Riverside or French Quater: Please, help me decide!

[Aidita]

I shall be arriving at Diney on August 29. I´m already booked in the French quater cuz I have heard you have a better chance of getting a seat in the bus. What do you thinK?


Thank you for replying.

 

[Limmer]

We were at Riverside in Oct and never had one tiny problem with the bus. We never waited more than 5 mins and always had a seat except on the last bus home from Epcot. I loved Riverside, it was lush and beautiful. We stayed in the mansions and I could not have felt more special. We are going back in Sept.

 

[Tesabat]

We thought the bus transportation at POR was okay (it got us to the parks and back) - but not great. POFQ has less rooms and less people, so that must be what you are thinking with the seats....but, please note, that when we were there - sometimes POR and POFQ SHARED the same bus...and POFQ was picked up after all the POR stops!! I never figured out the when or why as to the bus runs there, so all I know is that we often pulled into POFQ to pick up people there as well.

As you can tell from just a couple responses, and if you browse the boards, the bus transportation experience varies greatly - and has a lot to do with time of day, bus breakdowns or mishaps that delay the schedule, a person's own perception, etc.

We thought both POR and POFQ were wonderfully themed moderate resorts. Both had a nice ambiance. The bus is just one small aspect of the resorts.

Have a GREAT vacation!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I prefer POFQ due to the small size. Everything is a close walk, and there is just a nice intimate feel to it.

POR is prettier, and has more ducks and bunnies.

You really can't go wrong. Stay at POFQ this time, and try POR next time.

 

[stanley]

we prefer pofq for its size-everything is close. though bus service is shared you are always the first on and first off since pofq is the first stop. they only have one bus stop.

 

[king_triton2001]

Yes, the bus usually stops at POFQ before picking up guests at POR (at least that's how it was the times we stayed at POR or POFQ). If that is your only criteria, don't forget that this only benefits you on the way to the parks. When you come back, everyone has a chance to get a seat. The only good thing is that POFQ would be the first stop. Both resorts have their unique qualities but I'm sure you will be happy with either one!

 

[molly733]

but, please note, that when we were there - sometimes POR and POFQ SHARED the same bus...and POFQ was picked up after all the POR stops!! I never figured out the when or why as to the bus runs there, so all I know is that we often pulled into POFQ to pick up people there as well.

Are you sure this is correct? We stayed at PO/FQ and POR was always picked up AFTER PO/FQ. Never the other way around. Everytime we rode the buses both resorts shared.

 

[Tesabat]

I take it that question is for me.

All I can relay is what we experienced when we were there in August, 2001. My recollection is we sometimes pulled into POFQ to pick up people - not always, but sometimes. I'm assuming that when they didn't pick people up at POFQ, they already had come from there, or they were operating independent busses...but I really don't know. I can just specifically remember pulling in there sometimes to pick people up and commenting on the theming to my husband, and that's how we decided to spend one of our "resort days" at the POFQ so that we could check it out for future stays and so my son - who loves slides - could check out the pool there as we had seen it from the boat, and it looked interesting. And, I also remember thinking - yikes! - how many places do we stop to pick people up before we actually head towards the parks?

We used the main bus stop and the bus seemed empty when it picked us up. That's why we used the main stop. If it wasn't empty, it had darn few people on it because we absolutely never worried about getting a seat. Ironically, I don't recall dropping people off at POFQ more than once or twice.

Now, is it possible I have this backwards? Sure...I guess. It was hot and I was in Disney - a combination of heat and excitement can have that effect! Hey, if there are more people saying it is the other way around, well, then, I'm sure it usually is. It's also possible that I'm recalling it correctly, but had a bus driver who was new and got it backwards...or...well, you get the idea. Anything's possible.

As I indicated in my original note - I think busses are a minor reason to pick a resort - and are often the topic of much confusion/debate as any commentary we provide is simply based on one's perceptions. (Example - I thought the bus transportation at WL was excellent!) It is "my" recollection that we sometimes shared a bus with POFQ and picked people up there...and that sometimes we did not. That's why I couldn't understand the system. When we didn't pick people up there, had the bus already been there? I don't know.

For the record - The bus came - I got on - it took me to the park and brought me back - and I was happy.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have stayed at both several times and have never noticed any real difference in the bus service, although I am there to relax and don't account for every minute. My personal opinion is that I like Riverside better...the bayou section...because it is cozy and quaint to me. The mansions section of Riverside is OK too, but it just doesn't seem as relaxing of a feel to me for some reason. French Quarter is small....not spread out over as much area...but I do not like the jazz theming there at all. The hotel itself is nice, the aminities are nice...the jazz music playing all the time annoys me. I'm a kook!

