Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Transportation Guide
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is an almost effortless resort when it comes to transportation. Most people choose this resort simply for its ease of getting around. That said, if you’re unfamiliar with the resort, you’ll want to know how to best use the complimentary transportation provided by Disney. So, we’ve created this guide to answer any questions you might have about traveling to and from Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter.
It will also help you plan your routes before your stay. We recommend reading this entire guide to build a solid base of knowledge ahead of time. You can also bookmark it for reference during your vacation. As always, these tips are based on our personal experience traveling around Walt Disney World. By the time we finish, you’ll know everything you need regarding how transportation works at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. You’ll also want to check the end of this guide for an opportunity to get our free transportation cheat sheet. It’s a great reference to use while on vacation.
Before you know it, your transportation woes will be solved. The biggest decision you’ll have left to make–how many days will you have Mickey-shaped beignets for breakfast at Scat Cat’s?
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Transportation Options
The following forms of transportation are available at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort:
- Disney Bus Service
- Disney Water Taxi
- Walking
You can walk between Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside Resorts. However, there is no walking path from the resort to a theme park or Disney Springs.
Preview the Port Orleans French Quarter Transportation Map (You might want to save this map to your phone to help locate where to find transportation options at the resort.)
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Magic Kingdom
You’ll take a bus from Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to the Magic Kingdom. Port Orleans French Quarter only has one bus stop. It’s on the right, a few steps outside the resort’s main entrance. You’ll return to the French Quarter from the bus stop at Magic Kingdom.
It is rare for Port Orleans French Quarter to share a bus service with Riverside to the Magic Kingdom. But if this happens, you’ll have a few additional stops on the way. However, the French Quarter will be the first stop on the return to the resort.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Epcot
You’ll take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Epcot and return the same way. Wait times for the next bus are posted at each resort bus stop. We have found that wait times are pretty accurate. They are transmitted to the sign via a signal from the bus’s location. So, if you notice a fluctuation, it’s probably because the bus stopped at a light or ran into traffic.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Hollywood Studios
You’ll take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and return the same way.
Port Orleans French Quarter to Animal Kingdom
You’ll take a bus from Disney’s Port French Quarter to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and return the same way.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs
Two options are available for traveling from Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs. Those options are bus transportation or the river cruise.
#1 Take a Bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs
You can take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs. However, this bus service is shared with Port Orleans Riverside. The bus to Disney Springs doubles as the internal bus for Riverside and the shuttle between the French Quarter and Riverside. Here is its route:
- Port Orleans French Quarter Bus Stop (lobby)
- South Depot at Riverside (lobby)
- West Depot
- North Depot
- East Depot
- Port Orleans French Quarter Bus Stop (lobby)
- Disney Springs
So, as a guest of Port Orleans French Quarter, you can take the Disney Springs bus to Disney Springs or Riverside. Ensure you exit at Port Orleans French Quarter when you return. If not, you’ll have a long trip around Riverside before returning.
#2 Take a Water Taxi from the French Quarter to Disney Springs
Most will want to take the water taxi from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs. It is a pleasant boat ride back and forth between the two destinations. A purple flag identifies the Port Orleans French Quarter water taxis. The boat dock for the French Quarter is located directly behind the Doubloon Lagoon Pool.
This boat drops guests off at the Marketplace at Disney Springs. Water taxis usually run the following route:
- Disney Springs
- Port Orleans French Quarter
- Port Orleans Riverside
- Port Orleans French Quarter
- Disney Springs
*Water taxis hold approximately 32 guests. You can take this same water taxi to travel back and forth between the French Quarter and Riverside.
Accessibility at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Most transportation options at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter accommodate guests with accessibility needs. All bus stops have a separate spot for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs to wait.
Additionally, the water taxis accommodate most wheelchairs and ECVs. However, the water level can affect them under certain circumstances. (See water taxis not running from Disney Springs Resort for an example.)
Disney’s site has an excellent resource for learning more: Mobility Disabilities at Disney World.
