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

[want2bamommy]

Thanks!!! I will do my best!!! I'll try to post pics too (if i can figure out our new camera LOL) Hope I'm not too overwhelmed. LOL This is my first trip and the first for my kids too

That's even more special! I didn't read your ticker before to notice it was your first trip! It will be magical, I'm sure!

 

[cassie]

I officially started getting excited for our March 2012 trip today We are staying at POFQ and this will be our first Disney vacation with our DD(5). Today I booked a BBB appointment for DD @ the Downtown Disney location, then we'll head to Epcot for the rest of the day, and Akershus ADR for dinner. Her appointment is 10AM, which is before the boats to DD start running, so I believe our best bet is the bus. Will we be okay catching a bus around 8:30AM - we need to be at BBB by 9:45? Then, what is our best bet on transportation to Epcot from DD? Thanks for the help!

You'll be ok for the bus to DTD, but what I usually do when leaving DTD is go to the bus stop and take the first bus that comes in, and then take a bus from there to Epcot. The busses at DTD don't go to the parks, so it's around about way..

Unless someone comes by and has a better way.

 

[DMGeurts]

I officially started getting excited for our March 2012 trip today We are staying at POFQ and this will be our first Disney vacation with our DD(5). Today I booked a BBB appointment for DD @ the Downtown Disney location, then we'll head to Epcot for the rest of the day, and Akershus ADR for dinner. Her appointment is 10AM, which is before the boats to DD start running, so I believe our best bet is the bus. Will we be okay catching a bus around 8:30AM - we need to be at BBB by 9:45? Then, what is our best bet on transportation to Epcot from DD? Thanks for the help!

What are your dates? We'll be at POFQ March 6-15th. This is our frist stay on property - and we are super excited about it.

D~

 

[Mom2Kera]

March 8-15 This will be our first time at POFQ. DH and I stayed at AKL for our honeymoon 8+ years ago. Can't wait!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

They have changed a little bit...... all refurbished rooms with queen beds. Flat screen tv. Lovely resort.

You forgot free Wi-FI

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

Yes, all buildings will have some garden view rooms. I've just had a confirmation back from one of the resort managers that the breakdown works pretty much as I had expected:

Standard: parking lot views
Garden: gardens, courtyards (including the little fountains areas, etc) - but NOT parking lots
Water: swimming pool view
River: erm, well, river!

Andre

What about a King Room? Can you request a King River View,non-cap room at POFQ? I am booking it shortly, think we will go for the King Bed since that is what we have at home anyway LOL

 

[andrewilley]

What about a King Room? Can you request a King River View,non-cap room at POFQ?

King room inventory is completely separated from the other 'view' category rooms, and can have garden, river, etc views (and not many are Standard Views). You can thus request any view if you book a King Bed - you're not guaranteed to get it of course, but at least you know you're not asking for some sort of upgrade, all views are available within your booked category.

Andre

 

[aubriee]

I'll be at POFQ in 13 days -- -- switched from POP too

21 more days till we are there too

We arrive at POFQ right between you two, but will be there during the same time as both of you 16 days for us--Feb 4th-11th

I wanted POFQ for my May trip too, but couldn't get it for those dates under either the bounceback deal I currently have or the AP discount. So I'll be at CSR in 3 months 18 days and then back at POFQ in about 7 1/2 months. lol

 

[Celestia]

Has anyone heard anything about the courtyard refurb at POFQ? I saw this on mouseforless.com:

Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter Courtyard will undergo refurbishment from January 9 through March 2, 2012. Barricades will be used to isolate the area starting at the doors to the lobby and extending out towards the sidewalk. Exits will be available on either side of the courtyard to allow Guests the ability to travel to and from their rooms. Construction will start no earlier than 9am each day.

Has anyone been there since January 9 to see the refurbishment? We will be there Feb 16-26 for our first visit to POFQ and I am worried about it being loud and dusty!

 

[dmbcanada]

Has anyone heard anything about the courtyard refurb at POFQ? I saw this on mouseforless.com:

Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter Courtyard will undergo refurbishment from January 9 through March 2, 2012. Barricades will be used to isolate the area starting at the doors to the lobby and extending out towards the sidewalk. Exits will be available on either side of the courtyard to allow Guests the ability to travel to and from their rooms. Construction will start no earlier than 9am each day.

Has anyone been there since January 9 to see the refurbishment? We will be there Feb 16-26 for our first visit to POFQ and I am worried about it being loud and dusty!

This is the first I have heard of this! Nothing on PortOrleans.org or WDW.com. I guess i will have to wake up before 9 am now!

