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!
Stayed at Riverside last October. I use a scooter and requested a garden view room. I was originally assigned to Alligator Bayou (J think Bldg 15). I am very familiar with scooters and was afraid I would “fall” into the garden in the center of the building trying to get my scooter into the room. Also while the gardens were lush at times I felt there wasn’t enough room to get through. I talked to one of the people in Mousekeeping and the only handicapped room in the area was just off the parking lot so I went back to Check-in and was now given a room in Bldg 85 on Magnolia Bend. It was wonderful. Plenty of room to maneuver my scooter and yet enough room that if I was just running in for something, I could leave it parked and people could still easily walk through. It was very relaxing and such a beautiful short trip back to the main building and close enough to the bus stop. Hoping to go back this November and planning on staying here again.
Amazing place to have relaxation and a bonding with family or someone. Thank you for sharing this wonderful thoughts of you.
We just returned from Port Orleans Riverside and loved it. I agree with everything in your review, and I appreciated all your input in making our decision on POR. We have 1 1/2-year-old daughter and we liked the ambiance of Riverside while having access to the pool and food court at French Quarter. The layout of Riverside was great for walks in the stroller and we encountered several other families taking advantage of the scenic walk between FQ and Riverside during naptime. The staff at both FQ and Riverside were awesome. We really felt we had a quiet oasis away from the Spring Break crowds at the parks. We had originally booked at Caribbean Beach, which we hope to try in the future, but thanks to your reviews citing the current construction at CBR, we switched to POR and were more than happy with our stay!
Riverside is one of the more quiet resorts. The ambiance encourages a more peaceful attitude. Even the buildings closer to the lobby and food court (in Alligator Bayou) have a wonderful buffering of foliage. There will always be the exception of an excited and enthusiastic guest, but on the whole noise is not a problem at Riverside.
Any Riverside veterans out there care to field a question? Due to some health concerns, we’re thinking about upgrading to a preferred room to be closer to transport, food, etc. Our concern is it might be loud with all the additional traffic. Is noise a concern? Is there a big enough difference in proximity that the extra money is even worth it? Please share your experiences if willing. Thank you!
The extra charge was totally worth it. My mom had a scooter and it was less than a 5 minute walk to the food court, lobby, and bus stop. We were in building 14, which I requested prior to arriving. We didn’t notice ANY noise or extra traffic at all, and we were here during spring break. If I come back, I’ll stay at Port Orleans Riverside and will upgrade to preferred. I was extremely pleased.
Thank you for the feedback, Lori! It’s such a large property, we were a bit concerned about getting around. Everything we’ve heard has been positive though. Thanks again!
100% agree. Riverside/Bayou (back in ‘99 when it was called Dixie Landings) was our first stay at an on-property resort, and it is still my fave. Theming is awesome as you describe, and I thought the room layout with the bathroom in the back of the room with 2 sinks was ideal for our family of 5. I also remember the waits for park buses more reasonable than other resorts. I missed what you thought might eclipse Riverside in Fall ‘18, refurbed Caribbean Beach?
The DISBoards have some HORRENDOUS reports on this resort & others with the way they’re implementing the new “security” policy. If they continue this way, we won’t be staying at any Disney resort. With this & the new dog policy (reports are that dogs are running off the leash, nipping at people, sitting at tables in food courts & not being confined to certain areas as at first promised), it really doesn’t sound like Disney cares about the customer.
The new dog policy and the promises that dogs will be confined to certain areas is not being enforced by Disney. I recently stayed at the Riverside resort, and was appalled at what I saw. For people with severe allergies to animals, having to deal with animals in the food courts and seeing animals in buildings where we are promised there are no animals allowed is not acceptable. I have ended up in the emergency room from being exposed to areas which were inhabited by animals. Disney is telling us that there are areas in the resort which are off limits to animals, and we (allergy sufferers) should be okay to stay at the resort. However, I am seeing enough issues with animals at the resort to make me leary of trusting what Disney is saying and promising.
Why in the world would someone with severe allergies to animal fur stay at a resort that allows dogs? That is absurd. I have non severe allergies and was just fine. We stayed a week before you and there was one animal being walked on a leash. Not a peep, shred of dog fur, or dogs in the main building. My suggestion would be to stay at another resort. I for one love dogs and don’t mind seeing them when they are well behaved.
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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help?! This is going to be my first trip and I’m trying to decide between the Port Orleans Riverside and the Animal Kingdom (first choice was Caribbean Beach but other half is concerned about the construction taking place there!) The difference in cost is around £600 which is fine. Any thoughts or help on this would be really appreciated as I’m struggling to make a choice! 🙂
I love Port Orleans, but if money isn’t an issue, I would go with Animal Kingdom. The rooms are bigger, the room entry is indoors, and there are actual animals you can see up close every day. The restaurants are also more interesting and a definite step up from a moderate. They both have great theming, but a deluxe is almost always going to be cooler than a moderate.
Thank you, that’s really kind and helpful – especially as you have been to both and can provide an honest opinion 🙂
You will not go wrong at Port Orleans-Riverside! It’s a fantastic Resort with many Deluxe type amenities for the moderate price point. Animal Kingdom is beautiful and has it’s own vibe going, larger accommodations more upscale. PORiverside is more laid back but wonderful food court and restaurant, quick bus arrivals to take you to the parks. For your first trip to Disney, I’d say go for AK then try Port Orleans Riverside next go around! Be sure to dine at Boma at AK…it’s one of our favorites!
