Lord Alfred
Member
PO: Riverside Blues (Gripes)
I just got back from WDW and figured some of you might want to hear my evaluation of things as a long-time visitor and fan.
9/14 - Arrival at Port Orleans: Riverside
I've stayed on property all seven times I've been to WDW and have tried someplace different each time. We've stayed at PO:FQ before and loved it. I've heard several people here rave about RS and I knew it was well-themed, so we tried it this time.
A little background...
I've stayed at Fort Wilderness, WL, Polynesian, CBR, PO:FQ, and The Disney Inn. The only one I wasn't thrilled with was CBR. The theming there is merely okay and the place is so spread out you have to walk forever to go anywhere.
Anyway, Riverside's theming is well done and the pools and grounds are well designed and kept. Boatwrights' is an excellent place to catch a relatively inexpensive, tasty full-service breakfast. The lobby and surrounding environs are well designed. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that's the extent of my praises.
The whole complex is in very serious need of a rehab. I first noticed that the metal railings at the "ticket booth" check-in counter were in need of repainting. It was chipped off in several places, and the paint had hid the detail of the metal pieces under several thick repaintings.
We were located in the Oak Manor section of Magnolia Bend. These areas are themed to look like plantation mansions of the old south. I don't remember plantation mansions having tons of missing shingles or being in terrible need of repainting, but Oak Manor surely had these things. One of our room doors had a huge discolored circle on it where the paint had been chipped off, exposing two other coats that were both different colors from what it was now.
We had four rooms, and each one had a different lightbulb in the room burnt out. These were obvious and were never replaced during the length of our six night stay. The "twin-globe" light fixtures above each bed in our room both had cobwebs going between the globes, obviously never dusted. The tub had a large black spot in it where the porcelain had chipped off. The bathroom wall had a nice stain by the lightswitch and the light in the bathroom took thirty seconds to get bright. The remote control in one room refused to work even after new batteries.
My other complaint with this resort is the same one I have with CBR. You have to walk a "country mile" exposed to the elements in order to get to the lobby, dining areas, or main pool. This isn't so bad except when it is raining for a good portion of your stay. My wife and I both bought the refillable mugs (which went from $9.99 to $10.99 during our stay, btw) and ended up not using them as much as we would have liked because it was either pouring down rain or we were too tired after a day in the parks to make the long trek to the lobby area and back in the humid heat. We argued with each other over who would have to make the trip each time we did go.
Needless to say we will not be staying at RS again. FQ is much more closely packed and appeared to be in much better condition. Of course, Wilderness Lodge has been our favorite resort so far, but budgeting concerns with members of our party prevented us from using it this time. I hated writing this, but I feel it needs to be shared. I went with a group this time who had not been to WDW in many years (and had never stayed on property) and I was embarrased because I had bragged on WDW facilities before we went. The overriding response from them was "not worth the extra money" and this time I couldn't argue with them.
I hope and pray that Disney stops being so darn cheap with the parks and resorts, and gets back to the core values that made them so great. I'll be posting about my experiences in the parks in a few days.
Thanks for reading.
I just got back from WDW and figured some of you might want to hear my evaluation of things as a long-time visitor and fan.
9/14 - Arrival at Port Orleans: Riverside
I've stayed on property all seven times I've been to WDW and have tried someplace different each time. We've stayed at PO:FQ before and loved it. I've heard several people here rave about RS and I knew it was well-themed, so we tried it this time.
A little background...
I've stayed at Fort Wilderness, WL, Polynesian, CBR, PO:FQ, and The Disney Inn. The only one I wasn't thrilled with was CBR. The theming there is merely okay and the place is so spread out you have to walk forever to go anywhere.
Anyway, Riverside's theming is well done and the pools and grounds are well designed and kept. Boatwrights' is an excellent place to catch a relatively inexpensive, tasty full-service breakfast. The lobby and surrounding environs are well designed. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that's the extent of my praises.
The whole complex is in very serious need of a rehab. I first noticed that the metal railings at the "ticket booth" check-in counter were in need of repainting. It was chipped off in several places, and the paint had hid the detail of the metal pieces under several thick repaintings.
We were located in the Oak Manor section of Magnolia Bend. These areas are themed to look like plantation mansions of the old south. I don't remember plantation mansions having tons of missing shingles or being in terrible need of repainting, but Oak Manor surely had these things. One of our room doors had a huge discolored circle on it where the paint had been chipped off, exposing two other coats that were both different colors from what it was now.
We had four rooms, and each one had a different lightbulb in the room burnt out. These were obvious and were never replaced during the length of our six night stay. The "twin-globe" light fixtures above each bed in our room both had cobwebs going between the globes, obviously never dusted. The tub had a large black spot in it where the porcelain had chipped off. The bathroom wall had a nice stain by the lightswitch and the light in the bathroom took thirty seconds to get bright. The remote control in one room refused to work even after new batteries.
My other complaint with this resort is the same one I have with CBR. You have to walk a "country mile" exposed to the elements in order to get to the lobby, dining areas, or main pool. This isn't so bad except when it is raining for a good portion of your stay. My wife and I both bought the refillable mugs (which went from $9.99 to $10.99 during our stay, btw) and ended up not using them as much as we would have liked because it was either pouring down rain or we were too tired after a day in the parks to make the long trek to the lobby area and back in the humid heat. We argued with each other over who would have to make the trip each time we did go.
Needless to say we will not be staying at RS again. FQ is much more closely packed and appeared to be in much better condition. Of course, Wilderness Lodge has been our favorite resort so far, but budgeting concerns with members of our party prevented us from using it this time. I hated writing this, but I feel it needs to be shared. I went with a group this time who had not been to WDW in many years (and had never stayed on property) and I was embarrased because I had bragged on WDW facilities before we went. The overriding response from them was "not worth the extra money" and this time I couldn't argue with them.
I hope and pray that Disney stops being so darn cheap with the parks and resorts, and gets back to the core values that made them so great. I'll be posting about my experiences in the parks in a few days.
Thanks for reading.
