Port Orleans French Quarter FAQ thread - Refurbished for 2011 - Now CLOSED

[diznee25]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW in October and plan to stay at POFQ. We've only ever stayed at POFQ once back in 2002; it was our first trip together, my husband's first time to WDW, and our first experience staying onsite.

I cannot tell you how giddy we are for this trip! I've spent time reading through (most) of this thread, and really enjoyed the most recent review from pixarmom.

We have 5 months to plan out our trip, so I'm sure I'll have questions here and there. Now time to grab some tea, and get back to reading this thread!

diznee25

 

[disneymom727]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW in October and plan to stay at POFQ. We've only ever stayed at POFQ once back in 2002; it was our first trip together, my husband's first time to WDW, and our first experience staying onsite.

I cannot tell you how giddy we are for this trip! I've spent time reading through (most) of this thread, and really enjoyed the most recent review from pixarmom.

We have 5 months to plan out our trip, so I'm sure I'll have questions here and there. Now time to grab some tea, and get back to reading this thread!

diznee25

Looks like we'll be there at the same time! We've only stayed there once also but I can't wait to go back!! It is my favorite of all the resorts we've stayed at so far

Have fun with the planning!!

 

[gwynne]

We were there last week and had the 2-cup pod coffeemakers in our room.



We were there last week, and the courtyard refurbishment is complete!

Pixarmom,
Thanks so much for the photo and the information on the courtyard.

We are getting very excited about our upcoming stay!

 

[diznee25]

Looks like we'll be there at the same time! We've only stayed there once also but I can't wait to go back!! It is my favorite of all the resorts we've stayed at so far

Have fun with the planning!!

You too! Planning is so fun and really makes for a wonderful vacation.

I was thumbing through PortOrleans.org and noticed a breakdown of the Room Categories. WheelChair accessible (32 rooms) and Other Special Needs Options (46 rooms).

What is the difference between the two? And where are the WheelChair accessible rooms located?

Thanks,
diznee25

 

[andrewilley]

I was thumbing through PortOrleans.org and noticed a breakdown of the Room Categories. WheelChair accessible (32 rooms) and Other Special Needs Options (46 rooms).

What is the difference between the two? And where are the WheelChair accessible rooms located?

See the Disability Accessible Rooms page on portorleans.org - http://www.portorleans.org/rooms-accessible.php - for full descriptions of the four basic accessible room types (Wheelchair/Roll-in shower, Wheelchair/accessible bathtub, Hearing Impaired features and "Florida Special" which offers extra handrails/etc). The rooms are scattered all around the resort in all booking category types, but obviously all the wheelchair accessible ones are either on the ground floor or located close to an elevator.

Andre

 

[diznee25]

See the Disability Accessible Rooms page on portorleans.org - http://www.portorleans.org/rooms-accessible.php - for full descriptions of the four basic accessible room types (Wheelchair/Roll-in shower, Wheelchair/accessible bathtub, Hearing Impaired features and "Florida Special" which offers extra handrails/etc). The rooms are scattered all around the resort in all booking category types, but obviously all the wheelchair accessible ones are either on the ground floor or located close to an elevator.

Andre

Thanks so much Andre! I must of missed that page...


diznee25

 

[jeepwreck]

I like the courtyard refurbishment, I think it looks good.

thanks for the picture. just one more excuse to go back. We are planning on stay at POFQ again for our 1 year anniversary in Feb

 

[litlpixie]

Just changed resorts for our two visits this year-the first one coming up in May-staying at FQ in instead POR. I was apprehensive at first because I DO so love POR, but we havent stayed at FQ in 7 years, so I thought it was time to revisit.

I remember how pretty this place is at night as well as daytime and the refurbs look great! Can't wait to stay here again

 

[RHMH]

Hello Everyone

This will be DD12 and my first stay at POFQ. Thanks for the information about the resort. We have been CBR fans for a while. Time for a change..

Thanks

 

[Nana2Callie]

What time can we actually check in? We are arriving early and want to activate our tickrts and dining heading for the parks. I realize that the room will not be ready, but I understand we can leave luggage with bellhop. Will they automatically take it to our room when ready or do we need to request that? Thanks,

 

[andrewilley]

What time can we actually check in? We are arriving early and want to activate our tickrts and dining heading for the parks. I realize that the room will not be ready, but I understand we can leave luggage with bellhop. Will they automatically take it to our room when ready or do we need to request that? Thanks,

Officially 6am is the start of the new day as far as checkins go I think. Bell services will bring your bags over to your room once you're there (you do need to be in the room to accept them though, other than Magical Express who are allowed to leave bags without the guest being present).

Andre

 

[°O°Joe]

Golden Hour at French Quarter - Horse and Carriage by Express Monorail, on Flickr

 

[Elleshoodat]

What a pretty picture! ^ Thanks for sharing.

We will be at POFQ so soon. I can't wait!

