Disney's PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER RESORT Information & Questions

[diskids2]

Hi All! I am going to ask this again because I think it got lost in the shuffle or maybe it got answered and I missed it with my old eyes! We have a pool view booked for Dec. 25-Jan 3. We will be arriving at MCO at 7:30 pm...taking ME so we'll arrive some time after that....I plan on doing online check-in...but I am wondering what will happen if a pool view room is not available? Would we be upgraded to River View? I'm not trying to backhand my way into a River view....I actually booked pool view because I want buildings 2 or 5. Maybe I'm doing a what if situation that won't happen?

 

[Baklava]

IS the POFQ pool worth the hike over from POR?

 

[dpswift]

IS the POFQ pool worth the hike over from POR?

I think it is all perspective however I have heard that the POR pool is better.

 

[ciera321]

We've stayed at POFQ and POR, but rarely shared a bus with the other resort. We're heading down in September and I want to check to see if I understand how this works. From what I've read and experienced, each resort will have a separate bus early in the morning, and then again at park closing, but will share the majority of the day. The MK bus rarely, if ever, shares....... Is this correct, or am I mis-reading the information???

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

IS the POFQ pool worth the hike over from POR?

The POFQ pool and slide are smaller than at POR. It's also a couple inches shallower where the slide come out. It makes a nice change of secenery, but would probably be more worth it if you have smaller children.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We've stayed at POFQ and POR, but rarely shared a bus with the other resort. We're heading down in September and I want to check to see if I understand how this works. From what I've read and experienced, each resort will have a separate bus early in the morning, and then again at park closing, but will share the majority of the day. The MK bus rarely, if ever, shares....... Is this correct, or am I mis-reading the information???

That sounds like what we experienced on our last trip.

 

[elphie101]

Hi all!! We just upgraded our trip next month from All Star Sports to POFQ and I'm SO excited!! It'll be my first time at PO and I can't wait to not have to deal bus bus transit to DTD (amongst other plusses of course!)

Forgive me for not reading 160+ pages, but just looking to confirm - are the coffee machines in-room single pod Keurig like machines or regular ones? We'll probably bring our own coffee from home to save money.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Hi all!! We just upgraded our trip next month from All Star Sports to POFQ and I'm SO excited!! It'll be my first time at PO and I can't wait to not have to deal bus bus transit to DTD (amongst other plusses of course!)

Forgive me for not reading 160+ pages, but just looking to confirm - are the coffee machines in-room single pod Keurig like machines or regular ones? We'll probably bring our own coffee from home to save money.

They are single pod cuisnart machines. They do not take kcups.

 

[ciera321]

That sounds like what we experienced on our last trip.

Great, thanks!

 

[PNO4TE]

Hi All! I am going to ask this again because I think it got lost in the shuffle or maybe it got answered and I missed it with my old eyes! We have a pool view booked for Dec. 25-Jan 3. We will be arriving at MCO at 7:30 pm...taking ME so we'll arrive some time after that....I plan on doing online check-in...but I am wondering what will happen if a pool view room is not available? Would we be upgraded to River View? I'm not trying to backhand my way into a River view....I actually booked pool view because I want buildings 2 or 5. Maybe I'm doing a what if situation that won't happen?

I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong, but it has been my experience that if you book a specific view that is what is put into the system for you and what you will get. The rooms are selected by a room assigner before you ever arrive. If, for some reason, they were unable to accommodate your pool view I would expect that you would be upgraded, not downgraded.

 

[dansdad]

I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong, but it has been my experience that if you book a specific view that is what is put into the system for you and what you will get. The rooms are selected by a room assigner before you ever arrive. If, for some reason, they were unable to accommodate your pool view I would expect that you would be upgraded, not downgraded.

You would think so. But we've been downgraded 3 times now. Two out of the three we weren't told when checking in. We didn't realize until we got to our room which meant a walk back to the front desk to get refunded the difference. That was what bothered me.

 

[dpswift]

You would think so. But we've been downgraded 3 times now. Two out of the three we weren't told when checking in. We didn't realize until we got to our room which meant a walk back to the front desk to get refunded the difference. That was what bothered me.

That would bother me too. We usually do not book a room with a view. In fact this upcoming trip is the first time that I remember that we have. The only reason was that we got a great discount on it. Now I am looking forward to watching the river.

 

[andrewilley]

I think it is all perspective however I have heard that the POR pool is better.

I would tend to agree. POFQ looks from the photos to be the more interesting, with its alligator figures and sea-serpent slide, and perhaps might be a hit with kids for those reasons... however the POR pool slide is actually double the length, there is much more shade, and the pool itself is every bit as good and has its own fun water-features when you're actually there.

