5 Reasons To Love Port Orleans Riverside
Disney fans frequently rave about the ambiance and romance of Walt Disney World's Port Orleans French Quarter resort, but just down the river at its sister resort, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside has all the charm and elegance of the antebellum South. From the white columned mansions of Magnolia Bend to the charming shacks of Alligator Bayou guests feel the warm embrace of Southern hospitality.
Port Orleans Riverside Lobby
Sassagoula River Cruise
Bus service is nice, but I prefer to hop aboard one of the boats at Riverside Marina for a relaxing 20 minute ride all the way down the river to the sprawling shopping, dining, and entertainment complex Disney Springs. Whether you disembark to shop and eat, or simply turn around for a round trip journey, this relaxing voyage is sure to please as guests glide quietly pass scenic woods and villas.
The Sassagoula River Cruise Operates from approximately 10am until 11pm daily.
Going Down The River
Old Man Island
There's a "secret" hideaway here, an old-fashioned swimmin' hole that Tom Sawyer might have hung out at on a hot summer day. Ol' Man Island is a water playground with a water slide fashioned after the old mill works. There's a bubbling spa and a the Muddy Rivers pool bar. You may even find the catch-and-release fishing hole and hear stories told around an evening campfire.
Muddy Rivers Poolside Bar
Ye Haa Bob
The River Roost Lounge and Bar is home to a genuine Disney treasure. Ye Haa Bob Jackson has been performing his fun boogie woogie sing-a-long show with laughter and a comedic timing that gets the whole crowd involved. This unique interactive experience has been going on at Walt Disney World since 1997. Grab a drink, order up some bar food and get ready for a Ye Haa good time!
Guests can catch a show Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 8:30pm until just before the clock strikes 12.
"Ye Haa" Bob Gives His All Four Nights a Week
Royal Guest Rooms
The specially themed rooms let you treat your princess to an exquisite stay in a room designed for (or by) Disney royalty. Special mementos have been left by some of Tiana's royal friends so that she could remember them. The faucets on the sink are in the shape of the genie's lamp from Aladdin and that does that 'rug' on the carpet looks like perhaps it might fly. Portraits of the Tiana and her royal friends decorate the walls, and every touch has a little extra piece of magic, including a headboard with its own nightly fireworks display.
Royal Guest Rooms are Romantic
Price
Disney's Port Orleans Riverside offers many amenities similar to those at a deluxe property, yet stays within the moderate price structure starting at $196*. There's a themed pool, bus and boat transportation, a full service restaurant, food court, and the River Roost Lounge, pool bar. You'll find bike rentals, and Fultons General Store. You can even get a room here with a fold down bunk-style bed that will sleep an additional small child. If you don't mind walking through the beautiful sprawling landscape this may be the resort for you!
5 Reasons To Love Port Orleans Riverside
Have you stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of it!
*Price was accurate at time of publication and as with all things Disney, subject to change.
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Karen Chandler wrote on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 14:10:
We LOVE Disney and can't go more than a couple of years between visits. We have stayed in many different resorts and our whole family have voted Riverside as our favorite. After checking in, we have a drink at the pool bar. Then we look forward to watching Bob and being served our drinks from our favorite waiter. We have stayed in different rooms and have enjoyed all of them. Each time we arrive at Riverside, our favoite saying is "we are home"! There is nothing to dislike at Riverside!!!
kathys wrote on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 18:56:
I just love this resort. I know it is big but I never had an issues with the distance. I have stayed twice at this resort and I just love the boat ride to Downtown Disney. It is so relaxing. Just love, love this resort as well as the sister resort.
Lauren wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:06:
This is my absolute favorite resort on property! For the last 5 years, every time we have gone there my family and I have stayed here.
Craig wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:09:
Will be there in 10 days!! It's our fav moderate resort for the money, ambiance, amenities and location. This will be our fourth stay. We love the pool, location of the main lobby and though spaced like The Caribbean Beach not nearlh the walk between things.
