Port Orleans French Quarter is in the middle of its year-long room reimagining, and we had the risk to stick in the sort of redone rooms impressed through The Princess and the Frog all over our Christmas go back and forth to Walt Disney International. This hotel assessment stocks a photograph & video excursion of the brand new rooms, plus our ideas at the redesign and staying at POFQ.
Let’s get started with the timeline for the Port Orleans French Quarter room redo, which started final Would possibly. Walt Disney International initially introduced it might finish earlier than the vacation season began, yet as we famous within the 2025-2026 Walt Disney International Lodge Development & Refurbishment Tracker, that was once all the time an unrealistic timeline since this can be a difficult items overhaul. Again when the undertaking was once introduced, our bet was once that it might pause for the height season after which resume this wintry weather.
As a substitute, it were given prolonged with an professional finish date of Spring 2025. As we noticed firsthand, the undertaking didn’t pause for Christmas as is frequently the case to have complete room stock for the busiest months of the 12 months. It powered complete steam forward, with two constructions closed and an energetic development web site at the a ways facet of Port Orleans French Quarter, en path to Riverside.
For the ones with upcoming remains deliberate at Port Orleans French Quarter, the redone rooms are completed and opened in Constructions 1, 2, 3, and four. After we have been there, development crews have been within the means of overhauling Constructions 6 and seven. Construction 6 must be reopening any day now, and that’s assuming it isn’t already. When Construction 6 or 7 reopen, be expecting Construction 5 to on the subject of end the undertaking.
The excellent news is that anybody with an upcoming keep has very prime odds of receiving a reimagined room. As soon as Construction 5 closes, it gained’t also be imaginable to get one of the vital previous rooms. And as famous above, that are supposed to be going down any day now. The quite dangerous information is that Construction 5 is extra centralized with a location adjoining to the Doubloon Lagoon pool, that means the paintings will likely be extra disruptive to the ambience there.
Regardless, we’d now be expecting the Port Orleans French Quarter room redo to wrap up proper across the get started of Spring Ruin 2025.
However wait, there’s extra. Walt Disney International has already introduced a partial slate of room reimaginings at Port Orleans Riverside starting in Spring 2025. As soon as Port Orleans French Quarter is done with its refurbishment, the standard way can be for the ones development crews to transport over to Riverside. That’s what came about final time and the time earlier than that. (I’m no longer positive in regards to the time earlier than that–that’s again within the AOL dial-up days and web record-keeping isn’t the most productive.)
Walt Disney International has formally introduced that this Riverside redo will final till early 2026. On the other hand, we likewise be expecting this to be prolonged since what’s been introduced so far handiest encompasses Magnolia Bend. By the point that’s achieved, it’ll be time for Alligator Bayou to obtain its subsequent spherical of room redos. If the traditional undertaking cadence is adopted, all of those will likely be difficult items refurbishments and the entire timeline will likely be till overdue 2026 or early 2027.
Should you’re questioning what development looks as if all over the undertaking, listed below are some pictures from round Constructions 6 and seven:
As discussed above, this room redo at Port Orleans French Quarter is a troublesome items refurbishment. For the ones unfamiliar with this time period, a troublesome items refurbishment is a big renovation of a resort room. It’s usually a gut-job all over which the furnishings, floor, fixtures, and different parts are changed. We refer to those as room reimaginings, as they typically lead to materially-different rooms.
In between difficult items refurbishments, there are cushy items refurbishments to increase the lifetime of a specific room design, and to offer them a recent glance that takes benefit of trade traits and inventions in design. Cushy items refurbishments usually contain updating furniture, together with yet no longer restricted to wall coverings, floor, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
Walt Disney International has been using cushy items refurbishments rather successfully within the final decade to introduce space-saving design options. Because of this, the road has been blurred between cushy and hards items refurbishments, to the purpose that we’ve noticed large adjustments all over cushy items tasks (particularly at the DVC facet) to put in new fold-down beds and make different main adjustments.
Prior to we check out the newly-reimagined rooms, let’s first get started with a have a look at the former rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter (above) to come up with context.
