Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[rick1zoo2]

Last week we stayed in a Woods View room. I requested a newly refurbished room and we ended up in 9234 which was very nice and a great location part way between bridges. We very much enjoyed the resort, it’s laid back and relaxing. Already booked it for next year using the bounceback discount.

 

[yaksack]

Great pics rick1zoo2.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Are the Royal Rooms still in decent shape? There's availability at the end of April and I'm considering switching there. I think my daughter would love it but since there's no real idea of what they would look like refurbished or when they're going to be worked on I'm unsure.

We've stayed at French Quarter before but never Riverside, we are currently booked at VGF since we don’t use the extra evening hours I’m questioning if paying that much is worth it. My kid is 5 and all she really wants is a nice pool and water play area.

 

[andrewilley]

Are the Royal Rooms still in decent shape? There's availability at the end of April and I'm considering switching there.

They are due to be refurbished during the first three months of 2026, so if you go at the end of April you'll be one of the first few guests to stay in the new rooms.

Andre

 

[Wood Nymph]

Are the Royal Rooms still in decent shape? There's availability at the end of April and I'm considering switching there. I think my daughter would love it but since there's no real idea of what they would look like refurbished or when they're going to be worked on I'm unsure.

We've stayed at French Quarter before but never Riverside, we are currently booked at VGF since we don’t use the extra evening hours I’m questioning if paying that much is worth it. My kid is 5 and all she really wants is a nice pool and water play area.

My rule of thumb when traveling with young children is to make the adults happy. As you said, kids just want to swim.

VGF has a fantastic pool and water play area. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the resort, then this would be a really nice place to stay.

We love POR. The price is right, the food court is decent, the main pool is very nice and the boat to Disney Springs is a plus. The main pool has a small slide that is perfect for a five-year-old. We have stayed in the Royal Rooms once, and they are cute. But a child would lose interest in the cute features pretty fast.

As I said, make the adults happy. Plan the trip that makes the most sense for the adults.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

My goal is to make the "whole" family happy. When picking a resort, DW and I will narrow it down to a handful, covering the 3 resort levels and then we would have a whole family discussion to pick a resort. Over the past 5ish years, it has been very hard to even justify adding a deluxe to the list (and yes we spend time at the resorts we stay at).

POR-RGR - When our DD's were younger, we had to play the headboard fire works every night a few times before going to bed and never lost interest in the unique room features. We have stayed in the RGR 4 times now, including our last trip back in January, where both my DW and youngest DD did not want to stay in the newer looking rooms and wanted the RGR. LOL Each family is different on what's important to them.

 

[SwanVT2]

I have been reading that the AC units in standard AB rooms 5th sleeper are loud and have the turning off/on motion activated feature. Is this still the case? Is there a way to change the AC to be permanently on? I am concerned about it being disruptive to our sleep. Thank you!

 

[andrewilley]

Happy New Year everybody.

As previously indicated, from the 1st of January 2026, new simplified booking categories for the Port Orleans resorts have been implemented. The ability to book specific type views has been eliminated, replaced with Categories that specify general areas of the resort but which could overlook gardens/courtyards, the river, a pool... or a parking lot. If you'd prefer a specific view, you need to ask for it in advance as a Request (which is not guaranteed of course).

For Port Orleans Riverside you now have these five booking options:

• Standard Location (Magnolia Bend mansion buildings)
• Standard Location - 5th Sleeper (Alligator Bayou)
• Preferred Location (buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27, plus parts of mansion buildings 85 and 90)
• King Bed
• Royal Guest Room (mansion building 95)

All of the resort maps and building floorplans on my site have now been updated to reflect the new changes, including listing the new walk-in shower locations for both French Quarter and the three refurbished mansion buildings at Riverside. Please see my Room Categories and Locations page for more details.





Andre

 

[canofdice05]

So if I booked a preferred room and I want a remodeled room I should request a room in Magnolia Bend correct? Thanks!

 

[Ensusieasm]

So if I booked a preferred room and I want a remodeled room I should request a room in Magnolia Bend correct? Thanks!

Yes!

 

[kmg1107]

Booking for early April. Do we expect Standard rooms in MB to be updated by then?

 

[andrewilley]

Booking for early April. Do we expect Standard rooms in MB to be updated by then?

They were all done before Christmas.

Andre

 

[yaksack]

looking to order some food for the room. Can you fit a gallon of milk in the refrigerator? Wondering how small it is?

 

[nikmasteed]

Just dropping in to say we stayed at POR a few weeks ago for 2 nights and it really surprised me how much we loved it! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful grounds. Great feature pool and loved the main building with the mill wheel. Sassagoula River and the ferry boat= awesome. We were in Bldg #85 which was super convenient right by the bridge over to the island. The refurbished rooms are very nice.

Now we just need to make sure we find our way back here some day to try Boatwright's and do a carriage ride!

 

[Ensusieasm]

looking to order some food for the room. Can you fit a gallon of milk in the refrigerator? Wondering how small it is?

Not sure if a gallon would fit, but Wanted you to be aware that these are “coolers” not refrigerators. They don’t cool as well as a refrigerator, so they may not keep milk cold enough to prevent spoiling. You might be able to boost its cooling potential by adding some ziploc bags of ice to the cooler daily.

 

[Harmacist]

Just dropping in to say we stayed at POR a few weeks ago for 2 nights and it really surprised me how much we loved it! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful grounds. Great feature pool and loved the main building with the mill wheel. Sassagoula River and the ferry boat= awesome. We were in Bldg #85 which was super convenient right by the bridge over to the island. The refurbished rooms are very nice.

Now we just need to make sure we find our way back here some day to try Boatwright's and do a carriage ride!

We were in 85 in May. We thought it was a great location, close to a bus stop, close to the main pool, right next to quiet pool, and about as close to the lobby as some preferred rooms at the time. We were sad to hear that 1/2 the building is now preferred (I guess Disney caught on to its great location). We we still request it for our upcoming tip in July (standard room) and cross our fingers.

 

[andrewilley]

looking to order some food for the room. Can you fit a gallon of milk in the refrigerator? Wondering how small it is?

With some shelf rearrangement, yes. Alligator Bayou rooms still have the older mini-fridges rather than the new minibar-style "beverage coolers", which are a bit bigger and can fit more in. That will change when that section is refurbished starting later this year.

Andre

 

[SwanVT2]

Just dropping in to say we stayed at POR a few weeks ago for 2 nights and it really surprised me how much we loved it! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful grounds. Great feature pool and loved the main building with the mill wheel. Sassagoula River and the ferry boat= awesome. We were in Bldg #85 which was super convenient right by the bridge over to the island. The refurbished rooms are very nice.

Now we just need to make sure we find our way back here some day to try Boatwright's and do a carriage ride!

Thank you for the post! How was the AC unit? I have read mixed reports on their noise level, which is a concern for us.

 

[nikmasteed]

Thank you for the post! How was the AC unit? I have read mixed reports on their noise level, which is a concern for us.

I didnt notice any noise from the AC at all. It also might not have kicked in at all while we were there because they were colder days

 

[andrewilley]

I didnt notice any noise from the AC at all. It also might not have kicked in at all while we were there because they were colder days

You would have noticed if it had turned on, believe me.

Andre