Port Orleans pool area. The Doubloon Lagoon pool is very appropriately
named, for an over-sized Mardi Gras float ( King Triton riding on a
sea serpent ) serves as the framing device for the whole pool area.
You see the various coils of the sea serpent rising in and out of the
ground in and around the pool ( Just like a snake swimming through
the surf ) with the head of the serpent serving as a water slide back
into the pool.
Adding to the fun of the Doubloon Lagoon is the decorative
alligators that are scattered about. That's right ! DECORATIVE
alligators. What do they look like ? Well, remember Ben Ali Gator
in the " Dance of the Hours " segment of " Fantasia. " Well, picture
in Ben and some of his cousins ended up playing in a Dixieland band.
These main-sized fiber-glass figures -- ten or so -- are all over
the pool area, with water spraying out of their instruments.
The rooms and the hotel itself. Didn't really get to check those
out. The previous description -- three story French Quarter styled
buildings with wrought iron railings -- seems about right. And the
complex really does hug the river. If you stepped out of the pool and
walked 20 feet, you could climb on a water shuttle to EPCOT or Disney
-MGM.
As for the Dixie Landings Resort or the two championship golf
courses that are supposed to be part of the package, work was still
continuing on these. Don't expect they'll be ready for guests 'til
early 1992.
All in all, a cute looking place. I'll reserve final judgement
until after they finish construction on the other building at Port
Orleans. but -- as of right now -- the Carribbean Beach Resort is
still my favorite affordable hotel complex at WDW. Be sure to check
it out the next time you're at WDW -- particularly at breakfast time.
jrh
|
| 268.3 | Rooms look like CBR | TYGER::GIBSON | | Fri Jun 28 1991 09:15 | 8 |
| I yesterday's mail at home I received a copy of the Spring 1991 issue
of the WDW Vacation Guide. Inside are the first real photographs
(versus "artists' interpretations") of Port Orleans that I have seen.
The picture of the inside of a guest room shows exactly the same
arrangement as the CBR.
Linda
|
| 268.4 | Diff between PO and CBR | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Fri Jun 28 1991 15:25 | 19 |
| Hey Robespierre,
There may be people in here who may need some more info regarding the
difference between Port Orleans and the CBR.
This info could help them decide where to stay.
Some info that may help is...
o The CBR is closer to EPCOT, MGM, TL, and The Disney Village
Marketplace.
o Port Orleans is closer to FW and TMK.
o The CBR has more pools.
Pricewise they are similar.
Mike
|
| 268.5 | Anybody staying at PO anytime soon ? | AKOCOA::HILL | | Fri Jun 28 1991 16:32 | 25 |
|
Sorry, Scopa, but -- after driving over to Port Orleans -- I'd
have to dispute Disney's claim that their new resort is closer to
the Magic Kingdom. True, you can get there fairly speedily if you
use the back roads ( Of course, that involves stopping at that WDW
guard shack just beyond the entrance to Fort Wilderness ), but -- given
a lot of people don't know all the short cuts around the property --
most guests will have to use the main WDW roadways. This -- as many
veteran Disney World visitors will tell you -- can be LOTS of fun in
the morning.
True, Port Orleans is fairly accessible to EPCOT ( It's just a
quarter of a mile away ... across several lanes of traffic, mind you
but it is just a quarter of a mile away ). But -- given all the road
construction that's going on around the new resort, this situation
may improve in a few months. If not then, maybe when Dixie Landings
throws open its doors.
For definitive word on this, I guess we're going to have to wait
'til one of our DEC noters stays at Port Orleans and tells us how easy
or how hard it was to get around the property from there. Is anyone out
there going to staying here anytime soon ? It'd be great to get some
comments from someone who's actually spent some time at Port Orleans
about the hotel's accessibility, its rooms and amenities .. Us day
trippers tend to give enthusiastic but somewhat erratic notes. It's
the folks who actually stay at these places who give us the REAL deal.
|
| 268.6 | 85 days away | IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN | Disney in 1991 | Fri Jun 28 1991 17:19 | 5 |
| I'll be checking into Port Orleans in 85 days. Hopefully, someone else will
be staying there this summer. (I originally tried for the CBR but it was
already booked for five of the days of my vacation.)
Marilyn
|
| 268.7 | I cleaned up the line wraps | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Mon Jul 22 1991 17:58 | 32 |
| <<< CLOSET::W7_:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DISNEY.NOTE;1 >>>
-< The Disneyphile's Disney File >-
================================================================================
Note 268.7 Disney's Port Orleans Resort 7 of 7
XLIB::TALATINIAN 20 lines 22-JUL-1991 16:39
-< Whats it really like >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since I may have been the first to stay at the Port Orleans Resort, I
will give my opinion of the resort. The rooms are very similar to CBR's
rooms. The resort consists of multiple 3 story buildings rather than the
two story structures in CBR.
