Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside are sister Average Resort accommodations at Walt Disney World that we suggest to anybody who loves themed environments. So…which is the higher possibility to your WDW trip? This submit presents our head-to-head smackdown to see which reigns supreme. (Up to date December 28, 2024.)
We received’t bury the lede–they’re each nice accommodations and there’s no one-size-fits all reply to the query of which Port Orleans Resort is greatest. This isn’t attempting to achieve a definitive conclusion (though we are going to) as a lot as weigh the professionals and cons of every Port Orleans Resort so to resolve for your self. However theme, we predict Riverside and French Quarter every have so much to supply.
This comparability addresses whether or not it’s best to guide Port Orleans French Quarter (POFQ), or if Port Orleans Riverside (POR) is the higher alternative 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.
Earlier than we get going, it’s value noting that Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter will likely be within the midst of room refurbishments till 2026. This mission is properly underway at POFQ–we stayed in a brand new room just a few weeks in the past and noticed energetic building websites round a number of different buildings–and is anticipated to wrap up round Spring 2025.
As soon as work concludes at Port Orleans French Quarter, the identical building crew will transfer on to Port Orleans Riverside. At current, the work there’s scheduled to happen from Spring 2025 via early 2026 and happen on solely the Magnolia Bend rooms. Nevertheless, we all know from previous precedent and the cadence of room refurbishment cycles that Alligator Bayou nearly definitely will get refurbished as soon as that’s completed–and that would take the mission into late 2026 or early 2027.
This building is why each Port Orleans Resorts made our lists of the Worst Motels at Walt Disney World in 2025. This isn’t to say it’s best to keep away from both. Development had zero affect on our keep at POFQ, and it’ll be even simpler to keep away from at Riverside as a result of unfold out nature of the resort. That checklist (and this introduction) is extra like a ‘heads up’ for individuals who are delicate to blight and noise. Chances are you’ll need to keep elsewhere, however generally, a room request will suffice!
Talking of which, let’s shortly talk about the 2 different choices within the Average Resort tier…
Relying upon your perspective, one factor that may be a professional or con is that each Port Orleans Resorts are probably the most “thematically pure” Average Resorts. Whereas Coronado Springs added the brand new Gran Destino Tower and Caribbean Seaside 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. Each Caribbean Seaside and Coronado Springs at the moment are arguably “Average+ Resorts” in some regards, and it feels considerably like time has handed by the Port Orleans Resorts because of this, at the very least from a practical perspective.
However, we love each Port Orleans Resorts, and the ambiance is the large motive why…
Theme: Port Orleans Riverside – Each of those resorts are the peak of romantic theming and Southern attraction at Walt Disney World. Because of the growth tasks on the different Moderates, these two resorts at the moment are the top of theme among the many Average Resorts.
That is very true at Riverside, which is split into Alligator Bayou (bayou) and Magnolia Bend (mansions), and presents a refined transition between the 2 and extra thematic selection. The backstory at Riverside is fascinating, participating, and cleverly-executed all through the resort.
The quiet pathways that criss-cross Port Orleans Riverside make it an ideal place to take a romantic stroll late at night time, early within the morning, or (we guess?) underneath the excessive midday solar. These grounds are nothing wanting beautiful, with wealthy wilderness within the bayou and completely manicured gardens across the mansions. Regardless of being pretty unfold out, it presents as intimate and romantic, and we’ve lengthy advisable Riverside as the perfect finances 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 ideal sense of romanticism, however it nonetheless falls wanting Riverside. The atmosphere is simply extra fulfilling and has a larger sense of depth at Riverside.
Transportation/Structure: Port Orleans French Quarter – Each resorts rely completely upon bus transportation to get to the Walt Disney World theme parks, with boat service out there at each to Disney Springs. Transportation is the place French Quarter shines. It’s the one Average Resort that has a single bus cease, which presents a major time-savings benefit whenever you’re attempting to get to or from the parks. That can imply a barely longer stroll to the bus cease, however that normally shouldn’t be the case.
It is because (and that is one other benefit), Port Orleans French Quarter has very compact format. It’s simply walkable, and though visitor rooms are unfold amongst a number of buildings, French Quarter shouldn’t be a sprawling resort like the opposite Moderates. Until you get caught in one of many farthest rooms from the foyer, every thing at French Quarter is a few 5-minute stroll out of your room. That’s fairly important you probably have babies, 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 type of individuals, whereas I’m loopy and really benefit from the sprawling resort model of Riverside. (Luckily, I can have the perfect of each worlds by staying at French Quarter and wandering over to Riverside.)
Rooms: Push – Each have rooms that we’d name completely wonderful, and so they’ve benefited from practical enhancements due to the newest gentle items refurbishment. These room renovations additionally made them thematically much less fascinating, however a bit brighter and lighter, which is good from a temper perspective.
The subsequent spherical of room updates are already displaying to be the same story. We stayed in a just lately redone room at Port Orleans French Quarter in December 2024, and our opinion on it is kind of the identical as earlier than. It’s completely wonderful, feels recent, and has some cute particulars–however isn’t one of many high tier rooms at Walt Disney World.
The upside at Port Orleans Riverside is that the rooms in Alligator Bayou can sleep 5 due to the pull-down Murphy mattress, so there’s that. On the flip facet, we desire 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 snug, and have zero complaints…however we don’t take into account them stand-out Walt Disney World rooms, both.
Eating: Port Orleans Riverside – French Quarter has the fewest eating choices of any Average Resort, and is the one one and not using a full-scale desk service restaurant. Many individuals take into account this to be a “huge deal” when planning a primary go to, however we might warning you in opposition to giving an excessive amount of weight to this.
