Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort opened back in May of 1991. The sister resort of Port Orleans Riverside, French Quarter, is themed with plenty of fun Mardi Gras fun all around the resort.
From the moment you step on to the property, you are welcomed with bright colors, fun music, and lots of ‘Nawlins energy! The buildings are themed to mimic the eclectic style of the French Quarter, with various styles of shutters and doors and wrought-iron railings. One of the best parts, almost all of the buildings are set behind the main building and have courtyard views or overlook the Sassagoula River.
Port Orleans Square is the main building of the resort, housing the resort’s check-in, food options like Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory and Scat Cat’s Club/Lounge, and the Jackson Square Gifts and Desires gift shop. In front of the building you will find one main area for the theme park, Disney Springs, and water park bus drop off and pick up.
This resort is also one of the best moderately priced hotels at Walt Disney World with 1,008 guest rooms. The resort has seven three-story guest-room buildings featuring light pink-and-blue coloring, wrought-iron filigree, shuttered windows, and old-fashioned iron lampposts. In keeping with the Crescent City theme, French Quarter is landscaped with magnolia trees and overgrown vines.
Resort Overview
The French Quarter-inspired architecture isn’t overwhelmingly “Disney-themed.” It is actually very authentic to the classic New Orleans carriage homes with weeping willow trees and grand courtyards for each section of the resort. You will notice Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is a smaller resort with all the buildings located close to the main building, bus pick up, dining, and pools.
Reasons We Love This Resort:
- Smaller Resort offering less walking than most Moderate Resorts
- Water Taxi direct boat access to Disney Springs
- Cute Pool with fun Disney theme
- Mickey Beignets offered at Scat Cat’s Club/Lounge
- Fun & vibrate vibe throughout resort
- Only shares bus with Port Orleans Riverside offering just 2 quick stops
Amenities:
- Wi-Fi Service (complimentary wi-fi access in guest rooms, main lobbies and main pools)
- Dining Options (quick service and poolside service)
- Luggage Service (luggage assistance, valet parking assistance, dry cleaning)
- Laundry Services (24-hour self-service laundry room is available by pool)
- Housekeeping Services offered every other day
- 24-Hour ATM (near the front desk)
- Front Desk Service (banking and mail)
- Merchandise Delivery and Pickup
- Grocery Orders
- Concierge Service (purchase tickets, upgrade tickets, special requests)
- Jackson Square Gifts and Desires gift shop for sundries, snacks, apparel and souvenirs
- Safekeeping (in-room safes with safe-keeping boxes available at Front Desk)
- Rapid Fill (refillable mugs)
- Wake-up Call Service
- Disability Service (mobility, hearing, visual and service animal accommodations; call (407) 939-7807
Accommodations Offered
French Quarter rooms measure 314 square feet. Most contain two queen beds or king bed, a table and two chairs, a dresser–credenza, a mini-fridge, a coffeemaker, and a vanity outside the bathroom. None of the rooms have private balconies.
Each Port Orleans French Quarter room is furnished with the following:
- Two queen beds (some ADA-accessible rooms have 1 king bed)
- Dresser
- Small table with 2 chairs
- Nightstand with telephone
- Full-length mirror
- WiFi wireless Internet access
- Flat-panel TV
- Mini-fridge
- Coffee Maker
- Ironing board and iron
- Hair dryer
- Digital thermostat
- In-room safe
- H2O-brand shampoo, conditioner, body wash in attached pumps with bar facial soap
Resort Room Classifications
Standard View:
- View of Parking Area
- Queen Bed 2
- Sleeps up to 4 Adults
Garden View:
- Views of Garden
- Queen Bed 2
- Sleeps up to 4 Adults
Pool View:
- Views of Courtyard Pool
- Queen Bed 2
- Sleeps up to 4 Adults
River View:
- Views of Riverfront
- Queen Bed 2
- Sleeps up to 4 Adults
King Bed:
- Views of Garden, Courtyard, Riverfront or Parking Area
- King Bed 1
- Sleeps up to 2 Adults
Dining Information
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This is the resort quick service location that is set up like your local mall food court. You can opt to mobile order-ahead and walk up to grab your food when it is ready, or order from a Cast Member at each station. There are several different stations that offer items like pizza, burgers, chicken fingers, pasta, sandwiches, turkey dinner, jambalaya, pot roast, and so on. For dessert, there is a nice assortment of ice cream sundaes and shakes prepared cakes and pastries, or you can go over to Scat Cat’s and grab a Mickey beignet. The breakfast menu has the usual combinations of eggs, potatoes, bacon, ham, Mickey waffles, pancakes, and biscuits, either alone or in various “platter” options. An omelet station serves veggie, egg white, and Western omelets. Kids’ breakfast choices are also offered.
