POFQ or POR ??????

[TigerKat]

We're planning a long weekend and want to try and make this a new experience all around by staying somewhere we've never been and eating at all new places. We've decided on POFQ or POR but don't know much about either. Pool is not an issue for us, we just want to soak up some new atmosphere and fun. Which would you choose and why? Thanks for any and all info!

 

[Candice30]

i stayed at POFQ and like the closeness of everything. POFQ is smaller and we only had 1 bus stop. we were picked up first and then headed to POR. POR seemed much more spread out and there were several bus stops. funny thing is i am considering trying POR this next trip just because i made a promise to stay at all the resorts before i repeat one. i was solo at POFQ but the kids there seemed to love the pool and i like the food court.

i am taking kids this time and will probably give POR a try. but who knows, i have changed resorts 4 times already. who knows what i will end up with.

 

[TigerKat]

Bumping....anyone else?

 

[skipperkim]

I've never stayed at POR, but love POFQ. While it does share bus systems with POR, it does have its own stop at MK in the evening. The hot tub is very secluded, something I also like. It does not have a TS, but that's not that big of a deal to me.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I stayed at POR years ago when it was Dixie Landings. It was pretty but spread out. I am staying at POFQ for the first time in November. About 80% of the posts I have seen on this subject lean towards staying at POFQ instead of POR for its ambience, size (smaller), lounges (live Jazz musician at Scat Cats?), and food court. Now I'm really excited about staying at POFQ!

 

[jess20k]

We have stayed at both and we like POFQ better. Actually FQ is our favorite mod (we stayed at all but CSR). We most notably love the atomosphere, which is very quaint and peaceful. The property is wonderful! Everything is close by and the grounds are lovely. The rooms are very nice and the mousekeeping was great. I don't know if you will be utilizing the buses, but if so...FQ is better since the buses pick up and drop off there first.

POR is also a nice resort, but again, we just preferred FQ much much more!

 

[klwdisney]

DH & I stayed at POR back in 1998 when it was still Dixie Landings and fell in love with it. When we were looking at hotels to stay at for our 10th anniversary trip this past September, we decided to stay there again since it was our favorite. We were not disappointed. It is slightly spread out but the grounds are lovely and there are bus stops spread out around the resort. We stayed in Aligator Bayou Bldg 39. It was a free upgrade to a King Bed room with a water view. WE loved it! It was like a 5 minute walk to the main bldg. A 1 min walk to a quiet pool and a 2 min walk to a bus stop. We'd sit on a bench by our room at night by the water and just listen to the noises and the soft bayou music from the main pool across the water. It has a food court and a TS restaurant and we enjoyed both. The lounge is great fun too and has a performer named Bob Rivers who comes in a few nights a week and is great! It truly feels like you are staying in a deluxe resort in my opinion.

I am trying POFQ with my mom in May - her choice. I am already not impressed with the choices (or lack thereof) in the food court and lack of TS restaurant. I realize that I can use the facilities over at POR but it's not the same.

Anyway, my vote is for POR! I love the peaceful feeling of it after a long day at the parks!

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks for all the responses, more are welcomed, haven't booked yet!

 

[SuzieN]

Ok - I've stayed at both and they're both great but my vote also goes to POFQ. We loved the smaller size and the atmosphere there. Our room [building 5] was literally just steps from the pool, food court, lobby, boat dock, and bus stop! You really can't go wrong with either of them - can't beat that boat ride to DTD!

 

[idlewoman1]

We LOVE POR! Have stayed at both and like the grounds much better at POR

 

[TigerKat]

bumping....

 

[luna99]

I also stayed at POR when it was dixie landings .. I went with my family and don't remember too much about the place except for eating at the food court and watching that giant water wheel spinning..... now I just got back from POFQ and loved it! I really like the small size .. it makes it feel quaint and easy to get around and if you want to spend time at the resort relaxing you can do that or you can always go over to POR and use their pools and restaurants as well.

I say go with POFQ.. you will enjoy the smaller size, and if you do want a sit down restaurant or to walk around you could always take the boat ride over to POR and explore there as well!