The primary motive is as a result of we’ve discovered Scat Cat’s Membership Lounge to be greater than passable. It is a comparatively new venue that took over the outdated Bonfamille’s Cafe house (a desk service restaurant that closed within the early 2000s), and serves a combination of drinks and small plates together with dwell jazz music. We benefit from the setting, ambiance, leisure, and delicacies right here. To make certain, it’s not a fully-fledged desk service restaurant, however it’s unbelievable and enjoyable.
In the event you do want a desk service restaurant, you may stroll to Riverside to dine there–it’s about 10 minutes away and the trail is gorgeous. Though we predict Boatwright’s Eating Corridor 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 presents a wealth of outstanding desk service choices–that is basically the route it’s best to go if you happen to’re doing dinner outdoors the park.
Counter service is kind of a push. Each Port Orleans Resorts have giant 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. It actually will depend on what you’re order.
What we like about each of those meals courts is the variability. There’s actually one thing for everybody, from choosy eaters to extra adventurous ones. And we’ve discovered the featured entrees which can be distinctive to every resort to usually being fairly tasty–and supply good worth for cash.
With that stated, Port Orleans French Quarter does have freshly-made beignets, that are a robust promoting level. We’re not kidding. We hear about these beignets from followers of POFQ greater than absolutely anything else on the resort. They’re so standard that Scat Cat’s Membership Cafe is now beignet central, and the resort even sells a line of “Beign-yays” merchandise.
Swimming pools: Port Orleans French Quarter – On our checklist of the High 10 Swimming 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 should not that far aside.
The place Doubloon Lagoon has a definite benefit, from our perspective, is by way of 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, a large half serpent, half dragon, and half snake creature identified 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 an enduring impression. This all offers the pool a enjoyable vibe, whereas Ol’ Man Island Pool is type of uninteresting and forgettable from our perspective. In the event you strip away theme, these swimming pools can be fairly closely-matched (if you happen to 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.
Value: Port Orleans Riverside – From the perfect we will inform, room charges are equivalent each price season of the yr for normal rooms at every of the Port Orleans Resorts. Costs are a bit much less constant/comparable when you get into the totally 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? Reductions. In the event you’re reserving a visit far prematurely (earlier than reductions have been launched), it’s vital to know that French Quarter typically receives inferior room-only reductions, and is blocked out from different reductions (corresponding to the favored Free Disney Eating Plan at Walt Disney World promo). The ‘low cost differential’ can flip these neck and neck rack charges into an enormous chasm in favor of Riverside.
Verdict: Port Orleans French Quarter – Beforehand, we gave the slight edge to Riverside. Right here’s what we stated earlier than:
After we consider the perfect Average Resort at Walt Disney World, it’s tough to look previous what Riverside presents by way of a resort expertise. The charming theming, the relaxed & romantic ambiance, the various facilities, and the great thing about its fantastic grounds all are important promoting factors. Add to that the larger chance of discovering offers at Riverside, and we’re inclined to present it a slight edge, general.
Issues have modified within the final yr for us as we at the moment are mother and father to a toddler versus energetic and energetic Childless Disney Millennials. With that, we now actually perceive and respect the compact format of Port Orleans French Quarter.
In actuality, this isn’t nearly us–it’s about (lastly) listening to everybody else. One of many greatest complaints about Riverside is its unfold out and sprawling nature, which is exactly what led to current tasks at Caribbean Seaside and Coronado Springs.
For first-timers, Walt Disney World might be an amazing place, and French Quarter removes that from the lodge by providing a extra compact format. It’s the smallest and most walkable Average Resort at Walt Disney World, and friends ceaselessly level to this as an enormous promoting level.
After dragging our toes for much too lengthy, we lastly see the enchantment on this. On the finish of a protracted night time, once I’m carrying a sleeping toddler, each step counts. Identical goes at the start of the day, for that matter, when she desires to stroll however can solely go so quick. These are our distinctive circumstances, to make sure, however a want to reduce steps earlier than even attending to the parks–or on the finish of the day–is hardly distinctive.
Port Orleans French Quarter might be stated to arguably supply the perfect of each worlds. These 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.
It’s additionally truthful to level out that POFQ has an extremely romantic ambiance in its personal proper, and is a stunning recreation of New Orleans. It’s no thematic slouch, it’s simply not as expansive and doesn’t supply fairly as a lot selection in design or setting. French Quarter remains to be unbelievable–and a part of a bygone period of Walt Disney World design. Simply with out the interior bus stops that so many friends hate!
If French Quarter’s extra compact format isn’t sufficiently persuasive, the just lately redone rooms, fulfilling Scat Cat’s Membership Lounge, and fewer building within the subsequent 2 years are additionally vital. Even ignoring format, I’m inclined to present Port Orleans French Quarter the win from at the very least 2025 via early 2027 because of this. We’ll reevaluate (once more) after that!
Finally, each Port Orleans Resorts are fantastic resorts that we extremely suggest. Though we gave the sting to French Quarter right here, we often keep at every of them, with which we decide relying upon the character of our journey (and out there reductions!). Essential facilities, recreation, and different variables would possibly going to matter otherwise to you.
Our purpose is for this submit 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 overview of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and our Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort Evaluation.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Motels Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s worthwhile to know!
Your Ideas
Do you agree or disagree with our verdict on this Port Orleans Riverside vs. French Quarter head-to-head? What about our conclusions in every class? Is there one thing we missed or bought fallacious? Share any questions, ideas, or extra ideas you could have within the feedback!
