Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
It’s Mardi Gras year-round at French Quarter, with Dixieland jazz music and New Orleans inspired architecture. Guests can enjoy walking along the magnolia lined “streets” within the resort, complete with names like Beaux Regards Square, Cake Walk, and Rue D'Baga.
Table of Contents
What’s New
Location
Resort Layout
Room Information
Pool
Dining
Shopping
Recreation
Transportation
The Pros
The Cons
Photo Gallery
Resort MapWhat’s New
French Quarter now offers free wireless internet access in guest rooms and most public areas at the resort. Queen beds replaced full size ones during the last major refurbishment, in 2011.
Location
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is located along Bonnet Creek Parkway, and is part of the Downtown Disney Resort Area. French Quarter’s sister resort, Riverside, is located directly north and can be reached by boat or by a short walk along the river. To reach other resorts and the theme parks, you’ll need to use transportation.
Resort LayoutYour stay at French Quarter will begin at Port Orleans Square, where you’ll find the resort’s front desk and concierge, along with the food court, lounge, gift shop and arcade. The resort’s one bus stop for transportation to all of the theme parks is located near the front of the building. Behind Port Orleans in the center of the resort is Doubloon Lagoon, home to the pool, hot tub, bar, and laundry facilities.
Surrounding the main building and pool are the seven guest buildings, which are bordered by the Sassagoula River on one side, and the parking lots on the other. Parking at the resort is free, and the lots are a short walk from each of the guest buildings.
Room InformationFrench Quarter is the smallest of the Disney Moderate resorts, with 1,008 rooms split across seven buildings. Each building is three stories, and the entrance to each room is from the outdoor walkways. Rooms on the upper floors can be reached by stairs or elevator.
Each room at French Quarter is similar in décor and size, measuring in right around 314 sq. feet. Most rooms feature two queen beds, with a few having one king. Each room has cable television, wi-fi internet access, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, small safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, and ceiling fan. All rooms were refurbished in 2011, with the most noticeable change being the upgrade from full size to queen size beds, and new flat screen televisions being installed.
In the main part of the room, along with the beds you’ll find a nightstand with digital alarm clock between them. Across from the beds are the television and armoire with several drawers, a bench and a table with two chairs, and the mini-fridge.
The bathroom features a full tub and shower, and of course a toilet. A vanity with two sinks is located just outside of the bathroom at the rear of the room. You’ll also find the clothes rack with hangers, iron and ironing board, and in room safe in this area.
Standard rooms will feature a window view to either one of the garden areas or a parking lot. Water view rooms will overlook the Doubloon Lagoon area, or possibly the river. River view rooms will face the Sassagoula River more directly, and are the most expensive of the room options.
Whatever room type you choose, remember that your window will look out to the public walkway first. While you are more than welcome to bring a folding chair and sit outside, you don’t have a private balcony on which to relax and enjoy the view.
Buildings are numbered 1 through 7. Buildings 2 and 5 flank Doubloon Lagoon, and are also close to the main building. Portions of Buildings 1,2,5,6 and 7 offer river views. The buildings farthest from the pool and main building are 1, 6, and 7, but the walk is still less than 10 minutes. Building 6 is also tucked in away from the parking lot and closer to the river, which means a little longer walk if you’re driving your own vehicle, but also means no parking lot view from your room. Buildings 3 and 4 flank the main building, but also border the parking lot.
PoolAt the center of the resort is Doubloon Lagoon, which features a huge pool with a serpent water slide, a nine-person hot tub, Mardi Grogs Pool Bar, children’s play area, and self-service laundry room. The pool and its facilities are open French Quarter and Riverside resort guests.
The 8,500 square foot pool is open daily from 7 a.m. until midnight, with lifeguards on duty for much of the day. Towels are available at the pool, and the restrooms feature showers and lockers available for rent.
DiningFrench Quarter is the only Moderate level resort that does not have its own full service restaurant, however guests can make a dinner reservation at Boatwright’s Dining Hall located at the Riverside resort.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is the counter service food court at Port Orleans, and offers dishes inspired by New Orleans fare, such as gumbo and jambalaya, along with more traditional food court items. There are also some tables outside, great for alfresco dining when the weather is nice. The food court is generally open from 6 a.m. to midnight, although hours for some of the food stations vary.
Scat Cat’s Club is the resort’s lounge, and offers up drinks and light fare from 4 p.m. until midnight daily. Live entertainment is also featured Wednesday through Saturday evenings, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Limited room service is also available through the Sassagoula Pizza Express, which offers pizza, desserts, soda, wine, and beer. The service is available from 4 p.m. until midnight daily, and a minimum order is required.
ShoppingGuests can purchase souvenirs and other sundries at Jackson Square Gifts & Desires, located in the main building just off the lobby.
RecreationAlong with the pool at Doubloon Lagoon, younger guests can enjoy the playground located nearby. Guests of all ages can also enjoy some time in the South Quarter Games Arcade, located just off the lobby in the main building.
Although there is no on-site fitness center, guests can take a jog along the river, on a route marked on the map. From the start of the path near Building 1 to the main building at the Riverside resort and back is approximately a one mile route.
At the neighboring Riverside resort is the marina, where guests can rent water craft (including pedal, pontoon and canopy boats), bicycles, and surrey bikes. Fishing excursions are also available from the marina. Horse drawn carriage rides are offered in the evening.
Access to all theme parks and Downtown Disney is available by bus, which departs from the resort’s only bus stop near the front of the main building. The station is split into two separate stops – use the overhead signs to make sure you are in the right spot for your destination.
TransportationGuests at Port Orleans French Quarter also have the option of taking a leisurely boat ride down Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney, from a dock located behind the Doubloon Lagoon pool. The ride takes approximately 20 minutes, and runs daily from 10 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Disney’s Magical Express, which takes guests to and from the Orlando International Airport, also picks up guests at the front of the main building. The airline check in desk is also located here.
The ProsFrench Quarter’s small size is one of its best features. Even the rooms farthest away from the pool and main building are only a short walk. The compact size of the resort also means the layout is less confusing. It may not seem like a big deal, but when you are taking the morning trek for fresh coffee or heading back to your room after a full day of pounding the pavement, being able to find your way quickly is a good thing.
Bus service from the resort is generally good, with only one bus stop to have to navigate to as opposed to other Moderate level resorts which have several stops each.
The Cons
FQ is the only moderate level resort without its own full service restaurant. And since Boatwright’s Dining Hall at the sister Riverside resort is only open for dinner, guests looking for a heartier breakfast or lunch will need to head elsewhere, or settle for quick service at the food court.
While there is only one bus stop at French Quarter, bus service is sometimes shared with Riverside next door. With four stops over there, getting to the parks might take a little longer than you expect in the morning. The silver lining here is that bus service is not always shared, especially during busier times during the year and even peak travel times during each day. Also, with French Quarter being the first stop for pick up, you are more likely to get a seat, and with it also being the first stop returning from the parks, you won’t have to wait as long getting off the bus.