POR OR POFQ

[marty5406]

My DH and I are planning on going in November. Which one do you prefer between Riverside and French Quarter?

Thank you!!!!

 

[nolaginabina]

I've stayed at both and prefer Riverside. I just think the grounds are so beautiful and peaceful.

 

[Disneylover99]

I've stayed at both and prefer POFQ. I love the small size.

 

[Sue M]

I like both, but POR Riverside more. I love the grounds, the Mansions along the river with beautiful gardens. Better food court.
POFQ is very pretty but more compact. Some like that about it. The mansions have that out in the country feel while the POFQ has more of a city town house feel too it.

At Riverside the resort could be at full capacity but you'd never know it because it's more spread out.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We've stayed at both and prefer POFQ. The size makes everything handy (grabbing a drink from food court, getting to pool, laundry, bus, store). Everything is a 5 minute walk tops. If you want to try things (pools, Yee Haw Bob, food court) at PORS you can just walk over. It's a scenic 10 minute walk along the river. If you haven't stayed here before I would suggest the carriage ride for you and your DH - very romantic
However, both are lovely and I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We haven't stayed anywhere else since our first stay at POR in 2007... We have been switching back and forth between POR and FQ each year. I do prefer Riverside, because I love the grounds and the royal rooms. The food court at Riverside is our favorite out of all of the values/mod resorts. The grounds are just beautiful at both, but I love how spread out everything is at POR and all of the amenities are there. FQ is great if you are looking for a smaller resort.. no matter where your room is, you're close to everything. Can't go wrong with either, but I really love the feel of POR.. it really makes me feel like I'm in the disney bubble.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

POR. Yeehaa Bob is right there. Your quiet pool is available all night. Your room is surrounded by lush vegetation. The QS has cheesecake at midnight. The buses don't suck like everyone whines. The people you meet are awesome folks with well behaved urchins. Nuff Saud.

 

[alopez926]

Definitely POR. Love the Royal Rooms! I woke up crippled every morning from an awful mattress at POFQ--I literally felt like the springs were jabbing into my spine. Loved the quaintness but won't stay there again for that reason! I've had way better nights' sleep at the Values. Oh, and I much prefer the food court at POR over POFQ.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We love both - I think we like the atmosphere at POR best, but like the convenience/compact location and the buses at POFQ. You can't go wrong with either one.

 

[SwanVT2]

Definitely POR. Love the Royal Rooms! I woke up crippled every morning from an awful mattress at POFQ--I literally felt like the springs were jabbing into my spine. Loved the quaintness but won't stay there again for that reason! I've had way better nights' sleep at the Values. Oh, and I much prefer the food court at POR over POFQ.

Do you think the mattresses are better in the Royal Rooms than at POFQ? I just switched from POR RR to POFQ for.savings ..now I'm worried!

 

[tinkerbella16]

Do you think the mattresses are better in the Royal Rooms than at POFQ? I just switched from POR RR to POFQ for.savings ..now I'm worried!

I have to agree with @alopez926 on the mattresses at POFQ- last year they were really bad and very noisy. I stayed in a royal room in 2013 and had the best sleep because they were so comfy. Hope that's the case again this year when I go. But I always sleep like a baby in wdw no matter what, from being so exhausted after a long day in the parks.

 

[loves to dive]

Another vote for Riverside, I loved the grounds and just the feel of the place. Yes, it is bigger but seriously, not as big as you would think. I could walk around the whole resort in about 15 min. I didn't stay at French Quarter but it felt a little to motel like for me.

 

[ArmyVet80]

My DH and I are planning on going in November. Which one do you prefer between Riverside and French Quarter?

Thank you!!!!

It really depends on what you are looking for. Anything in ( ) is the better choice in MY OPINION... Just wanted to make that clear. There are some that are a wash though.

