Port Orleans Riverside with Virgin

[ptay39]

Just been looking at this hotel for the beginning of September this year. Works out at £3,500 for two adults, including "free" quick dining plan and the disney tickets (14 days for 7) with Virgin Holidays. Can we get it cheaper? Is it worth the extra £1000 or so against staying in one of the downtown disney hotels offsite? Is the dining plan worth it with a picky vegetarian?!

Which is the better part of the hotel, Riverside or French Quarter?

Have to go out for a few hours but will check back later if someone could give me advice. Thank you!

 

[monica23535]

I just had a quick look at Thomson and their price is £3200 if you would consider travelling with them on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I personally prefer Riverside as the food court is much larger and the rooms are more my taste.

 

[MrRomance]

Just been looking at this hotel for the beginning of September this year. Works out at £3,500 for two adults, including "free" quick dining plan and the disney tickets (14 days for 7) with Virgin Holidays. Can we get it cheaper? Is it worth the extra £1000 or so against staying in one of the downtown disney hotels offsite? Is the dining plan worth it with a picky vegetarian?!

Which is the better part of the hotel, Riverside or French Quarter?

Have to go out for a few hours but will check back later if someone could give me advice. Thank you!

Let me try to take these things one at a time...

Firstly, on-site vs off-site, it is unquestionably cheaper to stay off-site. There are plenty of options and most people stay in one of 3 areas...International Drive, Kissimmee (US 192 area) or Lake Buena Vista (Disney Neighbour Hotels). We stayed off-site for many years and it was just fine, I had no complaints and thoroughly enjoyed myself...BUT...since we have been staying on-site, I would find it VERY difficult to go back to an off-site hotel.

The key issue for most people are the convenience. Staying on-site gives you the option to quit the parks when you're tired and go back to your hotel quickly and vice versa. You don't need to rent a car because all transportation on Disney Property is regular, free and will take you anywhere you want to go. Another key issue is being immersed in the Disney experience. You literally LIVE Disney when you're on-site, staff are nicer and more helpful and the general standard of accommodation is better. If you can afford an on-site stay, it's a much nicer experience IMHO.

Dining Plan... We always go when Free Dining is available but I have to be honest, my view on it is mixed. Firstly, I didn't care for the quick service plan AT ALL. We had that when we went to Port Orleans last year (we usually stay at a deluxe and get the full dining plan) Eating "fast food" for 2 weeks is a drag so I would definitely recommend considering the upgrade to the regular dining plan. I think given you are a vegetarian, you will get more value from the regular dining plan too. I'm not saying you would struggle to find vegetarian options, you won't, they're available on either plan, but you will definitely have a better selection if you have the regular dining plan and can go to the better restaurants.

Overall, I am a fan of the Dining Plan (just not the quick service plan!) it may be worth your while considering going for Old Key West or Saratoga Springs which are the cheaper deluxe options because you will get the better dining plan and there isn't much of a jump in price.

Riverside vs. French Quarter isn't a clear choice either. You'll get arguments for each and both sides of the debate will have valid points. In the end it boils down to one thing...SIZE! Riverside is much bigger and the facilities are bigger (food court etc) but it's somewhat harder to navigate. There are more rooms, more people, less quiet, but that isn't to say it's not a nice place to stay. French Quarter is smaller, more intimate, quieter. I guess it depends on the type of person you are as to which would appeal to you more.

Personally, I have always found Virgin more expensive than booking with Disney directly too. The difference for our last trip was around £900 less with Disney (2 adults 1 child) so look at booking directly with the Disney Travel Company too!

Hope that helps!

 

[Azza1987]

I booked everything seperately for our first visit this year, Virgin just seemed that little bit 'too much'!

We've got flights with United (book directly on their website), Manchester - New York direct for 4 nights, then New York direct down to Orlando for 8 nights, and then return flights to Manchester with a 2 hour stop at Washington! That came in at £1087 for both me and my DBF, then I paid to upgrade our 2 'long flights' to premium economy which cost an extra £350 (ish).

I then booked Saratoga Springs Deluxe Studio Villa directly on the WDW website, with 14 night ultimate tickets, and it came withthe free $100 gift card & free standard dining plan, and that was £1735 for both of us.

So total without the premium plane upgrade was £2822 which I think is very reasonable for a deluxe resort, nnext to DTD where I wanted us to be. We're a young couple going without kids (26 & 30) so I didn't want something 'disney overloaded' like the all stars etc. This seemed perfect for us, and the free Disney Dining plan will cover all our food! So we don't need to bring a load of cash for meals!

The free transport around the sites, and Magical Express were a plus point for me too!

