Disney Resort Review: Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Let’s be honest: when it comes to planning your dream Disney getaway, half the battle is picking the right hotel. If you’re looking for a Disney Resort that has charm and elegance alongside a rustic feel, then Port Orleans Riverside may be the perfect place!
I had the opportunity to stay at Port Orleans Riverside Resort recently, so read on for a review of the theming, rooms, food, amenities, and transportation, or check out my profile of Port Orleans Riverside for more information.
ABOUT THE RESORT
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort is modeled after a Louisiana town along the Mississippi River, with plantation-style “mansions” and bayou-themed guesthouses. Take a short walk along the Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, known for Southern specialties like jambalaya, gumbo, and beignets.
There’s something for everyone at Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate Disney resort with elegant mansions and rustic retreats. This resort has a charming swimming pool with a slide as well as five quiet pools, quick-service and sit down food options, and a stocked fishing hole, all set along the scenic Sassagoula River.
Category
Disney resorts are split into several categories (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe). As a Moderate resort, Port Orleans Riverside provides an elevated experience at a reasonable price, making it perfect for Moms who want a bit of an upgrade from the standard Value resorts. Personally, I love the moderate resorts, and I always try to snag a room in one whenever I’m at Disney. They offer a little more space (which is great when you have to work in the hotel room—I know, I know, I shouldn’t complain that I have to work from Walt Disney World!), and I love the added dining (and drinking) options. This category is best for those who want a little more than just the bare essentials. These resorts have sprawling properties with immaculate landscaping, adding a touch more luxury, slightly larger rooms, and some extra amenities, but without the deluxe prices.
Disney World’s Moderate Resorts offer more “adult” accommodations with toned-down theming, but children of all ages will still enjoy them. They don’t have the big character icons like the Value Resorts, but they still give you a memorably magical, elevated experience at a reasonable price.
Moderate Resorts offer more dining options, including table-service and, in most cases, full service bars beyond just the pool bar. A main pool features a water slide, and each area has its own quiet pool. To learn a little more about Disney’s Moderate resorts, check out my comparison of the different moderate resorts. If all of the different categories still have you scratching your head, sneak a peak at my post on Understanding Disney World Resort Categories.
Port Orleans Riverside Resort is based on the Louisiana Bayou, and it’s separated into two sections: Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend.
Alligator Bayou draws inspiration from the rustic pine forests of Southern Louisiana, complete with hand-carved headboards and a rustic air often found in cottages tucked deep in the rural bayou. If your family is a bit larger, the Alligator Bayou section has a few rooms that sleep 5 with a pull-down bed in addition to the two queen-sized beds.
If elevated elegance is more your speed, Magnolia Bend is the perfect fit. With sprawling guest rooms situated in the white-columned Garden District mansion, your stay will be steeped in Southern charm. Here, you and your crew can glide down grandiose staircases and bask in the sweet scent of the azaleas and magnolias that drape the mansion walls.
My family and I stayed in a Royal Room, which was princess themed. My three year old absolutely loved it! A Royal Room sleeps 4 on two queen beds, with a curtain separating the vanity area and the toilet and tub/shower combo tucked behind a door. Although we didn’t bring any furry friends with us (apart from Annabelle’s favorite lovey, of course!), it’s one of the few Disney resorts that offers dog-friendly accommodations.
The food at Port Orleans Riverside is pretty standard. Riverside Mill is fine, serving items like burgers, sandwiches, and pizza for lunch and dinner. They do have a few Creole specialties like gumbo, shrimp, and grits, but I would skip it here and head to Port Orleans French Quarter instead. Meals can take a while, though, so I usually try to order the food before I leave my hotel room so that it’s ready by the time we get to the restaurant.
Boatwrights gets terrible reviews, but we really enjoy it! It’s well-worth a reservation just for the cornbread and appetizers—personally, we love the Mardi Gras Fritters. The main highlight of the menu is the All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Chef’s Platter, stacked high with crispy Cajun chicken, hickory-smoked ribs, mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, beef brisket with corn, and green beans. I am a huge fan of shrimp and grits, but I wasn’t impressed with these.
And the best part? Port Orleans is only a short boat ride away from Disney Springs. My favorite is Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ restaurant—his shrimp and grits (and hummingbird cake) are to die for.
Port Orleans Riverside features six pools, 5 quiet pools located in each individual group of buildings and the main pool, Ol’ Man River, with a “swimmin’ hole” and Tom-Sawyer-inspired sawmill water slide. Unfortunately, Port Orleans Riverside doesn’t have a splash pad, but you can pool-hop to Port Orleans – French Quarter. Fun fact: these are the only properties where pool-hopping is allowed!
In terms of activities, Port Orleans has more than any other value or moderate resort. The resort features a catch-and-release bass fishing excursion, surrey bikes for rent, an arcade, and even carriage rides perfect for your little princesses!
One of my favorite activities at Port Orleans Riverside Resort is the Yehaa Bob show at River Roost Lounge. Yehaa Bob is a local legend whose wacky piano-playing and songs—including everything from Disney classics to childhood favorites—are sure to be a hit with kids big and small!
Like most of the other moderate resorts, Port Orleans is sprawling, which means there are multiple bus stops. Staying in a preferred room (like a Royal Room) makes getting to the bus stop really easy, but you still have to go around the resort loop on your return trip. I know I mentioned it before, but the big perk here is the boat to Disney Springs. It’s an enjoyable 20-minute ride that gives you full access to Disney Springs’ dining and entertainment districts (can you tell how much I love Disney Springs?). For additional information and a few tips and tricks on navigating the Disney Parks, check out my Disney Transportation Guide.
OVERALL RATING
Picking the perfect place to stay for your Disney vacation can be daunting, but for families with young children, Port Orleans Riverside is packed with family-friendly activities and a whimsical vibe that’s sure to delight kids of any age. For larger families or couples, though, unless you love the sweeping, azalea-draped mansions and the rustic charm of the Southern bayou, Disney has plenty of better Moderate resort options at a similar price point.
Whether you’re looking to glide down grandiose staircases, dine on shrimp and grits, or explore any of Disney’s other resorts, I’d be happy to help you find the best resort for your family! Book a call today and let’s make your vacation a little more magical. ✨
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
