FQ vs Riverside

[coltow]

I know there are 100 threads on this. But I'm in panic mode right now.

We love FQ but in order to get Free Dining we need to stay at Riverside. My kids LOVE the dragon slide at the FQ pool does the Riverside pool have fun stuff for kids too?

I know that RS is MUCH larger then FQ but I assume that the rooms are the same and food court options are the same too.

Is there anything I need to worry about (other then multiple bus stops) at RS?

 

[Master Yoda]

You can use the FQ pool when you stay at RS as well as all of the other facilities at FQ. Food courts are similar except for Bineigts at FQ. Aside from decor, the rooms are all but identical.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

We were worried about this too, we have a 4 year old son. From doing research, seems RS has a ton to do. Sit down dinning, more food options, a fishin hole where you get a cane pole with pieces of hotdogs and fish! And their pool has a water slide and play areas also!

You will have a blast!

And like Yoda said, you can always stroll over to FQ and use the pool anyways!!!

 

[real mad hatter]

Strange?

Find in strange that you can't get free dining at FQ but you can get it at RS? But apart from that the swimming pool at RS is awesome.Stayed at both resorts and this year will be our third visit at RS. Our first visit was FQ then we tried RS. Ok it is a larger resort but walking around the resort is beautiful,it's not like miles and miles and we think the food court is way better ith a bigger choice.Do not worry,your kids will have a awesome time.:wave:

 

[coltow]

Find in strange that you can't get free dining at FQ but you can get it at RS? But apart from that the swimming pool at RS is awesome.Stayed at both resorts and this year will be our third visit at RS. Our first visit was FQ then we tried RS. Ok it is a larger resort but walking around the resort is beautiful,it's not like miles and miles and we think the food court is way better ith a bigger choice.Do not worry,your kids will have a awesome time.:wave:

FQ apparently only allots so many rooms for promotions and because it's small the rooms are limited. We have never heard anything bad abour RS we just like the smallness of FQ and the pool.

Any suggestions as to room location we'd want. We have booked a standard room as of now. I want something that would be both close to main pool and a bus stop. The map is just over whelming and hard to figure out walking distances

 

[Master Yoda]

Find in strange that you can't get free dining at FQ but you can get it at RS? But apart from that the swimming pool at RS is awesome.Stayed at both resorts and this year will be our third visit at RS. Our first visit was FQ then we tried RS. Ok it is a larger resort but walking around the resort is beautiful,it's not like miles and miles and we think the food court is way better ith a bigger choice.Do not worry,your kids will have a awesome time.:wave:

FQ is much smaller that RS and much more popular making FQ not being available for promotions is darn near commonplace.

 

[real mad hatter]

Rooms.

FQ apparently only allots so many rooms for promotions and because it's small the rooms are limited. We have never heard anything bad abour RS we just like the smallness of FQ and the pool.

Any suggestions as to room location we'd want. We have booked a standard room as of now. I want something that would be both close to main pool and a bus stop. The map is just over whelming and hard to figure out walking distances

Alligator section,blds 14,18,27, and 38.Mansions Acadian or Magnolia.:wave:

 

[coltow]

FYI after going back and forth 100 times this morning our group decided to go to Coronado instead. I hope we made the right decision

 

[ShookieJones]

Just saved...

I was originally supposed to go in May...we ran into some bills had to postpone our typical may trip....set up for September...and Just saved.....$1,181.44 wow. That worked out really nice.

Wow...completely off topic......Sorry meant to post somewhere else...LOL...

 

[vjgraham]

We have been at both twice. We like the size of FQ, but the extra things to do at POR. Both pools are great, and food courts are similar too. We opted for FQ on our next trip in May due to the smaller size, and all the rooms located close to main buildings. Since we will be on the dining plan, it will be nice to be close to the food ct to fill up our refillable mugs. Our last trip to POR they assigned us a room that was quite a walk to the food area, thus making it more difficult to refill our mugs. At POR you also have to pay more for a "preferred" room (the one's closest to main buildings). If you don't get a room in a preferred location, the busses are more crowded when you get on, and the walk to food ct and pool is much farther. hope this helps. Either resort beats Value resorts hands down though.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I love French Quarter -- but there are WAY more things for the kids to do at Riverside...FQ, for years, was known as the "adult resort" with very little for the kids besides the pool and arcade -- only recently have they started some of the kids activities there -- and subsequently, the secret is now out and it's almost always full. It used to be our little adult secret.