There is only one pool which is rather shallow but does have a cute
serpent slide in it. The food court is also not as good as CBR in my
opinion.
Getting to and from the parks was rather easy with the bus since they
used back roads. However, because it is new, there is no covered bus
stop at EPCOT. It drops you off at some makeshift area, and if it is
raining when you want to leave, you get rather wet.
We were supposed to stay 12 nights, but cut it to 6 and stayed at the
Beach Club the other 6 nights (much nicer!!).
There is still no boat service yet to EPCOT or MGM. They are still
working on that.
Overall, comparing the two same priced hotels (CBR and PO), I would
choose CBR.
John T.
|
| 268.8 | THanks | MRKTNG::CAMPBELL | | Tue Jul 23 1991 15:06 | 12 |
| John, thanks for that info. I just booked two days in August for
the Port Orleans (we're staying free at Marriott World for 3 days) I
needed two more nights and they didn't have them at either Port Orleans
or CBR. I got one night at DIsney Inn for $125 (supposed to be a $185
night room but they were having a special for 3 week days). But
nothing on the other day I need, so I'll have to keep calling on
Sundays till we leave and try to get two days a CBR if at all possible.
24 days and counting....................................
|
| 268.9 | Port Orleans, I loved it! | FDCV07::CAMPBELL | | Fri Sep 06 1991 12:25 | 37 |
| Well everyone I guess I'll have to dispute you on Port Orleans. We
stayed there last weekend and I absolutely love it!!! I'd choose it
over CBR anyday. The only thing I agree with people on is the
food court. CBR is better, but too crowded in the am for us. We
stayed three nights in CBR the beginning of our trip and tried twice
to get breakfast at 8:00 in the Port Royale and the lines had 20-25
people in them. We walked out.
The lobby of the Port Orleans is great, Jazz Music playing as you
get out of your car to check in. Nice Lobby, great store with
different types of souveniers.
An arcade is also off the lobby. It does have a sit down restaurant
that is a bit expensive, I thought. Not a lot of New Orleans type
of food though. The food court has begnet (how ever you spell it)
and coffee in the bakery, then a hamburger place, pizza place. So
there isn't a lot to choose from, but then we only ate lunch there
one day, since we were at the parks most of the time. If anyone
is going, I have the map of the place if they'd like a copy let
me know. It does have a hot tub, GREAT pool with the sea serpent
slide, Alligators hold umbrellas great you before you get to the
pool, one of the gators is actually a shower. My sons says there
from Fantasia, I'm not sure about that since I don't remember Fantasia.
Bar next to the pool, laundry. Off the lobby is the Scat Cat Bar
that has a huge TV and certain nights have Jazz musicians. They
weren't there when we were there. I think they played Mon- Thursday.
As far as location. We were at the Magic Kingdom in minutes. We
took a right out of the hotel, took the next left and we were literally
at the gate of Fort Wilderness, showed our ID to the guard and were
at the Poly in 3 or 4 minutes. Very convient. Epcot is a left out
of the hotel and 1/2 mile away. We were very pleased and would stay
there again. The rooms were alot the CBR, two double beds,
armor/dresser with the TV, they had the old fashion white stand alone
sinks, huge faucet and knobs, dark kelly green wainscoating. Paddle
Fan. Anyone who wants more info let me know. I have the resort
passbook and map I can make copies of.
|
| 268.10 | | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Good Morning WDW!, in 232 days | Fri Sep 06 1991 13:46 | 35 |
| Rep to <<< Note 268.9 by FDCV07::CAMPBELL >>>
> Well everyone I guess I'll have to dispute you on Port Orleans. We
> stayed there last weekend and I absolutely love it!!! I'd choose it
> over CBR anyday.
thanks for the positive review.
Since I have reservations at the PO for next April, I have been keeping
silent on the PO not being as nice as CBR discussion in here.
I remember when the CBR first opened not all the reviews were positive.
Some complained about the beds being to firm, bus service was lousy,
room service was late etc., then after about 6-9 months of operation
they semed to get all the bugs worked out etc. By the time I go in
April I expect these type of problems to be non-existent.
Everyone has different taste, some like the Caribbean more so than New
Orleans type decor. Myself I had spent about 2 months total in Puerto
Rico on company business, by myself and with family. So since I have
some Caribbean exposure, we decided to give PO a chance since we have
never been near New Orleans.
