Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I'm looking at booking a trip and moving up to a moderate resort. I've decided on Port Oleans and would realy like some input for you guys who've stayed there so I can decide which of the two to book. Thanks!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip OK... First of all I'll get this out of the way. Labuda stayed at Riverside a couple of years ago and the carpet in her room was FILTHY. She has since made it her life's work to steer everyone away from POR. ;-) The reasons I prefer Riverside: Riverside has a table service restaurant (Boatwright's), French Quarter does not. Riverside has an area (Alligator Bayou) where the rooms have a trundle bed which allows for a fifth person (a child) in the room. The French Quarter does not have this. The buildings and landscaping of 'Magnolia Bend' ("the mansions") at Riverside give you the feeling of staying at a Deluxe resort. Riverside has 5 quiet pools throughout the resort in addition to the main feature pool (Ol' Man Island), French Quarter has only the feature pool. Overall, I prefer the "look and feel" of Riverside. That is obviously a matter of personal taste and I know others would disagree. I really recommend Port Orleans Riverside. Be sure though to check with Labuda to find what room number she was in so you don't get a dirty carpet. ;-)
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy I love French Quarter. Its smaller and more cozy. I love the little walkways throughout the resort that look like streets. The fountains and landscaping. Besides my father-in-law deciding to air his socks on the air conditioning unit in my husband's & my room one day, I've never had a bad experience there. I'm about to stay at Riverside a 3rd time starting Friday. I like it as well and don't mind staying there when French Quarter isn't available. (We always book wherever we can get a AAA rate) Its way bigger than French Quarter it has multiple bus stops while French Quarter has just one. They're within walking distance of each other so whichever one you pick you can easily check out the other and enjoy both. That's one of the nicest features. My husband and I love to walk from one to the other along the river.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Hmmmm, that trundle bed looks like it could come in handy. My son and I may be going with a friend and his son, so we'd have to share our beds with the boys.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Everyone knows how much I love this resort. Port Orleans Riverside is the kinda resort where if you don't want to go into a park that day, you can just hang out at the resort. There are so many thing to do. As RoadTrip said the feature pool is incredilbe ( with an outside bar ). You can go bass fishing at POR, you can rent boats, bikes. POR's food court surpasses FQs. POR has a sit down restarant. RoadTrip is right.... the rooms in Magnolia Bend are wonderful. Personally I prefer staying in Alligator Bayou, as it reminds me of the Wilderness Lodge. All life at the Port Orleans Resort focuses around the Riverside section. Oh and we forgot to mention the nightlife. POR has the sit down bar and the piano player. Such a wonderful thing to do ... grab a drink, listen to live piano. Then grab the boat for DTD to visit the Ghiradelli Chocolate shop! French Quarter is more layed back... and for families with todlers. Riverside has better places to eat, nighlife, more activities, quiet as its surrounded by golf courses on three sides. Now the downsides are that there are three bus stops, your going to be walking outside to your room, if there is bad weather then your going to be getting wet as you have to go outside to get anywhere on property. Also if you get bad weather the food court is massive and a great place to just hang out. So don't get me wrong.. if I wanted a quiet vacation I would probably stay at French Quarter. I don't like quiet layed back vacations. I like diving right in. I like being right in the middle of all the action. And Riverside is where the action is at Port Orleans.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz Just my opinion, French Quarter is my least favoirite of the moderates.I find it to be a bit bland and no matter where you go it all looks the same. The other moderates have sections with some minor and major themeing differences. The French Quarted didn't translate as well into a moderate. It would have made a great Deluxe with a few changes. It is still a very pleasant place to stay and its smaller (in WDW terms) size is an asset). Riverside is prettier to me. Both the Bayou and Mansion section. I am not a huge fan of the mansion architecture but when I finally stayed in one it truley did feel like I was staying in someones estate. I love the simplicity of the bayou section with all the trees and winding paths.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Do both resorts have the ferry to DTD? I had been leaning toward FQ, but you guys have me convinced that taking a closer look at Riverside is in order (at least until Labuda talks me out of it, lol).
