POFQ lovers-Why do you love it?

[RysMomma]

Just got my quote for next August for WDW. I am so excited! Now we are trying to figure out the best place to stay. I priced two resorts-one was AOA in the Little Mermaid rooms and the other was POFQ. I know one is a value and one is a moderate, but I figured with a family of four, we may rather have the queen size beds since my husband and I will have to share a bed with a child. Both quotes came within our budget and we are trying to decide which one to go for. I have only stayed at POFQ years ago (I was a teenager) and don't know must about it. Why do you love it? Any and all suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

We LOVE POFQ - it's our favorite mod. The grounds are lovely and quiet. It's small size makes it seem so much less crowded than the other mods and puts the amenities - pool, food court, bus stop, boat to DTD - in close proximity no matter which building you're in. The food court is great and it's really nice to have the option to go to DTD by boat. The buses are shared with POR, but the POFQ is first picked-up and first dropped-off. We were there last August and the pool was never crowded - we always got a chair.

Believe it or not, we actually had to talk our kids out of the POFQ and into the Poly (which they've stayed at before) for this stay!

 

[mousefan73]

The smallness of it.. Buses are a non-issue and walking to get coffee, drinks also quick. I like how you can share the POR's pool. The boat to DTD and POR..

Yes the QS and shop are smaller than POR and others, but we didnt take that as a negative. We were constantly at POR anyways ( bigger shop, bigger QS but you need to compare menus.. FQ also has things that POR doesnt food wise.).

I do remember thinking at POR , boy would that suck to be way over there ( some blgs are waaaay out there).

FQ is cute and compact. and EASY

 

[PrincessDaisyDuck]

I love the small size, it makes it so easy to get around the resort. The landscaping is beautiful and charming, the boat to DTD is peaceful and fun, and the beignets at the food court are really good. The pool is nice, and I like that you can use the amenities at Riverside too. I think you would love it!

 

[robnoxious]

Well... we stayed at Old Key West in 2010 and FQ in 2012. Have booked for summer 2014 and going back to FQ. Loved how small it is, the food court was just fine for us. We didn't even go over to Riverside. LOVED the one bus stop. LOVED that everything is so close. LOVED that it wasn't a 10 minute walk to go for a swim after a day at the parks. FYI, we stayed in Building 4 ground floor and have requested that again. Hope this helps!

 

[momto3gr8boys]

POFQ is my favorite moderate! I love the small size and how close everything is. I like the food court even though it's not as extensive as the other values and mods. We mainly stay deluxe now and the downside to those are not having the FC open late to be able to refill a mug on your way in for the night, so the fact that POFQ's is small doesn't bother me...I just like that its there and open! I love the theming (admittedly I've never been to NOLA) and I love that you can catch a jazz band playing at night. I love taking the boat to DTD, the pool is fun, seeing a horse and buggy go by gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and probably the biggest reason is nostalgia...I can still picture my DS17 as a three year old chasing lizards around the fountains

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[hapandpam]

A friend, who I am helping plan a trip, had the exact same dilemma. I love FQ for all the reasons given by other guests. However, she decided on AoA LM because of the theming. Her children are 5 and 6, a perfect age to enjoy the grounds and pool of AoA. The downsides of AoA were it was a longer walk to the bus stop and food court, and the beds were smaller. The upside of AoA is one of the best food courts on property and Disney theming at its finest. If I had younger kids, I would go with AoA.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We stayed at POFQ a few years ago, and truly enjoyed it - especially being able to walk to POR and have access to everything there, too, and vice versa. My favorite thing about POFQ??? The music! I know, that's weird, but I love it! We stayed at POR over Christmas, and I had to walk over to FQ to look around and listen to the music. I like how small it is, I love that everyone (CM's and guests) seem to be having such a good time over there! I like POR a little better, but I'd stay at FQ again for sure!

 

[MKFan-PR]

We've stayed twice and loved it. It's compact, so everything is close by. It doesn't feel as "busy" as the Values. I love the theming and the Food Court is pretty good. The walk to POR is very nice, and although POR's food is a little better and its pool is a little more fun, I still prefer POFQ. And yes, like a PP said, the music!! It was wonderful.

If you need the larger beds to be more comfortable, POFQ is the choice. But be advised, if you have small kids, they are going to LOVE AoA. It's right up their alley.

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

This resort is just so convenient. I second what you've already heard about size, transportation, and pool. I loved not sharing a bus all the time. DH loved the short walk from bus to room. My DS loved the pool, and hugged every hitching post and alligator statue along the way.( he was 2)
I've never stayed at Aoa but did stay at Pop and although the theming is much more "Disney" there, I love POFQ and that's where we are staying this trip too. Personally I doubt I'd ever go back to a value- just enjoy the amenities too much.
Covered bus stops are a nice plus too! A little more time out of the sun.
Good luck deciding!

 

[surferdave]

Moderate Resorts are at my price point; I've stayed at CBR, POR and POFQ. We don't spend much time at the resorts other than an occasional pool trip, but I'll make a several trips during our stay to the main area to get something from the gift shop or counter service. POFQ was the only place that the loooooong walk didn't discourage me.

