Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
The larger Port Orleans property, themed to the antebellum South and riverfront mansions, with boat service to Disney Springs.
Photo: Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
My Take
The verdict
I think Port Orleans Riverside is one of the more appealing moderate resorts if you care about room theming and better casual food. The tradeoff is transportation. If buses tend to annoy you, this resort will probably test your patience more than some of the other moderate options.
Best for
This works best for families with kids who will really light up for the Royal Guest Rooms, especially if princess theming is part of the appeal. I also think it makes sense for people who care about getting good quick-service meals without paying deluxe prices.
Skip if
I would skip Riverside if the room theming does not really matter to you. At that point, the transportation becomes harder to forgive. I would also be careful here if specialty coffee matters to you, because French Quarter is the Port Orleans side with the more appealing cafe stop, beignets, and coffee, not Riverside itself.
Why it worked
When I stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, the quick-service food was better than what I had found at the previous resorts we stayed at, and that mattered more than I expected. We also stayed in a Royal Guest Room, and that was a huge deal for my two daughters. The theming in that room was incredible and felt like a real reason to pick this resort, not just a small upgrade detail.
Pause points
The main issue for me is the transportation. This is still a bus-heavy resort in a way that feels harder to ignore once you have stayed at places with the Skyliner or monorail. It was also more of a chore than I wanted to figure out where the different bus stops were on the route. If your stop was toward the end during busy times, space could get tight pretty quickly.
Still worth it?
I do think Riverside was worth the price for a moderate resort, but I would say that with an asterisk. For me, it was worth it because of the combination of better casual food, solid pricing, and the Royal Guest Room experience. If I were not staying in one of those themed rooms, I would be much less interested in booking it again. The transportation is enough of a bummer that I think the room and dining need to be doing real work for this resort to make sense.
Pros
- Large, beautiful resort grounds with a bayou and river setting
- Royal Guest rooms with princess theming are uniquely themed for the tier
- Multiple pools including the Ol' Man Island pool complex
- Sassagoula River boat service to Disney Springs
- Quieter and more relaxed atmosphere than busier resorts
Cons
- Very large resort can mean long walks from room to main building
- Bus-only transportation to theme parks; boat service only goes to Disney Springs
- Limited dining, Boatwright's table service is the only full-service option
- Alligator Bayou rooms are more rustic and less recently renovated
- Can feel isolated due to the spread-out layout
Amenities
Recreation
- Pool
- Hot Tub
- Campfire Program
- Playground
- Arcade
- Jogging Trail
- Quiet Pool
- Fishing excursions
- Bike/Surrey bike rentals
Wellness
- Spa
Transportation
-
Boat
Disney Springs
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
On-Site Dining
4 restaurants at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Community Discussions
- Port Orleans Riverside : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Port Orleans riverside <> Polynesian : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter? r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Port Orleans- Riverside Reno : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Say something nice (or honest) about Port Orleans r/WaltDisneyWorld
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Port Orleans – Riverside to the theme parks?
You can take the boat to Disney Springs. For Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney Springs, you'll use Disney buses. That setup is usually easier than relying on buses for every park day.
What dining options are at Port Orleans – Riverside?
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside has 4 on-site dining options. Sit-down options include Boatwright's Dining Hall. Quick-service spots include Muddy Rivers, River Roost, and Riverside Mill Food Court.
What pool and recreation amenities does Port Orleans – Riverside have?
The pool setup at Port Orleans – Riverside includes Pool, Hot Tub, and Quiet Pool. Beyond the pool area, you also have Campfire Program, Playground, Arcade, Jogging Trail, Fishing excursions, and Bike/Surrey bike rentals. For workouts or downtime, there is Spa.
Does Port Orleans – Riverside have Extended Evening Theme Park Hours?
No. Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are reserved for deluxe and deluxe villa resorts. As a moderate resort, Port Orleans – Riverside guests still get the standard 30-minute Early Entry benefit, but not the extra evening time.
Is Port Orleans – Riverside a good fit for families with young kids?
Port Orleans – Riverside is a solid fit for families, and the biggest reason is transportation. Port Orleans – Riverside has boat access, which is usually easier with a stroller than depending on buses for every trip. Kid-friendly amenities include Pool, Playground, Arcade, and Quiet Pool. There is 1 on-site table-service option, which helps on nights when you do not want to leave the resort for dinner.
What are the biggest drawbacks of staying at Port Orleans – Riverside?
The main trade-offs at Port Orleans – Riverside are these: Very large resort can mean long walks from room to main building. Bus-only transportation to theme parks; boat service only goes to Disney Springs. Limited dining, Boatwright's table service is the only full-service option. Alligator Bayou rooms are more rustic and less recently renovated. Can feel isolated due to the spread-out layout.
Similar resorts
Other moderate tier resorts at Walt Disney World.
Compare Port Orleans – Riverside with another hotel
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