Those have been final redone as a part of a cushy items refurbishment in ~2018 that in large part concerned changing the (very worn) carpet with new difficult floor, better TVs, raised beds, elimination of the wallpaper border, repainting, illuminated self-importance reflect, addition of USB ports, and different minor main points I’m most likely forgetting.
Listed here are the newly-reimagined rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter post-hard items refurbishment. Those function a recent coat of cream paint that brightens the room–or makes it overly bland, dull, and beige–relying upon your standpoint.
The floor has modified as soon as once more. Prior to now, there was once a directly association of lighter woods framed through a gloomy sq.. It seemed just right, yet most likely quite dated. Now the ground is a herringbone development, very similar to different new rooms at Walt Disney International.
In isolation, I don’t have a robust opinion in this floor exchange. As any person who does a dozen-plus Walt Disney International resort remains in line with 12 months, I liked that the previous glance was once one thing varied. That is lovely very similar to a number of different recently-redone rooms at Walt Disney International. And I’m guessing Riverside will finally end up taking a look precisely the similar.
Some other rather main exchange is that the desk and chairs has been changed through a settee and quite better desk. The curtains were additionally been changed with a detailed-but-muted development that fits the settee. The AC enclosure has additionally been repainted to compare the cloth cabinet.
We in point of fact just like the settee, which will simply seat 3 adults or perhaps a circle of relatives of four. From a serve as standpoint, it’s an development. Whilst no longer related to us, it might’ve been great if the desk have been slightly better, as there’s no longer enough room for 3-4 other folks to make use of this on the identical time. There’s slightly sufficient room for two.
The settee could also be an improve relating to shape, as the colourful development supplies a pop of colour. This may assist to offset the ones proceedings of the room being too bland and beige.
There are two Mardi Gras prints above the settee in golden oval frames. The primary options Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen dancing on the street with a band acting within the foreground. The opposite has Louis the Alligator enjoying his trumpet with a band whilst partiers throw beads from the balcony above.
Those are two of a couple of Princess and the Frog art work across the room. At the one hand, having this room redone to function that Disney animated movie was once evident. Even with out Disney saying as a lot, any fan may’ve guessed this was once the direction they’d move, particularly with Tiana’s Bayou Journey simply having opened. That movie is, definitely, an ideal have compatibility for Port Orleans French Quarter. (Heck, I’m nonetheless disenchanted they didn’t repurpose Bonfamille’s Cafe into Tiana’s Palace Eating place.)
With that stated, I do pass over the vintage Disney thought paintings–most commonly of New Orleans Sq. at Disneyland. That was once refined and grownup, a rarity for a Reasonable Hotel that made the rooms really feel (a minimum of to me) extra upscale than they in fact have been. As any person who prefers the parks to animation, I’ll all the time prefer nods to Walt Disney International, Disneyland, and many others. in rooms over film and persona tie-ins. To every their very own on that, even though.
Subsequent to the settee is the cloth cabinet, with the tv fastened at the wall above that. The debatable Alexa ‘Howdy Disney!’ instrument (that we’ve in point of fact come to revel in due to the Soundscapes) sits under the TV. Those units at the moment are in all rooms at Walt Disney International.
The cloth cabinet is painted in blue with gold pulls, and a white marble floor. There are a number of USB-A and USB-C ports at the cloth cabinet, they usually in fact paintings (for now).
The beverage cooler is hidden in the back of the screened door within the cloth cabinet of the console. Notice that those are the norm in resort rooms at Walt Disney International. To the most productive of my wisdom, right kind mini-fridges are handiest in DVC rooms or in point of fact previous rooms. This isn’t the best picture of all that, so let’s take every other glance…
Functionally, the most important exchange in regards to the cloth cabinet is that it’s longer and quite slimmer.
It doesn’t stick out so far as the previous cloth cabinet, and extends all of the solution to the wall that abuts with the toilet. I don’t in point of fact have a robust opinion in this exchange. The brand new cabinets above the espresso maker upload space for storing–and most likely extra importantly, pops of colour with their Mardi Gras designs.
