Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside are sister Moderate Resort inns at Walt Disney World that we advocate to anybody who loves themed environments. So…which is the higher possibility to your WDW trip? This publish provides our head-to-head smackdown to see which reigns supreme. (Updated February 11, 2023.)
We gained’t bury the lede–they’re each nice inns and there’s no one-size-fits all reply to the query of which Port Orleans Resort is finest. This is just not making an attempt to achieve a definitive conclusion (though we’ll) as a lot as weigh the professionals and cons of every Port Orleans Resort to be able to determine for your self. Notwithstanding theme, we expect Riverside and French Quarter every have so much to supply.
This comparability addresses whether or not it’s best to select Port Orleans French Quarter, or if Riverside is the higher selection for your loved ones. With that in thoughts, we’ll examine theme, price, eating, swimming pools, and different facilities that can assist you decide which is best for you.
Depending upon your perspective, one factor that is likely to be a professional or con is that each Port Orleans Resorts are probably the most “thematically pure” Moderate Resorts. While Coronado Springs added the brand new Gran Destino Tower and Caribbean Beach had Disney’s Riviera Resort constructed on a portion of its (former) grounds, this has not occurred at Port Orleans.
The upside to that is that each Port Orleans Resorts retain their attraction and thematic integrity. The draw back is that Gran Destino and Riviera Resort introduced with them distinctive new eating and different facilities. Both Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs are actually arguably “Moderate+ Resorts” in some regards, and it feels considerably like time has handed by the Port Orleans Resorts consequently, at the very least from a practical perspective. Nevertheless, we love each Port Orleans Resorts, and the environment is the large purpose why…
Theme: Port Orleans Riverside – Both of those resorts are the peak of romantic theming and Southern attraction at Walt Disney World. Due to the growth tasks on the different Moderates, these two resorts are actually the top of theme among the many Moderate Resorts.
This is particularly true at Riverside, which is split into Alligator Bayou (bayou) and Magnolia Bend (mansions), and provides a refined transition between the 2 and extra thematic selection. The backstory at Riverside is attention-grabbing, participating, and cleverly-executed all through the resort.
The quiet pathways that criss-cross Port Orleans Riverside make it an amazing place to take a romantic stroll late at evening, early within the morning, or (we guess?) below the excessive midday solar. These grounds are nothing in need of gorgeous, with wealthy wilderness within the bayou and completely manicured gardens across the mansions. Despite being pretty unfold out, it presents as intimate and romantic, and we’ve lengthy beneficial Riverside as one of the best price range resort for an adults-only or honeymoon journey.
French Quarter is likewise charming thematically, and its idealized presentation of New Orleans is enjoyable. (It’s additionally a intelligent theme for masking the lodge buildings.) It additionally has so much going for it, and an amazing sense of romanticism, but it surely nonetheless falls in need of Riverside. The atmosphere is simply extra pleasurable and has a better sense of depth at Riverside.
Transportation/Layout: Port Orleans French Quarter – Both resorts rely completely upon bus transportation to get to the Walt Disney World theme parks, with boat service obtainable at each to Disney Springs. Transportation is the place French Quarter shines. It’s the one Moderate Resort that has a single bus cease, which provides a major time-savings benefit whenever you’re making an attempt to get to or from the parks. That can imply a barely longer stroll to the bus cease, however that normally is just not the case.
This is as a result of (and that is one other benefit), Port Orleans French Quarter has very compact format. It is well walkable, and though visitor rooms are unfold amongst a number of buildings, French Quarter is just not a sprawling resort like the opposite Moderates. Unless you get caught in one of many farthest rooms from the foyer, every thing at French Quarter is a couple of 5-minute stroll out of your room. That’s fairly vital you probably have young children, or simply don’t really feel like making a 15-minute trek to refill your mugs within the morning.
For many individuals we all know, that is French Quarter’s single-biggest promoting level. Sarah is a kind of individuals, whereas I’m loopy and truly benefit from the sprawling resort type of Riverside. (Fortunately, I can have one of the best of each worlds by staying at French Quarter and wandering over to Riverside.)
Rooms: Push – Both have rooms that we’d name completely superb, they usually’ve benefited from practical enhancements because of the most recent delicate items refurbishment. Those room renovations additionally made them thematically much less attention-grabbing, however a bit brighter and lighter, which is good from a temper perspective.
Neither Riverside nor French Quarter has rooms which might be pretty much as good because the just lately redone rooms at Coronado Springs, that are a better caliber as a result of they cater to enterprise and conference vacationers. Conversely, each are actually arguably higher than the “Poly-lite” rooms at Caribbean Beach which might be beginning to present their age once more.
The upside at Port Orleans Riverside is that the rooms in Alligator Bayou can sleep 5 because of the pull-down Murphy mattress, so there’s that. On the flip facet, we want the aesthetic of the Magnolia Bend rooms. At each resorts, the rooms are well-appointed, and tasteful from a thematic perspective. We discover them completely comfy, and have zero complaints…however we don’t contemplate them stand-out Walt Disney World rooms, both.
