Need help with Port Orleans resorts

[ilovemytink]

1) Buses: I understand that the Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter share a bus system. How crowded are the buses? How long does it typically take to get to the theme parks?

Just returned from POR and the buses were very crowded. We will stay at CSR next time. Takes about 10 minutes to get to MK and Epcot and 15-20 to get to AK and MGM.

2) Food court: At the CBR, you go to the various stations, order your food and go to one cashier. It was super simple. Is this the case at Port Orleans? What kind of variety of foods are there to choose from?

There are a few cashiers working, but you pay for everything at the same time. They have pretty good food. For breakfast you can get muffins, bagels, eggs, french toast, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, etc. For lunch, they serve pizza, sanwiches with chips or pasta salad, make-your-own salad, make-your-own pasta, burgers, chicken strips, fries, cookies, cakes, ice cream. Dinner is about the same but they have a carving station that has either pot roast or turkey with a mixed veggie medley or corn, and mashed potatoes and a piece of cornbread. Pretty good food. Went to POFQ for dinner and didn't enjoy it as much as POR.

3) Noise and crowds: The rooms at the CBR were super quiet. We never heard our next door neighbors. And, because the CBR is large, we never felt crowded. What about at Port Orleans?

Never heard a sound other than fireworks from either MK or Epcot. Not sure which, but it wasn't a big deal. Very peaceful.

4) Pools: Are there quiet pools at Port Orleans or is there just one main pool? How crowded do they get?

Main pool was always crowded. Checked out one quiet pool and it had only a few people there.

5) Location: Which section (Riverside or French Quarter) do you recommend?
I personally would pick POFQ over POR because the buses pick up there first and it's not nearly as large. It's a very nice size and very pretty.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Any other opinions? Tips? Etc.?

 

[ilovemytink]

The only tip I could give you is that if you don't like having to wait for buses or stand up all the time, then I would move your reservations to French Quarter. I wish we'd stayed there instead. Riverside is beautiful and very quite, but so is French Quarter. It's just as pretty but much smaller. Everything is in close proximity. At Riverside, it's a crap shoot depending on how full they are. You could be in a building close to the food court or out in the boonies where it's a long walk to the food court. We were only about 7 minutes from the food court. I wish we'd been a little closer. After we walked all day at the parks, it was a beating just to get a free drink with our refillable mugs. Had to walk from the bus to our rooms and get our mugs, then eat dinner and fill up mugs before returning to our room. Kinda worked it out after a while and it wasn't a big deal.

The food court at French Quarter is kinda like the ones at the All Star resorts. Port Orleans Riverside has some different menu items but the food is really all the same. It's fast food.

Also, I didn't know this, but you can get free water at the parks at counter service places either with or without meals!!! This was a lifesaver because it was so hot. Just found this out before we left on the 9th. Just ask for a "cup of ice water" and they'll fill you up a cup with ice water and it's FREE!!

Have fun!!!

 

[wavemaker]

We just returned from our stay at POR 2 weeks ago. We LOVED this resort. I am from the deep south-MS- and now live in the mid-west. The theming of this resort reminded me much more of MS than LA. They even had kudzu growing! The busses did get a little crowded but not as crowded as the busses when hopping parks. We also enjoyed the food here more than anywhere we ate in the parks. I seem to have raised very picky eaters so the fact that we could all find something in the same place kept me sane! I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay wherever you pick but I will recommend POR to anyone.