Disney's PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER RESORT Information & Questions

[Betty_Baylor99]

The best date I can give you for the completion of the food court refurb (from resort managers) is "by Thanksgiving". It could be earlier (they would like it to be) but they don't want to give out a date and then have to move it. It is very unlikely to continue into December - but then the Aquatic Play Area, which was scheduled to open before Christmas last year, finally opened in March.

The temporary replacement is working pretty well by the way, I popped down there for breakfast a few days about at about 9:15, when you would expect it to be at its busiest, and the queue to order was about 6-10 people deep and moved very quickly. There were tables available both inside the restaurant and in the Scat Cat's seating area, and my food was brought to me very promptly. It was a lot quieter than the Riverside Mill would be at that time anyway.

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Andre

We just returned from our stay at the POFQ and I want to agree w/this. This was my DH's 1st stay at a WDW resort so he had nothing to compare it to. He was more than satisfied with the temporary dining area to pop in for snacks, refill his mug, and for our departure meal. I had to explain to DH that the usual food court was larger/better than this area that he saw, and he shrugged and said, well this is really nice already. The only place I could see a bit of a pain is the drink machine area- there are only two machines, so if you have someone refilling multiple mugs, the lines can get a little backlogged. We did 90% of our dining in the parks/other resorts and only had a late breakfast/early lunch on our departure day today to use up our last counter service credits. Our order was taken at the register, we were given a number, and our order was brought to us quickly soon after (food made fresh to order and plated/served to out table around 5 minutes later). We ate around 11am and there was enough seating for everyone who wanted to dine at that time with several empty tables available by the time we left. The resort did a good job of providing ample seating/tables outside the temporary dining area, outside the bar, and outdoors around the closed food court. I cannot stress enough that our experience at the resort was very quiet- possibly because some guests might have opted to go elsewhere because of the refurbishment, but it was quiet every night, quiet anytime we went to refill our drink, and fairly quiet when we ate on our last day.

 

[Betty_Baylor99]

Also wanted to amend that we had no issues with bus service whatsoever. The only bus share we experienced was after our mid-day break when we wanted to park hop to Animal Kingdom. Other than that, we did not share a bus any other time during our entire stay.

 

[SwanVT2]

Somehow you got an old fridge. I thought all of those had been trashed due to overheating issues. The norm will be one with no freezer area

These are the new options for online check in (in case no one else has posted them) (sorry, some overlap)

You can request it but King is a bookable category so I'd say the chance of a requested one will be smaller than other categories of rooms that are not requests, like Ground floor, near elevator, etc.

Can you explain what the connecting room guaranteed option is? Is that new? I thought you could never guarantee connecting rooms? Thank you.

 

[andrewilley]

Can you explain what the connecting room guaranteed option is? Is that new? I thought you could never guarantee connecting rooms? Thank you.

I'm trying to get answers on this, but even the resort rooms manager isn't sure quite what's going on.

Andre

 

[dansdad]

Can you explain what the connecting room guaranteed option is? Is that new? I thought you could never guarantee connecting rooms? Thank you.

Unless they have also made a complete overhaul of their booking system (like ripping out the old and installing new), they still can't guarantee them.

 

[Barbanellie]

Unless they have also made a complete overhaul of their booking system (like ripping out the old and installing new), they still can't guarantee them.

This has me puzzled as well. I mean, what if too many people select this option, how on earth can they say they guarantee anything at all?

 

[dansdad]

This has me puzzled as well. I mean, what if too many people select this option, how on earth can they say they guarantee anything at all?

I have no flipping idea why they did that.

 

[Debbie]

Years ago, we had "guaranteed connecting rooms" because we were a family of 2 adults/5 kids under the age of 10. Other than that, the connecting rooms was a preference, but couldn't be guaranteed.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm trying to get answers on this, but even the resort rooms manager isn't sure quite what's going on.

Andre

Something tells me there is no answer. Another I like is where there are only 2 floors and you can request both 1st floor and Ground floor

 

[andrewilley]

Another I like is where there are only 2 floors and you can request both 1st floor and Ground floor

That is because US guests refer to the ground-level as the "first" floor (so giving you First > Second > Third) whereas other countries (e.g. UK) use "first floor" to refer to the first level of a building that is above ground level (so Ground > First Floor > Second Floor). It caters for all terminologies that way.

Andre

 

[AngiTN]

That is because US guests refer to the ground-level as the "first" floor (so giving you First > Second > Third) whereas other countries (e.g. UK) use "first floor" to refer to the first level of a building that is above ground level (so Ground > First Floor > Second Floor). It caters for all terminologies that way.

Andre

If someone puts 1st it seems like Room Assigners have to then look to see the country of origin of the requestor to know if they want the floor above ground or the ground floor

 

[andrewilley]

If someone puts 1st it seems like Room Assigners have to then look to see the country of origin of the requestor to know if they want the floor above ground or the ground floor

Exactly. In fact there are a few older stories of guests requesting a first floor room (meaning one-up-from-ground) and being given the ground floor, and then fun ensues...

