Hi there, Jill!
Both of those Resorts are in the Moderate class, so they will be equivalent in terms of amenities. Port Orleans Resorts -
Riverside and
French Quarter - are inspired by beautiful rural and urban Louisiana. Note that Riverside is now booking for
Royal Rooms, based on favorite characters, and slated to open in February 2012.
Both Riverside and Port Orleans offer a food court area, shopping, and share a pool with a waterslide.
Port Orleans Riverside has 2,048 Guest rooms, while French Quarter has 1,000 Guest Rooms.Riverside is a sprawling complex, with Guests needing to cross a bridge over the river to access the food court, shops, etc. The French Quarter is built on much smaller, more intimate grounds.
With all things being equal, I'd lean toward the French Quarter for a larger group. It will likely be easier to keep your traveling party together - at least in the vicinity of one another! And the relatively small size of the property means that there isn't much real estate for them - or you - to navigate should you need to summon your group on the fly.
That said, those Royal Rooms are tempting. If the rates are compatible and the likelihood of keeping your traveling party together is high, you might want to think about trying to book in the new rooms. My instinct, however, is to forgo the new and exciting for the convenience of a smaller property and more accessible setting.
Whichever Resort you choose, you will be treated to the world-class atmosphere and service for which Disney is famous. How can you go wrong?
Have a wonderful time!
See you later, celebrator!
-Deborah B.