What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

[CowofDisney]

Well as the topic implies, i am wondering what everyone think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

We are planning a vacation and we can only go if it is under $4000 including air for five people. Somehow this was the only resort on site that we could manage that and now we are just wondering what people think of the hotel?

Any thing is good Whats dking like how nice are the room and is the pool any good. Stuff like that.

Thanks in advance

[Melonballer]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

I like the resort. I posted a thread with picuters of it from 1999 here somewhere, though I referred to it under its old name Dixie LAndings. Anyways, it can get very peaceful and beautiful at night. There are all of theses canals you can walk around.

[mikeland]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

POR is my favorite moderate resort. I've always stayed in the Aligator Bayou section, which are the rooms that fit 5 people. The pool area - Old Man Island - is very nice as it the food court restaurant. You can walk down the river to POFQ and also take a boat to DTD.

[scrappinsandie]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Its my families favourite too. I have already made our reservations for next August! We like the mansions but they only sleep four so won't work for you. The grounds are beautiful, especially at night. You can get the boat to Downtown Disney, the pool is cool.

Our only concern last time (December 2003) was at dinner time it took a loooooong time to get food at the food court.

Sandie

[MickeyMania]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Are you planning to use the pool? Want to have sit-down food at the hotel? Go POR, I feel the bayou rooms are ugly but the hotel amenities in general (shared with POFQ, although I found it was quite a walk between them) are above average.

Don't care about on-site hotel facilities and plan just to fall down there when not at the parks? go ASMu Family Suite.

[CowofDisney]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

actually this was cheaper when we priced it ou t that AsM's family suite (go figure)
And th website says it sleeps five with a trundle bed so that is what were going to do

[BackIntoYourSystem]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Renting the boats is very fun! You can drive them and see the Magic Kingdom. And the pools are nice. Overall a great place to stay.

[CowofDisney]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Thanks so much guy and gals i really appreciate the help in planning a visist

[ti2gr]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Renting the boats is very fun! You can drive them and see the Magic Kingdom. And the pools are nice. Overall a great place to stay.

Port Orleans isn't anywhere near the Magic Kingdom, so I don't know what boats they were renting.

Overall Port Orleans is an excellent place. I stayed there when it was called Dixie Landings and we staued in the Mansion section. As far as landscaping and the grounds are concerned, Port Orleans is the most beautiful of all the resorts.

[NVLAV8R]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

That trundle bed is a little on the small side. Anybody over 5 feet tall will not enjoy sleeping on it.

Everything else folks have already said about this place I pretty much agree with. We stayed there last August and are staying there again this December. Our family really digs this place.

[BackIntoYourSystem]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Port Orleans isn't anywhere near the Magic Kingdom, so I don't know what boats they were renting.

You cant drvie them directly right up in front of it. I meant you can drive them through the Seven Seas Lagoon and see some of it. From afar of course.

[revol yensid]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

You cant drvie them directly right up in front of it. I meant you can drive them through the Seven Seas Lagoon and see some of it. From afar of course.

I'm pretty sure the waterway the Port Orleans is on only goes past the French Quarter, the old Tree Houses, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and ends at Downtown Disney. The Seven Seas Lagoon in front of the Magic Kingdom is it's own thing for the Polynesian, Contemporary, and some others.

Anyway...

I stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside near the end of September, when all the annoying love bugs were out, so hopefully for your stay you won't have a bunch of attached bugs flying in your face while you wait at the bus stop or do anything in the parks. Moving on, I enjoyed my stay at the Port Orleans Riverside, it was well manicured and looked really clean. The private pools were nice and the spa on Ol' Man Island was good too. I stayed in the Magnolia Terrace Mansion just on the opposite bank of the Sassagoula River from the main lobby so the bus was convenient (even though it was about a 5 minute walk). There are a bunch of stops around the entire resort, so if you are in Alligator Bayou the South, West and North depots will probably be closest, but the main one is the South one and has buses come more often (not all of them go all the way around...I never figured out how they decide that). Here are a bunch of pictures.

Where you'll be dropped off if you take Magical Express or the like.

