The Room
This was a garden view room and the theming starts the moment you walk in. Princess and the Frog artwork throughout: Tiana, Prince Naveen, a little Louis. A Mickey made out of Mardi Gras beads on the table from housekeeping. A note from the team that reads "I hope that your room feels welcoming and adds to the amazing memories you will create here." That's the kind of small touch that makes Disney moderate resorts feel different from a comparable off-property stay at the same price.
The room appears to have been recently refurbished. Two queen beds with storage underneath for luggage, which I appreciate. Multiple electrical outlets throughout including an HDMI port on the TV, something I've noticed is not always the case at Disney resorts. Storage drawers, a beverage cooler that cools to 41 degrees (note: not a full refrigerator, so medications requiring lower temperatures will need a front desk request), reading lights beside the beds, and a coffee maker near the bathroom entry.
The bathroom has a double vanity with a magnification mirror, a barn door entry, and a pocket door to the shower and tub area that replaced the swing door from previous visits. That's a meaningful upgrade in a small space. The shower has Disney Resort Collection toiletries and a rainfall showerhead over a standard tub. Plenty of towels, a step stool for little ones, ironing board, steam iron, hair dryer with diffuser, safe, and extra blanket and pillow in the closet.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
The resort's quick service dining location covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Southern-inspired options. I kept it light with a yogurt parfait on this visit since I had a ticketed event later with food to try, but the menu has plenty of options and the space is colorful and well-themed. Mickey-shaped beignets are available at Scat Cat's Club Café in the lobby, which is reason enough to budget a morning stop.
The Resort: What Makes It Special
Port Orleans French Quarter is one of Disney's most intimate resorts. The lobby pulls you straight into a New Orleans French Quarter atmosphere: open atrium, Southern charm everywhere, ironwork details throughout. The architecture, the colors, the gardens, the fountain, there's a peaceful but Jazzy vibe that's genuinely hard to match.
The centerpiece pool is Doubloon Lagoon, complete with a 51-foot sea serpent water slide named Scales. There's also a splash pad for younger guests and Mardi Grogs poolside bar for adults who need a cold drink after a long park day. An alligator jazz band nearby adds a characteristically New Orleans flourish. The resort also has an arcade, a playground, a hot tub tucked away for quieter relaxation, and an activity schedule with movie nights, poolside games, and a Cajun campfire.
The Location Advantages
Port Orleans French Quarter is a small resort with only one bus stop for park buses, which means less waiting and less walking than at larger properties. The sister resort Port Orleans Riverside is a short walk or boat ride away, and you share amenities with them. The real perk: a relaxing boat ride directly to Disney Springs makes an evening out genuinely effortless. That boat ride alone changes how you think about Disney Springs as a dining and entertainment destination when you're staying here.
Beverage cooler vs. refrigerator: The in-room unit cools to 41 degrees. If you need medication stored at lower temperatures, contact the front desk for a proper refrigerator.
Room categories: Garden view rooms overlook the themed grounds. The resort is small enough that even standard rooms feel well-located.
Disney Springs boat: This is a genuine perk. The boat ride is free with resort stay and runs regularly in the evenings. Worth planning a Disney Springs dinner or evening around it.
Refurbishment: Rooms appear to have been recently updated including the pocket door bathroom conversion, which is a real improvement over the previous swing door layout.
Activity schedule: Worth picking up at check-in. Movie nights, poolside games, and the Cajun campfire are the kinds of things that round out a stay.
Disney's most charming moderate resort. The size, the theming, the boat to Disney Springs, and the hot tub after a park day make this one worth coming back to.
- Adults and couples who want atmosphere and charm over large-scale amenities
- Anyone who wants a boat ride to Disney Springs built into their stay
- Guests who prefer a smaller, quieter resort feel
- Families who want strong theming at a moderate price point
- Repeat Disney visitors who want something different from the standard moderate experience
- You want a larger resort with more on-site dining variety
- A full refrigerator rather than a beverage cooler is important
- You're primarily going to Magic Kingdom and want closer proximity
- A large resort-style pool with multiple slides is a priority
Gran Destino Tower: Deluxe Feel at a Moderate Price.
If you're comparing moderate resort options, Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs is the other moderate worth serious consideration, with a very different vibe and a rooftop restaurant that earns the stay.