Some have complained about PO having just 1 pool, well you have to
remember that it's sister resort Dixie Landings opens in the Spring,
and will have some shared facilities if I remember correctly, so
between the two maybe they'll be several pools for all 3000+ rooms.
Also another thing that cause me to choose the PO vs CBR was that it
will have a SIT DOWN restaurant vs just a fast food court like CBR.
And if I remember reading correctly in the DIsney News article was that
at the Landings marketplace (or whatever it's called when DL opens)
will have a restaurant/club providing nighttime entertainment.
Claude
|
| 268.11 | Sounds great to me! | TYGER::GIBSON | | Fri Sep 06 1991 14:29 | 6 |
| I'm glad to hear a positive review, too. We will be staying at
Port Orleans during Christmas, and were getting nervous. A sit-down
restaurant is the only thing that CBR lacks, but it is a big negative
IMHO.
Linda
|
| 268.12 | Try it you'll like it! | FDCV06::CAMPBELL | | Mon Sep 09 1991 10:35 | 17 |
| Linda and Claude, I think you'll both really like it. Again I used
my car all the time and never once tried to bus service so I can't
comment on that. The sit down restaurant looked nice, but we never
ate there, opted for Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club and
Sci-Fri and Prime Time Cafe and England for our dinners. It did
not look like they had much in the way of New Orlean's type food
which disappointed my husband, and it was pretty expensive.
The one thing I found strange, and I'm not sure if it was done on
purpose or not was the faucets on the sinks. They were opposite of
what they said on the handles. The left said cold and was hot, etc.
I thought that was really kind of a dangerous thing to do on purpose
but both sinks were exactly the same. I'll be curious to see what
everyone else's has.
Pat
|
| 268.13 | | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Good Morning WDW!, in 229 days | Mon Sep 09 1991 10:51 | 19 |
| Rep to <<< Note 268.12 by FDCV06::CAMPBELL >>>
> The one thing I found strange, and I'm not sure if it was done on
> purpose or not was the faucets on the sinks. They were opposite of
> what they said on the handles. The left said cold and was hot, etc.
Pat,
This is the type of bugs I figure will be ironed out by the time I go
in April. Hot is always on the left and cold on the right (Plumbing
standard). They'll swap the handles once a guest allerts them to it,
or an employee notices it.
As to the expense of the restaurant, that doesn't really bother me,
since I'll probably use it only once or twice. It's just nice to know
that when I feel like being waited on, and I'm in a lazy mood, I don't
need to go to far.
Claude
|
| 268.14 | Quick stop at P.O. | BROKE::LUND | | Mon Sep 09 1991 11:19 | 15 |
|
We made a quick stop over at Port Orleans while we were there.
Didn't ask to see a room; as I figured they would be very close
to the layout in CBR. They have covered areas for the bus stops
now.
We walked through the lobby and out into the back to check it
out. Seems to me like an over abundance of Wrought Iron :^);
Took a quick stroll by the food court; Contains Bakery; Chicken;
Pizza; and a Burger place. The restaurant didn't seem open
when we swung through there (it was about 1pm); It looked like
a dinner only restaurant? Maybe someone else can post more info
on when the restaurant is open.
- Annie
|
| 268.15 | No lunch! | MRKTNG::CAMPBELL | | Wed Sep 11 1991 12:03 | 7 |
| The restaurant is only open for breakfast and dinner. No lunches!
So Claude you really think those sink faucets are a screw up? I
wonder if I should tell them in my survey that I'm filling out for
them?
|
| 268.16 | | TECRUS::JIM | Jim Pappas | Wed Sep 11 1991 21:26 | 42 |
| On our recent trip to WDW, we stopped by PO to take a look and
to have a snack. We thought it was pretty nice and would make
a reasonable place to stay. However, we decided that we like
the CBR a little better and we canceled next summer's PO
reservation and transferred the deposit over to the CBR.
While the entire PO is nice, we were not thrilled by what we
assume are the "deluxe view" rooms, and we wouldn't spend any
extra for them. They look out at the river, which wasn't the
best looking part of PO in our opinion. By contrast, [most]
deluxe rooms in the CBR look out over the lagoon and across to
other parts of CBR. We feel that it a lot more pleasant and
worth the $5/night. If staying at PO, we would probably get a
parking lot or garden view and save the few bucks.
Unlike the CBR, Port Orleans does not have bike or boat
rentals. I think that PO might eventually get boats, but we
didn't see any on this trip.
We prefer the CBR system of pools over the single pool at PO.
Since PO is physically small, the need for multiple pools is
not as important. We don't think the main pool at the CBR is
quite as nice as the single pool at PO (but after the Y&BC we
are now really spoiled).
