Port Orleans News

The February 2017 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.

The main feature swimming pools are currently 10am—8pm, which will be extended to a 9pm closing time from February 12th. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside quiet pools are generally available at any time (within reason). The evening campfires are scheduled for 5pm—6pm, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm, with both activities occurring on alternating days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.

The Valentine's Day movie will be Cinderella (animated), presented at Port Orleans French Quarter only

From noon—1:30pm daily there will be Arts & Crafts Activities, and on select days there will be Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration at 2pm (payment is required for all of these activities). See Resort Lobby signage or a Recreation Cast Member for details.

The format of the Recreation Calendar handouts changed at the end of 2016, with all of the activities for each resort now listed on one side only (a resort map is printed on the back).


Live Evening Entertainment

No visit to Port Orleans Riverside would be complete without spending an evening in the company of the legendary “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson at the River Roost Lounge, playing 8:30pm—midnight four nights a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

Port Orleans French Quarter’s Scat Cat’s Club does not currently have official resident musicians, but filling the gap admirably are Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, two members of the fabulous Off Kilter rock band which used to perform in Epcot’s Canada pavilion. Occasionally when one of the boys is not available, Greg Hayworth (from Mulch, Sweat & Shears) will sit in. The dates are only announced a month or so in advance (generally most Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays) but if you happen to be around for any of their evenings (8:30pm—11pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended.

Jason & Billy at Scat Cat’s: February 4, 6, 7*, 12, 13*, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21*, 25 [TBC], 26, 27 & 28*. Note: Jason will be playing with Greg Hayworth* on February 7, 13, 21 & 28.

I've just had official confirmation that the French Quarter "Doubloon Lagoon" swimming pool and the new children's Aquatic Play Area will both be closed for routine maintenance next week, starting on Monday 9th January for approximately five days. Given that this sort of work requires significant advanced planning, and that the dates had already been included in recent press/travel agent information, it seems strange that paying guests are only now being informed about it.

The following communication will be provided in-room for guests staying at the resort:

Starting Monday 1/9/17 French Quarter Doubloon Lagoon Pool and Aquatic Play Area will be closed for cleaning and Maintenance. The French Quarter hot tub will remain open throughout the refurbishment. During this time Guests may see or hear work in progress.

We invite French Quarter Guests to make a splash at the Ol’ Man Island Pool, or any of the five leisure pools, located throughout Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Recreation activities will also be available in the courtyard near the lobby at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter.

For Guests’ convenience the following transportation options will be available during the closure:

• Golf Cart Transportation, from 10:00am-8:00pm, at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will be located in the courtyard near the Resort Lobby and at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside at the leisure pool between Buildings 80 and 85.
• Internal Bus transportation is available to Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside during pool operating hours.
• Boat transportation to Disney Port Orleans – Riverside operates from 10:00am-4:00pm.

We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience. Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, our Front Desk Cast Members will be happy to assist you.

The January 2017 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.

Some websites are reporting a few pool refurbishment closures this month but I haven’t had any official confirmation of these dates as yet so don’t be surprised if they change:
French Quarter, Doubloon Lagoon pool: Jan 9-13
Riverside, Magnolia Bend quiet pool: Jan 23-25

For the next few months, the main feature swimming pools will be operating their winter hours of 10am—8pm. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are now gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside quiet pool are not locked so you can use these pools at any time (within reason). The evening campfires are scheduled for 5pm—6pm, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm, with both activities occurring on alternating days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.

From noon—1:30pm daily there will be Holiday Crafts (paid activities) including Create Your Own Picture Frame, No Sew Pillows, Create Your Own Countdown Plaque, Create Your Own Map Coasters or Ornaments, and Character Fuse Beads. See Resort Lobby signage or a Recreation Cast Member for details.

The format of the Recreation Calendar handouts changed at the end of 2016, with all of the activities for each resort now listed on one side only (a resort map is printed on the back).


Live Evening Entertainment

No visit to Port Orleans Riverside would be complete without spending an evening in the company of the legendary “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson at the River Roost Lounge, playing 8:30pm—midnight four nights a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Note: Bob was off work for a couple of days at the end of December following a minor car accident, but he was back in time for the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Hope you’re feeling better Bob!

Port Orleans French Quarter’s Scat Cat’s Club does not currently have official resident musicians, but filling the gap admirably are Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, two members of the fabulous Off Kilter rock band which used to perform in Epcot’s Canada pavilion. Occasionally when one of the boys is not available, Greg Hayworth (from Mulch, Sweat & Shears) will sit in. The dates are only announced a month or so in advance (generally most Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays) but if you happen to be around for any of their evenings (8:30pm—11pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended.

Jason & Billy at Scat Cat’s: January 1, 2, 3*, 7, 8, 9*, 10, 15, 16, 17*, 21, 22, 23*, 24, 28, 29, 30* & 31. Note: Jason will be playing with Greg Hayworth* on January 3, 9, 17, 23 & 30.

Port Orleans Riverside's legendary entertainer "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson has reported via Facebook that he has been involved in a minor car accident (rear-end shunt). He is apparently OK, but will be off work for a couple of days and is hoping to be back in time for the New Year's Eve bash.

Our thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery Bob - and don't overdo the jumping around on your first day back!

[Update: Bob was back at the Port on December 30, thank goodness the accident wasn't more serious]

Christmas at Port Orleans has traditionally been a time filled with extra fun and activities, especially for the children, but this year’s plans seem somewhat more muted. Indeed, the cynics amongst us might even go so far as to say Scrooge-like given the exorbitant room-rates that are charged during this period (between $300 and $376 per night for a Moderate resort!). This year's special activities appear to consist broadly of the same content that would be provided at any other time, albeit with a Holiday overlay.

From what we’ve been told so far, there will be no pre-Christmas holiday singers in the lobbies [Update: see below], no Santa or Disney Character greetings on Christmas Eve, and not even the annual Gingerbread House competition appears in the lists. There won’t even be a campfire or movie featured at Riverside on Christmas Day this year; to find those, you’ll need to head over to French Quarter just like any other regular Sunday — and even the movies are the same titles that are being shown at weekends during the rest of the month.

Hopefully some of these perennially popular guest favourites might still turn up, but so far it looks as though the same bean-counters who so heavily trimmed back on the annual Mardi Gras celebrations this year may also have pulled the budget out from under Disney’s Christmas Magic too.

Christmas Eve

• 1:00pm—2:45pm Holiday Themed Poolside Activities
• 3:30pm—4:30pm Holiday Craft: Character Fuse Beads ($)
• 5:30pm—6:30pm Campfires
• 7:00pm Movies (Riverside: Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas / French Quarter: The Santa Clause)

• 1:00pm—2:45pm Holiday Themed Poolside Activities
• 3:30pm—4:30pm Holiday Craft: No Sew Holiday Pillows ($)
• 5:30pm—6:30pm Campfire (French Quarter only)
• 7:00pm Movie (French Quarter only, The Nightmare Before Christmas)

• 6:30pm—7:30pm Campfire
• 7:30pm—8:30pm Craft: Make your own Toast Glass, sparkling cider included ($)
• 9:00pm—12:30am New Year’s Eve Event, including: Sparkling Cider Toast, Games, Giveaways, DJ, Mickey Tie Dye ($), Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve viewing