Port Orleans French Quarter Q&A Thread, New for 2012 (thread now FULL and CLOSED)

[PrincessDana]

I'm a bit dismayed at these bus reports. I had been hoping for a single bus stop for a majority of our trip...we switched from POR to POFQ and one of the reasons was the single bus stop....now I am having slight switcher's remorse.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

I'm a bit dismayed at these bus reports. I had been hoping for a single bus stop for a majority of our trip...we switched from POR to POFQ and one of the reasons was the single bus stop....now I am having slight switcher's remorse.

Don't get me wrong, most of the time the buses were perfect. Punctual and efficient. It was only a couple of times we had problems, and I can guess that these things can happen at all resorts. I have stayed at POR, and I can say that the buses were better at POFQ because POR always has multiple stops. POFQ only has multiple stops a few times. I'll take the POFQ buses any day.

 

[taylor3297]

I'm a bit dismayed at these bus reports. I had been hoping for a single bus stop for a majority of our trip...we switched from POR to POFQ and one of the reasons was the single bus stop....now I am having slight switcher's remorse.

I am not sure how they decide to share a bus with POR. Last September, we never shared a bus with POR.

 

[mamamary]

I am not sure how they decide to share a bus with POR. Last September, we never shared a bus with POR.

This is why I was surprised that we shared so much. Since deciding to stay at POFQ I heard alot of reports of only sharing during "non busy times" like mid afternoon. After I realized we'd be sharing most trips I built in extra time. I felt it added a good 5-10 mts onto the trip. The bus would stop at all Riverside stops (whether there were people waiting to get on or not) - most times people got on mostly at their main stop at Riverside. I felt bad because most of the time seats were taken up by POFQ guests.

 

[bookgirl]

I am not sure how they decide to share a bus with POR. Last September, we never shared a bus with POR.

Last September (traditionally slow time) I only shared one bus at about 6pm to go to DHS.

It was raining to boot and I was one of only 3 people to board at POFQ, I think maybe 2 got on at POR and we only stopped at one of their busstops.


The rest of the time the buses went straight to the park, no matter what time I boarded and I never shared one comeing back from a park.

 

[Sydnerella]

I'm a bit dismayed at these bus reports. I had been hoping for a single bus stop for a majority of our trip...we switched from POR to POFQ and one of the reasons was the single bus stop....now I am having slight switcher's remorse.

The situation is that at the majority of busier times, and I mean time of day as well as season, the buses are not shared. Midday, late afternoon - all bets are off. And as you can see posted here - sometimes it might make NO sense when the driver heads to pick up other riders.

There is no guarantee of separate buses - but at the prime travel times (date and time of day again) it is far less likely they will share. We had 2 share in a whole week of park visits during the end of March. Which is much better than the POR guarantee of always sharing with multiple stops and possibly POFQ too!

The only guarantee is that the buses will be shared when you are running late to an appt or ADR - same as at home

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[mamamary]

The situation is that at the majority of busier times, and I mean time of day as well as season, the buses are not shared. Midday, late afternoon - all bets are off. And as you can see posted here - sometimes it might make NO sense when the driver heads to pick up other riders.

There is no guarantee of separate buses - but at the prime travel times (date and time of day again) it is far less likely they will share. We had 2 share in a whole week of park visits during the end of March. Which is much better than the POR guarantee of always sharing with multiple stops and possibly POFQ too!

The only guarantee is that the buses will be shared when you are running late to an appt or ADR - same as at home

Sydnerella's Mama

I don't know - like I said we shared almost every time and it was June (mornings and evenings). I think as long as you assume that you will share and build in extra time you will be ok. The one time going to MK that we didn't share well we got there around 8:20am so we just took pics and hung out. I'd rather be early than late.

 

[jcammans]

Mine came in the mail yesterday and it said that it had to be redeemed in the parks or at Team Mickey at Downtown Disney.

Thank you so much for the response! I appreciate the information.

 

[beautifullily]

The only guarantee is that the buses will be shared when you are running late to an appt or ADR - same as at home

Sydnerella's Mama

Yep, 15 mins late for a 8am ADR at Akershus one morning. Waited 20 mins for the bus, it left POFQ and then decided to turn around and go back into POR. We were as much to blame though for not allowing enough time.

Was there at the beginning of June and have to say I thought the buses were excellent, had no problems at all really, shared sometimes, didn't others. 9.9 times out of 10 they picked up and dropped off at FQ first.