1. Both offer the boat ride to DTD (wash).
   
2. POFQ has 1 bus stop while POR has 4 and very rarely do they share buses. (POFQ).
   
3. POR has Boatwrights while POFQ does not have a real sit down eatery (POR).
   
4. The grounds at both are very nice (wash).
5. Size of the resort.. POFQ is significantly smaller and easier to navigate than POR (POFQ)
6. POR and POFQ are both relatively quiet (wash).
7. Pools... POR has a couple of quiet pools and POFQ only as the one main pool (POR)
8. It is a quick walk from one resort to the other if you want to check them both out on your trip (wash)
9. POFQ is set up for groups of 4 or less which brings less bigger families. Since it is just you and your DH this may be a benefit (POFQ/Wash depending on how you look at it).
   
10. Beignets...... (POFQ) I have not seen these on the menu at POR.. If they are then it's another (wash).

All in all you will hear from people that love both resorts very much and may not get an unbiased answer. Everyone that has posted on this thread has given pros/cons to each resort. As a POFQ person I would say POFQ if you are looking for a more romantic feel. Again that is just my opinion. I have stayed at POFQ when it was part of Dixie Landings when I was younger and more recently will have stayed 4 of 6 recent trips since I've been married.

In the end both resorts are very nice. It will be up to you on what you want for your vacation. I'm sure with the advice on these fine DIS boards you will make the best decision for you. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[alopez926]

Do you think the mattresses are better in the Royal Rooms than at POFQ? I just switched from POR RR to POFQ for.savings ..now I'm worried!

Yes, that was definitely my experience. But I only stayed at POFQ once. I did mention my extreme discomfort to a CM at checkout and she mentioned they were going to replace the mattresses in some rooms. I was in Building 3, Ground floor (3317, I believe)--try to avoid that room at least! If it happens to you, you can always request a room change. In hindsight, I wish I had done that!

 

[SwanVT2]

Yes, that was definitely my experience. But I only stayed at POFQ once. I did mention my extreme discomfort to a CM at checkout and she mentioned they were going to replace the mattresses in some rooms. I was in Building 3, Ground floor (3317, I believe)--try to avoid that room at least! If it happens to you, you can always request a room change. In hindsight, I wish I had done that!

When did you visit? I'm going Feb and wonder if they will be changed by then.

 

[alopez926]

When did you visit? I'm going Feb and wonder if they will be changed by then.

April 2015 was our last visit. I've got to hope they'd have replaced the old ones by then! Good luck! POFQ is charming, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. If you get a bad mattress, speak up early in your trip! I will next time for sure.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Of the two, I've only stayed at POR, but I did love it, and went back again! I completely agree with this:

...I really love the feel of POR.. it really makes me feel like I'm in the Disney bubble.

We definitely felt "the bubble". - Also, being from the Northeast, it really made me feel like I was in the South, not just at a theme park. Overall, I found it a very relaxing place to be.

I think why we initially chose POR over POFQ was that it had the sit-down restaurant, and it's where the surrey bike rental was located, and we planned to do that. - We liked that they were a "pair" though, and you could use the amenities of both. (We did walk over to POFQ for an afternoon so DS could go on the dragon slide at the POFQ pool.)

I guess I picture POR as quiet and relaxing and POFQ as fun and upbeat, so it just depends on which you want for your "base" and which for "when you feel like it".

 

[DizDaD7]

My DH and I are planning on going in November. Which one do you prefer between Riverside and French Quarter?

Thank you!!!!

1st off: to the Disboards!!

2ndly: If no children, I'd suggest POR. ( Even w/ children TBH ) The reason being, the pool at POFQ is on the kiddish side to me. The pool at POR is more grand to me, and has some nice shady spots as well as sun...It has a TS restaurant which POFQ doesn't and also a nice lounge. ( YeehawBob's) The one thing that POFQ has, is its tiny size. So it's easy to get around..To me it's kinda claustrophobic, but some like that....I do like the Mardi Gras/ feel though, but I would choose POR in a heartbeat over POFQ, & CBR, & to me is just a tad behind CSR...

 

[DizDaD7]

I might add that we were in the Magnolia Terrace section ( mansions )& it made for the ideal spot IMHO. So close to everything.....

 

[Fizban]

We've stayed at both and like them both, but the Mansion rooms at POR are our favorite. For true romantic room choose a river view mansion room. Also its just beautiful to walk over the bridge to ole man island and then to the lobby in the evening.