I really did not care for the food court at either PO or CBR,
but we thought the CBR was a little better. We enjoy eating
nice lunches and dinners when down there. I think it is a
plus that PO has a sit down restaurant.
I think the two are equally convenient for transportation,
with a slight edge to PO. Once the boats are running, PO might
be better for getting to the village if you do not have a car.
Bus transportation is probably a bit more convenient from PO
since there are fewer stops within the resort. CBR is closer
to MGM but PO is closer to Epcot and MK.
The biggest reason we changed from the PO to CBR was just
personal taste. We would not hesitate to stay at PO, but
given the choice, we thought that we would prefer the CBR a
little more.
|
| 268.17 | | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Good Morning WDW!, in 226 days | Thu Sep 12 1991 08:14 | 28 |
| Rep to <<< Note 268.16 by TECRUS::JIM "Jim Pappas" >>>
> While the entire PO is nice, we were not thrilled by what we
> assume are the "deluxe view" rooms, and we wouldn't spend any
> extra for them. They look out at the river, which wasn't the
> best looking part of PO in our opinion.
Jim,
Did you bother to ask anyone? When I made my reservation I was told
the Deluxe room looks over the quiet courtyard areas. Below is an
extract from what I entered last April about prices, which is from 1991
WDW Resort Vacation Handbook.
Disney's Port Orleans Resort (June '91)
------------------------------------
Standard View $ 79 $ 84
Garden View $ 90 $ 95
Deluxe/Courtyard View $ 99 $ 99
To me a courtyard is not looking out across a river, this would be more
like the standard room. I will be calling soon and will verify that my
Deluxe reservation is indeed looking out over the interior courtyards
and not across the river into the woods.
Claude
|
| 268.18 | | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Good Morning WDW!, in 226 days | Thu Sep 12 1991 11:46 | 7 |
| Jim,
Well I check with CRO, and the deluxe rooms comprise both River views
and the Courtyard views. I had the operator put a request for
courtyard view on my reservation.
Claude
|
| 268.19 | Peut-etre en francais? | USCTR2::MHORRIGAN | MIKE HORRIGAN @MRO 297-5185 | Fri Nov 01 1991 12:29 | 26 |
|
Re: .12
> The one thing I found strange, and I'm not sure if it was done on
> purpose or not was the faucets on the sinks. They were opposite of
> what they said on the handles. The left said cold and was hot, etc.
> I thought that was really kind of a dangerous thing to do on purpose
> but both sinks were exactly the same. I'll be curious to see what
> everyone else's has.
Pat,
My guess is that the sinks are not messed up. I suspect that
since the Port Orleans theme is the old French Quarter, the faucets are
labeled as theyt would be in old New Orleans, i.e., in French:
"C" for "Chaud" (hot) "F" for "Froid" (cold)
Do you remember if the right faucet said "F"? You didn't mention it
specifically. If yes, that's the answer. If it says "H" or is another "C",
then is definitely *is* messed up.
Regardless, I agree that it can be dangerous and a warning should be
visibly placed.
Mike
|
| 268.20 | you've got me thinking now! | FDCV07::CAMPBELL | | Fri Nov 01 1991 13:41 | 8 |
| Mike,
I thought it said H and C but now you've got me thinking. Maybe
someone staying there in the future could check this out for me.
I just remember the H being in the Cold faucet and found it very
strange.
Pc
|
| 268.21 | | IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN | Longing to be at WDW | Fri Nov 01 1991 14:19 | 8 |
|
The room I stayed in last month at the Port Orleans had
the faucets set up with the cold water on the right hand
side. I don't remember how they were labeled but I think
it was with an "H" and "C". I think I would have remembered
if it was something different.
mig
|
| 268.22 | PO it is a nice place I've been there | CARTUN::KELWORTHY | | Wed Nov 13 1991 15:10 | 23 |
|
My wife and I stayed at Port Orleans in the last week of August to the
begining of Sept. The hotel rooms were nice although they did run out
of towels. This is one of those bugs that will be worked out in time.
I did not like the lunch's that were available ,high prices and not
alot of food. Coffee also was expensive $1.00 a cup but refills were
available which is nice if you planned on staying there but most of the
time you would be on your way to one of the parks. Bon familes(SP) was
great for the both of us it did not cost more than 40.00 for prime rib
from apps to desert. The pool was also fun there was always a place to
sit,the drinks were a bit high but is expected average was 4.75. The
hot tub was also nice but I think they could use another alot of kids
were using it as a pool, evan at 10:30 pm it closed at 11:00 pm.
