port orleans french quarter or riverside?

**minniemom** · 06-14-2012, 03:58 PM

Hello! I think I'd like to try port Orleans resort next time because of all the wonderful things I have been hearing but I'm not sure if I should go with riverside or French quarter. I'm kind of leaning toward riverside but still not 100%. So if anyone who has stayed at both can offer some helpful advice that would be great!
P.s. I have 2 kids who will be 10 and 7 by that time. We don't want an overly huge resort...something relaxing and convenient.

**Winkster** · 06-14-2012, 04:08 PM

I'd recommend Riverside.

The French Quarter is nice too but it's much smaller - too small in my opinion. POFW only has one pool and no small pools. The rooms seem far closer together which makes the resort seem a little busier and less laid pack than POR. I much prefer the POR food court too - the FQ food court just doesn't have the same atmosphere.

Sure, both resorts share facilities so POFQ guests can use POR pools but that involves a walk up the river or a boat trip. At POR, it's all on your door step.

POR has far more attractive buildings (both Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou), lovely landscaped garden walkways and a pretty marina and is linked by a number of attractive wooden bridges over the Sassagoula river that winds through it.

POR is a big resort but the busses stop all the way around the resort and walking from the far side to the main public areas only takes a little over 5 minutes and can be a lovely stroll through the grounds anyway.

I don't think you'd be disappointed by POFQ - it's just that I prefer POR.

**minniemom** · 06-14-2012, 07:41 PM

Thanks winkster...you bring up some good points!

**disneydave81** · 06-14-2012, 08:15 PM

I agree. Riverside is the way to go. Especially w kids the main pool is great and they do alot of fun games. The landscape is very beautiful. The food court rocks lots of dif food.

**Curious Alice** · 06-14-2012, 08:51 PM

I've stayed at POR a few times and loved it. I'll be staying at POFQ this fall for the first time just to see what it's like.

In my opinion, as a first timer at Port Orleans you should stay at POR.

**minniemom** · 06-15-2012, 12:40 AM

Thanks guys! Curious Alice let us know how you like your stay when you come back.

**Curious Alice** · 06-15-2012, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by minniemom

Thanks guys! Curious Alice let us know how you like your stay when you come back.

I definitely will. I'm looking forward to seeing the difference between the two. I actually wanted to stay at Alligator Bayou and my DH wanted to stay at POFQ. He won, so we'll try Alligator Bayou next time.

**Disnut** · 06-15-2012, 11:07 AM

I have never stayed at POFQ, but would like to try it. POR is the first place that I stayed on my first trip to WDW. I was 50 years old. It was clled Dixie Landing at that time. I have stayed at POR at least 6 times. It is my favorite moderate resort. A stay at any resort in WDW is magical.

**kprena19** · 06-23-2012, 04:22 PM

I personally love the port Orleans French quarter. we have stayed at riverside before but we didn't like all the bus stops they had

the arcade at por is better though. my family stays at pofq every time and we have fallen in love with it. you're never too long of a walk away from the pool or food area or the bus stop

give the French quarter a shot

**leowis1** · 07-02-2012, 04:59 PM

We stayed many years ago at the Caribbean. We got burned by all the bus stops. Buses were full and had to drive past us. We stayed at pofq with our 2yr old twins. We chose pofq because it only had one bus stop, the buildings were close, and it made hauling around kids and bags so much easier. We really enjoyed pofq.

I don't disagree with anything people wrote about riverside. It is beautiful. But hiking around that campus plus all the bus stops will take a chunk of time out of your day.

**id0c** · 07-11-2012, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by leowis1

We stayed many years ago at the Caribbean. We got burned by all the bus stops. Buses were full and had to drive past us. We stayed at pofq with our 2yr old twins. We chose pofq because it only had one bus stop, the buildings were close, and it made hauling around kids and bags so much easier. We really enjoyed pofq.

I don't disagree with anything people wrote about riverside. It is beautiful. But hiking around that campus plus all the bus stops will take a chunk of time out of your day.

I agree about Caribbean. Too many bus stops. How many bus stops does POR have? We were debating between POR and POFQ. We will also have a 1 year old with us for his first trip to Disney...

**leowis1** · 07-11-2012, 10:12 AM

At least four stops. IMO with small kids you need convenience. Walking 1/2 mile round trip to get breakfast/coffee is not convenient. If I could do it all over again, i would do pofq. It's great!

**englanddg** · 07-11-2012, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by id0c

I agree about Caribbean. Too many bus stops. How many bus stops does POR have? We were debating between POR and POFQ. We will also have a 1 year old with us for his first trip to Disney...

CBR isn't bad as long as you stay in Martinique, Aruba or Jamaica...the last two are the first on the bus line. Those over in Trinidad or Barbados have terrible positioning in the resort.

That being said, if I was to make a choice, I really want to check out French Quarter. I've walked Riverside, and it is beautiful, but I think French Quarter would be my choice.

**Tinker Britt** · 07-11-2012, 11:43 AM

I heard that you can take a boat to and from Downtown Disney from Port Orleans...where in Downtown Disney is the dock? Has anyone traveled by boat to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans before. Sounds fun! I haven't stayed at Port Orleans since Downtown Disney was called Disney Village Marketplace lol

and where is the live music located on the hotel resort property

**kprena19** · 07-11-2012, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Tinker Britt

I heard that you can take a boat to and from Downtown Disney from Port Orleans...where in Downtown Disney is the dock? Has anyone traveled by boat to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans before. Sounds fun! I haven't stayed at Port Orleans since Downtown Disney was called Disney Village Marketplace lol

and where is the live music located on the hotel resort property

you can take the boat to downtown Disney from both port Orleans French quarter and the riverside! it's not too long and it's better than riding a bus! but when you take the boat down there you might want to be prepared to take a bus back in case it starts thundering and lightning. (they close all boat docks during storms for safety reasons)
and to answer your other question about live music in the hotels:
I know the French quarter has live music on selected nights in the lobby. (it's good. my family and i always try to go and listen to the band on at least one evening of our trip.) but I'm not sure about the riverside :/
(I myself prefer the pofq lol)