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

[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".

Thanks so much for sharing! Hope you had a great trip.

Yes, the loud sound from the a/c is always welcomed on vacation. Love how it drowns out background noise!

diznee25

 

[wallawallakids]

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.

THat is awesome!!! HAve a great Anniversary trip!

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

Hello!

Sooooo our next WDW vacay is in just over a month and we were originally booked in the Contemporary Resort (my son has been wanting to stay there since he heard you can literally walk to MK!), but we chose to downgrade to a Moderate resort so we can spend more money on food and all things Disney. I have spent the last month reading all the Moderate resort reviews I could find and based on those (99.9 % positive) reviews, I decided on POFQ. My son was kinda iffy on the choice since we stayed at AKL (Deluxe) last year, but after I just showed him some of the reviews and beautiful pictures of the newly-renovated resort here on DISboards, he is almost as excited as me!

I will post some pics after our stay to contribute to this already awesome Thread!

 

[mmouse50]

Question-

I am taking a twin size air mattress - 3 adults in room but each will need their own bed.

Looking at the room description on the Unofficial resort guide - I think that the twin size mattress should fit in front of the door going towards the sitting area. I am I right? could someone that has stayed since they put in the queen beds help me out?

 

[cricket12960]

Question-

I am taking a twin size air mattress - 3 adults in room but each will need their own bed.

Looking at the room description on the Unofficial resort guide - I think that the twin size mattress should fit in front of the door going towards the sitting area. I am I right? could someone that has stayed since they put in the queen beds help me out?

Hi Mmouse we just got back the other day and I think there is ample room for the twin air mattress. The room is pretty big. We loved our stay there.
Have a magical vacation!

 

[cricket12960]

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.

Happy Anniversary! My husband and I are celebrating our 24th anniversay on 4/30. We have stayed at AllStar Music and my family loved it there. We just got back the other day from POFQ. Absolutely beautiful. You must take your wife on the Horse and carriage ride through French Quarter and Riverside. It cost $45 for half an hour. It was stunning and very romantic. Have a wonderful and magical vacation!

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

Hello everyone!

I just had a quick question....

In one of the many reviews I read about POFQ, someone mentioned that you can see Epcot's IllumiNations - Reflection of Earth from the resort. We are staying at POFQ for the first time in June and I am unsure of how close Epcot actually is to POFQ, but I was wondering if anyone knew if this was true? If not, no biggie. If so, awesome!

Thank you!

 

[moozle]

Hello everyone!

I just had a quick question....

In one of the many reviews I read about POFQ, someone mentioned that you can see Epcot's IllumiNations - Reflection of Earth from the resort. We are staying at POFQ for the first time in June and I am unsure of how close Epcot actually is to POFQ, but I was wondering if anyone knew if this was true? If not, no biggie. If so, awesome!

Thank you!

We actually just noticed this on our last trip to POFQ. We were never back at the hotel early enough to realize it before. From where we were (just walking back to our room) we heard it clearly and were able to see some of the fireworks - not wonderful, close up views, but we definitely saw it. There might be other places on property you can walk to to get an even clearer view. We definitely saw the fireworks from the resort though!

 

[solana131]

I didn't go through all 240 pages , so this might have been answered already....

Since POFQ and POR are "sister" resorts and share everything, are the refillable mugs good at either food court? I have looked on the .org website, but can't find the answer. Not a huge deal, just wondering. Trying to decide if I should switch over from the Poly for my July trip and having the option to use either food court would be a big plus. But if we are buying the mugs, I would want to use them at both places.

 

[andrewilley]

Since POFQ and POR are "sister" resorts and share everything, are the refillable mugs good at either food court?

Yes, as you said the two resorts count as one in terms of sharing things that are normally restricted for local guest use only (swimming pools, refillable mugs, etc). Anyway, it's the same design, so no one would be likely to stop you anyway [but that's a whole other conversation for a different thread].

Andre

 

[solana131]

Thanks Andre. Love your site and I'm sure its on there somewhere, but I just couldn't find it. I have the Poly booked right now, but I think I am going to call tonight and "downgrade" to FQ. Picked the Poly for transportation options, but this next trip will be just two adults, so I don't mind waiting for buses and FQ looks so nice (and its half the price)!