Dining: Port Orleans Riverside – French Quarter has the least eating choices of any Moderate Resort, and is the one one with no desk service restaurant. Many individuals contemplate this to be a “big deal” when planning a primary go to, however we’d warning you in opposition to giving an excessive amount of weight to this.
The major purpose is as a result of you may stroll to Riverside to dine there; it’s like a 10-15 minute stroll. Second, though we expect Boatwright’s Dining Hall is underrated, you’ll in all probability solely eat there as soon as–at most–throughout your keep. With each of those resorts providing boat transportation to Disney Springs–which provides a wealth of outstanding desk service choices–that is de facto the route it’s best to go for those who’re doing dinner outdoors the park.
Counter service is kind of a push. Both Port Orleans Resorts have giant, loud meals courts with objects of various levels of high quality. We’ve had unhealthy and good meals at every, so we wouldn’t draw any conclusions from these, both.
With that stated, Port Orleans French Quarter does have freshly-made beignets…and beignet ice cream sundaes, that are a robust promoting level. (We’re not kidding.)
Pools: Port Orleans French Quarter – On our record of the Top 10 Pools at Walt Disney World, Doubloon Lagoon at French Quarter ranked #8 and Ol’ Man Island Pool at Riverside is unranked. In actuality, the 2 swimming pools aren’t that far aside.
Where Doubloon Lagoon has a definite benefit, from our perspective, is when it comes to character. It options have a troupe of musically-inclined alligators, which collectively (kind of) kind the Bayou Gator Jamboree. It additionally has the 51-foot lengthy slide themed as a SerpentDragonSnake, an enormous half serpent, half dragon, and half snake creature recognized to scour the depths of the waters, leaving nobody alive.
It’s all of those particulars at Doubloon Lagoon which have captivated my creativeness since I used to be a child, and have left a long-lasting impression. This all offers the pool a enjoyable vibe, whereas Ol’ Man Island Pool is type of uninteresting and forgettable from our perspective. If you strip away theme, these swimming pools could be fairly closely-matched (for those who favor quiet, unthemed swimming pools, you’ll favor Riverside). Why you’d arbitrarily ‘strip away’ theme at a spot like Walt Disney World is past us.
Cost: Port Orleans Riverside – From one of the best we are able to inform, room charges are similar each price season of the yr for traditional rooms at every of the Port Orleans Resorts. Prices are a bit much less constant/comparable when you get into the completely different view choices or the specialty rooms, however the level stands that rack charges are the identical.
So then, why does Riverside get the sting right here? Discounts. If you’re reserving a visit far upfront (earlier than reductions have been launched), it’s necessary to know that French Quarter usually receives inferior room-only reductions, and is blocked out from different reductions (corresponding to the favored Free Disney Dining Plan at Walt Disney World promo). The ‘discount differential’ can flip these neck and neck rack charges into an enormous chasm in favor of Riverside.
Verdict: Port Orleans Riverside – When we consider one of the best Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World, it’s tough to look previous what Riverside provides when it comes to a resort expertise. The charming theming, the relaxed & romantic ambiance, the numerous facilities, and the fantastic thing about its fantastic grounds all are vital promoting factors.
Add to that the better chance of discovering offers at Riverside, and we’re inclined to provide it a slight edge, total. Now, this isn’t to say that some events is not going to discover extra that appeals to them at French Quarter. For first-timers, Walt Disney World may be an amazing place, and French Quarter removes that from the lodge by providing a extra compact format.
Port Orleans French Quarter additionally may be stated to arguably provide one of the best of each worlds. Those in your occasion who would favor a compact resort have that possibility by confining themselves to POFQ, whereas those that need the true resort vibe can simply stroll over to Riverside.
There’s little doubt reality to this (and I do it on each considered one of our stays at French Quarter), but it surely seems like a cop out. Following this logic, there’s no distinction amongst any of the resorts located round Crescent Lake, nor does something separate the monorail resorts. That’s simply us, although and your mileage could fluctuate in relation to a few of these classes, or how a lot weight you placed on numerous strengths and weaknesses of every resort. We’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback.
Ultimately, each Port Orleans Resorts are fantastic resorts that we extremely advocate. Although we gave the sting to Riverside right here, we repeatedly keep at every of them, with which we choose relying upon the character of our journey (and obtainable reductions!). Important facilities, recreation, and different variables would possibly going to matter otherwise to you.
Our aim is for this publish to be useful in providing a head-to-head comparability of probably the most essential parts of every Walt Disney World resort expertise. With that stated, we propose supplementing this with our full evaluate of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and our Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort Review.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about inns on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every thing it’s essential know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our verdict on this Port Orleans Riverside v. French Quarter head-to-head? What about our conclusions in every class? Is there one thing we missed or obtained unsuitable? Share any questions, ideas, or extra ideas you’ve got within the feedback!