Hurricane Ian is currently on course to make landfall at about 2pm today near Fort Myers on the Florida West Coast, as a life-threatening Category 4 event. The eye will continue to track inland over the next 24 hours getting to Orlando at a similar time tomorrow (Thursday), albeit with significantly reduced intensity due to its time over land. Expect extremely heavy stormy rain and winds, with possible flooding, before and after the eye arrives. Orlando International airport will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, so there will be no arrivals or departures possible by air. The theme parks will also be closed.
If you are staying at Port Orleans or any other resort hotel, please follow local advice and remain in your room if requested. Arrange to have your own stock of food, drink and snacks - meal kits will be made available in advance via the food court even if normal operations might be closed. Have all your electronics fully charged in advance (torch functions can be useful if the power goes out).
Be prepared, and don't make life more difficult than it needs to be for the ride-out crew. Stay safe everyone.
Posted Wednesday 2nd February 2022, 4:44am (EST) by Admin
With the tumultuous events of the past couple of years, the 30th Anniversary of the opening of the original Port Orleans Resort slipped by unheeded - sadly the COVID shutters were down and there was no one around to celebrate at the deserted Port Orleans French Quarter on 17th May last year.
However the world has now started getting back to normal, and the 30th Anniversary of the original Disney's Dixie Landings Resort - now known to all of us as Port Orleans Resort Riverside - is a different matter. Thirty years ago today, on 2nd February 1992, the first rustic lodges of Louisiana-themed Alligator Bayou section opened to the public, marking the beginning of a tradition of welcoming millions of guests to the resort's classic Southern Charms alongside the Sassagoula River. For more details of the resort background, please see our History page.
Although I can't be there in person today, I'd like to pass on my own grateful thanks to the current General Manager John Berko and his whole team for the hard work they put in to keeping the resort running smoothly and looking as picture-perfect as it did on opening day thirty years ago. Thank you everyone, and here's to the next thirty years - let's just hope they run a bit more smoothly than the last two!
Happy Birthday Dixie Landings / Port Orleans Riverside!
Posted Friday 24th December 2021, 7:50pm (EST) by Admin
Well here we are at Christmas-time again, and after another roller coaster of a year at least our magical Port Orleans Resorts were finally able to re-open back in October after what turned out to be a one-and-a-half year closure.
But now the Christmas decorations are up and it's time for some festive fun. Wishing everyone at Port Orleans a wonderful and enjoyable time during this Christmas Holiday week, and hopefully I'll be able to return to see you all myself later in 2022.
Have as Merry a Christmas as is possible under the current circumstances, and let's hope and pray for a better New Year. But then I seem to remember saying that last year too?
Even though Port Orleans Resort Riverside reopened to guests on 14th October after an 18 month closure, the resort's table-service restaurant remained closed. The only option for hungry guests returning from a day at the parks was the quick service Riverside Mill food court. We were originally told that Boatwright's Dining Hall may not reopen until 2022, but it has today been revealed that the cajun-themed location will actually be opening on 14th December, just in time for the busy Christmas period. Nothing has been released in terms of booking availability as yet, but hopefully that will be made available soon.
Posted Tuesday 19th October 2021, 5:38am (EDT) by Admin
Members of our Facebook Group have been asking for printable posters for displaying in their guest room window during their visit, and now that Port Orleans is finally opening back up it seemed a good time to create some:
It’s now been a few days since Port Orleans Riverside reopened its doors to guests after a 572 day closure. Here's a summary of what happened, and what we know so far.
Port Orleans Riverside reopened at 6am on Thursday 14th October, when room confirmation text messages went out to guests who had already registered via online checkin. The first guest to walk down the ceremonial red carpet and check in at the front desk was vlogger GooToYou (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4-s59-gjLI) who received a Welcome Basket from the cast members. He was followed by friend of our site Stefanie D’Oria, and the next but one was regular Port Orleans stalwart John Schmidt.
By 9am around 70 rooms had checked in, and by the end of the day around 420 rooms were occupied (planned for approx 21% of total potential occupancy). Building 80, and of all of the ‘30’s Alligator Bayou buildings, have not yet been reoccupied. There will be a gradual ramping up of occupancy to around 90% over the coming days.
The Riverside Mill food court was open from 7am with both in-person selections and mobile pre-ordering via the My Disney Experience app available. The Muddy Rivers pool bar opened at 11am, and the River Roost Lounge started serving at 5pm. Fulton’s General Store opened at 8am, but with several empty wallbays awaiting the arrival of new stock. Boatwright’s Dining Hall is not expected to reopen until Christmas or early next year.
The Sassagoula River Ferries were running from 10am on opening day, connecting Port Orleans guests with the Marketplace Dock in Disney Springs (the only dock currently open). The service to French Quarter will recommence on 28th October with the opening of the resort.
“Ye Haa” Bob Jackson performed his first show back at the River Roost Lounge in 19 months to a huge and rapturous crowd. The first tables were taken by around 9am, and by 2:30pm most of the Lounge was full. By showtime, there wasn’t a seat to be had and people were standing around the edges of the Lounge and in the corridors. Multiple vloggers and streamers were present, and you can watch a full replay of the show at https://youtu.be/jd_WkrJgSCE?t=9346. Bob will be performing his regular nights at the River Roost, Wednesday-Saturday at 8:30pm.
Most Recreation activities were operating from day one, including poolside games, craft activities, hair braiding, the Fishin' Hole, Cycle and Surrey Bike Rentals, the Campfire on de’ Bayou, and Movies Under the Stars. One notable exception was the horse-drawn carriage rides, which are not expected to return until perhaps February next year.
The Royal Room refurbishment programme, which was due to have started back in April 2020, did not continue during lockdown and it is still on hold. They have taken the opportunity to do refresh work all the buildings, paintwork, etc. There has also been some fairly major landscaping work undertaken, mostly in the Alligator Bayou area where a lot of older/denser trees have been removed and replaced with new vegetation or saplings.
There were a few minor teething difficulties with some of the EPOS till systems and supplies to Muddy Rivers pool bar, but overall things went very smoothly for what amounted to a completely fresh resort opening. Cast Member energy was described as “off the chart” on opening day, and it was contagious. So many returning CMs seem genuinely excited by their return to the Port.
Congratulations to all the Management and Cast Members who made this all happen, and WELCOME BACK!
We've now received confirmation of the news we reported a few weeks ago via our Facebook group: the Sassagoula River Cruise ferries will commence operations again from 1st October, initially running from Disney Springs to Saratoga Springs Resort and Old Key West Resort.
The Port Orleans service will recommence as soon as the resorts reopen - so from 14 October for Port Orleans Riverside, and 28 October for Port Orleans French Quarter.
The operating timetable will be as before, 10am-11:30pm.
After a long, loooong, 18 months away from Port Orleans Riverside during the resort's closure, we can confirm that popular evening entertainer "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson was officially contacted by Disney a few hours ago, and he will be back on stage at the River Roost Lounge for his usual sets right from the re-opening date, Thursday 14th October.
Disney hasn't confirmed yet whether the shows will continue to be the same regular four nights as before - Wednesday to Saturday - but currently that is the assumption. Also it remains to be seen how many of the usual activities and fun shenanigans will be possible during the shows to start with. There could well be restrictions on audience participation, and even potentially the need for Bob to wear a mask. More information should be available closer to the re-opening date.
[Update] Bob's shows have been confirmed as being on Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30-midnight, exactly as before. What is not clear yet is whether guests from outside the Port Orleans resorts will be welcome, as some resorts are still only allowing their own hotel guests into their secure parking areas. That probably won't stop external guests from arriving via the Disney bus system though.
Note: Bob has a prior work commitment on Saturday 16th October so won't be on stage at the Port that night.
Bob has said that he will also continue with his Sunday afternoon live-streams for fans who cannot attend the resort in person. See the live video announcement on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yehaabob/video ... 8981734059
We were all expecting it of course, but Disney has now confirmed via a Blog Post that booking up to three attraction times 60 days in advance via the free FastPass+ service is now officially a thing of the past.
Instead, Disney are "incredibly excited" to let guests know that they will now have the opportunity to pay an extra $15 per person per day to be able to reserve the next available ride time at a variety of attractions during their visit. Unlike FastPass+, only one reservation can be active at any given time, and the ability to make your first booking will commence at 7am for on-site hotel guests, or upon actual park admission for anyone else. The ability to reserve a ride time for another park (if you plan to park hop) is included.
There will also be a further 'opportunity' to pay an additional extra surcharge - varying by attraction, park and date - to reserve slots for up to two specific high-demand attractions that are not available via the regular Genie+ service. As an example, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at the Magic Kingdom was mentioned, but further details and prices will be released shortly before the system goes live sometime in the Fall. Just don't expect it to be any sort of a bargain.
I suppose it was inevitable that Disney would need to find ways to recoup some of the millions it lost during the COVID closures and restrictions beyond just ramping up the hotel prices, and in all honesty we all knew who was going to end up picking up the tab.
When bookings became available for the Port Orleans Resorts last month (Riverside for stays commencing 14 October, French Quarter from 28 October) there were a couple of anomalies that we initially discussed in our Facebook Group.
First, for Port Orleans Riverside rooms, the old Garden View booking category has been replaced with a Woods View option instead. This appears to simply be a direct name change, and you will probably still get the same rooms as you would have done before. Port Orleans French Quarter rooms retain their original Garden View naming.
Presumably some guests who booked a "Garden" view were disappointed when they got an Alligator Bayou room overlooking a swampy forest area instead of seeing neatly manicured courtyard lawns out of their window. I suspect the reverse may happen now though if anyone was hoping for a wilderness style experience, but short of creating two separate categories the wording change probably manages expectations rather better than before.
The second change seemed initially like a database glitch, but it now seems much more likely to be a permanent change. When post-COVID bookings first went live, the Royal Room Pool View category did not show any availability at all for any dates in 2021/22. Even when checking sample dates throughout that whole period the room type was always shown in the results list, but never with any booking availability - not even for a single night. This sort of issue has occasionally happened before when the reservations system releases large blocks of inventory at one time, but several weeks later the issue had not been corrected and the category was still showing with no guest availability at all. I contacted WDW to ask about this, and after looking into it they recently came back to me saying that the category no longer exists on their internal systems either. Since then, even the name has been removed from the online booking pages.
It is now fairly safe to assume that booking a specific Pool View for a Royal Room is no longer a possibility, and I've updated the site info and pricing pages accordingly. Most likely these rooms will have been re-categorised as Royal Room Woods View like their neighbours. In some ways this is a pretty trivial change as it was by far the smallest booking category, covering only 36 individual rooms, most of which didn't even give particularly good access to the Oak Manor/Parterre Place leisure pool. However because of the layout of the Royal buildings it was a handy way to secretly guarantee a short walk from a mansion building to the main buildings, rather like the Preferred Location category for the Alligator Bayou rooms. I somehow doubt it will be missed much in the grand scheme of things though.
Popular Port Orleans Riverside 'piano man' entertainer "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson has just shared via his Sunday weekly livestream show (https://www.facebook.com/yehaabob/video ... 5709115722) that in answer to everyone's questions, he hopes to be able to return to his previous nightly sessions at the River Roost Lounge as soon as the stage finally reopens. Apparently his musician's contract with Disney requires them to offer him his job back if he wants it - and he's just as eager to be back as we are to have him!
While the resort is now known to be re-opening on October 14th, we don't yet know whether the Lounge will be commencing entertainment offerings at the same time - so we might still have to wait a little longer, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Disney today informed travel agents of the planned re-opening dates of the remaining Walt Disney World resort hotels, including our very own Port Orleans Resorts! Guests will be able to make bookings starting tomorrow (8 July) for the following dates:
16 September 2021: Disney’s All Star Resort Music 14 October 2021: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside 28 October 2021: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter 9 December 2021: Disney’s All Star Resort Sports
Overall, Riverside will have been closed for a total of 572 days, and French Quarter for 586 days, the longest period either resort has ever been shuttered in their history. All Walt Disney World resort hotels will have re-opened in time for Christmas 2021.
One year ago today, Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside and Port Orleans Resort French Quarter were shut down due to the spread of COVID-19. All of the Walt Disney World theme parks closed on Monday 16th March 2020, and the Resort hotels followed a few days later at 5pm on Friday 20th March to allow guests enough time to make arrangements to return home. At the time, Disney indicated that these closures would last "at least" a month - although I thought the reality would be considerably longer than that (News Item). However not even at my most pessimistic did I think that a year later we'd still be in the same situation.
The theme parks tentatively started to reopen - albeit with a lot of restrictions - from 11th July 2020, and some of the resort hotels (especially the DVC Resorts) saw phased reopenings around the same time and over the following months. Many of the hotels are still closed though, some with no indication at all of when that situation may change. All Star Movies is due to reopen next week, with the Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge following in May and June respectively. The Polynesian is set for a mid-summer reopening after a refurbishment program. However there is no reopening information at all about Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter, All Star Sports & Music, Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Boardwalk.
Sadly, until travel restrictions start to be lifted - which will rely on widespread uptake of the vaccination programme - it seems unlikely that Disney will find itself requiring the extra room capacity any time soon. Let's hope April's expected announcements might provide some good news as Disney ramps up plans for the 50th Anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World in October 1971. For any further updates, please keep an eye on our COVID News Page.
Posted Friday 25th December 2020, 8:47am (EST) by Admin
Well it's that time of year again, but what a different year it has been! From March, everyone's carefully laid plans were in tatters, theme parks and resorts had been shuttered, and tens of thousands of dedicated cast members were to lose their jobs before the end of the year. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this horrible year, and especially to all my friends at Port Orleans.
