River Roost Lounge Bar

UPDATE: Post-COVID Reopening Information, October 2021

The River Roost Lounge reopened on 14th October 2021, and to everyone’s delight “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson was back on stage at 8:30pm that very same evening after what had turned out to be a break of 19 months. The lounge was packed to (and perhaps beyond) capacity, with many people staking out their tables from as early as 10am. Multiple live streams were broadcast from the show, with probably the best being Cory Meets World which you can view again on his YouTube Channel along with lots of other material from around the resort.

A short while before the show, Bob let his followers know that Disney has placed some temporary COVID-related restrictions on the content of the show:

I am very grateful to be returning to the stage at Disney tonight but there are some big restrictions on what I can perform. I've been instructed not to perform any sing-along music, and not to encourage anyone to sing along. I'm not to get anyone up and moving around the room. These are restrictions due to Covid and masks. Hopefully, these restrictions are only temporary and will be lifted in the near future as we get through the pandemic.

Those of you at home can sing along, but those in the audience at the Port might be disappointed not to hear their old favorites from the show.

As you can imagine, I've been scrambling the last day and a half to write another show! Thanks to you and your many requests over the last 17 months, I have plenty of new material to pick from. You'll still be able to hear your favorites every Sunday night at our weekly sing-along show. Wish me luck tonight, I'm going to need it! We ain't scared!!!

 
River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside

River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside

Discover the Port Orleans Backstory...

Curl up in one of the overstuffed chairs next to the fireplace, or belly up to the bar — the River Roost is the place to gather for an ice-cold beer, Southern-style specialty drinks and the best appetizers this side of Sassagoula. Sip a Hurricane, Sassagoula Sunset or Bayou Bloody Mary as you soak up the riverside romance, this is a great place to grab a nightcap after an exciting day exploring the parks.

A large screen TV is available for sports events/etc.

Disney’s “Tables in Wonderland” discount card is accepted at this location.

Opening Hours: 5pm — midnight (opens earlier when the pool bar is closed due to inclement weather).
Note: Over Christmas 2016, the bar hours were extended to a 1am closing time, however this was at the bartender’s discretion depending on trade.

The Home of “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson

Playing at the River Roost Lounge on Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 8:30pm until a little before midnight is the famed “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson (who you can follow on Facebook). Bob performs a very popular piano sing-along comedy show with lots of audience participation for all the family to enjoy. I’d suggest getting there a bit early to grab the best seats — Bob will usually be hanging around before the show getting to know the evening’s audience, so do let him know if you’re celebrating something, on your honeymoon, or just want to request a song. Note: the entertainment can be quite loud and boisterous, so if you’re looking for a more relaxing or intimate quiet drink then you might prefer to visit the lounge on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday instead.

Ye Haa Bob Jackson. No one has more fun than his River Roost audience

Ye Haa Bob Jackson. No one has more fun than his River Roost audience

Surprisingly when Bob first started playing at what was then referred to as the Cotton Co-Op on 4th May 1997, the location was not especially well-known as a nighttime entertainment venue, filled mainly with weary tourists relaxing after a long day at the parks, or guests waiting for their reservations at the nearby Boatwright's Dining Hall. However Bob saw the potential to turn the lounge into a lively destination attraction, and his dueling piano background, which necessitated getting people up on their feet and singing along, gave him the experience needed to bring the same vibe and energy to his new home.

Two decades later, and now an official Walt Disney Legacy Award recipient, “Ye Haa” Bob is still wowing the crowds with his zany mixture of toe-tapping, sing-a-long standards, and increasingly frequent Disney classics performed in his own inimitable and enormously energetic style. His shows attract a multi-generational crowd from babes-in-arms to octogenarians, all of whom are encouraged to join in the fun, and his amazing memory comes to the fore as he interacts with his audience members by name.

Away from the Port, Bob is a talented musician and composer in his own right. He began playing piano from a very early age, and was a music composition major at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He has also worked at many other locations around Orlando (such as Rosie O'Grady's at the new-defunct Church Street Station, SeaWorld, and Universal's CityWalk) and around Walt Disney World (including the Diamond Horseshoe Revue in the Magic Kingdom). Bob has recorded at least ten CDs (available from www.yehaabob.com) including collections of his own original material. He also regularly performs at local churches and for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at the wish-fulfilling "Give Kids the World" village.

As Bob so often says at his shows, "no one has more fun than us," and given that he can count the likes of Disney/Pixar's Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter among his many fans, he's probably right!

As part of the 2008 Mousefest event, the Disney Podcast Network held a Bob Jackson Meet at Port Orleans Riverside’s River Roost Lounge on Thursday 11 December 2008 at 8pm. It wasn’t a formal event, anyone was welcome to turn up and meet fellow Disney fans for a friendly nightcap. A few pictures from the meet are here on flickr.

Bob Jackson featured as a guest on the 23rd February 2010 edition of the Main Street Mugs Live podcast. The full show can be heard on their website or you can downloaded it as an MP3 file.

More recently, the WDW Radio Show episode 360 featured a live interview with Bob, which can also be downloaded as an MP3 file.

