French Quarter vs Riverside

[Disney Mom 7272]

I recently switched our hotel room to French quarter to save some money on our next trip. I have Been going back and forth between French quarter and riverside. Needing some help deciding on which to go with. I have Never stayed at a moderate resort, we usually stay at a deluxe. My only concern with riverside is the dog friendly part. I love dogs but don’t want them on vacation with me. I have A severely asthmatic child and was worried about where the dogs are allowed at riverside. Both of my girls want a resort with a cool water slide!! Lol
Thanks!

 

[StageTek]

With those two needs in consideration (no dogs and cool slide) FQ seems the clear choice.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

With those two needs in consideration (no dogs and cool slide) FQ seems the clear choice.

Are the dogs allowed in every building at Riverside? I had Thought about the royal because I had Read somewhere that they weren’t allowed in that building?

 

[sachilles]

My understanding was that initially only 4 building would be dog friendly. I've heard since that dogs may have been spotted in something other than the 4, but they may have been service dogs...that would have been allowed anyway.

 

[chuckml]

I love POFQ but the slide is pretty meh for kids older than 9 or 10 IMHO. It's a slide, but its not very fast at all. My DD and her BFF liked the pool at POR better for sure, and walked over there several days to use it.
The resort as a whole is awesome though. We've stayed twice and would again in a heartbeat.

 

[Mome Rath]

Are the dogs allowed in every building at Riverside? I had Thought about the royal because I had Read somewhere that they weren’t allowed in that building?

As I understand it, you have a very low chance of a general dog being in the Royal Rooms (service dogs can be anywhere anytime). They would have to honor an earlier booked Royal Room if the person decides to bring a dog, but they would have had to book pretty early as they don't put dogs there now. We stayed in the Royal Rooms in January and didn't see nor hear any dogs at all, but since it is now a dog friendly resort you could see the dogs being walked anywhere, even at FQ.

If the slide is important, I'd go with FQ, but truly I don't think you can go wrong with either PO resort, love 'em both.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

Is french quarter being renovated? We go in May.

 

[Mome Rath]

Is french quarter being renovated? We go in May.

Yes, some rooms are already done, but they are indeed going building by building.

 

[StageTek]

With a severely asthmatic child it seems taking the chance wouldn't be worth it. Like others, I've heard so many varying stories it makes my head spin and I'm not sensitive to dogs.

It's a bit of a "coin-toss" isn't it? Both are beautiful. Each has a different advantage over the other. You know (of course) that which ever one you choose you will end up loving.

I literally did a coin toss when I was booking for Jan 2016. Between CBR - where we had stayed before and loved - and FQ which at that time was a bit cheaper. The coin came up FQ. We loved it!

 

[KenHutch]

We have stayed at both and to my family French Quarter is the clear winner. Smaller more compact and only 1 bus stop unlike Riverside which has more than I can count offhand.

 

[heidijanesmith]

My Step Dad and Mom went with his whole family and stayed at FQ. They loved it.

They liked how small the resort is and easy to get around. They loved the food court and all the options. They commented on how nice it was to take a boat to the other resort and to Disney Springs.

They only Moderate I have stayed at is Coronado. I thought it was fantastic! I really liked the bus transportation and the pool is wonderful with a great slide. I saw the pics of the renovated rooms and they look very nice. I would stay there even with the construction and will be there in April.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

My Step Dad and Mom went with his whole family and stayed at FQ. They loved it.

They liked how small the resort is and easy to get around. They loved the food court and all the options. They commented on how nice it was to take a boat to the other resort and to Disney Springs.

They only Moderate I have stayed at is Coronado. I thought it was fantastic! I really liked the bus transportation and the pool is wonderful with a great slide. I saw the pics of the renovated rooms and they look very nice. I would stay there even with the construction and will be there in April.

I think Coronado looks great too. I was A little worried about the construction though. You think it would be ok in May to stay there?

 

[jenmsmith]

French Quarter is our favorite. And if your kids prefer the pool at Riverside, you are welcome to use it. It’s a relatively short walk or, depending on time of day, you could take a boat or the internal bus shuttle there.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I think Coronado looks great too. I was A little worried about the construction though. You think it would be ok in May to stay there?

I would stay in May for sure. I am pretty tolerant of construction, so not much would bother me. I would not stay if the main pool was down, but it looks as if the pool will not be affected. I have stayed in Casitas building 4 and thought it was great. The bus stop is right outside the building, 1st of the 4 stops. Even though there are 4 stops, I thought it was super quick and easy. Casitas section is halfway between the main pool and the lobby, so neither was a long walk.

 

[bbak30]

I've stayed at both and FQ is the winner for us. It's so small and quaint, the buses were great. We really enjoyed the food court as well. Wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.
We did enjoy Riverside, but it's much bigger and spread out. I'm not a fan of the new dog policy either, so that would definitely play in to my decision.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

POFQ is great. It is small and only has one bus stop. The food court is nice too. Have you given thought to the Coronado Springs Resort? It has a much better pool area with a really cool water slide. It is a larger resort but we have had some of the best bus service there. We used to always stay at the POFQ until Disney stopped including it in the discounts. We went to CSR and now stay there every time. We love it but you can't go wrong at either. Cheers!!!!!!!!

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

POFQ is great. It is small and only has one bus stop. The food court is nice too. Have you given thought to the Coronado Springs Resort? It has a much better pool area with a really cool water slide. It is a larger resort but we have had some of the best bus service there. We used to always stay at the POFQ until Disney stopped including it in the discounts. We went to CSR and now stay there every time. We love it but you can't go wrong at either. Cheers!!!!!!!!

I have Now started looking at CSR! What should I reuqest If I want A newly renovated room? We have a 10 night stay in May!

 

[HopperFan]

I have Now started looking at CSR! What should I reuqest If I want A newly renovated room? We have a 10 night stay in May!

Neither POR or POFQ have cool slides, just more geared for very young. You can use either no matter which you stay at if you want to walk it.

CSR has a cool pool area and great slide, one of the longest on property. The pool area is all inclusive with quick serve food, mug refill station, arcade, bathrooms, playground, giant game set, largest hot tub, beach volleyball and we have never had issue with seating.

We LOVE Ranchos, it is highly themed and we feel like we are in another place. The real advantage right now is that those buildings are buffered by trees and the main pool from being impacted by the construction of the new tower. But only some of the rooms are complete. You can pay for Preferred and be guaranteed, those are all in Casitas. I would avoid Cabanas as they are closest to construction ... But if you really want a renovated room, I would make that my only request.

CSR is our favorite moderate (and we have stayed at them all), we call it the deluxe of moderates.

 

[Sue M]

I would stay away from CSR due to construction of a tower and some lake construction too. They are building something on the lake.
We love both POR and POFQ. Out of the 2 POR slide is better. POFQ is more compact, and 1 bus stop. But that’s why I prefer POR, it doesn’t feel as congested, and I love the mansion section with all the buildings being along the river.
I haven’t heard that the dog friendly resorts are over-run with dogs. WDW is an international destination, the majority of visitors fly in and aren’t taking their dogs on the flight. Also as mentioned any room can have a service dog in it. At any resort.
With your son having severe allergies you can request a deep clean, and have it noted on your res.

 

[Mark Cameron]

I just left CSR on February 6th and we were in Ranchos 7A and the construction was not an issue at all. They had started setting up the lake for the construction of the restaurant in the center but hadn't started it yet but where we were on the backside of Ranchos 7A it probably wouldn't bother us at all. We will be returning in February 2019 and would like to return to CSR but also may be interested in trying POR or POFQ!