Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside

Michael Millard

We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside for our 25th wedding anniversary, and it was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the Royal Rooms, and they truly felt magical—perfect for a special celebration. The theming was charming without being over-the-top, and the little details made it feel extra special. The resort itself is peaceful and scenic, with gorgeous walking paths and a relaxing atmosphere after long park days. We loved being able to take the boat to Disney Springs, which was both convenient and fun, and the bus transportation to the parks was easy and reliable. Everything about our stay felt thoughtful and well done. Port Orleans Riverside struck the perfect balance between Disney magic and calm comfort. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it—especially for anniversaries or special occasions.

Erminson Daniel Contreras Salazar

Our experience at this hotel was deeply disappointing and far below the standards one expects from a brand like Disney. We arrived on January 4th at 10:30 p.m., after spending the entire day visiting two parks, traveling with our three young children, all of whom were already asleep and completely exhausted. It is important to note that this day was also my daughter’s birthday, which made this moment especially meaningful for our family. From the very first interaction, the lack of service and empathy was evident. Upon arrival at the entrance, no one made the effort to open a door, despite the fact that there were three staff members outside and three inside, gathered and talking, showing no concern whatsoever for the guests who had just arrived. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and completely contrary to what Disney claims to represent in terms of hospitality and guest experience. The check-in process was cold and devoid of any human judgment. With no consideration for the late hour, the visible exhaustion of a family traveling with children, or even a basic gesture of hospitality, we were assigned one of the farthest rooms on the property: building 36, room 3619. No alternatives were offered, no questions were asked, and there was no attempt to ease our arrival. Absolutely zero empathy. I have over 20 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry, which makes this situation even more surprising and frustrating. This is not about requesting special treatment, but about basic common sense—understanding that the guest experience begins the moment a guest arrives, especially late at night and with children. What we experienced reflects a lack of leadership, insufficient training, and a complete disconnection from the concept of service. A brand like Disney should not allow situations like this to occur, as they seriously undermine the trust and family experience that the company actively promotes. Unfortunately, this hotel did not live up to its name or to the expectations it creates. I sincerely hope this review encourages a serious review of nighttime service protocols and, above all, staff attitude toward guests.

KC

I'll be honest, I'm a fan of Airbnb when going to the parks. I like having my own kitchen and not sharing a room with our two really young kids. We stayed at Art of Animation with friends a year ago and the room was tiny, everything was so far, it didn't feel convenient at all. Port Orleans was okay. The room was not serviced well. There were leftovers, milk, and juices in the fridge when we got there. I was impressed by the size of the room! It was great for us and our two kids. Our 5 year old did not like the drop down cot, but we had two queens and the crib so she gladly stayed in the 2nd queen. I also like that it didn't feel as spread out or as far apart as Art of Animation. I loved being able to take the ferry to Disney Springs. The schedule is wildly convenient and it was so easy to get to. The front desk was very helpful. And the cafeteria was also great for refilling water bottles the morning of or night before.

Sarah White

The ladies at reception were great. Walked us through check-in and did everything they could to ensure our 2 rooms were near each other on the 1st floor for mobility issues. The room was spacious enough to accommodate a mobility scooter. All the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. The resort is beautiful with easy access to the bus depot and boat dock. The food was some of the better we'd had on our trip. The Boathouse Restaurant was great. Our server ensured that we understood the dining plan and recommended delicious dishes. The Riverside Mill Food Court had great options too. I liked that the laundry area was close to our room (near a quiet pool).

Ben M

The room was very nice. I booked the upgraded room which included framed photos of various princesses and other princess related touches. The downside was the shower and the housekeeping. The shower had absolutely no water pressure whatsoever no matter what time we used the shower. Housekeeping is only done every other day. We were there for 5 days and the room was only made up one time! I used in in-room Disney Alexa device and requested additional towels and they never showed up. The walk to the South bus stop is pretty far. My guesstimate would be about 5 blocks