POFQ or Riverside? Help me decide!

[UrsulaGirl]

My mom and I are planning a Disney trip for the first week of December. We've narrowed our hotel selection down to the French Quarter or Riverside. I think I'm leaning towards the French Quarter, but want to hear your thoughts!

One special note, I'm very interested in learning about the FQ bus system. My mom is handicapped and will need to use a wheelchair. Does the FQ have their own bus system or are they the last stop after the Riverside's stops? I want to make sure she'll have space on the buses.

TIA!

 

[becalubob]

Never stayed at either, but I've been looking into them as well... I think FQ would be your best best; its smaller and not so spread out. Also, it either has its own bus, or when it shares with Riverside, I believe its the first stop. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Both seem nice though, but FQ should be more convenient.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

My mom and I are planning a Disney trip for the first week of December. We've narrowed our hotel selection down to the French Quarter or Riverside. I think I'm leaning towards the French Quarter, but want to hear your thoughts!

One special note, I'm very interested in learning about the FQ bus system. My mom is handicapped and will need to use a wheelchair. Does the FQ have their own bus system or are they the last stop after the Riverside's stops? I want to make sure she'll have space on the buses.

TIA!

Sorry I don't normally use buses but IMO Riverside is more pleasant atmosphere. Themeing is just more relaxing to me.Obviously FQ alittle smaller but you can request any room location you want at either.POR is one of my favs but you'll have fun either way.DW and I will be there then for 5 days also! OKW studio.Here's hoping for great weather

 

[disneybliss2]

We've stayed at POFQ. It's very small (for Disney) and has a quaint, lovely feel to it. It's much smaller than most of Disney's resorts, so it may be easier for your mom to get around there. It was very quiet and a nice get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.
When we stayed there, the bus only stopped at POFQ and dropped off there. It did not share with POR, even when only a few people got on the bus and there would have been room to go to Riverside and get more people. I had heard here on the boards that it stopped at POFQ first and then at Riverside, so I was expecting to have to go there but was happily surprised that we never did.

 

[DisneyLover75]

French Quarter all the way!!!! I'm here now and I LOVE it!

I liked Riverside too. I've stayed there twice. This was my first time at POFQ. It was WONDERFUL.

Re the buses: Sometimes they do share with Riverside, but when they do, FQ is first to be picked up and dropped off at the resorts.

 

[gray52]

Before DVC, POFQ was definitely our favorite. Small and quiet... Not as busy as the others.

 

[shell8558]

We have only stayed at Riverside- but we absolutely love it! And we did share the bus with FQ, I just dont remember who got picked up first, etc.

 

[Mickey_for_President]

LOVE French Quarter! It only has ONE bus stop, and a dedicated bus (for most parks). This means we rarely have to stand on the bus. The resort is really pretty, too.

We only stay at Riverside when there are five of us in a room. I hate having to walk a long distance to the nearest bus stop... lol. I'm spoiled.

 

[mamamary]

When we stayed at POFQ in June we were always picked up first except for early one morning the folks from Riverside were already on the bus. I believe we were going to the MK but I don't remember for sure. With that said the bus was maybe 3/4 full when it got to POFQ. In all my planning this was the only time I had heard of Riverside getting picked up first. Also, for the week in June that we were there I was surprised how often we shared with Riverside. I had read that in busy months usually POFQ would go straight to the parks but that wasn't the case. We went in mid-June.

This is a great resort if you don't want to have to do alot of walking!!

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

Me & my sister stayed at both. They both are gorgeous.

At PORS we stayed in the mansion section, we were the third stop for the buses.

At POFQ we stayed near the river, it was quiet except for the occasional toilet flush next door.

I have to say, I fell in love with POFQ! No matter where you are on the grounds, the food court, store, front office & bus stop were just a few minute walk. The pool bar was awesome. The pool was adorable & there was barely anyone taking advantage of it.

The best thing? We stayed in the beginning of December, not once did we share the bus with PORS. We caught the bus mid afternoon to DTD, we barely waited 3 minutes for it & we were the only 2 on it.

 

[Jacquie668]

BF and I are wanting to stay at PO and at first I was PORS all the way, but then I read reviews (soooo many that I have lost count) and there was one comment over and over again.

"River Side is so spread out, you do a lot of walking...."

Now this isn't really a problem in theory, but I started to think about it and lugging your luggage around or getting back say after a marathon run, eh...I started looking at POFQ and though the theme is less relaxing, in my opinion, the more compact hotel/resort space is a huge plus for us.

