An Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Port Orleans

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Interior of Royal Guest Room at Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside

Credit: Disney

If you are looking to book a stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, here is everything you should know.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

port orleans riverside
Credit: Disney

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is split into two hotels — Port Orleans Resort French Quarter and Port Orleans Resort Riverside. We have a complete guide to both Resort hotels, the amenities offered, and how you can book your next stay!

If you want to book a stay at the Walt Disney World Resort, start planning your magical vacation here.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter

port orleans french quarter lobby
Credit: Disney

Port Orleans Resort French Quarter brings classic New Orleans to Walt Disney World. This Moderate Resort hotel features beautiful magnolia blossoms planted along cobblestone streets and gas lamps, making Guests feel as though they are right in the middle of Mardi Gras.

Walt Disney World describes this Resort hotel as:

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel. Discover cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms, along with colorful Mardi Gras characters and the sounds of jazz. Then stroll along the lushly landscaped Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, where the bayou beckons, as do Cajun and Creole specialties.

Where is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter located?

Port Orleans Resort French Quarter is located near Disney’s Old Key West, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, and Disney Springs.

port orleans riverside exterior
Credit: Disney

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter review

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter has received excellent reviews from Guests as it currently has a 4.6 star review on Google. Buck H. writes:

This is a wonderful resort. We stayed here for a week the staff was helpful and friendly. It’s a short boat ride to Disney Springs for all kinds of food and shopping. And it’s fairly close to the parks. It was not over crowded here it was quite relaxing. The pool is nice they do have a hot tub to help easy the muscle pains from all the walking you do in the parks.

And Jeremy W. said:

I had a great experience here!! Coming out of Covid leaves things to be desired, but I also understand protecting everyone as well! Accommodations were on point, everything was clean and the food was always hot and delicious! I love coming to Disney World and this is one of my all time favorite resorts on the property!! I will definitely be back!!!

port orleans french quarter entrance
Credit: ITM

Another Disney Guest, Darren, posted a review saying:

Port Orleans French Quarter is a moderately priced hotel on Walt Disney World property. Most rooms have 2 queen size beds and can sleep a maximum of 4 guests. Rooms are accessible via outdoor corridors.

As one of the smallest resorts at Walt Disney World, everything is conveniently located: pool, dining, lobby and bus depot. Free boat transportation is offered to Disney Springs, Disney’s shopping and dining district. Port Orleans French Quarter is also close to Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme parks.

Most experienced Disney vacationers consider POFQ to be a best of the best Disney World hotel.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside

port orleans riverside lobby
Credit: Disney

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside is a sister Resort to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter. Riverside brings the bayou to Disney World Guests as the Resort hotel features “romance of rural Louisiana.”

Walt Disney World describes this Resort hotel as:

From the stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to Alligator Bayou’s quaint backwoods cottages, delight in a picturesque setting that evokes the romance of rural Louisiana. Take a short walk along the Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, known for Southern specialties like gumbo, jambalaya and beignets.

Interior of Royal Guest Room at Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Credit: Disney

This Resort hotel offers newly renovated Royal Guest Rooms, themed to Disney’s animated film, The Princess and the Frog (2009). These fully refurbished rooms “boast fun regal touches from Tiana and her prince and princess pals”, according to Disney.

If you want to book a stay at Disney’s Port Orleans to check out one of these newly renovated Royal Guest Rooms, start planning your magical vacation here.

Where is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside located?

Port Orleans Resort Riverside is also located near Disney’s Old Key West, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, and Disney Springs.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside review

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside has received excellent reviews from Guests as it also currently has a 4.6 star review on Google. Harold H. writes:

This place is Amazing. My wife and I came down to celebrate Christmas with the family and my grandsons birthday. My son brought a small Christmas 🎄 and with such Beautiful rooms themed in my grandchild’s favorite movie, princess and the frog 🐸. They staff was friendly and helpful. To stay in a place where the attention to details is mind blowing. My grandson caught a fish at the fishing hole and that memory is priceless so thank you for that. The restaurants were a great place to eat. I would love to stay again because it has so much to do and not enough time.