Jerilynn wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:13:
Love this resort! Beautiful grounds. Only wish the beds were a bit softer. Overall great. Look forward to coming back in May!
llyons924 wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:15:
We became season pass holders in September of 2012 and have stayed at a Disney resort once a month since then. We have stayed at port Orleans riverside at least five times. We really enjoyed the royal rooms but we love the rooms with the pull down trundle bed with Lois from Princess and the frog on it! We love Port Orleans Riverside resort.
Janet wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:20:
We will be staying here for the first time in April. I've heard such wonderful things about this resort and can't wait to check it out for ourselves!
Jenny wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:24:
We have stayed at Riverside twice now and plan on staying here again on our next trip (hopefully September 2014). It's a beautiful resort....it is very big, but we enjoy taking family strolls around the resort. There are all sorts of creatures to spot during walks, which fascinates our kids. The kids love...and I mean love the pool. We always take a "day off" from the parks to hang by the pool. After our day at the pool we enjoy a delicious dinner at the resort's restaurant, Boatwright's.
The price fits into our budget, but what we love even more is the small Murphy bed available in some of the rooms. This allows our family of five to stay in a standard room verses having a suite since we aren't the typical family of four. Definitely a perk for families of five!
Louise wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:26:
Me and my partner love POR. The Royal Guest Rooms are just wonderful. The attention to detail in these Rooms is phenomenal. The staff are ao friendly and remembered us last year from when we came in 2012! The boat rise is so pleasant and the guys who run then know so many exciting facts about WDW. The lobby has recently been refurbished and is glorious! We are going back for our 3rd year in a row in November and cannot wait! Nothing bad to say about this hotel as with any other WDW hotel!
Debbie Countryman wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:27:
We have stayed here twice. I love this resort. The boat ride to Downtown Disney is a plus! Great food court.
Rob wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:29:
We have stayed at port Orleans riverside 4 times and we are booked to go in October and can't wait, we last stayed in the alligator bayou and were a minutes walk from one of the little pools,the kids loved it. We found it to tick all of the boxes in a resort, staff are all so friendly and the kids loved the stickers that were being given out at the entrance.
Staff at port Orleans do a fantastic job see you all in October
Shannon Mays wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:32:
Yes, we stayed there in December of 2000. Beautiful hotel with comfortable rooms. The pool area is so nice. Food was good. However, back then we only paid $120 a night. Amazing to think the price has nearly doubled in only 13 years!
Leandro wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:43:
My wife and I stayed at a royal room last march celebrating our anniversary and was a blast!!!
Carol wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:56:
We stayed at this resort on our honeymoon 22 years ago. We still love this resort. We have stayed at two other resorts but love Riverside. Feels like home.
Jason Marshall wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:57:
After staying here many times we decided to splurge and stay at a deluxe resort in 2011. When we returned to WDW in 2013, we decided to go back to riverside and found (to our surprise more than anyone else's) that we loved this resort even more after staying at a higher end resort and then returning to this one. It just feels like home, and I can't imagine wanting to stay anywhere else.
Elizabeth Bancroft wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:58:
This is the resort we stayed at for my very first Walt Disney World visit! The rooms have been redecorated, and they look beautiful with the new theme. The one we stayed in had been decorated as New Orleans Mardi Gras. It was Beautiful! It is such a nice, quiet resort, with plenty of friendly Cast Members. I belong to the Vacation Club now, but this will always be one of my most favorite non-club resorts!
Shirley wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:58:
My family loves this resort. It is by far our favorite. The rooms are nice and the surroundings are awesome. Food court has something for everyone! My husband takes my son fishing at the fishing hole. The horse drawn carriage ride is fun!
