White-column mansions. Quaint backwoods cottages. The romance of rural Louisiana.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside ticks all of the right boxes, inspired by the French Quarter of New Orleans. Its design is elegant and full of charm, evoking the original Deep South, with grand buildings and luscious green gardens surrounding the property.
And yet the resort still manages to pack in plenty of spacious rooms, dining choices, and entertainment options for guests of all ages, offering a peaceful and unique stay amid the hustle and bustle of Orlando.
Where is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside located?
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is in a convenient location at 1251 Riverside Drive Lake Buena Vista, on the peaceful banks of the Sassagoula River. This is just a short distance from all of the parks, and very close to
EPCOT,
Disney’s Hollywood Studios and
Disney Springs. One of the best parts about staying here is that you’ll have access to free shuttle transportation to all of the
Walt Disney World theme parks in no time.
Overview of Port Orleans Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside makes up one half of the overall Port Orleans Resort, with the other half being
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. The Riverside resort is divided into two sections, Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend, both of which are opulent and impressive, made up of incredible mansions and traditional wooden buildings.
Alligator Bayou comprises sixteen two-storey lodges scattered through the grounds, while Magnolia Bend houses many of the classic rooms within grand, manor-style buildings with balconies. Within the main building, known as the Sassagoula Steamboat Company, you can find the lobby, shop and dining options – the shop, called Fulton's General Store, has all your favourite Disney merchandise, along with some handy groceries and extras you may have forgotten to pack.
Which Room to Choose at Port Orleans Riverside Resort
The rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort are super cute, cosy and have plenty of space for families. Standard rooms sleep up to four people, with two large beds, wooden decor and big bathrooms with double sinks. Meanwhile, rooms in Alligator Bayou have room for five people, thanks to having handy pull-down beds. They all have ever amenities you’ll need, including TVs, a coffee machine and mini-fridge.
If you’re someone who enjoys waking up to beautiful views, rooms can also be upgraded to those overlooking the swimming pool, forest or river. A key benefit of Alligator Bayou is that you’ll be closer to the resort’s main building and dining, however, the Magnolia Bend mansions are closer to the various bus stops – and with early park access and access to select Lighting Lanes, this means you could be first in the parks each morning!
Our top tip for a special occasion: Port Orleans Riverside offers Royalty Guest Rooms which are perfect for any aspiring Disney princess. Each one is themed around a different princess and adorned with detailed headboards and royal decorations.
Dining and Entertainment at Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Although dining options are aplenty at all of the Disney Parks, make time for a few meals within the stunning resort itself. Boatwright’s Dining Hall is their signature table service restaurant, serving classic Southern comfort food such as shrimp and grits and cajun chicken, however, it is only open for dinner so advanced reservations are recommended.
We also love the Riverside Mill Food Court. It has something for any time of day – whether kids are in the mood for pizzas and burgers, or everyone needs a light snack to go. And for when the kids are occupied, the River Roost Lounge is the spot for some deliciously fresh cocktails accompanied by the sound of resident pianist Yehaa Bob Jackson, and the Muddy Rivers Bar serves drinks poolside all day long. If you want even more choice and don’t want to travel far, the French Quarter side of the resort has further restaurant choices.
Given the peace and quiet of Port Orleans Riverside, you might be surprised at the roster of entertainment and amenities on offer. Ol’ Man Island is the heart of the action, where you can find a spacious swimming pool featuring a waterslide, a hot tub, and a children’s recreation area. However, there are also smaller, quieter pools across the resort and each evening. Plus, outdoor movie screenings are held under the stars so that you can follow a magical day in the parks with some of your favourite Disney films.
And that’s not all – anyone who wants a taste of the great outdoors can take advantage of the resort’s catch-and-release fishing area, bike rentals, mini speed boat rentals, a jogging trail and campfire, and horse-drawn carriage rides that are straight out of a fairytale.
Transportation at Disney’s Port Orleans - Riverside
As we mentioned, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside provides guests with complimentary shuttle transfers to all of the Disney parks, waterparks and Disney Springs, with four bus stops located within the resort. On top of this, the resort has its own free shuttle boat that will whisk you straight to Disney Springs along the river.
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