Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside embraces the atmosphere of the antebellum south with two distinctly different themes all situated on the Sassagoula River.  First, there is the  Cajun-themed Alligator Bayou with 1024 rooms in 16 buildings fashioned after the marshy, rusticness of the New Orleans bayou.  Then there is the Magnolia Bend, a southern Louisiana plantation-themed area, with 4 “mansions” in all their grandeur, that hold 256 rooms per building, for a total of 2048 in the resort.  Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside opened on February 2, 1992, but back then it was known as Disney’s Dixie Landing Resort until April 1, 2001, when it officially became Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

 

Registration Guest Services, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is a moderate resort, with 314 sq foot rooms and start at $206.00/night (excl. tax) depending on the season.  Each room has 2 queen beds, or a king bed, and a child-size pull-down bed sleeping anywhere from 3 – 5 adults.  While there aren’t any suites, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside does have Royal Guest Rooms that are intended to make you feel like royalty with decor drenched in gorgeous jewel tones of blue, purple, and gold.  Pictures of Disney princesses are framed and hung in a collage on the wall, and the woodwork around the room is carved in detailed designs giving the feeling of a regal room in a castle.  These rooms are filled with special details throughout and have 2 queen beds, prices start at $255.00/night (excl. tax) depending on the season and sleep up to 4 adults per room.

Fulton’s General Store, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

 

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside has 6 pools throughout the resort.  The main pool, Ol’ Man Island is located behind the main building across one of three wooden bridges.  The pool is themed after an abandoned sawmill and has a 95′ rustic waterslide built in.  The area surrounding the pool has plenty of lounge chairs and lots of necessary shade.  The cajun ambiance music contributes bayou atmosphere and guests can’t help but relax and unwind.  Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside does not have a splash pad for the kids, it does have a kiddie pool, however, guests at the Riverside resort can take the trip down the Sassagoula River and enjoy the pool at the French Quarter.  Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts are the only place this is allowed because they are sister resorts.

Click here learn more about Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

Ol’ Man Island has a whirlpool tub just steps from the pool, and also a very cool water tower themed outdoor shower.  Also just steps away is Muddy Rivers, the poolside bar that serves drinks appropriately named like Sunshine Margarita, Front Porch Freeze, and All That Jazz, along with many others including the usual beers, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside has 5 leisure pools throughout the resort, 2 located in Magnolia Bend, and 3 others located in Alligator Bayou.

 

Ol’ Man Island Pool, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

 

Muddy Rivers, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

Located on Ol’ Man Island is a (loosely) sawmill-themed playground for children, right next to the Campfire on de’ Bayou.   The Medicine Show arcade is located in the main building and Movies Under the Stars can be found, weather permitting, in the courtyard of Oak Manor, in Magnolia Bend.  Like other resorts, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside has a mile-long jogging trail that hugs the scenic banks of the Sassagoula River.

For an extra charge, guests can rent bikes and surrey bikes and enjoy a ride through the lush landscape of the resort.  There’s also catch-and-release Bass fishing along the Sassagoula River, along with old-fashioned cane pole fishing, for those who are interested.  For guests who would rather sit back and relax, Horse-drawn Carriage Rides are available every evening.  A 25 min ride is $55 and can fit 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children.  Reservations are recommended.

 

Playground, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Bike & Surrey Bike Rentals, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

There are many options for dining at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.  At Boatwright’s Dining Hall guests dine on delicious Louisiana Bayou cooking while sitting under the wooden frame hull of a boat, in a rustic shipyard warehouse.   Boatwright’s Jambalaya, Cajun Bayou Catfish, and Deep South Shrimp and Grits are just some of the offerings that can be found on the menu. Boatwright’s is open for dinner daily from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Boatwright’s Dining Hall, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

If guests are looking for something a little more grab-and-go, they can continue on down to The Riverside Mill where they’ll find a large selection of foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food mart has 6 different stations, bakery, grill, pizza & pasta, specialties, salads, and a carving station.  Guests can find things like the Bayou Burger, Carved Cajun Turkey Club, and Fried Okra.  Tried and true items like Macaroni and Cheese, Cheese Pizza, and Chicken Salad Sandwich are also available, and many other dishes, desserts, and drinks.  Guests can even buy a bottle of wine to take back to their room.  The Riverside Mill is open daily from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm.

The Riverside Mill Food Court, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

 

The River Roost is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside’s not-so-hidden gem with the entertainment of the delightful Yehaa Bob and his wacky piano playing and singing.  Yehaa Bob has become an iconic figure over the years, performing since May of 1997.  The lounge serves appetizers and drinks daily and is open between 5:00 pm and 12:30 am, however, appetizers end at 11:00 pm.  Yehaa Bob performs a 1 hour and 30-minute show twice a night, but only a couple of nights a week.  Be sure to check the calendar, and show up early as there are no reservations taken.

River Roost, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Riverside Levee Marina Bike & Boat Rental, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

The Disney Transportation options at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is mostly a bus system that has a bus assigned to each of the four parks, the two water parks, and Disney Springs.  The bus ETA’s are digitally updated on a screen taking the guesswork out of schedule tracking.  However, there is also Water Transportation to take guests over to Disney Springs and to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.  Guests can catch the Sassagoula ferry boat at the Riverside Levee Marina.

As for the other amenities, they’re much like all the other resorts like:

• In-Room Celebrations
• Disney’s Magical Express
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet
• Parking ($19/night sales tax included)
• Online Check-In
• Resort Airline Check-In
• ATM
• Currency Exchange
• Childcare Services
• Laundry
• Mail Services
• Merchandise Delivery and Pickup

Plus dog-friendly accommodations are also available which means guests don’t have to leave their fur-kids behind.

 

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Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

1251 Riverside Drive

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

(407) 934-6000