Walking from Port Orleans French Quarter to Riverside
Guests can walk between Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside. A sidewalk runs from the Port Orleans Riverside lobby to the opposite end of the French Quarter. It takes approximately 15 minutes at a leisurely pace to travel from one resort’s lobby to the other.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Water Parks
Occasionally, Disney offers direct bus service to and from the resort to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. However, that is rare. When you reach the bus stop, the electronic sign will indicate which bus to take to which water park.
Usually, guests must take the bus to Disney Springs when traveling to Typhoon Lagoon. When you reach Disney Springs, you’ll exit that bus and board a transfer bus to Disney Springs. Someone will be in the area to direct you to the correct bus stop. It’s not far.
However, when you leave Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll have to walk further to find the resort bus stop at Disney Springs. So you’ll want to make sure to have a change of clothes for the return trip. For Blizzard Beach, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and then board a nearby transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. You’ll then return in the same manner.
*Important Note–You do not want to take the boat from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs to visit Typhoon Lagoon. The water taxi service drops off at The Marketplace. From there, you would have to walk to the Marketplace entrance at Disney Springs. Then, you would walk across most of the venue to reach the transfer bus to Typhoon Lagoon. I haven’t timed it precisely, but I estimate that the route would take close to an hour and involve a good deal of walking.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to the Monorail Resorts
Additionally, most guests will want to visit the monorail resorts for dining or touring. To do this, you can take a bus from Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Magic Kingdom. From there, you will have to walk through security at Magic Kingdom. Then you can walk, boat, or monorail to the following resorts:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (walk, boat, monorail)
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (boat, monorail)
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail)
Alternatively, you could take a bus from the French Quarter to Hollywood Studios. Then, take a bus from Hollywood Studios to any of the monorail resorts.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Boardwalk
If you want to travel to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn or other Epcot Resorts, take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Epcot Resorts include Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Swan and Dolphin.
From Hollywood Studios, you can walk to the Boardwalk or take a Friendship Boat. You’ll want to return to the French Quarter in the same manner. However, if you’re staying out past theme park hours, you might have to order a car service (i.e., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van) if the buses are no longer running.
Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness
Additionally, you can take a bus to Magic Kingdom for Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Once you arrive at Magic Kingdom, take a bus or the red flag boat to either resort.
*During inclement weather, you must take a bus from the Magic Kingdom to the Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. Hopefully, you’ll get to take the boat, though. It’s a pleasant ride and part of the fun.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to the Skyliner Resorts
If you want to take a ride (for leisure) on the Disney Skyliner, take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and board the Skyliner. We have a separate guide that details Disney’s Skyliner’s route. Stops include Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century, Riviera Resort, and Epcot’s International Gateway.
*Remember, these tips are subject to Disney’s transportation hours of operation.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Animal Kingdom Lodge
To visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we usually take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then, we’ll take a bus from the Animal Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Note that the bus makes two stops at the Lodge. The first is Kidani Village, and the second is Jambo House. You’ll want to know which location is your intended destination.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter to Other Disney Springs Resorts
If you want to visit one of the resorts near Disney Springs, you can boat from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs. You’ll have the following options:
- Walk or take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs.
- Take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Old Key West.
Tip: If you need to travel outside of complimentary transportation hours, you can order a car service (e.g., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van). We try to avoid the extra expense as much as possible. But if we had late dining reservations or something comparable, we would take a car service back to our hotel.
Final Thoughts on Transportation at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Hopefully, this article gave you a few essential tips for getting to and from Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. For more articles related to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, you might enjoy the following:
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Reviews
- Port Orleans French Quarter Pool
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Rooms
- Restaurants at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
For more on transportation, see our Disney World Transportation Guide. You might also enjoy our other popular resources for the Disney World Resorts and Dining at Disney World. Make sure to get a copy of our free PDF below.
Resorts Gal Disclaimer: All of the photos and information provided (including travel times) are from our experience, time spent at the resort, and expenditures.