I would recommend staying there evan though there were some problems
but time will clean them all up. The over all appearence was A+, there
would be someone always cleaning. They did rent boats, motor and paddle
when we were there and bikes, and there were plenty of them to use.
We did not go to or ever stay at the CRB but it also looked very nice.
ken
|
| 268.23 | Port Orleans room recommendations? | UNIVSE::COUTURE | | Tue Dec 10 1991 07:44 | 9 |
| Can anyone give a recommendation on what section (if there are any)
would be best to stay in, or an idea to the better room locations.
Are there 2 floors and if so is the 2nd better?
We've been to the CBR and know that some sections make it eaiser
and nicer, any recommendations on Port Orleans? We'll0 be going down
for Christmas.
Thanks, Steve
|
| 268.24 | | IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN | Longing to be at WDW | Thu Dec 12 1991 13:36 | 13 |
| The Port Orleans has three floors but there are elevators so don't fret
about the steps.
I stayed in a non-smoking room, parking lot view. My room was on the
third floor. It was nice and quiet.
There is only one bus stop outside the main lobby. I requested a room in
a building close to the bus stop. Unfortunately, those rooms are not
non-smoking. Do you want to be close to the lobby or pool? If so,
request that. I don't have the layout of the buildings with me, but I'll
try to remember to look it up.
BTW, the CBR is lots bigger so walking is a bigger concern there.
|
| 268.25 | | IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN | Longing to be at WDW | Fri Dec 13 1991 13:37 | 47 |
| This is being "roughly" reproduced from the map I was given at registration.
river river
--------
|marina|
--------
------------ --------
-------- | | ----------- | |
| | | | | | | |
----------- | | | | | | | 1 |
| | | 5 | | pool | | 2 | | |
| | | | | bar | | | | |
| 6 | | | | spa | | | | |
| | | | | laundry | | | --------
| | -------- | area | -----------
----------- ------------
--------------------
---------- | |
| | ----------- | 3 |
| 7 | | | ------- ------- | |
| | | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | A | | B | --------------------
---------- | | | ---- |
----------- | |
----------------
parking --- parking
| |
| |bus stop
| |
---
Building A contains the restaurants and loungs
Building B is registration/gift shop/arcade
Buildings 1 and 3 have non-smoking rooms.
Buildings 1, 3, 4, and 7 have parking lot view rooms.
This isn't the best map but it should give you an idea of the current layout.
Dixie Landings will be next to buildings 6 and 7. I believe that they are
suppose to have a fun swimming area but I don't know where it'll be located.
|
| 268.26 | | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Good Morning WDW!, in 134 days | Fri Dec 13 1991 15:02 | 6 |
| Rep to <<< Note 268.25 by IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN "Longing to be at WDW" >>>
Thanks for putting in the map, Based on your stay what would you
consider the better building based on view, quite etc.
Claude
|
| 268.27 | Bldg 7 facing court yard | MRKTNG::CAMPBELL | | Mon Dec 16 1991 11:11 | 9 |
| Claude,
When I was there in August, we stayed in Bldg 7 on the corner, bottom
floor. It was convenient to our car and very quiet. Its a very short
walk to the pool and restaurants. We looked out to the court yard
which
was very pretty.
Pat
|
| 268.28 | | IMTDEV::GULLIKSEN | Longing to be at WDW | Mon Dec 16 1991 11:53 | 9 |
| re: .26
I don't remember about the different views. Building 3 was quiet.
My parents were in building 1 and didn't have any complaints.
I'd vote for anything except a view of the pool or next to the
lobby buildings.
|
| 268.29 | 81 days and counting... | ESKIMO::ROBROSE | | Thu Dec 19 1991 07:29 | 12 |
|
I made reservations yesterday for 4 nites at Port Orleans in March.
I requested a nonsmoking so I will probably be in building 1. I am
looking forward to staying here. When I saw the complex last year
I liked the location on the property, so now I will get the chance to
see if I really like the location. I have not received the '92 guide
yet so I am looking forward to that to read the resort description.
Even thou Birnbaum makes sound so good.
81 days...................
-Rob
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| 268.30 | We liked it, too | GEMINI::GIBSON | | Wed Jan 01 1992 18:48 | 35 |
| We just returned from eight nights at Port Orleans. We were in a
non-smoking room in building 5 on the third floor, front right corner
room, #5301. (It looked like the entire building was non-smoking.) Our room
would not be appropriate for families since it contained a single king
sized bed, but the room immediately next door had two doubles.
We were directly across from the spa and the laundromat. There wasn't
as much noise as there would be across from the swimming pool further
back on the same side of the building. Also, being on the third floor
muffled noise, too.
