Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Review

This review of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter shares a detailed account of our last stay a few months ago. We discuss the resort’s rooms, pools, recreation, dining options, transportation, and a few tips for making the most of your stay. Port Orleans French Quarter is a moderate resort that’s located within the Disney Springs Resort Area. It sits adjacent to Port Orleans Riverside, and is by far the smaller of the two resorts.

This particular stay was planned due to the resort’s rooms being completely updated. In fact, because of the update, this resort comes in considerably higher in our resort rankings. We believe it has a few factors that make it stand out when considering the moderate resorts. More on that later. As always, this room was paid for out-of-pocket and secured with an annual passholder discount.

Both Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside are stunning resorts with landscapes matching their theme. The two resorts sit adjacent to each other. You can walk, boat, or take a bus between them. We won’t get into too many details about Riverside in this review, but suffice it to say that Riverside often requires a good deal of extra walking. Port Orleans French Quarter is considerably smaller and more compact. Pretty much everything at this resort is within a short walk.

When I arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter, I had been on a whirlwind of hotel stays and was happy to settle back in at a Disney-owned and operated resort. I was immediately greeted at the entrance and soon after found that my room was ready. This was a pleasant surprise, considering I had arrived before 10:00 a.m. Since I was driving, my only request was that I could park close to the building. I was assigned room 3319, which was on the third floor of building three.

My room was a standard guest room with two queen-size beds. All the rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter sleep up to four guests. Unfortunately, this resort does not offer rooms that have a fifth-sleeper.

A bench with a table replaces the former table and chairs.

A dresser provides several drawers for storage, outlets on top for electronics, and a beverage cooler tucked in the side.

This is one of the newer beverage coolers that are designed to keep drinks cool. According to the sticker, they chill items to 41 degrees or above.

One of the things I like about the moderate resorts is the split layout of the bath area. You can close the curtain in the vanity area and use the space to get ready. The bath had two sinks, a shelf to store personal items, and an open closet space. Other room amenities include a wall safe, an iron with an ironing board, a makeup mirror, toiletries, extra blankets, and a hair dryer.

This particular room had a walk-in shower with a detachable showerhead.

Overall, I really enjoyed this room. Details like the solid-surface flooring and subtle room decor felt fresh and modern.

As far as Disney theming goes, there were a few nods to The Princess and the Frog. Of course, these are just a few photos of the room. If you would like to see more, we have a tour of the rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter that offers over 50 photos.

Every time we stay here, I always feel as though the hotel leans more deluxe than it does moderate. Of course, the main contributing factor to that feeling is the resort’s boutique layout. It’s not your average moderate. The French Quarter is only a fraction of the size of other moderate resorts. Aside from the lobby, the resort has seven buildings with guest rooms.

The front of the resort is home to the lobby, reception area, dining, a gift shop, and an arcade. Pathways from the lobby lead straight out to the Sassagoula River. The resort’s pool, playground, hot tub area, pool bar, and laundromat sit between the lobby and the river. Everything is within short walking distance of each other. As far as rooms go, buildings one through three are located on one side of the resort, and buildings four through seven are located on the opposite side. Building seven is closest to Port Orleans Riverside. However, the two resorts are still some distance apart.

It was a breeze to get around the resort. One evening, I remember coming in from the bus stop, picking up something to eat at the quick service, and then returning to my room in no time. If I’d stayed at one of the other moderates, chances are I would have had a ten-minute walk back to my room after getting something to eat. So, if you’re considering staying at a moderate resort and are concerned about having to do a lot of extra walking, you might consider Port Orleans French Quarter.

Recreation

We’ve already discussed several nuances between Port Orleans French Quarter and the other moderate resorts at Disney World. Another significant difference is that the French Quarter only has one pool. That said, Doubloon Lagoon, the feature pool, is a fabulous pool unlike any other. A giant sea serpent named Scales straddles the length of the pool, forming bridges across it in certain areas.

King Neptune is perched high above the serpent with his trident. A fun, kid-friendly waterslide spouts from its mouth.

In addition to Scales, you’ll find several fun-loving alligators and water features around the pool.

Adjacent to the pool area is a considerable aquatic play area designed for children 48″ or less in height.

You’ll find the resort’s playground between the pool and the lobby.

A separately fenced area is home to a whirlpool spa tub. This area is separate from the pool to provide some privacy for the adults. However, don’t expect it to be private. On my last stay, it was full of splashing children.

South Quarter Games, the resort’s arcade, is located off the lobby near the gift shop.

