Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is a moderate resort, located near Disney Springs. Opening in 1991, it later expanded and also has a sister resort, Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Resort Overview
This popular resort hotel takes you down to New Orleans, with beautiful grounds and a great theme. The resort is located along the Sassagoula River and features many wonderful amenities including fishing and horse-drawn carriage rides. There are two sections of the resort – Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend, each with distinctive theming celebrating Louisiana. In Magnolia Bend, guests will find three-story mansions, reminiscent of Southern plantations. In the Alligator Bayou section, the imitation wooden buildings are rustic with tin roofs and two stories. Although it is a larger resort, it is incredibly quaint and charming.
Reasons We Love This Resort:
- Convenience: Take the water taxi to Disney Springs or head over to Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter for additional dining options, including the popular beignets.
- Theme: The resort is beautiful and has a great theme, including Royal Guest Rooms that are perfect for anyone who loves the Disney Princesses.
- Amenities: This resort has great amenities and recreation options including horse-drawn carriage rides, fishing, and more.
Amenities:
- Wi-Fi Service (complimentary wi-fi access in guest rooms, main lobbies, and main pools)
- Dining Options (table service, quick service, and poolside service)
- Business Center (computer services, print services, shipping services, office supplies)
- Designated Smoking Area
- Luggage Service (luggage assistance, valet parking assistance, dry cleaning)
- Laundry Services (24-hour self-service laundry room is available)
- Housekeeping Services
- Valet and Self-Parking
- 24-Hour ATM (near the front desk)
- Front Desk Service (banking and mail)
- Merchandise Delivery and Pickup
- Grocery Orders
- Ice and Vending Machines
- Concierge Service (purchase tickets, upgrade tickets, special requests)
- Safekeeping (in-room safes with safe-keeping boxes available at Front Desk)
- Rapid Fill (refillable mugs)
- Wake-up Call Service
- Disability Service (mobility, hearing, visual, and service animal accommodations)
- Resort Airline Check-In
A Full Range of Accommodations
This resort has 2,048 guest rooms that are each approximately 314 square feet. Each room features two queen beds, a small table with two chairs, a flat-screen TV, a dresser, a vanity area with two sinks, a separate shower/tub with toilet, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker. Some rooms also include a child-size pull-down bed. These beds can comfortably accommodate most children under the age of 10.
The guest rooms were recently refurbished and feature subtle nods to the beloved movie, The Princess and the Frog. The Royal Guest Rooms celebrate all of the Disney Princesses with elegant decor and details that include all of your favorites from Tiana to Aurora. The preferred rooms are all located in Alligator Bayou, while the Royal Guest Rooms are located in two buildings in Magnolia Bend.
Standard View:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of the parking area
- 2 Queen beds
Standard View – 5th Sleeper:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of the parking area
- 2 Queen beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down Bed
Woods View:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, or Bayou
- 2 Queen beds
Woods View – 5th Sleeper:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, or Bayou
- 2 Queen beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down Bed
River View:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Riverfront
- 2 Queen Beds
Preferred Room:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, Garden or Bayou
- Close to Sassagoula Steamboat Company, Dining, Shopping, and Transportation
- 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down Bed
Royal Guest Room – Standard View:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Pool or Lake
- 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
Royal Guest Room – Woods View:
- Sleeps up to 6 adults
- Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, or Bayou
- 2 Queen Beds
Royal Guest Room – River View:
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- Views of Riverfront
- 2 Queen Beds
Dining Information
All Dining & Lounges
Riverside Mill Food Court
This family-friendly food court serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are five food stations that include a bakery, grill, pizza and pasta, and sandwiches. Grab ’n’ go items are also available for purchase.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall
Head over to this casual table-service restaurant overlooking the Sassagoula River for a delicious meal filled with Southern hospitality and flavors of the bayou. This restaurant is open for dinner only.
Muddy Rivers
Enjoy a drink poolside at this bar and lounge on Ol’ Man Island.
River Roost
Head over to this charming spot to enjoy southern-style drinks and fun entertainment. A full bar is available as well as snacks when the kitchen is open.
Pools, Grounds, & Recreation
Pools
The main pool at this resort is found at Ol’ Man Island. Designed after an abandoned sawmill, the pool is accessible by 3 wooden bridges. It includes a 95-foot-long waterslide and there is also a whirlpool tub and kiddie pool nearby.
In addition to the main pool, there are five leisure pools at this resort. There are three in Alligator Bayou and two in Magnolia Bend. These pools are perfect if you would like to lounge and relax away the day!
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Head to the Riverside Levee Marina to enjoy a 25-minute horse-drawn carriage ride along the banks of the Sassagoula River. The cost is $55 and each carriage holds up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children. Advance reservations are recommended.
Surrey Bike Rentals
Bring the whole family along as you cruise along the banks of the Sassagoula River on a surrey bike. These bikes are available to rent for $25, with 2-person and 4-person options available.
Bike Rentals
Take a bike ride along the paths of the resort and enjoy the views along the Sassagoula River. Bike rentals are available for a cost of $20 and include options for adults and kids, including some with training wheels. Helmets and child seats are complimentary with the rental and helmets are required by state law for guests 16 years of age and younger.
Medicine Show Arcade
Enjoy video games, pinball, air hockey, and more at this arcade located in the Colonel’s Cotton Mill building. The arcade is open daily. Purchase your game card using cash or credit card and then refill it as you please to use at any of the other Walt Disney World Resort arcades.
Movies Under the Stars
After a day at the parks, enjoy complimentary movie screenings under the stars on select nights. These screenings are located at the Magnolia South Pool deck, between buildings 90 and 95.
Volleyball
This white-sand court is near the Dig Site. Volleyballs can be checked out from the Siestas Cantina.
Jogging Trail
Enjoy a walk or run on this mile-long paved trail along the banks of the Sassagoula River.
Fishing
Enjoy a guided catch-and-release fishing excursion, departing from the Riverside Levee Marina. Old-fashioned cane pole fishing is also available at the Fishin’ Hole on Ol’ Man Island.
Playground
Located near the main pool, kids can climb, slide, and play at this playground at Ol’ Man Island.
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Transportation
Get around Walt Disney World Resort with ease using these convenient, complimentary transportation options.
How to get to each park:
While staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, you may be wondering how you can get to each park using the free transportation systems offered at Walt Disney World. We have it broken down for you:
- Magic Kingdom: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to the Magic Kingdom. These buses run approximately every 20 minutes from the resort until an hour after park close.
- EPCOT: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to EPCOT. These buses run approximately every 20 minutes from the resort until an hour after park close.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These buses run approximately every 20 minutes from the resort until an hour after park close.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: There are free resort buses that offer transportation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These buses run approximately every 20 minutes from the resort until an hour after park close.
- Disney Springs and Water Parks: Water taxis are available to take guests to Disney Springs. These boats run approximately every 20 minutes.
