Port Orleans to close?

[EnSkywalker]

WDWIG.com posted the following on their website:

Port Orleans to undergo extensive renovations!
Beginning May 4, 2003, Port Orleans Resort will undergo an extensive room renovation that will take approximately 2 years to complete. The French Quarter rooms will be done first and the entire resort will be closed during this time. The rooms will get all new furniture, carpet, bathrooms and wall coverings.
Reservations are no longer being taken for the resort.
Disney will be contacting guests who currently have reservations at the French Quarter to move them to another moderate resort. More details as they become available.


Does this mean both FQ and Riverside will be closed at the same time? We were looking to stay at Riverside in Sept and my parents were looking here in October. I have seen it read where both sides were closed and others who took it to be just the French Quarter were closed.

Help!

Brant

 

[SpongeScott]

From what I have read--I believe in an article from the Orlando Sentinel--POFQ will close down all at one time and after its rehab, POR will close down in phases. The whole project is a two-year time span. POFQ has stopped taking reservations.

 

[VandalCoder]

I have just been contacted by my travel agent who told me the same about POFQ being closed for renovations. She said that someone from Disney would be in contact with me very soon about staying at another hotel. Any recommendations for a first time DW visitor on a budget?

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by VandalCoder
I have just been contacted by my travel agent who told me the same about POFQ being closed for renovations. She said that someone from Disney would be in contact with me very soon about staying at another hotel. Any recommendations for a first time DW visitor on a budget?

Wait until Disney contacts you letting you know about the change. Be patient; they will call you. As for a recommendation, they may offer or you may have to ask, but you could possibly upgrade to a deluxe for a very nominal cost per day since they are moving you out. I know that when CBR closed last year, some people got very nce upgrade offers to deluxe resorts. Good luck!

 

[figmentmom]

We've stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort before, and liked it very much. It's newly renovated, too, so you might consider that. As sandjhooker suggested, waiting until Disney calls you, and then inquiring about a reasonable upgrade is a good idea.

 

[Ames0097]

I heard that in past they would allow you to stay at Deluxe for same price or about $30 extra a night. I don't know if this same thing will apply

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by Ames0097
I heard that in past they would allow you to stay at Deluxe for same price or about $30 extra a night. I don't know if this same thing will apply

Don't quote me on it, but it seems like I remember some people getting a $10 a night upgrades last year. But, I've slept since then and I'm over 40 years old, so I'm not to be held accountable for my memory!

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Originally posted by sandjhooker
Don't quote me on it, but it seems like I remember some people getting a $10 a night upgrades last year. But, I've slept since then and I'm over 40 years old, so I'm not to be held accountable for my memory!

Yep, I remember the same thing (I'm 35 and the memory hasn't gone just yet :animwink: ). People were getting AKL and Contempoary for $10 more than moderate pricing...good deals. But you had to wait for them to call you. If you called them, you may not get the same deal.

 

[VandalCoder]

Thanks for the info!

I'll just wait for them to call and then inquire about an upgrade. I guess I'm concerned about the "good" rooms being gone by the time they get around to calling me. Also making reservations for dining is kind of dependent on where I/we are staying. If I can get an upgrade to a deluxe hotel, does anyone have comments about where to stay and why? I was supposed to have a water view room at the moderate POFQ.

Additionally, I'll be at WDW May 20-25, a few days prior to and including Mem. Day weekend. I'm a little concerned about the crowds Sat/Sun so I want to do the most crowded them parks on Thurs/Fri. Any suggestions for an itinerary? My "best guess" says that the magic kingdom and MGM parks (star wars weekend) will be the most crowded over the weekend so maybe epcot and/or AK would be good for Sat/Sun. Anyone?

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Re: Thanks for the info!

Originally posted by VandalCoder
I'll just wait for them to call and then inquire about an upgrade. I guess I'm concerned about the "good" rooms being gone by the time they get around to calling me. Also making reservations for dining is kind of dependent on where I/we are staying. If I can get an upgrade to a deluxe hotel, does anyone have comments about where to stay and why? I was supposed to have a water view room at the moderate POFQ.

Any deluxe would be great...but I'll put my vote in for AKL. I bet you didn't see that one coming... :lol:

Originally posted by VandalCoder
Additionally, I'll be at WDW May 20-25, a few days prior to and including Mem. Day weekend. I'm a little concerned about the crowds Sat/Sun so I want to do the most crowded them parks on Thurs/Fri. Any suggestions for an itinerary? My "best guess" says that the magic kingdom and MGM parks (star wars weekend) will be the most crowded over the weekend so maybe epcot and/or AK would be good for Sat/Sun. Anyone?

MK will be the busiest. Epcot will be the least. It'll be a tie I bet between AK and MGM. I've never been to AK when it wasn't crowded, and I go in October every year whe it's usally less people.

 

[PanDuckPA]

Vandal Coder, I was a first timer last year and I stayed in Port Orleans Riverside, but besides that, you're best bet is to go to the Magic Kingdom on the weekday Thursday, and MGM on Friday, Epcot or Animal Kingdom on Saturday or vice versa for Sunday, and but don't forget you're Brinbaums or Passporter Guide to Disney World, remember above all to enjoy yourself and like me probably you're gonna get addicted and need to go every year, just feed your inner child's need to imagine.

:wave: :wave: :lol:

 

[RogueHabit]

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21824

 

[VandalCoder]

Thanks for the link Catch22

I'm really starting to get bummed out about WDW. I know my wife and I will go and we'll have a fantastic time but so far our hotel we wanted to stay at is going to be renovated, the Circe du Soleil show is on hiatus the entire time we're there, the great movie ride is closed for "renovations", Mission Space "probably" won't be open, and the Giant magician's hat (disney's 100 celebration) is baricaded. I realize that for everything that is closed there are a billion other things to do but it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I guess I know when to pick the dates to go! Hopefully a nice room upgrade will make things better.