Disney World Resort Spotlight: Port Orleans French Quarter

On my recent trip to Disney World to do the runDisney Dopey Challenge, I stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter resort. This is one of the resorts I had never stayed in until this visit. We’ve stayed at Port Orleans Riverside as a family and all thought it was a once and done, but I imagine I’ll be returning to French Quarter! Read on to see what is so great about this resort…

The theming is amazing as it is in other Disney resorts. It’s a beautiful resort based on a New Orleans theme. Lots of jazz references and Mardi Gras colors!! But what sets this one apart from Port Orleans Riverside is the size.

There are 4 resorts in Disney World that are considered to be in the “Moderate” category - Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs. French Quarter is the smallest resort by far.

Number of rooms per resort:

  • French Quarter - 1008

  • Caribbean Beach - 1536

  • Riverside - 2048

  • Coronado - 2384

There are several benefits of a smaller resort…. Less people at the food court, the gift shop, the pool and the buses. But the biggest benefit for me was a smaller footprint. No matter which room you are in, you have at most a 5 minute walk to the main building and transportation. This was HUGE during Marathon weekend. I know the point of my trip was to run 48.6 miles over the course of 4 days, but something about the walks to/from the bus and my room seemed extra difficult. I literally was within a 30 second walk of the bus stop and I don’t know if I could have taken a step further.

We’ve been at amazing resorts like Animal Kingdom Lodge and had about a half mile walk (not really exaggerating here) from the bus to our room. That is a bit overwhelming when you’re exhausted, pushing a stroller, dragging luggage or heading to/from the pool.

I’ve also never done the Resort Refillable Mug (free drinks over the course of your trip!) since it’s always such a hike to the food court. Even with my tired feet and legs, I feel like I cost Disney some money in Diet Coke over the course of my stay. It was so quick, I sometimes headed back over just to fill up my cup again.

The only downside to French Quarter is that to get to the parks, your only transportation is by bus. I do love the Skyliner from Caribbean Beach. But honestly, the buses come so often and are so close to the rooms that I feel like I didn’t miss the Skyliner that much. (I did have to hop between Epcot and Hollywood Studios a couple of times just to ride the Skyliner as it’s a lot of fun, though)! If you’re a big Disney Springs fan, there is a boat there that is a fun and relaxing ride down the Sassagoula river!

Love the boats to Disney Springs along the Sassagoula!

The other moderates all have multiple internal bus stops and French Quarter just has one. I love that I know if a bus comes, it won’t already be full and my next stop is the park. At the other resorts, you sometimes have to stop at 3 other stops prior to getting to yours and I’m just too impatient for that!

The pool is amazing!! It has a fun slide and even has a great splash pad area for smaller kids. Another benefit of Port Orleans resorts is that you can pool hop between French Quarter and Riverside. Most other resorts require you to be a guest at that resort to use the pool. But if you’re staying at either of these, you are free to use both pools!

The food is great although if you know me, I tend to eat kids’ meals and am not too adventurous so I’m not the best food critic. But all that I had was really good.

The best food there, by far, is at Scat Cat Cafe - beignets!!! These things are huge and made fresh when you order them. I have a feeling they are used to seeing it there, so they didn’t call the DEA on me, but it did look a bit suspicious since I had powdered sugar all over my room!

Mickey Beignets!!! An order of 3 comes with a dipping sauce. SO GOOD!!

The rooms were refurbished in 2018 so have the new style of wood floors and flat-panel TVs mounted on the wall which gives a bit more counter space in the room. They also have the beds that are open underneath so that you can store suitcases there instead of wasting floor space elsewhere.

Overall, I can’t say enough great things about this resort. If you’re thinking about heading to Disney World, give me a call. I’d love to talk about your needs for a resort and see if this is as great a fit for you as it was for me!! And remember, it doesn’t cost you a penny more to book through me than it does to book directly through Disney - and you’ll get my expertise and love of Disney to help guide you!!

Genie, Genie+ and Lightning Lane Individual Attraction Purchases Begin October 19!

Disney announced today that the Genie service we’ve been talking about for a while now will be available to use beginning October 19, 2021! You may be wondering what on earth this service does, so here are all the details from Disney…


Available for all of our guests right in the My Disney Experience app, the complimentary Disney Genie service offers new features that let guests create their best Disney day. These features include a personalized itinerary creator that effortlessly and smartly maps out an entire day inspired by the things guests tell us they love – helping them make the most of their park time so they can have more fun.

