help: French Quarter or Caribbean Beach?

[Jersey Gerry]

I just called to get rates for our December trip for Port Orleans Riverside. No rooms were available through AAA or Disney. There is availability in Port Orleans French Quarter and Caribbean Beach. Any recommendations? We have two children, ages 9 and 12.

 

[tink111]

I can't say enough good things about POFQ. My husband and I stayed there 8 days last October and had a great time. This would be a great family resort. The resort is small, which means less walking. Our building was one of the farthest from the main building (food court, main lobby, etc.) and it was never more than a 5 minute walk for us. Although we didn't utilize the bus system, I have heard the POFQ busses pick up and drop off before the Riverside stop, so you are pretty much guaranteed a seat. The dragon slide at the pool would be a hit with the kids I'm sure. We visited the Carribbean Beach resort during our stay (we had originally wanted to stay there) and I cannot say how pleased I was that we chose POFQ. We felt that CBR wasn't much our style... and had more of a Miami feel than the Carribbean. If we want a beach atmosphere we will stay at the Poly. Whatever you chose, your vacation is definitely what you make of it... but we love POFQ and recommend it to everyone. I'm sure your family would love it.

 

[gigi1313]

we've stayed at CBR and are staying at POFQ our next trip... while we did not "hate" CBR we did not love it either... it was much too big and spread out for our tastes... a ten minute walk each way for main pool and mug refills was just too much, esp after a long day in the parks... so we spent more time in the quiet pool (which is a boring rectangle pool... even the value pools are more fun)... we are looking forward to a more compact resort this time...

 

[lainie25]

We stayed at CBR a few years ago and i really didn't care for it. I think we had an unusual experience though. We had no children with us just 4 adults and had to walk very far to get to everything. the bus made like 15 stops before we got to the actual destination. and we were only there for 5 nights and every night when we got back at like 12 midnight our room keys never worked and the first four nights they would send someone down to let us in and give us new keys and i finally got so fed up i walked to the main gate check in and got a manager to come to the room and try the keys we had which didn't work either. after i explained the situation she credited us for our rooms for the entire stay and even bought us dinner which was very nice. so i guess after that experience i won't be back to CBR.
I love POFQ last year and am going back this year

 

[wdwfanva]

Go for French Quarter, your kids will love the pool slide and I believe you can also us the pool at River Sid. Also the resort is smaller so it's a short stroll to eveything!! The Disney busses pick-up and drop-off at POFQ
first when they share a bus with Riverside, A huge plus after long days at the park My wife and I will be there December 2-17 !!!!!! Have a fantastic trip
We've stayed at CBR and felt it was too big & spread out!

 

[safetymom]

CBR is our favorite.

 

[klinlin]

POFQ is lovely. I enjoyed it much more than my trips to CBR.

 

[MinnieSummer]

Just casting my vote for POFQ. We've stayed in both and CB just didn't do it for us. It wasn't the size of the resort (we stay at CSR often and it's bigger) so much as it just didn't feel right. If you stay at POFQ you can enjoy the amenities at POR as well.

 

[judydvc]

Both are nice resorts but somewhat different. CBR is very spread out- you do a lot of walking. The buildings are around a large lake and you hear wonderful music while walking around. There is a beautiful little island you can walk through. It is pretty close to Epcot. POFQ is much smaller and everthing at the resort is close by. The PO buses stop there first before going to POR which is nice in the AMand after being in the parks all day. I think you could pick your resort based on what you prefer-both are great.

 

[clutter]

I just didn't fall in love with POFQ, although I totally expected to. Don't know why, I guess I prefer the spread-outedness of CBR and POR to all the concrete of POFQ. As for the pool, we never made it into either, but upon investigation, my 8 year old dd greatly preferred POR to POFQ. (She stayed at CBR in her pre-slide days, so can't compare.) However, since you're going in December, that's probably not an issue!

 

[Yensid_MD]

Having stayed at both I would vote for POFQ. CBR is large and spread out, we have stayed at POFQ about 4 times and always thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[MickeysMommy]

We prefer CBR although it's the only resort we've been to

 

[cocowum]

Because you are traveling with kids, I say POFQ. Without kids, I'd vote for CBR.

 

[gigi1313]

We prefer CBR although it's the only resort we've been to

may i be so bold as to ask why you've never tried another resort? i'm just curious... thanks!

 

[beccasmom]

The French Quarter is amazingly nice. Compact, easy to get around, very nice food court (I miss Bonfamilies, though!! ), great pool....exceptional theming. CBR is a nice resort, but quite large and the walks to the rooms can be lengthy. Their pool is very nice, but I'm not a fan of the food court.....lines build up quickly and don't move fast, IMHO. And POFQ offers a boat to DTD, which is pleasant and a nice change from the bus.

 

[marc1477]

We have stayed at CBR twince and loved it. I have not been POFQ yet. I would have to say CBR though. We stayed in Jamaica and it was not far from that pool. It wasn't a bad walk to the main pool or food court. I think it might have taken me about 5-10 min walk across the bridge. Nice relaxed atmosphere.

 

[Jakesmom1]

We have stayed at CBR and loved it.

We only have 1 DS but he loved it too, especially the slide in the pool. I loved the theming, and from what I have read, the CBR has the biggest rooms in the mods. We are going again in 6 days and we could not get the CBR, I was kind of upset, but after reading the posts here we decided on POFQ. I hope we will love it as much. I'll let you know when we get back how it was.

Only 6 days to go.....l

 

[TLinden16]

Welcome to the DIS, Jersey Gerry!

I have stayed at both the POFQ and the CBR multiple times, I prefer the POFQ. I find the size of the resort a lot more managable than the CBR. When we stayed at the CBR, we were a 15 minute walk from the food court and main pool. Even the most remote rooms will be maybe a seven minute walk from the POFQ.

The boat ride from the POFQ to Downtown Disney is a refreshing change from the buses. It may take longer than the bus, but it's a nice relaxing ride--a great way to sit back and just enjoy the peace and tranquilty on the river for a few minutes.

At the POFQ, you also have access to the amenities at the POR, just a 10 minute walk away.

You'll probably be happy at either resort--they are both great. I put in my vote for the POFQ, though

Happy planning!

Karen

 

[Troy08]

We stayed at CBR a few years ago and i really didn't care for it. I think we had an unusual experience though. We had no children with us just 4 adults and had to walk very far to get to everything. the bus made like 15 stops before we got to the actual destination. and we were only there for 5 nights and every night when we got back at like 12 midnight our room keys never worked and the first four nights they would send someone down to let us in and give us new keys and i finally got so fed up i walked to the main gate check in and got a manager to come to the room and try the keys we had which didn't work either. after i explained the situation she credited us for our rooms for the entire stay and even bought us dinner which was very nice. so i guess after that experience i won't be back to CBR.
I love POFQ last year and am going back this year
>>>>>>>>>>>>

So does that mean your entire stay at CBR ended up being FREE????That certainly wopuld have upped my pleasure level, keys or no keys. For FREE I would gladly put up with a little inconvenience.

 

[alicenwonder99]

Now I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I had the kids watch the Disney Planning DVD and they want to stay at CBR. I wanted to stay at WL. I couldn't get a standard view at WL for my dates (in early Dec), so I booked CBR. I'm paying extra to get a "preferred room" which is supposed to be very close to the bus stops, pool, and food court. I'm going alone with just my 2 young children...am I going to still have to walk alot? That was my number one concern: not having to walk far to the room. If my children are tired after a day in the parks, they are not going to be able to walk far to our room...and I won't be able to carry both of them. The person at Disney Reservations assured me that I would get a very close room that would be just a short walk to everything.

Mary