As far as other recreation is concerned, you’ll want to check out the resort’s recreation calendar during your stay. It lists the times and days for various activities around the resort for each week. One of my favorite activities is the Movies Under the Stars program, which is held four nights a week at the French Quarter. A projection screen is set up in a grassy area between buildings five and six. While I didn’t take advantage of any movie nights during this stay, I can say these nights have been some of the most relaxing evenings I’ve spent at Disney World.

Anyone who likes to jog or take long walks on vacation might enjoy the running trail. If you stay on the French Quarter side, the distance is about 0.7 miles long, or you can add another full mile by continuing on the Riverside. Other recreation items at Port Orleans French Quarter include:

• Campfire Activities (Complimentary Marshmallow Roast)
• Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides (extra cost)
• Bike Rentals (extra cost)
• Surrey Bike Rentals (extra cost)
• Fishing (extra cost)

Restaurants

Port Orleans French Quarter has a quick-service restaurant, cafe, lounge, and poolside bar. Unfortunately, the resort doesn’t offer a table-service restaurant. That said, a table-service restaurant is available at nearby Port Orleans Riverside. Additionally, Disney Springs, a short boat ride away, offers dozens of choices.

The resort’s main dining options are Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, the resort’s quick service. We cover the quick service in depth in a separate review. Sassagoula is open daily and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is also associated with a popular food item–Mickey-shaped beignets. You can find them at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe off the lobby.

Scat Cat’s Club Lounge is open each evening and serves a separate menu that includes appetizers. The lounge offers live entertainment on select evenings. Last but not least, the resort has a pool bar, Mardi Grogs. This location serves cocktails and has a small selection of quick service items. If you would like to know more, we have a complete dining guide for the resort: Dining Options at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter.

Transportation

Most of the moderate resorts, except for Coronado Springs, offer more than one form of transportation. In this instance, Port Orleans French Quarter falls in line with the other resorts of its category. Like every resort, bus service is available. Buses at Port Orleans French Quarter travel to the following locations:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom
• Disney Springs
• Typhoon Lagoon (transfer bus)*
• Blizzard Beach (transfer bus)*

When taking a bus to the water parks, you’ll first travel to one location, then transfer to another bus that takes you to the water park. For example, if you’re visiting Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll take a bus to Disney Springs. Then, at Disney Springs, you’ll board another bus that takes you across the street to Typhoon Lagoon.

Important Mention: Someone recently shared with me that a cast member told them to take a boat to Disney Springs and then find the bus for Typhoon Lagoon. You would not want to do this unless you wanted to walk across the entirety of Disney Springs. The French Quarter has buses that travel back and forth to Disney Springs. That bus will drop you off near the transfer bus.

In addition to Disney’s bus service, Port Orleans French Quarter offers water taxis to and from Disney Springs and Port Orleans Riverside. These are pleasant boat rides. But if you’re visiting during a cooler time, make sure to wear layers or bring a jacket. One evening last winter, I thought I might freeze on my way back to the resort.

Related: Transportation at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter

Other Amenities

We’ve covered the bulk of staying at Port Orleans French Quarter. However, there are a few small items I think are worth mentioning. For starters, Port Orleans French Quarter has a laundry room called Laundry on the Levee near the pool area. They have multiple washers, dryers, and a vending machine with detergent and fabric softener.

Related: Laundry Facility at Port Orleans French Quarter

The French Quarter also has a commendable gift shop, Jackson Square Gifts and Desires. You can usually find a nice selection of resort-branded merchandise inside.

Final Thoughts

This stay at Port Orleans French Quarter was calm and peaceful. If you have a busy trip planned, it might just be the kind of resort you need to help you unwind at the end of the day. The French Quarter is also a lovely place for slow mornings, early evenings, or really just whenever you like to relax.

This was my second stay at the resort within the last four years. Both stays were impeccable, and I left with no complaints. Of course, if you’re not the kind of person who’ll spend a Friday evening roaming the resort at sunset and appreciating its beauty, then you might be as well off at one of the value resorts. But if you’re on a moderate budget and like the idea of the boutique layout of the resort, this is an outstanding option. If you run out of room to roam, you can always walk next door to Riverside, where there’s an abundance of acreage to cover!

We hope that this review of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter helped in your planning. We always look forward to staying here. It’s a charming resort with a peaceful vibe. This review is part of our collection of Disney World Hotel Reviews. You might also like to learn more about the Disney World Resorts. Check back with Resorts Gal soon for more on the resorts and updates!

In the Comments

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