Port Orleans – Riverside is one of the resorts our family has enjoyed a few times. A few of our highlights are: Boatwright’s for dinner, the dancing piano at the lounge after dark and the sprawling layout of the entire resort area. I like going for a run first thing in the morning and the pathways carve out a nice 5k run. My hope is that we can get back to Riverside in 2019.
I’ll be there in about 4 weeks. Yea! I’m guessing the comment about the destination for the boats being lackluster was written pre-Disney Springs. I agree that Downtown Disney was dull, but Disney Springs is great with more to offer than we have time to experience.
You are absolutely correct. I will update that now–thanks!
Be there on December 17th. Looking forward to it even more after your review.
Thank you for your lovely and thorough review! We recently returned from a trip with 2 adults and decided to stay at Riverside after reading your review. It was worth it. Beautiful, some laid back and romantic walks, fun Halloween festivities on Halloween night, campfires with s’mores, GREAT food, and Yehaa Bob’s show in the lounge was fantastic. Boating to Disney Springs was easy. We stayed in a building near the North depot, which meant longer internal transportation but always managing to get on a bus, whereas the South depot near the main building seemed to have longer lines and have greater likelihood of having to stand or wait for the next bus. We’d definitely return, but try to stay near the North or West bus stops if we can.
Stayed here recently. The room did have a small fold out bed which was good so that our two kids didn’t have to share a bed. While nice and clean but being in the moderate category it had a few drawbacks. Rooms are a touch small and did not have enough storage for clothing for a family of 4. The room has a minifridge but no microwave, not a big deal but we usually like to heat up some oatmeal for the kids to have at breakfast or some popcorn at night. The resorts is made up of many smaller detached buildings, while good to keep guest noise down, the staff carts that travel between buildings can be noisy at night, was find for me but may be problematic if you are a very light sleeper. Depending where you are located it can be a bit of a hike to the main pool and restaurant. The biggest issue I have is not the resort but some of the families it tends to attract. Of our 7 days at the resort, I witness dozens of guest in clear violation of the no smoking zones. The other common sight was seeing someone crack open a beer at 9 AM, is that really necessary? I get it, you are on vacation but not a great example to set for a location that has many many children.
I’m surprised to see all of the negative comments about the Port Orleans Riverside. We’ve stayed at the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, the Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness Lodge, as well as Port Orleans Riverside. Our favorite of all those is Port Orleans Riverside. We’ve stayed there the last 3 times, always in building #14, which is closest to the food court. The food court is the best we’ve found at Disney. And you have to catch one of Yehaa Bob Jackson’s show. Nice boat ride to Disney Springs. Love the pool and the grounds. Heading back there next month and again in March.
Going to Disney in February 2018 and trying to choose between Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach? Any suggestions? Unsure about Caribbean beach because of the construction going on.
Dirty room. Flippant response to complaint, including laughter. Look elsewhere.
We stayed at Riverside in 2013 and hated it! The walk to the food court, main pool, and bus stops was horrible especially when you have tired kids and a grumpy husband in tow. 🙂 We had asked for a preferred room but I’m not sure if we got it. We were told we HAD to book a moderate since we had a 5th guest. We had previously stayed at All Star Movies and LOVED it. To us, there was very little difference in amenities between the value and moderate. Rooms were almost identical. The moderate had a bed (which is really a large shelf) that pulled out of the wall for the 5th guest. None of the kids wanted to sleep on it so we ended crammed in 2 beds. We are long time Disney lovers and are planning another trip now. If you are considering Port Orleans Riverside and you don’t want to have walk a lot AFTER a long day in the parks, request a room closest to the bus stop, main pool, and food court. You will be glad you did.
I’ve stayed at FQ before (was pleasantly surprised after having stayed mainly at Deluxe resorts with my family, and paying for this trip on my own I was a little leery of the moderate resorts and am now totally on board) and am contemplating RS for an upcoming trip in April. I’d much prefer the mansion buildings to the alligator bayou- have people requested those buildings and have those requests generally been granted? I’m torn as to what to do- book what I know I loved, FQ, or chance it and hope that I get the building I request at RS. Does anyone have advice or experience requesting one type of building versus the other?
If you want to be sure to have a room in the mansion buildings, book a royal guest room (see the picture above.) They have that Disney magic and are only in the mansion buildings.
Hi Tom,
My family is considering a trip in December. We were only considering Port Orleans Riverside, but didn’t you say in a previous post that free dining is not offered to people staying at Port Orleans? So, as crazy as it sounds, we might consider Caribbean Beach. It sounds like the overhaul of Centertown might be close to completed or done by the time we would arrive. We are considering staying Dec 10-18. There is usually free dining offered around this time frame. Do you think Disney will still be offering the $75 gift card per room per night at that time too? The double dipping is interesting…….not sure what we are going to do yet. Any thought? Thank you!
Rebecca,
Check to make sure you can’t get disney dining as I booked yesterday and was offered the quick service dining option for free and I paid to upgrade it to the disney dining.
Disney are (according to operators) not offering the $75 gift card per room per night any more as the renovations have been widely publicised and anyone who books it now is aware of the situation.
We have booked RS for next year and was a toss up between it and Animal Kingdom Lodge (£1100 more expensive) and the cheaper option won, hopefully we picked the right choice!
Hi Tom,
Thank you for all the detailed and valuable tips! My family started coming to WDW when it opened in the 70’s. We have come with our own family over the years and the last trip was for the millennium in 2000. Now our “children” are grown adults and one is married. We have a total of 6 of us….ideally two in each bedroom. In the past the Beach Club was always a favorite because of the walking distance to Epcot and when the kids were younger the pool was perfect. Do you have any suggestions on where to stay in June? Ideally monorail or boat access. We are staying 3 days.