Need Help! re: Port Orleans -Riverside / FQ

[mia01]

We are planning on stopping by Disney Feb 3-6, before going on a cruise. I called yesterday for reservations & was lucky enough to be able to use the BDP code, so I got a mansion room at Port Orleans Riverside for $85.00! They also offered French Quarter for the same price. I am torn as to whether or not to change to the FQ or keep POR. Any advice? Also if I stay at POR which building should I request?

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

I would stay with POR. Then you will be closer to the main building and Boatwrights which is a bigger, nicer food court than the one at FQ. I just like the atmosphere better at Riverside - it seems more sprawling and lush and I like walking on the bridges across the "river". Either way though, you've picked a great resort!

 

[princssdisnygina]

I have done both but I have to say, I liked FQ better. With the renovation it makes it that much nicer. The Riverside rooms look like they need renovated. They are both nice though!

Gina

 

[TaurusSES_Sport]

The riverside mansions have just been renovated, i would request one of those.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Honestly, I liked Port Orleans French Quarter much better than Port Orleans Riverside. A lot of this may have had to do with the renovation process--when I stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter (just recently) it had just been renovated and was gorgeous. The room was very pretty and clean, the whole resort looked wonderful. Everything was close together, accessible, and I loved the theming. The food court had great food and we loved the freshly made beignets.

At Riverside, we stayed in Magnolia Terrace, just before it was renovated, and it was pretty beaten up (though I know they've just redone it--it was actually redone just weeks after our stay). The beds were not very comfortable and the common areas looked worn. There were housekeeping issues in that there was a loaded ashtray and half full cup of beer left on the bench outside our building for our whole stay...it wasn't that great of someone to have left it there to begin with, but I was too grossed out to pick it up myself and it bothered me that that area was never cleaned up. I felt it was quite a walk to everything from our room--especially if I just wanted a drink refill and wanted to head over to the food court. It could've been chance, but I don't remember the food being very good at the food court and I thought all the food we got at POFQ was delicious. We never tried Boatwrights. My son had fun in the Ole Man island pool but we still liked the Dragon at the POFQ pool better.

Overall, I liked POFQ better, hands down. I was never going to stay in a moderate again after our mansion stay, and then I tried the FQ and liked it better than many of the Disney deluxes we've stayed in. Of course, now that the POR has been renovated it might offer a very different experience, but personally, I just don't understand those who prefer POR over FQ (I was on these boards back when I was deciding, and had plenty of people recommend the mansions...). I just think POFQ is soooo much better!!!

Who knows, maybe I should give the mansions another try now that they're redone...I feel bad putting them down so much...we just didn't enjoy our stay much there and didn't find the resort very conveniently designed nor well maintained.

 

[Rhonna]

I was also torn between Riverside and French Quarter - we'd never stayed at either. I did alot of research on the net - including any photos I could find.

I finally decided on French Quarter - however, when it came time to call for AP rates, all I could get was Riverside for our dates. So, I took it and hoped we would be happy.

We really liked Riverside. We stayed in Magnolia Terrace building and everything was beautiful, just newly remodeled.

We stopped at French Quarter to look it over and we both agreed we liked POR better and were happy we had ended up there. This was mid-November.

Rhonna

 

[Colorado Belle]

I've only stayed in FQ, but I liked the 'feel ' of it better PLUS I loved the beignets that were entirely reminiscent of Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter of New Orleans. If you request a river view AND a corner unit...you get two windows (one front, one side) and it a great room for the money!

Have fun whichever...you're going to Disney!

 

[yeartolate]

We just got back from POFQ. It was a dream. There is not an inconvinient room in the place. The bus service was great - the bus picks up at POFQ before Riverside. The folks at the last Riverside stop had to stand alot (if they could even get on!)The bus drops off folks at POFQ first, too.

The food court at POFQ was very good. We frequently used our Hotwire Quick and Casual vouchers there!

We were in building 5. It was a minute walk to the laundry or pool from our room by the river. It was about 1.5 minutes to the Food Court/Gift Shop and about a 2 minute walk to the bus stop. Parking was VERY convinient as well.

I will stay there again next time to be sure.

 

[oogieboogie]

I like FQ, it's smaller, more compact, everywhere is close to the food court, and you get dropped off first and picked up first on the bus route!

 

[tink2]

We've stayed at both and loved both! But, we do prefer POFQ b/c of the reasons oogieboogie stated- compact, never a far walk to anywhere, get picked up and dropped off first by buses- should always have a seat, good food court- beignets, etc. Both are great though. If you go with POR, get a map and make a building request. We were in one of the closest mansions and the walk was still kinda far- probably the length of the longest walk at POFQ. Anyway, good luck deciding. You can't go wrong with either one!!!