Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Contributed by
Paige Landrum
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is a moderate level resort at Walt Disney World. It is located near Disney Springs and feels low key, quiet, and removed from the hustle and bustle that you typically think of when it comes to Walt Disney World. The romantic grounds are a lovely place for an evening stroll, and the extra amenities on property are a great way to spend time together as a family.
Resort Theming
Take a step into rural Louisiana as you visit Port Orleans Riverside. This resort is divided into two sections, Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. The property along Magnolia Bend houses white mansions with spacious lawns, manicured gardens, and river views, while Alligator Bayou is a bit more “wild” and untamed, with more of a secluded, backwoods feel.
Whether taking a stroll along the riverbank, a bike ride through the property, or a ride on the Sassagoula River Cruise, there is southern charm here that you will not find anywhere else on Disney property.
Room Types
Standard rooms: These rooms can either have a woods view, river view, or pool view. Standard room decor is minimal, yet modern, without losing the old southern charm. Some rooms accommodate 4 guests, and the Alligator Bayou rooms have a pull down murphy bed, accommodating up to 5 guests.
Royal Guest Rooms: My daughters absolutely adored these rooms. As a guest of Princess Tiana, these rooms are designed for royalty! Elegant touches are placed throughout the room, including drapery, princess portraits, and even a letter from Princess Tiana herself. A special touch are the fiberoptic headboards, which project an illuminating fireworks display. This is always a favorite bonus for both princes and princesses alike!
The Royal Guest Rooms are in Magnolia Bend in the preferred section of the mansion buildings, so these will be the closest to the lobby and dining.
This is one of the larger Disney properties, so if you hear complaints about this resort, it is likely from the amount of walking to get around or the internal transportation. On the flip side, I like to think of it as having a bigger layout means everything is more spread out with open lawns and more room for activities such as bike riding and jogging trails. We recommend securing a preferred room in order to lessen the overall walking time.
Resort Facts: Dining Options, Pools, Transportation
Dining:
Make your way down to Boatwrights Dining Hall for some Southern hospitality and New Orleans style home cookin'! Not all moderate resorts have their own table service option, so this is a great bonus that overlooks the beautiful Sassagoula River. On our most recent visit, I had the shrimp and grits and my husband had the jambalaya. While both were excellent, the best thing we tasted was hands down the cornbread- complete with mickey shaped dallops of butter.
Riverside Mill Food Court: This is a quick-service food court, offering a variety of items including pizza, pasta, specialties, and sandwiches. I was delightfully surprised when we visited here for dinner one night and found the children’s coloring table next to a tv playing Disney movies. As dinner can be a hectic time for our young family, this definitely helped to ensure my husband and I could eat while our kids were kept busy creating their own masterpieces.
River Roost: Situated right next to Boatwrights Dining Hall, this lounge offers a full service bar, as well as snacks during select hours.
Muddy Rivers: Poolside bar offering frozen cocktails, beverages, and snacks.
Pools
The main pool is located on Ol’ Man Island, which is a 3.5 acre island accessible by wooden bridge. Complete with a waterslide, pool bar, hot tub, and kiddie pool, there is something for everyone. There are also several leisure pools scattered throughout the property if you are looking for a quieter place to relax.
Transportation: You can take Disney’s complimentary bus transportation to all four parks. There are four bus stops throughout the property, and the bus does a loop to all four stops before heading to the park. Depending which bus stop you’re at will determine how many stops you make before heading to the park. Due to the size of the property, we do advise you to make a plan and learn which way the buses go in the mornings and what stop number you are so you can plan accordingly. The front desk will have this information.
You can also take a boat ride to Disney Springs via the Sassagoula River Cruise. This is a scenic ride along the Sassagoula River, and is a great way to spend a date night or rest day at Disney Springs. You’ll pass by other properties along this ride, including the Saratoga Tree Houses and a stop at Riverside's sister property, the French Quarter. This is a big reason we continue to visit this property, the boat ride is so peaceful, and a reminder to slow down and enjoy the scenery. You should allow plenty of time if selecting this option when trying to make a dining reservation at Disney Springs.
Resort Amenities
When you are determining which resort is right for your stay at Walt Disney World, keep in mind the activities that each provides and what would be fun for your family. These amenities can vary per resort, so I always like to review what each resort has and pick a few things that I know my kids would like to do during check-in day or a rest day. Port Orleans Riverside provides additional entertainment for families including:
Roasting marshmallows at the campfire on de’ bayou;
Movies under the stars, located on Oak Manor Lawn;
Horse drawn carriage ride around the property (this does require a reservation and extra fee);
Bike rentals along scenic waterfront;
Cane pole fishing at the fishing hole on Ol’ Man Island;
One-mile jogging trail;
Playground and hammocks on Ol’ Man Island; and
Arcade games.
One of my favorite memories when visiting this resort with my family was actually our first family trip with our two kids. I vividly remember exploring the resort, and our room happened to be right outside of Oak Manor Lawn. My kids were 1 and 2 at the time, and after spending some time at the pool, we got them each a Mickey Bar and just let them run loose around the lawn for an hour. Even though we visited the park that day, this was my favorite family memory from that trip. My husband and I sat on the grass and just watched the girls explore and play, and there was something so magical about being in the moment and not being rushed or having to be anywhere at any particular time. The grounds are truly beautiful and quiet, and felt so secluded, like we had the place to ourselves.
What Extras Make this Resort Special?
Staying in a Royal Guest Room and scheduling a ride in a horse drawn carriage are two ways to really feel like royalty in the South. Both of these would be awesome experiences to help a special princess celebrate a birthday, or for a couple to celebrate an anniversary.
This would be the ideal resort for you if…
You are looking to be removed from the busy park atmosphere and want a resort where you can truly slow down and enjoy the scenery while being immersed in southern hospitality. Ready to secure your next magical vacation at Port Orleans - Riverside? Click here to get started.
Check out why Paige Landrum, one of our AMAAB travel advisors, loves Port Orleans Riverside:
"Riverside will always be a happy place for our family. We can get away from the crowds, and truly feel at peace here. Plus the Royal Guest Rooms will always be the gold standard for my toddlers... if there aren't princess portraits on the wall, with their own personal fireworks show on the headboard, they don't want it."
AMAAB Travel Advisor
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