The location was great! It was a very short walk to the main building
for the restaurants and shops, the pool, the marina, and the bus stops.
The only walk of any length was to the parking lot and the rental car.
One thing I especially liked in comparison to CBR were the window
blinds in the rooms. In CBR, when you lower the shades, there are still
spaces around them where passers-by can see into the room. In Port
Orleans there are some improvements: venetian blinds instead of shades,
plus room darkening drapes to draw over those. Red and white striped
curtains and valances overlap the edges of the blinds and the drapes.
I felt it was more private and could dress in the room instead of the
bathroom.
The sit-down restaurant was more expensive than we had expected, but
you get a 15% discount on dinner if you are seated before 7:00 PM.
Makes it more affordable for families.
The pool was very popular, with a constant stream of youngsters (and
a few adults) down the water slide. It was open until midnight while we
were there.
We loved it at Port Orleans and would stay there again before CBR.
Linda
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| 268.31 | Shape of PO | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Thu Jan 02 1992 10:00 | 10 |
| Linda,
During the showing of the WDW Christmas parade last Wednesday they did
a segment with the Disney Girls and they showed various resorts
including PO. It was a quick glance but I could have sworn that PO had
a series of courtyards and that the resort itself was horseshoe in
shape, unlike the design of the CBR. Is this true or was it the camera
angle?
Mike
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| 268.32 | You're right | GEMINI::GIBSON | | Thu Jan 02 1992 10:32 | 31 |
| You're right, Mike. The other side of building 5 opens onto a nice,
quiet courtyard framed by another wing of building 5, building 4, and
buliding 6. Each building is shaped like this:
8 rooms
----------------
| |
------------ |
8 rooms | |
| | <-- 8 rooms
8 rooms --> | |
|_ |_
| |
| |
8 rooms --> | | <-- 8 rooms
| x| our room
-----
Various configurations of these shapes produce oblong courtyards
between the buildings. There are fountains, benches, and various
decorative things in the different courtyards.
Looking at the front of the hotel, there are three buildings on the
right of the main entrance and four on the left, forming the two sides
of the horseshoe. The bottom is the main building with the shops and
restaurants. The middle is filled with the pool, laundry, pool house,
and pool bar.
Linda
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| 268.33 | Noone 'bibes like Gaston..... | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Thu Jan 02 1992 11:01 | 3 |
| The pool bar is for Gaston...erh Claude.
:^)
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| 268.34 | experience with travel time to MK? | POCUS::CUFF | | Tue Feb 11 1992 12:01 | 18 |
| To those who have stayed at Port Orleans:
We're thinking of spending 2 nights there, which means time is at a
premium. We'd like to scoot back to the room with our 1 1/2-year
old daughter, for a nap-time break from the Magic Kingdom, so we're
looking at WDW resorts.
It looks like PO is closer to the MK than CBR, and is certainly more
affordable than the Polynesian or other WDW resorts.
How long does it take to get to & from the MK to PO and do you remember
if buses ran regularly?
I ask those who stayed there because we stayed at the CBR and found the
bus schedule nothing like what was published: buses were few and far
between and made traveling there inconvenient.
Thanks.
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| 268.35 | | MR4DEC::AWILLIAMS | Let's get dangerous!! | Tue Feb 11 1992 12:18 | 10 |
| re: .34
Will you have a car (rental or otherwise)?? Driving yourself may be an
option because if I'm not mistaken, you can park for free with your
resort ID (which you get for staying on the property).
But I have no direct experience with the PO or CBR bus schedules
(though I hope to in a couple of years...).
- Skip
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| 268.36 | Busses and Cars | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Tue Feb 11 1992 12:52 | 23 |
| re: 34
What time of year did you stay at the CBR? I'm wondering if bus
schedules change depending upon the season.
Since the PO rates are the same as TMK you would be better off staying
at PO than the CBR...especially if your Prime theme park was TMK.
Skip's point about driving yourself is something to keep in mind for
those of you who intend on staying at the CBR. I think the busses run
real well although I'm a busy season visitor so they may have the
busses running to the max.
If you drive to TMK from the CBR park in either the Poly. GF, or
Contemporary lots and grab the monorail at the hotel. It's faster than
parking in the large lot, taking a tram, and dealing with the TTC. I
avoid the TTC whenever possible...sort of like cutting out the middle
man.
Busses from the PO and DL should take no more than 5-10 minutes to get
to TMK.
