POR v. POFQ (long)

[DisneyMomx7]

Okay, I know DH thinks I have finally gone over the edge. After much back and forth we have finally decided our July trip. 2 nights Nick Hotel, 12 nights GF, 4 nights HRH. You won't believe how many times I changed and rearranged this schedule. DH has decided that he is going to run the Disney marathon in January. MIL and FIL are going to come with us for the first time. I thought I had it all planned out - we would stay at WL. I liked the idea of the "wintry" feel and I really wanted to try something other than GF (where we always go for an annual summer vacation). Well I find out from others than have done the marathon that this is not a good plan. Apparently the monorail resorts are the best for families to be able to watch the runners. So the new plan is to do Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Poly and maybe Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the marathon activities at a moderate. We never are able to stay at a moderate since we're a family of 5 (plus we've gotten spoiled at the deluxes). SInce my in-laws are coming this is a chance for us to try the mods I've always wanted and save money! A win-win situation. For those who have stayed at both POR and POFQ which did you prefer. If you liked POR better - Mansions or AB? It looks like a great resort for kids but POFQ looks good since its more compact. I'm depending on the POR and POFW experts - give me you best advice.

 

[Cinderella2004]

Hi Robyn,

We've stayed at both resorts and prefer POR. We LOVE the mansions. It is just so elegant, but in a very family friendly way. Our DD likes the pool better (it's bigger) plus they have the "quiet" pools- FQ doesn't because it is so small, but the main pool can be quite busy, especially at night.

Also, at Riverside they have the marina, whereas FQ has just the dock, so you can't rent the boats there. You can rent bikes, and also they have the carriage ride. Which even if you don't do, is so nice to see. (It does go between resorts, but the main area is RS)

That's my 2 cents, I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever resort you choose, they are both great places!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We're going to do the carriage ride in July. We made a PS to go over do the carriage ride and then we wanted to see Bob Jackson at the River Roost. Thanks for your input. Its nice hearing from someone who has been to both.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I can't compare to the poly or GF as I have never stayed there but we have stayed at both POR and POFQ. We really liked the mansion section at POR. It was pretty, beautiful gardens and the winding river was peaceful and relaxing. There were many nice courtyards. That said, we really, really liked POFQ. It had all of the same beauty but the added flair of cobblestone streets, wroght iron accents and lamp posts as well as beautiful garden areas. It was far more quaint and not so spread out. I don't believe you can really be placed in a "bad" building. POFQ is now our favorite of all of the mod's.

Hope that helps!

 

[EthansMom]

I've stayed in both POR and POFQ and prefer POFQ, mostly because it's smaller and easier to get around and because it's the first stop for the WDW Busses -- oh and my 3 year-old loves the pool theme and the throwing pennies in the lobby fountain. That said, POR does have the boat rental and sit-down restaurant -- but POR is only a 10 minute walk from POFQ on a very scenic riverside pathway.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

anyone else?

 

[KS Jeff]

We've stayed in and enjoyed both. We prefer POFQ for these reasons:

* It's half the size of POR. It "feels" less crowded.
* Short distances between amenities and rooms. This is important after you've been on your feet all day.
* Theming. I particularly like the jazz played (softly) in the background.
* Beignets. This should probably be moved up to #1 on my list....

 

[LglBlonde]

We stayed at POFQ last summer - we debated POR v POFQ for a while! I booked POR and then LAST minute switched to POFQ - the rooms had just been redone and it was just lovely. We did go over and visit POR and used the water mice there. We also had breakfast there. I love POFQ and its virtues have been mentioned (small, quaint, beautiful grounds, compact, one bus stop, etc) I think the ONLY downside is no sitdown restaurant. If that's okay by you go for POFQ. You can always take the boat or walk to POR for the amenities it has, including its restaurant!

 

[sue1013]

Both resorts are very nice. We prefer POR because of the quiet pools, we are now only adults and the main pool gets too crowded for us. POR also has the sit down restaurant which we like to have available at the resort. Another thing to remember staying at a moderate are the bed sizes, they are only doubles not queen like deluxes. We always get a king bed at POR, DH and I are not comfortable in a double.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

WOW, Robyn, that sounds like quite the trip in July. And you get another trip in Jan. to boot!! Good for you.

Well, I have only been to POR, so, no, I can't really compare. We have been to POR twice and really love that resort.

