Port Orleans Riverside – threestrandswdw

WDW Potpourri

When going to Walt Disney World, there are some little things to remember, and a few to be ‘warned’ about. Today, we’ll look at a few of these things. Here we Go!

If you are traveling to WDW with little ones, remember that there are Baby Care Centers in all of the parks. These are great places to go to feed and change your baby, as well as a good place to take a bit of quiet time if you, or you baby, need it. Just ask any Cast Member where to find the Baby Care Center in the park you are visiting.

There are Stroller and Wheelchair or ECV rentals available just inside each park entrance. There are also rentals available at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs). There is a daily fee for the use of these items. And, if you leave the park to go to another park, you will need to drop at the park you are leaving and pick up another one at the second park. If you have a need for a longer stay, you may want to consider an off-site provider as they are typically more affordable.

Whether you are staying at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, or visiting while at WDW, consider going to see Yehaa Bob at the River Roost Lounge. But, be warned that this is an AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION live show. Yehaa Bob is

usually playing Wednesday – Saturday evenings beginning at 7:30pm. But, get there early as seating is limited, and Bob comes around to visit before each show to say hello! Go to http://www.yehaabob.com for more information and to check the schedule.

Considering going to EPCOT for Food and Wine, or Flower and Garden? You might want to limit your visits to weekdays. There are a lot of locals that come out on the weekends and the crowds are larger and sometimes more obnoxious.

Pack some patience! There is no quicker spoiler to a vacation then a bad attitude. If you have kids, think about keeping their schedule the same as when you are at home. Taking a midday break can save the good memories to be made while you are visiting Walt Disney World. And, sometimes, it’s not a bad idea for us parents! Or, schedule an in park ADR and take advantage of the down time to recharge while you enjoy a meal together.

Well, that’s it for today! Feel free to add your comments about some of the Little Things that can come in handy on a WDW vacation. For now, I hope you all have a Blessed and Magical Weekend, my friends!

Comparing Resorts at WDW

My two recent stays included two very different resorts. Both were great! Disney is Disney with any of their resorts. But, for this post, I wanted to share my thoughts between Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. So here we go!

Disney’s Art of Animation (AOA) is a value level resort that offers three building areas (Nemo, Lion King, and Cars) with rooms set up with Family Suites that can sleep up to 6 people. And, one building (Little Mermaid) that has standard rooms for four people. Let me start by saying that we were in a Lion King Suite with 3 adults and three kids ages 11,13, and 15. One adult shared the sleeper and the kids took turns on the convertible dining table Murphy bed. All-in-all, it worked out great! No one complained and in fact I was told that the sleeper was a fine option! The master is a larger room, with a door that closes. There are two bathrooms complete with showers that make getting ready in the morning a bit easier to pull off if you are headed for rope drop. There is also a fridge, coffee maker, and microwave in the room.

The grounds at AOA are well kept and each themed area has large figures of some of your favorite Disney and Pixar characters! There are three pools at AOA. The main pool is in the Nemo area and offers underwater sound. There are smaller pools at Cars and Little Mermaid areas, also. And, if you are hungry, The Landscape of Flavors is a great counter service area offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Transportation to anywhere on Disney property is provided by Disney Transport from a single point of departure in front of the main building. Just get in the line for the destination you are wanting, and there will be a bus shortly. Our experience was about 10 minutes or less during peak travel.

Main Entrance - Port Orleans - Riverside — Main Entrance – Port Orleans – Riverside

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (POR) is a moderate level resort with two main areas, Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. Magnolia Bend is fashioned after the plantation mansions of the south, while Alligator Bayou has more of a rustic, backwoods feel to it! Magnolia Bend room are standard rooms, but Alligator Bayou rooms offer the ability to house five guests during your stay with the use of a Murphy Style bed in the room. There are two sinks outside of the bathroom, making it easy to prepare for a days adventures in the parks.

The theming of POR is not what you might not expect from a Disney resort, but it is a really nice break from the hustle and bustle of running to parks. And, transportation is convenient! There are boats that will take you from the dock at POR to Downtown Disney and back! I love this ride, it’s quiet and you get to see parts of the Disney property that can’t be seen any other way! Buses can be a little more tricky at POR with four stops around the perimeter. But, most people who are used to riding buses don’t seem to mind. And, most of the rides are quite short once all of the stops have been covered.

If you are hungry, you can grab a bite at the Riverside Mill food court, sit down for a relaxing time at Boatrwight’s Dining Hall, or grab some appetizers at the River Roost while you are watching and listening to Yeehaa Bob!

Both resorts provide a unique experience and offer the ability to create some fabulous memories! So, keep them both in mind and consider what you’re goal is when choosing a Disney Resort for your vacation!

Thanks for reading and have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!

Yeehaa!!

One of the most entertaining Cast Members on the entire Walt Disney World, HAS to be at the Port Orleans – Riverside Resort. If you are looking for an intimate setting and pure enjoyment, just head inside to the River Roost Lounge for the Yeehaa Bob Show! His show starts every Wednesday through Saturday evening at 8:30PM. However, I wouldn’t wait to arrive as the room fills up quickly, and Bob makes the rounds through the house to visit with patrons before he gets started.

At the River Roost Lounge in the Port Orleans - Riverside Resort — At the River Roost Lounge in the Port Orleans – Riverside Resort

Bob Jackson is a busy guy. Besides playing at Riverside, he also gives a lot of time to the kids in the Orlando, Florida area. He plays several times at the “Give Kids The World Village”. And, spends a lot of his summers playing the at the Libraries in the area, as well. He has a real heart for those who have a special need, and a desire to instill in them a special experience.

He has traveled all over the world with his music, but now calls Orlando his home with his wife of 35 years and his two children.

There are three sets in his show, and the first one is especially deemed safe for children. He doesn’t really get raunchy with his music, but the later shows may include jokes of a more adult nature. You can visit him at http://www.yehaabob.com.

Thanks Bob, for all your hard work and dedication to entertaining the masses for all these years at the Port!

YEEHAA!!!!

First Impressions: Port Orleans – Riverside Resort

Our first visit to an on-property Walt Disney World Resort brought us to the spacious and elegant Port Orleans – Riverside! First Impression…WOW!!!!

As we entered the Lobby area, we were impressed by the open space and warmth. Of course, that’s all been refurbished since then. We checked into our room, got a bite to eat, and headed for The Magic Kingdom for the day! But, once we got back, it was time to take a look around the resort. The grounds are very easy to walk around with paths wide enough for all who might be on them. The pool is basically the center of it all, and very big! Personally, I loved the hot tub, especially at 5am!

Our room was right off the Riverside Mill Food Court, and had great accessibility to the main building for food, gift shop, and Concierge Desk. The main bus stop was close by, as well! We had a view of the Sassagoula River and it was very quiet in our area.

I took time, a few mornings, to walk around our little area of the resort, we were in building 14. The layout was easy to follow, all of the room exit to the outside in the Alligator Bayou area, and the landscaping is exquisite. Maybe Disney qualifies this as a Moderate Resort, but for my family it felt as Deluxe as any place we have stayed. For more information on either of the Port Orleans Resorts, visit http://www.portorleans.org.

Our upcoming trip is at Art of Animation in the Lion King Family Suites, so I’m sure I’ll be giving you my impressions of that resort when we get back.

Have a magical and Blessed Day!