Mike
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| 268.37 | Short ride | CIVIC::GIBSON | | Tue Feb 11 1992 12:58 | 9 |
| At Christmas, at least, the buses ran every 20 minutes from Port
Orleans. It took a maximum of 10 minutes to get to any of the parks,
including the MK. Unlike CBR, there is only one bus stop for PO, so the
bus doesn't spend additional time circling the hotel.
You might also consider staying at Dixie Landings, right next door to
Port Orleans, with rooms at the same prices.
Linda
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| 268.38 | Bus Loops | VISUAL::SCOPA | I'd rather be in Orlando | Tue Feb 11 1992 16:38 | 6 |
| What Linda was referring to regarding the busses and the CBR is that
the busses do a loop at the CBR starting with Martinique and that may
add 5-10 minutes to the ride. It may be a pain in the morning but after
a long day it sure is nice to be the first group off the bus.
Mike_who_will_be_at_Martinique_in_about_148_days
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| 268.39 | | FPTWS1::ABRAMS | You have 158 new mail messages. | Mon Feb 17 1992 10:37 | 9 |
| Because there is no "loop" at Port Orleans, and only one bus stop, your
chances at timely bus transportation should be best at PO as compared to
CBR and DL. The trip is no longer or shorter, however. The bus from
PO might also stop at DL, and will likely take the back (slow) road to
the Magic Kingdom. To get to the faster main road the bus will have to
backtrack down Bonnet Creek Parkway.
Bill
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| 268.40 | | CSOA1::BACH | George, get outta my chair! | Mon Feb 24 1992 14:41 | 7 |
| Port Orleans last week, 5 nights...
Loved it! We had a great time, great weather, and too much fun...
I want to go back, now!
Chip
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| 268.41 | | ESKIMO::ROBROSE | | Tue Mar 17 1992 12:42 | 21 |
|
I stayed at Port Orleans for four nights last week. The hotel is
very nice, the grounds are beautiful, and the pool is quite nice as
well. The one thing I did not like was the food court. I did not like
the way it was set-up, suffice to say that you are very lucky to be
eating anything hot with the current set-up.
If you like boating you can rent a Canopy or a flote boat for a ride
down the Sassagoula river, this is a beautiful cruise past the DV
treehouse and fairway villas and on into lake Buena Vista. You can
also dock at The shopping village or the Pompano Grill, or the Disney
Vacation club. We docked at the vacation club for a look around. It
is nice but nothing special when you consider the price.
The sister hotel to Port Orleans is just up the river, it is called
Dixe Landings. This hotel is partially complete, it is also very nice
it has a more "home like" feeling than Port Orleans.
I did not use the bus service to go anywhere so I can't comment on it.
I drove everywhere I wanted to go, MK 10 min, Epcot MGM 10min or less.
-Rob
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| 268.42 | PO and DL share the same buses | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Where do you think you are? WDW!! | Mon May 04 1992 13:06 | 16 |
| Rep to <<< Note 268.39 by FPTWS1::ABRAMS "You have 158 new mail messages." >>>
Bill,
>Because there is no "loop" at Port Orleans, and only one bus stop, your
>chances at timely bus transportation should be best at PO as compared to
>CBR and DL.
Now that Dixie Landings has opened, you now have anywhere from 1-5 bus
stops (depending on where you are staying). The bus first goes to Port
Orleans which does in fact have 1 bus stop, then on to the Main lobby
of Dixie Landings (south), and then on west bus stop, then the north,
and once the eastern section of Dixie Landings is finished then the
East bus stop prior to where the bus is slated to go.
Claude
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| 268.43 | my impressions | SALEM::BERUBE_C | Where do you think you are? WDW!! | Mon May 04 1992 13:24 | 58 |
| While I'm in here I might as well enter this.
We thoroughly enjoyed Port Orleans.
As has been mentioned here, PO has 7 buildings, each building is realy
a cluster of 3 smaller buildings that are tied together at the
stairwells and/or utiliy building (Elavator, ice/vending). Each mini
building has 16 rooms to a floor and is three floors.
Building 1, 3 and 5 are nonsmoking with 2, 4, 6 & 7 being smoking.
Building 1, 3, 4 and 7 have parking view rooms. Building 2, 3, 5, 6 &
7 have water view with the remainder being courtyard views.
Building 2 and 5 are the most convienient of all, they are right behind
the main lobby building (restaurant/lobby/lounge/store/arcade) and are
on each side of the pool/bar/laundry/marina. Bldg 2 & 5 provide easy
access to most of anything you'd want to do at PO.
The sit down restaurant Bon Familles though somewhat expensive had
excellent food, I thouroughly enjoyed their Creolle Chicken. The food
court was best used for when your in a hurry and don't mind the fast
food.
