POR / POFQ or Wilderness Lodge

[EpcotPhoenician]

Been going back and forth on this since the re-opening of the Port Orleans resorts were announced. I'm going a little crazy! We're already booked for a Courtyard View at Wilderness Lodge. My wife and I will be staying 8 nights.

I stayed at Port Orleans Riverside many years ago and loved it. But the resort was massive, and getting around was a bit of a chore. Very similar experience to Old Key West. The food court was also nothing to write home about. What I loved most about this area was how peaceful it was.

We have also stayed at Wilderness Lodge twice. Once in the main lodge (Nature View... got stuck overlooking the garbage dumpsters on the side of the building), and a second time at Boulder Ridge (top floor, very last room in the hallway) which was beautiful and immensely quiet.

Here's why I'm torn...

• Things to do at the resort... POFQ looks lovely, but it just doesn't seem like there's much to do there besides walking along the river? Wilderness Lodge just seems to be a more lively place, especially with quick access to MK. We won't be going park commando this time around. We want to head to the parks later in the evening.
• Price. POFQ would be about $1,200 cheaper. Not a massive deal breaker for us, but it would be nice to save that money.
• Pool usage... we will be going in January, and with the weather being unpredictable, won't be sure if we would be able to take advantage of the pool at Wilderness Lodge.
• The only room available at Wilderness Lodge we could afford is a Courtyard view... and a number of reviews stated that this room category is noisy. Definitely not what we are looking for.
• Bus service at the Port Orleans resorts. I had a terrible experience with the busses a few months ago (staying at OKW). Taking the boat to MK would alleviate much of that headache for us.

Any comments/suggestions are welcome!

 

[Tigger's ally]

We love the courtyard view rooms at WL and to us it is actually more quiet than the woods view because every woods view we have had is over the restaurant's smokehouse with the morning trash dumpster orchestra playing each and every morning. We will never stay Riverside again after staying at POFQ. French Quarter is so small in comparison and just suits us better. What would make the decision for us though is the food offerings at WL. Geyser Point is a great relaxing outdoor retreat. We always do WC at least once a trip and Territory Lounge is a hidden gem.

 

[Disneylover99]

We love POFQ but I’m not sure what the counter service will look like once it opens. Same with bus/boat service. Lots of unknowns at the moment. I do find POFQ very peaceful though. And that’s a good chunk of change you’d be saving by making the switch.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

We love the courtyard view rooms at WL and to us it is actually more quiet than the woods view because every woods view we have had is over the restaurant's smokehouse with the morning trash dumpster orchestra playing each and every morning.

This is SO true. Our "nature view" room was FAR from quiet. This is why we are so hesitant with the Courtyard View. Thanks for posting your experience!

 

[jujubiee4]

With all the money you save you could Uber from Port Orleans which is pretty cheap.

Honestly with all the times we have stayed there busses have never been a problem. Taking
the boat to Disney Springs is always nice. Since your not going in the summer I'm not sure
of activities going on in January. Both resorts are nice but with these latest price hikes maybe
put that money saved if staying PO on nice dinners or other things.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

If they were priced the same we'd "try" WL. We love the POs though. Always feels like Disney and home. We booked BWI with a discount for Aug. We will see how that goes.

 

[nyy]

We have stayed at all 3 of those resorts. Our favorite is WL. We like POR, but as you said, it is very large; FQ is much smaller. They feel like completely different resorts to us. We enjoy the boat to DS.
At our first WL stay, we had a courtyard view and it was a love/hate for us. We loved to hear the rushing water in the mornings and late at night. The view was beautiful and we could even see the tops of MK fireworks. (We were on the top floor where CC is now.) The hate part was midday. We rest in the early afternoons at WDW. They had a pool party where a cast member used a microphone to lead trivia and games. They played music. It echoed so loudly up the "canyon" that we could hear it through our closed balcony door. We asked if the microphone could be turned down and were told no, but they offered to move us. We declined, since we loved it the other times of day. Using a white noise app or playing your own music would help, if you are in your room in the afternoons.
We enjoy the amenities of WL and feel that the price is worth it in "Disney math". We spend a lot of time at our resort and it is my favorite part about our trips. DD and I would stay there every trip, but DH and DS want to try new places, too.

 

[Marthasor]

I would stick with WL. There is so much to do there and we love heading over to Ft. W and enjoying activities and restaurants over there as well (the stables, kayaking, etc.). We've stayed courtyard view and, yes, the closer you are to the pool, the noisier it seems to be. You may want to request "close to lobby" to be further away from the pool and geyser.

 

[westie55]

I have stayed at all of these resorts. While the price is higher, the boat form WL to MK is SO convenient and so quick. I actually just got back from a stay at Copper Creek villas. WL is one of my favorite resorts. My husband and I both agree that the boat is our favorite mode of transportation in Disney. It is better than the monorail. We love MK and have small kids so the convenience of WL was unbeatable. Buses are ok, but a pain a lot of the time. Stick with WL if you can swing the price difference.

