Back from Port Orleans French Quarter

[Hillbeans]

We had a wonderful 3 night stay at POFQ. This hotel is so beautiful, and it's good for both couples and families. There are a few buildings near the river that would be perfect for those couples looking for a honeymoon destination. The buildings near the pools (where we stayed) are perfect for those with small children or those who want to be near the food court, laundry, pool, bar, etc.

For $94 a night, we truly got a great deal. We've stayed at AKL and liked this just as much but in a different way. The boat ride to DTD and the short walk to POR to go fishing and take a small canopy boat out were good activities to fill up non-park days.

There are external hallways which some people may not like due to a "motel" feel, however the all new refurbished rooms really make up for any shortcomings. We were in room 5208, which did not have a refrigerator yet. Bus service to the parks was excellent.

If anyone has any questions, i'd be happy to answer.

 

[Bella34]

So glad to see another positive review of POFQ !! I am so glad we picked this resort for our trip next week! I am so excited I can hardly stand it !

Did you try the cane pole fishing? We ae thinking of doing this in our downtime as well. We are also thinking of renting boats - was the cost reasonable for this? Did you try the carriage ride?

I like the location of Bldg 4 but hear that may be a smoking building. We have a guaranteed NS room because DD11 has asthma. I hear Blg 5 is a great location though. Is everything really as close as some report?

Thanks for the great report! I can't wait to get there !

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by Bella34
So glad to see another positive review of POFQ !! I am so glad we picked this resort for our trip next week! I am so excited I can hardly stand it !

Did you try the cane pole fishing? We ae thinking of doing this in our downtime as well. We are also thinking of renting boats - was the cost reasonable for this? Did you try the carriage ride?

I like the location of Bldg 4 but hear that may be a smoking building. We have a guaranteed NS room because DD11 has asthma. I hear Blg 5 is a great location though. Is everything really as close as some report?

Thanks for the great report! I can't wait to get there !

We did try the cane pole fishing, but there were really no fish to be caught (plus, my 3 YO is so noisy he probably scared them all away). We rented a 5 seater boat for $27.00 for 1/2 hour, and in that time you can go all the way down as far as Old Key West and back. We didn't do the carriage ride or the bikes, but there were people doing both.

Bldg 5 was on the left side of the pool area, and bldg 4 is behind 5 if I recall. Bldg 5 was N/S and our room was on the 2nd floor corner near the stairs which came right down to the pool area. Everything from there was really close, i'd say the pool was about 50 steps away and the food court was just a bit further. Everything is really close except maybe blds 1 and 7.
Have fun!

 

[DISNEYBIGGDOGG]

How was the pool?

 

[Bella34]

Thanks Hillbeans !

I have some more questions though!! How was the transportation to the parks? Can you give me an idea of approximate times to the various parks? Also how were the crowds? I have been seeing reports that they are definitely up!

Thanks so much for the feedback - it is greatly appreciated !

 

[picantel]

We also got back although a month ago from the POFQ and loved it. In fact, I probably liked it better than my usual favorite WL. Buses can be a little slow to the parks simply because you have to go through the pickups at POR. However, the buses go to the FQ first and there is just one stop so you get on a nice empty bus while the people at POR have to stand or outright miss the bus(I experienced that on my stay at the POR last november). We were in I think 5108 so we could walk to the pool and foodcourt in under 10 seconds and that was the best part of all for my lazy self. We were also about 15 feet from the laundry rooms. The boatride to DTD was fun and I spent most of the time trying to peer into the rooms at the old treehouses.

 

[Hillbeans]

The pool was incredible. It was very large and there was a water slide in the shape of a huge pink/green dragon....for a moderate hotel, I would compare the pool to a Deluxe hotel pool. There was also a small kiddie pool for the toddlers.

The transportation (I thought) was super. The night we went to MK, they didn't stop at POR, so it only took maybe 8 minutes to get there from bus stop to bus stop. We went to MGM, but the bus did go to POR, so that took a little longer, although on the way home POFQ is the first stop. The bus from Epcot isn't a long ride at all, maybe 10 minutes on the return trip home, 15 minutes there at an early dinner hour?