You can rent paddle boats, canopy boats and bycicles at the marina.
You can also take a water shuttle to DL or the Village/Pleasure Island,
which run untill midnight, after which you can take a bus back untill
2am.
The laundry is conveniently place behind the pool bar, so you can easly
enjoy the pool while doing the chores.
Even though there is only one pool, I think Disney had expansion in
this area if needby. The courtyard surrounded by bldg 5 and portions
of bdlg 4 and 6 has a lawn area, where they could easily place a second
pool is needed. However for last week we never had a problem using the
pool, for it was never that crowded. Pool was open from 9am 'till
Midnight last week.
Jazz music is piped throughout the complexed. A jazz entertainer each
night in the lounge area off teh lobby.
In the store they have audioanimatronic figurings of Mickey, Pluto,
Donald and baby Mickey playing jazz instruments. They run for several
minutes on what appeared to be a varing schedule, so stick around if
they are running when you first get there.
We had room 5334, in Bldg 5 3rd floor, overlooking the quite courtyard
mentioned above, with easy access to the pool.
If we were to go again my prioriry would be PO, followed by Dl then the
CBR, only because PO and DL offer the sit down restaurant. PO over DL
because of teh city atmosphere and everything is close by, whereas you
could have a good walk at DL, though not as bad as CBR.
Claude
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| 268.44 | Check out 13.311 | MR4DEC::AWILLIAMS | Light the lamp, not the rat!! | Thu Jan 14 1993 13:16 | 3 |
| See 13.311 for CBR/PO/DL comparison.
- Skip
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| 268.45 | New rates available now | MAGEE::GIBSON | | Thu Aug 12 1993 17:11 | 8 |
| We have reservations for Port Orleans in March 1994. Last weekend we
received a new reservation confirmation reflecting the rate increase
for 1994 (actually beginning December 21, 1993). Our room was only
increased by $2 per night, from $119 to $121 (plus tax means from
$130.90 to $133.10). So you should be able to get a quote from the
CRO for any on-site room for 1994.
Linda
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| 268.46 | bike,boats rentals? | CSC32::B_GRUBBS | | Thu Dec 23 1993 11:37 | 12 |
|
I extracted and printed the DL and PO notes yesterday so my wife
could read and decide which one we want to stay at.....currently
I have DL reservations for May 13-21 1995, but it looks like we'll
be changing those to PO.
She was wondering if anyone knew how much the rentals for bikes,
boats, etc was, and how it worked.....
thanks,
--Bert
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| 268.47 | | NOVA::XSTCH::LUND | | Tue Jan 04 1994 12:25 | 9 |
|
There are boat/bike rentals at both, you can use either pools;
The bike rentals were $2/hr, $5/hr for the bike-built-for-two.
Don't know about the boats, we weren't in the boat renting mood
this trip..... Actually we didn;t rent bikes either, but we thought
about it and checked out the prices...
- Annie
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| 268.48 | Rent boats at PO/DL | TNPUBS::FEELEY | Growing older but not up... | Tue Jan 04 1994 15:16 | 19 |
| re: .46
One time we rented one of the large power boats at DL (it was long and
had a canopy over part of it). It cost (if I remember correctly) $18
for the first � hour, then $12 for each additional � hour. So, we paid
$30 for the first hour and $24 for the second hour. The same kind of
boats are available at the Polynesian and Contemporary resorts for
$55/hour.
We had a lot of fun navigating the Sassagoula (sp?) River. We went to
the Disney Vacation homes and Pleasure Island/Disney Village. And
every time we went by Port Orleans, we pulled in to get a drink. The
boat was so big, I had a difficult time parking it. I had everyone
diving for cover, and my son had to pull his hat down over his head so
no one would associate him with me. But it was a lot of fun. Only the
two hours flew by in what seemed like 30 minutes.
--Jay
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| 268.49 | Go to PO, it's GREAT! | SOLVIT::RONEY | | Wed Jan 05 1994 12:37 | 19 |
| just came back from PO on Dec. 28, 1993. We all had a great time. Im
wife and kids were at DL in 1992 and said that they like PO alot
better. It is smaller in size by far. The bus transportation is easier.
The busses go to PO first and then to the four stops in DL. So you are
the first ones on in PO and first one's off.
If you are into boating you can have alot of fun as stated in .48. We
rented a 20' pontoon boat for $18/hr, lots of fun. Smaller boats were
$15/hr.
We all hated to come home after having been in WDW for Xmas!!!
Have already booked accomodations to have a family get-together for
Xmas of 1999....... We will be there for the new CENTURY 2000......
regards,
BOB
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