 

[diznee25]

I noticed with POFQ there is no preferred room category, which is understandable because it's such a small resort.

Is there any room category that would boost my chances at being in the "hub" area near the food court, buses, etc? Right now we are booked in a standard room, but we'd be willing to pay more if another category would improve our chances.

I have muscular dystrophy, although not bad enough to need a handicap room. Hence why we booked standard. We also plan to rent a wheel chair, but the closer I am to the amenities, the more walking I can do. Poor hubby already has to push me around in all the parks and DTD!

Any thoughts on the room categories in relation to preferred location would be great!

Thanks,
diznee25

 

[andrewilley]

Is there any room category that would boost my chances at being in the "hub" area near the food court, buses, etc? Right now we are booked in a standard room, but we'd be willing to pay more if another category would improve our chances.

Water view would give you a room facing towards the swimming pool in buildings 2 or 5, BUT it would be on the second or third floor, not the ground floor. Other than that, the rooms are pretty-much spread out over the whole resort so you'd need to rely on a request being granted - which, if you explain the reason why, shouldn't be too hard for them to do for you.

Andre

 

[diznee25]

Thanks for the info Andre! I'll talk with my DH and see what he thinks. Since the buildings have elevators, I should be ok with staying on 2nd or 3rd floor if needed.


diznee25

 

[tinkerbell_xo]

I've seen maps of POFQ but I was wondering if there's a breakdown anywhere of what specific rooms are considered standard view, garden view and water view. Can anyone offer up any info?

 

[andrewilley]

I've seen maps of POFQ but I was wondering if there's a breakdown anywhere of what specific rooms are considered standard view, garden view and water view. Can anyone offer up any info?

There's a guide to room types on my site (oddly enough in the Rooms pages ) I'll copy the POFQ-related bits here (ignore mentions of Preferred Location or bayou views, those are only at Riverside):

Room Categories and Views

• Standard: These rooms mostly tend to face towards parking lots, or have partially obscured views (such as beside stairways, etc). Standard view rooms are located all around the resort, EXCEPT for Preferred Locations.
• 
  Garden View: These rooms offer pleasant views of the gardens, courtyards (including water features and fountains), landscaping or bayou — but NOT of the parking lots. Garden View rooms can be located in any of the buildings EXCEPT for Preferred Locations. $10 per night surcharge.
• King Bed: These rooms feature one king-size bed only, and have a maximum occupancy of two persons. Views and locations vary around the whole of the resort, but it’s worth noting that some King Bed rooms are available in Preferred Locations, while others have Water or River Views. There is only a fairly limited quantity of these rooms available. $25 per night surcharge.
• Water View: These rooms offer swimming pool views and are spread out all around the resort, for example French Quarter buildings 2 & 5 (note: not ground floor), Riverside 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 35, 36 and 39, plus the two mansion buildings. $25 per night surcharge.
• River View: These rooms offer direct views of the Sassagoula River, including some rooms which overlook the courtyards or lawns in front of the river. They do not guarantee any particular proximity to the main buildings — however at Riverside, all of the directly river-facing rooms tend to give fairly convenient access to the facilities areas anyway. River View rooms can be located in French Quarter buildings 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, or at Riverside in Alligator Bayou lodges 14, 27 and 38 plus the two mansion buildings. $30 per night surcharge.

There is no (published) list of which specific room numbers which fall into which category.

Andre

 

[arthuruscg]

Well, the wife and I are doing a short belayed Anniversary trip and where going to stay at All Star Music for 5 nights. The company is picking up 2 additional days because of the conference i am going to, So, I am doing a surprise upgrade to POFQ with a King Bed for 3 night for close to the the same amount.

We have already received the DME tickets with ASM, so I can hide the upgrade until we get inline for the bus.

 

[scooffer]

I noticed with POFQ there is no preferred room category, which is understandable because it's such a small resort.

Is there any room category that would boost my chances at being in the "hub" area near the food court, buses, etc? Right now we are booked in a standard room, but we'd be willing to pay more if another category would improve our chances.

I have muscular dystrophy, although not bad enough to need a handicap room. Hence why we booked standard. We also plan to rent a wheel chair, but the closer I am to the amenities, the more walking I can do. Poor hubby already has to push me around in all the parks and DTD!

Any thoughts on the room categories in relation to preferred location would be great!

Thanks,
diznee25

We just returned yesterday, we had room 2135... perfect in every way. We paid for the Garden View. 2135 was on the first floor, on the pool side and on the boat side. Less that 25 yards from the boat dock to DTD and Riverside. Right in front of the Dragon slide. Super easy walk to the food court and bar/laundry (if a mama's doin laundry on vacation, I will be enjoying a drink along with it!). I would highly recommend this location (garden view, 1st floor pool side in buidling 2). There was minimal pool noise, but once the a/c kicked on that was all you heard... it is a little loud, we a nice background "noise".