Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside

Honeymoon Trip. 2nd time staying at this resort. Stayed this time in Aligator Bayou 39, previous stay was in Arcadian 85(?). Preferred the latter. Pros: - theming of the resort is stunning and doesn’t feel like you are in Disney (in a good way) - pool bar, try a margarita, you won’t regret it - hotel shop, great choice and wonderful cast members - the smell - a delight Cons: - the room could do with a refurb, just felt a bit tatty compared to 2022 - didn’t book a 5th sleeper but was assigned one which meant storage space was limited - the usb ports didn’t work and the plug sockets felt loose and wobbly - the boat was a nightmare this trip, constantly very very busy and the boats need upgraded. They are so loud and slow. It took an hour to get back from springs one night between an insane number of people queuing, to the boat captains faffing about having a chat for 10/15 mins to then the snails pace the boat went at. - busses were also a bit of a nightmare at times and we opted to just Uber back a few times as we waited upwards of 30 mins for a bus back from a park We are going to try a different resort for our next trip. Read less

We had just spent a week at CBR and found the transfer of our luggage flawless. Bell services (at both CBR and POR) are fantastic! We stayed in a 5th sleeper room in building 16 in Alligator Bayou. We were less than a 5 minute walk to the main facilities. ROOM PROs: We found it to be clean, comfortable and big enough for our family to stay in for 7 nights. Our 7 year old daughter loved the pull down child's bed which was the perfect size for her! And the queen beds are sooooo comfortable. ROOM CONs: It was a little dark, but I guess this is in part down to the more rustic styling. We were disappointed that most of the USB sockets didn't work, which was a pain for juggling recharging of phones and the kids iPads. The air conditioning unit and the overhead fan were both very noisy. We had an interconnecting door, and although it was locked, it meant we could hear a fair bit of noise from our neighbours. I know I sound like I'm being very negative about the room, but we had a split stay and had just come from a week at CBR staying in an Under the Sea room which for the same price felt far superior. I would say these rooms in Alligator Bayou are in need of renovation. Despite the room not being the best, every other aspect of our week at POR was incredible and I would 100% stay here again. The overall resort is stunning. The grounds are so well maintained, it really is such a relaxing, beautiful place to just walk around and soak it all in. The main pool area is great for families. It is well maintained, clean and has plenty of lifeguards on duty. We were always able to get sun loungers with shade. The quick serve restaurant is great with a good selection of 'safe' and more adventurous options. We loved taking the relaxing boat to DIsney Springs, and this is a huge perk of staying here. We loved our week at POR and would definitely stay here again. Finally, the cast members throughout are incredible! Read less

This resort is a 5 out of 5.., for being a moderate Disney resort you get all the creature comforts of home with an amazing amount of that Disney Magic. Resort itself is wonderfully laid out with thoughtful locations for food and pools. Our room was very clean and well maintained throughout our stay. The pool at French quarters was closed so they guests were coming to use the main pool at Riverside and although it was busy it was still okay, patience was a virtue while trying to locate a lounge chair. We have stayed at Saratoga springs which is walking distance to downtown Disney so we did loose that with this stay. So we took the water taxi down to Disney Springs, on the way home the wait was enormous to get a ride so we actually Uber’d back to the resort so we wouldn’t have to wait as we were getting close to bed time! Not a big deal as the taxi area was located close by and we were back to the resort in 15 minutes ! The resort as a whole will most definitely be on our list to return! We had a wonderful time! Read less

Giving the resort a generous 3 out of 5. Room is OK and cleaned well. Top tip ask for a daily towel change. Food is passable- less so if you have a gluten intolerance, just about everything thing comes in a gluten free bun that varies from soggy to solid. The rest of the food is OK although a bit canteen like. Transport between the resort and rest of Disney seems to be worse than any other resort. Usually count 2-3 buses to the one going to Port Orleans Riverside. In summary would avoid if I was coming back and stay at another resort. Read less

I’m not a Disney person and wasn’t expecting much. Or rather I had no idea what to expect. I often stay at very high end hotels (think $2k per night) but have discovered I’m raising entitled kids who think turn down service is standard and can’t understand the concept of a fridge in a hotel room that isn’t stocked with snacks and drinks. This means PO Riverside will be the nicest hotel my kids will experience for a while. I considered more expensive resorts and so glad I chose this one. The room was comfortable and clean, grounds very attractive, pool fit the bill, and transportation to the park was easy. I know many people suggest being on the monorail but is it really worth an extra $700 a day to save 25 minutes? Not for me. The bus was comfortable and seemed quick. Each day we arrived at the park for early entry and then came home in the afternoon for pool time. We often returned to the park in the evening and the bus situation never bothered me at all. In case it’s helpful the bellman can help escort you to your room and deliver your bags at any hour of the day or night. The dining hall food was GROSS. Worst omelet I’ve ever eaten. I decided on day two not to eat breakfast. I don’t understand why the food needs to be that bad. I hated the dining hall and felt like I was back in high school. I am southern and loved Boatwrights. The food was excellent and same with the cocktails. Don’t understand how the food there is great while the dining hall is gag worthy. If you’re European you’ll probably hate the AC units as they are loud. I think this doesn’t bother Americans as much. I know my European friends can’t seem to stand any climate control that makes noise. I consider it white noise. A lot of commenters suggest going to the pool at FQ. We did that and I didn’t think it was worth the effort. Similar water slide (maybe shorter?) and pool scene. Read less