Let's hope that 2021 will offer us a glimmer of hope for a return to something at least close to normality. My own plans for visiting from the UK in 2020 were completely cancelled, but maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to return to strolling along the banks of the Sassagoula River again before 2021 is out.
I wish everyone as Merry a Christmas as is possible under the current circumstances, and let's hope and pray for a better New Year.
Disney have just announced that they are laying off a massive 28,000 cast members across their Florida and California sites, most of whom had previously been furloughed. Presumably with the end of their financial year tomorrow, Disney had to make some tough decisions based on predicted forthcoming attendance and revenue, neither of which would appear to be picking up any time soon.
Sadly, this awful news includes the loss of Riverside's own "Ya Haa" Bob Jackson, who has been the hugely popular permanent entertainer at the River Roost Lounge for 23 years. Bob just posted on his Facebook page:
And that's how it ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. I've just learned my act will not be returning to Disney. I made so many friends over the last 23 years, it was a great time, we had a lot of laughs together. I'll be continuing my Sunday shows for now. I'll keep you posted, I'm still digesting all of this-
Bob is still planning on continuing a virtual show at 6pm on Sunday via his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/yehaabob) but whether that will be as his Disney "Ye Haa" Bob persona or as Bob Jackson, pianist and signer, I don't know. See you there on Sunday anyway.
Since COVID hit, like many other entertainers, Bob has had no regular work beyond his weekly online shows to help keep everyone entertained and a few local church gigs. I'd like to suggest that if you ever saw one of Bob's shows and it made a difference to your vacation - which must be almost all of us here - now would be a good time to send him your thanks and support by popping a few dollars into his 'virtual tip-jar' at www.paypal.com/paypalme/BobJackson512. I know I'm going to anyway.
Such a terribly sad day. I wish Bob all the best for the future; he has been the heart and soul of Riverside for 23 years and whenever it eventually re-opens the place just won't be the same without his infectious, tirelessly energetic performances. Good luck Bob, you will be sorely missed at Port Orleans - and your hair still looks great.
Every day seems to bring new announcements from Walt Disney World about their post COVID-19 reopening plans. Today however we saw a somewhat more normal annual event: the release of the Resort hotel rack rates and booking availability for the forthcoming calendar year. Sadly, today's release has come as yet another blow to Port Orleans fans as neither Port Orleans Riverside nor Port Orleans French Quarter show any availability at all for 2021. The same goes for the All Star resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge.
None of these resorts have as yet been given any reopening dates, and currently the last confirmed date is Coronado Springs reopening on 14 October. Whether this means that Disney is just not releasing any booking availability until they have announced confirmed reopening dates, or if they genuinely do not expect some or all of these resorts to reopen for perhaps another 12 months, is unclear at the moment.
Disney's new park-entry reservation system - allowing guests to choose admission to just one theme park per day - opens online on the My Disney Experience website (not the app) at 7am EDT on 22 June. Initially this will be for guests with existing Disney Resort hotel bookings, as long as they also have valid park admission passes linked to their account. [Update: it broke, many guests had to wait a few hours or more to get in]
On 26 June, Annual Passholders without hotel reservations will be able to start booking daily park admissions - but there is a limit of three booked dates to be held at any one time.
On 28 June, all other off-site guests with any other ticket type will be able to make reservations.
All of these bookings are subject to availability and the currently limited park capacities, and sadly we can expect some sort of reservation system to remain in place for the foreseeable future — perhaps even until September 2021.
Walt Disney World has announced their forthcoming re-opening plans for more Resort Hotels, but sadly it's not good news for Port Orleans fans. It was already known that the Fort Wilderness campground and the majority of the DVC Villas were due to open on 22 June, and now Pop Century and the Contemporary have been added for 10 July which coincides with the first theme park openings.
A number of other resorts now have staggered dates from then through to 14 October, presumably based on how levels of demand are expected to gradually increase. However the two Port Orleans resorts, the All Star resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge do not have any reopening dates listed as yet, indicating that at this stage Disney do not expect to reopen them before Halloween at the earliest, and potentially into next year.
Guests with existing bookings for Port Orleans and the other currently-closed locations who still wish to continue with their planned visit to Walt Disney World will be relocated to other hotels, either at the same price level or as a free upgrade depending on availability.
Opening on 22 June: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s Beach Club Villas Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
July 10: Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort July 29: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort August 12: Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Art of Animation Resort August 24: Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort September 21: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa October 1: Disney's BoardWalk Inn October 14: Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
On 27 May 2020, Disney submitted its proposals to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for a gradual re-opening of the Walt Disney World theme parks. The intention is to reopen the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on 11 July, and Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios on 15 July.
There will be a lot of initial restrictions though, such as requirement for pre-booked entry slots for guests with existing bookings and for annual passholders, and a temporary block on any new bookings or ticket sales. The My Disney Experience app/website is not accepting any new reservations for FastPasses, ADRs, or imminent hotel bookings. There will also be many social distancing policies introduced, including no close-crowd generating activities such as fireworks, parades and character greetings. Face coverings will be required for cast members and all guests over 3 years old.
There is less detail on the hotels, but it looks as though they will be reopening in phases. starting with Fort Wilderness on 22 June.
Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, there are currently no plans to resume any of the remaining room refurbishments during 2020. Disney is expecting that once the resorts do finally reopen there will be unprecedented demand as people try to re-book cancelled vacations, and they are intending to focus on making every possible room available to support guests making up for lost time.
Currently, all of the rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter have been recently refurbished, and the Alligator Bayou and regular Magnolia Bend mansion buildings were also completed in 2019. This just leaves Riverside's Royal Rooms - located in buildings 90 and 95 - which will retain their original decor for the time being until construction work re-commences sometime in 2021. We'll post further updates as information emerges.
During this unprecedented period of closure at Walt Disney World and the Resort Hotels, some of your favourite resort musicians have let us know that they plan to stream online video gigs for their fans direct from their homes. We may all be having to isolate ourselves from unnecessary physical contact, but that needn't mean missing out on the fun!
[Update] Several of these artists have also set up virtual 'Tip Jars' via PayPal, allowing viewers to contribute in much the same way as you might in person at their live gigs. If you enjoy their shows, please consider supporting the time and effort that they are putting in to help keep us all entertained during this difficult time for everybody.
"Ye Haa" Bob Jackson (popular nighttime piano entertainer at the River Roost Lounge for the past 23 years) will be streaming his first live gig from home tonight, Sunday 22nd March starting at 6pm EST. [Update: and the following Sundays at 6pm too]
Jason and Billy (members of the popular band Off Kilter, and Scat Cat's Club entertainers from 2016 until the recent 2019 location refurb) will be live-streaming a show via the internet on Friday 27 March from 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST. Please join in and support them, see you 'there'. [Update: Further shows on Sunday afternoons, 3pm - 5pm EST]
Greg Hayworth (ex Mulch, Sweat and Shears, and also a regular guest at Scat Cat's Club over the past few years) and his wife played an online request session from beside their swimming pool last night, and they plan more 'Sunset Sessions' each Wednesday at 7pm.
For more information, and to watch the live shows, please follow their Facebook Pages and join in with the live chats to request your favourite songs:
I'm sure that everyone who reads our Facebook page, or indeed any Facebook page, is already aware that as a precaution to help limit the spread of Coronavirus, all Walt Disney World theme parks were CLOSED as from Monday 16th March. Additionally, all Disney World Resort Hotels closed by 5pm on Friday 20th March, allowing current guests enough time to make arrangements to get home. Disney-owned retail locations (such as those at Disney Springs) closed from 17 March. All transportation options apart from bus services between the Resorts & Disney Springs and the Resorts Monorail loop were also shut down when the parks closed, and now all transportation is shut down.
Disney is stating that these full closures will remain in place until the end of the month, but in my opinion guests should expect this situation to last for significantly longer than that, possibly several months. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and the Walt Disney World website for ongoing updates.
The March 2020 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 larger versions.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours are 10am—8pm until sometime in March. Outside of these times, the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are officially open 9am—10pm, but they are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm four nights a week at Riverside’s Magnolia South pool deck, between buildings 90 & 95 (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays), and five nights a week at French Quarter on the Green between buildings 5 & 6 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). There are no movie screenings on Tuesdays this month.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm every night at Riverside, and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at French Quarter. 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.
Other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory from 2pm to 4pm 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! Please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week and costs $35 per person, plus tax. For ages 12 and up. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Mardi Gras Festival(Riverside, 7pm—9pm, Saturdays) — Wander over to the Riverside Levee Marina every Saturday from 7pm to 9pm to celebrate the Mardi Gras season with games, crafts and more.
Doubloon Lagoon Glow Party(French Quarter, 7:30pm Tuesdays) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — Bring the family down to the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby for some fun in the sun. These giant games will be a blast for everyone!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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 “Mask”-erade(French Quarter, daily) — French Quarter is ready for a Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade. 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).
Note: Bob Jackson will be on vacation seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska from Saturday 21st March until 28th March. He will be back for his regular nights at the Port from Wednesday 1st April.
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge opens at 4pm, with live jazz music starting at 7:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (days subject to change). Currently “Big Ezee Swag” are the featured jazz quartet. You can also pick up your favourite tasty treat, Beignets, and speciality coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
Note: For the past ten years, cast members from the resort’s recreation team have been kind enough to send me a quick email at the end of each month with the new recreation schedules, so I can provide this information in a timely manner for upcoming guests on the 1st of the month. Unfortunately, at the end of January 2020 I received an email saying that have been given “direction from the company” that they are no longer allowed to send out this information — even though the same sheets are given out in Welcome Packs to every arriving guest, and they even can be picked up on request at the front desk. They have said I’m more than welcome to still upload those, but sadly as I’m based in the UK, that isn’t really an option...
Luckily the internet being what it is, I can still point you to the very helpful OrlandoParkNews.com website, where they do still host every WDW Resort’s Recreation Schedule from the start of each new month, so please give them a visit and support their site. This is what they have on their page for Port Orleans for March:
Today (February 25) is Mardi Gras 2020, and as usual the resort will be having a few fun activities to celebrate Fat Tuesday, leading off with the annual cast member's Pargo Parade. This is a mini-parade created as a competition between the cast members from the different departments at the resort. All guests are welcome to view the parade as it wends its way along the riverbank pathways from Riverside over to French Quarter, starting at 10am.
10am-11am - Mardi Gras Pargo Parade: Travelling through both Port Orleans Riverside & Port Orleans French Quarter. 6pm-9pm - French Quarter's Magical Mardi Gras: Join us in the French Quarter Lobby Courtyard for Mardi Gras fun for the whole family! Our Magical Mardi Gras Celebration will include dancing, character meet and greets, a King Cake eating contest, Mardi Gras Crafts ($), giveaways, and more! 7pm - Movie Under the Stars: End your Mardi Gras celebrations by joining us between Buildings 5 & 6 at French Quarter for a showing of The Princess and the Frog.
There are several planned Live Video Streams of the parade, starting around 10am. We hope to host one on our own Facebook Page or Facebook Group, and some of the folks from Eyes on Ears plan to be there too and will be streaming via their YouTube Channel pages.
The February 2020 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 larger versions.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours are 10am—8pm until sometime in March. Outside of these times, the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are officially open 9am—10pm, but they are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm four nights a week at Riverside’s Magnolia South pool deck, between buildings 90 & 95 (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays), and at 7pm six nights a week at French Quarter on the Green between buildings 5 & 6 (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays).
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm every night at Riverside, and at 7:15pm-8:15pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at French Quarter. 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, Tuesday 25th February 2020. Every year the Port Orleans resorts celebrate Mardi Gras in style, usually with special activities and games. The Port Orleans cast members also enter an annual competition to see which department can dream up the most creative, best themed parade floats based around the resort’s “pargo“ vehicles. The cast members get to parade their imaginative floats around both resorts for guests to see on the official Mardi Gras “Fat Tuesday”, starting at 10am. There are also evening activities at French Quarter starting at 6pm. More info will be released closer to the date.
Other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory from 2pm to 4pm 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! Please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week and costs $35 per person, plus tax. For ages 12 and up. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Mardi Gras Festival(Riverside, 7pm—9pm, Saturdays) — Wander over to the Riverside Levee Marina every Saturday from 7pm to 9pm to celebrate the Mardi Gras season with games, crafts and more.
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — 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!
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 “Mask”-erade(French Quarter, daily) — French Quarter is ready for a Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade. 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).
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge opens at 4pm, with live jazz music starting at 7:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (days subject to change). Currently “Big Ezee Swag” are the featured jazz quartet. You can also pick up your favourite tasty treat, Beignets, and speciality coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
Note: For the past ten years, cast members from the resort’s recreation team have been kind enough to send me a quick email at the end of each month with the new recreation schedules, so I can provide this information in a timely manner for upcoming guests on the 1st of the month. Unfortunately, at the end of January 2020 I received an email saying that have been given “direction from the company” that they are no longer allowed to send out this information — even though the same sheets are given out in Welcome Packs to every arriving guest, and they even can be picked up on request at the front desk. They have said I’m more than welcome to still upload those, but sadly as I’m based in the UK, that isn’t really an option...
Luckily the internet being what it is, I can still point you to the very helpful OrlandoParkNews.com website, where they do still host every WDW Resort’s Recreation Schedule from the start of each new month, so please give them a visit and support their site. This is what they have on their page for Port Orleans for February:
The January 2020 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 10am—8pm until sometime in March. Christmas Holiday hours are slightly extended to 9am—9pm until 4 Jan. Outside of these times, the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are officially open 9am—10pm, but they are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm five nights a week at Riverside’s Magnolia South pool deck, between buildings 90 & 95 (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays), and at 7pm four nights a week at French Quarter on the Green between buildings 5 & 6 (Mondays,Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). There are no movies on Friday or Saturday nights during January.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm every night at Riverside, and at 7:15pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at French Quarter. 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.
