Port Orleans French Quarter Q&A Thread, New for 2012 (Read first posts for FAQs)

[Houston86]

Originally Posted by JerseyDevils

We arrived at POFQ at around 9:30am and our room was ready. we did online check in about 4 days b/f arriving. We received our request of adjoining rooms and were also pixie dusted up to a river view.

So happpy for you!!! We have 104 days to go

[CarolinaBlue]

Originally Posted by Queila

We will be there at the end of August. We are extremely excited about POFQ!

I was reading the "Unofficial Guide" last night and there were comments about the shared buses with Riverside being a "nightmare" because of all the extra stops. Something about up to an hour trip back and from the parks.

Please someone tell me this is not true.

Okay, so here's the experience that we had this week. On Sunday, we went to the Studios and didn't share a bus with POR. We only waited a few minutes for the bus to arrive at POFQ and we were on our way.

Monday was a completely different experience. This was Epcot day for us. No EMH that day. Park opening was at 9, so we arrived at the resort bus stop at 8:10 a.m. At 8:30, the Epcot bus finally arrived and we were on our way....to POR. After making the complete loop of POR, we were finally on our way to Epcot. We arrived a the park at 9:00 a.m. That's right....50 minutes from the time we reached the resort bus stop to reaching Epcot. Of course because they no longer do the rope drop at Epcot, everyone was already at Soarin' when we were walking throught the turnstiles. When we got there, it was already a 20 minute wait, something that we are not accustomed to. We are always at the park at least 20-30 minutes prior to opening.

Tuesday, was MK day for us. We did not share buses with POR that day. Everything went smoothly that day, even when we were leaving the park that evening. We could see the bus sitting there, lights going off, and we just knew that it was going to pull away just as we walked up. Thankfully, the dear bus driver saw us coming and waited for us.

So, that was our experience with the buses. I guess it's hit and miss with the sharing part. If you want to be there before park opening, I'd advise you to be at the bus stop no later than one hour before the park opens, just in case.

[JerseyDevils]

Our bus exp. was great!! During the 10 days that we used the buses we only shared with riverside 3 times...1-a midday trek out to HS, 2&3-returning to POFQ from DTD. we were at the POFQ bus stop and half hour b/f park opening everyday and every day made it to the park 5 or so mins b/f opening.

the only issue that we had were the 2 times that we took buses back from DTD to POFQ...the bus goes to POR first in these cases. Makes no sense to me really. why keep the resort that has only one stop for everyone waiting when in all likely hood if you are staying at POR you would be waiting more thatn one stop for yours anyways.

but all in all the buses were wonderful.

[2Tiggies]

I'm bumping this thread because I don't think it belongs on page 2

[RHMH]

Hello Fellow Disney Diser's- Only 54 more days until we grace the doors of POFQ and the Wonderland of WDW.

[Queila]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBlue

Okay, so here's the experience that we had this week. On Sunday, we went to the Studios and didn't share a bus with POR. We only waited a few minutes for the bus to arrive at POFQ and we were on our way.

Monday was a completely different experience. This was Epcot day for us. No EMH that day. Park opening was at 9, so we arrived at the resort bus stop at 8:10 a.m. At 8:30, the Epcot bus finally arrived and we were on our way....to POR. After making the complete loop of POR, we were finally on our way to Epcot. We arrived a the park at 9:00 a.m. That's right....50 minutes from the time we reached the resort bus stop to reaching Epcot. Of course because they no longer do the rope drop at Epcot, everyone was already at Soarin' when we were walking throught the turnstiles. When we got there, it was already a 20 minute wait, something that we are not accustomed to. We are always at the park at least 20-30 minutes prior to opening.

Tuesday, was MK day for us. We did not share buses with POR that day. Everything went smoothly that day, even when we were leaving the park that evening. We could see the bus sitting there, lights going off, and we just knew that it was going to pull away just as we walked up. Thankfully, the dear bus driver saw us coming and waited for us.