The boat to DTD took about 20 minutes. We also took the bus to Typhoon Lagoon and we were the only ones on it : )

I must say though, that we got up and got to the park at opening, so if you go at 10 am, expect a wait. We were on the busses by 8:15 for a 9 am opening. The crowds were sort of medium...I only waited 10 minutes for RNR at MGM and 5 minutes at Mission space. The food/wine lines though were very long at Epcot. It was a zoo over there in the evenings.

LOL Picantel, we did the same thing. My H wants to stay in the treehouses!

 

[tammyg]

We will be staying at The French Quarter for thanksgiving. It will be our first time staying there. Do you know if any of the rooms had the refrigerators yet are if you could request one free of charge. I was also wondering if the parking lot was close to the rooms are if it was a long walk.

 

[Hillbeans]

Tammy, the parking lots are not far at all, and there are no hills or steps. If you are in bldg 1,2,6,7, you are right near the parking lot.

Some of the rooms have refrigerators, not all as of yet. Ours in building 5 did not yet. I believe they are trying to install all of them very shortly.

 

[tammyg]

Thank you

 

[imadisneyfanatic]

I am getting so excited. I hope I get a room near yours - it sounded perfect.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[mikesluss]

Thanks for the update I cant wait to see what they have done for the refurb this resort was looking a little old even though it wasnt did you notice any refurb of the common ground or pool area we noticed last trip two years ago that the pool had some very tired looking gators playing music around it ????? also did you notice was the pool bar open later for a grown up wind down while auntie watches the kids !!!!! ha ha

 

[PB'sMOM]

We arrive on Sat. 10/30- could someone tell me about the coffee maker in the room. How many cups is it? What type of coffee filter does it take? Standard round or cone? I'm bringing my own coffee-but it would be nice not to bring the coffee maker.

Thanks,
Cindy
Jumping for joy-getting the heck out of Michigan

 

[picantel]

Go for room 5101 if you can. That is the corner room and is about 20 feet from the food court. IT is also right near the pool, laundry room, and bus stop. IT takes about 3 minutes(less if no kids dragging you down) to walk to the boat to DTD. The room also seems to have more windows and could(wild guess) be larger. Far and away the best room if you want to be near everything.

 

[MiJo]

The size of the resort was another reason we enjoyed it so much. But, our favorite thing about it is the spa! It's fairly large and secluded from the pool area. We spent every evening relaxing and talking to other guests at the spa.
While at POFQ, don't miss the chance to see Bob the Piano Man's act at POR. He's hilarious! It sounds like he is there Wednesday through Sunday evenings, but it would pay to double check.
Have fun!

 

[TallyLassie]

Originally posted by PB'sMOM
We arrive on Sat. 10/30- could someone tell me about the coffee maker in the room. How many cups is it? What type of coffee filter does it take? Standard round or cone? I'm bringing my own coffee-but it would be nice not to bring the coffee maker.

Thanks,
Cindy
Jumping for joy-getting the heck out of Michigan

We just back on 10/24, and the rooms had 4 cup coffee makers with round baskets. The coffee that came in the room was inside a filter. We made coffee one day, but it was not very good, but that was more of a cream issue than a coffee thing. I like 1/2 and 1/2 versus the powder. We had a refrigerator, we just never made it to the supermarket.

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by mikesluss
Thanks for the update I cant wait to see what they have done for the refurb this resort was looking a little old even though it wasnt did you notice any refurb of the common ground or pool area we noticed last trip two years ago that the pool had some very tired looking gators playing music around it ????? also did you notice was the pool bar open later for a grown up wind down while auntie watches the kids !!!!! ha ha

I think the pool looked crisp and freshly painted. I didn't notice anything that looked worn. Please understand though, that on the river areas, there are still lots of trees down, and it's a shock there wasn't more damage to the resorts during the 4 hurricanes they had go through there in 2 month's time.

The pool bar was open until at least around or after dinnertime.

 

[Wily Wily]

Just got back from 8 days at the POFQ and loved it,...might have created some of our own "magic" there!!!

 

[Grumpy92]

We recently stayed there in August. Loved the refubished rooms. In particular the really comfortable beds. We stayed in Bldg two, first floor. It was non smoking and so close to the foodcourt and bus stop. Buses could not have been better we didnt wait five minutes for them. Boats took a little longer but we werent in a hurry.

 

[jokan]

Originally posted by Wily Wily
Just got back from 8 days at the POFQ and loved it,...might have created some of our own "magic" there!!!