Other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory from 2pm to 4pm 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! Please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week and costs $35 per person, plus tax. For ages 12 and up. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Winter Wonderland Festival(Riverside, 7pm—9pm, Saturdays) — Wander over to the Riverside Levee Marina every Saturday from 7pm to 9pm for some treats, crafts and games to celebrate the cool Winter weather.
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — 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!
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.
Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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).
Note: “Ye Haa” Bob will be taking the week of 6-11 January off, snorkelling around the beautiful coral reefs of the US Virgin Islands. He’ll be back on stage at the Port on Wednesday 15 January.
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge will open at 4pm, with live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 8pm. You can also pick up your favorite tasty treat, Beignets, and specialty coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
Happy New Year to everyone at Port Orleans. If you're not planning on braving the crowds at the theme parks on December 31st, or you just don't fancy the getting jostled in the queues to get back to your hotel room after midnight, there will be lots of fun activities to help say goodbye to 2019 and welcome to 2020 right here at your own resort.
Port Orleans Riverside – Once Upon a Midnight
6:30pm-7:30pm - Campfire on de ’Bayou
8pm-9pm - Design–Your-Own Toast Glass ($), located on the back Porch of the Lobby
9pm-11:30pm - Medicine Show Arcade Challenge, located in the Medicine Show Arcade
9pm-12am - Once Upon a Midnight: New Year’s Eve Party, located on the Back Porch of the Lobby Join us as we ring in the new year, “Once Upon a Midnight”! Make your New Year’s memories special with festive games, Character Greetings and dance parties, along with some Arts & Crafts($) and Beverages ($)
11:30pm-12am - Countdown to 2020, located on the Back Porch of the Lobby. Featuring “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on the big screen!
Port Orleans French Quarter – All That Glitters
5:30pm-7:30pm - Glittering Gold Campfire
8pm-9pm - Design-Your-Own Toast Glass ($), located in the Resort Lobby. Decorate your own glass to toast to the New Year at 11:45pm! The purchase of each glass includes one glass of sparkling cider
9pm-12am - All That Glitters: A New Year’s Eve Celebration, located in the Lobby Courtyard. Join us for New Year’s Eve fun for the whole family! Our New Year’s Eve Celebration will include a DJ, dancing, Character Greetings, Arts & Crafts($), games, and more!
Oh, and if you are still planning on visiting the theme parks to celebrate, my own tip is to visit Magic Kingdom on Monday December 30 (where you will still see the full New Year fireworks show) and then Epcot on Tuesday December 31.
Have a fantastic evening, and wishing you all a Very Happy New Year from PortOrleans.org.
It's that time of year again, and while I don't have copies of the handout sheets yet, the following extra activities will be occurring at Port Orleans in the run-up to the big day:
Sunday 22 December, 7pm-8pm – A Choir Group will be singing Christmas Carols at French Quarter in the outdoor courtyard behind the Lobby (between the food court and gift shop). Monday 23 December, 8:30am-9:30am – A Choir Group will be singing Christmas Carols at Riverside in the dockside courtyard area behind the Lobby. Tuesday 24 December, 5pm-9pm - Santa will be in the Riverside lobby Tuesday 24 December, 5pm-9pm - Christmas themed Character Greeting in the French Quarter lobby
For Christmas and Christmas Eve, the activities on the pool decks are going to similar to the normally scheduled events, but with a bit of a Christmas twist.
Reminder: "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson will be playing an extra night at Riverside next week on New Year's Eve (Tuesday 31 December).
The December 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 switching to their reduced winter timetable this month. December hours start at 9am—10pm, reducing to 10am—8pm from Sunday 8 December through to sometime in March. Christmas Holiday hours (22 Dec — 4 Jan) will be slightly extended to 9am—9pm. Outside of these times, the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are officially open 9am—10pm, but they are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm five nights a week at Riverside’s Magnolia South pool deck, between buildings 90 & 95 (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), and at 7pm four nights a week at French Quarter on the Green between buildings 5 & 6 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). There are no movies on Tuesday nights during December.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm every night at Riverside, and at 7:15pm (6pm?) on movie nights at French Quarter (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). 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.
Other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory from 2pm to 4pm 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! Please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week and costs $35 per person, plus tax. For ages 12 and up. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Winter Wonderland Festival(Riverside, 7pm—9pm, Saturdays) — Wander over to the Riverside Levee Marina every Saturday from 7pm to 9pm for some treats, crafts and games to celebrate the cool Winter weather.
Rockin’ Around the Pool Deck Party(Riverside, 7pm—8pm Tuesdays) — Jingle all the way down to Ol’ Man Island Pool for a jolly good night of dancing and games filled with holiday cheer.
Tinsel Tuesdays(French Quarter afternoons) — Special Christmas-themed activities and games at the Doubloon Lagoon pool, including an evening Glow Party starting at 7pm.
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — 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!
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.
Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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).
Note: “Ye Haa” Bob will be playing all of his usual dates this December, including on Christmas Day. Additionally, Bob will also be playing an extra date on New year’s Eve, which is always a lot of fun.
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge will open at 4pm, with live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 8pm. You can also pick up your favorite tasty treat, Beignets, and specialty coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
The November 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 9am—10pm as from 29 September. Outside of these times the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked, and are generally available at any time within reason. Note: the quiet pool located between buildings 80 and 85 has now reopened.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), and at 8pm four nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). Note: On Tuesday November 5th, Port Orleans French Quarter will be presenting Little Mermaid Live! instead of the regular scheduled movie.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm every night at Riverside, and from 6pm-7pm four nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). 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.
Other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory from 2pm to 4pm 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! Please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week and costs $35 per person, plus tax. For ages 12 and up. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 2:30pm—3:30pm Tuesdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us on the back porch of the main building for classes to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Riverside, 7:30pm Tuesdays) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — 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!
Sassagoula Fall Festival(Riverside, 7pm—9pm, Saturdays) — “Fall” in love down by the Riverside Levee Marina every Saturday from 7pm-9pm for some treats, crafts and games to celebrate the Fall season.
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.
Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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).
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge will open at 4pm, with live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 7pm. You can also pick up your favorite tasty treat, Beignets, and specialty coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
Port Orleans Riverside — A Monstrous Halloween — 31 October 2019
Ol’ Man Island Scary Poolside Activities 2:30pm–3:30pm — Decorate-Your-Own Trick-or-Treat Spray Art Tote Bag 3:30pm–4:00pm — Mummy Wrap Contest 4:00pm–4:30pm — Pass The Pumpkin 4:30pm–5:00pm — Disney Halloween Trivia 5:30pm–6:30pm — Screamin’ Hot Campfire, located at the Ol’ Man Island Campfire Pit. Come join us for a screamingly delicious time at our Campfire with some Monster S’mores! 9:00pm–10:00pm — HallowGlow Pool Party. Light up the night with ghoulish delight! Join us at the Ol’ Man Island pool for bright lights, dancing, prizes, games and more!
6:00pm–9:00pm — Monstrous Halloween Party Event — Join us on our Back Porch for these scary fun activities:
Character Greetings — Intermittent times throughout the event; come take some spooky pictures with your favorite Disney Characters!
Slime Lab ($) — Create your own Monstrous Slime in our Slime Lab!
Cupcake Crawl — Come win a delicious cupcake as you show off your terrifyingly amazing moves.
Frightful Trick-or-Treat Trail — Sneak around the resort trails and discover some hidden treats behind mysterious doorways.
Monstropolis Monstrosities ($) — Scrumptiously scary concoctions and brews.
Costume Contest: 6:30pm — Ages 0–5 6:45pm — Ages 6–10 7:00pm — Ages 11–15 7:15pm — Ages 16 years & over 7:30pm — Group Costumes
Port Orleans French Quarter — Halloween Activities — 31 October 2019
Located on Doubloon Lagoon Pool Deck 2:00pm — Bewitching Bingo 2:30pm — Phantom Pool Party 3:30pm — Grim Grinning Games, Featuring a Donut Eating Contest 4:00pm — Name that Halloween Tune 4:30pm — Terrifying Tie-Dye($)
Located in the French Quarter Courtyard 6:00pm-8:00pm — Join us for a wicked good time as we celebrate Halloween here at Port Orleans French Quarter. Be sure not to miss our Costume Contest at 7pm! Pick up your bag for a trick or treat all around the French Quarter featuring some of your favorite Disney Villains, decorate your own pumpkin ($), and more!
On Lawn between buildings 5 and 6 8:00pm — Feature Presentation of Hocus Pocus 8:30pm — Chilling Campfire with Candy Bar S’mores
Entertainment and offerings are subject to change.
There were two grand openings at Port Orleans French Quarter today. The existing Scat Cat's Club, located just off the main Lobby, closed its doors for the last time on 29 September, only to emerge phoenix-like this morning as two separate entities.
Scat Cat's Club - Café had its opening ceremony at 6am this morning, and our intrepid reporter John Schmidt wasn't going to be put off by the early hour and snapped some photos and videoed the ceremony for the site. This will be the new official home for beignets at the resort - both regular, specialty and even alcoholic - and it will also function as the pickup location for any orders placed at the nearby food court. See the Scat Cat's Club page for the menu. Scat Cat's Club - Café Opening Video Scat Cat's Club - Café Opening Photos
Later, at 4pm, the main Scat Cat's Club Lounge bar area opened its doors, and John was of course back to cover it for us. He also placed the first drink ordered at the new location; the sacrifices that man makes for the team! The new expanded lounge/bar is located in space vacated when the old Bonfamille's Cafe - the original table-service location during the early days of Port Orleans - closed down on 5th August 2000. The specialty cocktails and bar snacks menu seems to be exactly the same as it was before, nothing new has been added. Scat Cat's Club - Lounge Opening Video Scat Cat's Club - Lounge Opening Photos
The live entertainment commenced on stage at 7pm, with a traditional jazz trio: Video.
We'll be adding more photos to the main site soon, but the above Facebook page links are the quickest way to keep everyone in touch.
The October 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 9am—10pm as from 29 September. Outside of these times the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked, and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), and at 8pm/8:30pm four nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays 8pm, Tuesdays 8:30pm, Thursdays 8pm and Saturdays 8pm).
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and from 6pm-7pm four nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). 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.
Specific Halloween activities will be announced nearer to 31 October, but there are some other 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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(French Quarter, 2pm—4pm Wednesdays. Note the change of time and venue) — Learn to paint at at Port Orleans French Quarter! Join us in Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm 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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per session, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Wednesdays & Fridays at French Quarter; Tuesdays & Thursdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Trick-or-Treat Thursdays(French Quarter, 2pm—8pm, Thursdays) — We’ll be celebrating Halloween all month long! Join in the spooky fun with Bewitching Bingo, Terrifying Tie-Dye, and more on the Doubloon Lagoon Pool Deck. Later in the evening, be sure to not miss our Chilling Campfire or the feature presentation of Hocus Pocus on the French Quarter Lawn.
Villainous Saturdays(Riverside, 1pm—8:30pm, Saturdays) — Join us for a spooky celebration of all things villainous. Treat your family to a fun day of Villain-themed activities and experience all the “Ways to be Wicked”!
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.
French Quarter Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Fall has arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter and we’re inviting you to join in on the festive fun by joining us for a pumpkin hunt! We’ve hidden 13 pumpkins around the Resort, each one featuring one of Disney’s most mischievous villains, and we need your help to find then! To join in on the fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all 13 villains and return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a seasonal surprise!
Note: Poolside Yoga, Dockside Drawing and the Trivia Nights at Riverside, plus the “Let the Good Times Roll Dance Party” at French Quarter, have been discontinued.
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: “Ye Haa” Bob has an extended vacation travelling in China from 16—30 October, returning to the Port on Thursday 31 October.
Don’t miss an opportunity to see the new live jazz entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club Lounge in the newly renovated space next to the main Lobby (the old Bonfamille's restaurant). The Lounge will open at 4pm, with live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 7pm. You can also pick up your favorite tasty treat, Beignets, and specialty coffee in the new Scat Cat’s Club Cafe, open all day from 6am.
These new offerings replace the popular evening musical duo Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes, whose four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club unfortunately came to an end on Sunday 29 September 2019. Good luck with your next gig guys, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
The quiet leisure pool located in Magnolia Bend between buildings 80 (Acadian House) and 85 (Magnolia Terrace) will be closed for maintenance and refurbishment work from mid September 2019 until late October 2019. The closure includes the laundry building next to the pool. This work broadly aligns with the current guest room refurbishment process that is underway in the same general area. The main feature pool on Ol' Man Island, and the other four quiet pools around the resort, will remain open as normal.
Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter will soon be closing as we know it, and re-opening inside the old Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant location - sadly minus the current popular musical duo of Jason Thomas & Billy Varnes. The current location just off the main lobby will apparently become "Beignet Central" - perhaps some sort of coffee and cake shop? It was always a slightly odd location for a bar with live music - being effectively inside the entrance lobby atrium - but why the current entertainment could not have simply been transitioned into the new location I really don't know.
Jason and Billy's last night will be Sunday 29 September, so you've got just over a week to make your last visits. According to Jason on Facebook:
Scat Cat's club is changing! Details are still sketchy, but Scat Cat's, as we know it, will soon be changing into "Beignet Central"!! Scat Cat's Club will be moving into the space previously empty, before that, a restaurant, over by the player piano. Renovations are underway!
