Down In The Bayou - Port Orleans Riverside
Trying as many Disney resorts as possible is on my bucket list for sure. This past trip, I had the pleasure of staying in Port Orleans Riverside for the first time. I had stayed in Port Orleans French Quarter before and took the boat to Riverside for dinner, but I did not venture farther than the food court. Essentially, this was brand new territory for me. I had always heard great things about this resort, but to be honest I had reservations about staying here due to the aesthetic.
The resort is beautiful for sure, but when I looked at photos, I could not help but get that old plantation vibe from the grounds, which made me feel a little funny lol. I later found out that I was not the only person who shared this same sentiment. However, for anyone on the fence for those reasons, do not fear! The resort was great, and as usual, Disney does a phenomenal job with theming.
While there, I just felt like I was at Disney, and, they have a bunch of Tiana appreciation at this resort, which I loved. When I arrived at the front desk, they gave me a letter from Tiana, which was a cute touch! However, I do feel like they missed an opportunity, with not having a Tiana meet and greet or Princess and the Frog character meal. Maybe, they will add this in the future as they complete renovations at the resort!
Overall, I had a great time, but here are a few things to consider if you are interested in staying at Riverside.
Location: I am on the fence about whether or not this resort is in a great location. It really depends on what you like to do on your trip. Theoretically, I guess any resort on property is a great location, but there are a few shortcomings with staying here. Riverside is a Disney Springs area resort and this means you will have the easiest access to Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon. If you spend time in these areas frequently, this would be a great location. In addition, if you plan to leave property for anything, it is easier to access the outside world and get back quicker from this resort. However, it takes a little bit longer to get to the parks. In my opinion, it takes 2 years to get to Animal Kingdom from here! I’m exaggerating, but you get the point!
Dining: This resort offers a couple levels of dining to choose. Like all the other resorts, there is a food court with different options, called River Mill Food Court. The food court includes a grab and go section, with prepackaged options like salad and other snacks and drinks. You can also get snacks from Fulton’s, the merchandise shop. Boatwright’s Dining Hall, a table service restaurant, is available here too. They offer Louisiana inspired cuisine, so it keeps to the theming. Most days, it’s not hard to walk in and snag a table here, but reservations can be easily booked on My Disney Experience. For the adult crowd, the resort has River Roost Lounge, and Muddy Rivers, a poolside bar.
Complimentary Transportation: Buses are the primary mode of transportation here. In addition, a small riverboat drops off and picks up at Port Orleans French Quarter and Disney Springs. The boat ride is scenic and I would recommend using this transportation at least once.
Recreation: This resort has five great pools. The pool at Ol’ Man Island is the largest and includes a water slide. This typically is the busiest pool, so if you are looking for a quieter environment with less children, one of the other pools is a better option. This resort does not offer a fitness center, but there is a beautiful 1.5-mile running trail, and poolside yoga offered on Friday mornings.
During our stay, we were in one of the Royal Rooms in Parterre Place. The room was so beautiful and the Disney magic was there. I will say though, the room could use an update. Compared to the modernization in our last All-Star Movies stay, it was slightly lacking in a few areas. Parts of this resort are already undergoing renovations, so I imagine within the next year the Royal Rooms will be updated. The room only needed a some changes such as, additional electrical outlets and USB ports, a larger television, more storage space, and hardwood flooring. First world problems!
If you have been thinking of staying here, give it a shot. It will not disappoint.
As always thanks for reading!
Kirsten