Port Orleans-French Quarter or Coronado Springs?

[Unofficial627]

Hello everyone.
I will hopefully be going on a Disney World vacation soon, and I have been looking at two moderately priced resorts: Port Orleans-French Quarter and Coronado Springs. If anyone has been to both and has some info from their own personal experiences, I would be very happy to see them. Thanks!

 

[NCRedding]

I've stayed at both POFQ and CSR. My favorite is POFQ. We stayed there on our first on site trip and loved it. It is very small and charming. Not too far to walk anywhere. I thought the bus system worked well (this was in 1998). To get to the bus stop, all we had to walk on was sidewalks. DD loved the pool, and the dragon slide. I found CSR to be a beautiful resort, but very big. I didn't like having to walk across the parking lot to get to the bus stop with my DD. There are certainly people who love CSR, I just prefer POFQ, and am so glad that they reopened it.

 

[Buzz2001]

These 2 moderates you have chosen are very different. One is a very large resort while the other is a small resort. You can visit my website below for pictures and info. Like NCRedding said above, you'll find an opinion here on each resort. It will ultimately depend on your taste. Good luck deciding and most of all, have a great trip!!

 

[The_Disney_God]

PORS is a great resort. Small, compact, very good. Transportation is great, the boat to Downtown Disney is fantastic. The food court is good, but CSR has a better food court. The pools are equal, except for the slide. CSR has the better slide.

CSR is larger, but much more beautiful. Long walk around the lake, but its cool. Transportation can be a little annoying, 4 bus stops. Great food court, great pool, great theme, great look.

My pick: CSR

 

[Piglet203]

Your decision really depends on which theming you like most. Both resorts are beautiful. I have stayed at PO-FQ and thought it was great. I am staying at CSR in a week and think that it will be great too. I'm only going on pictures and descriptions of CSR, but Mickey76 and I think it's going to be absolutely beautiful. Either one you choose, you'll have a wonderful time!!!

 

[josierac]

Take a look at some pictures to see which decor you like better
Coronado Spring pictures

Port Orleans French Quarter pictures

 

[Unofficial627]

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[Buzz2001]

You really can't go wrong with either. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Grumpy92]

These are both great resorts. You might want to take the walking tour at www.disneyzone.actusa.net. They have pictures and detailed descriptions.

 

[mat2672]

French Quarter is one of the most underrated resorts disney has. If you like that calm, quiet, rlaxed atmosphere, you will love POFQ. I love the small streets and the streetlights. Its very nice. And the resort is so small that everything is very close to your room. Also, the boat ride to downtown disney is very nice at sundown.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I’ve stayed at both resorts (CSR and PO-FQ) so I can comment on them from personal experience.

First off, we enjoyed both. I don’t think you’ll make a mistake by choosing one over the other. Each resort has its pros and cons, but there are a couple of key things I would consider to decide between them.

Whom are you traveling with? If you have no children, then my next comments won’t apply. Both resorts have wonderful pool areas, but I think the pool area at the CSR is better suited to adults and older children, whereas the PO-FQ pool is better for younger kids. CSR has a fantastic water slide that’s as good as most you’ll find in a water park. However, the slide at PO-FQ is ideal for small children (say under 7), but lame for older kids and adults.

Both resorts have a nice transportation feature. At PO-FQ it’s the boat to/from Downtown Disney—a pleasurable ride. At CSR, it’s direct bus service to/from the Boardwalk. (BTW, I read a post here about that bus no longer exists. That post is erroneous. The CSR bus has always been CSR to Boardwalk to Downtown, then Downtown to Boardwalk to CSR on the return.) So my point is that you should consider where you’ll spend more time—at Downtown (better for PO-FQ) or the Boardwalk/Epcot (better for CSR).

Personally, we disliked the CSR food court. However, we were there within a few months of the resort’s opening, and I’ve been reading better reviews about it lately, so I believe it may have improved. I think PO-FQ’s main quality is its smallness. Everything (food court, pool, bar, bus stop, bus transportation) is close to your room. Whereas if you wind up in the Rancho’s at CSR, you’re kind of in East Jybip.

Like I said, though, I think you’ll be happy with either resort. They’re both delightful and beautiful. Happy trip planning and feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Prince John]

Flip a coin. Seriously, that's what we did for our Sept 2000 trip. It adds to the fun.

 

[Buzz2001]

JerseyJanice - the bus directly back to CSR is gone. It still goes to BW directly but no longer returns directly. You have to travel to DtD again to get back. Driver told me that I should write a letter because they don't listen unless it comes from the guests.

The ranchos have their own bus stop now which is new. Helps with getting to the front if the walk is too much. Buses go stop 2, 3, 4 and 1, which is the main building.

Just to give you a feel for the foodcourt, is not a traditional food court where the foods are premade like hamburgs and hot dogs. You may have to wait longer for the items but most are made fresh or to order. Choices are much better too. You get real napkins vs paper, silverware vs plastic and a server that brings you drinks and refills.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Are you saying that on the return you board at the Boardwalk, then go to Downtown, and then to CSR? I'm not doubting you, Buzz, but WOW! that makes no sense.

Either way, the Boardwalk is more accessible from CSR than from PO-FQ since you don't have to change buses (if I'm understanding Buzz correctly). From FQ, you need to transfer either from one of the parks or Downtown to a BW bus.

 

[Buzz2001]

Yep. It really stinks from what CSR used to have. When you get on at the BW, the bus is only headed in one direction, and that direction is back to DtD. The bus driver told me to write a letter because they didn't listen to the feedback from the drivers. They being management. I asked 4 different drivers to make sure I got the right story. What we did was hop on the boat to MGM and took the CSR bus from MGM back to CSR. Quicker than going to DtD.

 

[disneydawn6]

I have stayed at both and the French Quarters is my favorite.. Very small and intimate. Like being at the real French Quarters.. only CLEAN and very romantic.... Of course I was in Ranchero the one time I stayed at CS and didn't care for that at all..... It was so far from everything...... And I had requested to be close to the food court....

 

[Unofficial627]

Thanks everyone for your help! We finally chose... Port Orleans-French Quarter. All of your info helped. Although there were no more water views left, the standard doesn't seem to bad, just as long as we're not staring at a parking lot. Well, thanks again!

 

[Laura's Dad]

If you request Building 5, 2, or 6, you will not get a parking lot view for your standard view. Building 2 is a smoking optional building, as is the top floor of 6. For that reason, we requested Building 5 for our upcoming trip. It seems like it is close to everything: pool, food court, and bus stop. You can call back and put this request on this reservation.

 

[FrizDiz]

I have stayed at both and I would agree with JerseyJanice on her advice. FQ is excellant if you have smaller kids. The walks are shorter and you don't ever have to go through a parking lot except to get to your car. My daughters were 4 and 6 and loved the slide there. The CS slide is much zippier and better for older kids. The younger kids also really like the boats to and from Downtown Disney. My vote FQ if you have young kids, either resort if they are older. I personally like the look of all of Port Orleans better but liked both places. Either way your in Disney and its all good.g

 

[singitalto]

I had the same problem choosing last year, so i stayed 5 nights at both!! I loved them both, but they are VERY different. I have to say, POFQ was more relaxing because of the size, no marathon walking. But the pool slide is the best at CSR! You will have a great time!