Disney's French Quarter: Is This the BEST Orlando Resort?
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the jazzy, colorful world of Disney's French Quarter Resort! Is it the BEST Orlando resort? That's a BIG claim. But after a recent stay, armed with my trusty notepad (and a healthy dose of skepticism), I'm ready to spill the beignets. Let's see if it is as magical as the hype.
First things first: Accessibility - Can Anyone Get Around?
I mean, this is Disney, right? Accessibility is a MUST. And thankfully, French Quarter generally nails it. Wheelchair accessible rooms are available, and I saw plenty of ramps and elevators. Definitely a plus. I didn't personally need it, but I did see a guest navigating the resort with ease in a wheelchair, which is a great sign. No crazy steps to battle. Score one for inclusivity.
(Accessibility - The Little Thing That Matters): They provide facilities for disabled guests, so you can rest assured you are welcome.
Rooms - Ah, the Sweet Suite Spot (or Not-So-Sweet, Sometimes)
Let's be frank, the rooms are… well, they're Disney rooms. Think cheerful, colorful, and functional. You get your Air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi (Hallelujah! And it worked!), a decent Bathroom, and all the usual suspects: Coffee/tea maker, Refrigerator, In-room safe box. Basic needs are met. The Interconnecting room(s) available are a huge bonus for families.
Now, does it feel luxury? Not quite. It's not the Four Seasons. But everything is clean, and the Daily housekeeping is a serious lifesaver. And the Blackout curtains are a GODSEND after a long day at the parks. My sleep quality was… pretty solid. Although, one night the AC unit sounded like a dying robot. Minor gripe, but it did give me a fit of giggles.
(Room Specifics - The Finer Points): The extra long bed was awesome, and I really appreciated the Wake-up service! And the complimentary tea was a sweet touch, even if I forgot to drink it half the time.
Cleanliness and Safety - Are We Safe From the Mouse-Shaped Germs?
Okay, let's get real. We all want to feel safe, especially in these crazy times. French Quarter seems to take it seriously. Plenty of Hand sanitizer stations, Daily disinfection in common areas, and the staff are trained in safety protocols. I loved that they emphasized, with Anti-viral cleaning products. From what I saw, they seemed to be keeping up with their end of the deal.
They also provided Individually-wrapped food options, which is great for safety-conscious folks. I didn’t see any obvious gaps. Though, I do wish they had a little more of the sanitizing stuff near the bars.
(Safety - The Devil's In The Details): The CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property are definitely reassuring. First aid kit, and fire extinguisher were present… Thankfully I didn't need them! Smoke alarms, and Safety/security feature all contribute to feeling secure.
They offer Room sanitization opt-out available, so you can choose.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Gut-Busting Guide to Gumbo and Beyond!
Alright, this is where French Quarter really shines… and where my waistline suffered slightly. The food! Oh, the food! Let's start with Scat Cat's Club - Cafe. It’s a good place to grab a drink, and you can enjoy the atmosphere of the resort.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is your main quick-service spot. Think beignets, jambalaya, gumbo, and po'boys. And the beignets… oh. My. God. They’re fluffy, covered in powdered sugar, and you'll be dreaming about them for days. Seriously, I inhaled a whole box in one sitting. No regrets. (Okay, maybe a few tiny ones.)
(Dining - My Beignet Obsession) I ate probably ate about 100 pounds of beignets. They were THAT good. I'm still thinking about them. I will have them again. They are the best.
(Dining - Beyond the Beignets): They also have a Coffee shop, snacks galore at the quick service places. There's a Poolside bar.
Services and Conveniences - The Extras That Make Life Easier (or More Chaotic)
Disney resorts are all about convenience. Daily housekeeping, a Concierge, a Gift/souvenir shop, and Luggage storage are standard. Cash withdrawal is readily available.