I'm very sorry to have to announce that, as part of these changes, there will be new entertainment coming to the "new" club, most likely a Dixieland jazz band. As it stands right now, Jason, Billy and Greg will be ending our four-year Scat Cat's run Sunday night, Sept. 29. We will be planning a big farewell party - details soon! Please make your plans to come and see us at the current Scat Cat's, before we're both gone!
While it's certainly long overdue for the resort to do something about the unused and wasted Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant space, adding another lounge/bar and losing an established and well-liked musical act into the bargain might not have been my first choice... I'll miss Jason and Billy, they are a talented and popular duo and I wish them well with whatever projects lie in their future.
Soon, things will be jazzed up even more at the resort’s lounge: Scat Cat’s Club. The club will expand to a larger space to serve up signature beverages and flavorful bar options offering a taste of the “Big Easy” in a lounge inspired by the French Quarter in New Orleans.
And just like the French Quarter always has music playing, Scat Cat’s Club will continue to fill the room with entertainment authentic to the New Orleans story, featuring live jazz music five nights a week.
With the expansion of Scat Cat’s Club, the famous beignets will soon be available throughout the day at an all-new location near the lobby, Scat Cat’s Club – Café, making it easier to pick up a piping hot batch. The beignets are made in-house daily, available in classic as well as my favorite seasonal flavor, and many are even served in a signature Mickey-shape!
Whether you’re staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter or craving some sweet beignets and lively music, you’re invited to swing by Scat Cat’s Club to enjoy its timeless charm and new offerings starting this October.
I like the idea of expanding the space allocated for Scat Cat's, which should make for a more atmospheric and laid-back location - and live jazz music will certainly fit in well with the theming of the resort. The current duo of Jason and Billy will be sadly missed though.
There is a fully fitted kitchen there too, left over from Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant and subsequently the WDW test kitchen days, so hopefully they will be able to offer an expanded range of food offerings - although the current selection of enticing choices was pretty good already (such as Chicken and Waffles, Sassagoula Crab Dip, Crawfish Étouffée, Mardi Gras Mac & Cheese, and Bayou Brisket Sliders).
The lobby-based Cafe is a nice concept too, and possibly a better use of that open plan space which never lent itself well to live music. And it's sure good to know that beignets will "soon be available throughout the day"... as opposed to currently, when they are only available a measly 6am until midnight just a few steps away in the food court.
The September 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 9am—11pm until 28 September, after which they reduce to 9am—10pm. Outside of these times the main feature pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked, and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays). There will be no movies at either resort on Tuesdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and three nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the same as the movie nights). 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.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Tuesdays & Fridays at French Quarter; Tuesdays & Thursdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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 $18+tax, including the T-shirt).
Tide Pool Thursdays(French Quarter, 1:30pm—8:30pm, Thursdays) — Help us say goodbye to summer with a splash! Join us each Thursday for beachy activities for the whole family! Featuring Mickey Tie-Dye ($), Beach Ball Blast, and a presentation of Finding Nemo, we can’t wait to “sea” you there!
Swashbuckling Fridays(Riverside, 1pm—8:30pm, Fridays) — Ahoy, Me Hearties! After a long day of fun and collecting your treasures next to the pool, end the day with a Piratical campfire and movie!
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.
French Quarter Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Fall has arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter and we’re inviting you to join in on the festive fun by joining us for a pumpkin hunt! We’ve hidden 13 pumpkins around the Resort, each one featuring one of Disney’s most mischievous villains, and we need your help to find then! To join in on the fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all 13 villains and return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a seasonal surprise!
Note: Poolside Yoga, Dockside Drawing and the Trivia Nights at Riverside, plus the “Let the Good Times Roll Dance Party” at French Quarter, have been discontinued.
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: “Ye Haa” Bob has a few personal event days coming up, and will not be performing his regular sessions at Port Orleans Riverside on Wednesday 11, Friday 20 & Saturday 21 September, and then for an extended vacation travelling in China from 16—30 October, returning to the Port on Thursday 31 October.
Port Orleans French Quarter’s Scat Cat’s Club does not currently have "official" resident musicians, but filling the gap admirably for a number of years now are the talented 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, and recently you may even find them there on Fridays too. 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.
[Update] Jason and Billy’s four-year tenure at Scat Cat’s Club is unfortunately coming to an end, their last performance will be on Sunday 29 September 2019. Disney are transitioning the entire bar/lounge facility into the old Bonfamille’s Cafe restaurant space (just behind the current location) and will be introducing a new musical offering when that opens. This is a real shame as the boys had worked hard to build up a great reputation and a loyal following. Good luck with your next gig, wherever that may be, you will be sadly missed at the Port.
The August 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 now and throughout the summer months are 9am—11pm, outside of which times the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays). There will be no movies at either resort on Tuesdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and four nights a week at French Quarter (Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). 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.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Tuesdays & Fridays at French Quarter; Tuesdays & Thursdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Descendants 3(Saturdays at Riverside, Mondays at French Quarter, 8:30pm) — Celebrate a wicked cool summer with the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Descendants 3”! Guests will receive a collectible postcard with a code to stream the Official Descendants Music Playlist while supplies last. French Quarter’s pool activities and evening campfires will also feature villain-inspired themes on Mondays to tie in with the movie screenings.
“Back to School” Fridays(Riverside, 1pm—8:30pm, Fridays) —Get ready to “get your head in the game” on Fridays with some fabulous games, activities and prizes. “Go Wildcats!”
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.
Summer Sing-along Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s summertime at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden a symphony of music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. Visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Once you’ve found all the music notes, return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a sweet summertime surprise!
Note: Poolside Yoga, Dockside Drawing and the Trivia Nights at Riverside, plus the “Let the Good Times Roll Dance Party” at French Quarter, have been discontinued. The reference to Dockside Drawing in the Monday daily activities list for Riverside appears to be an error.
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: “Ye Haa” Bob has a few personal event days coming up, and will not be performing his regular sessions at Port Orleans Riverside on: Fri 9, Sat 10, Thurs 29, Fri 30 & Sat 31 August. He will also be away on Fri 20 & Sat 21 September, and then for an extended vacation travelling in China from 16—30 October, returning to the Port on Thursday 31 October.
Port Orleans French Quarter’s Scat Cat’s Club does not currently have "official" resident musicians, but filling the gap admirably for a number of years now are the talented 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, and recently you may even find them there on Fridays too. 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.
Walt Disney World has launched its annual complimentary Disney Dining Plan offer, this time with pretty limited date options. Also, as with last year, the deal completely excludes both of the Port Orleans Resorts. In 2017 there were limited periods of availability for Port Orleans Riverside only, but this year you'll need to look elsewhere if you want free dining (see mousesavers.com).
All is not completely lost for Port Orleans fans though, as Disney has also just launched a new "Fall & Holiday" offer, which gives discounts of 'up to' 15% for Moderate resort rooms - although only 10% for both Port Orleans resorts. The offer period covers arrival dates from 1 Sep 2019 - 24 Dec 2019, but weekends (Fridays & Saturdays) are blacked out between 29 Sep and 14 Nov. While you can continue with your stay after the end of the offer period, or during blacked-out weekend dates, the price will revert back to regular rack rates for the non-offer dates. There is no minimum length of stay, and the offer can be combined with tickets and/or the purchase of a Dining Plan to create a package.
For arrival dates of up to 7 November you must make your booking by 29 September, and for the remainder of the dates you can book until the offer ends. Availability is limited and these kinds of offers always tend to sell out very fast. With Port Orleans excluded from free dining places are likely to go quickly, so book soon and try to be flexible with your dates for the best chances.
As always, for more details on this and other offers please see the excellent mousesavers.com.
Note: These offers relate only to bookings made directly with Walt Disney World and/or its US travel agents. Other counties may have different offers; the UK Walt Disney Travel Company for example has been offering its guests free Disney Dining with package bookings (including stays at both Port Orleans resorts) for some time, and throughout 2020.
The July 2019 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, including Independence Day (Thursday 4th July). See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours now and throughout the summer months are 9am—11pm, outside of which times the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). There will be no movies at either resort on Thursdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and on three nights a week as the movies at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, matching the movie nights). 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.
Independence Day (Thursday 4th July) Activities
Port Orleans Riverside
Colonial Cake Walk. Located at the Ol’ Man Island Children's Pool 11:15am: First Round 11:45am: Second Round 12:15pm: Third Round 12:45pm: Fourth Round
Muddy Rivers Activities. Located at Muddy Rivers Pool Bar 12:00pm-12:30pm: Watermelon Eating Contest 1:00pm-2:00pm: Patriotic Spray Art ($)
Patriotic Poolside Activities. Located at the Ol’ Man Island Pool 2:00pm-2:30pm: Red, White & Balloons 2:30pm-3:30pm: Give Me Liberty, or Give Me A Pie-In-The-Face 3:30pm-4:30pm: Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 4:30pm-5:30pm: All American Pool Party
Stars, Stripes, and S’mores. Located at the Ol’ Man Island Campfire Pit. 6:30pm-7:30pm
Movie Under the Stars & Stripes. Located by the Building 90/95 Pool. 8:30pm: Captain America: the First Avenger (PG-13)
Port Orleans French Quarter
Doubloon Lagoon Pool 1:00pm: Star Spangled Water Balloon Toss 1:30pm: Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 3:00pm: Patriotic Pool Party 4:00pm: Red, White, and Blue Bingo 4:30pm:Watermelon Eating Contest 5:30pm-6:00pm: Stars and Stripes Scavenger Hunt
Between Buildings 5 & 6 6:00pm: Backyard Bash Lawn Games 6:30pm-8:30pm: All American Campfire
Note: Riverside’s regular Glow with the Flow Pool Party and French Quarter’s Trivia Night will be cancelled on 4th July due to the other special events. In the event of inclement weather, activities may be relocated to the lobbies and/or lobby courtyards. Please see a Recreation Cast Member for more information.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us in the River Roost Lounge for two different classes to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
Poolside Yoga(Riverside, 8:15am—8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30-minute yoga session on the Muddy Rivers Deck at Ol’ Man Island. Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Sundays & Wednesdays at French Quarter; Tuesdays & Thursdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Let the Good Times Roll Dance Party(French Quarter, 9pm—9:30pm, Saturdays) — It’s time to let the good times roll! Drop by the French Quarter Lobby Courtyard to join us for music, dancing and fun for the whole family!
“You Can Fly” Fridays(Riverside, 1pm—8:30pm, Fridays) — Come join us for a full day of “faith, trust and pixie dust.” You’ll have so much fun you’ll “Neverland”!
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.
Summer Sing-along Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s summertime at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden a symphony of music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. Visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Once you’ve found all the music notes, return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a sweet summertime 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).
Note: “Ye Haa” Bob will be performing at a special pre-Fourth of July party for DVC Members at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on Wednesday 3rd July (6:30pm-9:30pm) but will be back at the Port for the actual 4th of July celebrations.
Port Orleans French Quarter’s Scat Cat’s Club does not currently have "official" resident musicians, but filling the gap admirably for a number of years now are the talented 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, and recently you may even find them there on Fridays too. 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.
The 2020 Room and Package Rack Rates have been released for US bookings made with Walt Disney World. The prices were showing on the online calendars from 6am Eastern 18 June 2019. More details will follow, but you should probably expect the website and app to be somewhat busy for a few days.
It will take me a while to scrape and process all 365 days of prices in 17 room categories to provide a full breakdown, but a quick spot-check of Christmas 2020 versus this year shows around a 10% hike - way above inflation. Even for the cheapest Standard View rooms, Christmas week goes up from $357.75/night to $391.50/night inc tax, for a Moderate hotel!
Overnight car parking at Port Orleans has also gone up by $1, to $20 per day for all 2020 bookings that are made on or after 18 June 2019.
Oh, and Annual Pass prices went up on the same day, some (such as the Platinum Pass for non-Florida residents) increasing by as much as 25%.
The June 2019 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours now and throughout the summer months are 9am—11pm, outside of which times the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm five nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). There will be no movies at either resort on Thursdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). You can roast marshmallows for free, or you can optionally purchase full s’mores kits, all in the warm glow of a night-time campfire.
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run ($)(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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk.
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us in the River Roost Lounge for two different classes to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
Poolside Yoga(Riverside, 8:15am—8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30-minute yoga session on the Muddy Rivers Deck at Ol’ Man Island. Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Sundays & Wednesdays at French Quarter; Tuesdays & Thursdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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).
Let the Good Times Roll Dance Party(French Quarter, 9pm—9:30pm, Saturdays) — It’s time to let the good times roll! Drop by the French Quarter Lobby Courtyard to join us for music, dancing and fun for the whole family!
“Under the Sea” Fridays(Riverside, 2pm—8:30pm, Fridays) — “Seas” the day every Friday with us! Go “Under the Sea” with themed games, prizes and crafts, followed by a screening of The Little Mermaid to end the night.
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.
Summer Sing-along Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s summertime at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden a symphony of music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. Visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Once you’ve found all the music notes, return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a sweet summertime 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).
Note: “Ye Haa” Bob will be on vacation from 19 to 22 June, returning to his regular River Roost sessions on 26 June.
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.
The May 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 now and throughout the summer months are 9am—11pm, outside of which times the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. The five leisure (quiet) pools at Riverside are not locked and are generally available at any time within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm four nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). Since two weekdays are again duplicated this month, there will be no movies at either resort on Thursdays or Saturdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). 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.
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 and costs $30 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingByTheLagoon.
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us in the River Roost Lounge for two different classes to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
Poolside Yoga(Riverside, 8:15am—8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30-minute yoga session on the Muddy Rivers Deck at Ol’ Man Island. Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Sundays, Wednesdays & Saturdays at French Quarter; Thursdays & Saturdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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.