The main lobby building with the food court, shop, and restaurant as seen from the ferry boat to Downtown Disney.

A horse and buggy you can spend money on for a ride.

View from one of the bridges of the marina area.

Over the bridge looking down the Sassagoula River

The ferry to Downtown Disney (passing the French Quarter)

The Magnolia Terrace mansion our room was in.

Most of our room.

One of the private pools.

My only picture of one of the Alligator Bayou section's buildings.

Well, all I can say is either request a room close to the lobby, otherwise you might be in for a long walk. The resort is VERY large. Also, be sure to keep in mind transportation (as efficient as it is) takes a long time. Allow 45 minutes to get to a park from your room. You'll have to wait for a bus and then it takes 15-20 minutes in transit and then you have to get to the park entrance. It's still more convenient than having to think about driving through the maze there in my opinion. That should be about it! It's a great great resort as long as you aren't looking for (or wishing to pay for) too many amenities like the Deluxe ones have. Have a great trip!

[winniepooh]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

We stayed there in may and really liked it. Nice and quiet.

[Loomis]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

I'm starting to rethink my master plan (Contemporary/AKL split stay) after reading this thread.

I've had it in the back of my mind to stay at one of the PO hotels. I ultimately dismissed it because we'll actually be visiting the real New Orleans on our next US trip (fingers crossed after the last attempt).

How easy is it to get to the parks from there? In particular, MGM and AK? Would anybody recommend this for convenience, or more for the design?

Thanks in advance...

[CowofDisney]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Thanks so much you all have been so helpful
Unfortuneatly the trip in January may not actauly be happening (conflicts at home with school activities for my brother)
BUt i will still hope and keep you informed
But i will keep this in mind for our next trip!

[revol yensid]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

How easy is it to get to the parks from there? In particular, MGM and AK? Would anybody recommend this for convenience, or more for the design?

This resort is a bit out of the way from the parks, but Downtown Disney is really convenient. It was nice to get home from the parks and then take the boat to Downtown Disney to finish the night (since the parks closed so early). I think any resort takes a while to commute to AK except for AKL. The Contemporary is nice since it's on the Monorail loop to MK and you can transfer to Epcot. I like the convenience of the Polynesian most though, where you can walk straight to the Epcot Monorail or take the Resort Monorail to MK. Then you are just left with busses for AK and MGM, which you almost always have to take busses to anyway.

[danyoung]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

I'm pretty sure the waterway the Port Orleans is on only goes past the French Quarter, the old Tree Houses, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and ends at Downtown Disney.

That's correct. You can rent boats at the Magic Kingdom area hotels (Contemporary, Poly, GF, Wilderness Lodge) and putter right up to the Magic Kingdom. But the boats you rent at Riverside will only take you to down a channel and out around Downtown Disney. Still a pretty cool boat ride, though!

[herb2linda]

PO French Quarter transportation is alittle better then Riverside. Reason being, 1st pick up 1st drop off. Once your picked up at French Quarter the bus goes to at least 3 maybe 4 (don't remember) stops at Riverside. I saw many unhappy people at Riverside. If your on the 2nd stop and on you might just have to wait awhile.

[WashingtonIrving]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Nice pics, Revol. Port Orleans -- either side of it -- remains one of my very favorite Disney resorts (it was where we stayed this past April, in fact). I like the pool at Riverside (Old Man Island) a little better than the jazz-themed one at French Quarter, although I prefer the food court at French Quarter. Still, Boatwrights remains one of my favorite places in the World to eat, so I give the edge to Riverside, all things being equal. It's also a really nice place to just walk.

As for the bus issue, I don't remember it being THAT much of a problem. We tended to board at the East Depot, though, which was one of the first POR stops, but never found it that crowded (my only complaint was that they never seemed to be running buses for Epcot!!)

[MiklCraw4d]

Re: What do ya'll think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

Well as the topic implies, i am wondering what everyone think about Port Orleans - Riverside?

It's my favorite moderate resort, although I insist on calling it Dixie Landings still

The food court is good by Disney hotel standards, and the full-service restaurant is oft-overlooked but good as well. The pools are nice, and the theming is great. Enjoy the trip!