Port Orleans Riverside Resort Review
Port Orleans Riverside is a Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World. This hotel review covers its pros & cons, room photos, info on amenities, a stroll around the grounds, and more. We will also cover basics, including our take on it, and who might enjoy it best. (Updated February 14, 2024.)
Riverside is divided into Alligator Bayou (bayou) and Magnolia Bend (mansions), which assists it in offering more thematic variety. In addition to these two different styles, each building within the sections uses different materials based upon its location on the river.
The backstory is interesting and engaging (and is executed cleverly throughout the resort), and the quiet pathways that litter Riverside make it a great place to take a romantic stroll. The grounds are absolutely stunning, with rich wilderness in the bayou and perfectly manicured gardens around the mansions.
This variety of theming is really quite impressive and is pulled off remarkably well. The mansions of Magnolia Bend are surrounded by large, perfectly manicured lawns and beautiful gardens, which provide a stark contrast to the untamed wilderness and seemingly uncontrolled growth in Alligator bayou.
In Alligator Bayou you feel you’d be at home floating down the river in a rickety boat hunting for crawdads. In Magnolia Bend, you might be better suited donning your dress seersucker, putting on a bow-tie, and drinking some mint juleps.
In our Moderate Resort Comparison, we do not rank Port Orleans Riverside very highly, but praise it as being on par thematically with some Deluxes. As mentioned there, the theming really shines at Riverside, which draws is themed to a rural Louisiana port city that is along the Sassagoula River.
Let’s take a detailed look at the pros & cons of Port Orleans Riverside…
Due to Riverside’s sprawling layout, the aforementioned differing styles of Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou don’t visually clash with one another. However, this layout may be perceived as a negative by some guests who aren’t fans of walking or internal transportation.
We don’t mind either, and find the transportation to be more than adequate. We found that the larger layout offers more to explore and a larger area to wander for romantic nighttime strolls (or carriage or bike rides if that’s your thing). With that said, Port Orleans Riverside is now one of the few Walt Disney World resorts that requires bus transportation for getting to all parks–that’s a definite downside for many guests.
In some ways, the Port Orleans Resorts feel like something out of a bygone era. This is deliberate in terms of their design and overgrown landscaping, which imbues the two hotels with a sense of tranquility.
It’s also the unintentional result of development elsewhere at Walt Disney World. Every other Moderate Resort has been significantly overhauled in the last few years, adding Disney Vacation Club wings, tower hotels, and/or the Disney Skyliner gondolas. Not Port Orleans. For better or worse, it’s largely the same hotel complex it was in the early 1990s.
From our perspective, it’s mostly for the better. Most other hotels are more modern, and with that comes a certain hustle and bustle. While the Skyliner and other modern amenities are great, there’s a certain sense of relaxation and charm you won’t find many other places around Walt Disney World (save for Fort Wilderness). As with so many things, there are tradeoffs.
The area around the main lobby ties all of this theming together perfectly with its steamship theming, providing an excellent transition between the bayou and the mansions. In addition to the variety of boat and bike rentals available outside, inside there are a number of dining and shopping options.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall is the table service restaurant at Riverside, and it is themed as a Southern, shipyard warehouse, complete with tools lining the walls and a large wooden hull of a fishing boat suspended from the ceiling.
We have a full Boatwright’s Dining Hall Review, which covers why it’s viewed as a hidden gem by so many Walt Disney World fans.
Riverside Mill Food Court (read our review of the food court) and River Roost Lounge are the other two dining options at Port Orleans Riverside. The food court is themed as a riverside mill…I’ll bet you would have never guessed that based on its name!
The theme here is carried out excellently–it probably has the coolest theming of any food court at Walt Disney World. The menu is also fairly diverse at Riverside Mill, with plenty of options for guests.
Riverside has several pools, with the main pool being located on ‘Ol Man Island in the middle of the resort, where the playground is also located. I wouldn’t necessarily call the pool disappointing, but it’s probably our least favorite pool at any Moderate Resort. The complex is nice and large, and the pool is nice, but the theming leaves something to be desired.
It’s difficult to say what could have been done better with the theming, but I far prefer the approach taken by Port Orleans French Quarter, which combines uses fun gators and a serpentine to overcome what otherwise might be “bland” Louisiana theming for its pool. This is a relatively minor complaint at what is otherwise the best-themed Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World.
As far as rooms go, Port Orleans again shines. Above is what the regular guest rooms in Magnolia Bend (the “mansions”) currently look like.
In addition to these standard rooms, the Royal Rooms are also located in Magnolia Bend.
Port Orleans Riverside received a ‘soft goods’ update to these rooms recently that refreshed some of the furnishings and revised the style (removing the comforters, among other things).
There were complaints prior to the refurbishment that the rooms felt dated. That is not the case anymore, but the style is definitely old-fashioned–from an intentional thematic perspective.
