Complete Guide to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (w/ review)

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is a Moderate Resort located on Walt Disney World property. It also has 1 sister hotel located nearby: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

Being a Moderate Resort, Port Orleans – Riverside is not the cheapest option on property. However, the moderate price tag comes with upgraded amenities such as a pool with slide, a boat to Disney Springs, a table-service restaurant, and fun recreational activities.

Here’s everything you need to know about Port Orleans – Riverside.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Gorgeous with lots of meandering paths and bridges on property, onsite restaurant and food court, boat to Disney Springs available, Royal rooms are some of the best themed in all of Walt Disney World

Cons: Resort is very large and spread out, several internal bus stops

Overview

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside can be found on Walt Disney World property in the Disney Springs Resort Area. It’s a Moderate Resort and is the sister hotel to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, which is located within walking distance to Riverside.

Located along the Sassagoula River, Riverside embodies the romance of rural Louisiana. The hotel rooms can found inside “white-column mansions” in sections named like Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. 

It’s a quaint, yet larger resort, that exudes a ton of charm. Plus, there are two forms of transportation, including bus service and water transportation.

Better yet, there are several great dining options, including both a food court, two bars, and a Table Service spot that offers dishes like shrimp and grits and jambalaya. 

This resort definitely has a lot to offer. Here’s what to expect when staying at Riverside.

Rooms And Bathrooms

There are several types of rooms to book at Riverside. You can choose from a range of Standard Rooms with a variety views. The Standard Room also are inspired by Princess and the Frog and Princess Tiana.

Better yet, there are the Royal Guest Rooms, which are themed after Disney princesses and princes. From the carpet, to the artwork, to the bedding, to the faucets (they’re genie lamps!), to the headboard that lights up with fireworks, these rooms are definitely a dream come true.

Depending on which room you reserve, you can sleep anywhere from 3 to 4 adults.

Standard amenities are featured in each room, including a hairdryer, TV, free WiFi, a coffee maker, telephone, in-room safe, and an iron and ironing board.

If you’re wondering about outlets and USB ports, there are both scattered about for whatever you may need to plug in or charge. Regarding storage, there is both closet, drawer, and counter space, including in the bathrooms and under the beds (except for the Royal Guest Rooms).

Speaking of the bathrooms, the vanity area is separate from the toilet and shower area. 

Here are the rooms available to book.

Standard Rooms

• River View: Views of Riverfront; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed or 2 Queen Beds
• Woods View: Views of Landscaping, Courtyard or Bayou; 2 Queen Beds
• King Bed: Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, Garden, Bayou, Riverfront or Courtyard Pool; 1 King Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed

• Standard View: Views of Parking Area; 2 Queen Beds
• Pool View: Views of Courtyard Pool; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed or 2 Queen Beds
• Preferred Room: Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, Garden or Bayou; Close to Sassagoula Steamboat Company, Dining, Shopping and Transportation; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed or 2 Queen Beds

• Standard View — 5th Sleeper: Views of Parking Area; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed
• Woods View — 5th Sleeper: Views of Landscaping, Courtyard or Bayou; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down bed

Royal Guest Rooms

• Standard View: Views of Parking Area; 2 Queen Beds
• River View: Views of Riverfront; 2 Queen Beds

• Woods View: Views of Landscaping, Courtyard or Bayou; 2 Queen Beds
• Pool View: Views of Courtyard Pool; 2 Queen Beds

Note: There are also both wheelchair and hearing accessible rooms available that include accessible bathrooms and visual alarms.

You can check out room layouts below.

Port Orleans – Riverside Resort Room Options

Room type(s)	Bed size	Max people per room	Floor plan
Standard View Views of Parking Area	2 Queen beds	4
River View Views of Riverfront	2 Queen beds	4
Woods View Views of Landscaping, Courtyard or Bayou	2 Queen beds	4
Pool View Views of the Courtyard Pool	2 Queen beds	4
Preferred Room Views of Landscaping, Courtyard, Garden or Bayou Close to Sassagoula Steamboat Company, Dining, Shopping and Transportation	2 Queen beds	4
Standard View – 5th Sleeper Views of Parking Area	2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down Bed	5
Woods View – 5th Sleeper Views of Landscaping, Courtyard or Bayou	2 Queen Beds and 1 Child-Size Pull-Down Bed	5
King Bed Views of Garden, Courtyard, Riverfront, or Parking Area	1 King Bed	2

Pet-Friendly Policy

Riverside is pet-friendly, but there are certain conditions that must be met. First, there’s a limit of 2 dogs per room. In order to bring your dog with you, you’ll need to call (407) 939-7539.

There’s also a day and overnight kennel care at Best Friends Pet Care located on property.

VIDEO: Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside tour (rooms, pools, dining)

Checking In And Out

When it comes to checking in and out, you have a few options: at the front desk, online through the official Walt Disney World website, or via the My Disney Experience app.

The front desk is located in the main lobby. Even though the front desk is there to assist guests, especially with checking in and checking out, all Disney World Resort guests are encouraged to check-in online or by using MDE.

• Checking-In: After you check-in online or using the app, you’ll receive a room-ready notification via next. You can then use your MagicBand or MDE’s digital key feature to unlock your room door.
• Checking-Out: Currently, guests will automatically be checked out of their rooms. But, if you have unresolved charges to your hotel folio, you’ll need to visit the front desk.