Shower of Flowers Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Spring is in full bloom at Port Orleans French Quarter! We have hidden flowers celebrating some of our favorite Disney characters around the Resort, 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 springtime 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.
The April 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 now and throughout the summer months are 9am—11pm, outside of which times the pools and hot tubs are gated and locked as there are no lifeguards on duty. 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 four nights a week at Riverside (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), and three nights at week at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). Since two weekdays are duplicated this month, there will be no movies at either resort on Thursdays or Saturdays.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm every night at Riverside, and on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). 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.
9am Candy Scramble(Located on the Courtyard of Oak Manor, building 90) — Come scoop up as many “Spoonfuls of Sugar” as you can in our Candy Scramble!
9:30am–11:30am Character Greeting(Located near the fountain on the Courtyard of Oak Manor, building 90)
9:30am-11:30am Cherry Tree Lane Games(Located at the Courtyards of Buildings 85 and 90) — Step in time to some fabulously magical adventures along the Cherry Tree Lane trail while winning some fantastic prizes!
Possibly Impossible Poolside Activities(Located at Ol’ Man Island pool) 11:30am–12:30pm Design Your Own Parasol ($)12:30pm–1:30pm Practically Perfect Pool Party 1:30pm–2:30pm Supercali-Trivia 2:30pm–3pm What’s In Your Carpet Bag? 3pm–3:30pm Off to the Horse Races Relay 3:30pm–4:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($)
6:30pm–7:30pm “Jolly Holiday” Campfire(Located at the Campfire Pit on Ol’ Man Island) — It’s always a “Jolly Holiday” at the Campfire on de’ Bayou! Enjoy a “Spoonful of Sugar” with a Bayou twist.
Port Orleans French Quarter
8am Beignet Dash Fun Run ($) — This Easter we’re celebrating all things “Up,” and Port Orleans must be explored! Get in on the Easter spirit by joining us for a quick run or walk around French Quarter and Riverside! Check in begins at 7:30am along the River walk between Building 5 and Doubloon Lagoon Pool. You and your entire family are sure to have an incredible time!
Events between Buildings 5 & 6 9am Candy Scramble 9:30am Wilderness Lawn Games 9:30am-11:30am Character Greeting
10:30am-11:30am Earn Your Badges Egg Scavenger Hunt — It’s your chance to become a Wilderness Explorer! Stop by the French Quarter green to pick up your Scavenger Hunt Guide. It will lead you on a journey around French Quarter to find 5 eggs each representing a badge you’ll be able to earn! Find all five eggs and claim your prize at Doubloon Lagoon Pool!
Events at Doubloon Lagoon Pool 11:30am Mickey Tie Dye($) 12:30pm Mr. Fredrickson's Memory Test (Disney Trivia) 1pm Adventure is Out There Pool Party 2pm Make Your Own Badge ($) 3pm Balloon Relays 3:30pm Snipe Bingo 8:30pm Bunny-Hop, Splash, and Glow Pool Party
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 and costs $30 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingByTheLagoon.
Supercali-Fridays(Fridays at both resorts, 8:30pm) — In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You’ll find the fun at our Movie Under the Stars on Friday nights, with some added “spoonfuls of sugar” to celebrate a practically perfect evening!
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us on the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters.
Poolside Yoga(Riverside, 8:15am—8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30-minute yoga session on the Muddy Rivers Deck at Ol’ Man Island. Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Sundays, Wednesdays & Saturdays at French Quarter; Thursdays & Saturdays at Riverside. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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.
Shower of Flowers Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Spring is in full bloom at Port Orleans French Quarter! We have hidden flowers celebrating some of our favorite Disney characters around the Resort, 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 springtime 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.
For the past few years, guests wishing to travel to Walt Disney World's two water parks - Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon - had to first take a bus to Disney Springs and then change to a different service for their chosen water park. However beginning on Sunday 17th March 2019, the Disney resort hotels will once again start offering their own direct bus routes for each water park.
Some resort hotels will provide a combined bus service - for example all three All Star resorts will share buses - but the wording on Disney's release seems a little unclear when it comes to the Port Orleans Resorts. Riverside and French Quarter are not listed within the shared services list, but Port Orleans is mentioned in the section covering larger resorts which will only offer one pickup point. Only the South Depot is mentioned in that list though, which makes sense for the Riverside portion of the service, but it won't be appreciated by French Quarter guests. This situation will presumably be clarified soon, but my best guess would be that there will be shared services calling at the Port Orleans Riverside South Depot and also at the single Port Orleans French Quarter stop, but not at the other three 'outer circle' stops at Riverside. I'll provide further information once anything is confirmed.
[Update: it has been confirmed that water park buses call at French Quarter first, then Riverside South, before heading to the water park]
Guests wishing to travel from a theme park to a water park will still need to change though, by first boarding a bus to the most convenient resort and then changing to a direct water park service from there.
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 ($), Balocoloc Venetian Masks available for purchase, giveaways, and more!
There will be no Cajan Campfire in the evening due to the other celebrations taking place, but the Movie Under the Stars at 9pm will of course be Disney’s New Orleans themed The Princess and the Frog.
All events are weather permitting, and the evening celebration will be moved indoors to the lobby area if necessary.
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run ($)(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.
The February 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. 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 7:30pm on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or 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 5:30pm-6:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 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.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk. Note: There will be no Beignet Dash on Sunday 24 February due to runDisney’s Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. We wish our runners the best of luck and look forward to celebrating with you!
Disney Trivia Night(Riverside, Tuesdays 8:30pm-10pm) — Looking to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge from 8:30pm to 10:00pm for some fun and exciting competition!
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Dockside Drawing(Riverside, 3pm—4pm Mondays & Thursdays) — Have you ever wanted to learn to draw like a Disney Animator? Join us on the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby to learn how to draw Disney classic animated characters. Note: This replaces the Wine Glass Painting and Painting at the Roost activities which have been offered over the last couple of months.
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm—1pm Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays) — Bring the family down to the Back Porch of the Riverside Lobby for some fun in the sun. These giant games will be a blast for everyone!
Arts & Crafts ($) 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!
There will also be themed poolside activities on Valentine’s Day, but otherwise the next major event will be Mardi Gras on 5th March.
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 will not be performing at the Port on Friday 22 February due to a private commitment.
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.
The January 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. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Note: the Riverside movie screenings are now being shown on the pool deck area near to building 95 (between Parterre Place and Oak Manor).
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 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.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk. Note: There will be no Beignet Dash on Sunday 4 November due to the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon being held on the same day.
Disney Trivia Night(Riverside, Tuesdays 8:30pm-10pm) — Looking to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge from 8:30pm to 10:00pm for some fun and exciting competition!
Wine Glass Painting ($)(French Quarter, 4pm—6pm Saturdays) — Join us in Scat Cat’s Club from 4pm to 6pm on Saturdays for an instructor-led wine glass painting experience! Throughout the class, you’ll have the opportunity to paint two Disney-themed wine glasses to take home! The class will also include a complimentary glass of wine for all Guests 21 and older, or a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage for Guests under 21 to enjoy. Please call 321-347-0750 to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week. For ages 12 and up. [Cost is $50, which includes two painted glasses and one drink]
Painting on de’ Bayou ($)(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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Painting at the Roost ($)(Riverside, 5pm—7pm Mondays) — Drift on down to the River Roost Lounge for our instructor-led wood sign painting class. Relax while you paint your own piece of charming southern décor, accompanied by a beverage of your choice and light bites. Ages 12 and up. Space is limited. Stop by the Riverside Levee Marina or call 407-934-5405 to reserve a seat!
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm—1pm Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays) — 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.
French Quarter Winter Wonderland Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn in your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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). Note: Bob will be on vacation from 7-12 January, returning to the Port on his regular nights from 16 January.
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.
Free Disney Dining Plan Package Offer (5 July - 30 September 2019)
Get a FREE Disney Dining Plan when you book a package including a room (for a minimum of four nights) with theme park tickets (also a minimum of 4-day, Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus). Offer includes Riverside, but not French Quarter, and is valid for arrival dates from 5 July 2019 until 30 September 2019. You must make your booking by 10 February 2019, and expect demand to be high for a limited number of available rooms, so be flexible with your dates and room your category choices.
For the Moderate resorts the package included is the Quick Service Dining Plan but you can upgrade to the Standard Dining Plan for $22.99/night for adults / $4.20/night for kids, or to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $63.75/night for adults / $19.70/night for kids. The free dining plan is provided for all guests staying in the room up until the end of your stay (max 14 nights).
Sun and Fun Room Offer (28 April - 30 September 2019)
Get up to 25% off a room-only booking for most check-in dates from 28 April 2019 until 30 September 2019. You can also add tickets (at regular list price) to create a package booking. It is possible to stay beyond the end date but only the dates within the offer period will be discounted.
Valid for both Riverside and French Quarter, but expect availability to be limited so be flexible with your dates and room your category choices.
For Moderate resort rooms the discount varies between 10% and 25% based on your dates and chosen room type. The best deals are for arrivals after 28 May (which must be booked by 24 March), but there are smaller discounts available during the earlier part of the offer (book these up to 27 May).
As always, I recommend keeping an eye on www.mousesavers.com for the latest offers and deals beyond those for the Port Orleans Resorts which we cover here.
The December 2018 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 9am—10pm at the beginning of the month and will be reducing to 10am—8pm as from 9th December. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Note: the Riverside movie screenings are now being shown on the pool deck area near to building 95 (between Parterre Place and Oak Manor).
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 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.
Christmas and New Year special activity schedules will be published closer to the dates.
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 $15+tax, including three beignets and a souvenir “medal”. To reserve your spot, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge Desk. Note: There will be no Beignet Dash on Sunday 4 November due to the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon being held on the same day.
Disney Trivia Night(Riverside, Tuesdays 8:30pm-10pm) — Looking to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge from 8:30pm to 10:00pm for some fun and exciting competition!
Wine Glass Painting ($)(French Quarter, 4pm—6pm Saturdays) — Join us in Scat Cat’s Club from 4pm to 6pm on Saturdays for an instructor-led wine glass painting experience! Throughout the class, you’ll have the opportunity to paint two Disney-themed wine glasses to take home! The class will also include a complimentary glass of wine for all Guests 21 and older, or a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage for Guests under 21 to enjoy. Please call 321-347-0750 to reserve your spot. Registration is limited to 16 Guests per week. For ages 12 and up. Price TBC.
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 $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 407-WDW-PLAY or visit the Concierge desk for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Painting at the Roost ($)(Riverside, 5pm—7pm Mondays) — Drift on down to the River Roost Lounge for our instructor-led wood sign painting class. Relax while you paint your own piece of charming southern décor, accompanied by a beverage of your choice and light bites. Ages 12 and up. Space is limited. Stop by the Riverside Levee Marina or call 407-934-5405 to reserve a seat!
Back Porch Games(Riverside, 12pm—1pm Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays) — 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.
French Quarter Winter Wonderland Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn in your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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). Note: Bob will be performing all of his regular nights in December, plus an additional show on New Year’s Eve.
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.
The November 2018 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 9am—10pm as from 30th September.. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason. The quiet pool next to building 24 has now re-opened (on 29 September) after a six-week period of maintenance.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Note: the Riverside movie screenings are being offered at a new location as from last month, on the pool deck area near to building 95 (between Parterre Place and Oak Manor).
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 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.
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. Note: There will be no Beignet Dash on Sunday 4 November due to the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon being held on the same day.
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 at the Roost(Riverside, 5pm—7pm Mondays) — Drift on down to the River Roost Lounge for our instructor-led wood sign painting class. Relax while you paint your own piece of charming southern décor, accompanied by a beverage of your choice and light bites. Ages 12 and up. Space is limited. Stop by the Riverside Levee Marina or call 407-934-5405 to reserve a seat!
Yoga on the Lawn(Riverside, 8:15am-8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30 minute yoga session on the courtyard lawn at Building 90 (Oak Manor). Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
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.
French Quarter Winter Wonderland Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Port Orleans French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes, and we need your help to find them all! To join in on the flurry of fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all of the sparkling snowflakes and turn in your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a frosty 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). Note: Bob will be performing all of his regular nights this month except for 17 November. He will be starting his Christmas shows as from Thanksgiving night.
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.
The October 2018 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 31st October Halloween Activities for both resorts have been added to the end of this post.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours are currently 9am—10pm as from 30th September.. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason. The quiet pool next to building 24 has now re-opened (on 29 September) after a six-week period of maintenance.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Note: the Riverside movie screenings are being offered at a new location this month, 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 daily 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.
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.
Yoga on the Lawn(Riverside, 8:15am-8:45am Mondays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary 30 minute yoga session on the courtyard lawn at Building 90 (Oak Manor). Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Fridays at Riverside ; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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.
French Quarter Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Fall has arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in on the festive fun by joining us for a pumpkin hunt! We’ve hidden 13 pumpkins around the Resort, each one featuring one of Disney’s most mischievous villains, and we need your help to find them! To join in on the fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all 13 villains and return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a seasonal 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). Note: Bob will away on a personal trip to China from 15 October to 22 October, returning to the Port for his regular nights as from 24 October.
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.
The September 2018 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 9am—11pm, but will be reduced to 9am—10pm from 30th September. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Please note the revised dates; there is now at least one movie scheduled for every day of the week at one resort or the other, so feel free to try both!
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and daily 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.
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.
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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Fridays at Riverside ; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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).
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!
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.