The other section of Port Orleans Riverside is Alligator Bayou. Those rooms feel slightly more rustic, but their biggest upside is that they have removed the dresser and replaced it with a fold-down Murphy bed that enables the Alligator Bayou rooms to sleep 5 adults.
We recently stayed in a renovated room and shared the experience in our New Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside post, so check that out for a photo and video tour.
For the most part, the bathrooms are similar to how they looked prior to the refurbishment. I believe the mirrors and maybe the light fixtures were swapped out.
These rooms are the same style (albeit with thematic differences) as those covered in our updated Caribbean Beach Resort Review. We personally prefer the rooms at Caribbean Beach Resort, but the theme and overall atmosphere, we think, is better at Port Orleans.
In terms of amenities, Port Orleans Riverside’s rooms feel modern and clean, with a sufficient number of details and subtle charm to make them distinctly “Disney.” These details are more on the subtle side, rather than overt imagery of Mickey and various other characters.
With that said, if you are traveling with small children, this might not be for you. We view Port Orleans as a more romantic option; this is not to say it isn’t for kids (I loved our stays here as a kid), but it’s not our top pick if you’re primarily interested in kid appeal. You might want to instead consider a different resort or one of the above-mention Royal Guest Rooms for that.
Although the Port Orleans Riverside Royal Guest Rooms are beyond the scope of this review (again, read our separate Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside Review for more on them), above is a peak at the inside of them. They are great rooms for families with kids and would make a great compromise for families looking for an incredibly well-themed Moderate Resort that also has a liberal helping of classic Disney theming.
The Royal Guest Rooms are brought to life by Disney Characters, and special “royal” touches like custom drapes and linens and ornately decorated beds. The headboards on these beds glitter with fiber optic “fireworks” lights. There is a nightly upcharge for these rooms, but the theming likely appeals more to kids than most Deluxes, and the rooms are cheaper, too!
Riverside is also conveniently located just a 10 minute walk from Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (we also have a separate Port Orleans French Quarter Review where you can see its rooms and hear our thoughts on that hotel’s amenities, etc.), where guests can find a cooler pool and food court. French Quarter doesn’t have its own table service restaurant, but it’s still worth a visit to the (smaller and more centralized) grounds to see the New Orleans theming.
There are also boat rides available from both resorts to Disney Springs, and bus transportation to the parks. The boat ride on the Sassagoula is nice and relaxing, and having dinner at Disney Springs is a great way to conclude a day outside of the parks (or your arrival night).
Overall, Port Orleans Riverside is the perfect resort for guests looking for exquisite theming without breaking the bank. The theming is definitely Deluxe quality in many regards, although I wouldn’t put it above any Deluxe Resort in terms of overall quality. Families looking for distinctly Disney (character) theming may not find quite so much to love in Riverside unless they stay in the Royal Guest Rooms, but couples looking for a romantic resort-hotel should definitely give Riverside a look.
However, the big upside of that tranquility and romantic atmosphere also is the big downside. The Port Orleans Resorts accomplish that sense of isolation and serenity by not having the same degree of development or proximity to the parks. There’s no Skyliner, monorail, or non-bus transportation to the parks here. The grounds are sprawling, which can mean a lot of walking. There’s no flagship restaurant, character dining, or anything else that makes Port Orleans Riverside a big draw for non-resort guests. Whether or not it’s for you is a personal matter–if you want a relaxed vacation, it’s great. If you’re looking for convenience and ease of accessing the parks and popular dining, perhaps not.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts…
How do you feel about Port Orleans Riverside? Does its lack of unique transportation to the parks, character dining, or other ‘big’ draws make it less appealing to you? Or, do you find Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside to be among the best of the Moderate Resorts thanks to its tranquility and atmosphere? Do you dislike Riverside?! Any other opinions or questions about staying at Port Orleans Riverside? We love hearing from readers, so please share your thoughts in the comments!
We stayed in two of the royal rooms in August of 2012. The youngest “child” in our group was 18 and the oldest was my sister’s fiance at 26. We loved them! While I could see how they would be great for small children, they are also a great option for the “older children” wanting something special added to their stay. The rooms were beautiful and we really enjoyed our first stay at POR. We were closer to a smaller pool and it was completely empty of people the entire week so it ended up being a great place to relax. We will be back there this coming July in a bayou themed room!
we stayed at POR in Feb 2011. Our room was bayou themed – it was ok – smaller than Caribbean Beach Resort rooms we have stayed at. Our room was so far away from the main bldg/bus stop – I would request a closer bldg and would like to try a mansion rather than bayou if I stayed here again. The food court was great. We go back to the POR food court every visit – last visit we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and this food court kicks THE MARA’s butt!!! The little pool by our room was sufficient for my kids but they don’t care about all the toys in the pool – they just want to “swim” with their dad. My kids normally don’t care about going to the moderate’s main pools.
