Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is a charming moderate resort that transports its guests to New Orleans during Mardi gras season. French Quarter is an under-the-radar resort that does not disappoint in delivering the perfect storm of spot-on theming, Disney charm, and a relaxing atmosphere. It is also popular among Disney Fans for it's relatively smaller-scale compared to other moderate resorts. We had the opportunity to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter during our pre-cruise wedding stay in November. While our stay was short, it was certainly a memorable start to our wedding trip.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by cast members with Mardi Gras beads and ushered into the main lobby. We typically head straight to our rooms, but there was an issue with our magic bands and they had to reset them so we could get into our room. Cast members at the front desk were not only helpful, but had a downright sunny disposition. They not only helped us with our magic bands, but gave us a resort map and drew out how to get to our specific room. We followed the CM's directions and made our way through the resort.
We arrived at our resort on the final day of the RunDisney wine and dine event, so the resort was buzzing with activity. Our room was one of the furthest from the main lobby, but it still only took us 4-5 minutes to reach the room. The size of the resort definitely has its perks! Most areas are a short walk away.
Although the theming seen around the resort is top-notch, the rooms seem bare in comparison. The hardwood flooring is definitely an improvement from the carpeting the rooms used to have. We prefer the hardwood floors in the resorts and feel they give a cleaner appearance. The beds are elevated with wooden frames, which now offer enough room underneath the beds to store luggage. There is a single piece of framed Disney artwork that adds some color to the room.
From the quaint promenades lined with gas street lamps to the fountains that serenade passers-by, French Quarter resort allows guests to view New Orleans through romanticized, rose-colored glasses. Small in size and isolated from the commotion in the parks, guests truly get the best of both worlds.
Unfortunately, the Port Orleans Resorts accomplish that sense of isolation and serenity by not having the same degree of development or proximity to the parks. There’s no Skyliner, monorail, or non-bus transportation to the parks here. Due to this, we probably wouldnt stay at this resort unless we needed a quick resort only stay. We prefer the skyliner resorts for the convenient and fun transportation to the parks and other skyliner resorts.
There is a river boat that transports Port Orleans guests to Disney Springs. The boat runs roughly every 20 minutes and takes 15 minutes to get to Disney Springs. The last boat departs Disney Springs at 11:30pm. We love the boat options, and only wish there were similar options for park transportion.
French Quarter is only a 10 minute walk to Riverside, which is an added bonus considering they are sister resorts and guests can share the same ammenities. While we prefer to stay at French Quarter, Riverside is the larger of the two and has many great options for dining, entertainment, and my husbands personal favorite, fishing! There is always something to do on Port Orleans property, which makes this an ideal candidate for a relaxing resort day.
And lets not forget the Mickey beignets, which are a true delight! Resort guests and Disney fans alike come from all over to taste these delicious treats! it is a must do every time we stay at a Port Orleans resort.
What French Quarter really has going for it is its intimate and fun atmosphere. No matter what, the resort always lacks the chaos of the the larger resorts, which is an added bonus for the adult crowd. It truely is one of the best themed resorts we have been to. We only wish they could add some of that theming to the resort rooms and think up some better transportation ideas for the parks! If we had to choose between Riverside or FQ, French Quarter is the winner in our book!
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