(The Little Things That Matter): The elevator is a godsend, especially if you're tired after a day at the parks. The Dry cleaning is also great for those who need it. The Convenience store, is a life-saver if you run out of essentials! The Contactless check-in/out is a nice touch for safety.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Beyond the Parks (But Let’s Be Honest, Mostly THE Parks)
Alright, let's be real. You're here for Disney World, not for the spa. But French Quarter does have its own pool (Swimming pool [outdoor]!).
(Relaxation - The Bare Minimum): There is a Fitness center, but I admittedly didn't go (too busy eating beignets).
For the Kids - Mickey's Little Helpers!
Family/child friendly is practically Disney's middle name. Expect kids everywhere! They have Kids meal and Babysitting service.
Getting Around - Don't Even Think About Driving!
The best perk of staying on property: Free car park [free of charge]. There's also: Taxi service and Airport transfer. But honestly, the Disney buses are your best friend. They're frequent, reliable, and take you right to the parks and Disney Springs.
Internet - Connected to the Magic (…or Just Netflix)
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! It actually worked. Internet and Internet services are pretty well covered.
So, Is Disney's French Quarter the BEST Orlando Resort?
Look, it’s not perfect. It’s not the most luxurious resort. But it's charming, fun, convenient, and the beignets are divine. It's perfect for families, people who like to party, and of course, the beignet obsessed! I give it a solid thumbs-up.
Final Verdict: Probably the BEST, if you want something affordable, fun, and close to the action.
Booking Offer - Beignets, Booze, and Disney Dreams!
Ready to experience the magic of Disney's French Quarter? Book your stay now and receive:
- A complimentary box of fresh beignets on arrival! (Trust me, you need this.)
- One free cocktail per adult at Scat Cat's Club-Cafe! (Gotta wash those beignets down somehow.)
- Guaranteed access to the Disney parks of your choice! (Because let's be real, that's the whole point.)
Don't miss out on this slice of N'awlins charm! Book your stay at Disney's French Quarter Resort today!
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're heading to Disney's Port Orleans - French Quarter, and this ain't gonna be your perfectly curated Instagram feed, I’m warning you! This itinerary? More like a chaotic love letter to be honest. Let's GO!
Day 1: Arrival, Shrimp & Sass (and Possible Meltdown - Maybe Mine)
- Morning (Like, REALLY Morning): Okay, so the flight… landed. That's a win! Bag claim? Nightmare. Found my bag finally. The car rental? Let's just say the "compact" they promised was more "microscopic." Traffic from the magical Disney bubble was… well, hellish, especially with the kids screaming "Are we there yet?!" every 5 seconds. (Me? I was silently chanting, "Gotta get to the beignets… gotta get to the beignets…")
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Check-in & Room Reconnaissance: Thank the Lord, we made it! The French Quarter is gorgeous, I'll give it that. Smells like beignets, actually. The room? Surprisingly spacious! (Thank goodness for a bit of luck!) The kids are already bouncing off the beds, naturally. Okay, unpacking is a challenge… clothes everywhere, toys overflowing. Gotta get the family ready to enjoy the area.
- Evening: Dinner at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory & POOL TIME: Alright, food court time! Seriously, this place is a sensory overload. Amazing, but also a little…much. The shrimp! Glorious shrimp! I devoured it. The kids? Picky eaters, as usual. We need more veggies in their life but they wouldn't try it! Pool time! This is where things got… messy. The kids jumped in. I jumped in. It wasn't the beautiful, Instagram-perfect moment. It was chaotic splashes, sunscreen in the eyes (mine!), and one kid attempting to drown the other with a pool noodle. Kids.
- Night: Sleepy Time? I'm crossing my fingers and praying. Hoping for a good night's sleep.
Day 2: Beignets, Bayou, and the Beauty of the Unplanned
- Morning: The Quest for Beignets (and Caffeine): Okay, people. This is SERIOUS. I was up before dawn, (thanks, jet lag and the kids) and the only reason I'm functioning is because I got my coffee and headed straight in to the food court to get my Beignets. This is the whole reason. It was worth the wait! The sugary goodness practically melted in my mouth. I swear, I'd swim in that powdered sugar if I could. This is what it means to be happy.