 

[HopperFan]

• Things to do at the resort... POFQ looks lovely, but it just doesn't seem like there's much to do there besides walking along the river? Wilderness Lodge just seems to be a more lively place, especially with quick access to MK. We won't be going park commando this time around. We want to head to the parks later in the evening.
• Price. POFQ would be about $1,200 cheaper. Not a massive deal breaker for us, but it would be nice to save that money.

Price not a deal breaker then WL all the way. I've stayed at all three and there is no comparison.

You are correct, POR is huge and POFQ has nothing to do. For 8 days I can't imagine staying somewhere that is literally just a bed & bath.

WL is beautiful with dining and a real plus for relaxing the Grille on the lake. Boat to MK and boat to enjoy dining around the monorail resorts. If cooler weather still means you can enjoy sitting around the pool or the hot tubs .... POFQ pool is designed for young children and the hot tub not much bigger than one in my backyard with no atmosphere. WL with inside halls and a balcony to enjoy.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

You are correct, POR is huge and POFQ has nothing to do. For 8 days I can't imagine staying somewhere that is literally just a bed & bath.

Thanks for confirming this. I don't like to jump to conclusions... but I watched several walkthrough videos on YouTube, and there just doesn't seem like much of anything to do at French Quarter.

If the pool at French Quarter was more adult-oriented, I'd stay there in a heartbeat. But since we don't have kids, it seems like our options are limited. We'd end up traveling to other resorts to hang out, which just seems like a chore.

I'm going to keep our Courtyard View reservation at the lodge. We will adjust our sleep schedule so that we go to sleep after the pool closes/noise quiets down.

 

[daae3]

WL is gorgeous but POFQ has lots to do...assuming things return to pre Covid levels. Scat Cats lounge is a bar with some delicious food options....(booze beignets) they have music there too....the food court is amazing...the pool and water slide is very nice, with a nice pool bar with nice bartenders...hot tub...scavenger Hunt....movies under the stars and s’mores by a campfire...the biggest difference would be transportation. But buses work fine and if you are looking for more restaurant options..Disney springs is a boat ride away (once the drivers come back) End of the day WL is a deluxe and POFQ is a moderate so if you want the deluxe amenitie, go for WL. But POFQ is more than a resort with nothing going on...

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks for confirming this. I don't like to jump to conclusions... but I watched several walkthrough videos on YouTube, and there just doesn't seem like much of anything to do at French Quarter.

If the pool at French Quarter was more adult-oriented, I'd stay there in a heartbeat. But since we don't have kids, it seems like our options are limited. We'd end up traveling to other resorts to hang out, which just seems like a chore.

I'm going to keep our Courtyard View reservation at the lodge. We will adjust our sleep schedule so that we go to sleep after the pool closes/noise quiets down.

If there were going to be kids with you all resorts have activities they would enjoy ... and POR/POFQ were built very geared for families. WL has more sophistication and adult atmosphere. I used to have little kids but now travel with adult kids .... we would pick WL over the others every day.

 

[Willows909]

We are staying Courtyard View at WL in September. Any room requests we should think about? We have stayed there before, but not this particular type. I do know we will definately be sitting on the balcony as this is a resort only trip. I would love to overlook the pool...I think? Thoughts? Getting excited, as this is a split resort trip, first at AKL then WL.

 

[JessicaW1234]

I have stayed at all of these resorts. While the price is higher, the boat form WL to MK is SO convenient and so quick. I actually just got back from a stay at Copper Creek villas. My husband and I both agree that the boat is our favorite mode of transportation in Disney.

Did you use the boat to rope drop MK? Did you find that it started running early enough? Was the boat to Contemporary running too?

 

[a1tinkfans]

Adult trips are lovely at Pofq … quieter smaller, ok food court good bars out and inside. The pool imho is geared towards kids. The boat to DS is quite nice and gives tons of food options as well as shopping and people watching lol. Water view choice. POR is a beautiful resort. But we ONLY stay preferred and request AB 14/18.. yes it’s a request not guaranteed but typically get the building and IF preferred any of them work. Those rooms are close to main area, south depot restaurant, food court. Great bar in/out. Lovely resort with carriage rides, walking trails, great pool AND quiet pools , boat to DS… walk to sister resort POFQ is lovely along the Sassagoula river( lighted and simple 12 minute walk). Yes, it’s busy yes we had a bus issue but out of 20+ visits there bus issue was a blip in All our stays and bus complaints are everywhere, lol. ( we ve been known To hop on the pofq bus from a park and just walk to POR) Not doing a commando trip you’d likely be avoiding those packed morning hours anyway. We’ve stayed WL, lovely resort but imho if I were doing an adult only Relaxing visit, I’d go to our home.. AKL, peaceful and simply can’t beat waking up on the Savannah, coffee in the am and a cocktail at night watching the Animals….Their night Safari was amazing, and we greatly enjoy every last visit… truly our deluxe home resort . Alas, wherever you choose here’s hoping you enjoy ur visit ..