Which Port Orleans

[EEYORERULES]

Planning on staying at this resort in Dec & not sure which side to stay - French Quarter or Riverside. Just wondering which you prefer.

 

[Rubbertops]

We just got back from a stay at the French Quarter and preferred it since it seemed shadier and more compact. We didn't want to walk too much with hot cranky kids in August.

Riverside looked great - just more spread out.

 

[yxe dad]

I've only stayed at POFQ but really enjoyed the small size of the resort. It was very easy to walk anywhere and the food court was ok. The boat ride to DTD was very relaxing after a day at the parks.

 

[drag n' fly]

We like POR better. The river flows through the resort not along it and it is very peaceful and lush with vegetation and animals. We stayed in the AB section. We enjoyed walking around the resort and did not mind it being more spread out.

 

[marykay]

We have been to PO and absolutely loved it - stayed in the AB section - had our own pool just outside the door and of course there was the grand feature pool too. There is walking involved, so be aware if you stay there but we did not find it too much at all. Also, had a wonderful food court (I believe it has been renovated since). Not sure if they still have it, but they had live entertainment at the restaurant in the evening...all my family really loved the resort.

 

[calliemom]

Stayed in the Alligator Bayou Section of the Riverside last fall and loved it so much we are returning next month. Building 18 is where we stayed and was a quick stroll through nice winding paths to the main building. Also the Riverside has several small pools located around the property, so if you don't like large crowds these pools are perfect.

 

[Jaymie]

We stayed at POR in July in the Mansions and loved it. But I would like to try POFQ sometime too.

 

[Winkster]

If you have kids who don't want to walk far, avoid Riverside - otherwise head straight for it!

I love Port Orleans Riverside and much prefer it over the French Quarter. The landscaping is far nicer, the pool is more attractive, the food court is far better, there's a beautiful marina and the laid-back atmosphere in general is head and shoulders above that at POFQ.

I always wonder why people moan about the extra walking at POR. Yes it's huge. Yes it's spread out. That's the attraction of it. Why come to Disney if you don't want to walk?

For me, POR wins hands down every time!

 

[Chester's Mum]

We've only stayed at POFQ and loved it. One thing to consider is that the buses to the parks pick up at FQ first and drop off there first. Sometimes there wasn't enough space for the people at the third stop in Riverside. Just a thought, if that sort of thing is important to you.

Oh yes, don't forget to try the beignets.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We just got back from POFQ 12 days ago.

We have, in the past, stayed at CSR and liked it but it was really large and we had about a 7 minute walk to the food court and an even farther walk to the main pool. At POFQ we were in building 5 and had about a 1 minute walk to either the food court or the pool. The hot tub and laundry were even closer. Having been there in August we enjoyed the shady walkways. The atmosphere is amazing. There are horse drawn carriages moving about and you hear dixieland jazz being played. The food court was a little small but never once did we feel like we couldn't find a seat or feel crowded. I had read a number of negative comments about the CM's but we never experienced anything but excellent service. The concierge in particular were all excellent, we had a problem with our DDP credits and they fixed it without even a blink.

One evening we went to POR and we thought it was nice too but found that it was very busy and crowded.

Really what it comes down to is how you feel about the size of the property. If the extra walking to the pool or food court doesn't matter than you have to decide which theme is more appealing. They both have the same amenities the only exceptions being that POR has more than 1 pool and a sit down restaurant.

 

[Jackie Psarianos]

Port Orleans Resorts

We have walked through both the Riverside and the French Quarter and if we had to pick, it would be the French Quarter because it's easier to navigate on foot, and it's very orderly in layout and compact. You can hop on a ferryboat and visit the Riverside and Downtown Disney also.

 

[fsmith2845]

We got back froma stay at FQ back in August. Several advantages of FQ over POR. One, the resort itself is very compact. Even if you are at the far building on the resort, it's a very short walk to the pool, foodcourt, etc.

2nd is the busses. POFQ and POR share bus service. POFQ is first to be picked up and first to be dropped off coming back. We rode the bus going to the resort everyday, and really didn't experience any time delays going to or from.

3rd, if the pool is important to you, especially having a slide, then POFQ pool is better.. no slide at POR (that i remember).

Not to take anything away from POR. We walked around it, and it's really nice, but for me, with two cranky kids, it was nice having our room really close to the bus stop, to the food court, to the pool, to the bar.. DD def loved the slide on the pool.. had a tough time getting her off it.

 

[pooksma]

Thanks for sharing all this. DH and I are looking at POR and POFQ for a parents only trip. Which is more romantic and what buildings do you recommend?

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thanks for sharing all this. DH and I are looking at POR and POFQ for a parents only trip. Which is more romantic and what buildings do you recommend?

Personally, I think FQ is more romantic. All the wrought iron railings, lamp posts and fountains not to mention the horse drawn carriages make it absolutely beautiful. There is a cozy feeling to it all. We were in building 5 but they are all so close to everything that I don't believe that it would make any difference which one you were in. In reality the buildings are not as spread out as they appear on the map. I would guess that from furthest point to point would be no more than a 4 minute walk.

The theme at POR is very "Tom Sawyer in the bayou". I'm not saying that it's not nice but I don't consider it romantic or quaint.

It all comes down to taste.