- Late Morning: Exploring the Resort, and The Bayou Walk: This hotel is stunning. The details! The wrought-iron balconies! We wandered down the pathways, dodging other tourists. Really enjoyable. We took a leisurely stroll along the Sassagoula River! Peaceful. Well, until the toddler decided to try and throw a rock at a passing boat.
- Afternoon: Doubling Down on the Pool and Beignets: It's that time. We went back. More splashing, more sunscreen, more pure, unadulterated kid joy. I may or may not have snuck another beignet…
- Evening: Boat Ride to Disney Springs (and the Utter Chaos of Dinner): Alright, this was supposed to be magical. Disney Springs… it's basically a beautiful, gigantic shopping mall. The boat ride itself: lovely. But the crowds! The noise! The sheer number of people who also felt hungry and needed dinner right this second! We ended up at (insert forgettable restaurant name here). The food was… fine. The kids were… not. It’s was a challenge. The whole experience was a little crazy.
Day 3: Farewell, French Quarter (and the Lessons Learned)
- Morning: Final Beignet Snarf Fest & Resort Wandering: Okay, one last beignet, because, well, you have to. We did a final walk around the resort, saying our goodbyes. The kids played on the playground. I had a quiet moment, taking it all in.
- Mid-Morning: Check-Out & The Drive Home (and the Existential Crisis): Sigh. Check out. Packed. Car packed. The drive home… It's always a mix of sadness and relief. The kids slept. I had time to think. Maybe I should have done things differently? Taken more pictures? Enjoyed every minute more? I also realized my sanity had been stretched pretty thin.
- Afternoon: Home Sweet Home (and the Mountain of Laundry): Unpacking. Laundry. That mountain of laundry. So much laundry. The memories, though… those are definitely worth the chaos, the meltdowns, the sugar-induced highs (and lows). Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I do anything differently? Maybe, maybe not. This is what it means to be a family. And, honestly? It was perfect… in its beautifully imperfect way.
Quirks, Anecdotes, and Random Thoughts:
- The Mouse Ears: Okay, I bought the kids those Mickey Mouse ears. They wore them… for about 10 minutes. Then they took them off and ran wild.
- The "Lost" Stroller: I swear, that stroller could get lost in a phone booth. We spent a good hour looking for it one day. Found it.
- The Emotional Roller Coaster: One minute I was in tears of joy watching the kids in the pool. The next, I was yelling at them to put their shoes on.
- The Reality Check: Disney is magic, yes. But it's also exhausting… especially when you're traveling with kids.
- The Lesson: Embrace the chaos. The imperfect moments? Those are the ones you'll actually remember. And for the love of all things holy, get the beignets.
So there you have it. A messy, honest, and hopefully inspiring travel diary. Go make your own memories! And if you see a woman with sugar-dusted fingers and a frazzled look, that might just be me! Have fun!
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Disney's French Quarter: Is This the BEST Orlando Resort? (Ugh, Let's Talk About It)
Q: Okay, spill the tea. Is French Quarter *really* the best resort at Disney World?
Ugh, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it? And honestly? It's complicated. "Best" is subjective. If you're looking for opulent, over-the-top Disney magic? No. It's not the Grand Floridian. If you want the most *convenient* location? Also, no. The Monorail isn't stopping here. It *is* a serious contender for *my* heart, though. Let me put it this way: I've stayed at resorts that cost more, and I've stayed at ones that were closer to the parks, but the French Quarter...it just *feels* right, you know? Like a warm hug dipped in beignets. We’ll circle back to that hug later...
Q: What *is* the vibe? Like, give it to me straight!
Think New Orleans, but Disney-fied. Think wrought-iron balconies overflowing with flowers (well, mostly plastic, let's be honest, but they *look* good), cobblestone pathways (also, probably not real cobblestones), and the constant, gentle sound of jazz music drifting through the air. It's charming. It's got a certain laid-back, *laissez-faire* attitude. Which is awesome, unless you’re waiting for your mobile order to be ready. Then it's… testing. More on that later.