Alternatively, this encloses what was once in the past the very best spot for an open suitcase on a stand. Six of 1, half-dozen of the opposite, I assume.
The headboards above the beds change the previous picket body, and lengthen all of the solution to the ceiling.
Those are paying homage to the headboards at different new rooms, with BoardWalk and Grand Floridian in an instant coming to thoughts for me. There’s great intensity and measurement to those, with a lightly-upholstered house proper above the pillows after which a mosaic development above that, all framed through a blue-green colour very similar to that of the former paint at the wall itself.
There also are new lights sconces above every mattress, in addition to fold-out studying lighting flanking every facet of every headboard. For me, those are enhancements over what was once there earlier than, giving extra persona and pops of colour to the rooms to counter the tasteless/dull/beige grievance, whilst additionally classing them up just a little.
If the sheets, mattresses or pillows are varied, we couldn’t inform. We have been fanatics of the bedding right here earlier than, and that continues to be true. (It’s the similar in any respect Reasonable Motels, to the most productive of our wisdom.)
Longtime readers of the weblog know that I used to be a large mattress runner proponent, lamenting their loss lengthy after it turned into transparent the trade as an entire was once shifting clear of them. I don’t rant about that just about as a lot anymore, most likely as a result of even the circa-2018 POFQ rooms didn’t have mattress runners.
For me, the brand new development of throw pillows is an good enough alternative for mattress runners, so I’m going to claim victory over bland bedding. This brilliant orange pillow with fleur-de-lis patterning provides a pop of colour to the differently sterile extra colour to the mattress. Between this and the headboards, the mattress seems great. No proceedings from me!
Functionally, there’s a small shelf affixed at the wall subsequent to the headboard closest to the toilet that’s the right dimension for a telephone. Within the middle bedside desk, there’s extra garage in addition to USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Those additionally these days paintings, however the room remains to be emblem new–give it time.
Adjoining to that mattress, there’s a brand new barn door to the toilet–there in the past was once no separate between the 2 rooms, so this can be a great function. The colour scheme is equal to the headboards with gold steel main points; the development is varied, and conjures up Princess and the Frog.
There’s additionally Princess and the Frog paintings to the proper of the door. That is a lot smaller than the New Orleans Sq. artwork that it replaces, yet that’s probably necessitated through the sliding door. It’s a tradeoff, yet we recognize the addition of the door.
The toilet has been utterly up to date, with a modernization in step with different lodges round Walt Disney International.
Right here you’ve gotten two sinks, illuminated rest room reflect, and makeup reflect. A large number of shelf area and garage has additionally been added. Individually, I’d be prepared to industry the ones cabinets for extra counter area so it’s more straightforward for 2 other folks to get in a position directly.
Even though my picture doesn’t seize it, the toilet flooring has been redone and now includes a mosaic development within the colour scheme of all the room, tying the entire redesign in combination. This seems unbelievable, and once more is helping the room counter the tasteless/dull/beige accusations.
The bathe has additionally been redone, similar to different Reasonable Hotel bogs.
As you’ll see, ours was once a conventional walk-in bathe. For many who need or want a bath, it’s our figuring out that the ones also are nonetheless to be had. If that’s essential to you, we’d suggest creating a request all over on-line check-in after which confirming with the entrance table earlier than coming into the room.
We strongly favor the walk-in bathe, so we have been happy to peer this alteration.
As earlier than, the shampoo, conditioner, and cleaning soap are supplied by way of wall-mounted dispensers slightly than the small particular person bottles. That is not anything new from the previous design, so would possibly not warrant bringing up.
On the other hand, what is new is that those are all-new dispensers. Walt Disney International have been masking up the H2O branding, following the tip of that partnership. (As we in the past reported, Walt Disney International’s bathtub emblem was once finishing.)
Fortunately, Disney bought the rights to the formulation for the H2O bathtub merchandise and printed it might proceed to provide them below their very own private-label Disney lodges emblem. Consequently, there were stickers masking the previous branding and different makeshift dispensers at some lodges.
