Walt Disney World's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

In the lobby you will see lots of children and adults. There is a little area where kids can play games and watch TV, while their parents check-in. There is also a place where the adults can sit and talk.

The lobby is also where you can pick up maps of all the Theme Parks. You can also get the weekly schedule of the early park openings.

Just outside the lobby is a fountain that I like to throw coins into. Sometimes the cast members give me special Port Orleans coins (green, gold, or purple) that I can throw in also. I always make a wish before I throw the coin into the fountain.

I really like sitting with my family in the lobby.

Our room had two twin beds, a bathroom, a large dresser with a TV (showing plenty of Disney programs), and a small round table with two chairs. The dresser had four large drawers, one for each of us, and two smaller drawers for assorted smaller things like bathing suits.

Grace's favorite part of the room was the full length mirror on the back of the bathroom door - s she could check out her outfits every morning.

The first time we went to our room, we were greeted by a classic Mickey made out of rolled bathroom towels on the bed. The next day, housekeeping left a tiny giraffe, made out of wash cloths. They left a pair of towel ducks in my sister-in-laws room (Grace's aunt).

All of the rooms at the Port Orleans French Quarter resort have outside entrances. As a result, the 'hallways' to the rooms are balconies that run along the outside of the buildings.

In order to get to your room, you can take either the stairs, or an elevator to your floor. Depending on which building you are in, some of the balconies have a view of the pool.

Depending on which hotel you're in, and what direction your room is facing, you may be able to see other hotels and parks many miles away. For example, at night, from some 3rd floor balconies, you have a view of the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. The last time we stayed at the Port Orleans, looking from the 3rd floor balcony, we were able to see the Space Shuttle as it lifted into space after it's launch from Cape Canaveral.

Having a balcony also allows you to step outside into the fresh air first thing in the morning to see what the weather will be like (although chances are it is going to be hot).

Every resort in Disney World has a gift shop where you can buy an wide assortment of general souvenirs, and some that are also themed to the hotel. The French Quarter, themed around Mardi Gras, has some brightly colored jewelry and clothes that I really liked.

I really enjoyed the selection of Disney mugs, Mickey ear rings, Port Orleans t-shirts, and character key chains. There are also several different character shirts, featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Grumpy (my Dad's favorite), Tinkerbell and Donald Duck. The shirts come in a variety of Mardi Gras colors such as green, purple, yellow and orange.

When we bought something in the theme parks and had them shipped back to our room (so Daddy didn't have to carry it around all day) we would go and pick it up at the gift shop.

Also, in the gift shop, the cast members hand out bead necklaces in different colors. I wore my necklaces every day of our vacation.

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You can see the alligator statues when you walk to the pool. There are two alligators. One of them is playing the banjo, and the other is playing the drums.

It is fun to take a picture with the alligators as a unique memory of the French Quarter Resort.

You can also wee the alligators as you walk from your room to either the Food Court, or the bus stops, as you go to the theme parks.

The pool in the French Quarter resort is really cool (and wet).

The pool has a slide that looks like a really big alligator. It's called the Serpent Slide. You climb up his tail, and slide down his tongue.

There is also a bridge that you can swim under. Under the bridge is the deepest part of the pool (~5 ft).

Across from the bridge there is a waterfall that comes out of the top of a large clamshell. Inside the shell there are three more statues of alligator musicians.

I like to slide down the slide and also jump in the deep end. In the shallow side I like to relax, swim free-style, and float.

The pool is a really great place to cool off in the afternoon, or relax with your family after a long day of walking in the theme parks.

When we booked our trip to Disney online, we received a coupon with our registration package for a free 30 minutes of arcade games. During an afternoon break from the parks, after swimming in the pool for a while, we decided to visit the arcade.

My daughter Grace's favorite arcade game was the bowling. You roll a plastic ball toward a video screen and it shows you how many pins you knocked down. We also played air hockey (she managed to win 7 - 6).

The was also an arcade version of Mario Cart, that was very different from the Wii game, but still lots of fun.

When we go back to Disney again, I'm sure we'll revisit the arcade.