Try booking it all seperately and see what it comes out with. I think online on their website now though they are only offering the QUick Service dining plan with all resorts regardless, which is a shame.

 

[queendisney]

Just been looking at this hotel for the beginning of September this year. Works out at £3,500 for two adults, including "free" quick dining plan and the disney tickets (14 days for 7) with Virgin Holidays. Can we get it cheaper? Is it worth the extra £1000 or so against staying in one of the downtown disney hotels offsite? Is the dining plan worth it with a picky vegetarian?!

Which is the better part of the hotel, Riverside or French Quarter?

Have to go out for a few hours but will check back later if someone could give me advice. Thank you!

Yes you could do it cheaper then that, have a look at Complete Orlando. I just did a real quicky price up for 2nd to 16th Sept and it came out at £3180! (direct BA flights to Orlando Int'l, POR, Tickets and free Dinining)..If you aren't set on certain dates you can save a few hundred or so, plus if you aren't bothered about going direct you could save some there also.
Personally I will only stay on resort as I am a Disney Addict and love to be in the middle of it. But yes you could certainly save money staying off resort..
We love both POR and POFQ..they are so close to each other, a short walk, that it doesn't really matter which one you go for. We normally go for POR purely based on two things a) a lot more pools b) the food court is much better. We are both vegetarians and have no problems at all with food choice and it really isn't all just vege burgers!!! The food is absolutely fine you just have to put up with eating off paper plates with plastic cutlery, which is no big deal for a couple of weeks Personally we prefer the QSDP over the other ones on offer as we find having to make loads of ADR so far in advance a total pain, then having to be in those places on that day at a specific time. We like to just take the day as it comes and eat when we want to. There is no way I can tell you what I fancy eating in 6 months time!

 

[queendisney]

I just had a quick look at Thomson and their price is £3200 if you would consider travelling with them on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I personally prefer Riverside as the food court is much larger and the rooms are more my taste.

I thought all the dreamliners had been grounded recently..not sure when they will be back in service..hopefully soon though.

 

[ptay39]

Wow, thanks everyone. Some extremely useful comments there. Will do some more research

 

[scoobydooby]

Please be aware if you are booking now from the UK you will not get free regular dining at a deluxe, this is now also quick service. Some deals last year for this year had the old offer bit these no longer exist.

I always fly direct with Virgin but never get their packages as I can always do it cheaper with getting flights from them and hotel/tickets/dining from Disney.

Have stayed at both PO Resorts more than once. I prefer Riverside as better food court, prefer the pool, quiet pools and Marina. That said I pay for a preferred room to be close to the centre as its a big resort. FQ is smaller.

For a family of 4 it's about £900 to upgrade from quick service to regular dining plan I've just done it!

Staying at Riverside again this year I really love it there. Did Beach Club last year which is gorgeous but IMHO, not gorgeous enough for the massive price hike from a moderate.

You could do vege quick service but you'd need to research fast food places properly to get a decent range.

Good luck

 

[married2mm]

Yes you could do it cheaper then that, have a look at Complete Orlando. I just did a real quicky price up for 2nd to 16th Sept and it came out at £3180! (direct BA flights to Orlando Int'l, POR, Tickets and free Dinining)..If you aren't set on certain dates you can save a few hundred or so, plus if you aren't bothered about going direct you could save some there also.
Personally I will only stay on resort as I am a Disney Addict and love to be in the middle of it. But yes you could certainly save money staying off resort..
We love both POR and POFQ..they are so close to each other, a short walk, that it doesn't really matter which one you go for. We normally go for POR purely based on two things a) a lot more pools b) the food court is much better. We are both vegetarians and have no problems at all with food choice and it really isn't all just vege burgers!!! The food is absolutely fine you just have to put up with eating off paper plates with plastic cutlery, which is no big deal for a couple of weeks Personally we prefer the QSDP over the other ones on offer as we find having to make loads of ADR so far in advance a total pain, then having to be in those places on that day at a specific time. We like to just take the day as it comes and eat when we want to. There is no way I can tell you what I fancy eating in 6 months time!

just wanted to say,I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[ptay39]

I'm not even sure I can justify a resort hotel. I've only stayed in a Disney hotel once and that was at the New York in Disneyland Paris. It was so clinical it's put me off staying at any, but I guess the Florida ones are different. Still attracted by off-site and walking distance to Downtown Disney. I think Port Orleans will be too much money for us

 

[queendisney]

You could do vege quick service but you'd need to research fast food places properly to get a decent range.

