Port Orleans News

For the latest Port Orleans News Updates, or to ask questions, please also visit our busy Port Orleans Facebook Group.

Bus Wait-Time Display now operating at POR South Depot

Posted Saturday 28th September 2013, 5:00pm (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel

There has been a TV screen sitting quietly and unobtrusively at the Port Orleans Riverside South Depot for some time now, and it has recently been turned on. Now guests waiting at the bus stop can get a real-time estimation of when the next Disney Bus for their destination should arrive:

Image

The information should get updated immediately as busses are changed or delayed, and if new ones are deployed to a route, and it is all based on the central despatch system linked to the GPS tracking devices fitted to all of the buses in Disney's fleet.

At present this is only at the Riverside South Depot with no immediate plans for the outer stops or French Quarter, but it's still a very nice start!

(Thanks for the photo D!)

 
 

New Menu Items at Boatwright's from 25 September

Posted Friday 27th September 2013, 5:33am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel

With special thanks to our dedicated specialist research team who have swung into action armed with covert photographic equipment and integrated wireless network communications tools (thanks mrsmomo, that means you and your smartphone! :) ) we find that several new menu items have now been added to the Boatwright's Dining Hall menu as from 25 September. A few existing items have gone up by a dollar or two, but mostly the prices have stayed the same.

Pimiento Cheese Fritters Image $8.49 (Appetiser)
with Pepper Jelly

Slow-Cooked Beef Short Rib Image $24.99 (Entrée)
Cheesy Grits and Red Wine Reduction
~ Recommended Pairing: Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County ~

Sweet-Tea Brined Pork Chop Image $21.99 (Entrée)
with Sweet Potato Hash, Citrus-Whiskey Glaze, and Onion Straws
~ Recommended Pairing: Canyon Road Merlot, California ~

The restaurant has removed the existing Salmon Salad from the menu to make room for the new items. The new Slow-Cooked Beef Short Rib is already getting rave reviews, it had only been on the menu for 24 hours and already several people have commented on how good it is.

The food court menus were also updated at the end of August with a few new items, see the Riverside Mill page for full details.

MagicBands coming to Port Orleans French Quarter from 30 Sep

Posted Friday 13th September 2013, 5:35am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel

BREAKING NEWS: I'm hearing reports that the My Disney Experience system is now allowing Port Orleans French Quarter guests with arrival dates as early as 19 October to customise Magic Bands and make FastPass+ reservations for their stay. The system seems to have updated overnight. More information as soon as I get it.

Update at 6:30am (Eastern): I just had an email, the official French Quarter start date for Magic Band / FastPass+ is for arrivals from 30 September onward.

The current testing period lasts until 31 October, so nothing can be set up beyond then at present. However the general expectation is that the system will mostly likely continue seamlessly after that period, once Disney has loaded the new dates onto the system.

 
 

September 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules

Posted Sunday 25th August 2013, 10:24am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel

The September 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.

The outdoor movies will start at 8:30pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.

Reminder: The Riverside campfire location on Ol' Man Island will be closed for most of September, you will need to use the new French Quarter campfire site instead.

Image

Image

Campfire Updates: New POFQ location, plus POR refurbishment

Posted Saturday 24th August 2013, 3:00pm (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel

The newly-built campfire firepit at Port Orleans French Quarter which we mentioned a couple of weeks ago has now opened for guests as from Thursday 22 August. Located in Beignet Square - the courtyard between buildings 5 and 6 where the evening movies are screened - the campfire will take place every evening for a couple of hours before the movie starts.

Oddly enough for a custom-designed location, there is currently no bench seating provided (unlike at the previous area) which a few guests have already commented upon. This will be reviewed over the coming weeks as the old location is transformed back to its previous use. Note: children under 12 must be accompanied to the campfire by an adult.

Also, the Riverside campfire on Ol' Man Island is currently closed for about a month for refurbishment work (the exact completion date is somewhat dependent on how cooperative the September weather turns out to be). In the meantime, cast members will be helping to transport interested guests over to French Quarter's campfire by pargo (golf cart).

<  Show More Recent News Items
Show ALL News Items (single page)
Show Older News Items  >