Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Review (Updated 2024)!
We recently stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and the Resort left us surprised in many ways. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside is a gorgeous property. The large trees, Sassagoula River, and theming that only Disney can pull off, make it a truly immersive experience. A short morning or evening walk around the resort makes you forget you are minutes away from 4 of the biggest theme parks in the world.
A Magnolia Bend Building at Port Orleans Riverside
The resort has a romantic setting that evokes the charm of rural Louisiana, with stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou's quaint backwoods cottages. With over 10,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.0 on TripAdvisor, Port Orleans Riverside is a popular choice for visitors to Walt Disney World.
Typically, when considering Moderate Resort options, our family is obsessed with Coronado Springs. So finding an opportunity to check out Port Orleans Riverside Resort was difficult, but well worth it.
The resort offers a variety of accommodation and theming options, including Royal Guest Rooms that boast fun regal touches from Tiana and her prince and princess pals. The rooms are fully refurbished and offer a comfortable stay for families and couples alike.
The resort also offers several dining options, with table service dining at Boatwrights and the Riverside Mill Food Court (your expected and typical Disney Resort food court).
Notably, Port Orleans Riverside is one of the few dog-friendly options at Walt Disney World (though we left our furry friends at home with a sitter).
Overall Review Rating
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside is a solid 7/10 for our family. It often presents a great value in pricing in comparison to other Walt Disney World Resorts.
Pro: Gorgeous property and grounds that are spectacular to walk and explore.
Cons: Lack of dining and transportation options.
Accommodations
When it comes to accommodations, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside offers a variety of room types to suit your needs. From standard rooms to themed Royal Guest Rooms, there's something for everyone.
Room Types
Port Orleans Riverside Standard Room Tour in the Magnolia Bend area
The standard rooms at Riverside are spacious and comfortable, with two queen beds or one king bed and a daybed. These rooms can accommodate up to four guests, with a maximum of five guests in some rooms.
If you're looking for a little more luxury, the resort offers Royal Guest Rooms, which are decorated with regal touches inspired by Disney princesses. These rooms feature two queen beds and can accommodate up to four guests.
For larger groups, there are also options for connecting rooms and suites. The Alligator Bayou section of the resort offers rooms with a trundle bed, which can accommodate up to five guests.
We stayed in a standard room in the Magnolia Bend area. The room featured the standard two-queen bed layout and had subtle Tiana’s bayou theming. The beds were comfortable and the room was clean. The bathroom featured a bathtub (great for kids, and not available in every Disney resort room).
If you like subtle theming, these rooms hit the mark. The room and bathroom felt a little small overall.
Amenities and Pool
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside offers a range of amenities to make your stay comfortable and convenient. Each room is equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Housekeeping services are available daily, and there's also a laundry facility on-site. All of the typical amenities you expect from a modern resort (not just Disney). From my perspective, you notice these things more if they are missing. Having them available is meeting standard expectations.
The biggest highlight of the resort (in addition to the grounds themselves) is the large pool complex, which features a waterslide, rope bridges, and a playground. There are 5 quiet pools as well, but the main pool is the feature of the resort, particularly for kids. It’s a great size (not too big to make a parent feel uncomfortable), has ample life guards, lighting and all the safety precautions you want to see as a parent.
Ol’ Man Island Main Pool at Port Orleans Riverside Resort
The main pool (called Ol’ Man Island) is one of the best feature pools in the Moderate Resort category. Probably falling in a close second to the pools at Coronado Springs.
There are a number of other cool amenities, such as a catch-and-release fishing hole and a jogging trail. The jogging trail is one of my favorite trails on Disney property because of the views of the large trees and Sassagoula River.
Other amenities include a gift shop and arcade.
Dining Options
When it comes to dining at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, you have a few options to choose from that are solid options. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a sit-down meal, there's something for everyone.