French Quarter Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Fall has arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in on the festive fun by joining us for a pumpkin hunt! We’ve hidden 13 pumpkins around the Resort, each one featuring one of Disney’s most mischievous villains, and we need your help to find them! To join in on the fun, visit the Front Desk to pick up your clue guide. Find all 13 villains and return your completed clue guide to the Front Desk to collect a seasonal 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. 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.
The August 2018 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 9am—11pm and will stay that way throughout the summer months. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Please note the revised dates; there is now at least one movie scheduled for every day of the week at one resort or the other, so feel free to try both! Note: On Friday August 10 there will be a special presentation of the brand new Disney Channel Original Movie Freaky Friday at French Quarter. Riverside will screen it the next day.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and daily 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.
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.
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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Fridays at Riverside, 8:30pm; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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).
Disney Trivia Night(Riverside, Tuesdays 8:30pm-10pm) — Ready to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge for a fun and exciting competition!
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.
Summer Sing-A-Long Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s Summer at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden 13 music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. 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 summertime 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).
Note: Bob will be away to perform at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri from 10-11 August, and will also not be at the Port from 30 August-1 September.
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.
The July 2018 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter, including Independence Day Activities, 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 9am—11pm and will stay that way throughout the summer months. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Please note the revised dates; there is now at least one movie scheduled for every day of the week at one resort or the other, so feel free to try both! Note: Saturday’s movie at Riverside this month is Marvel’s Black Panther which has a PG-13 certificate.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and daily 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.
Fourth of July Activities at Riverside:
11:00am–3:00pm Muddy Rivers Cookout / BBQ on the Bayou(Located at the Muddy Rivers pool bar on Ol’ Man Island) Cheeseburger $10.49 BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich $9.99 Grilled All Beef Hot Dog $8.99 (All Entrees served with choice of two sides, which include coleslaw, baked beans and house-made chips) Grilled Corn on the Cob $3.99 All items are eligible on the Disney Dining Plan
Colonial Cake Walk(Located near the Children’s Playground on Ol’ Man Island) — Come ’round the Campfire area to win cake! 11:15am First Round 11:45am Second Round 12:15pm Third Round 12:45pm Fourth Round
Patriotic Poolside Activities(by the Ol’ Man Island Pool) 12:00pm–1:00pm Patriotic Spray Paint Arts & Crafts ($) 1:00pm–1:30pm Beach Ball Boom! 1:30pm–2:00pm Watermelon Eating Contest 2:00pm–2:30pm Red, White and Water Balloons! 2:30pm–3:30pm Give Me Liberty, or Give Me a Pie-in-the-Face 3:30pm–4:30pm All-American Pool Party 4:30pm–5:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($)
6:30pm–7:30pm Stars, Stripes and S’mores(Campfire near the Children’s Playground) — Join us at our evening Campfire on the Bayou for complimentary marshmallows with s’mores kits available for purchase.
8:30pm Movie under the Stars and Stripes(on the Oak Manor courtyard lawn) — “Cars”. Enjoy complimentary popcorn at the showing!
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run ($)(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.
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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Fridays at Riverside; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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).
Disney Trivia Night(Riverside Tuesdays 8:30pm; French Quarter Mondays 8pm) — Ready to show off your Disney Trivia skills? Join us on Tuesday nights at the River Roost Lounge for a fun and exciting competition! Also available on Mondays at French Quarter.
Notable Quotable(French Quarter, 8pm Saturdays)
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.
Summer Sing-A-Long Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s Summer at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden 13 music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. 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 summertime 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. 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.
Wednesday 20th June 2018 was the 31st Anniversary of popular Port Orleans French Quarter greeter Arneil De Witt starting his long career with Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, the day also signifies Arneil's retirement from the company, effective immediately, due to unanticipated health concerns. Although he is in no immediate danger, he has been advised to "slow down" and having also just celebrated his 70th birthday he has decided it is time to retire.
Arneil asked regular guest and friend Steve Denney if he could pass on a message to everyone that he will greatly miss his Disney role, and especially his many friends visiting from around the world. He sends his prayers and best regards to all of his French Quarter "family".
Here at PortOrleans.org we would like to send Arneil our very best wishes for a long, relaxed and happy retirement.
Good Luck Arneil, and thanks for all the years of dedication that you have given to your guests as the "face of Port Orleans French Quarter". Your welcoming charm and wit will be greatly missed, especially by all those children who have created their very own Disney Wishes by throwing your colourful coins into the lobby fountain.
On 2nd July, after his Disney leaving event, we presented Arneil with a framed memento and a booklet of some 300+ messages from his fans
Arneil one year ago, being presented with his 30 year long-service award
The 2019 Room and Package Rack Rates have been released for bookings made with Walt Disney World. The prices were showing on the online calendars from 6am Eastern 19 June 2018. More details will follow, but you should probably expect the website and app to be somewhat flaky today. [Note: Post updated with pricing information and graphs on 27 June]
There are two new room categories for Port Orleans Riverside bookings for stays commencing from 1st January 2019 onward. Because the resort had been getting more and more pre-arrival requests from guests wanting to ensure they get an extra fold-down bed — just as in the past building 14 was a highly-requested option which led to the creation of the Preferred Location category — Disney has decided that there is enough demand to make it a premium offering, so people can pay extra to guarantee getting an Alligator Bayou room with that extra fold-down bed. Previously, it had only been possible to guarantee an Alligator Bayou room by booking Preferred Location, or by having a party of more than four people aged 3+.
“Standard View – 5th Sleeper” and “Garden View – 5th Sleeper” are pretty self-explanatory in that they assure you of getting a Standard or Garden room in the Alligator Bayou section, giving you the fold-down bed no matter how many people are in the room. The pricing premium varies a bit throughout the year, but on average the new categories are about $13.50 (just under 5%) more expensive than their regular Standard/Garden counterparts.
I initially assumed that the old Standard View and Garden View options would not be displayed for parties exceeding four guests (aged 3+), thus forcing you to select the two new categories for any parties of five, but oddly that does not seem to be the case as yet. It’s possible the new options are still propagating their way through the system though.
These new options should make it easier for the room allocation team when assigning parties of five to Alligator Bayou — except for Pool View and River View bookings, for which guests will still need to submit pre-arrival requests which will be managed on a booking-by-booking basis.
The one downside is that people who don’t book these categories might conversely assume that they are 100% guaranteeing themselves a mansion building room, however since the original categories will now be less expensive these may well get overbooked and the team might need to juggle some groups into the more expensive 5th sleeper category rooms anyway — meaning Alligator Bayou, which in some cases may not be regarded by the guests as an upgrade.
Other than those two new Riverside categories, the pricing structure has risen somewhat less markedly than it has in previous years, averaging just under 3% higher than 2018. For the past few years, average increases have been between 5% and 7% annually, so this is a welcome change. The lowest nightly price (Standard View for weekdays in January) is $232, and the highest (Christmas week in a Royal River View room) is $422.
As with last year, Disney have split the rates for most seasons into three nightly pricing bands — the cheapest being Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, then Thursday/Sunday, and finally the most expensive nights are Fridays & Saturdays. This makes the old tidy tabular layouts more confusing than ever, although the folks over at MouseSavers.com have made valiant efforts with their Riverside and French Quarter pages.
If you want to see the complete list of daily prices for all 17 Port Orleans room categories for 2019, please download our 2019 Rack Rate Spreadsheet. This was accurate as of 25 June 2018, but it›s not unheard of for Disney to make minor adjustments after the annual prices have been set.
Live bus wait times now available to resort guests via newly redesigned My Disney Experience mobile app
Good news! According to the Disney Parks Blog, the My Disney Experience mobile app is being updated to provide hotel guests with live bus wait time information, the same content that you would see on the wait time boards at the resort's bus stops.
The app should regularly update in real time to provide the most current estimates for buses heading to all four theme parks, two water parks and the Disney Springs area. Guests can access the feature throughout their stay by tapping “See Bus Times” when viewing an active Disney Resort hotel reservation associated with their account.
The update should be available via the Apple Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android.
The June 2018 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 9am—11pm and will stay that way throughout the summer months. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Riverside, or Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at French Quarter. Please note the revised dates; there is now a movie scheduled for every day of the week at one resort or the other, so feel free to try both! On Saturday 2 June, both resorts will show a special presentation of Peter Pan in celebration of this classic film’s 65th anniversary.
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and daily 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.
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.
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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at Riverside; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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.
Summer Sing-A-Long Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — It’s Summer at Port Orleans French Quarter, and we are inviting you to join in as we celebrate some of our favorite Disney songs! We’ve hidden 13 music notes around the Resort, each one representing a favorite Disney movie with songs that keep us humming and singing along. 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 summertime 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). Note: Bob will be away on a personal trip to Helsinki (Finland) from 13 June to 23 June, returning to the Port on 27 June.
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.
Boatwright's Dining Hall at Port Orleans Riverside is offering a special three-course Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday 13 May 2018 from 10am to 1:30pm. Dining Reservations are recommended.
Adult Meal ($32)
To Begin Family Style Service of Fresh Seasonal Fruit & Sweet Bread Basket with Complimentary Mimosa
Main Course Eggs Benedict with Crab, Tomato, Hollandaise and Tasso Ham with Spicy Micro Greens Stack Buttermilk Pancakes with Seasonal Berry Compote & Fresh Whipped Cream, Bacon and Sausage Banana Stuffed French Toast with Seasonal Berry Compote & Fresh Whipped Cream, Bacon and Sausage Steak and Eggs over easy with Southern Honey Biscuit & house made Sausage Gravy Cobb Salad with Avocado, Tomato, Roasted Chicken, Eggs, Bacon, Blue Cheese & house made Avocado Ranch Dressing Southern Omelet with Tasso Ham, Pimento Cheese, Peppers, Onions, Green Tomato Salsa, and Hash Browns Nashville Hot Chicken on a Southern Honey Biscuit & side of Collard Greens Roasted Shrimp Salad on a Freshly Baked Multi Grain Croissant with Bibb Lettuce served with a Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Enjoy a Selection of Our Southern Sweets
Child Meal ($17)
To Begin Family Style Service of Fresh Seasonal Fruit & Sweet Bread Basket with Complimentary Sparkling Mocktail
Main Course Ham & Cheese Omelet with Hash Browns Short Stack Pancakes with Fresh Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Bacon and Sausage Steak Kabobs, Scrambled Eggs, and Hash Browns Corn Dog Nuggets, Mac & Cheese and Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing Mini Mickey Waffles with Fresh Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Bacon and Sausage Pain Perdu French Toast tossed with Cinnamon Sugar, Fresh Strawberries, Whipped Cream, Bacon and Sausage Crispy Chicken Nuggets and Mickey Waffles with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Now that notification letters and emails have started going out to guests who are booked in to Port Orleans Riverside during the second half of 2018, this seems a good time to elaborate on the refurbishment program that will be taking place there soon.
Once the Port Orleans French Quarter refurbishments are complete around the middle of July, work will commence on Riverside’s Alligator Bayou section, starting with building 37. This is currently scheduled to begin on 21 July, but please remember that maintenance plans and dates are always subject to change at any time. Each 64-room building should take around four weeks to complete, and there will be periods of overlap when two or more buildings may be worked on simultaneously. The entire Alligator Bayou section should be complete by the end of the year.
All of the work will be of a similar nature to the current French Quarter room refurbishments (new hard flooring, larger TVs, raised beds, new curtains instead of blinds, USB power sockets, wall-mounted soap-dispensers, etc) but since the bayou buildings are a lot smaller than those in French Quarter each one should be completely closed before work commences. There will be no major external work, just in-room redecorating, so there should be little if any disruption to anyone’s stay — if indeed you even notice at all.
I won't go into too much detail on specific start and end dates at this stage, as it's too far out to be sure that they will be accurate, but the following should be a good general guide:
Building 37: Starts 21 July 2018
Building 38: Aug 2018
Building 39: Aug 2018
Building 36: Aug 2018
Building 35: Aug/Sep 2018
Building 34: Sep 2018
Building 24: Sep 2018 [was Oct 2018]
Building 28: Sep 2018
Building 26 :Oct 2018
Building 25: Oct 2018
Building 27: Oct 2018 [was Sept 2018]
Building 17: Oct/Nov 2018
Building 16: Nov 2018
Building 15: Nov 2018
Building 18: Nov 2018
Building 14: Dec 2018
Updated 24 June: During the period when the buildings closest to the ‘twenties’ leisure pool are mostly unoccupied, that pool will be closed for maintenance. The original start date for this work was provisionally set for late September, but that has now been brought forward a little to 13 Aug until 5 Oct. Again, please remember that these dates are always subject to change. The room assignment team will be making every effort to avoid placing any guests with Pool View or Garden View bookings into rooms that are close to the twenties pool during this work, and the original September and October refurbishment slots for buildings 27 and 24 have been swapped to better fit around the new pool maintenance schedule.
Once all 16 Alligator Bayou buildings are complete, work will commence on the Magnolia Bend area. This section is expected to begin in early Spring 2019, and the four large mansion buildings should take a total of around six months to complete.
In advance of this work though, next week will see the start of installation of the new style wall-mounted amenity dispensers (shampoo, etc) in the bathrooms of the Riverside mansion buildings, starting with Parterre Place and working back to Acadian House over the next few weeks.
The May 2018 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 9am—11pm and will stay that way throughout the summer months. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays at Riverside, and Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at French Quarter. Please note the revised dates; there is now a movie scheduled for every day of the week at one resort or the other, so feel free to try both!
Evening Campfire Activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same nights as the movies at French Quarter, and daily at Riverside. You can roast marshmallows for free, or you optionally purchase full s’mores kits, all in the warm glow of a night-time campfire.
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.
Painting on de’ Bayou(French Quarter, 6pm—8pm Wednesdays) — Let your artistic side shine! 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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at Riverside; Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. 8:30pm-9:30pm) — Dance on down to the pool for an exciting evening of party games and dancing that will light up the night!