Right here’s a video excursion of this newly-reimagined room at Port Orleans French Quarter:
As may well be obvious from the forgoing, we typically just like the redone rooms. There are sufficient pops of colour and main points that upload texture, intensity and measurement that those rooms paintings for us. If it weren’t for the consistent refrain of proceedings about Walt Disney International rooms changing into bland, dull and beige, I by no means even would’ve considered that once staying right here–a lot much less proactively introduced it up on this assessment.
From our standpoint, those do sufficient to deal with the ones considerations. To make sure, this won’t fulfill each Walt Disney International diehard, particularly those that were visiting because the Nineties. However for us, this room reveals the very best heart floor between blandness and busy-ness. Perhaps it will use a coat of coloured paint on every other wall or a bigger piece of artwork, yet the rest past that and there would arguably be an excessive amount of happening. It’s great to have a resort room that’s calming and comfy, and no longer an attack at the senses.
My larger critique, if I’ve one, is this room doesn’t move a ways sufficient with the redesign. As a large fan of the redone rooms on the Worth Motels and Deluxe Villa Motels, I used to be hoping for one thing alongside the ones traces.
Maximum lately, the reimagined ‘Beneath the Sea’ Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seashore Hotel are unbelievable, and produce DVC-style lodging to the loads. We adore the ones rooms, and can be extra vulnerable to stick at Caribbean Seashore for them (plus the Skyliner and Sebastian’s Bistro).
That is extra iterative than any of the ones. That’ll be high-quality for plenty of–if no longer maximum–visitors, yet we in point of fact love the space-saving types introduced through the fold-down beds. That’s a minor quibble or a question of private desire, even though.
In the end, there are rather vital enhancements over the previous Port Orleans French Quarter rooms when graded objectively. Those at the moment are the most productive usual Reasonable Rooms at Walt Disney International, with an ideal combine of unpolluted shape and serve as.
They carry one of the crucial options and types from the redone rooms at BoardWalk and Grand Floridian, even supposing clearly with out just about as a lot element. Anticipating a Reasonable Hotel that prices not up to 1/2 the cost of the ones to supply similar lodging is clearly anticipating an excessive amount of.
On the identical time, I’m happy that those Port Orleans French Quarter rooms have shyed away from the pitfalls of the Incredibles rooms on the Recent, for instance. The ones rooms are a cautionary story in pushing persona integration too a ways, they usually glance tacky in consequence. This room is obviously Mardi Gras and Princess and the Frog-impressed, with out going overboard with it.
Those Port Orleans French Quarter rooms thread the needle higher, highlighting Disney characters and themed design on the identical time. Even though they aren’t the head of themed design at Walt Disney International, they’re lovely just right for a Reasonable Hotel. The overhaul may well be iterative slightly than cutting edge, yet every now and then there’s no want to reinvent the wheel.
Truthfully, that line of considering may well be prolonged to Port Orleans French Quarter as an entire. This is likely one of the final ultimate ‘old skool’ accommodations at Walt Disney International with none novel transportation or flagship options that we’ve noticed added in different places during the last decade. In spite of that, French Quarter is unbelievable.
There’s so much to be stated for the only bus prevent, the eating is best than some fanatics give it credit score for, and the pool is gorgeous. Port Orleans French Quarter additionally brilliantly balances themed design with a compact format, and the romantic environment plus upgraded rooms make it really feel like a quasi-Deluxe Hotel in many ways. It’s simple to peer why POFQ has this type of fan following.
Making plans a Walt Disney International go back and forth? Know about accommodations on our Walt Disney International Motels Opinions web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to start out is our Walt Disney International Travel Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
Your Ideas
Do you compromise or disagree with our take at the reimagined rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter? Assume this redesign threads the needle on blandness vs. busy-ness? Want they might’ve added fold-down beds, or do you like this way? Every other adjustments you favor or dislike about those rooms? Are you keen on POFQ, or do you like the extra sprawling Moderates (or Values or Deluxes)? Any options of the redesign that you just like or dislike? Are mattress runners a hill value loss of life on? Any questions we will assist you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
