Riverside or French Quarter?

[BubblPopElectrc]

I'm thinking about switching our reservation from the Swan to possibly POR.. which is better: Riverside or French Quarter?

Judging by pictures, I'm thinking Riverside looks the prettiest. Any recommendations on where to request to stay in Riverside? Distance isn't really an issue.

Both areas share the same busses, correct? Which area does the busses go to first?

Any other suggestions/recommendations would be great!

 

[satrn]

I don't believe they share busses. I seem to remember them using two seperate bus systems and you have to look carefully, because the sign on the busses has to go to the next page to tell you which one.

 

[tink2]

We've stayed at both and my whole family - parents, brother's family, us- prefer FQ much better! It is much smaller and more compact- meaning less walkig to/from buses, food court, etc. The grounds are absolutely beautiful! And, you can get beignets in the morings from the food court. It is like a clean New Orleans- even down to the jazz music playing softly in the background. Also, the buses pick up POFQ before the go to POR and drop them off first at night- so you always have a seat and are let off first at night. That is a big plus! The biggest thing is the size- POR is much larger and even the closest building on the mansion side is much more of a walk than most buildings at POFQ.
There have been several threads on this in the past- do a search under the resort section.
Both are beautiful - you won't go wrong either way. If you do choose POR, make sure to make a request to be close to the main building and food court.

BTW- every time we've been they share buses. If it is very busy and the buses are full, the will often not share- but the majority of the time they do. Sometimes at night they will have their own bus.

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Oops! I just noticed I posted this in the wrong section.. sorry, Mods!

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

We've stayed POR before.

The landscaping was too "weedy" and overgrown for me....although this is the theme and what it's supposed to look like.

Although we are staying POLY next time, I would choose FQ over POR if I was choosing again.

I did think FQ was prettier.

 

[KMLOVESWDW]

DH & I had our heart set on FQ for months & months for an upcoming trip. Two weeks before we were supossed to leave, got the paperwork from TA & between her & Disney a mistake was made & we were confirmed at POR with no hope of getting into FQ for the time we were there. Needless to say, I was not happy at all. I mean, so disappointed. Then we got there. I would never tell our TA, but WE LOVED IT SO MUCH MORE THAN FQ. It is much prettier. The landscaping, the buildings. Everything is so nice. And quiet? We never even saw a person walk past our room. Boatwrights for breakfast was great. We rented a boat, took the carriage ride & just walked the grounds. The gazeebos & benches. We went over to FQ while we were there. While some areas are pretty, it just looked more like a regular hotel to me. The streets are pretty & the resort is small which is nice. I just couldn't get over how much we loved Riverside. I would ask for AB section. I thought it was much cozier. Buildings #38 27 18 14 looked the best to us. Good luck with your decision. I know it can be hard!

 

[aubriee]

We prefer POFQ. It's so much smaller. No room is that far from the buses or food court. Also you will always pretty much be guaranteed a seat on the bus in the mornings, since POFQ is the first bus stop. Also they have the delicious begneits.

 

[schwaa]

It totally depends on what you are looking for with your "resort". If you want to stay at a beautifully landscaped resort where you can take nice, quiet walks, then I would choose POR. If you are look for a pretty hotel that is convenient, than I would choose POFQ.

Both are beautiful. POR has many more trees and nice walking paths around the resorts with two distinct themes. POFQ has "streets" that connect all the buildings with courtyards all around. POFQ has more of a city feel and POR has more of a country feel.

I just reread your post and you said distance isn't an issue. So I would choose POR. Choose the Mansions if you want to feel like you are staying in luxury and choose the Aligator Bayou if you want to feel more rustic. I've stayed in both and like both.

One sidenote: I definitely enjoyed more using the buse depot over by the mansions than the one at the front of the resort. There were always mobs of people at the main resort. The ones by the mansions are much quieter when you are waiting.

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

I def. think I am going with Riverside.. I'm gonna call and book tonight!

 

[sjaakie]

Maybe to late but Riverside is so loveley and plantation like.

 

[piggy]

Hey! I have stayed at Riverside with my family and we loved it, we are from louisiana so we felt at home. We walk over to FQ it is nice but Riverside felt more like home to us. Have a great time.

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

We stayed at POR last June and loved it. It was beautiful. Wasn't that crazy about food court choices and hubby walked over the FQ a few times to get food from there as he preferred some of their choices

. Rooms were roomy and staff was great. It's nice to have the boat to DD too (but you get that FQ too!).

There is a big factor however in the walking distance around POR. It can be quite a trek to and from the front of the resort for the gift shop, food court, lobby, etc. There are plenty of bus stops and we never had to wait longer than 10 min for a bus (visited Memorial Day - June 7 2006) and time to and from parks and back to your bus stop didn't seem excessively long. There is a front bus stop outside the gift shop and then 2 more as you go around the side & back of the property so you're never more than a short walk. But if you have had a full day at the parks and need to stop off at the gift shop to get some milk, snacks or at the food court and you're staying at one of the further away buildings it can be tiring. Buses pick up at POFQ & then POR. On the return trip back from the parks the buses may stop at POFQ first and then POR, but truly that happened only a handful of times during our trip. POR and POFQ were separate for the most part.

The bicycle rentals, horse carriage rides, paddle boats and beautiful grounds and theming make POR a great choice for us but I am sure that when the kids were little they sure would have loved that dragon slide over at POFQ!