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.
Shower of Flowers Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Spring is in full bloom at Port Orleans French Quarter. We have hidden flowers and butterflies celebrating some of our favorite Disney Characters around the Resort, 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 springtime 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). Note: Bob will be performing all of his regular nights at Port Orleans Riverside during May, but will be away on a personal trip to Helsinki (Finland) from 13 June to 23 June, returning to the Port on 27 June.
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.
Walt Disney World has launched its annual free Disney Dining Plan offer - covering 20 August to 23 December 2018, with some lengthy blackout periods - but this year the deals exclude both of the Port Orleans Resorts completely. Last year there were limited periods of availability for Port Orleans Riverside only, but this year you'll need to look elsewhere if you want free dining. Presumably with both Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach undergoing fairly extensive construction work at the moment, Disney feels they do not need the offer any extra incentives for people to stay at the already very popular Port Orleans Rresorts.
All is not completely lost for Port Orleans fans though, because Disney have also just launched a new "Enchanted Escape" offer, which gives room discounts of between 10% and 25% (based on dates and selected room categories) for Moderate resort stays. This offer includes both Port Orleans Resorts, and it can be combined with tickets to make a package. However availability will be limited and these kinds of offers always tend to sell out very fast, and for Port Orleans you should expect to most likely only get the basic 10% rate. You can book for stays starting from 2 August until 7 October, and your booking needs to be made by 7 September.
As always, for more details please see the excellent mousesavers.com. These offers only relate to bookings made directly with Walt Disney World and/or via USA travel agents. Other counties may have different offers - the UK for example offers free dining for Port Orleans stays during 2019.
Happy Easter! There will be lots of fun activities on Easter Sunday (1st April) for all the family at both Riverside and French Quarter, including games, egg hunts and character greetings:
10am-1:30pm - Easter Brunch at Boatwright's Dining Hall. $32 per adult (includes a Sparkling Wine), $17 per child (9 and under, includes a Sparkling Beverage). Reservations available via My Disney Experience or 407-WDW-DINE
Riverside:
9am - Candy Scramble (building 90 courtyard)
9:30am - Lawn games (building 90 courtyard)
9:30am-11:30am - Character Meet & Greet (building 90 courtyard)
11:30am-12:30pm - Mickey Tie-Dye (Ol' Man Island Pool) ($)
12:30pm-1:30pm - Bunny Hoppin' Pool Party (Ol' Man Island Pool)
1:30pm-2pm - Egg Drop (Ol' Man Island Pool)
2pm-3pm - What's in Your Easter Basket? (Ol' Man Island Pool)
3pm-3:30pm - Egg-straordinary Trivia (Ol' Man Island Pool)
3:30pm-4:30pm - Easter Arts & Crafts (Ol' Man Island Pool) ($)
6:30pm-7:30pm - Campfire on de' Bayou (Ol' Man Island)
French Quarter:
8am - Beignet Dash. Get in on the Easter spirit by joining us for a quick run or walk around French Quarter and Riverside! Check in begins at 7:30am along the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. It's going to be a bunny hopping good time for the whole family. ($)
9am - Candy Scramble (between buildings 5 and 6)
9:30am - Lawn Games (between buildings 5 and 6)
10:30am - This Way, That Way, Wonderland Egg Hunt (between buildings 5 and 6). Stop by the French Quarter Green to pick up your Scavenger Hunt Guide. It will lead you on a journey to find 5 eggs themed to some of your favorite Alice in Wonderland characters hidden throughout French Quarter. Find them all and claim your prize at Doubloon Lagoon Pool.
3:30pm - What's in Your Easter Basket? (Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
5pm-7pm Golden Afternoon Garden Party (between buildings 5 and 6). Join us for an evening of fun for the whole family including themed lawn games and character meet and greets, as well as Merchandise and Food & Beverage offerings available for purchase.
6:30pm - Very Merry Unbirthday Campfire (between buildings 5 and 6)
8:30pm - Movie Under the Stars (between buildings 5 and 6). Alice in Wonderland
Candy Scramble at Port Orleans Riverside, 2016
And for general recreation activities for the rest of April:
As an alternative to the recently announced room discount offer, you can also get any of the Disney Dining Plans free for all children aged 3-9 when you book a package including full-priced room, theme park tickets, and the same dining plan for everyone in the room (Quick Service, Standard, or Deluxe are available). Valid for arrival dates from 11 June 2018 to 30 August 2018, your overall stay with the offer can extend further as long as you arrive by 30 August. The minimum stay is three nights and you must purchase at least a three-day base park ticket for each guest. Both Port Orleans resorts are included in the offer and you need to book by 1 August 2018.
As with all such offers, some dates and room categories may not be available, and you should weigh up the overall benefit compared with other options such as the Summer Room Discount. As Port Orleans is only receiving a maximum of 10% room discount, the free children’s dining offer might work out better value for you, especially if you have more than one child in the room and were intending to get a dining plan anyway. For example, if you have two children and would be purchasing the standard dining plan, you might save around $52 per night which is far better than a 10% discount.
Disney has released discount offers for stays during Summer 2018, and very unusually both Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter are included - although room availability is likely to be limited. See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/ for full details, but here is how this and a previous offer apply to Port Orleans:
An Incredible Summer Awaits – Save Up to 25% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels
With this offer you can save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from 11 June 2018 to 1 August 2018. There are some tiered discounts at the other resorts, but for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter it appears to be a rather low flat rate of 10%. You need to book by 1 August 2018. The website also says to ask about "great rates" for stays most nights from 28 May through 10 June and 2 August through 30 August, but does not elaborate any further.
Soak Up Some Sun & Fun - Save Up to 20% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Spring
With this offer you can save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from 15 April 2018 to 10 June 2018 when you book by 7 April 2018. Only Port Orleans Riverside is included, again at 10% discount, and there is no offer at French Quarter. Plus, if you upgrade to a room and ticket package which includes a minimum of 5-day theme park tickets (with the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus option) you get one more day added to the ticket for free.
Guest car parking at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels will no be longer be a free perk. Effective for all bookings made from 21 March 20018 onward, parking at the Port Orleans Resorts will cost guests $19 per night.
Just when you thought Disney had wrung about every last drop of blood out of their visiting stones...
Effective for reservations made from 21 March 2018 onward, overnight car parking at any of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels for registered guests will no longer be the inclusive perk that it has been for more than forty-five years. Self-parking will now incur a nightly fee that will be applied to your hotel folio upon check-out:
Value Resorts: $13 per night Moderate Resorts (which includes Port Orleans): $19 per night Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts: $24 per night (prices include tax)
Guests staying at any of the Walt Disney World resort hotels will still receive "complimentary" parking at the Disney theme parks, as will select Annual Pass holders including Premium passholders.
Self-parking at the water parks, Disney Springs and the ESPN Wide World of Sports will remain free for everyone. Complimentary self-parking is also available to any day guests and visitors who want to visit any of the Disney Resort hotels to experience the dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation offerings.
Designated parking areas are available throughout Walt Disney World Resort for Guests with disabilities. A valid disability parking permit is required.
The perimeter circle road around Port Orleans Riverside has been closed at the road bridge over the Sassagoula River just before Parterre Place since late last week, apparently for emergency work on a burst water main.
To access Parterre Place by road in the meantime, guests will need to travel the reverse route all the way around the Sassagoula Circle road, going past the Alligator Bayou area first. Disney buses are being re-routed as well, turning back after their pickup at the East Depot and returning the same way they came, which will add slightly to journey times.
It is hoped that the road will be re-opened early this week.
The March 2018 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, changing to 9am—11pm from 18 March. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm, daily at Riverside but only on Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. Evening campfire activities will take place on the same evenings as the movies from 5:30pm-6:30pm at Riverside, and from 6pm-7pm at French Quarter.
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
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 (payment required).
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 Marina from 9am—5pm. Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Mardi Gras Movie Masquerade 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!
“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.
Yoga on the Lawn(Riverside, 7am Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) — Join us for a complimentary, 30-minute yoga session at the Courtyard at Building 90/Oak Manor. Sessions take place at 7am-7:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and are available on a first-come, first served basis (maximum 20 guests per session).
Painting on de’ Bayou(French Quarter, 6pm—8pm Wednesdays) — Let your artistic side shine! Join us in Scat Cat’s Club on Wednesdays for an instructor-led painting class to design your own take-home masterpiece. The class is for guests aged 12 and up, and costs $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Glow with the Flow Pool Party(French Quarter, 6:30pm Thursdays) — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool party.
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade(French Quarter, 5:30pm Fridays) — Join us at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for an evening full of Mardi Gras fun, including dance parties, mask making ($), Mardi Gras prizes, a family parade and more! (payment required).
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). Bob will be performing all of his regular nights at Port Orleans Riverside during March, but will be away on vacation from 5 April to 12 April, returning on Friday 13th April.
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.
There have been recent rumours, but multiple sites across the internet have just confirmed that Walt Disney World's "Minnie Van" service will be available from Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter starting from Monday 19 February. This service offers guests flat-rate transportation, using Disney vehicles and drivers, to and from anywhere within Walt Disney World. The cost is $25 plus tip for a maximum of six guests (including up to two children needing car seats) and the service is currently available from 6:30 am to 12:30 am.
Operated in conjunction with the Lyft ridesharing app, guests who wish to take advantage of this service need to first install the app on their phone and then have it validated at the hotel front desk or via the My Disney Experience app. Then they can request a Minnie Van pickup from anywhere on property and they will be notified of the expected arrival time and the vehicle number (as otherwise they all look the same - Minnie Mouse polka dots). Wheelchair accessible vans are available upon request. The Port Orleans pickup and dropoff point will be at the front of the hotel by the Porte Cochere. Note: some Disney deluxe resorts have been trialling using this system for airport transfers too (at a cost of $150) but that will not initially be available to Port Orleans guests.
We first mentioned this on our Facebook page back at the end of November when rumours started emerging, but for those who don't follow us on Facebook, or who haven't read the related Orlando Sentinel article, the Port Orleans resorts recently underwent a major management shake-up during Walt Disney World's latest round of cost-cutting measures.
Around 21st November 2017, Port Orleans Riverside's General Manager since August 2015, Suzette Noble, left the company after some 20 years of working in various management capacities at Walt Disney World. The General Manager of Port Orleans French Quarter, Punam Dayabhai-Jairambhai, briefly filled in to oversee both resorts before she too was transitioned away to become General Manager at Disney's All Star Movies.
Within a couple of weeks the existing General Manager of All Star Movies, John Berko, had been moved over to Port Orleans to take up a combined role overseeing both sides of the resort, Riverside and French Quarter. Ironically this had always been a joint management position in the past, most recently under the auspices of Valerie Bunting between 2009 and 2015 until she was transferred to a management role at the theme parks. For the past two years though there have been separate General Managers, Suzette at Riverside and Punam at French Quarter, but Disney appears to have decided to return the original combined structure with one General Manager overseeing both resorts.
Over the past few days, the in-room collateral has been updated to reflect last year's changes, and the Guest Welcome Letter is now signed from John Berko. Interestingly, and as far as I know for the first time, the letter also provides a dedicated email address, WDW.GM.PortOrleans@disney.com, which allows guests to pass on comments about their stay. The welcome letter assures guests that every email received will be read and personally responded to - either by John or one of his team - and he concludes by wishing guests a magical stay at Disney's Port Orleans Resort.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish John well as he continues to settle into his new role at Port Orleans, and of course to Punam in her new position too. I would also like to extend my very best wishes and personal thanks to Suzette for all her work at Disney and for her help and support over the past few years.
If you happen to be visiting Port Orleans during Mardi Gras there are lots of fun activities around the resort and by the poolside which guests can take part in. Every year, Port Orleans cast members get the opportunity to enter a competition to see which department (Front Desk, Housekeeping, Custodial, Food & Beverage, etc) can dream up the most creative, best themed Mardi Gras parade floats based around the resort’s “pargo” cart vehicles. This year’s parade theme is Walt Disney World Sweets and Treats (Dole Whip Float anyone?).
10am Mardi Gras Pargo Parade — Mardi Gras Pargo Parade traveling through both Port Orleans Riverside & Port Orleans French Quarter. See map for details.
6pm—9pm Mardi Gras Masquerade — Join us in the Port Orleans French Quarter Lobby Courtyard for Mardi Gras fun for the whole family! Our Mardi Gras Masquerade will include a DJ, dancing, character meet and greets, a King Cake eating contest, a Decorate Your Own Mask craft (paid activity), a Decorate Your Own Glass craft (paid activity), giveaways, and more!
9pm Movie Under the Stars — End your Mardi Gras celebrations by joining us on the green between Buildings 5 & 6 at French Quarter for a showing of The Princess and the Frog.
Watch the annual Pargo Parade LIVE at 10am EST via the Eyes-on-Ears website.
The first of the refurbished rooms on the top floor of building 2 at Port Orleans French Quarter re-opened to guests today. The new design is very understated - some on Facebook have even gone so far as to say it's a bit bland. The colours are more muted and the refreshed curtains are much more subtly 'New Orleans' themed than they were before. And of course there's still plain white bed linen, rather sterile in both the good and bad senses of the word.
Hard wood flooring with an attractive inlaid design effect has replaced the old carpets (which will now be much easier to keep clean) and the chest-of-drawers features a new top panel including power and USB sockets, and the chairs have been reupholstered. The over-bed lights have new oblong shades with subtle fleur-de-lys designs, and the switches have been replaced throughout. The lovely decorative borders along the ceiling edges are all gone too, just plain walls now.
