Port Orleans French Quarter

Overview

Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, themed along the lines of the New Orleans French Quarter, is nestled along side the Sassagoula River and is the sister resort of the Port Orleans Riverside resort, both of which are located in the "Downtown Disney" area.

Port Orleans Riverside (formerly Dixie Landings) is supposed to be a riverboat landing up the mighty Sassagoula river. whereas Port Orleans French Quarter is the down river destination of the paddle wheel river boats that ply the waters of the river.

With 1,008 rooms, French Quarter is significantly smaller than Riverside at 2,048 and Caribbean Beach. at 2,112. As a result, it often fills up faster than the other two resorts. Keep that in mind if this is the place you want to stay....make your plans and reservations early.

The name change from Port Orleans to Port Orleans French Quarter, and Dixie Landings to Port Orleans Riverside took place on 1st April 2001.

Rooms

The rooms are located in seven three-story buildings, with streets running in a grid pattern between them. The buildings are painted cream, pink, blue, purple and yellow, and are designed to look like they contain several row houses. Mismatching, but coordinating, iron work decorates the buildings for onlookers. The streets in between the buildings are named in keeping with the resort theming, such as "Pontchartrain", "Bourbon", and the like.

Around half of the rooms have connecting doors leading to adjoining rooms, they can be requested, but aren't guaranteed. They are a little smaller than the standard rooms at more expensive hotels, but would be a comfortable if not luxurious size for an average family of four. The rooms are decorated with photographs donated by Disney employees, each of which features a caption explaining it's history (generally they are photographs of older relatives of the cast member concerned).

All rooms are approximately 314 square feet in size and contain a pair of double beds, a small table with two chairs, A Television, housed in a wardrobe/cabinet with four pull-out drawers. A small bedside cabinet with a phone and radio alarm clock. Small in-room key operated safe, clothes hanging area, Ice Bucket, waste bin and separate recycle bin for glass and plastic containers. Two pedestal sinks are at the end of each room. The bathroom contains a toilet and a bath with integrated shower head.

Some rooms are available with a king size bed, and some of these are handicap accessible with a wheelchair-accessible shower in place of a tub.

All rooms have a fire detector and an in-room sprinkler, and all are air-conditioned. There are also a couple of spare power-outlets in each room if required, though no phone socket other than the one the phone is connected into.

The majority of the rooms are designated as Non smoking rooms, If you plan on smoking you need to make sure you request a room in Buildings 2 or 4, or on the top two floors of building 6.

For a quiet riverview room, ask for Buildings 1 or 6.

Food and Drink

Bonfamilles is a full (table) service restaurant which provided a quiet place for nice sit down meals closed in August 2000, with guests now having to visit Riverside for a table service meal. (The name of the restaurant incidentally was derived from the Disney Aristocats movie).

Bonfamille's served both a breakfast and dinner menu, with the dinner menu including Steaks, seafood, and Creole cuisine specialities.

Vegetarian options were very limited (there weren't any), however dishes could be altered or tailored to individual requests so there was some scope.

The Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is a food court with a 300-seat dining area. A variety of foods are available, including spit-roasted chicken with red beans and rice (gumbo), fresh beignets, and other Creole dishes. Burgers, pizza, ice cream and baked goods are also serverd.

The Sassagoula Pizza Express can deliver pizza direct to the room from 16:00PM until midnight.

As would be expected, the New-Orleans theming of the resort also extends to the resorts main drinking emporiums. Mardi Grogs is a poolside bar serving speciality drinks along with popcorn, hot dogs and ice cream during pool operating hours.

The Scat Cat's Club is a traditional bar and lounge area featuring light snacks and evening entertainment.

Activities and Recreation

The themed pool area, like the food court, is based on New Orleans Mardi Gras festival, and is often cited as a favorite for kids (probably second only to the Yacht and Beach Club's "Stormalong Bay".) It is built around a sea serpent, which legend has it, is still around lingering underground. It's tail can be seen jutting out of the ground at various locations around the walkways, and the pool's slide is the serpent's tongue.

The shower at the pool features an alligator's head, while a large clam-shell complete with an alligator band serves as the fountain's centerpiece. There is also a whirlpool located nearby.

French Quarter residents may also swim at the nearby Riverside Ol' Man Island pool.

French Quarter also has boat rentals available in the form of Pedal Boats, canoes, rowboats, canopy boats and pontoon boats, all of which are available from the French QuarterLanding.

A small play area with slides is just across from the food court to keep the kids occupied, whilst bicycles can be rented at the resort from the French Quarter Landing.

The South Quarter Games is a video arcade located at Port Orleans French Quarter Square, featuring state of the art video and arcade games.

Shopping

Jackson Square Gifts and Desires is the main store at the French Quarter Resort, featuring Disney character merchandise, clothing bearing the French Quarter logo, and other assorted sundries.

Despite Jackson Square Gifts stocking a good range of merchandise it is a relatively small store, and guests may prefer to visit the store at Riverside instead which is much larger and sells a wider range of goods (though not French Quarter specific merchandise).

Riverside can be reached from French Quarter by walking along the riverside path keeping the river to the right. It's a 5-10 minute walk depending on how energetic you feel.

Checkin/Checkout

Express check-out is available providing a credit-card imprint has been left with the check-in desk.

Guest Services

Disney Transportation

Like Riverside and Old Key West, transportation relies quite heavily on the Disney Buses, with buses travelling to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, The Animal Kingdom The Disney MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney (French Quarter and Riverside both share the same bus service).

One item of note, only two bus stops located together service the entire resort, the first going to Epcot, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom and adjacent areas, with the other going to The Magic Kingdom and the Disney MGM Studios and associated areas.

Buildings four and seven, for the record, are the two closest ones to the bus stop -- while buildings two and three are the closest to the themed pool area. Having said that though the resort is small enough for distance to be of little concern to most guests.

The Sassagoula River Cruise is also available to and from those other resorts and the Downtown Disney area (a nice change of pace if you want to cruise down the river for dinner). The boat transportation to Downtown Disney runs every 20 minutes or so from 10:00, and every 10 minutes after 16:00, and docks next to the Rainforest Cafe in the Downtown Disney area.

Note the buses from French Quarter leave the resort, and then visit each of the four bus-stops at Riverside before passing back through the main French Quarter entrance and heading off to the required destination. Similarly, return buses visit French Quarter first, and then head to the Riverside stops.

Directions to the Resort

Tel: (407) 934-5000

From the I-4, take junction 26 heading for the downtown disney area. The off-ramp will go under the Walt Disney World entrance sign, and crosses over the top of the I-4. Take the second road on the right about 100 - 200 yds after crossing the I-4 (not the road immediately after the I-4 bridge. At the end of the slip-road turn left at the lights onto Bonnet Creek and the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort is located on the right.