Restaurants
Boatwright's Dining Hall is the resort's table-service restaurant, open every evening for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The menu is inspired by Cajun and Creole cuisine, and features dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, and crawfish étouffée. The restaurant's decor is themed after a boat-building warehouse, with tools and boat parts hanging from the walls. The kids menu at most Disney restaurants has something for all picky eaters, and Boatwright’s was no exception. I had the "Taste of the Bayou” that is a sampler of sorts and it was fantastic.
Riverside Mill Food Court at Port Orleans Riverside
Riverside Mill Food Court is the resort's quick-service dining location, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food court features different stations, including a bakery, grill, and pizza and pasta station. There's also a grab-and-go section with snacks and drinks.
Port Orleans Riverside is a Disney Resort Hotel that offers pizza delivery to your room as well!
Muddy Rivers Pool Bar is a secluded bar and lounge located on Ol' Man Island, the resort's pool area. It serves beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as light bites like chips and salsa.
Location and Accessibility
When it comes to location, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is situated in a prime spot. Located in the Disney Springs area, the hotel is close to shopping and theme parks. While there are resorts closer in proximity to the theme parks, all of them are just a short bus ride away.
Transportation Options
Getting to and from the resort is easy thanks to the various transportation options available. Here are some of the ways you can get around:
Bus service: The resort offers complimentary bus service to all four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs. Buses run approximately every 20 minutes, so you won't have to wait long to get to your destination.
Water taxi: If you're looking for a more scenic route, you can take a water taxi from the resort to Disney Springs. This is a great option if you're looking for a leisurely way to get around.
Rideshare services: Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are also available in the area. You can easily request a ride using your smartphone and be on your way in no time.
Recreational Activities
If you want to enjoy a resort day to relax and take a break from the theme parks, Port Orleans Riverside is a great option. There are a number of scenic walking paths connecting to Port Orleans-French Quarter and the kids will love the pools.
Pools and other Activities
The resort has six different pools, including the main pool (Ol’ Man Island) that features a waterslide, kiddie pool and a hot tub. The other five leisure (quiet) pools are located throughout the resort. Each pool has its own unique theming, and all of them are heated, making them perfect for swimming year-round.
In addition to the pools, the resort also has a number of other great family acitivities, including:
A carriage ride throughout Port Orleans Resort
Surrey Bike Rentals- Rent a 2, 4 or 6 person Surrey Bike for $9-20 (tax not included)
Adult and Kids Bike Rentals- Training wheels available for kids for $9-20 (tax not included)
Horse Drawn Excursion - Carriage Ride- You’ll board your carriage for a 25-minute ride at the Riverside Levee Marina at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Carriages fit up to 4 adults (or 2 adults and 3 small children). $55 (tax not included). Advanced Reservations can be made 60 days in advance on the My Disney Experience App.
Fishing (including guided excursions)
Movies Under the Stars
Campfire on de’ Bayou to roast marshmallows- Located at Ol’ Man Island from 6-7pm 7 days a week.
Customer Service
The customer service on our trip from Cast Members was top notch. We’ve had very few negative experiences with Walt Disney World vacation customer service and, in the rare instances we have, Walt Disney World has gone above and beyond to make it right.
Value for Money
If you're looking for a Disney resort that offers great value for money, then Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is one of the best choices. As a moderate resort, it does everything well. The prices fall in the middle (as expected for a moderate) and are often available for special discounts from Disney.
You can find a room type that fits the needs of your family, with great food, transportation and pools that kids will love, all for a reasonable price.
Final Verdict
For our family, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside falls right in as a close second in our ranking of Moderate Resorts, just behind Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower.
The food options are solid, but won’t necessarily blow your socks off. The pools are great for kids, with plenty of options close to your room if you don’t want to spend the day at the main pool. The rooms are refurbished and clean, though not incredibly spacious. The bathrooms offer bathtubs, which can be a huge benefit for small kids. Most important, the pricing is typically great for a moderate resort. We felt we were getting our money’s worth throughout the trip.