 

[Celestia]

This is the first I have heard of this! Nothing on PortOrleans.org or WDW.com. I guess i will have to wake up before 9 am now!

I know, I haven't seen anything anywhere else either. Here's the link for where it is on mouseforless.com:

http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/wdwparks/rehab-close.shtml

 

[dmbcanada]

Sounds like being far away from the lobby might not be a bad thing this trip!

 

[Piecey]

We will be flying down tomorrow! First trip at POFQ! Loved having this thread! 10 days, 9 nights.

This is a "Grand Gatnering" of sorts for us~ my parents, my husband, myself & our two sons - 1 & 2, & my brother & his girlfriend who flew in from Sydney, Australia. SO EXCITED! I know we will have a fantastic trip.

 

[andrewilley]

This sort of work goes on every few years to keep the resorts looking good. Riverside had similar boarding up between the lobby and the marina for a few weeks in late-August 2009 to repair the concrete and rebuild the planters, and in August 2008 they had scaffolding up in order to re-paint the main roof.

Unless it's going to actually prevent access to any facilities (e.g. pool closures) I guess they may not always notify guests in advance.

Andre

 

[Sydnerella]

For our trip 3/24 to 3/31 do I need to book carriage rides now? Or at minimum before arriving? I am just not certain which night to book - our park days are planned but our evenings are flexible in case we want to go back to the park or chill at POFQ... wondering how soon before we should be booking - day of would be ideal but I assume that is too late?

Thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[summerlady]

Going over to the dark side (ok, I'm exaggerating) next trip, staying at POR rather than our beloved POFQ. I received a PIN for free QSDP and the only mods available for our dates were CBR and POR, and only pirate rooms or royal rooms were offered. I didn't want to lose the PIN by waiting and hoping for something else/better, so I booked a POR Royal Room, garden view for Oct. 16-21. Last year I waited too long and didn't use any PINs I had gotten earlier in the year and ended up paying rack rate, no FD because our week was blacked out in Oct. and I had already purchased non-refundable airfare by the time the FD dates were released. OUCH! First time since 2008 that I didn't have a good discount. So...POR here we come, I'll miss you SO much POFQ. but , too.

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

Going over to the dark side (ok, I'm exaggerating) next trip, staying at POR rather than our beloved POFQ. I received a PIN for free QSDP and the only mods available for our dates were CBR and POR, and only pirate rooms or royal rooms were offered. I didn't want to lose the PIN by waiting and hoping for something else/better, so I booked a POR Royal Room, garden view for Oct. 16-21. Last year I waited too long and didn't use any PINs I had gotten earlier in the year and ended up paying rack rate, no FD because our week was blacked out in Oct. and I had already purchased non-refundable airfare by the time the FD dates were released. OUCH! First time since 2008 that I didn't have a good discount. So...POR here we come, I'll miss you SO much POFQ. but , too.

I had a Free Dining Plan also....so we booked a King Room at POFQ last night for Mother's Day weekend, requested a River View...and upgraded to the Regular Dining Plan ...had to since I already had all my ADR for May

 

[PoppyGirl]

Has anyone heard anything about the courtyard refurb at POFQ? I saw this on mouseforless.com:

Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter Courtyard will undergo refurbishment from January 9 through March 2, 2012. Barricades will be used to isolate the area starting at the doors to the lobby and extending out towards the sidewalk. Exits will be available on either side of the courtyard to allow Guests the ability to travel to and from their rooms. Construction will start no earlier than 9am each day.

Has anyone been there since January 9 to see the refurbishment? We will be there Feb 16-26 for our first visit to POFQ and I am worried about it being loud and dusty!

NOOOOO! What do they mean by the "courtyard?"

 

[summerlady]

I had a Free Dining Plan also....so we booked a King Room at POFQ last night for Mother's Day weekend, requested a River View...and upgraded to the Regular Dining Plan ...had to since I already had all my ADR for May

Isn't it great? I just love WDW and free dining. I can't book any ADRs until April but I'm gonna pay OOP for a couple of TS meals and just keep the free QSDP this time.

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

Isn't it great? I just love WDW and free dining. I can't book any ADRs until April but I'm gonna pay OOP for a couple of TS meals and just keep the free QSDP this time.

I wouldn't mind the QSDP if we were bringing the kids down, but since this is a quick weekend trip for our anniversary and DH's birthday......I wanted to eat at some sit down restaurants since we have no desire to rush around the parks to see how many rides we can ride....might not ride any and just walk around and people watch and take pictures