Walt Disney World Resort - On-site Resorts - Port Orleans

Index

Port Orleans
Riverside	French Quarter

Port Orleans - Riverside, a resort themed after the mansions and bayous of the deep south.
Postcard ŠDisney

Port Orleans is composed of two, formerly separate resorts, located in the Downtown Disney Area. The original Port Orleans, is now known as Port Orleans French Quarter; and the original resort Dixie Landings, is now Port Orleans Riverside.

Understand that they *are*, two different resorts operating under the umbrella name "Port Orleans". POFQ doesn't have a table service restaurant, but it has it's own registration desk, food court, arcade, gift shop and bar. It is, down to the theme, a completely different resort than Riverside.

Riverside

Port Orleans Riverside is another huge resort, with 2048 rooms. I was there in October 2003, ostensibly for the Food and Wine show at Epcot, and attend a MNSSHP. Learning my lesson from Caribbean Beach Resort, I asked for a standard room, close to the parking lot. And I got one. Less than 50 yards from my car. It was an excellent room.

This was my seventh trip to Disneyworld in four years, and I found myself treating Disneyworld with a different set of priorities. I no longer had to storm the parks to see everything I could see. I had a mental list of those attractions I want to see every time I'm there, but there are those I could walk by, too. I've also been all over Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk, and I figured I could cover all the resorts as I stayed at 'em. So a trip to Disney doesn't have to be an all consuming, have to be doing something all the time type of trip.

And as I've said a few times before, I really like the parks at night. So unless one of those things on the list of things to do is a new E-ticket ride (like Mission Space was, that trip) I'm up a little later, and I'm in no hurry to rush into the parks.

Map of Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Click on the map for a larger view... Map ŠDisney

This trip was also to be a sort-of-a-road-trip, since after leaving Port Orleans, I was headed to Universal Orlando, the long way. Thru Key West. But that's a Road Trip.

Riverside Registration / Sassagoula Steamboat Co.

French Quarter

Map of Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Click on the map for a larger view... (But it'll be the same map if you clicked on Riverside above!) Map ŠDisney

Port Orleans French Quarter is litterally half the size of the other moderates with 1008 rooms, which might explain why I've never been able to get a room here. It is quite unlike the other moderates, as the French Quarter is supposed to be an urban setting, as opposed to the other 3 that are based on the spread out, laid back resort atmosphere.

I was there in December 2008 with a friend of mine, and enjoyed 85 degree weather while Chicago got sub-zero wind chills and 2 feet of snow. Ahhhh....

The resort is made of three story structures in seemingly random arrangements, perhaps to illustrate the haphazard nature of the planning in old New Orleans. I was on the first floor in room 3143, right off the parking lot. I'd estimate 100' from my car. Perfect.

How would I rate French Quarter among the other moderates? I'm not sure, since it's been years since I stayed at a place like Caribbean Beach, but I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again...

French Quarter Square, Registration