Andre

 

[chelynnah]

Does anyone know what time the first bus or launch goes to Disney Springs from POFQ? Our flight doesn't leave until 6:30pm so I'm hoping we could head over there early and spend the morning before catching ME back to the airport. I think it will be our only chance to go. I know most things don't open till 10am, but if we could get there early for Breakfast we could hit the shops as soon as they open

If we get in early enough on arrival night we (or I, if MIL is too tired) will need to pop over then to claim our $200 GC, but I suspect we won't stay long as we'll be shattered from the flight and will be hitting the ground running early the next morning.

 

[lexybear]

decided to make a last minute trip before the semester starts, will be there from aug 31-sept-7!

 

[ncc1701]

Does anyone know what time the first bus or launch goes to Disney Springs from POFQ? Our flight doesn't leave until 6:30pm so I'm hoping we could head over there early and spend the morning before catching ME back to the airport. I think it will be our only chance to go. I know most things don't open till 10am, but if we could get there early for Breakfast we could hit the shops as soon as they open

If we get in early enough on arrival night we (or I, if MIL is too tired) will need to pop over then to claim our $200 GC, but I suspect we won't stay long as we'll be shattered from the flight and will be hitting the ground running early the next morning.

We got a bus around 9:00am one trip. We ate at WPE in the Marketplace for breakfast. They don't open till 9:00 the last time I checked the Puck website. Boats didn't start until 10:00

 

[dansdad]

Years ago, we had "guaranteed connecting rooms" because we were a family of 2 adults/5 kids under the age of 10. Other than that, the connecting rooms was a preference, but couldn't be guaranteed.

Twice we were a family of 2 adults and 5 kids also and did not get our "guaranteed connecting rooms". Even though every bit of paperwork said "guaranteed connecting" and every phone CM I spoke to said the same. The first trip we were in 2 different buildings at POR. Halfway through our trip they were able to get us in the same building but on opposite sides and different floors. The other at BC we were on opposite ends of the building and halfway through they were able to get us in the same wing but different floors.

At least the 2nd time it happened I knew they weren't guaranteed so I didn't waste the first 4 hours of our trip arguing that I had "guaranteed connecting rooms" like I did the first time.

There is nothing in the booking/assigning system to block off connecting rooms, which is the problem.

 

[andrewilley]

Does anyone know what time the first bus or launch goes to Disney Springs from POFQ?

Boats don't start until 10am, but the buses start at around 8am for Disney Springs.

Twice we were a family of 2 adults and 5 kids also and did not get our "guaranteed connecting rooms". Even though every bit of paperwork said "guaranteed connecting" and every phone CM I spoke to said the same.

They only guarantee it if there would be one room with only children in it - and as there are two adults, I guess someone assumed it was doable with one adult in each of the rooms. Definitely not ideal though, and given that 50% of the rooms at POR connect I'm amazed they could not sort out two rooms somewhere for you by the next day at least. I'm also very surprised that they did not block you two rooms out in advance (I'm assuming you sent a fax 3-5 days out as we recommend here).

Andre

 

[dansdad]

They only guarantee it if there would be one room with only children in it - and as there are two adults, I guess someone assumed it was doable with one adult in each of the rooms. Definitely not ideal though, and given that 50% of the rooms at POR connect I'm amazed they could not sort out two rooms somewhere for you by the next day at least. I'm also very surprised that they did not block you two rooms out in advance (I'm assuming you sent a fax 3-5 days out as we recommend here).

Andre

I was quite surprised myself. Yes, I sent a fax 5 days out.

 

[chelynnah]

We got a bus around 9:00am one trip. We ate at WPE in the Marketplace for breakfast. They don't open till 9:00 the last time I checked the Puck website. Boats didn't start until 10:00

Boats don't start until 10am, but the buses start at around 8am for Disney Springs.

Andre

Perfect. Thank you both. Sounds like we will bus over and then have a lovely launch ride back before heading home. (Provided I'm packed and organised enough to be out early)

 

[chelynnah]

They only guarantee it if there would be one room with only children in it - and as there are two adults, I guess someone assumed it was doable with one adult in each of the rooms. Definitely not ideal though, and given that 50% of the rooms at POR connect I'm amazed they could not sort out two rooms somewhere for you by the next day at least. I'm also very surprised that they did not block you two rooms out in advance (I'm assuming you sent a fax 3-5 days out as we recommend here).

Andre

I accept that it's 'reasonable' to not guarantee connecting if there's 2 adults, but certainly they should be able to at least guarantee adjoining or across the hall. A family with 5 kids (depending on age) needs both parents/adults handy and accessible)

(Sorry I do realise this is a disneywide issue not just a POFQ issue)