If you like the idea of a bigger spread out resort for the privacy or quiet then CBR or POR may be for you (or maybe Coronado Springs, we just haven't stayed there). If you like the advantage of the smaller resort then you'll like POFQ.

 

[bookgirl]

I love the small size. It does make it real easy to get to everything, bus, foodcourt, laundry, etc.

I love the boat to DTD. Buses to DTD suck and I've done the bus from a value and a deluxe. Boat is better. Plus I just really like that long ride through the swap. I know it's man made and really just a illusion but it does seem like this exotic (for a girl from the mid west) forign land. I just like it.

I love the 'resort' feel. I have stayed deluxe but I've done mod and value more. I have no problem with value and have a value trip planned, but the difference to me from Value up is that the mods and deluxes FEEL like a true resort. The landscaping, the quietness, the surroundings (river,woods,NOLA decorations) and that is the appeal of the mod for me.

I love that you get that resort feel and it's like half the price of a deluxe. I am not a lay by the pool girl so I don't need that perk, I don't use the gym on vacation so don't need that, and frankly I like the food courts. If I'm doing a TS I tend to hit the nicer places, but sometimes I just want a quesadilla or a bagel. So the added benefits to a deluxe are not on my priority list and paying more just for a 'deluxe' doesn't make sense. Moderates have a price/relaxation ratio that is just right.

I have been to NOLA twice and it really is kinda similar, only it smells better and there's less traffic. I find comfort in familiar. I love new places and I try for new vacations, but for me once I 'know' a place I find it very relaxing and reassuring. I like that POFQ reminds me of NOLA (even though it is only cosmetic)

I like the queen beds (one thing I really do MISS at a value). For me the rooms themselves really don't seem that different. But two sinks and a bigger bed are nice if you have more than one.

And just as a personal ding. I did not like AoA. I'm not a fan of over the top icons and themes (at value I tend to prefer ASMu). I stayed there last time and frankly I was in the Ursula Building and walking next to the huge icon made my skin crawl. (same thing happens at museums when I have to walk under the huge whale skeletons that hang from the ceiling). I will probably not be ever staying at POP or AoA. So I would always choose another resort.

 

[Tigger's ally]

1. small
2. quiet
3. pool bar
4. Hot tub
5. boat to DT
6. beauty
7. cobblestone
8. that great little greeter guy they have
9. availability of utilizing Riverside stuff
10. Elliott Dyson

 

[HoneymoonandBEYOND]

We Honeymooned at the POFQ this past September and our returning this September for our Anniversary!

I absolutely loved it due to how small it was (great for couples), however if you have kids, there are other resorts that probably offer more in the way of entertainment. To me, the POFQ is great for romantic couples mainly because of how intimate, small, quiet it is - and the entertainment kind of reflects this, as Elliott Dyson, the musician that performs there from Wednesday - Sunday is certainly geared more towards adults (not that anything in his show is inappropriate, just that his music is not geared with kids tunes).

I don't want you to take that the wrong way though, the POFQ is wonderful for families too, but if you were asking this question as a couple rather than a family, I would have no doubt how to answer you.

For a family, I think the big draw for POFQ guest would be the ability to go over to the PORS also and use their amenities (arcade, pool, etc. are all much larger), and yes - if you are a more quiet/ laidback family, it will be perfect for you!

 

[MinnieTink]

My DH and I stayed at AoA in May and the whole family stayed at POFQ in 2009 so I have been to both. I would definitely choose POFQ! As other people have said it is a compact resort, you are never too far away from the pool, food court, transportation or laundry. My kids also liked that there was a pool slide at POFQ. We stayed in a LM room at AoA and it was a hike to the bus stop. And the bus stops to return from the parks from AoA were always a zoo. I will say Disney did a great job of moving the hoardes of AoA people to the resort using multiple buses, but the lines were always packed and buses were standing room only for the most part.

 

[edinburghlass]

1. small
2. quiet
3. pool bar
4. Hot tub
5. boat to DT
6. beauty
7. cobblestone
8. that great little greeter guy they have
9. availability of utilizing Riverside stuff
10. Elliott Dyson

plus 1*

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have stayed in almost all of the WDW resorts. IMO, this is one of the few that actually lives up to the hype. It is our favorite mod - and the next isn't even close. I am not even sure that I would rate the Poly ahead of POFQ. Staying for the first time at BC in a few weeks - will see how it compares.

Others have listed the reasons - I am simply pointing out that it lives up to those suggested reasons.

 

[pepe of ohio]

No cons at all... Even from a deluxe snob.....

POFQ has taken over as our favorite resort...

Don't get me wrong, I'd switch to WL in a heart beat or the Poly... But they have out priced themselves and just aren't worth the money anymore...

 

[FloridaDreaming]

• small, quaint feel
• boat rides to DTD
• catching a horse drawn carriage go by (or enjoying your own ride in one)
• quiet. we stayed there twice during free dining. and sometimes we'd walk the grounds and never see anyone else
• fun pool (and being able to use POR pool if you like)
• bus service is great. i honestly do not recall sharing a bus with POR more than once or twice, really.
• great theming. the food court does disturb some people, and I get that. but, it goes with the theme.
• nice lounge and nightly entertainment

POFQ is our favorite moderate resort. I would never hesitate to stay there.