We've stayed at POFQ and POR, but rarely shared a bus with the other resort. We're heading down in September and I want to check to see if I understand how this works. From what I've read and experienced, each resort will have a separate bus early in the morning, and then again at park closing, but will share the majority of the day. The MK bus rarely, if ever, shares....... Is this correct, or am I mis-reading the information???

Yep, that's about it. MK never shares at any time of the day, and AK does not normally have a separated evening service, but otherwise correct. See http://www.portorleans.org/buses.php for the precise details as far as I've been able to ascertain. I hear they might be trying to make the ordering of the various POR stops more standard across all the runs at some point soon, and if so I'll let everyone know.

You would think so. But we've been downgraded 3 times now. Two out of the three we weren't told when checking in. We didn't realize until we got to our room which meant a walk back to the front desk to get refunded the difference. That was what bothered me.

Officially that should not happen, but at peak times when the resort is 100% booked I think it can. It's meant to only work one way though - for example if all of the Standard rooms are booked, the system is meant to be able to continue selling as long as there are still unsold Garden View rooms. But guests should ideally never have to be downgraded, and certainly not without their consent and a rebate being offered. Out of interest, were the rooms you were given officially a lower category (as per my maps for example) or were they just not a very good fit for the description - for example if you booked a River View room but the outlook on the river was actually obscured by trees and didn't meet expectations, even though it was listed as River View?

Andre

 

[dansdad]

Out of interest, were the rooms you were given officially a lower category (as per my maps for example) or were they just not a very good fit for the description - for example if you booked a River View room but the outlook on the river was actually obscured by trees and didn't meet expectations, even though it was listed as River View?

Andre

All 3 were officially standard even though we paid for a higher classification. The first time was at Beach Club, paid for a Water/Pool view and had a standard view overlooking a roof and service dock on the opposite side of the pool. Here at least we were told during check in and our Card was credited the difference.

Second time was at POFQ, paid for River View and were in Building 3 facing the parking lot. Third time at POR paid for preferred and were in Building 35 facing the parking lot. Both of these times didn't know until we got to the rooms and had to go back and ask for a refund. I know resorts get over booked or there are issues with rooms etc, but I was upset we weren't told and if we didn't ask we would have paid for a location we didn't get.

 

[andrewilley]

I know resorts get over booked or there are issues with rooms etc, but I was upset we weren't told and if we didn't ask we would have paid for a location we didn't get.

I'd be cross too, especially if no one thought to mention it. Even an upgrade should really be mentioned (except maybe Standard>Garden) as there may have been a specific reason someone booked the category they did.

Andre

 

[karly05]

My experiences at POFQ with room categories:
2013 (first stay), I booked River View. When I checked in at the desk (regular check in, did nothing online) they said they didn't have River View available and were putting me in Garden View and crediting my account (room only res, and they brought up the credit right off the bat). Turned out for the better, I got a great location in building 5, 3rd floor, facing the movie lawn, near the end closest to the "front." Very convenient to food court and bus stop. I didn't really care about the view, I booked River because I liked the looks of the buildings facing the river from photos.

2014, I booked a Garden View and requested bldg 5 or 2. Got a great location in bldg 2, ground floor, not far from the boat dock. I was facing the pool area and yes, it was classified as Garden View on the ground floor.

2015, I booked Garden View again. This time, I just made a general request for "convenient to the main building." Got a great location in bldg 2, facing the fountain courtyard side this time, 2nd floor, near the "front" end - this was especially good since I was there during the bus stop refurb and buses were picking up in the parking lot near building 3.

For 2016 - I've decided there's No Bad Place to Be at POFQ and am going in with Garden View booked and no requests. We'll see where they put me!

diskids2 - If I were in your shoes, and you really want bldg 2 or 5, I would call and see if you can add that as a request - if for any reason pool view is not available, you'd like to stay in either bldg 2 or 5 in whatever category.

 

[PNO4TE]

You would think so. But we've been downgraded 3 times now. Two out of the three we weren't told when checking in. We didn't realize until we got to our room which meant a walk back to the front desk to get refunded the difference. That was what bothered me.

I would be disturbed if the downgraded room difference had not been applied immediately too! If this happened at FQ it is not so far to walk to get it taken care of, but at one of the larger resorts it would mean quite a bit of time out of a vacation!

 

[andrewilley]

The August 2015 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See my main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.

The evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are 9am—11pm.

Continuing this month: Splash into summer with the Disney Junior Pool Party featuring music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!

Andre

 

[fbb]

See http://www.portorleans.org/buses.php

I had never visited the bus page on your site before. What an outstanding resource! Thanks!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but the search function has failed me. Is there any chance of a roll-away bed? Or would an air mattress be the way to go?