I thought our room at POFQ was beautiful! It was a corner room with two windows in building five on the back side looking out on the river. We had a king bed and the bed was really comfy with big fluffy pillows. We didn't have any housekeeping problems, the air conditioner worked great, we had plenty of room (it was just DH and I in the room), and everyone was really nice there. The guy at the concierge (sp) desk was really helpful and knew his Disney stuff! (I wanted to stump him actually with some questions but he was good!).... the housekeepers were all really nice and on the morning that I got married .. as I was walking through the grounds to get to the limo.. one housekeeper yelled down at me from the second floor balcony and told me I looked so beautiful!

I felt like the people at POFQ were very nice. I even talked with one of the men who worked the checkout at the food court and he was telling me where he was from originally and how he was going home soon to see his family but he really liked working at disney. The food is decent to good (we liked the quesidillas) but you could always go over to POR if you want a sit down restaurant.

OH! and they had a fun little mardi gras parade in the food court one night for the kids! Two guys came out with instruments and noise makers and asked all the kids in the food court to come over and make a parade.. then they walked the kids around the food court making noise and banging on things while all the adults were clapping.. this was later in the evening.. I want to say around 9 pm or so. It was so cute!

I didn't go to the lounge but I did get a frozen drink and took it poolside and read a magazine and just soaked up the atmosphere.. ahh, I feel like I"m there now!

anyway.. I loved it!

you'll have a great time no matter which resort you choose I'm sure! good luck!

 

[TigerKat]

Anyone else?

 

[CampbellScot]

The French Quarter is WONDERFUL!! It's our favorite mod. It's compact enough that you don't have to schlep 20 miles to get to your room after a long day at the parks. Every building is close...even the farthest building is just a hop skip and a jump from the food court and the pool.

I found Riverside to be very beautiful, but extremely SPREAD OUT! Once you are in your room, it can be a long walk to get back to the lobby and food court or gift shop whatever you may need.

I also love the theming of FQ! It's beautifully done. I love the little sidewalks and gaslamps!!

It's also first pick up and drop off, which means you always get a seat and you don't have to wait forever to get home at the end of the day!!

 

[luna99]

It's also first pick up and drop off, which means you always get a seat and you don't have to wait forever to get home at the end of the day!!

oooh, I forgot about that part! that's so true!

 

[skipperkim]

Oh, don't forget the beginets.

 

[YesMickey]

I don't think anyone mentioned but the boat to DTD. POFQ is the last stop on the way there and the first stop coming back. No stops at the other resort on either trip to or from DTD as POR does stop at POFQ going to and coming back.

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[hansel1]

I have stayed twice in POR. Once in alligator Bayou and once in the mansion section.

The thing I like about POR is that you have a feeling that you have left orlando and are staying in a secluded beautiful resort.

Depending on the time of year the bus system changes. In value season you can get half-empty busses to any of the parks, even if they have come from POFQ.

At park closing most all the busses are full at most of the resorts.

POR is spread out, don't let people fool you. However, that is exactly why some people love it. The noise is at a minimal, the main pool attracts all the kids which you can't hear from the rooms. The food court is larger than POFQ, as is the general store.


One versus the other is hard because they are so different. Having said that my wife and I have walked the grounds of POFQ many times and are staying there in October. Our decision to stay at POFQ was based solely on the resort size and not the atmosphere, food court, bar, busses or store.

 

[kmjmom]

Another opinion here. Just returned Saturday from POFQ and it was beautiful.. We've stayed at both POR and POFQ and enjoyed both, however this trip we walked over to have dinner at the POR foodcourt and were disappointed with the food and cleanliness. The drink station was covered with soda spills and we were surprised with the limited food selection compared to the selection at POFQ. Yes, the POR foodcourt is larger, but the food quality and cleanliness of POFQ was far superior. Bus transportation was excellent. We were always able to have a seat, but as we reached the fourth POR stop, there were usually people having to stand. We had towel animals daily and mousekeeping was quite satisfactory. Good luck with your choice!