Besides, you can always go over to RS and explore the grounds or eat there, so we are now POFQ all the way.

 

[pigletto]

I love Riverside. I prefer the themeing , the landscaping and the overall feel of the resort. However, I make sure to book or at least request a category that means I am not walking from the back of the resort to the amenities.

OP POFQ might be best for your mom because of it's compact size and because I think when the buses are shared (which isn't all the time) POFQ is first (don't quote me on that though). But if you went with POR you could easily book preferred category to be right next to the main building and the first bus stop. So, go with what theme appeals to you most. The nice thing is they are both lovely and you can't really go wrong with either

 

[ciera321]

We just returned from POFQ and have stayed at POR a few years ago. We absolutely LOVED FQ. For some reason we had put off staying here over our many DW trips, and now I really wish we would have stayed here sooner. The resort is so convenient. All the buildings are within a 3 minute walk to the bus stop and main building. We requested building 5 and it was a perfect spot. My DH would leave the room in the morning for coffee and be back in under 4 minutes. The only time we shared a bus was on the way back from Animal Kingdom. If you have to share a bus, you will be picked up first on your way to the parks/DTD and dropped off first on your return (Only 1 bus stop but the way). The staff was very friendly, mousekeeping (Ofelia) did a great job, the themeing was so quaint with all the narrow "streets" and ironwork, the boat to DTD was a nice transportation change and very convenient.... just a perfect place for us. I can't wait to stay here again!!!

 

[HerRoyalHighness]

We stayed at Riverside last time...loved it. Best part: A smaller pool was close to our room. Worst: We were on the back side and the bus stop was several buildings down which was not a problem except when it was pouring (pouring) down rain when we came back for an afternoon break.

This upcoming trip, we were going to try out the French Quarter mainly because my husband liked the food court choices better there than at Riverside...but we're going to spend a bit more and stay at AKL

 

[wiigirl]

Before DVC, POFQ was definitely our favorite. Small and quiet... Not as busy as the others.

Agreed....I love the French Quarter....

 

[Cinderumbrella]

In your case, I would choose FQ simply because it is compact. You could potentially be pushing her wheelchair all over the place at POR.

Also, like everyone said, when FQ & POR share buses, FQ is first to be picked up. If your mother is in her wheelchair at the loading zone, you will be boarded first.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I think you would be fine at either resorts...just let them know that you need an accessible room and that you would like to be close to whatever you need, if possible. We actually got placed in an accessible room on our trip to POR...it was pretty close to the food court/main pool and not far from a bus stop. Great location. I would seriously stay where you want to stay, and then work out the details from there. There are tons of people using the motorized wheelchairs and such-customer service deals with this all of the time.

My mom is also in a wheelchair, and I paid a lot of attention to little details that would pertain to her on our last trip. She wants to go back, but is nervous with that in play. It would seem to me that you would be ok every time you are on a bus (unless there are a couple of people that are already loaded onto that bus that are in a wheelchair). They load the person in the wheelchair up first, and then board the rest of the bus. One recommendation I did give my mom is to rent a motorized chair...I think it would make the trip more enjoyable for all. There is a lot of walking, and I would think pushing all day would get exhausting. Plus there is a basket and such on those scooters, so no need to hang stuff on the back of the chair. You can bring them right into the room.

Check out the Disabilities board...you might get more tips.

 

[skw2020]

DH and I love the FQ when it's just he and I. And it's just a short walk to Riverside for a carriage ride or dinner at Boatwrights.

 

[skw2020]

DH and I love the FQ when it's just he and I. And it's just a short walk to Riverside for a carriage ride or dinner at Boatwrights.

Sorry. I read the wrong post as the original post. Still love FQ best of the two though.

 

[nkereina]

Didn't read all the replies so I apologize if I am repeating.

We prefer Riverside over POFQ. Because POFQ is so small, it always seems crowded. We were there in September and POR seemed empty because it was so large and spread out. We also found that because the POFQ food court is so small, it got very crowded. We had to eat in the lounge. Lastly, because there is one bus stop, it was a bit of a free for all. People running up to where the doors open as soon as a bus pulled up. A little chaotic since there isn’t a line, and it’s the only stop.

When we were there, we only shared with the other resort once or twice and it was in the middle of the afternoon when the buses were virtually empty. The rest of the time, they had their own buses and this was in September during slow season.