Similar to a navigation app on a phone, Disney Genie continues to update the guest’s itinerary from morning to night as the day changes, so they can stay spontaneous and go with the flow – whether guests need a nap, encounter an unexpected rain shower or want to take a detour for a Mickey ice cream bar.

genie2.png

Many of you have asked about how this cool new technology works. Behind the scenes, the app is capable of magically evaluating thousands of possible itineraries in seconds – so guests don’t even have to think about it! Disney Genie puts guests at the center of the experience by prioritizing ways to:

  • Reduce time in lines while keeping in mind guest’s top picks

  • Pace the day with experiences guests will enjoy – and haven’t already done yet

  • Build around existing plans like dining reservations and Park Hopper® preferences

Disney Genie uses our 50+ years of knowledge and expertise in how guests visit our parks to make the experience better for everyone.

With this launch, we’ll also be introducing the Lightning Lane entrance. Available for purchase through our Disney Genie+ add-on at more than 40 attractions – or individually, “a la carte” at some of our most highly demanded attractions – the Lightning Lane entrance can save guests time waiting in line. See below for a first look at the list of current attractions with Lightning Lane entrances.

As a reminder, attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue or from time to time, a virtual queue may instead be used at select attractions, like right now at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Confused about Lightning Lane? Here’s more info on that!

Starting October 19, our new Lightning Lane entrances will be introduced at a wide variety of attractions and entertainment experiences, available through 2 options (Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections and Individual Lightning Lane Selections), which can be combined.

Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections

When you take your day to the next level by purchasing Disney Genie+ service, you can select arrival windows for Lightning Lane entrances that are available at more than 40 attractions and entertainment across all 4 theme parks, one at a time throughout the day.

Price
Disney Genie+ service will be available for $15 per Guest per day.

How to Purchase

  • Before Your Visit:
    Available as an add-on to a ticket or vacation package for the duration of visit. Purchase via Disneyworld.com or authorized travel professionals.

  • Same Day of Visit:
    Available for single-day use for existing ticket holders or Annual Passholders. Purchase via Disney Genie service in the My Disney Experience app.

When to Select Attractions
Once you have Disney Genie+ service, you can book the next available arrival window for your first experience via the MyDisneyExperience app beginning at 7:00 AM on the day of your visit.

Once you’ve redeemed your initial selection (or the arrival window has passed), you can make another selection using the app, up to park closing.

Individual Lightning Lane Selections

For some of our most highly demanded attractions we’ll offer Lightning Lane entry as an "á la carte" purchase. This option will be available for all Guests—with or without Disney Genie+ service—and lets you choose a time to arrive at up to 2 attractions each day (booked one at a time).

Price
Pricing and availability will vary by date, attraction and park. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for current prices and attraction availability.

How to Purchase
Purchase via Disney Genie service in the My Disney Experience mobile app on the same day of your visit.

When to Select Attractions
You can purchase individual selections for up to 2 different attractions per day.

  • Guests of a Disney Resort Hotel and Other Select Hotels: These Guests can make their first purchase starting at 7:00 AM on the day of their visit. Available to Disney Resort hotel Guests and Guests of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green.

  • All Other Guests: These Guests can make their first purchase when the park opens.

What Changes can you Expect at Disney World Due to Covid?

Disney World may be different right now, but I can assure you that it's still Magical!  Today I want to let you know about how things may have changed since your last visit.  Keep in mind that the situation is always evolving so this is how it stands in November 2020.  I REALLY HOPE that someone reading this a few years from now will be amazed at how crazy 2020 was for Disney and the world since it’s all back to normal by then!

But for now, here is what you can expect…

Masks

Most people are used to these by now.  In Oklahoma, we have to wear them indoors pretty much everywhere.  The difference at Disney World is that if you are on property you must wear them AT ALL TIMES.  The only exception is if you are stationary and actively eating/drinking, in a pool, in your resort room or in a mask relaxation station.  So you may be outside and may be well over 6 feet away from anyone, but you still must wear your mask.  

We did this in August and it was HOT and we survived.  If you or your kids aren’t used to wearing a mask though, I would recommend some practice ahead of time.  You don’t want to get there and realize your mask is uncomfortable or won’t stay up on your face.  Make sure you have a mask that you can wear for hours on end.  You also want to have several masks per person per day.  They get wet and sweaty and stinky.  Having extras to swap them out is a game-changer.

Hand Sanitizers and Hand Washing

Don is a certified germaphobe so we are used to sanitizing and washing often at Disney.  But now, it’s much easier to keep your hands clean.  Disney provides hand sanitizer throughout the park and there are hand washing stations if you’d rather use those.  I would recommend taking your own sanitizer as there were some times we didn’t want to wait in the line that formed at the dispenser on the way off of the ride.  The machines dispense a little slowly and we are an inpatient group!

