Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER Resort

[L_MD]

Hi guys! Just got back from a stay at POFQ from 11/28 - 12/3. A few thoughts, mostly positive!

Rooms:

• Thumbs up. They seem slightly outdated and a bit dusty in some neglected corners but nothing egregious/couldn't live with.
• Housekeeping was great- provided more stuff when I asked (even when I wasn't out) and arranged some of my toiletries into Mickey ears, which made me smile.

Food:

• I thought the new food court system worked out pretty well, but I was never there during a crush time.
  
• No one seemed to have any issue with the Coke machines.
  
• Had the beignets as soon as I arrived. The outside of them was great. The inside was almost completely raw, uncooked dough. So disappointing.
• The gumbo was really good, and fairly spicy for Disney food - thankfully!
  
• Sadly, I never got around to trying the Catfish po'boy or the crispy fried chicken on a biscuit. Guess I just have to go back.

Pool:

• Highly recommended. Never seemed like I was too close to a ton of kids.
  
• Sea serpent waterslide: how can you go wrong??!
• Hot tub...just wish there had been fewer kids in there. But that's such a tiny complaint.

Staffing:

• Helpful and friendly, never encountered any bad attitudes. Bell Services was a bit slow when I retrieved my bags on my last park/check-out day, but it didn't take more than 10 minutes.
• I also wasn't charged the $5 per package...had 2 Amazon packages shipped (small ones) and the lady made no mention of a fee and there wasn't any charge on my statement.

Transportation:

• The boat to Disney Springs was so nice and uncrowded (a total of 7 people) around 1pm.
  
• However, it DOES shut down going from Springs to Port Orleans during the drone show, which was around 7-ish on 11/28.
  
• I didn't mind, but the boat captains couldn't quote a definitive time when the boats would start running, which annoyed some people. So, be warned.
• The buses: hit and miss.
  - Tuesday 11/29 morning for EMM. Park opens at 7:45am for guests and I read everywhere that buses should start at 6:30am. I was at the bus stop at 6:45am, there was a group there before me, so I hadn't missed it. There wasn't a bus scheduled until 7:04am. I ended up Ubering (which was a mistake, but not a POFQ mistake so it's irrelevant here) but I wish the bus had been sooner. After 7am didn't seem early enough to be ahead of the crowd.
  - Thursday 12/1 morning for Epcot. I was there at about 8:30am. Didn't have to wait long at all, but there was a huge crowd for Magic Kingdom. They had a staff member at that stop to call buses/make sure people got on. When there's a crowd at that stop though it makes it hard for people in scooters/wheelchairs to get into place.
  - Friday 12/2 morning for HS. No issues, came pretty quickly (about 8:30am).
  -Saturday 12/3 morning for MK. No issues and not much of a crowd (about 8am).

• Buses coming back from all of the parks came pretty quickly, I never waited for than 10 minutes.

Anything else, I'm happy to answer what I can. I am REALLY glad I chose this resort and, while I originally thought I'd choose a different hotel for my hypothetical next trip, it will be hard to not go with POFQ. The price is spot on and I had a lovely time.

 

[andrewilley]

• I also wasn't charged the $5 per package...had 2 Amazon packages shipped (small ones) and the lady made no mention of a fee and there wasn't any charge on my statement.

I did check on this by the way. Currently it is only a trial at the Values, and none of the Moderates are doing it as yet. So please, if you're staying at a Value, kick up a real fuss about it!

Andre

 

[L_MD]

I did check on this by the way. Currently it is only a trial at the Values, and none of the Moderates are doing it as yet. So please, if you're staying at a Value, kick up a real fuss about it!

Andre

Oh, that's great to know!

 

[Mome Rath]

Just got back; I tried several items from the new food court; The chili; was good but was a thinner chili, just a touch spicy. The King Cake; I actually really liked this, it was chewy, had a cinnamon flavor, and the icing added a nice touch of sweetness. It "kept" well in the fridge. The crispy chicken on a biscuit with voodoo sauce; it was pretty good, the biscuit was really crumbly and it took a long while to prepare, the voodoo sauce wasn't overpowering or too spicy. My favorite was breakfast; The sweet potato waffle was to die for IMO, and was one of my favorite things I had this vacation. I ordered the made to order omelette and it was really good as well. One thing I did notice they need to work on was refilling and restocking all the grab and go items; bananas, milk, etc... they actually had run out several times and the place looked ransacked.