This resort was where we stayed for our first “on-site” stay. I fell in love (you never forget your first love, right?) with the grounds – the early morning walks were lovely. The rooms theming was sufficient for us (I have 2 boys, ages 9 & 5 at the time). The many pools were great (we had a room overlooking one) & the main pool had a slide, as well as some entertaining scenery with it. We did go visit FQ’s pool & loved that too! I would stay here again in a heart beat – you won’t go wrong! There are many positives, which also include transportation & dining 🙂
Stayed there in Nov 2012, loved it as much as AKL!
Love this comment! We are going for the first time in Sept. and we are going to stay 5 nights at POR and our last 3 nights at AKL (our son LOVES giraffes and the opportunity to wake up and go to bed and see them out of our room would be awesome!)
This review definitely has me excited for our “Disneymoon” at POR after Thanksgiving! My fiancee has only been to the value resorts so I can’t wait for him to see it.
We’re off to POR in 15 days; thanks or the sneak peek. Can’t wait!
My husband refuses to stay anywhere else but the Riverside. He loves the landscaping there. We have stayed there 5 times and have our 6th stay already booked. He prefers the theming there even above the Deluxe resorts. He loves the boat to Downtown Disney. It is a great place to stay.
Do you find this is a good place for the kiddos,I know this review doesn’t include kids going but we have a 15 and 10 year old (so not little ones) Is this geared to be an adult resort or will the kids enjoy the pool and grounds? The kids had requested more down time this trip so I wanted a resort with amenities for that(we were at the all star sports last year).
Thanks!!
Jessica
We stayed there ( river side)in May 2011… Wasn’t good first time in 40 years of staying at a Disney Resort…Air didn’t work well had to clean dressers found someones sweater behind a chair bathroom was NOT clean and there was mold in the shower.. Sheets had holes in them..To Disneys credit after telling them the trouble we had they refonded one night..We were back in Dec. 2011 stayed at a different Disney resort and that was great as all the other times were!!!! LOVE DISNEY
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit.I am going to make plan to visit this place soon.This review is awesome.
We stayed at POR the first week of August and were very impressed. We did have a RR and loved the all the little details in the room. We last stayed there when it was still “Dixie Landings” and the grounds were as beautiful as ever. This has definitely become our favorite moderate resort! Love your pics as always!
Which building did you stay in? From the pictures I am trying to pick if I’d like to stay in another room (did the Royal Rooms this year….wasn’t sure if we should change for next year).
Thanks!!!!!
My husband and I just go back from our “Disneymoon” last week. We stayed at Riverside the whole week and absolutely loved it. We were on the Alligator Bayou side and the scenery really made us feel like we were not at a Disney resort…which we loved because we were in the parks all day every day surrounded by Disney magic! The attention to detail in the rooms was fantastic. Disney definitely transports you to another magical place here!
Planning on staying here for marathon weekend 2013. Looks like some great theming, and I need to step up from the All Stars.
It’s the perfect “step up” resort for those who want something more than a Value but don’t want to break the bank on a Deluxe. We’re still debating on whether we’ll do the marathon. Well, not so much “we” as “me.” Sarah has already made it abundantly clear that she’s not doing it. I’d like to, though. I want to see how I enjoy the ToT 10-miler first, but Marathon is close to full…
Seeing your pictures is making me jealous. I stayed there one weekend, but didn’t really get to check out much of the resort (a change of plans…. long story). So needless to say, I have hardly any pictures. 🙁 It would be nice to get back there though.
You live like 10 minutes away!!! What’s the hold up?! 😉
Procrastination. 😉 I’ve been think about just walking around the resorts, but I always end up not doing it for some reason. Thanks for calling me out. :p
Sounds like a fabulous place! We don’t have to have the “Disney” theme all day AND all night. We’ll be there in less than a month and your review was a confirmation that we picked the right place! Just one question…is it possible to swim at another resort’s pool? We originally had the water park add on, but cancelled it as it seemed we would be so busy going to the parks and water parks that we wouldn’t have enough time to just hang and relax at our hotel and pool. After your comment about the pool, I’m just wondering if we could head to French Quarter since its just a ten minute walk.
Will I agree with you about the resort (our favorite), I do not agree about the pool theming. I think the pool has the right amount of theming without being over done. There is a old saying that less is more.
Thanks for the review. My family and I will be there in November. We’ve been at the other 3 moderates, so I’m looking forward to see how POR stacks up!
I was mulling over resort options for my next trip – stay with the value resorts or upgrade to a moderate – and this review definitely pushed me over the edge! I just booked four nights at this hotel … can’t wait!
Just got back from WDW. We stayed here the first week in the Royal Guest room. I agree with everything Tom said here. This was far better than I expected.
Great Review, Tom! Can’t wait to stay there for the first time in 17 days! 🙂