And Wes L. said:

Disney Port Orleans Resort is a great place to stay. We stayed in the Disney princess rooms. They were decorated beautifully. The rooms were clean and easy to get to. The courtyards were wide and grand with fountains and large Live Oak trees. The whole area was well maintained. The staff were polite, helpful and attentive. The one issue that arose several times was that the bus to the resorts and parks were chronically late, so this is more a problem with transportation. Overall, the stay was very good.

Phil M. also gave a 5-star review, writing:

Spent 10 nights here in early November and loved it! It’s a beautiful resort with good trails to walk, great bus service (multiple bus stops!) to the parks and Disney springs, staff was super friendly, and rooms were gorgeous.

I will say that if you’re on ground level, expect the occasional bug to sneak in, if at all. Also, doors weren’t very soundproofing so we could hear people (and kids screaming) beyond our door in the mornings especially, but all in all it was a fantastic stay!

Perks of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

port orleans riverside pool
Credit: Disney

What amenities does Disney’s Port Orleans Resort offer?

Pools at Disney’s Port Orleans

Both Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside offer unique, one-of-a-kind pools. The Riverside pool is described as:

Pool with Waterslide

Cross the bridge to a 3-plus acre hideaway with an old-fashioned swimmin’ hole and sawmill slide.

Inspired by the story of Tom Sawyer, Ol’ Man Island even features a catch-and-release fishing hole and stories told around an evening campfire. The nearby Muddy Rivers pool bar and a hot tub provide fun for grown folks.

While the French Quarter pool is described as:

Parade around this Mardi Gras-themed pool area where King Neptune sits astride a giant sea serpent. Scale “Scales,” as he’s affectionately known, and slide down his tongue for a splash landing. Jazz-loving gators and clamshell water features add more poolside panache while a hot tub and the nearby Mardi Grogs pool bar let the good times roll.

port orleans pool
Credit: Disney

Scat Cat’s Club

At French Quarter, be sure to check out Scat Cat’s Club — where Guests can indulge on iconic beignets while enjoying a full service bar while listening to classic jazz music. According to Disney:

Tap your toes to some swingin’ jazz and enjoy a full service bar featuring Southern-inspired specialty cocktails, craft beer and appetizers.

Dine on delectable beignets at this location just outside the Scat Cat’s Club Lounge.

Swing on by any time from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily for coffee drinks and tasty treats. You can enjoy specialty and Mickey-shaped beignets all year long! Favorites include the Baton Rouge Beignets, jazzed up with your choice of Bailey’s, Kahlua or RumChata.

Festive, limited-time beignets will also be available to brighten your holiday season!

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides

carriage rides disney world
Credit: Disney

If you are looking for something unique, be sure to take one of Disney’s rustic carriage rides alongside the Sassagoula River!

Disney states:

Take in rustic beauty as you travel along charming pathways and the banks of the Sassagoula River.

Schedule & Pricing

You’ll board your horse-drawn carriage for a 25-minute ride at the Riverside Levee Marina at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Carriages fit up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 small children.

Each horse-drawn carriage ride costs $55. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Learn more about how far in advance reservations can be made. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

How to book Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

port orleans beignets
Credit: Disney

If you need help planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, the Authorized Planners at Academy Travel have you covered! Academy Travel has earned the highest designation that Disney can bestow upon a travel agency, EarMarked Diamond.

As long as you book your trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can rest assured that you will be working with an agency that Disney has vetted and is willing to associate their brand with that agency due to the knowledge and service level you will find at that particular agency.

Ready to find out what your dream vacation will cost? Click here to get a free no-obligation quote.

port orleans trundle bed
Credit: Disney

If you are looking for guides to other Walt Disney World Resort hotels, check these out:

port orleans food
Credit: Disney

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort? Let us know if you like French Quarter of Riverside better in the comments below.

If you want to visit Walt Disney World on your next family vacation to experience the four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — but aren’t sure where to begin planning, then don’t hesitate to reach out to our friends over at the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Academy Travel for a free quote.

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