PO Riverside VS French Quarter

[annefan]

We know we want to stay in one of the two but aren't sure which one. Going in March w/ 8YO, 7YO and 4YO. Is it inconvenient that there is no sit down restaurant at FQ? Is Riverside too big?

 

[eclectics]

I've only stayed at POFQ but I walked around POR when we stayed. I really enjoyed FQ. It compact, nicely landscaped, and all the rooms have been rehabed since I stayed. I didn't miss the sit down restaurant. POR is just a short walk away if you want to eat there or you can hop on the boat to Downtown and eat at the restaurants there. The bus situation is much better at FQ, imho. The bus stops there first and you are also the first to be dropped off. POR is also nicely landscaped but it is a bit spread out and you might have a bit of a walk depending on the room they give you. Anyway, that's just my opinion. POR has a lot of good points also. I'm sure someone who loves it there will fill you in. Have fun planning!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Our favorite Moderate is POFQ....followed closely by POR.

I know...I know...I'm a big help.

 

[joelly]

My family has stayed at POR for years and we love it. We usually stay in Arcadia House or Magnolia Terrace and they are central to the path to the main pool and all buildings have a quiet pools nearby. The Bayou's have the same rooms but it seems like the landscape is a little less grand. The only downside I can think of at POR is that it is a very large resort with lots of people and I believe 4 bus stops. During the busy seasons I have found breakfast at this resort to be a bit crowded but we only eat breakfast at the resort 1-2 days in a 10 day trip, othwise we ate at the parks.

We have never stayed at the FQ but have taken the boat over there. They have a really neat pool for kids. The last I knew they took out the sit down dining within the resort but there is one at POR. I am not sure if you can even get boat rentals there anymore. I think you might have to go over to POR to do that type of activities.

Maybe there is someone that has gone there recently that can tell you for certain.

POR is a great hotel. When you leave the parks all the noise and color overload disappears when you enter these two resorts. I think either would be a good choice.

Have a great trip!

 

[cjsmom5]

We prefer the FQ. It is smaller and more compact. We typically eat at the food court so the sit down restaurant isn't important as we do lots of character meals and the food court is great for us when we are there. The playground there is more suited to your age kids and the pool is perfect for that age. We've been going with our DS since he was 2 years old and he still loves it although at 7 years he may be starting to outgrow it but I don't think so. There is only one bus stop here and you are the first on and the first off at night ... a nice perk with small kids.

You do have to go to POR to rent boats and bikes but it is a short walk there. Since our DS was 4 he has been doing the walk. He loves to look at the ducks, birds, and squirrels along the way plus wave at the boats as they go up and down the river. The boat to DTD stops at both POR and POFQ. And, you can catch the boat from POFQ to POR instead of doing the walk. I think it starts at 4pm.

We have stayed at both POFQ and POR and for us we like POFQ better but a lot of it may depend on personal taste. I think you will be happy at whatever one you choose. They have both been recently renovated and the grounds are very nice. You can use the pool at either resort.

 

[Pooh67_68]

We know we want to stay in one of the two but aren't sure which one. Going in March w/ 8YO, 7YO and 4YO. Is it inconvenient that there is no sit down restaurant at FQ? Is Riverside too big?

Will there be 5 people or just you and the children? If 5 than POR would be better because it can accommodate 5 people there are trundle beds in the Alligator Bayou section or you can probably rent a cot for any of the Mansions.

Riverside is a lot larger than POFQ, but you could try requesting building 14 or 18 in the Alligator Bayou section(remember its just a request, not guarantied) as these building are closer to the food court and the main bus stop.

Also POR has a sit down restaurant besides the foodcourt, where POFQ only has the foodcourt.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Both resorts are beautiful. You can't go wrong with either one!

We stayed at POR in AB with a trundle bed. If you can use the trundle bed, then AB is the place for you. Buildings 14 and 15 are very close to Riverside Mill, the main pool, and the bus stop.

We did spend an evening at the FQ, swimming in their pool. We equally enjoyed both of the pools at POR and POFQ. One advantage to staying at either resort is that you are allowed to pool hop between the two pools.

Like I said, you can't go wrong. I'd go with POR-AB if you need a trundle bed. Otherwise, just pick the theme (Bayou, Mansion, or French Quarter) that you like best.

 

[missymagic]

I prefer POR. The AB's listed above are the closest to main area. If you prefer the mansions Magnolias Bend is closest.

The food court is nice but yes the breakfast can be a little crowded but I have never not been able to get a table. I must say the sit down restaurant is hard to get into without having a PS. Their is usually a wait of an hour or two without a PS during the prime times. Something to think about if you are only thinking of staying here for the rest. My girls love the openness. They do have an arcade room, jungle gym and most of all they love to watch the ducks around the waterway.

 

[HopperFan]

FQ has a great pool for your age group. For us personally no sit-down is no big deal as we usually eat out at other hotels anyway, part of our fun. FQ has lots and lots of fans, just too quiet for us.

BUT, if you are a family of 5 you have no choice but to stay at POR.
Your youngest is too old to be able to stay at FQ.

 

[Mousemom]

We normally stay at POFQ and love it. Our trip in March/April 06 we are debating where to stay. Even though there are only 4 of us, my boys won't sleep together, so we are thinking that we will stay at POR with a trundle. I also like to try different resorts so this will be a new experience for us. As stated above with a family of 5 POR would be the place to stay. If you do stay at POFQ I think that your family would like this resort. The grounds are beautiful, the pool is fun, the food court has a great variety of food, and of course both offer the boat to DD. It does not have a sit down restaurant but we don't use them at other resorts that we have stayed at that does have one. If you want to walk down to POR and eat it is a pleasant walk and only takes a few minutes.

 

[stm61]

we have 3 kids also and just returned from POR AB. It's the only section that will book for 5. It was myself, my mother, and 3 kids. My ds as the only boy won the trundle bed, one of my dd's slept on a blow up mattress that fit between the beds, the other slept with either me or grandma. The rm was definately big enough, the grounds were beautiful, and the kids loved the pools.

Try for bldg 14, it's the closest to the main bldg. If you're using a stroller ask for 1st fl so you don't have to haul it up the steps every night. Bldg 14 is closest to the south bus depot, which is the 1st stop at POR. We never had a problem getting on a bus, but we did have to stand 2x. You can take the boat over to FQ so your kids can use the pool there, it's geared to small kids. The boat also goes to downtown disney.