Port Orleans - Riverside or French Quarter?

gbruenin

gbruenin

Active Member
Hi folks,
We're planning the summer trip now, and trying to decide on a moderate.

The kids suggested Coronado Springs, which we've stayed at before, but I'm considering Port Orleans as they've never been there (the wife and I did for an anniversary weekend some time ago at Dixie Landings when it was called that).

Lots of folks on these boards seem to really like P.O., so the question is....Riverside or French Quarter. I'm assuming there's no diffference in the rooms, and other than the Magnolia buildings I believe its all outside entrances. What makes one better (or worse) than the other? Pools, food courts/restaurants, game rooms, bus loop?

I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks. Gary
 
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PinkQueen22

PinkQueen22

New Member
If your kids spend a lot of time at the pools, I'd say they would enjoy the French Quarter a lot more. They've got a great slide that all the kids enjoy. However, I've stayed at Riverside twice (once when it was called Dixie Landings) and it is really great too. They are both really great, but with kids I would recommend French Quarter. Hope this helps!
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Riverside - "Dixie Landings" - is double the size of POFQ in terms of guest rooms. The buses stop first at FQ which is handy when its busy, and obviously when full they won't stop at Riverside
 
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tunaman68

tunaman68

New Member
RachelP6877 said:
FQ for sure 1st bus stop better pool slide:wave:
Click to expand...

That depends on how old your kids are. The FQ slide is a short slide and great for little guys, but the slide at Riverside is more of a "real" waterslide with turns and lots of speed! It's also a bit more shaded where the FQ pool is right in the sun. That could be good or bad depending on the weather!

We like the space and quietness of the Riverside as well. Being from the city, we preferred the trees and woods over the "street" and "city" feel of FQ. I suppose if you're from the country, the FQ would seem like a nice change as well.

There is live music at both with a jazz duo at FQ, and the hilarious Piano Bob at Riverside. Food is similar at both, but Riverside has a sit down (never eaten there), and it's a short walk to try out the slightly different menus at the food courts.

Riverside is spread out, so depending on the building you get, you can have to walk a bit for dinner and busses, but we had building 27 Alligator Bayou, and LOVED it!!

Both resorts share the DTD boats so that is another reason to stay here over the other moderates.

IMHO, you can't go wrong with either one, we just prefer Riverside.

HAVE FUN!!!!
 
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wvdisneyfamily

wvdisneyfamily

Well-Known Member
I love POR!!! It was so hard for me to decide to stay somewhere other than POR this year. (We're staying at WL.) POR is so beautiful and quiet. The walking is not all that bad. We stayed in building 85 (one of the mansions in Magnolia Terrace). It was about a 5 minute walk to the main building and main bus stop. We never went into POFQ, but saw it from the Downtown Disney boat a few times. It just looked so umimpressive compared to the beauty that was POR. Also remember that the table service is at POR; POFQ does not have one.
 
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Disneykidder

Disneykidder

Well-Known Member
Hi Gary~~

We have decided to stay at POFQ in Feb 09' due to the pool and the closeness of everything. There was a thread a few days ago, if you can find it, about this same topic and one person had a link to the POFQ-POR map. It shows how everything is really close. I actually wrote down that I want to stay in either 4 or 5 building, perferably 4.

I have stayed at POR (when it was Dixie, too) and loved it, CS and loved it and CBR and loved that too. They are all so different and that is why we like to try them all.:)

You can't go wrong with either!
 
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Tinkerbella16

Tinkerbella16

Well-Known Member
We stayed at Riverside last year, and we wish we would've booked FQ. We went during a very slow week in November, and they must have put us in the furthest room possible in the Aligator Bayou section. The FQ is a lot less walking, they have the better pool, and the busses stop there before Riverside. Wasn't really happy with the bus system for POR/FQ, every night we left a park to go back to the resort, it seemed like our bus stop was always the most crowded, and we'd stand there and wait forever to get on a bus. The only good thing about our room, was that we had a bus stop right outside of out building basically, so walking from a long day/night at the parks was not bad at all. Getting breakfast in the morning at the foodcourt was a hike, I didn't mind it at night, it was actually pretty nice and relaxing to stroll and take in the atmosphere on the way to the foodcourt and giftshop. The resort was very nice, and we loved taking the boat over to DTD at night. I do miss those beds, they were very comfortable. But I think that FQ is a better choice.
 
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M

majorrfb

Member
Pofq

meljaffe said:
fq is smaller and everything was closer--pool was also better--
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:ROFLOL:We loved the French Quarter. Very nice rooms, music, decent food court and choices. Pool area the kids will love. Nice boat ride to DTD, good walking trails around both properties, if so inclined. Use AAA and get a 15% discount on rooms. We loved building 5, second floor,with river background. Quite and relaxing, yet in the center of things to get to all Disney properties. GO FOR IT!!:wave:
 
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maryszhi

maryszhi

Well-Known Member
i love riverside. its because i love the quiteness and how it reminds me of how the mansions and plantations are in new orleans. i like french quater, bc it reminds me of a 'G' rated french quarter and burboun street. but overall i like riverside more. I dont know why, i just do. Oh and everytime im there i feel like scarlett o'hara from gone with the wind. i always do a pic with me doing her signature mad look lol. i do it at least once a trip to disney, neworleans, or any other place that has houses like that.
 
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mickeypal1

mickeypal1

New Member
Stayed at Riverside many times, and LOVED this place. Walking isn't that big a deal. Food court is good. Bob in the Lounge is AWESOME. Landscape is the best. The only downside is the buses do get croweded at times...FQ just didn't have the same "feel" when we would walk around from time to time.
 
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M

Mouser365

New Member
Our family stayed at Riverside in Feb. 2004 and liked it alot. We are planning to go in Feb. 09 and stay at POFQ just because we'd like to experience all the different resorts. Riverside was clean, quiet, the walking was not a big deal, Boatwrights was great and we hada great experience. I know I will enjoy my stay at POFQ just as much!



1988 offsite, 1995 CBR, 2004 POR, 2006 WL, POFQ 2009
 
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kangaand2roos

kangaand2roos

Member
I've stayed at both. FQ when I got engaged and this past Dec at Riverside with the kids for the first time. FQ is smaller and more intimate which was perfect for us at the time we went. Riverside I thought was great with the kids. The played in the arcade, the pool was great and had waterslides as well. The food court was excellent had alot of choices, I would say choice wise one of the best in WDW. We even took the kids on a horse and carriage ride there. We stayed in the mansions, and we were at a great location sort of smack dab in the middle of the pool area and the arcade/ food area. We could even stand on the bridgeover the river area and see fireworks at night. I love both resorts but with kids, I'd recommend Riverside.
 
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Miss Bell

Miss Bell

New Member
I've stayed at both. Just got back from the 3rd time at FQ. Both are nice, I personally prefer the smaller size of FQ. As many have said--1 bus stop does it for me.

You'll have a blast wherever you end up.
 
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Goofnut1980

Goofnut1980

Well-Known Member
French Quarter is by far the best... super quiet and only have the 1 bus stop so its quick on and quick off... you don't have a million bus stop like some of the other resorts... We stayed at Caribbean beach and they have about 7 stops... it was horrible.. never failed we were always the first picked up and last dropped off... was tons of fun :lookaroun
 
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