So, that was our experience with the buses. I guess it's hit and miss with the sharing part. If you want to be there before park opening, I'd advise you to be at the bus stop no later than one hour before the park opens, just in case.

Thank you for the info. I guess it could go either way...

[andrewilley]

Originally Posted by Queila

Thank you for the info. I guess it could go either way...

That's the problem, and it's why I tend not to offer anything too specific advise wise.

Imagine you have been waiting 30+ minutes for an Epcot bus, and when one finally turns up, someone else happens to stroll up to the bus stop and just steps straight on. They are going to tell their friends how wonderful the Disney buses are, whereas you might have a slightly different story...

The truth, as ever, is somewhere between the two.

Andre

[Princesca]

Hey everyone... we're looking at PO for our next stay, and I had gotten the impression that people tended to like POFQ a little more than POR. For those of you who have stayed at both, I wondered what caused you to prefer one over the other?

[SRUAlmn]

Originally Posted by Princesca

Hey everyone... we're looking at PO for our next stay, and I had gotten the impression that people tended to like POFQ a little more than POR. For those of you who have stayed at both, I wondered what caused you to prefer one over the other?

We, personally, enjoy POFQ because the size of the resort is smaller than POR and there's only one bus stop, as opposed to the multiple stops at POR. We also enjoy the theming of POFQ more. We live in SC, so the POR theming is sort of similar to the "decor" where we live, however, those new Tiana rooms have me thinking about giving POR a try in the future

[2Tiggies]

Originally Posted by andrewilley

That's the problem, and it's why I tend not to offer anything too specific advise wise.

Imagine you have been waiting 30+ minutes for an Epcot bus, and when one finally turns up, someone else happens to stroll up to the bus stop and just steps straight on. They are going to tell their friends how wonderful the Disney buses are, whereas you might have a slightly different story...

The truth, as ever, is somewhere between the two.

Andre

This is so true! In 2010 we spent 15 days at POFQ and only once ever did we wait more than 10 minutes for a bus, coming back from DHS one night. Most of the time we just seemed to hit perfect timing and usually found ourselves running to get to a bus that was already waiting. When we got back I was reading reviews on another website from POFQ and there were streams of them from guests who had stayed over the same 2 week period as we had. Guess what the major (and in some cases ONLY) complaint was? Yep, they said the transportation and wait times were unacceptable. I think there is an element of luck involved as well

[MandyTG]

Subbing! We are staying at POFQ during our stay at the end of Sept/beginning of October. It is also our first stay in a moderate.

I think our TA requested building 4. I wasn't sure what to request, and she said that was her favorite. I wish I had thought to come on here and ask!

[Bearybear]

Originally Posted by MandyTG

Subbing! We are staying at POFQ during our stay at the end of Sept/beginning of October. It is also our first stay in a moderate.

I think our TA requested building 4. I wasn't sure what to request, and she said that was her favorite. I wish I had thought to come on here and ask!

POFQ was our first stay in a moderate, too, after previously only staying at deluxe resorts. We love it so much we plan to return to POFQ next year!

We stayed in building 4. It is closest to the bus stop and right next to the main building with the food court, and not far from the pool. But honestly, the resort is so small, that I would imagine that none of the walks are that long.

[Nana2Callie]

We have reservations for Garden View - any suggestions for room or building request. Two adults and one child. Thanks,

[carol-lamb]

One month from today I will be enjoying my river view room at POFQ! It's been a few years since we have stayed there and I am really looking forward to it. CBR will always be my favorite moderate, but you have to switch it up once in a while!

[DizNee Luver]

We are making our first trip to WDW and have picked POFQ for our 9 nights. I was wondering how "thick" the walls are.....meaning, how is it for sound traveling? I have twin, autistic & mentally delayed 5 yr olds that on occasion, wake up in the middle of the night. They are not quiet when they cry & I'm concerned of having very angry neighbors. Some places we've stayed, had paper thin walls & you could hear our neighbors conversations & other places you didn't hear a thing......so we're hoping for the latter here!!

Thanx!!