Riverside, on the other hand, has so many activities for kids, some of them prefer to stay at the pool rather than go to the parks -- they have daily pool parties and competitions with prizes; there is fishing; and recreation activities, and outdoor movies in the evenings (although FQ has also started to do that).

If you ask for Building 90 or 95, they are just across the bridge from the main building, and there is a quiet pool right next to Building 90 which is great for a more relaxed afternoon.

In general, the food courts are next to identical -- RIverside's has much more room to spread out, and a great theme of being inside a "mill" complete with revolving waterwheel....but the lines are also longer -- I have never seen food lines as long as the ones at Riverside at FQ -- but that is related to the sheer size of the resorts.

Also during the evenings, one of the most popular events in any Disney resort takes place in the bar area, where there is a singalong at the piano that people just love.

I will always choose FQ over Riverside, since I prefer to have more adults around and less kids...but there is really almost no comparison between the two results if you have kids: Riverside is a great resort. And I truly mean that. I just stayed there last weekend when FQ was full up again...and it's just a marvelous place to stay.

 

[real mad hatter]

Sing a Whit?

I love French Quarter -- but there are WAY more things for the kids to do at Riverside...FQ, for years, was known as the "adult resort" with very little for the kids besides the pool and arcade -- only recently have they started some of the kids activities there -- and subsequently, the secret is now out and it's almost always full. It used to be our little adult secret.

Riverside, on the other hand, has so many activities for kids, some of them prefer to stay at the pool rather than go to the parks -- they have daily pool parties and competitions with prizes; there is fishing; and recreation activities, and outdoor movies in the evenings (although FQ has also started to do that).

If you ask for Building 90 or 95, they are just across the bridge from the main building, and there is a quiet pool right next to Building 90 which is great for a more relaxed afternoon.

In general, the food courts are next to identical -- RIverside's has much more room to spread out, and a great theme of being inside a "mill" complete with revolving waterwheel....but the lines are also longer -- I have never seen food lines as long as the ones at Riverside at FQ -- but that is related to the sheer size of the resorts.

Also during the evenings, one of the most popular events in any Disney resort takes place in the bar area, where there is a singalong at the piano that people just love.

I will always choose FQ over Riverside, since I prefer to have more adults around and less kids...but there is really almost no comparison between the two results if you have kids: Riverside is a great resort. And I truly mean that. I just stayed there last weekend when FQ was full up again...and it's just a marvelous place to stay.

Don't shout at me,but on a WDW vacation the last thing I want to do is stand at a bar and sing along with Yee Haw Bob,it reminds me of a Hi De Hi holiday camp.:lookaroun

 

[slappy magoo]

I know that WDW resorts have been on a pool-building kick of late, but just a few years ago, Ol' Man Island, the main pool at Riverside, was considered one of the best pools on-property. I remember the Unofficial Guide to WDW once rating it and Beach/Yacht Club's pool as the two best on property.

 

[Frances728]

Sit down dinning, more food options.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Understood, real mad hatter -- and I wouldn't be caught dead in there either -- but none the less, it is one of the most popular evening entertainment activities in any of the resorts....

 

[phlydude]

FYI after going back and forth 100 times this morning our group decided to go to Coronado instead. I hope we made the right decision

Read up on people's reviews of Coronado...tends to be more business oriented and everything is spread apart and disconnected.

The food options are great and the Pepper Market may be the best counter service deal on property for the dining plan but other than that, I haven't heard a whole lot of positives about the proximity of amenities.

 

[coltow]

We were kinda hoping that if most people go there for business then maybe the buses and pool wouldn't be too crowded. I know how jam packed the FQ/RS buses can get