March 2019 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules, including Mardi Gras

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The Sassagoula Sentinel
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March 2019 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules, including Mardi Gras

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The March 2019 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—8pm, outside of which the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. This will be changing to 9am—11pm from 10 March 2019. The five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are officially listed as 9am—10pm but they are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.

Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm six nights a week at Riverside (except Tuesdays), and on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Note: the Riverside movie screenings are now shown on the pool deck area near to building 95 (between Parterre Place and Oak Manor).

Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and every night at Riverside. You can roast marshmallows for free, or you can optionally purchase full s’mores kits, all in the warm glow of a night-time campfire.

Mardi Gras is on Tuesday 5th of March this year and the theme for the annual cast member Pargo Parade will be “Magical Lands of Disney”. The parade begins at 10am near to Riverside building 80 (Acadian House) and will finish at around 11am at the French Quarter Lobby Courtyard near building 6.



Replay of Mardi Gras Pargo Parade, 5th March 2019
Streaming courtesy of NewHarmony from www.eyesonears.com



There will also be a “Magical Mardi Gras” courtyard party at French Quarter for the whole family from 6pm—9pm. The celebrations will include a DJ, dancing, character meet and greets, complimentary face painting, a King Cake eating contest, a Decorate Your Own Mask craft event ($), themed Name Works Keepsake Art ($), Balocoloc Venetian Masks available for purchase, giveaways, and more!

There will be no Cajan Campfire in the evening due to the other celebrations taking place, but the Movie Under the Stars at 9pm will of course be Disney’s New Orleans themed The Princess and the Frog.

All events are weather permitting, and the evening celebration will be moved indoors to the lobby area if necessary.



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Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
  • “Beignet Dash” Fun Run ($) (French Quarter, 8am Sundays) — Craving beignets? Join us on Sunday Runday for a quick 1½ mile dash around the Resort. Complete your race with a tasty beignet! Check-in begins at 7:30am on the Riverwalk between Building 5 and Doubloon Lagoon Pool and the run begins at 8am. Be sure to share your photos with the hashtag #FQBeignetDash. Cost is $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
  • Disney Trivia Night (Riverside, Tuesdays 8:30pm-10pm) — Looking to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge from 8:30pm to 10:00pm for some fun and exciting competition!
  • Painting on de’ Bayou ($) (French Quarter, 6pm—8pm Wednesdays) — Learn to paint at at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Scat Cat’s Club on Wednesdays for an instructor-led painting class to design your own take-home masterpiece. Our instructor will help you walk away with a painting you’re proud of, whether you’re a beginner, an expert or somewhere in-between! The class is for guests aged 12 and up, and costs $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
  • Painting by the Lagoon ($) (French Quarter, 9am—11am Saturdays) — Get the whole gang together for a family-friendly painting class! Join us in the seating area of Mardi Grogs Pool Bar for an instructor-led paint class where you and your family can create your own Disney-themed works of art! For ages 6 and up (under 12s will require an adult to be present for the duration of the class). This will feature art that is specifically designed for guests of all ages to enjoy. Registration is limited to 16 guests, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingByTheLagoon.
  • Dockside Drawing (Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us on the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
  • Back Porch Games (Riverside, 1pm Sundays & Fridays ; the 12pm time on the schedules is a misprint) — Bring the family down to the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby for some fun in the sun. These giant games will be a blast for everyone!
  • Arts & Crafts ($) or Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration ($) — Explore your creative side with themed poolside arts & crafts / Create your own Mickey Tie-Dye shirt to commemorate your Walt Disney World Resort vacation (cost is $18+tax, including the T-shirt).
  • SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt (Riverside, 9am—5pm daily) — Grab a map and join in on an exciting selfie scavenger hunt around Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. To get started, visit the Riverside Levee from 9am—5pm. Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
  • Mardi Gras Movie “Mask”-erade Scavenger Hunt (French Quarter, daily) — All throughout the Resort you’ll find masks themed to your favorite Disney movies, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a Mardi Gras surprise!

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. You can normally find them playing at Scat Cat's on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30pm until 11pm, so if you happen to be around for one of their evenings why not do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended.


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