So what I am about to say will probably surprise you. I think I would choose POFQ. Since you don't have children along, and if you wanted to use the amenities at POR, it's not far away...........my impression of POFQ is that it would be a good "adult" resort. Not that there aren't any children there. But it's more compact, which I think your in-laws would probably like.

Yea, and the beignets would probably sway me too.

 

[jonestavern]

Sorry!
got posts confused!

Jean

Nov/Dec 2005 - OKW

 

[DisneyMomx7]

WOW, Robyn, that sounds like quite the trip in July. And you get another trip in Jan. to boot!! Good for you.

Well, I have only been to POR, so, no, I can't really compare. We have been to POR twice and really love that resort.

So what I am about to say will probably surprise you. I think I would choose POFQ. Since you don't have children along, and if you wanted to use the amenities at POR, it's not far away...........my impression of POFQ is that it would be a good "adult" resort. Not that there aren't any children there. But it's more compact, which I think your in-laws would probably like.

Yea, and the beignets would probably sway me too.

Actually we have three children with us! In January they will be 8, 7 and 5. So I want to take everything into consideration. I think POFQ would be great because of its small size and being first on the bus! Then I think POR would be great because of its theming and we would be able to put one of the kids in with my in-laws and be able to get a Mansions room. I keep going back and forth. We eat all over WDW so I'm not sure if I would miss the sitdown restaurants - although I suspect we would probably go over to Boatwrights for breakfast - I've heard great things about their breakfast! Its such a hard decision to make. THey both look so inviting. Plus, believe it or not, I really am anxious to try the moderates and hope that DH likes them. THat way we could take more trips through the year! We usually just go once a year this is something new adding on the January trip. I guess in January it doesn't really matter about the pools - POR's pools looked great, and we would have liked the quiet pools but I don't know how much we'll be swimming in January. Any more ideas?

 

[kendzee94]

If your inlaws were not with you, then I would say POR Alligator Bayou because it sleeps five. With the younger children, I would definitely say POFQ. At the end of the day, no matter where you are, it is not a long walk back to your room (especially with sleeping kids). I'm not willing to take the luck of the draw as far as getting a close or far room at POR. If you use refillable cups and use the dining there, it can be a long walk from some of the buildings.

If you want to go to Boatrights for a meal, POFQ is always the first to be picked up and you get get off at the first POR bus stop (3 or 4 stops at POR). We love taking the boat over to POR to hang out on those days that you wants to just stay around the resort. You can use the pools, rent the bikes, boats ect. We have stayed at both, and prefer POFQ!! We aren't staying at POFQ this year only because the AAA rooms were sold out for the dates we're going. Whatever you decide, have fun!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I didn't realize that you could take the boat over to POR either. That sounds really nice. It seems that those who have stayed at both seem to prefer POFQ. I can't wait to see them both when we take the carriage ride in July. I know people think I'm crazy because we always stay at GF but for some reason I'm drawn to the Port Orleans sister resorts, that's why I wanted to do the carriage ride there instead of Fort Wilderness.

 

[missycj96]

All of POR is really nice - the grounds are beautiful and the theming is fun. Never stayed at POFQ but for POR as between Mansions and AB, I liked AB much better. We had an AB room in a building close to the main building with the food court. I found my Mansion room quite far from everything - which would have been a lovely walk over the bridge in nice weather but it was really raining hard (8/03) so the distance made a big difference. Also, the rooms in AB are very cute with the log beds.

 

[arkansasdisneyfan]

We have stayed at POR both times to WDW. I will probably consider POFQ next time because of the size. At park closing times, the POFQ bus lines were much shorter than most other moderate resort lines. Several times we went ahead and hopped a bus for POFQ and then walked from there to POR. This is really important when everyone is extremely tired and ready to get back to the resort. We found POR very beautiful and quiet but also very sprawled out. You have to decide what features are most important to you and your family. The are both very nice resorts.

 

[tink2]

We've stayed at POR once and POFQ twice. Both are great, but POFQ is our favorite resort. We had a mansion room at POR- the closest to the bridge that leads to the bus stop, main building. Our walk at POR was much further than probably most rooms at POFQ. The mansions are beautiful- but the walk is further. We have small children and my parents travel with us- so the compactness of POFQ is terrific at the end of a long day in the parks! The theming at POFQ is very pretty, the buses are the first to load and unload (they share buses), and of course, the beignets!!! While both are great, I'd suggest POFQ since you have children and your in-laws will be with you.