 

River Roost Bar Menu

The Walt Disney World website now provides pretty accurate and up-to-date menu information — and in the case of some quick service locations there is even a facility to pre-order food via the mobile app. Click Here to see the current River Roost Lounge menu.

NEW Updated Menu Introduced 14 October 2021

Food Menu Details Last Verified 14 October 2021

(All selections and prices are subject to change at any time)

Bar Snacks

Appetizers are available for your enjoyment from 5pm — 11pm

Loaded Potato Puffs
with Pulled Pork, Beer Cheese, and Pico de Gallo
$11
Mardi Gras Fritters
House-made Pimiento Cheese Fritters with Pepper Jelly
$10
Boudin Ball NEW
Ground Andouille Sausage and Dirty Rice, Breaded and Deep-Fried, served with Cajun Rémoulade and House-made Bread-and-Butter Pickles
$13
Po Boy Flatbread NEW
Mozzarella and Cheddar Cheese-blend, Breaded Fried Shrimp, Arugula, Cherry Tomatoes, Drizzled with Rémoulade
$15
Bayou Wings
Smoked Chicken Wings, tossed in a Sweet-and-Spicy Barbecue Sauce, served with Cajun Fries
$16
“Drunken” Flatbread
Steak with Drunken Goat Cheese and Pepper Jelly
$14
Riverside Burger
with Bourbon-Bacon Jam, Smoked Cheddar, and Garlic Aïoli, served with Cajun Steak Fries
$15
Charcuterie Board
Chef’s Selection of Cheeses, Smoked Meats, and House-Pickled Vegetables
$15
Southern Fish and Chips
Southern Catfish, corn meal battered, served with Cajun Steak Fries and a traditional Remoulade
$13
Hummingbird Cake River Roost’s Signature Dessert
Pineapple-Banana Cake soaked with our Bayou Spiced Rum, Roasted Pecans, and Cream Cheese Frosting
$10

Taxes and gratuities not included. An 18% service charge will be added for parties of 6 or more.

Specialty Cocktails
Sazerac
Bulleit Rye Small Batch American Whiskey, Agave Nectar, and Peychaud’s Bitters with a splash of Pernod
$11.25
Rum-A-Rita NEW
Bayou Select Rum, Bayou Satsuma Orange Rum Liqueur, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice, Sour Mix
$11.25
Southern Hurricane
Myers’s Original Dark Rum, Bayou Silver Rum, and Tropical Juices topped with a float of Southern Comfort
$10.50
Ramos Fizz [Removed Nov 2017]
Hendrick’s Gin, fresh Lemon and Lime Juice, Half & Half, Orange Flower Water, and Agave Nectar topped with Soda Water
contains pasteurized egg whites
River Sidecar [was available on 4th May 2017 for Bob Jackson’s 20th Anniversary]
Makers Mark and Cointreau Noir mixed with Lemon Juice and Agave Syrup with a splash of Soda Water
$12.50
Draft Beer

Abita Brewing Company is nestled in the piney woods 30 miles north of New Orleans. Abita’s ales and lagers are brewed in small batches and handcrafted with only the highest standards for quality.

Abita Amber is a Munich-style lager brewed with crystal malt and Perle hops. It has a smooth, malty, slightly caramel flavor, and a rich amber color. $8.50
Abita Purple Haze is a crisp, American-style wheat beer with raspberries, which provide the lager with a subtle purple coloration and haze, a fruity aroma, and a tartly sweet taste. $8.50
Abita Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with Willamette hops and a combination of British pale, crystal and chocolate malts, giving it a rich body and a sweet chocolate-toffee-like flavor. $8.50
Sample all three with an Abita Beer Flight $8.25

Ask about the current seasonal selection of bottled Abita Harvest Series

The above items are in addition to Disney's regular bar drinks & cocktails menu, which is available at all of the lounge bars on property.

 

A limited-menu continental breakfast was recently made available at the River Roost Lounge featuring pastries, coffee, etc. Very convenient for a quick pre-park snack with no lines. However this service was withdrawn after 26 Aug 2015, partly due to difficulties in promoting the service and enticing guests over from the Riverside Mill, and there is no current indication of whether it will return.

Trial Breakfast Menu (was open from 8:30am—11am)
Breakfast Po’ Boy $8.49
Ham and Cheese Croissant $5.99
Fruit Cup DDP Snack Item $3.79
Chocolate Croissant DDP Snack Item $3.29
Assorted Danish DDP Snack Item $3.29
Assorted Muffins DDP Snack Item $2.99
Croissant DDP Snack Item $2.69
Bagel with Cream Cheese DDP Snack Item $2.99
Create-Your-Own Cereal $4.99
Create-Your-Own Oatmeal $3.99
Assorted Whole Fruit DDP Snack Item $1.69
Cappuccino DDP Snack Item $3.39
Espresso DDP Snack Item $2.99
Hot Beverages DDP Snack Item $2.29
Assorted Juices DDP Snack Item $2.59—$3.79

Note: There were some plans to make the whole of the Boatwright’s restaurant menu available from the River Roost Lounge too in early 2017, but nothing has come of this so far.