We went to The Walt Disney World Resort last year (in 2007) for the first time as a family (both my husband and I had visited numerous times as children). After doing a LOT of research online, we decided to stay in a moderate resort right on the property, and chose the Port Orleans French Quarter resort.
We arrived at Orlando International Airport on time, and we pleased to be able to skip right by baggage claim and head directly to the Magical Express. Check in there was simple, and we were ushered directly on to the bus heading to our resort.
I had requested a specific building for our room – I wanted a view of the river, in a non-smoking building (I believe they are all non-smoking now) close to the lobby, and that’s exactly what we got. Upon check-in, the cast member told me that the box we’d shipped had already arrived, and would be delivered to my room within an hour.
The hotel is very nice. Set upon a river with boats traveling all day, it’s really picturesque and quaint. The colors are bright and lively, very reminiscent of New Orleans. There was ample space outside for my kids to run and jump, and the playground, while small, was appropriate. The pool area is well maintained (as is everything at Disney World) and there were always plenty of lifeguards on duty. My kids enjoyed the small heated kid pool also – it was especially perfect for my son who was 10 months old at the time.
Our room was a decent size, and was bright and airy. All of the moderate resorts come with a refrigerator, which is essential for families with young children. There was already a crib in the room, and we requested bed rails for my daughter which were delivered very timely.
Bus service from the resort was pretty easy. A few times the buses were a bit slow on arriving, but in general we were able to get from park to park fairly quickly. All of the bus drivers are friendly and knowledgable, and some even offered stickers to our children.
There is one food court available at the French Quarter resort, and a full table service restaurant and food court at the sister resort, Riverside. We ate at all three, and really enjoyed our experiences. The food courts are absolutely perfect for a quick bite, and the kids could always find something they enjoyed.
If you are choosing between the French Quarter and Riverside sections – it may be helpful to know that they are just a short walk from each other. We found Riverside to have more going on, while the French Quarter was peaceful, quiet, and definitely smaller.
Overall, staying at the Port Orleans French Quarter was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it!
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wow very nice
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