Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort (formerly known as Dixie Landings) is one of a pair of Moderate Resorts in the Downtown Disney Resort Area, the other being the adjoining Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and both are close to Downtown Disney and Epcot.

Rating: 3 stars
Rooms: 2048 rooms
Rates: from $149 to $249 Check rates

Address: 1251 Riverside Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Downtown Disney
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

You can use the complimentary ferryboats along the Sassagoula River to reach the Downtown Disney Area.

Waterways and winding pathways connect the two resorts which take their inspiration from the Louisiana of Mark Twain and riverboats on the Mississippi around New Orleans and Nachez.

The Port Orleans Riverside Resort is built along the waterfront of the Sassagoula River and the check-in is even designed to look a little like a steam paddle boat.

With over 2,000 rooms this is a very large resort and it can take quite a while to get around particularly if you are located away from the central area. What is more, the buses pick up from the French Quarter first so can get packed at busy times. The same goes for the restaurants with so many people on site.

The accomodation is themed on either Southern antebellum style three-storey mansions with two-storey wings at Magnolia Bend or country style two-storey rustic lodges at Alligator Bayou all set amongst beautiful trees. Note that there are no elevators (or alligators !!) at Alligator Bayou.

Despite appearances, both styles of property are motel type hotels with exterior corridors.

Transportation to the Disney theme parks and water parks is by Disney motor coach.

Rooms

Standard rooms are around 314 square feet and will sleep 4 (plus a baby in a crib). Most rooms come with two double beds though rooms with a single king-size bed are available. An additional rollaway/trundle bed can be obtained for a nightly charge at the Alligator Bayou.

There are two types of room; Standard View and Waterside View which overlook one of the pools or the Sassagoula River.

Dining

The Boatwright's Dining Hall, which is styled like a shipbuilders warehouse, offers full table service with lots of home-style cooking. This restaurant is also used by guests from the nearby Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.

The Riverside Mill Food Court is set inside a working cotton press complete with 32-foot water wheel and offers Cajun delights as well as American cuisine and packaged snack food. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.

The River Roost is a lounge with live entertainment most nights and serves snacks and light refreshements from late afternoon until midnight.

Recreation

There is a choice of five heated outdoor swimming pools located at Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend and the Muddy Rivers Pool Bar which is open from late morning until dusk serving snacks and refreshments. You can also swim at the pool on Ol' Man Island which also has a spa, rope swings, a waterslide, and a childrens play area but it tends to be busier than the other pools.

If that is not enough, guests can also access the Doubloon Lagoon over at the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. Bicycles and a variety of watercraft can be rented from the Riverside Levee to explore the local area or you can take advantage of the 0.7 mile jogging trail along the riverside.

In the evening you can take a horse drawn surrey carriage around the grounds.

If you like fishing then you can enjoy yourself at the Fishin' Hole at Ol' Man Island. Here you can catch catfish, bass and blue gill but you have to put them back.

The hotel also has an amusement arcade, the Medicine Show Arcade, where the children can play a variety of video and pinball games.

Amenities

The hotel offers a number of amenities including:

• limited room service
• concierge desk
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• in room pizza delivery from the Sassagoula Pizza Express
• free parking
• iron, ironing board and wall safe
• coffee/tea maker
• dual pedestal sinks and hair dryer
• voice mail, dial-up internet access (charge applicable)
• refrigerator
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• plus the Fultons General Store where you can buy groceries and gifts