Ken Jacobs wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:58:
My family and I stayed there with other friends about 6 yrs ago. It was the only bad experience we have ever had at Disney. The food court was under construction which made getting food very difficult. Our rooms were all supposed to b next to each other and we ended up on opposite ends of the complex. It was the marathon week and they happened to have trouble with the bus schedule. There were also other small issues and the hotel manager could care less. We complained but that got us no where. Now we love Disney and have had GREAT experiences at all star, pop century, Caribbean beach, and old key west but will never stay at port Orleans again.
natsta91 wrote on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:59:
Stayed there in October and it was absolutely wonderful.... Beautiful grounds
and the room was stunning...Love how you can take the boat to Downtown Disney... Great place to stay
Derek wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 00:08:
Stayed here for our first Disney trip don't know if I can stay anywhere else love love love this place
Suzanne Caris wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 00:30:
This is one of our FAVORITE places to stay!! It's laid back style is just what you need after a day at the parks!! Take the boat ride next door to Port Orleans and eat the best collard greens!! We just love it!!! :)
Amber Marie wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 00:48:
We will be visiting Riverside for the first time at the end of April! Thanks for the most timely article! How is it for the little ones? We have three kiddos, ages 6,7, and 14, and we will be staying in a garden view with the extra twin bed. Did anyone else travel with 5 and stay in a similar room? Was it adequate? What about commuting to the parks via Disney transportation? How much time should I allow? This will be our first time staying at Disney!!!:)
Jamie wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 01:19:
We stayed at the Aligator Bayou section. Our room was by a small pond. We really enjoyed our stay. Took the cruise several times. Went for a carriage ride. I would recommend this resort.
Cindy A. wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 01:20:
My husband and I will be staying for our first time at the end of February for our 10th anniversary. I cannot wait!
Debbie wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 01:31:
YES... A favorite place to stay. Even if staying off site with friends, we make time to see YeHaa Bob. I like the shop there, too. Nice walking paths, too!
ecampro wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 03:06:
After trying all the moderate resorts, we come back here time after time. We love it too! Coming again in April and again in October. Last December, we got a whole new décor, kind of a not too rustic cabin thing. We love the layout of the resort, the amenities (although it's generally too cold for us to swim when we visit, as south Floridians), and we absolutely love Ye Haa BOB! Can't wait until April!
Sharon wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 03:06:
We have stayed at Port Orleans Riverside a number of times and love it! The price is reasonable and one of the few places you can sleep a family of 5 without getting a suite. The food court offers many choices, which is great with the picky eaters I have. One of my husbands must dos is to rent a boat, so it is great having the boat rental right on site and it is such a scenic trip. We have always had great service there. Don't know what it is like since the remodel, but when we've been there it was pretty neat having the bayou on one side and the mansions on the other. We've stayed on both sides and have enjoyed both. It is my family's first choice!
charissa wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 03:14:
We've stayed here 3 out of 4 times, and if we hadn't just bought DVC, we would be back for a 4th for sure. We love the walking path, and the quiet pools have always been a great place to relax, any time of day. Boatwrights has a fantastic menu-it will be one of our adr's on the next trip, too. Some may think the resort is too large, but when at Disney, walking is the norm.
Joyce wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 04:18:
Stayed with my13 year old son. Enjoyed the pool outside our room. We walked all over the property. Everythjng was clean and smelled fresh. We enjoyed the meal plan, the food was delicious. My son loved kayaking along the river.
I will definitely be recommending this to family and friends.
Traci wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 06:17:
My family has stayed at Riverside probably 10 times since it first opened as Dixie Landings, and we love it! I know a lot of people don't like the walking or the bus rides. But the bus rides aren't too long and coming home at night the are very peaceful. As for the walking, there are so many beautiful trails how can you not enjoy the ambience and view. Riverside is so peaceful and beautiful it is a pleasure to come to after a busy day in the parks.