Temperature Checks

Before entering the parks and Disney Springs, you are now required to stop for a temperature check.  It’s quick and easy, but just one more stop before you get to enter the park, so plan a few extra minutes to get through that line.  If you have a fever, you can wait in the cool-down area for a few minutes.  They’ll check you again and if it’s still high, you will be denied entry.  

Social Distancing

Throughout the parks now you’ll see markers on the ground within each queue to show you where to stand so that you’re separated from the group ahead of you.  You would think people could do this on their own, but the markers do help.  

You are also distanced on attractions and Disney transportation.  For those of you that prefer not interacting with strangers, this is a dream come true.  The downfall is that it translates to limited capacity.  For example, a bus that previously transported 50 guests to the park now may only transport 10-15 depending on how many groups are on board.  And while it’s nice to have rows to yourself on Slinky Dog and Pirates, attractions may have longer lines since they are not seating all rows/seats.  

One thing to think about is not to be overly concerned when you see a queue for an attraction stretch out into the park - especially on something like Space Mountain where the queue is normally contained indoors.  Just remember that there should be 6 feet of space between every party so the line goes much faster than it looks.

Be aware though, you could happen upon an attraction right before they start a cleaning cycle.  Depending on the attraction, this could increase your wait time by 5-15 minutes.  But most posted wait times are a bit inflated for this reason, so odds are you will wait less than what is posted.  If you’re in a hurry to make a dining reservation then you might want to avoid a line that has a wait time that would interfere.  Otherwise, hop in line!  You’ll most likely be done faster than you expect.  And I know I’m weird but waiting in line at Disney is still more fun than waiting in line at the grocery store, right?  :)

One other small drawback to social distancing is that Disney isn’t utilizing Single Rider lines currently.  In the past, if you didn’t mind riding with strangers, you could skip pretty far up in line to fill in where there was an empty seat due to odd numbers of people in a party.  I’ve done this many times and it’s a great way to get on the ride quickly!  Hopefully this is an option that will return.

Some Missing Offerings

Here’s a bit of bad news for you - some things are not available now and may or may not be back in the future.  They are:

Fireworks/Nightime Shows - no fireworks but there are projections (currently for Christmas) on some of the park icons that make for great photos!

Parades - we’re not huge parade watchers (requires patience to get a good spot which you know we don’t have) so we don’t miss this too much.  And they have replaced these with sort of “mini” parades called Character Cavalcades which I love even more!

Character Meet and Greets and Character Dining - I do really miss this as I love to get a hug from my fav Disney pals (looking at you, Mickey!), but for some this isn’t a big deal.  A lot of kids would rather wave at them from a distance and that’s perfect for the Character Cavalcades.

Park Hopping - this is a no-go at the moment, but it’s coming back and we have a date!  Started January 1, 2021 you’ll be able to hop again!  You’ll still need a Park Pass reservation for your first park and then after 2pm you can enter another park.  I can’t wait for this - I love to hit more than one park per day.

FastPasses - no FastPasses right now.  But honestly, with limited capacity at the parks, we did just fine without them.  

Mousekeeping - currently resorts are not cleaning rooms during your stay.  They will bring you towels and empty trash upon request.  

Some Good Changes 

So now that the bad news is out of the way, here’s some good news!

Mobile Ordering - this has been around for a while and I’ve always recommended it but very few people take advantage of it.  Now it’s basically required at all counter service locations.  There are a couple of locations that still have walk-up service but expect to use Mobile Ordering.  I can’t imagine doing it any other way to be honest.

Table Service Check In - Now when you have a Table Service reservation, you check in on the Mobile App rather than visit the podium.  This is a huge improvement.  The podium area was always crowded and loud and checking in was a pain.  Now you can check in as you’re walking to the restaurant and by the time you get there your table will most likely be ready!

Enchanced Cleaning - I could do without the stoppage of attractions for cleaning, but it is amazing to see how the parks are being CONSTANTLY cleaned.  I don’t know if that will continue post-Covid as the parks were cleaned well above my expectations already.

Limited Capacity/Smaller Crowds - the limited capacity could be seen as a negative if you want to go and can’t get a Park Pass reservation, but I love how empty the parks feel.  Some days are obviously more crowded than others but having pictures without a million people in them and no strollers running up on my ankles was awesome.

Great Deals - there are some HUGE cost savings now through the Spring - don’t miss out on those!