Note: Guests also have the option of to chat virtually with resort Cast Members via MDE for any assistance. 

The lobby is perfectly themed. There is plenty of space to sit down and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells. The gift shop and dining also connect to the lobby.

The pickup and dropoff location for Mears Connect (which is the replacement for Magical Express) is just outside the lobby. Luggage storage is right out front of the lobby for those who have checked out or are waiting to check in.

Note: Resort Airline Check-In and Magical Express are no longer available.

Package Delivery & Pick Up

You can have packages and groceries delivered to your Disney Resort hotel, along with shipping select items home.

Disney used to have a service where you were able to purchase items in the parks and then have them delivered to your resort’s gift shop. However, that service has been unavailable for several years now.

Parking

Although parking at Disney World resort hotels used to cost a nightly fee for resort guests, Disney has changed their policy so that parking is now free for all on-site resort guests. This change was implemented on January 10, 2023.

Complimentary standard self-parking is also available for non-resort guests exploring dining, shopping, entertainment, and other experiences during the day.

We have a complete Walt Disney World parking guide you can browse.

Resort Map

Amenities And Shops

From gift shops to on-site laundry services, there are several amenities offered to guests at Port Orleans Riverside.

Important note: Some of the following amenities might not be available at all times.

• Fulton’s General Store: Find apparel, accessories, snacks, and other Disney-related items.
• Laundry Services: The 24-hour self-service laundry rooms are adjacent to each of the 5 quiet pools dotted around the Resort hotel. Machine tokens can be purchased at these laundry rooms.

• Dry Cleaning Services: Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are also an option.
• Movies Under the Stars: Watch complimentary Disney movies at the Magnolia South Pool deck, located between buildings 90 and 95.
• Childcare Services: In-room babysitting for children 6 months to 12 years old.

Pools And Recreation

Riverside has one feature pool and five leisure pools. If you need a non-park day, we recommended spending the day at your hotel and enjoying a Disney Resort pool.

Important note: Some of the pools and recreation options might not be available at all times.

Feature Pool

• Ol’ Man Island: This pool is inspired by an abandoned sawmill and can be accessed by three wooden bridges. It even has a 95 foot-long rustic waterslide built into the millworks. There’s also a whirpool tub, a kiddie pool, and the Muddy Rivers pool bar nearby.

Leisure Pools

• You can find three leisure pools in Alligator Bayou and two in Magnolia Bend. 

Some other recreational options include:

• Surrey bike rentals
• Campfire to roast marshmallows

• Fishing
• Horse-drawn carriage rides
• Bike Rentals

• Jogging trail
• Playground near Ol’ Man Island for kids
• Medicine Show Arcade

Restaurant & Dining Options

You can find both Quick Service and Table Service options here, along with two bars.

Boatwright’s Dining Hall is a great spot to have a home-cooked meal for dinner.

The food court also features a variety of choices. Take note that the Riverside Mill Food Court has Mobile Order.

You can read more about the dining options below.

Quick Service

You don’t need reservations to dine at Port Orleans Riverside’s Quick Service location, but Mobile Order is handy and we recommend using it, especially during peak dining times.

Riverside Mill Food Court

This is a food court-style restaurant with several stations that serve burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, and more.

Location type: Food Court
Type of food: American
Meals served: Breakfast, lunch, & dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Quick Service credit(s)
• Pros: Good food options (including several plant-based choices), lots of seating, mobile ordering in My Disney Experience available
• Cons: Can feel hectic and crowded

Table Service

Advanced Dining Reservations are strongly encouraged at Table Service locations. You can make those inside of the My Disney Experience app.

Boatwright’s Dining Hall

This shipyard themed table service restaurant features southern hospitality and New Orleans-style home cooking.

Location type: Casual Table Service
Type of food: American, Cajun
Meals served: Dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit(s)
• Pros: Good food, generous portions, almost always easy to get a reservation, often easy to get in even without a reservation
• Cons: Ambiance leaves a bit to be desired, can be noisy

Everything Else

If you want to grab a beverage to drink by the pool or unwind with some live entertainment after a long park day, you may want to try one of the two bars here.

Muddy Rivers

Location type: Quick Service
Type of food: A pool bar that serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Chance to grab a bite to eat and have a drink (including some specialty drinks that are only available here)
• Cons: Disney Dining Plan credits not accepted

River Roost

Location type: Quick Service
Type of food: A southern style bar with occasional live entertainment and light snacks

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Good spot to grab a drink
• Cons: Disney Dining Plan credits not accepted, can be crowded and loud

How to get from Port Orleans-Riverside to anywhere at Disney World

There are two forms of transportation available, including buses and water transportation. You can take a bus to all of the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. The bus stop is located in front of the Colonel’s Cotton Mill building. You can also hop on a complimentary water taxi to Disney Springs. All of the different ways to get from the Riverside to anywhere in Disney World is detailed below.

Scheduled Refurbishments

None scheduled right now.

Other Info

• Port Orleans Riverside Resort Maps
• Pros and Cons of on-site Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Port Orleans Riverside Trip Reports