Good luck

we are vege and have no problems at all in finding good vege food. The CS always offer vege options..Wolfgang puck (salads, pizza, pasta,the most wonderful garlic mash), earl of sandwich (nice selection of fresh item), make your pasta at POR (my fav) etc its no problem at all being vege on the QSDP.. We actually find it more of a pain at TS restaurants with the vege options..
Also you can get vege chilli's, a wonderful selection at the Poly resort (we popped across a lot to that cs restaurant), fab salads all over the place, a great noodle salad at ABC in HS (love the dressing on this one), make your omlettes, tofu dishes, egg rolls (as in chinese rolls), not to mention all the places around EPCOT's world showcase..
Then obviously there are vege burgers and some offer the toppings bar where you can load up the salad, mushrooms, cheese etc...
Thats just a quick guide with other places like the sunshine foodcourt at Epcot, where we got vege wraps, flat breads (which they also do at AKL in their CS restaurant) amongst other selections..

 

[queendisney]

I'm not even sure I can justify a resort hotel. I've only stayed in a Disney hotel once and that was at the New York in Disneyland Paris. It was so clinical it's put me off staying at any, but I guess the Florida ones are different. Still attracted by off-site and walking distance to Downtown Disney. I think Port Orleans will be too much money for us

That is also a good option and can save you loads of money. We stayed at Wyndham LBV a couple of years ago and that really is only 5 mins away from DTD..The Hilton is across the road and also only 5 mins walk but costs more. The the other hotel right on DTD doorstep is the Wyndham Palace..the other hotels are a tad further but also walkable, just a bit more of a trapse when you are shattered, but there is a bus. Personally I think staying at a WDW resort is money well spent but others don't..either way I am sure you will have a great time.

 

[scoobydooby]

we are vege and have no problems at all in finding good vege food. The CS always offer vege options..Wolfgang puck (salads, pizza, pasta,the most wonderful garlic mash), earl of sandwich (nice selection of fresh item), make your pasta at POR (my fav) etc its no problem at all being vege on the QSDP.. We actually find it more of a pain at TS restaurants with the vege options..
Also you can get vege chilli's, a wonderful selection at the Poly resort (we popped across a lot to that cs restaurant), fab salads all over the place, a great noodle salad at ABC in HS (love the dressing on this one), make your omlettes, tofu dishes, egg rolls (as in chinese rolls), not to mention all the places around EPCOT's world showcase..
Then obviously there are vege burgers and some offer the toppings bar where you can load up the salad, mushrooms, cheese etc...
Thats just a quick guide with other places like the sunshine foodcourt at Epcot, where we got vege wraps, flat breads (which they also do at AKL in their CS restaurant) amongst other selections..

Yea. But you are a regular with a wealth of knowledge. A good range of vege quick service is absolutely available but I maintain it takes some research.

 

[queendisney]

Yea. But you are a regular with a wealth of knowledge. A good range of vege quick service is absolutely available but I maintain it takes some research.

true, but still say it really isn't difficult as nearly every if not all do vege options and you can't really rely on the menu's as these aren't always up to date but agree it can give you an insight into whats on offer From when we first went to now its vastly improved it really was only vege burgers even though the main man back then, Micheal Eisner, was a vegetarian himself Its way way better now thankfully

 

[bex7583]

we just booked port orleans riverside direct with disney for 7 nights, 5 of us plus 5 disney 14 day ultimate tickets and upgraded the dining plan and it was £2256 we got £67 cashback thru quidco aswell

 

[ptay39]

Oooh that's good. I use quidco as well so will have to remember to go through them when I finally get round to booking. We have further things to consider now. My DD is due to go to Uni in the third week of September but isn't sure if she is taking a gap year. If she does, we can then go to WDW in December with a group of friends, but she won't know till she gets her results in the middle of August. I don't know whether to book September or not. If we don't and she then goes to Uni we won't get to go to WDW at all

 

[2Tiggies]

Oooh that's good. I use quidco as well so will have to remember to go through them when I finally get round to booking. We have further things to consider now. My DD is due to go to Uni in the third week of September but isn't sure if she is taking a gap year. If she does, we can then go to WDW in December with a group of friends, but she won't know till she gets her results in the middle of August. I don't know whether to book September or not. If we don't and she then goes to Uni we won't get to go to WDW at all

September is a lovely time to go. Weather is pleasant, parks are quiet and if you go late enough you will be there for the Halloween Parties as well. Prices are usually slightly lower at this time of the year as it's considered off season. Faced with the possibility of not going if you don't book, I'd personally book it. Nice as it is to spend time with friends, to me Disney is a 'family thing'

 

[laura_<3]

We booked with Thomson last year and stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. We loved it

 

[ptay39]

Thanks for your comments everyone. I've been reading about Po Riverside again today and now I'm in favour of that again, booking directly with Disney. Hopefully will get it booked over the weekend