Why do more people like POFQ better than POR?

[Sadie]

It's me again with another STRESS induced question? One minute I've totally convinced myself that POR is the best place for us. Then I read about FQ and think I'm making a big mistake by choosing POR.
It will be me, DH, and DS16 and I want it to be the right choice. We have never stayed on property and with DS's age he may not want to go again. Hopefully he will but who knows??

So......what do you think are the reasons? We will like the rustic feel and definately don't want to stay in the mansions.

 

[manhattan]

We like POFQ for several reasons:
1. Smaller resort - never far from anything
2. Pool slide - my kids love it
3. Food court....the CMs have always been so nice to us
4. Theme...love the Mardi Gras theme
5. Kids Playground....never seen it crowded and its always so clean.

Hope this helps.

 

[HopperFan]

We have stayed at POR 4x (twice each side) and will stay again. While I think FQ is pretty resort, we have walked it and eaten there.......we have no desire to stay there. It is quiet and peaceful and I think wonderful for adults and young children.....but with teens......we and they prefer something with alittle more activity. I think your DS will enjoy hanging out at the casual POR much better, the theme pool is more mature and the AB quiet pools are nice, and you have all the amenties you all need. Oh, and the kids like AB side better than mansion.

I don't think you are making a mistake at all for the age your DS is

 

[sue1013]

We prefer POR. They are both nice resorts but POR has a sit down restaurant and quiet pools. We would rather eat a restaurant than a food court. With the age of your son he may like the quiet pools better than the main pool. There are a lot of little ones at the main pool, my teens liked the quiet pools for this reason.

 

[SDFgirl]

We are staying at POR in May. I can tell you why I picked it over POFQ. (Although I'm sure we'd have a wonderful time, anywhere!).

People say that they like POFQ because it's smaller. My DBF and I are reasonably fit, so the extra walking at POR didn't bother us at all. In fact, I've heard that POR has more interesting, secluded, tucked away spots because of it's size. We would vastly prefer romance and a bit of seclusion to being close to the food court. That's just a matter of preference, though.

The pool with the dragon slide does look neat in the pictures, but looks more geared towards children. If your DS is 16, I'm sure the slide will be a novelty but not a big draw. We thought Ol' Man Island looked just as fun.

When DBF and I were looking at the photos of the resorts, he commented that the "foliage" looks nicer at POR.

Lastly, the rooms at Alligator Bayou at POR looked more "theme-y" (for lack of a better word) than the rooms at POFQ or even the rooms in the Mansion section at POR. Although they may not look as sophisticated as the others, the rustic look of AB is unusual, and we wanted a theme room that totally immersed us in the experience.

Both resorts have a boat to DTD which is wonderful. Bottom line, I've heard wonderful things about both places. I don't think you can really go wrong!!

 

[estnh]

We have stayed at both POR and POFQ several times, and love them both. (By the way, we have a 16 yr. old daugher, who also loves them both).

The main differences:

1. POR is MUCH larger and spread out. If you don't choose your building carefully, you could have to do a lot of walking. FQ is much smaller and more compact, and easy to get anywhere from anywhere.

2. POR has quiet pools, which we think are great. Both POR and POFQ main pools get VERY busy.

3. POR has a sit down restaurant--FQ does not. (Both food courts are great)

4. FQ is much quieter and more peaceful. Because of its sheer size, POR always seems to be bustling and busy. You can actually hear the birds singing at FQ.

In summary, you can't lose either way--they are both wonderful places in their own right. (FYI, we are booked at POR this year in April)

 

[4mykids]

We have stayed at both. Love the small size of FQ, but enjoy extra amenities at POR. We love the marina and restaurant. My suggestion is to pick a building close to the action at POR.

As a previous poster said, you cannot go wrong with either one. Don't stress; just enjoy!

 

[pixie08]

Altough I personally perfer PoFQ I agree with hopperfan that your DS will probably perfer POR!!! If it were just u abd you DH I would recommend PoFQ (it is cozier and more romantic). Does yoiur DS like to fish? your DS and DH could head over to the fishing hole while you relax at the pool or u can all rent some bikes and have a ride over to PoFQ (only 5 min) so u can have the best of both worlds!!!


PS-they r sister resorts so you can use them both so if u like the rustic rooms stay @ POR and hang out @ FQ!! it is only a 8-10 min walk or a short boat ride on the sassagoula river

 

[Nolcrest]

I really like POFQ but I LOVE POR. I think your 16yr old will like POR more. My teens do. As everyone else stated the pool at POR is a bit more grown up or should I say not as playful and tame as FQ.

Your teen will like the famiy friendly lounge at POR and I think the gift shop has more to offer at POR.

POR definately has a more Huck Finn feel to it. Your family will love POR. Good choice!