 

[jasperess]

So I'm planning on a trip in early May next year and my husband and I have decided to stay on-site for the first time, yay! We know we definitely like Port Orleans, and are probably leaning towards French Quarter over Riverside.

However, last year, they released a room-rate pin for that time (which I'm hoping they do again for 2013), and French Quarter didn't really get much of a discount. I figured this is because it's small and perhaps books up quickly. Is this pretty typical of French Quarter, because if so, we're thinking we might just stay at Riverside instead if it's a big difference in cost.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[taylor3297]

I am so excited. DH told me to book a surprise back to school trip for our family but not to book the Poly for this trip. So I knew I had to book POFQ for our quick trip.

We aren't telling the kids. Now we are trying to figure out the best way to surprise them. Any ideas?

I made sure to ask DH if we were still doing our big trip in September of 2013 and he said yes! So that means I get to go to Disney four years in a row!

 

[JerseyDevils]

Just one more week till we are back at our beloved POFQ!!! So excited to be returning for the 3rd time to the FQ. Can't wait to see what bldg we get this time.

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

We actually just noticed this on our last trip to POFQ. We were never back at the hotel early enough to realize it before. From where we were (just walking back to our room) we heard it clearly and were able to see some of the fireworks - not wonderful, close up views, but we definitely saw it. There might be other places on property you can walk to to get an even clearer view. We definitely saw the fireworks from the resort though!

Thank you moozle! I appreciate your response

That's awesome! Just the fact that we can see it all is a plus.

We are very excited to be staying at POFQ next month!

 

[moozle]

Thank you moozle! I appreciate your response

That's awesome! Just the fact that we can see it all is a plus.

We are very excited to be staying at POFQ next month!

You're welcome!

Enjoy your trip! We LOVE POFQ!

 

[dawgsgirl]

So I'm planning on a trip in early May next year and my husband and I have decided to stay on-site for the first time, yay! We know we definitely like Port Orleans, and are probably leaning towards French Quarter over Riverside.

However, last year, they released a room-rate pin for that time (which I'm hoping they do again for 2013), and French Quarter didn't really get much of a discount. I figured this is because it's small and perhaps books up quickly. Is this pretty typical of French Quarter, because if so, we're thinking we might just stay at Riverside instead if it's a big difference in cost.

Thanks for any advice!

More recently, POFQ has gotten NO discount. Not even an AP rate. In the past, POFQ was a hidden gem and discounts were no problem. Now, everyone is flocking to the resort and there are no discounts to be had. I was not even able to get a bounceback ressie for POFQ. Unless the crowds stop smothering POFQ, looks like you will have to go with Riverside.

 

[solana131]

One more question before I "make the move to POFQ". We plan on utilizing EMH almost every day to beat the heat and crowds. But I notice that the food court isn't open until 7am. We will need to be on the bus around 7. So what breakfast options are there at 6:30ish? Just muffins from the day before?

 

[bookgirl]

One more question before I "make the move to POFQ". We plan on utilizing EMH almost every day to beat the heat and crowds. But I notice that the food court isn't open until 7am. We will need to be on the bus around 7. So what breakfast options are there at 6:30ish? Just muffins from the day before?

The gift shop carries a few grocery type items (bread, peanut butter poptarts, donuts, cereal (maybe) etc) you can buy milk and juice as well and keep them in the fridge and make a quick eat at the bustop or in the room while dressing breakfast.

I had done a walmart run so had a few things in room. I would toast a bagel the night before and then baggie it after it was cool (I like toasted but don't care if it's warm or not when I eat it). Had ham and cream cheese in my fridge. Just before leaving the room I'd make a quick sandwich and maybe a piece of fruit and grab a drink in a to go cup (also from my fridge) and eat while I waited for the bus.

Easy Peasy and actually faster and more economical then the food court.

 

[solana131]

Okay thanks I was really trying to avoid eating in our room. For us, eating is part of the Disney experience. Would hate to miss breakfast every single day! I need my Mickey waffles! That is why I ended up with the Poly (Captain Cooks grill opens at 6:30). I guess I should just stay there and hope the $$ fairy comes to visit before we leave. Thanks for your help