Q: Theming is important. Rate it!
Theming? Top-notch. Seriously. They *nailed* the New Orleans feel. It's immersive without being overwhelming. It's not as in-your-face as, say, a full-on Polynesian Village experience. But it's *constant*. Even the bathrooms have details. My kid, bless his heart, spent a solid fifteen minutes pretending to catch fireflies near the pool at night. That's immersion. Solid A+.
Q: What are the rooms like? Are they cramped?
The rooms are… well, they’re not exactly spacious. They're perfectly adequate, though. They're designed to prioritize the *experience*, not the square footage. They're comfortable, clean, and well-maintained. The beds are comfy (important!), and they usually have a decent amount of storage for the inevitable Disney-induced shopping sprees. However, if you're planning on doing a lot of hanging out *in* your room, you might feel a little claustrophobic. My advice? Get out and enjoy the resort! Or the parks. Or both! Preferably both.
Q: Dining options? Gimme the lowdown on the food. (Beignets, preferably!)
OH, the beignets! Here's the thing: French Quarter has one *major* trump card: Scat Cat's Club – Café. And it exists. **Beignets!!!!** They're fresh, hot, and dusted in powdered sugar. They're perfection. They're the reason I would fight a small alligator to stay here. They have beignets with different flavors, they're *amazing*. (Okay, maybe not fight an actual alligator. I'm a pacifist… usually). Besides beignets, they have a decent quick-service spot, Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. Pretty good selection, nothing revolutionary. I went there once, ordered something vaguely Cajun-inspired, and was pleasantly surprised. But mostly, plan your meals around those beignets. You HAVE to. Seriously.
Q: Pool scene? Any good? (or is it filled with screaming kids?)
The pool area is fantastic. It's themed (naturally), with Doubloon Lagoon. It's got a sea serpent slide, which is fun (even for us adults), and plenty of space to lounge around. Okay, yes, there *are* kids. They're inevitable. But the pool is large enough that it doesn't feel overwhelmingly chaotic. I've actually *enjoyed* the pool, even with the splashes and shrieks. It’s a good energy, and it’s easy to find a spot to relax. Compared to some of the other resort pools, this one is a winner.
Q: Transportation to the parks? This is important!
This is where things get… interesting. French Quarter is connected to Disney Springs via a boat. That's actually quite nice. It's scenic, relaxing, and you avoid the bus crowds. But to get to the parks? Bus. And, unfortunately, the bus is a major point of contention for some. Sometimes the buses are quick. Sometimes… they're not. Sometimes the bus is packed to the gills, and you're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a family who has a mountain of souvenirs and a screaming toddler. And, sometimes, the air conditioning feels like it’s on the fritz. It's a gamble. It's not ideal. It's the main reason this resort doesn't get a perfect score in my book. Prepare yourself.
Q: Any downsides? Give it to me straight!
Aside from the often… *unpredictable* bus situation? The rooms aren't huge. The food, outside of beignets, is pretty standard quick service fare. And the resort's location isn't exactly central. You have a bit of a walk to get anywhere outside the resort. But honestly? Those are minor quibbles. My biggest complaint? Okay, brace yourself: **Mobile Ordering at Sassagoula**. It's… hit or miss. I’ve ordered beignets, I've *paid* for beignets on the app, only to arrive and find my order completely MIA. Frustration level? Elevated. Sugar-induced rage is a real thing, people. Disney NEEDS to fix their mobile ordering system. Please, for the love of all that is holy, fix it! That's my honest-to-goodness flaw right there.
Q: Okay, so, would you recommend it?
Absolutely. Yes. Without hesitation. The theming, the pool, the overall vibe, and those glorious, life-affirming beignets? They win me over every single time. Yes, the bus can be a pain. Yes, theSnooze And Stay
