Walt Disney World fans have been patiently waiting for the Port Orleans Resorts to reopen and it’s finally happening! Per the Disney Parks Blog, both the French Quarter and Riverside Resorts are reopening in October (just in time for the holidays)!
As we continue to take a measured and deliberate approach to reopening our Disney Resort hotels, we are happy to share we will start accepting bookings on July 8, 2021 for:
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside for arrivals beginning Oct. 14
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter for arrivals beginning Oct. 28
With this news, all Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be open by the end of 2021 and we look forward to welcoming more Guests to the magic over the next several months!
I stayed at Port Orleans Riverside during my last vacation to Walt Disney World and it was a really magical experience. The resort is so quiet and serene, and it transports you to a different time and place (which Disney is just so great at doing). In my opinion it really is one of the best moderately priced resorts at Walt Disney World! Plus, you can choose from Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter! Let’s take a closer look at what both of the resorts have to offer:
Port Orleans Riverside
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. From this resort you can take a short walk along the Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. This resort is dog friendly, has a really awesome pool, and some delicious dining!
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.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall
This is a really amazing spot to dine at the resort! Hanging lanterns illuminate the cavernous dining hall, and the skeletal hull of a lugger fishing boat is suspended on high as its centerpiece. You can warm yourself by the fire, kick back and relax, and take a closer look at the antique shipbuilding tools on the walls: C-clamps, saw blades, axes and more. Their Southern food offerings are out of this world with menu items such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Jambalaya, Shrimp and Grits, Ribs, and so much more! You can view the full menu here.
Accommodations
Here’s my favorite part-the rooms! Port Orleans Riverside offers the standard rooms, but they also offer Royal Guest Rooms. I had the chance to stay in one before back in 2019, and it’s one of the most amazing resort rooms I’ve ever stayed in! Aladdin’s magic carpet is printed into the actual carpet; all the Disney Princesses are framed at the back of the room; magical artwork hangs above your bed and at the touch of a button fireworks will go off within the picture. There’s even a note from Tiana herself waiting for you on the table as you walk in. I highly recommend the Royal Guest Room if you stay at Port Orleans Resort!
Port Orleans French Quarter
Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel. This really is a one-of-a-kind resort! Discover cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms, along with colorful Mardi Gras characters and the sounds of jazz. This resort really brings you to the heart and soul of New Orleans, like you really are in Louisiana. You can even stroll along the lushly landscaped Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, where the bayou beckons, as do Cajun and Creole specialties.
Pool with Waterslide
Over at the French Quarter, this resort also has a really cool waterslide at the Mardi Gras themed pool. King Neptune sits astride a giant sea serpent, “Scales,” and you can slide down his tongue for a splash landing.
Scat Cat’s Club
You can sip on the popular New Orleans Hurricane drink at the Scat Cat’s Club while listening to a Jazz band. The menu features items such as Crawfish Étouffée, Chicken and Waffles, Bayou Brisket Sliders, and more. This spot also has the popular Baton Rouge Beignets jazzed up with your choice of Baileys, Kahlúa, or RumChata! You can view the full menu here.
Other dining options at this resort include Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory and Mardi Grogs.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Relax on a horse-drawn carriage as you travel through delightful scenic landscapes along charming pathways and the banks of the Sassagoula River. You’ll board your horse-drawn carriage for a 25-minute ride at the Riverside Levee Marina at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Rides cost $55 and reservation are recommended. It is sure to be a really great way to see both the French Quarter and Riverside Resorts and will make a great memory for your vacation!
Both the Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter Resorts are both amazing spots to stay at and it’s really no surprise that these are both some of the most popular moderate resorts at Walt Disney World!
Here at the Kingdom Insider we have plenty of resources for you just a click away! We have an incredible team of dedicated Disney experts and Travel Planners at Academy Travel who are ready to help you plan out every detail of your vacation so you don’t have to worry!
Leave a Reply