We are looking at booking the Port Orleans for next year which is the better option Riverside or The French Quarter? Is there a food court in each resort and how many floors in each building? Is there community pools as well as the main pool? Thanks
I've never stayed at POR, but we have stayed at POFQ, and we loved it.
Here are some comments:
I like the POFQ theming. The balconies look like the ones you see downtown New Orleans. The streets are charming, etc. The food service there is small but adequate for the number of guests.
POR has, like, twice as many guest rooms, and more spread out so that it's like 3 times as big. It's also beautiful, but the theming is more like plantation estates or cajun bayou with tin roofs, depending on the section you are in (Magnolia plantation or Alligator Bayou respectively). Which of the three styles is most appealing depends on what you like, I guess.
The guest buildings at POR are all two-story, and at POFQ they are all three story. On the average, it's a shorter walk to the main building (front desk, dining room, etc.) if you're at POFQ. But if that's important to you, you could request a room close to the main building (at either resort). In general, the walk is not too far from any guest room to the pool or main building compared to some rooms at some other resorts, like CBR or CSR. At those two, you could be
really far from anything in the farthest rooms. (Some people want that, though).
The bus service goes in this order: POFQ, then four stops at POR. So going out to the parks, if you are at POFQ, you get the grand tour of PO. But it doesn't take so long, and coming back, you're the first off.
I love the pool at POR. The pool at POFQ is nice, too, but I found it a bit, idk, cold. Cool colors, open to guest room views, a bit small. The POR pool is a bit warmer colors, and it's off by itself away from all the rooms on it's own little island. But if you stay at POFQ, you can hop over to the other pool. A medium walk over (there is a nice path), or you can take any bus, and you can ride the boat back (same one that goes to DD if you stay on).
There are also five quiet pools at POR and none at POFQ.
POR is where the table service restaurant is (POFQ doesn't have one). Again, you can walk or take the bus over, and boat back. I've never eaten there, but I hear it's pretty good. And I think someone said they have a piano player on some nights who is very entertaining.
I can't comment on the rooms, because as I've said I've only stayed at the POFQ, but I think that they're pretty equivalent. However, I do know that at POR some of the rooms have a trundle bed, so that if you are a family of 5, this is for you! Also, if you have, for example, two different gender teens, or (like I do) one daughter who is a very "active" sleeper, and another who is bothered by that - causing occasional fights at 3 AM.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll have a good time. I absolutely love PO. Have a magical trip!