UPDATED July 24, 2024

Sweet Magnolia! Let the Louisiana-inspired hospitality of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside completely charm you throughout your Disney World vacation!

Walt Disney World offers three Resort hotel levels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside is a Moderate Resort.

Let’s EXPLORE Port Orleans Resort — Riverside!

As Disney shares, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside “evokes the romance orf rural Louisiana.”  Guests can enjoy a stroll along the Sassagoula River to Riverside’s sister Resort, Port Orleans — French Quarter, or enjoy a relaxing boat ride to Disney Springs.

If you’d like to jump to a specific topic, simply click on any of the links below:

• Port Orleans — Riverside Atmosphere
• Port Orleans — Riverside Dining
• Port Orleans — Riverside Shopping
• Port Orleans — Riverside Guest Rooms
• Port Orleans — Riverside Amenities and Activities
• Disney World Resort Hotel Guest Benefits
• Port Orleans — Riverside Transportation

Here we go!

Atmosphere

While the overall feel of Port Orleans Resort — Riverside is relaxing and charmingly rustic, the airy lobby is nothing less than gorgeous and elegant.

Where Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter is a vibrant celebration of the New Orleans jazz scene, Riverside presents a more peaceful and calming atmosphere.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t boast more than its fair share of FUN!

It’s all nestled along the charming and picturesque Sassagoula River.

From here, guests have easy access to Port Orleans — French Quarter as well as boat transportation to Disney Springs.

Port Orleans Resort — Riverside Dining

Southern specialties and classic American eats are the focus of the cuisine at Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, presented through Table Service and Quick Service dining options, as well as some fun bars and lounges.

Table Service Dining

Boatwright’s Dining Hall is Riverside’s hidden gem of a Table Service restaurant. The Southern and cajun-inspired menu is perfectly themed to its setting, and the Jambalaya is a hit!

Boatwright’s is open every evening for dinner.

Quick Service Dining

Riverside Mill Food Court features Counter Service classics like burgers, pizza, and pasta alongside a few Southern-inspired dishes, all with a view of a 32-foot water wheel through the window.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Riverside Mill Food Court accommodates 450 guests in a beautifully rustic environment. Grab-and-go items are also available, along with a pretty terrific dessert bar.

Bars and Lounges

River Roost Lounge is an inviting spot packed with charm… along with Louisiana-inspired cocktails, a full bar, and an appetizer menu offering some surprisingly substantial bites.

The main draw to the River Roost Lounge is the famous boogie woogie sing-along piano player Yehaa Bob Jackson. Typically, Yehaa Bob performs on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. River Roost can get quite crowded during the nights he’s playing, but it’s definitely worth a trip!

Muddy Rivers Pool Bar can be found by Ol’ Man Island swimming pool, and serves up cool and refreshing cocktails and mocktails.

Though hours may vary, Muddy Rivers Pool Bar is typically open at 11AM and through the evenings. 

Additional Options

Additionally, boat transportation along the Sassagoula River gives Port Orleans guests easy access to ALL of the dining options in Disney Springs!

Shopping

Of course, you’ll want to grab a souvenir (or ten 😉 ) to remember your Walt Disney World trip, so stop by Fulton’s General Store. 

You’ll find popular items from around Disney World that you can easily pick up at the start or end of your stay.

You may even find some Resort-specific pieces to remember your stay at Port Orleans!

Guest Rooms

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside offers a whopping 2,048 guest rooms. Guest rooms are located in either Magnolia Bend or Alligator Bayou. 

Room options feature Standard and Preferred guest rooms with 2 Queen Beds that can accommodate up to four adult guests. Guests may also opt for a standard guest room with 1 King Bed that can accommodate up to three adult guests.

Select rooms – categorized as 5th Sleeper Rooms — can sleep up to five guests, thanks to the addition of 1 Child-sized pull-down bed. (These rooms are located in the Alligator Bayou section of the Resort.) Guests may choose a Standard View, a Woods View, a River View, or a Pool View.

Port Orleans also features unique Disney Princess-themed Royal Guest Rooms! 

A Standard View, a Woods View, and a River View are the options for the Royal Guest Rooms. These are all located in Magnolia Bend.

We’re sharing pictures below from a Standard Room in Magnolia Bend at Port Orleans — Riverside with 2 Queen-Size beds:

Our first floor standard view presents a view of the Resort’s landscaping.

Just inside the door is a small table with two chairs.

The television and dresser are placed beside a shelf with hooks and a bench. 

The dresser features three drawers for storage, along with a mini-fridge.

You’ll find the coffee maker on top as well.

The  two queen beds offer a shared nightstand in between.

The nightstand is where you’ll find outlets, USB ports, a telephone, and a bit more storage for your stay.

Heading to the bathroom, you’ll notice that there isn’t technically a door to the sink area of the bathroom (which is fairly common in Disney Resort rooms). Instead, a curtain with bright artwork featuring Princess Tiana provides a divide.