The food court decor was helped by the wreathes on the wall for sure. I wasn't as disappointed in the look of it as I thought, though they really need to add something when they take the wreaths down. I liked eating off of real plates, it does take a bit of coordination to bus your own stuff quickly... I got better at it as the trip went on.

Mousekeeping was fine, but just fine this time, which surprised me. Odd little things left undone, and a rogue shampoo bottle that kept showing up...

Any way, always love my stays here, this was not exception. Christmas decor is always so beautiful here!

ETA; loved the bathroom decor in the food court... wish the whole thing looked that way And, I noted the mask displays on the walls were larger and more impressive in person than in the pics I've seen.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Photos and a review of the remodeled Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory posted by WDW News today. The food court still seems bland to me.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/12/review-sassagoula-floatworks-food-factory-re-opens-new-look-menu/

 

[Arianabtd]

Just booked my first stay at POFQ for March! I got a standard view room and I was wondering, does anyone have some room request suggestions for me? I'm down for anything.
Thanks!

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Just booked my first stay at POFQ for March! I got a standard view room and I was wondering, does anyone have some room request suggestions for me? I'm down for anything.
Thanks!

Corner rooms are always nice...and do you want 1st floor or 2nd? Some people have a preference. First floor might have people loud above you...second floor and you have to face the stairs at the end of a long park day.

 

[andrewilley]

Corner rooms are always nice...and do you want 1st floor or 2nd?

FQ buildings have three floors, top would be quietest but as you say potentially more stairs at the end of a long day. There are elevators, but they might not be located very close to your room either of course. Asking for top floor near the elevator might help.

Andre

 

[Gina Starr]

Just booked my first stay at POFQ for March! I got a standard view room and I was wondering, does anyone have some room request suggestions for me? I'm down for anything.
Thanks!

I always do upper floor close to the elevator. I don't like ground floor because I have read too many accounts of creepy crawlies getting into rooms.
ETA: close to transportation isn't super important as all the buildings are pretty close

 

[fla4fun]

Just booked a BB at POFQ for next May. That will make two trips there next year. Looking forward to spending some extended time at my favorite mod!

 

[ncc1701]

Just booked my first stay at POFQ for March! I got a standard view room and I was wondering, does anyone have some room request suggestions for me? I'm down for anything.
Thanks!

If going up to POR is part of your plans ask for buildings 4 or 7 . We have had rooms on all floors and have no real preference .

 

[DIS-OH]

During our recent visit, we found this treat in our room with a card from the manager, thanking us for being return guests.

The box is made from dark chocolate and the lid has a white chocolate emblem. Inside are 4 truffles.

 

[Trap]

going back to pofq in nov next year can not wait this will be the third time their we like this one the best

 

[AngiTN]

We just booked a return trip to FQ for late January. Will be our 3rd stay since May. Needless to say, we really enjoy it there. I didn't think I'd like it better than Riverside but I think we do. As long as it's included in our promos we'll be staying there. If it's not, we'll go back to Riverside. I'm not sure we'll ever return to a Deluxe again. I really like the PO resorts that much more

 

[Pluto80]

We're going back to FQ for the first time in several years. Does it still share a bus with Riverside? I seem to remember that sometimes it did, and sometimes it didn't, but I quite figured it out.

 

[Disneylover99]

We will be there in 2 hours and 19 minutes unless we stop for another washroom break.

 

[ncc1701]

We're going back to FQ for the first time in several years. Does it still share a bus with Riverside? I seem to remember that sometimes it did, and sometimes it didn't, but I quite figured it out.

Only shares for parks in off hours. We only shared for the MK in the early A.M (prior to 7:00) & during midday for Epcot. We didn't share at all with DHS even when leaving there after lunch. We didn't go to AK.Checkout www.portorleans.org, the transportation info is usually up to date.
The boat to DS is only shared until about 4:30/5:00.

 

[Pluto80]

That's really helpful, many thanks.

 

[Arianabtd]

Does anyone know if standard view rooms catch a lot of parking lot noise? Booked standard for a room deal but I've never been on property in a room facing a parking lot and I'm trying to decide If I should cough up more money to go garden. Thanks!

 

[andrewilley]

Does anyone know if standard view rooms catch a lot of parking lot noise?

Not really, most of them have trees or courtyards between you are the parking lot anyway.

Andre