 

[tiggersmom2]

POR is my favorite moderate. POFQ just can not compare. The food court at POR just blows the FQ's away and POR has tons of pools...very important when you have a toddler and a 11 yr.old!! . The Tom Sawyer/ Huck Finn feel can not be beat for the kids and Boatwright's is a family fav!!!!

 

[Sadie]

Thank you all very much! That's what I wanted to hear! I am so glad you think DS will love it. My STRESS is slowly lessening. Thanks to the ones with 16yr olds too. I feel so much better!!!

Sadie

 

[BevS97]

If you prefer the rustic look to the mansions, then you will prefer Alligator Bayou to French Quarter - FQ is more like the mansions in terms of feel and atmosphere, AB is definitley more rustic. For me, I didn't like rustic, I wanted posh and we preferred FQ, but that's doesn't mean that you should feel the same

 

[cleophus12]

Another good reason for staying at POFQ which I did not see posted is that you have one bus which serves the resort and picks up at a central location--or at least it did when we stayed there. At POR you get on the bus and ride around the resort picking up people at every bus stop. Sometimes it seems to take forever to get out of the resort!

 

[kendzee94]

We've stayed at POFQ twice (bldg 1 and 4) and at POR once (bldg 18). We stated in Alligator Bayou at POR. One thing I would caution (now we went before they remodeled) if you are going with younger kids, ask for bedrails. The bed frames were wooden and pointed. Our son fell out of bed the first night we were there and hit his lip on the other bed and cut it open(almost all the way through). Very bloody, ambulance, security, resort manager, housekeeping at midnight.....great fun to start off our trip.
That aside, it depends on how much you plan on doing at the resort. We felt that POR was too spread out for the amount of time we spent there. If you are not lucky enough to get a room in one of the closer buildings, walking to the food court may be somewhat problematic. If you want to visit POR, you can take either a bus, boat or walk to get to POR from POFQ. We like the general store at POR better (better selection), and the main pool is nice. If you want to rent a boat, POR has that. No matter what bldg you are in at POFQ does not require a lot of walking to the food court or bus stop. With a 5 and 7 year old, those things are what come into play with us when you have to carry sleeping kids back to the room after a long day. All of the rooms at POFQ have been remodeled, so I don't think you can go wrong there.

Also, our bldg #4 parking lot/courtyard view also had a view of EPCOT's fireworks (because of the hurricanes, I presume). I would definitely stay at POFQ again, probably wont stay at POR again. However, we are looking to upgrade to WL or another deluxe this year. We are still deciding.

 

[Rafikifan]

We haven't stayed at FQ but have at POR (always will be Dixie Landings to me) and really liked it. We are staying there again in June. I don't think you can go wrong either way. For us I just don't need a French Quarter theme because we are from Louisiana and have been to the real French Quarter so many times but that's just us. I will say the POFQ will be a LOT more family friendly than the real FQ by far

 

[MAGGIED]

We have stayed twice at the POFQ and liked it very much - but our children were younger then and the smaller size and the themed pool was perfect for them.... this year we are trying the SOG and possibly AK in November for DD sweet 16... don't worry about the hotel - you'll have a grand time no matter where you stay - after all - you will be in Disney.....

 

[Laura's Dad]

We have stayed at both resorts multiple times and really like both. My wife likes the themeing at the FQ a little bit better than Riverside. We like the Mansions at Riverside and are not interested in the Alligator Bayou section at all (just personal taste). The transportation is a little better because of the fact that sometimes they pick-up and drop-off at the French Quarter before Riverside. There is more to do at the Riverside resort central and we ALWAYS go to Bob Jackson's show at Riverside at least one night during our stay. There is a little less walking at French Quarter. I just wish they had their full service restaurant back open.

 

[BevS97]

Another good reason for staying at POFQ which I did not see posted is that you have one bus which serves the resort and picks up at a central location--or at least it did when we stayed there. At POR you get on the bus and ride around the resort picking up people at every bus stop. Sometimes it seems to take forever to get out of the resort!

Quite often the FQ bus, goes round POR and picks those people up too, so you aren't saved that journey unfortunatly, you are first on and first off though

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've also stayed at both several times each. DH prefers POFQ, I prefer POR-here are our reasons.
DH-POFQ: smaller size so everything's easier to get to, prefers type of food served in food court, prefers jazz theming, prefers the one bus stop; likes Scat Cat's lounge

Me-POR: more restful and, I think, prettier environment on grounds; like the food court better-more variety of food; prefer their gift shop; like to rent bikes and that's at POR; like the cane pole fishing at POR; have met nicer CMs (not saying POR has nicer CMs, just saying that I've met more nice ones there)

Good luck with your choice!

 

[eeyore0062]

We like the fact that at PO-FQ, it isn't as spread out, there is only one bus stop and it is convenient, we like the food court better, and of course, they serve Beignets at breakfast, the pool is more roomy feeling than the one at PO-R and seems to be "sunnier". Also, while enjoying all of these benefits, we can go right next door and enjoy what PO-R has to offer, as well.