However, there IS a door to the shower and toilet area. Having the two separate areas is very convenient when multiple people are getting ready at once, as is the double vanity. 

And underneath the vanity is plenty of storage space for your items, plus more towels.

The shower and tub combo is simple, but another pop of color comes from the Princess and the Frog-inspired artwork on the curtain.

You’ll find provided bath products, as well.

On the opposite side of the shower is the room’s closet, which features an iron and ironing board, hangers, waste bins, and an extra pillow and blanket.

There are even more room details to take in, and we’ve shared them all here.

Take a Photo Tour to see even MORE details of a Port Orleans Resort — Riverside Standard Room here!

Again, select rooms – categorized as 5th Sleeper Rooms — can sleep up to five guests, thanks to the addition of 1 Child-sized pull-down bed. These rooms are located in the Alligator Bayou section of the Resort.

Amenities and Activities

Pools

Get ready to make a SPLASH at Ol’ Man Island!

Don’t let the rustic appearance fool you… though it’s themed as an abandoned sawmill, this 3.5 acre water area features a 95-foot waterslide, a whirlpool, and a kiddie pool!

Guest looking for a more quiet respite can enjoy any of the five leisure pools (with 3 in Alligator Bayou and 2 in Magnolia Bend).

BONUS: Port Orleans is one of the few resorts where guests can visit pools at either Riverside or its sister Resort, French Quarter (where you’ll find Doubloon Lagoon), no matter which side of the resort you stay at.

Recreation

Additional recreation options include Bike and Surrey Bike rentals, fishing excursions, and a jogging trail which leads guests down the mile-long path that winds down the Sassagoula River.

Kiddos can enjoy the playground, while all ages can play in the Medicine Show Arcade. 

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides are a truly unique offering at Port Orleans Resort! Rides begin at the Riverside Levee Marina.

These 25-minute rides can accommodate up to 4 adults (or 2 adults and 3 small children). The price is $65.00, and guests can reserve the experience up to 60 days in advance through the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app.

Resort Activities

The Front Desk will provide you with information about current Resort Activities which may include options like Movies Under the Stars, Evening Campfires, Pool Parties, and additional activities (with some available for a nominal fee) such as Arts and Crafts that you can take home. You will also see signs alerting to the day’s and week’s activities around the Resort so you don’t miss any of the fun!

In fact, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts have a very special activity that is ENTIRELTY EXCLUSIVE to these sister Resorts: each year on Fat Tuesday for Mardi Gras, the Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade is just one of many festive activities for the annual celebration!

Additional amenities for Resort guests also include complimentary Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, currency exchange, self-service laundry rooms, mail services, and online check-in.

Additional Benefits

MORE Theme Park Hours

Guest staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort have access to ADDITIONAL hours in the Disney World theme parks! Early Theme Park Entry allows guests to enter any of the parks 30 minutes early to get a head start on their day in the parks.

This benefit is available for ANY theme park every day. Please note that guests need a valid theme park ticket for the park they’re planning to visit in order to gain early access.

Early Access to Lightning Lanes for Theme Park Attractions

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional paid service available through the My Disney Experience app which allows you to bypass standby lines and enter the Lightning Lane at select attractions in the parks by paying a base price for multiple attractions. When purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can make up to 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections in a park in advance of your visit.

Additionally, guests may opt to purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes via the My Disney Experience app. Lightning Lane Single Pass is essentially a pay-per-ride service. Guests pay a fee to utilize the Lightning Lane for an individual, in-demand attraction.

DISNEY WORLD RESORT GUEST BENEFIT: Those staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (including Disney’s Port Orleans Resort) can purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections and/or Lightning Lane Single Passes up to seven days in advance of their check-in day for their entire stay (up to 14 days), with all other guests being able to purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes three days in advance.

Learn everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes in Disney World HERE!

“Hey, Disney!”

“Hey, Disney!” offers “custom voice assistance” to guests staying at Resort hotels in Walt Disney World!

This complimentary service, which works with Alexa on Amazon Echo devices, assists guests with room amenities, guest services, planning, and weather info… AND it brings along LOTS of extra Disney MAGIC to make all of these things a lot more FUN!

Click HERE to learn MUCH more about “Hey, Disney!”

Dog-Friendly Resort

And guess what? Fido can enjoy a stay at Port Orleans — Riverside, too! This hotel is one of Disney World’s Dog-Friendly Resorts (a limit of two dogs per room, restrictions and fees apply).

Pet owners interested in learning more may call (407) 939 – 7539.

Transportation

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is a boat ride away from Disney Springs.

Guests also have complimentary access to Disney Bus Transportation to and from all four theme parks and Disney Springs.

Find out more of our thoughts on Port Orleans Resort — Riverside by watching our DFB YouTube Video!

Get the Magic started and complete a request for a price quote. An agent will review your travel preferences and provide you with a no-obligation quote along with their phone number so you can talk with them.