Whats the difference between a water view and standard view besides having a room that faces the pool/river? Are these hotels closer to the food court and bus stops?
Preferred rooms are closer to the main buildings, not necessarily water view rooms. All rooms are within a relatively short walk to a bus stop; there are 4 stops at riverside altogether.
You're right there is no preferred category, sorry about that. But actually they do have more than water and standard view. There is also a King Bed category. Granted its at the same price level as the Water View, but the website lists it as a different category.
The king room is king bed only. I don't know if there are king bed rooms that are waterview, but the two times we have stayed there in a king bed room there was nothing special about the view. That was once in Magnolia and once in Alligator.