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I've stayed at both, and I prefer Riverside. FQ is nice, don't get me wrong. I just prefer the laid back feel of POR. The resort is on both sides of the Sassagoula (whereas FQ is just on one side) and I like the fact that POR is spread out, because walking through the resort is amazing. The grounds are so beautifully done, it doesn't feel like you're staying in a hotel at all. I've stayed in both the plantation homes and Alligator Bayou, and I prefer Alligator Bayou. I think it's quaint. FQ is fine, but I'm a Riverside fan!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Do both resorts have the ferry to DTD?>> Yes, the same ferry serves both resorts.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Yes both French Quarter and Riverside have boat access to DTD. The boats pass by French Quarter on their way to Riverside. Riverside is the end of the boat journey. Regardless of which resort you eventionally stay at I think your going to have an incredible time. I also prefer Riverside. I have never stayed at French Quarter. Obviously I have walked around that property and wasn't very impressed, hardly any cast members since the place has minimal services and amenities anyway. I have stayed at both Magnolia Bend as well as Alligator Bayou. I prefer Alligator Bayou. Magnolia Bend is very luxourious and made me feel like I was staying at a Marriott. Where as staying in Alligator Bayou made me feel like I was on an adventure vacation. Same amenities, same resort, different themeing, different atmostphere.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Thanks for all the info. As soon as I can get my friend to commit to the dates I'm booking Riverside and asking for Alligator Bayou!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I totally agree with everything RoadTrip said in #3. We've stayed in Bayou and Plantation. Bayou is perfect if you're the laid back type, like I can be. Plantations are great if you're snobby, like I can be. The grounds are beautiful, there's a butterfly garden, playground. To me it doesn't "feel" like a moderate. The only draw back we had staying there, was my husband's motion sickness, the buses are rough on him. Sea bands for him when we stay at Wilderness Lodge next trip.
Originally Posted By rockcow1 Sorry to jump in, but I'm so excited to hear all the nice things about POR. We decided to stay 2 weeks at a moderate instead of 1 week at deluxe. POR was it because of the 5th person (darn third child anyway). Now I'm looking forward to all the atmosphere!
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey We are staying at the FQ for the 1st three days of our 13 day trip before transferring to the WL. I picked it over the Riverside resort because of the smaller size and the look of pool (my six year old is very excited about the slide) as well as the fact that the bus drops off and picks up first from the FQ before Riverside. I think they both sound great and the boat to DDD will be fun.
Originally Posted By Labuda Let me put it this way, Deb - I got freakin Athlete's Foot from the carpet in my room in the Magnolia Bend area over at POR. Yeah, the food court's good, but so is that of the FQ. FQ gets first pickup on the PO bus route, it's smaller, it's quiet, it has the boat to DTD, and the decor in the rooms is better. Oh, and as for the sit-down restaurant at POR, I'm not impressed. Given I only had breakfast there, but that breakfast was mediocre. I much prefer the look of FQ, with its lovely buildings with over 100 types of railing used throughout. Plus, it's SMALL - likely the smallest resort on property. Family friendly, couples friendly, and singles friendly. Not as many kids there as at th other mods, though - maybe becuase it's such a small place? Anyhow, FQ all the way - only way I'd consider staying at POR would be if it was free. And then I'd wear socks even in the dang shower.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I always rib Labuda about this because it seems she has not stayed in many hotels. I have had problems at $700 a night hotels before (one bad experience does nt a bad hotel make). If someone has athelete's foot, it will be caught. In any hotel room, wear socks or take your chances. And I won't talks about chairs in hotel rooms - it's amazing what some people get up to away from home!!! I love Riverside, and I even had a better time there than the much loved Animal Kingdom Lodge. It has a wonderful resort feel to it, and the amenities are almost as good as the deluxes, for a lot less. POFQ does very little for me as it feels like a pretty Motel 6 IMHO. The smaller size is nice for the disabled, small kids and elderly, but I prefer the emmersive experience POR offers. Either way though, you will have a great time!
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh We stayed in Riverside in 99 (it was Dixie Landings then), and French Quarter this year. My memory might be hazy because of the interval, but I remember the pool slide at Riverside was longer than French Quarter's. I was looking forward to FQ's dragon slide, and it was disappointing.
