Port Orleans French Quarter or Riverside?

[StaceyA]

Hi there!

I haven't stayed at either of the Port Orleans resorts, nor have I even visted!

I have stayed at many value and many deluxe and this will be my first stay at a Mod, we picked Port Orleans, but I have no idea which one to stay in...help!

Please give me any info on both sections and also why would you pick one over the other?

Thanks in advance!

(Edited to add: we are both adults, no children, so we aren't worried about the pool and such)

 

[WDWBetsy]

Hi StaceyA,

My DH and I stayed at POR back in October 2003. It was so beautiful and relaxing! We're looking at a possible trip back to WDW in late 2005 and I'm considering POFQ.

Here is a link to my photos of POR. Enjoy!

http://community.webshots.com/album/150848151jkGTPi

 

[LibertyBelle]

Riverside Hubby and I are huge Riverside fans. We like French Quarter but only because of the Serpentine Pool, so if the pool is not a concern go Riverside.

The rooms are the same at both so it is just the decor that will change for you. The Riverside has 2 sections Alligator Bayou and The Mansion... We like the Mansions just becasue of the way they look, very Gone with the Wind. We always ask for close to the Main Building just because the property is rather large, but we have our own car so it really doesn't matter for us. Another vote for the Riverside is because they have a sit down restaurant (were French Quarter does not). Riverside has Boatwrights which serves Breakfast and Dinner (It is my favorite Dinner restaurant), as well as what we think is the best food court on Disney Property.

Either resort is nice so you can't go wrong, but given the option we would choose Riverside

 

[StaceyA]

Thanks for quick replies already!!

I also wanted to add that we will be only using Disney Transportation....I really don't know if this matters...but thought I would throw it out there!

 

[LibertyBelle]

That's ok there are bus stops throughout both properties. Frech Quarter is smaller and easier to get to the main building if you happen to get one of the farther buildings, where Riverside is Large...but if you ask forclose to the main building or a bus stop (of course it would be a request and not guaranteed) you would be fine at either Still voting for Riverside though...

 

[sunkissed212]

Chalk up another vote for POR. My boyfriend and I stayed there this past September. It was my first stay at anything other than a Deluxe resort and I was totally impressed. I love the grounds. Absolutely beautiful! We stayed in the Alligator Bayou section which I like more than the Mansions simply because it's more my style. I'm more of a woodsey kind of person than a gone with the wind kind of person but realistically, we were barely in our room so I wouldn't have cared which section we were in . We were in bldg 18 which is a smoking optional building but I never would have known if there wasn't an ashtray in the room. No smoke smell at all! We were close to the main building and it was a nice walk in the mornings for breakfast. We ate at Boatwrights for breakfast one morning and it was very good.

My favorite part of the resort though is the lounge. The River Roost lounge inside the main building is quaint and cosy and they have big leather overstuffed loveseats that are really comfortable to sit on and enjoy a drink or appetizer. There's a great piano show there in the evenings too! And, may I suggest (if you drink alcohol) trying a Miss Melodie's Colada...it's the absolute best pina colada I've ever had. I wish I could have them flown up here to Michigan in the "off season". And, the horse and carriage ride is great too!

I have never stayed at POFQ but we did walk the grounds while we were there and they look nice, I just like the atmosphere of POR better.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Don't count out CSR. We loved that resort, much better than CBR.

Centrally located to all the parks and great bus system.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Don't count out CSR. We loved that resort, much better than CBR.

Centrally located to all the parks and great bus system.

??? Coronado is a nice resort, but she was asking about Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside... confused about the comment about CSR being better than Caribbean Beach?

 

[StaceyA]

Don't count out CSR. We loved that resort, much better than CBR.

Centrally located to all the parks and great bus system.

oh no! Too much to think about!! LOL

I have heard some so/so things about the bus system at POR/FQ which one gets picked up first?
I had heard that there are 4 bus stops at POR so I wasn't sure if there was a long wait for buses....i know... lots of Questions

Also, does it feel like a long drive to any of the parks? I remember staying at All Stars and going back (standing on the bus) at the end of the night, it felt like forever!

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

We stayed at POR twice (well, once when it was Dixie Landings, like DL name better, but oh well). Alligator Bayou section, bldg 18!! Stay at POR, you won't be sorry!!

We LOVE it there!!! The landscaping is gorgeous, the boat ride to DTD is GREAT, the pool is FUN, FUN, FUN! We have four DDs and they are dying to go back to this resort in May 2005. I would, however, like to try out another resort just for the sake of staying somehwere else! I don't know if I'll get my wish though!!

 

[msteddom]

I have stayed at both POR and POFQ and I like them equally, but for different reasons.

POR: beautiful setting, loved having the quiet pools, better food court, lovely grounds for stolling around.

POFQ: loved the compact size of the resort, everything was within a 5 min. walk of the room. Again a beautiful setting.


I think it comes down to how long you are staying. For a stay of three or four nights I would go with POFQ. You will appreciate everything being close together. If you are staying 5 nights or more you will have time to really soak in the charm of POR. You can't go wrong either way!

Melissa

 

[tinkerbee]

Another vote for POR but then again it's one of my favorites. I agree with msteddom I think it depends on how long you are staying. They are both great resorts.

 

[StaceyA]

This seems like a difficult choice! I wish I had visited once just to help me decide.

We are only going for a long weekend...we are going from Thursday night to Monday afternoon.

We have to book by this weekend because we want to book the silver package and soon we won't be able to, they will only book the new packages and right now we have a hold on POFQ with the silver plan.

Also, whatever we choose we have to keep, if we change the package it will revert to the new package which we don't want, so the decision we make by this weekend will stick!

Thanks again to everyone, this is really helpful!

 

[tink2]

You will love either. We've stayed at both and really liked both. But, our favorite is POFQ. It is small and wherever your room is it is a short walk to the food court, bus stop, main building, etc. We have small children and this is a big plus for their little legs- and ours! The resorts also share buses. The buses pick up POFQ first and let them off first at night. So, you should always have a seat going to the parks.
We stayed in the mansions at POR and they were beautiful. But POR is much larger and could mean longer walks.
Either way, both are great- but my vote is for POFQ.

 

[liznboys]

You really can't go wrong! We've stayed at both, and we prefer POFQ. It's smaller and we love the theming there a *little* more. The great thing about these two is that you can use the amenities at either one since they are sister resorts. The WDW buses pick up and drop off at POFQ first, and when we stayed at POR we did have to stand up on the buses sometimes since the seats were already filled. But it wasn't a big deal. Good luck!

 

[picantel]

I have stayed at both resorts and hands down 10 to 1 pofq is the better resort.

 

[StaceyA]

The WDW buses pick up and drop off at POFQ first, and when we stayed at POR we did have to stand up on the buses sometimes since the seats were already filled.

I will probably pick FQ just for this reason....I wanted to make sure my mom has a seat if possible....
Thanks again for all the replies...the DIS is so helpful!

 

[ILUVDXL]

Guess where I'd pick? We've never stayed at POFQ but spend a good amount of time there since some of the CMs who once worked at POR are now relocated there. I guess we just find the theming at POFQ too busy for our tastes. We much prefer the layed back atmonsphere at POR, but I think you'd have a wonderful stay no matter which you chose.

 

[StaceyA]

Guess where I'd pick?

LOL Gee I wonder??

We are really looking forward to trying a Mod this time around!

 

[swilphil]

I debated between the two resorts also and decided at POR after looking at the pictures of each on www.allearsnet.com. I am really hoping for a mansion room. We have stayed in the real French Quarter and I'm afraid an imitation wouldn't cut it for us,