Disney's Port Orleans Resort

Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside are a pair of resort hotels located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The two hotels are themed to look like New Orleans and the Old South. Both resorts are located in the Disney Springs area and owned and operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

Disney's Port Orleans Resort
LocationDisney Springs Resort Area
Resort typeModerate resort
OpenedFrench Quarter: May 17, 1991
Riverside: February 2, 1992
ThemeNew Orleans French Quarter, Antebellum South
AreasFrench Quarter, Magnolia Bend, Alligator Bayou
Rooms3056
SuitesRoyal Guest Room (Riverside)
Green lodgeYes

The two resorts are connected to each other and Disney Springs via the Sassagoula River. They are jointly the largest resort on the Walt Disney World property by room total, with over 3000 rooms between them. The Riverside section alone is the second-largest resort in Walt Disney World.

Resort description

History
Port Orleans Riverside room complex

Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter was designed to reflect the style and architecture of New Orleans' French Quarter.[1] The resort opened on May 17, 1991 as Disney's Port Orleans Resort with 432 guest rooms in three guest buildings, and expanded to its current 1,008 rooms in seven three-story guest buildings containing 144 rooms each.[2][3]

Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside was designed to reflect the antebellum south along the Mississippi River.[4] The resort opened on February 2, 1992 as Disney's Dixie Landings Resort, initially with rooms located in its Alligator Bayou section. Shortly afterward the remaining Magnolia Bend section was opened.[3] Alligator Bayou has 1,024 guest rooms over 16 buildings styled as rustic, weathered lodges, with 64 rooms per lodge. Magnolia Bend has 1,024 guest rooms over four buildings styled as southern plantation grand manor homes, with 256 rooms per mansion.[1]

Beginning March 1, 2001, road signage and other theming began to change, reflecting the Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Dixie Landings Resort properties becoming "regions" of a united Disney's Port Orleans Resort.[3] As of April 1, 2001, the regions became French Quarter and Riverside.[3] Changes leading up to and after this period included the French Quarter region losing Bonfamille's Cafe table-service restaurant, bike rentals, and boat rentals. French Quarter region guests had to use the larger facilities in the Riverside region. Bonfamille's Cafe is now only used occasionally as a meeting space for food and beverage management, and a training facility. Bonfamille's Cafe's kitchen is Disney World's test kitchen.[1] Other theme changes included Colonel's Cotton Mill food court becoming Riverside Mill.[1]

In 2011, Disney transformed about a quarter of the 2,000 rooms in the "Riverside" section of Disney's Port Orleans Resort into the "Royal Guest Rooms."[3][4][5]

On October 22nd 2019 Disney expanded their Mobile Food Ordering system, to a total of 35 Quick Service locations, including the Riverside Mill Food Court at Riverside and Sassagoula Soda Floatworks and Food Factory at Port Orleans. This system allows guests to use the My Disney Experience app to pre-order their food prior to arrival at the food court.

Recreation

Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside has a 3.5-acre (1.4 ha) recreation area called Ol' Man Island, which houses the resort's 158,000-US-gallon (600 kL) feature swimming pool with a large rustic saw-mill themed water slide and a hot tub. The island also contains a children's playground and the Fishin' Hole, where guests can rent cane fishing poles and bait for a small fee.

There are also five smaller "quiet" swimming pools at Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside, three located within the Alligator Bayou section, and two in the Magnolia Bend area. Riverside has a marina where guests can rent bicycles or surrey bikes. Rental of personal watercraft was discontinued in early 2014 from all Disney moderate-level resorts, including Riverside. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available in the evening.

Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter features the Doubloon Lagoon 225,000-US-gallon (850 kL) swimming pool, which has a sea serpent-themed water slide named Scales that is jockeyed by King Neptune. This area also includes a hot tub and a children's playground.

Dining

At Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside is the Riverside Mill Food Court, a quick service food location where guests can select an entree from several different counters. They offer create-your-own pasta, and salad entrees in addition to homestyle meals and burgers.

Boatwright's Dining Hall is a casual table service (sit-down) restaurant located at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort. It serves dinner only, and is famous for southern dishes such as jambalaya and Voodoo Chicken.

River Roost Lounge is located right outside of Boatwright's at Riverside and has live entertainment. It serves a wide variety of appetizers and alcoholic beverages.

Muddy Rivers Pool Bar is located on Ol' Man Island. Guests can purchase a great range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

In-room pizza delivery is also available at Port Orleans Riverside.

References
  1. "Port Orleans Fun Facts & Trivia". portorleans.org. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  2. "Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter". TouringPlans.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  3. "Port Orleans History". portorleans.org. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. "Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside". TouringPlans.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  5. "Port Orleans Riverside Royal Guest Rooms". portorleans.org. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
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