 

[JulesMom]

Don't stay there just because you might get a seat on the bus.

I LOVE PO-FQ!!! The atmosphere is fabulous! The resort is so small, it makes everything convenient.

We stayed at PO-R in June and never were we not able to get on a bus

 

[JulieJo]

We were just at POR at the beginning of June. It was nice enough but I don't think we will be back. I regretted not staying at POFQ. Here are my reasons:

1. The buses were a problem for us. I don't know if it was the parks we chose to go to on any given day or what, but the minimum we waited was 15 minutes and it was usually 20 or 25. We were at the first bus stop in POR. I don't know if they were filling up the buses at FQ before they got to us or if they just underestimated the amount of people needing transportation on a given day. I know that you should expect up to a 20 minute wait for a bus but I found it hard to believe that it would happen to us every time we needed to go somewhere.

2. Although the grounds were beautiful the best route for us (3 minutes vs. 10 minutes) to get the the bus stop or the main building was through a parking lot. Not the most inspiring view.

3. The main pool was nice but there was a lot taken away from its beauty because of the fencing under the bridge. You had to get out to go from one side to the other. I asked a lifeguard how long they planned to keep it that way and he said that he couldn't get a straight answer from anyone and he suspects it may be permanent.

4. Housekeeping was just so so. One day we returned at 5:00 and our room was not started yet. I think this is completely random though because the maid from the section next to us seemed to be doing things much more efficiently.

Overall, we had a pleasant trip. These were my only complaints from the whole week. It would take a lot more than this to ruin a trip to Disney for me!!

Sorry this is so long!

Julie

 

[Aidita]

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my post.

I´m leaning toward the FQ.


Thanks again,

Aidita

 

[TwinMom7]

Well, I have to get my 2 cents in here...we will be returning to Riverside in 3 weeks (for our 4th visit) and I feel like I'm going HOME!! In fact, I gave my husband the choice of Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Riverside and you can see what his choice was.

1. We have NEVER waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at any time of day - except when leaving the Magic Kingdom late at night. We have also never been turned away because a bus was full.

2. Housekeeping has always been wonderful - very friendly and very efficient....cute things done with our kid's stuffed animals.

3. We have visited the French Quarter on each trip - always take a walk along the river and sometimes use their pool area. The pool at FQ always seems packed!! I guess because it's the only pool on the grounds - where Riverside has the main pool, plus 6 quiet pools.

4. The food courts don't begin to compare - and I've done them both. Riverside has a much easier set-up. You go to as many locations as you want - picking up different foods and then paying at one location. FQ didn't have nearly as many choices.

5. And as for the theming, I have to agree with a previous poster...I'm not into Jazz and the city atmosphere of FQ just didn't do anything for me. I enjoy the relaxed country feel of Riverside - the secluded areas of Alligator Bayou are my favorite. I love walking through the Mansions and seeing the beauiful landscaping, but that area seems to "hotel" like to me...so we continue to return to the bayou.

6. If a sit-down restaurant is important to you, remember that only Riverside gives you this option. The only choice you have at FQ is the food court.

You'll find lots of opinions here - it's that way with most Disney resorts. Theming is everything!! Go with the theme that you want. As much as I love the Caribbean, I couldn't wait to try the Caribbean Beach resort last summer. It was nice, but I wouldn't return there. The Yacht Club resort was beautiful and the location was among the best...but on a whole, the resort was a little "stuffy" for us. So, here we are, going back to the bayou - where we know we'll be happy.

Good luck with your decision...and have a great time!!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

The food court at POFQ has the same setup as at POR. There were 4 (maybe 5) counters, and centralized cash registers. Having stayed at both, I would agree that POR has more choices (although I've heard reported recently that the choices are fewer than they used to be), however the foodcourt at POFQ was never remotely as crowded as the one at POR. I'd give the edge to POFQ.

 

[TwinMom7]

I did just read that the food court at FQ has been revamped and is now designed like Riverside. When we visisted their for lunch - 2 years ago - it was the old format, and not very convenient.

Personally, you just can't beat the fresh pastries at the bakery in Riverside's food court.

Remember, it's all a matter of your choice as far as theming. The nice thing about Riverside and FQ is that they are connected by a 15 minute walk along the river. It's a beautiful, relaxing walk and definately worth it.

Have fun!!

 

[yup I'm Goofy's sis]

What a great discussion! You guys are making it impossible for me to concentrate on my "real life", awaiting our WDW trip in August. I'm feeling comfortable with our plan to stay at POR/Bayou. This one of the most helpful and reassuring threads I have read yet--maybe "Port Orleans people" are just a special breed!

Can't wait to check out the pools, dining, and relaxing aspects of POR with my DH and four sons, ages 10-20. Thanks for the info!