Port Orleans News

This one is most definitely in the “rumour” category, and may not even apply to Port Orleans at all (if anywhere!) but it’s interesting nonetheless. A number of guests who have stayed on-site at Disney resorts have recently been receiving survey emails asking whether they would be interested in staying at specially themed rooms in Moderate hotels. We know that the Caribbean Beach Resort already has some Pirate and Finding Nemo themed rooms, and Coronado Springs has been fairly recently updated and is targeted more towards the convention market anyway, which really only leaves Port Orleans as the potential target market — always assuming that Disney are not planning on building an entirely new Moderate hotel of course.

In each case during these online surveys guests were reminded that these would only be standard Moderate-sized rooms, and that there could be a premium of around $30 per night over the regular rooms at the same resort. The themes suggested were Royal (although not specifically “princess”) and Haunted Mansion, for which the descriptive texts were as follows:

In this special room, Tiana has hosted her royal friends from around the world. During your stay, you will discover that each friend has left Tiana a special thank you gift for her hospitality by adding touches of fun and sparkle to the interior decor. With magical fairy dust swirling above, you’ll recline in ornate canopy beds trimmed with velvet fabrics, carved detailing, and a bejeweld golden crest. Rich ceiling moldings, drapery, and custom linens further enhance the luxury of your special stay. Adorning the walls, signed portraits of each princess appear in jewel-set frames while princely swords and shields guard the entrance to the royal dressing room and bath.

It’s an enchanted stay as a special Guest of this “Royal Room.”

Come spend the night with a few of the happy haunts who play in an enchanted bedroom inspired by the Haunted Mansion. Rest atop the floating Doom Buggy beds with a couple of friendly spooks and watch glow-in-the-dark, cartoon-like footsteps mysteriously appear as the evening sets in. A sliding bookcase creates a hidden passage to the bathroom and is the perfect hiding place for a hitch-hiking ghost. Oversized furnishings with curvy lines and bright colors add to the whimsy in the room.

Guests will delight in finding the hidden special effects that play up the merry, rather than scary, room ambiance.

Concept Art of a proposed Royal Themed room



Concept Art of a proposed Royal Themed room



Concept Art of a proposed Haunted Manion Themed room



Concept Art of a proposed Haunted Manion Themed room

There is still no official word from Disney as to any start date for room renovations at Port Orleans, and Cast Members at the resort are remaining predictably tight-lipped on the subject, however at the start of August it was unofficially confirmed to a guest by two managers that the rehab of French Quarter building 7 would start in October 2010.

The last series of room refurbishments (Port Orleans Riverside, 2004/05) progressed at a rate of approximately 64 rooms per week and were carried out by the same company (Friedrich Watkins Company of Orlando, FL) without requiring major closures or impacting on guest experience.

Disney has just filed more work permit paperwork with the Orange County Comptroller’s offices for further guest room renovations at the remaining sections of Port Orleans French Quarter, specifically buildings 1 to 6.

Again, there is no information from Disney as to any start dates, but the work permit is only valid until 25th March 2011. The nearby DVC resort of Old Key West is currently in the process of having all of its rooms updated (based on work permits issued at the start of April) so hopefully Port Orleans won’t be far behind. As always, check out Mouse Planet and wdwmagic.com for great rehab update information.

Pet lovers visiting Walt Disney World can now plan to board the family pet in fun, luxurious new accommodations [so says the Press Release]. The one-of-a-kind resort — located across the road from the main entrance to Port Orleans Riverside at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway — comprises more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and an expansive private dog park exclusively for the use of pet resort clients and their dogs.

The facility will accommodate up to 270 dogs and 30 cats for both daytime and overnight boarding, plus a special facility for the boarding of “pocket pets” such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets. A wide selection of suite choices for dogs includes air-conditioned indoor rooms, 48-square-foot indoor-outdoor suites, and four expansive [and presumably expensive!] VIP (very important pet) suites with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yards.

Pricing and other details are available at www.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877-4-WDW-PETS. Reservations are being accepted for pet boarding stays beginning 27 August 2010.

More planning permits have been filed by Disney with the Orange County Comptroller’s offices for guest room renovations, this time at Port Orleans Riverside. The permits specifically refer to work on Alligator Bayou building 24 and to Parterre Place (building 95). No other details or dates for commencement of work have been given and the permits last for a year. If you want to view the submitted paperwork, click HERE or HERE.