There will never be another time like this (we hope) at Disney World.  I’d go back to the way things were last year in a heartbeat.  But you can go safely and have a Magical trip for sure!!  I did a past blog post on our trip in August that you can read about here if you just can’t imagine why a person would go to Disney World during a pandemic: http://www.tripsbymouse.com/blog/2020/9/9/yes-i-took-my-kids-to-disney-world-during-a-pandemic-heres-why-id-do-it-again-in-a-heartbeat

If you’re going to work/school, grocery store, running errands… trust me when I say that you’ll be amazed at how safe you feel at Disney World.  And if you decide to go, please consider calling me and using my travel agent services.  It’s free and I can save you time (and sometimes money!) over booking and planning the trip yourself. It supports my family and I would greatly appreciate it!

How to Keep Busy at Disney During Shorter Park Hours

As per usual in the world right now, nothing is usual. One thing that is very unusual is that you may find yourself on a Disney World vacation with time on your hands and no park to go to. Parks have limited operating hours currently depending on the day you are there.

If you are a normal, sane person, you may think, “Sweet! Now I can relax a bit on my trip!” We know I am not that normal, sane person, so my mind says, “But I paid all this money and came all this way - entertain me until I drop dead of exhaustion!”

So for those you of that think like me, here are some options to entertain you until you drop…

Early/Late Table Service Dining

I typically don’t suggest a lot of Table Service dining because once again, I’m looking to fit in as much as I can in the way of attractions. But if a park has late opening hours (Epcot usually), use that morning to have a fun breakfast! There are a couple of modified character breakfasts you can do also and more open up as we go, so by the time you read this you may have more options. The good thing about a breakfast before you go to the parks is that you can really fill up and if you time it right, you could even skip lunch which saves more time for those rides!

The same idea can be done with a late dinner. Looking at the calendar today, Animal Kingdom is closing at 5pm. I tend to eat dinner early, but that’s early even for me. So you could easily find a great dinner spot after your day and not have to eat dinner at 10pm. One option is to get an Advanced Dining Reservation for a few minutes before the park closes and have the park to yourself as you walk out. Or you could try a restaurant at one of the resorts you’ve been wanting to visit. Disney Springs has a lot to offer too! And since you’re not in a hurry to make it to your next attraction, you can actually linger over your meal for once at Disney.

Miniature Golf

My boys love mini-golf and I do too. But I never feel like it’s going to be more fun to play mini-golf than the fun I’ll have in the parks so we never do it. But when you don’t have the option of a park, what’s stopping you? We had a great time at Fantasia Gardens on our trip. They are currently closed for the season, but don’t worry… the other course - Winter Summerland - is now open! I’ll do a longer blog post on how Disney does mini-golf (spoiler alert - they get it right) in an upcoming blog post.

Resort Activities and Swimming

Here’s one that most kids love and often miss out on. Pools! The resort pools are awesome - and heated for you colder people (like myself). If you stay deluxe or moderate, you’ll even have a water slide. The pools aren’t open super late (currently closing at 9pm) but if you’re leaving a park at 5, that gives you a lot of time. Most have some sort of bar/restaurant near the pool area so you can really relax. Keep in mind that Disney doesn’t allow park hopping, so you can only use the pool at your resort.

Resorts also have a lot of activities that go unnoticed. There are Movies under the Stars, bike rentals, fishing… Often there will be a scavenger hunt or craft for the kids. Be sure and check with the resort front desk for the schedule of what’s happening while you are there.

Disney Springs

I mentioned Disney Springs in the dining section, but just know there is a lot to do there! Of course, there’s a lot of dining and shopping. But you can also see a movie or go bowling! The NBA Experience isn’t back open yet, but that may be an option soon. Since there is no admission fee or ticket needed to enter Disney Springs, it can get crowded and may close due to capacity. Just have a back up plan in mind if that’s the case while you are there.

Soaking in Your Surroundings

One of my favorite things to do at Magic Kingdom is just to find a bench on Main Street and soak up the atmosphere. If the park is closed, though, you can still do something similar. One evening, we took the Skyliner over to the International Gateway at Epcot but instead of going to the park, we headed over to the boardwalk for pizza and ate by the water. We ended the evening at Beaches and Cream where we made ourselves sick on ice cream. It was the perfect end to our day!

Just remember, it’s fun to be spontaneous and have a few “extra” hours that you don’t normally have on a Disney vacation. I, for one, can’t wait until I can Park Hop and spend every waking hour in a park, but I know that’s not for everyone. But keep in mind that you do need to plan a bit if you want Table Service dining as it’s currently limited and you will need an Advanced Dining Reservation. I can help you with that of course!! Contact me - it won’t cost you a penny!!