Port Orleans Riverside/Port Orleans French Quarter-which one wins for you?

[FairyDust2008]

We have always looked at the Port Orleans Resorts for our moderate choices along with CSR which we are still unsure about but we especially liked the POR and POFQ by what we've seen in pictures from WDW site and a few others and it being not as spread out as CSR seems. Which is your FAVORITE and why? Are there any specific room locations that are better than others at both resorts? Can you include any pictures of the rooms, pools and grounds at both? I hear about Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Terrace/Bend. What are the big differences in these locations and which do you prefer. Include photos please if you can-THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[parrotheadlois]

We prefer POR - we stayed in the "mansions" side and really loved it. It was peaceful and pretty. We requested a water view room and thought it was worth the extra money - just so pretty. We were in Partiere. If I have pictures, I don't know where they are, but we'll be staying there again in October (saving our DVC points for a bigger vacation with family members next year).

 

[Caballero]

I haven't stayed at Riverside. But, we loved the French Quarter. Smaller, quiet, easy to get around. Would stay there again. My kids loved the Dragon water slide. My daughter loved the beignets. Riverside is larger. My vote would be for French Quarter.

 

[Chellymouse]

My vote is French Quarter. It's smaller and much easier to navigate, everything (food, pools, main building) is much closer and within walking distance. Riverside is nice to visit, but wouldn't want to stay there. Riverside is spead out (similar to CBR) and is a pain to get around. If you are able, get a water view. These are the rooms on the backsides of the buildings and the views are amazing!

 

[KMLOVESWDW]

We were going to stay at FQ, but after screwup by our TA ended up with Riverside. I was so upset at first with only 2 weeks until our trip. Until we got there. We LOVED Riverside. While it is bigger than FQ it did not seem too spread out at all. We were in the Alligator Bayou area, but the last building closest to the mansions which was like having the best of both worlds. (#38) It is simply beautiful & quiet. We rented boats & went for walks & took the horse drawn carriage ride. I had sweet potato pancakes with honey pecan butter for breakfast (96 more sleeps & I'll be having them again!) I guess it made more sense for us to stay at Riverside if we were going to be doing all those things over there anyway. Not that you couldn't stay at FQ & walk over too. We often went for walks to FQ & really enjoyed that too. I liked the inner courtyard areas & that is where I would want my room if staying at FQ. Either that or facing the river. FQ just looks a little more like regular hotels, where Riverside as mansions & little rustic 'cabins'. Seaspray has great pics of Riverside at brownfamilyvacations.com Have a great time on your trip. Have fun picking!!

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We stayed at POR--Alligator Bayou...The room was fabulous and the scenery was beautiful...Here's some pics....

Good luck!

 

[maxiesmom]

If I could be guaranteed a room in the Bayou section, Riverside would win, hands down! I love all of the tree lined paths, the laid back, relaxed feel of that section of POR. The pool is much nicer than the one at POFQ, which seems very little kiddie to me. And POR has a sit down restaurant, where POFQ does not. And Piano Man Bob is always ready for a good time at POR.

 

[Charleston Princess]

We have stayed at both and we absolutely loved French Quarter. It was much smaller and had a cozier feel. It was very relaxing walking to the food court first thing in the morning to get coffee. Our children loved the pool with the serpent slide! Even though we were there in June, it never felt crowded! Riverside just seemed bigger and more overwhelming to us, but we still enjoyed our stay there too.

 

[magchavez]

We've stayed at POR and CSR. I definitely like POR better. It is not as big as CSR and the theming just felt more 'Disney' to me. We had a room in the Mansion section and loved it. We'll be staying at POR again in October.

 

[llqool]

Have stayed at both POFQ and POR, on the mansion side. We preferred POFQ -- we liked the smaller size of the resort, the proximity to everything (we were in the furthest mansion out at POR, and it was a hike to the buses and the food court). I didn't think the pool at POR was *that* much better than the one at POFQ. And the mansion side of POR, in my opinion, is not as nicely-themed as POFQ -- kind of looks like a motel to me. I guess if you are into the TS restaurant thing, that might be a downside to POFQ, but we usually found ourselves eating elsewhere (neither food court is that great).

I have heard, though, that the Alligator Bayou side of POR is a lot better, but we couldn't stay there on our last visit, b/c I didn't want to have to carry a double stroller up and down the stairs, and they don't have elevators.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

We love the POR. It is such a beautiful and relaxing resort.

 

[skipperkim]

I've stayed at both CSR and POFQ and love POFQ. I don't like the Southwest, not a big fan of the desert, so CSR just doesn't leave me with a great feeling. It's also so spread out, not so with POFQ. While it does share buses with POR it doesn't take that much time to pick them up. At POFQ, you are picked up and dropped off first. So you won't be standing on the way to the park and if you are coming back its not a long stand. It also has its own bus stop at MK in the evening. The boat ride to DTD is wonderful too. It may be faster to take the bus, but it's a great way to slow down your time at Disney. One more thing, the hot tub is fairly secluded.