Scat Cat’s Club
Bar Service &. Morning Gourmet Coffee
Listen to New Orleans-style jazz while sipping on Southern-inspired cocktails, craft beers and wines. A limited selection of finger foods (wings, flatbreads, etc.) is also served along with a full bar and drinks menu. Live jazz musicians perform on Wednesday through Saturday nights. But, the best part of this location is the Mickey beignets that you can get for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anytime you’re craving something sweet! You can also get them with a shot of your favorite liquor! In the morning you can have some custom-blended Joffrey’s Coffee or tea to kick off your day! *I suggest starting your day with a beignet and coffee on your way to the bus stop.
Mardi Grogs
Bar Service
Three cheers to kicking back an ice-cold beer! Also, be sure to take in the scenic views of the Sassagoula River while here. Madri Grogs offers poolside specialty drinks and a limited selection of cold sandwiches and salads. It is also a fun place to come on a warm Florida evening to have a cold drink with friends while the kids cool off in the pool!
Pools, Grounds, & Recreation
The resort’s pool, Doubloon Lagoon, is located at the back, middle of the resort overlooking the Sassagoula River. The pool features a larger than life sea serpent slide with King Neptune sitting on top. One pool has a 95-foot water slide, known as the Doubloon Pool, as well as a children’s splash area complete with their own smaller water slide. There is also a large sized hot tub located near Doubloon Pool. The pool area sits directly behind the lobby and food court and the main pool features a water slide shaped like an oversized sea serpent.
A water-shooting cartoon alligator band is also located near the pool. Port Orleans French Quarter’s pool range in depth from around 3 feet 6 inches/1.1m to 4 feet 9 inches/1.4m. French Quarter’s pool is open every day, including during winter. The pools are heated to 82°F/28°C throughout the year. Pool hours vary seasonally, typically opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 8:00 p.m. Infants and children in diapers are welcome in all pools, as long as they’re wearing swim diapers. Water wings are allowed at all Disney pools, and every pool has free life vests in a variety of sizes. All WDW pools include a chair-lift device that can lower guests in wheelchairs into the shallow end of the pool.
Colorful Mardi Gras themed cartoon alligators are scattered around the pool area. Mardi Grogs is the pool bar, offering a small cold food menu as well. A large kids’ splash area and a hot tub are located in the pool area as well. Buildings 2 and 5 have closest access to the pool.
Playground
A small playground set is located between Doubloon Pool and the hotel lobby. The set has two small slides and a couple of sections with a few steps for toddlers to go up and down. The entire area is covered in a springy, poured rubber surface.
Painting on de’ Bayou
Unwind while painting a Disney-inspired picture in an instructor-led paint class at Sassagoula Floatworks. This afternoon class is perfect for artists of all levels—beginners, experts and those somewhere in-between.
Experience Details:
- Dates: Every Wednesday
- Time: Check-in begins at 1:45 PM and the class begins at 2:00 PM
- Location: Sassagoula Floatworks
- Price: $35.00 plus tax, per Guest ages 12 and older
Reservations are recommended and can be made in advance by calling (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529. Guests under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian permission to call. To inquire about same-day availability, see a Cast Member at the location. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the entry fee.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides:
Relax on a horse-drawn journey amidst an idyllic woodland or along the scenic Sassagoula River.
Cajun Campfire Activities:
Gather ‘round as the sun goes down for old-fashioned family fun as you roast marshmallows by a crackling fire.
Arcade:
South Square Quarter Games Arcade includes recent video and arcade games. Most games cost $0.50 to $2.00 per play.
Movies Under the Stars:
Free Disney movies are shown most evenings, weather permitting.
Jogging:
Walkers, joggers and runners can find a paved, 1-mile jogging trail along the river.
Bike Rentals
Guests may rent traditional bicycles or fancy surrey bikes by the hour.
Surrey Bike Rentals
Ride a covered 2-person or 4-person surrey bike, available for rent from Riverside Levee Marina.
Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Transportation
Get around Walt Disney World Resort with ease using these convenient, complimentary transportation options.
How to get to each park:
While staying at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort you may be wondering how you can get to each park using the free transportation systems offered at Walt Disney World. We have it broken down for you:
- Magic Kingdom: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Magic Kingdom nearly every 20 minutes from the resort. Buses typically run for an hour after park close.
- EPCOT: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Magic Kingdom nearly every 20 minutes from the resort. Buses typically run for an hour after park close.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Magic Kingdom nearly every 20 minutes from the resort. Buses typically run for an hour after park close.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Magic Kingdom nearly every 20 minutes from the resort. Buses typically run for an hour after park close.
- Disney Springs and Water Parks: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Disney Springs and the water parks nearly every 20 minutes from the resort. Buses typically run for an hour after Disney Springs or the water park close. However, the best way to get to Disney Springs is by the free water taxi down the Sassagoula River *see below
On the backside of the pool area against the river is a dock to access the Sassagoula River ferry boats, with access to Disney Springs. When returning from Disney Springs, be on the lookout for a purple-flagged boat to signify Port Orleans French Quarter. During slower times, boat service between both Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside and condensed down, so you’ll look for a purple and yellow flag.
Photo Courtesy www.portorleans.org