Loved POFQ and for everyone who's not been before you're in for a treat

 

[dsnyfan608]

We plan to check in late in the evening, well after dinner. Do we have a better chance of getting our room requests if we do online check in? If we don't like our location and decide to do online check in, how easy is it to switch rooms?

 

[tinytinkmom]

Thanks for all of the great info! We have only stayed at POP and FW, and I was torn between AoA and POFQ for our upcoming trip... Seeing pics and reading these posts make me feel good about the decision!

 

[andrewilley]

We plan to check in late in the evening, well after dinner. Do we have a better chance of getting our room requests if we do online check in? If we don't like our location and decide to do online check in, how easy is it to switch rooms?

Online check-in does not actually make a difference to your room location. Unless a room has been pre-blocked due to special requests or a multi-room booking, your actual room number is normally assigned from the pool of currently available rooms when you walk up to the desk. The main advantage of OLCI is that all the paperwork/etc should be done and ready for you, which speeds up the process at the front desk - they just need to activate your keycard.

And yes, if you're not happy with the location they have given you, you can still ask for it to be changed. Obviously the later in the day you arrive, the less choices may be available though. I'd suggest faxing 3-5 days before you arrive, letting them know that you are checking in very late and asking if they could pre-assign your room request in advance. Online checkin does not make any difference to their ability to do this.

Andre

 

[Jillianv29]

I also have an 8am Bfast here. What time would you recommend leaving the hotel. How long did it take you to walk from the entrance of Epcot to Akershus??

Yep, 15 mins late for a 8am ADR at Akershus one morning. Waited 20 mins for the bus, it left POFQ and then decided to turn around and go back into POR. We were as much to blame though for not allowing enough time.

Was there at the beginning of June and have to say I thought the buses were excellent, had no problems at all really, shared sometimes, didn't others. 9.9 times out of 10 they picked up and dropped off at FQ first.

Loved POFQ and for everyone who's not been before you're in for a treat

 

[andrewilley]

I also have an 8am Bfast here. What time would you recommend leaving the hotel. How long did it take you to walk from the entrance of Epcot to Akershus??

From the bus drop-off at Epcot, through security, and to Akershus is at least 20 mins in itself. Plus it's nice to take advantage of the empty park to get some pictures while you walk.

To be safe, I would give yourself a good hour from when you get to the POFQ bus stop to getting to the restaurant podium.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Oops, wrong thread...

 

[slyster]

quick ? for you POFQ experienced travelers. The boat ride to Downtown Disney. Does it pick up from Riverside first or is it a separate boat that picks us up? we have dinner reservations at 6:30 our first night and we would love to take a boat ride there. Not sure how much time we need to give for that.

Is it a long wait to get on the boat especially at dinner time? Thanks in advance...

 

[mamamary]

quick ? for you POFQ experienced travelers. The boat ride to Downtown Disney. Does it pick up from Riverside first or is it a separate boat that picks us up? we have dinner reservations at 6:30 our first night and we would love to take a boat ride there. Not sure how much time we need to give for that.

Is it a long wait to get on the boat especially at dinner time? Thanks in advance...

It picks up from Riverside first. I know at lunchtime we had to wait for another boat as the first one filled too quickly. I'd give yourself plenty of time - better to be early.

 

[tinkerbella16]

quick ? for you POFQ experienced travelers. The boat ride to Downtown Disney. Does it pick up from Riverside first or is it a separate boat that picks us up? we have dinner reservations at 6:30 our first night and we would love to take a boat ride there. Not sure how much time we need to give for that.

Is it a long wait to get on the boat especially at dinner time? Thanks in advance...

It is a separate boat to DTD. POFQ takes a little less time, since POR is further and passes POFQ on the way to DTD. The boat is usually 15 minutes from POFQ and 20 minutes from POR, but you should allow at least up to an hour to get anywhere in WDW just incase. 45 minutes earlier might work too!

 

[beautifullily]

From the bus drop-off at Epcot, through security, and to Akershus is at least 20 mins in itself. Plus it's nice to take advantage of the empty park to get some pictures while you walk.

To be safe, I would give yourself a good hour from when you get to the POFQ bus stop to getting to the restaurant podium.

Andre

I'd agree. Think we were at the bus stop at 7.15am, but like I said it just wasn't enough time. Akershus were very good though with our late arrival and we still joined the queue to meet Belle pretty much straight away.

 

[DisBamaGirl]

Does anyone know if the Pop Warner football events normally impact POFQ?