Four Adult Women where to stay?

[kathyclownfish]

We booked the Port Orleans French quarter for our stay in March. We are a group of four generational women. Enjoy good cocktails...nice pool and good food. Our budget is having us book a moderate. Should I change the reservation and book the Riverside Port Orleans...or The Caribbean? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[eeyoreandtink]

If I was booking a moderate for an adults only trip, it would be Coronado Springs. With the convention center there, it has a more adult vibe. There is a nice pool and the lounge is nice as well.

 

[Babsy]

I agree with eeyoreandtink! (FYI, POFQ is my least favourite moderate, however.) POFQ has very few amenities and only one very 'kiddie themed' pool. I am also not a fan of the theming. There is also only QS for meals at the resort. POFQ has only two benefits, and those are the single bus stop and small footprint. (neither of these are important to me)

I much prefer the dining options, the adult feel, the gorgeous pool, the huge hot tub, the landscaping, the new tower, the salon, the fitness centre, the lovely walk around the pond, the hammocks, the fountains and the theming of CSR. I pay for preferred locations or a room in the tower if I want the small footprint advantage. Multiple bus stops just do not bother me at all.

Between your two alternate choices, I would book either POR or CBR before POFQ, especially if cocktails, food and a nice pool are important to you. Of course, you can take the boat to DS from POFQ, but you can also take the same boat to DS from POR. At POR you also get table service dining, multiple pools, Yee Haw Bob entertainment while having drinks, horse and carriage rides, nice trails throughout the resort and nicer theming.
At CBR you also get the Skyliner to DHS and Epcot.

Don't forget, I am in the minority, however. Most people seem to love POFQ. I just don't understand why they prefer it to the other moderates.

Don't get me wrong, I have stayed at POFQ and enjoyed it fine. It just doesn't compare favourably to the other mods IMO.

Enjoy wherever you stay!

 

[Sunshine11]

I would keep your French Quarter reservation. It is a small/compact resort on the river with the ability to walk/boat/bus to Riverside for their sit down restaurant, bar, quick service and gift shop variety. We love French Quarter. The pool area is nice and it's a great boat ride to Disney Springs for many restaurants and shopping. I would for sure keep this reservation!

 

[Marionnette]

For a moderate, I would choose CSR for adults, specifically Gran Destino if it fits your budget. We had dinner at Toledo when we were there two weeks ago and the tower blew us away from the moment that we pulled up. Disney upped their “moderate” game with Gran Destino.

 

[JoJoGirl]

I love POFQ and currently have it booked for my May trip. It’s so beautiful, quiet, and compact at the same time! A big benefit is that there is only one bus stop, and when buses share with Riverside during low times, FQ is generally the first stop.

From an adult-only perspective, you can easily find good cocktails at Mardi Grogs pool bar, Scat Cat’s off the lobby, and also at the River Roost just upstream at POR. River Roost does get extremely busy and loud on nights when YeeHa Bob is appearing.

The food and pool itself are weaknesses in-resort at POFQ, since it only has the smallish food court, and the pool is more family/child oriented. That said, you are welcome to use the pool and restaurants at POR, which are about a lovely 10-minute walk or a free ”Sassagoula River Cruise” ride away. If you stay at POR these things are in-resort, but you would have to deal with multiple bus stops and the possibility of a loooong walk from your room anyway, since the resort is so spread out (but gorgeous too!).

If you are willing to take the River Cruise down to Disney Springs (a pleasant 20-minute ride) you can find all the great food and cocktails you are looking for, as well as a lot of unique shopping. Same from POR. I love coming into Disney Springs from the water, it’s so much more relaxing and atmospheric! No traffic snarls, busy bus stops, and exhaust fumes everywhere. Just a sweeping panoramic view with lights on the water as you glide in.

I guess it depends on how willing you are to leaving the actual grounds of the resort. At both POFQ and POR, you can easily find everything you’re looking for close by, and the journey is pleasant. Between the two, I would choose the one whose theme appeals to you more (for me, that’s FQ). Also, POR is currently undergoing room renovations, and reports are that some of the non-renovated rooms are in pretty bad shape. If I stayed there, I would definitely request a renovated room.

Good luck with your decision. It sounds like a fun trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Don't forget, I am in the minority, however

No I you're not

 

[KenHutch]

Well I think French Quarter is by the far the best moderate of all of them. As for its so called weak areas, you are a 15 minute very pleasant boat ride from Disney Springs for a huge variety of food and a 10 minute or so walk from FO for food and their pools. And the smallish bar is second to none for good entertainment at night.

 

[kathyclownfish]

Is there a hot tub at POR or POFQ? Is there a bar at POFQ? Thank you everyone....so helpful!

 

[samantha3590]

There’s a bar at POFQ and POR!

 

[karen4546]

I like POFQ/Riverside and the boat to Disney Springs is convenient. But for 4 adults then i would choose Coronado. The price may be a bit lower so that only 2 people stay in each room. I think for your group of friends that Coronado would be great!

I personally do not like Caribbean Beach. But, the pool is better there than at POFQ. But again, the boat to Disney Springs-oh and if yee ha Bob is still at Riverside then he is a hoot.

 

[glocon]

We stayed in the GDT this past July and I cannot say enough about how wonderful it is!!! It definitely feels more deluxe than mod. Great dining and lounge options, gym, just beautiful! And definitely more adult than PO. Granted I’ve only stayed at the POR not POFQ, but my guess is it’s not that different a vibe as far as “adult” is concerned. I’d stay at either again in a heartbeat, but if got to choose- it would be the GDT. Magnificent!!!!

 

[JoJoGirl]

Scat Cat’s is the bar/lounge at POFQ.
Mardi Grogs is to pool bar at POFQ.
River Roost is the bar/lounge at POR.
Can’t remember the name of the pool bar at POR but have sure had some yummy drinks there over the years!

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Just returned from a 10 day stay at Gran Destino Tower CSR... We typically stay at deluxe resorts, but the deal was too good to pass up!
It was a tremendous place to stay for adults, the hotel is stunning inside and out and Three Bridges Lounge is a beautiful addition in the middle of the lake.
Lovely Barcelona Lounge in the lower lobby, it's just a great place to stay. For the little bit of difference in price the Tower is worth every penny.
The Dahlia Lounge on the 16th floor has some of the best views in all of WDW.
It's band new to boot, just 3 months old!

 

[SL6827]

Thought about renting DVC points and stay at OKW?

 

[bakerworld]

Port Orleans is the perfect place - short boat ride to DS - 1st bus stop on and off if going ... anywhere - relax and enjoy.

 

[ncc1701]

Scat Cat’s is the bar/lounge at POFQ.
Mardi Grogs is to pool bar at POFQ.
River Roost is the bar/lounge at POR.
Can’t remember the name of the pool bar at POR but have sure had some yummy drinks there over the years!

Muddy Waters is the name I believe of the POR pool bar. OP if Disney Springs is part of the plan I would vote for either of the Port Orleans resorts.The boats run on a pretty regular schedule weather permitting. You have a great variety of restaurants and some bars to checkout. We go multiple times every trip.

 

[kathyclownfish]

Great info! Thinking of keeping my POFQ reservation because of the bus stops and boat ride to Disney Springs. I'll be checking out the CS Tower rooms online today just to make sure!