well... as you can tell from my sig... we love riverside.
It has a relaxing type of theme. A southern new orleans, "Mark Twain/Davie Crockett" feel to it.
Connected to building with check in and the gift shop is a bar, where there is a guy that is there at night during the week where he sings and plays on an animated type piano (it lifts off of the ground and sways from side to side), and he gets the audience involved in his act.
It is really hysterical to watch. When you get there, if ask the cast members at check in what times that he is there, so you may want to catch it.
Connected to the bar is Boatwright's Dining hall. I haven't eaten there, but have heard from some other dis'er's that it is good.
Just outside of the building in view from the food court is part of the river, where you can rent paddle boats, bicycles, etc. or if you would like to go to downtown disney, you can take the ferry boat there. it is very convient, and at night, very peaceful.
As far as rooms go... it depends on what you are looking for... we've stayed in both section types.
convience? Try to ask for building 14, being that you guys can be considered a "Magical Gatherings" group, they may automatically place you there. In order for them to know that you are Magical Gatherings, you need to be booked that way by placing the reservations for all 14 of you at once, not separately. Building 14 is right next to everything. Building 18 is also right next to everything, it is on the other side of 14. But it is surrounded by other buildings in a way that no matter where you are placed in that building, you will not get a room with a parking lot view. Only a garden view or a water view. These buildings are in the Aligator Bayou section of the resort. The rooms are the same, just decorated differently. And rooms in this section automatically come with a trundle bed (a roll out bed).
if you would like something with a more "romantic" touch to it, then ask for a building in the Mansion Manors, or the Magnolia Bend section. These look more like colonial mansions on the outside, with a different decor on the inside. They are on the other side of the river. Building 90, would be the closest to the food court etc. Also, rooms here do not come with a trundle bed. You can ask for one if you wish, but it is extra. (don't know why??
)
If you want specific building requests, you need to ask to put it on your reservation as a side note, then call the resort about 3-4 days before your trip. This is when they begin filling up the rooms in advance. They try to place the large parties first, then the smaller ones.
Everynight at 7pm there is a campfire at a site behind the main pool with the slide, where they roast marshmellows and smores, and sing songs. Someone once told me that depending on the ages of the children that end up having to some to the fire on each particular night, they'll tell ghost stories too, unless there are objections. last time that i was there they weren't doing this... someone at the front desk told me that they usually do this during peak seasons... since that should be around summer... ask about it when you check in.
I don't know if anyone in your group are into fishing, but there is a "catch and throw" fishing area. Where you can rent rods and bait and fish, or learn to fish.
There are horse carriage rides there as well. Not sure how far they will take you, but they depart from the area where you can rent paddle boats.
The pools there are nice. There are "quiet" pools, that are placed all around the resort, so the "main" pool called "ol' man island" doesn't get too packed. These pools do not have life guards, but the main one does. At the main one, there is a slide, a hot tub, and a kiddy pool for the little ones, like my godson. There is also a bar near the main one too.
Here is a great site that I have found useful for looking at some disney resorts. The phone number for the resort is listed on here too. They have pictures of almost every area around the resort, and images of the resort map, menus with prices from the food court, boatwrights, the bar, etc. so you have an idea of how much things cost, or get an idea of what they serve there...
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/dxl.html
Sorry this is sooo long, but you got me started on talking about our second home. if there are any more questions, please feel free to ask...
good luck, and have fun!
Jen