Abby Nicholson wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 08:59:
I love this resort!! I stayed here here when I last visited from the UK for my Disney wedding. Everything about this resort makes you feel like your smack in the middle of the famous Disney magic. However, from reading this there was a lot I didn't know so would defiantly check them out. We have booked this year for Saratoga Springs, sure there will be comparison ;)!! X x
Kristen wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 13:00:
This is my absolute favorite resort on Disney property. We have stayed at all the value and moderately priced resorts and this one is the best of them all. The boat ride to DTD is our absolute fave, as is the Riverside Restaurant. We stay here everytime we visit! Love Love Love Port Orleans Riverside!
Kristen K. wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 13:06:
Thanks so much for the comments everyone! It's good to hear how much people love this resort.
Amber Marie - I think that your family will be just fine in the Alligator Bayou room. As for transportation - I always allow 45 minutes to an hour to get from the hotel to parks when using the bus system.
Ken V.O. wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 13:44:
No list about Disney is complete without a mention of Ye Haa Bob. and you nailed it. No matter where my family stays (on site or off) we ALWAYS make the journey to see Bob. No trip to Disney is complete without him. Alligator Bayou is one of our favorite spots to stay at.
Katherine wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 14:05:
I just booked a week there for May! I cant wait to stay there. I usually stay at Caribbean Beach but I have heard such great things about Port Orleans Riverside. Counting the days until then.
Beth F wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 14:17:
The former Dixie Landings Resort (now Port Oleans Riverside) is our absolute favorite resort! We first stayed there just after it opened! My son was asleep on the way over and woke up in a bad mood just as we got there! Bob opened our door and Bob changed my son's WHOLE day and whole stay! The cast members that greet you have no idea how they can make or change the way things are going! We returned many times (we live about an hour and a half away from WDW) and would go see our "Bob"! Unfortunately, he is not there any more but we will never ever forget him!
My children are now grown and our daughter now has two children of her own! We just went to visit the resort during a visit at Thanksgiving and she had to eat lunch in the food court and had her sons sit where she and her brother would sit and watch the huge wheel churn the water! It was great to see how her childhood memories are being passed on to her children!
Tina Brooks wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 15:24:
Have been staying at POR for years and we absolutely NEVER miss Bob! He puts on a wonderful show. Oh and the resort is lovely!!!!
Ashley wrote on Fri, 01/24/2014 - 15:27:
Ive stayed at POR over 10 times. As a kid my family and I would go to Disney once a year every year for about 12 years. We stayed at the polnesian one year and was disappointed, we prefered POR. My husband and I stayed here for our Honeymoon and we will be returning with our two kids in just weeks. We are so excited! This resort is amazing. We really love Boat Wrights!!
Tammy wrote on Sun, 05/18/2014 - 20:50:
We have been staying at Port Orleans Riverside (formerly known as Dixie Landings) since it's opening in 1992. My husband and I spent our honeymoon here and when our children were born they too stayed at "Dixie Landings". 22 years of marriage and 22 visits to the same resort. We will never stay anywhere else.
There is nothing better than walking through the "swamps" and bridges on your way to the bus station. Or renting a surrey bike or taking a boat out. I am homesick for Disney and Port Orleans just writing this. Some day we will take our grandchildren to this same resort.
Jay B wrote on Wed, 07/09/2014 - 21:23:
My family and I went last month. Stayed at Riverside. We are from Louisiana and I have to say, we felt at home. Just the wife and I are planning on going back in March for our 10th ann. Plan on staying at Riverside again. Will make sure we go see Bob this time.
Coriander wrote on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 16:16:
We're staying here in June. Normally we've stayed at the all star resorts which are awesome, but I am so excited to be visiting this resort soon!
Nicole wrote on Fri, 04/29/2016 - 21:38:
We have stayed at many Disney resorts. The yacht club, Caribbean beach, port Orleans French quarter, the contemporary, and boardwalk villas to name a few. Riverside is by far the best!!! We loveeee it!!!!!! It is perfect!!!
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