There are some nice new touches such as a larger single main mirror and a repositionable round shaving mirror in the bathroom, and a wall-mounted TV (sadly with obtrusive white plastic conduit concealing the cables, shame they could not have channelled the wall during the refit). The wall safes now appear to have combination locks rather than physical keys.
Toiletries are now provided as large wall-mounted dispenser bottles in the bathroom rather than the small individual bottles which somehow always seemed to end up in guests' suitcases...
Most other fittings appear to have remained unchanged, such as the bed headboards, green bench seat, bathroom tiling and shower, hand basins and countertop, coat rack, and the single imagineering painting on the wall.
The February 2018 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 this month. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened daily at 7pm at Riverside, but only on Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. Evening campfire activities will take place at both resorts on the same evenings as the movies (plus Fridays at French Quarter) from 5pm-6pm.
There are normally extra activities scheduled for Mardi Gras, which falls on Tuesday 13 February this year, but information tends to only be issued quite close to the date. One event that a lot of people enjoy is the Mardi Gras Pargo Parade which is run by the cast members, usually occurring in the morning around 10am-11am and running from Riverside to French Quarter.
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
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 (payment required).
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 Marina from 9am—5pm. Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Mardi Gras Movie Masquerade 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!
“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. Note: there will be no Beignet Dash at French Quarter on Sunday 25 February due to the Disney Princess Half Marathon occurring the same day.
Painting on de’ Bayou(French Quarter, 6pm—8pm Wednesdays) — Let your artistic side shine! Join us in Scat Cat’s Club for an instructor-led painting class to design your own take-home masterpiece. 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 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Lawn Games(French Quarter, 4pm—5pm Fridays) — Join us at the Courtyard between Buildings 5 & 6 for lawn games for the whole family.
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 will be away on vacation from 1 Feb to 8 Feb, returning for his regular nights at Port Orleans Riverside from Friday 9th February.
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.
Another fun new activity will be offered as a trial at Port Orleans Riverside this Friday 26th January. Hosted between 3pm and 5pm, visit the River Roost Lounge for a special Wine Tasting session hosted by a Port Orleans Sommelier.
There is a $20 per person charge, which includes four wine samplings plus an item from the River Roost menu. The activity will be limited to a maximum of 15 guests, aged 21+ obviously. You can reserve your place in advance by calling 1-407-934-5265.
I hope it goes well and that more special events like this can be planned in the future.
The January 2018 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 for the next few months. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time, within reason.
Movies Under the Stars will be screened daily at 7pm at Riverside, but only on Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. Evening campfire activities will take place at both resorts on the same evenings as the movies from 5pm-6pm.
Some specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
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 (payment required).
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 Marina from 9am—5pm. Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Snowflake Scavenger Hunt(French Quarter, daily) — Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes 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 frosty surprise!
“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. Note: there will be no Beignet Dash at French Quarter on Sunday 7 January.
Painting on de’ Bayou(French Quarter, 6pm—8pm Wednesdays) — Let your artistic side shine! Join us in Scat Cat’s Club for an instructor-led painting class to design your own take-home masterpiece. The class is for guests aged 12 and up, and costs $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per evening, please call 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Family Game Night(French Quarter, 6pm Thursdays) — Join us at Scat Cat’s Club for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family! Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade (French Quarter, 6pm Fridays) — Join us at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for an evening full of Mardi Gras fun, including dance parties, mask making ($), Mardi Gras prizes, a family parade and more! (payment required).
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.
The December 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—10pm and should remain that way until the end of the year. In January, the hours will be reduced to 10am—8pm. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened daily at 7pm at Riverside, but only on Mondays & Saturdays at French Quarter. Evening campfire activities will take place at both resorts on the same evenings as the movies from 5pm-6pm.
Winter Wonderland Snowflake Scavenger Hunt. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter has been sprinkled with magical snowflakes 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 frosty surprise!
Merry and Bright Holiday Nights Workshop ($)(Friday 22 December, Saturday 23 December, Sunday 24 December). Join us in the area adjacent to Scat Cat’s Club at French Quarter for an all-inclusive holiday experience. This unique offering will give you the opportunity to write your own letter to Santa, decorate cookies and customize a holiday craft. Drop by anytime between 6pm and 8pm to join in on the festive fun!
On New Year’s Eve, among other activities in the lobby courtyards starting at 8pm (see list below), “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson will be playing an extra night at the River Roost Lounge until after midnight.
Some other specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details). There will be festive-themed variations throughout the month of December, and special activities will be added for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve:
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — 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 Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am. Note: Alternative events will be presented on December 31.
Craft Night — Drop by the area adjacent to Scat Cat’s Club at French Quarter on Tuesdays between 6pm and 8pm for complimentary arts & crafts.
Painting on de’ Bayou — Let your artistic side shine! Join us in Scat Cat’s Club at French Quarter on Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm for an instructor-led painting class to design your own take-home masterpiece. The class for guests aged 12 and up and cost $35 per person, plus tax. Registration is limited to 16 guests per week, please call 1-321-347-0750 for additional information or to reserve a spot in the class. Share your masterpiece with the hashtag #PaintingOnDeBayou.
Family Game Night — Join us at Scat Cat’s Club at French Quarter on Thursdays at 6pm for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family.
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun on Fridays at 6pm! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
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 (payment required).
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 will be not be performing his regular nights at the Port on the evenings of Thursday 30 November, Friday 8 December and Saturday 9 December. He will however be adding an extra night on Sunday 31 December to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
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.
On Tuesday 14 November, the Port Orleans Riverside Food & Beverage team will be adding some enticing new Appetisers to the Boatwright's Dining Hall menu, and changing up a few of the entrées too. A couple of new desserts have been added since we last checked the menus too. Some of the highlights are:
Crawfish Bisque - $8 - Traditional-style Bisque with Crawfish Tails, a touch of Sherry, and finished with Crème Fraîche
Louisiana BBQ Shrimp - $13 - Sautéed Shrimp in a traditional Louisiana BBQ Broth served over a Pimento Grit Cake
Fried Green Tomatoes - $10 - served with Greens and House-made Herb-Buttermilk Dressing
Chicken and Dumplings - $23 - Pan-seared Airline Chicken Breast, Hand-rolled Potato Dumplings, Mixed Vegetables, and Cream Sauce
Mississippi Mud Pie - $7 - Spiced Chocolate Sauce and Whipped Vanilla Panna Cotta
St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake - $8 - Bourbon Sauce and Toffee Brittle
They are also adding two more entrées, along with a decadent new signature dessert, Hummingbird Cake, to the bar menu at the River Roost Lounge:
“Drunken” Flatbread - $14- Steak with Drunken Goat Cheese and Pepper Jelly
Southern Fish and Chips - $13 - Southern Catfish, corn meal battered, served with Cajun Steak Fries and a traditional Remoulade
Hummingbird Cake (River Roost’s new Signature Dessert) - $10 - Pineapple-Banana Cake soaked with our Bayou Spiced Rum, Roasted Pecans, and Cream Cheese Frosting
You might also want to check out the pages for the food courts at both Riverside (The Riverside Mill) and French Quarter (Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory) as they have both added some new items and made a few other changes at the start of October.
On Sunday and Monday (29 & 30 October) from 5pm-8pm, Port Orleans Riverside will be hosting their second Food and Wine event, the Riverside Fall Food Festival. The first was a one-day event back in May, and the hope is that this will eventually become a week-long event every year.
It will be held on the Waterfront by the Marina and will feature six different stations, and a kids corner. The aim is to give Port Orleans guests a little extra menu variety, adding some new Quick Service Dining Plan options, and to showcase the abilities of the chef team - even the Front of House team is helping out with this event.
Guests can purchase coupons to redeem for the various food options, starting at $6 for one adult coupon ($4 for children) and with discounts for multiple purchases. Disney Dining Plan options and wine pairings are also available.
The November 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—10pm and should remain that way until the end of the year. In January, the hours will be reduced to 10am—8pm. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. The evening campfire activities will take place from 5pm-6pm on the same evenings as the movies at French Quarter, but every day at Riverside (now confirmed). There are no movies scheduled at either resort for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.
Some specific activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details). Note: On Sunday 5th November the Beignet Dash at French Quarter will be replaced by a Doubloon Lagoon Splash & Dash event at 8am (due to a clash with Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon).
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — 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 Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Fat Tuesdays — Let the good times roll! Join us every Tuesday at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for activities celebrating the spirit of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. There’s Mardi Gras magic for all ages!
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
Family Game Night — Join us at the Mardi Grogs patio seating at French Quarter for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family. Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool parties, at both Port Orleans Resorts.
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 (payment required).
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 will be not be performing at the Port on the evening of Thursday 30 November.
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.
Port Orleans Riverside will become one of four trial ‘dog friendly resorts’ starting on Sunday 15 October 2017, allowing guests to bring a maximum of two pet dogs on vacation with them.
A new pilot program will be trialled at Port Orleans Riverside (and three other Disney properties) starting on Sunday 15 October 2017 which will see the resort become ‘dog friendly’ for those guests who wish to bring their pet dogs on vacation with them.
Initially all accommodation categories at the resort were intended to be dog friendly, but that has very quickly been restricted to just Standard and Garden View rooms for new Port Orleans Riverside bookings, with the intention of using building 24 where possible.
Guests will be able to bring up to two dogs with them, staying in their room. There are no size, weight or breed restrictions.
To bring your dog with you on your upcoming visit, please call 1-407-939-7539.
Each guest room participating in the program will have easy access to outdoor pet walkways for exercise and green spaces with pet relief areas.
While dogs will be allowed to stay in guest rooms, they will be expected to be well behaved, leashed in public resort areas and properly vaccinated.
Guests must sign a waiver which explains where the pets can go, responsibilities of the guest, etc. A copy of this document can be DOWNLOADED HERE.
Guests are requested not to leave their animals unattended in rooms for longer than 7 hours at a time, and Disney requires that animals must be capable of being silent during their stay, stating "If noise is heard, you will be called to address the noise within 30 minutes".
There is a $50 per night per room fee for guests who bring a dog (or dogs) with them.
Guests will get an amenity package delivered on check-in day with various items for their pet. "Pluto’s Welcome Kit" includes mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads and dog walking maps.
Guests will not be able to receive housekeeping service while there is an unattended dog in the room, and a Pluto “Do Not Disturb” door hanger will be provided to indicate to hotel staff that there is a pet present.
The other pilot properties are Art of Animation, Fort Wilderness Cabins, and the Yacht Club (the nightly fee at the Yacht Club will be $75).
The pilot is currently accepting reservations through until October 2018.
Other animal facilities - including dog walking, day care and other pet services - are available just over the road at the Best Friends pet care facility. For details, please call 1-877-4-WDW-PETS (1-877-493-9738), or visit www.bestfriendspetcare.com.
Pet merchandise is coming soon to participating resorts.
For more information about this new trial program, including other restrictions and policies, guests should contact 1-407-W-DISNEY.
Update on 14 Oct: Rooms will receive a more thorough cleaning at departure including carpet and upholstery cleaning. The room assignment department will try to put guests with pets into certain rooms; how successful they are will depend on whether they know about the guest bringing a pet in advance or not.
Update on 18 Oct: So we are now a few days into the trial and the public outcry on social media and via communications directly to Disney has taken everyone by surprise - heck, it even took me aback, and I know how vocal Disney fans can be. I think it's safe to say that Disney completely underestimated the passion that many people would have on this subject, and the initial plans are being modified and policies rewritten on the fly at the moment. This process will probably remain fluid over the next few weeks, and Disney is closely monitoring and listening to the feedback and will continue to adjust procedures to try to make this trial work for everyone.
Initially, as will have been seen from the printed Dog Relief Area maps, it was intended that all these happy fluffy pets (which everyone would surely like) would be permitted in any type of guest booking at Riverside, and the early announcements did state that the whole resort - barring certain areas such as food & beverage and swimming pools - would be canine accessible as long as the animals were kept under control and on a leash. However over the last 48 hours that intent has been severely trimmed back and they are now aiming to try to restrict dogs to only Standard and Garden View rooms, and the current intention from the room inventory department at Riverside is to use building 24 as much as possible for any guests who book to stay with their pets. This building is well away from the common areas, is located right next to the parking lot to make getting pets to and from rooms easier, and has a nice grassy area nearby to allow dogs to be exercised.
However, although the telephone Reservations Center is now advising guests who wish to bring dogs with them that this will only be possible for Standard and Garden View rooms, the initial announcements - and even the currently posted wording on the Disney website - do not require guests to book that way, nor to preregister their dogs. Thus it is entirely possible that people who have booked for other room categories using the Disney website, via travel agents, through Expedia, etc. will simply show up at the front desk accompanied by their pet(s) and ask to pay the daily fee. This could mean that, in the short term at least, dogs will still need to be accommodated in other areas of the resort in order to comply with existing bookings. This will of course be closely monitored and subsequent deep-cleans arranged for any affected rooms, but at this stage it cannot be guaranteed that other areas of the resort will remain completely dog-free.
I have reached out to my contacts at the resort who have said that so far (i.e. in the first three days of the program) they have not yet had a single dog staying at the resort. Over the next seven days there are currently just four one-night reservations with associated comments indicating that the guest plans to bring a dog with them, against more than 100 comments over the same seven-day period asking to be assigned to a room away from the dog friendly areas. Those four one-night reservations are apparently all from local Florida residents, and personally I would not be at all surprised to find that some or all of them turn out to be from social media aware guests, or even bloggers or website owners, testing out the new policies for themselves. If there have been any booking cancellations because of this new policy then they have already been replaced with new reservations, as Riverside is either sold out or very close to it for the rest of the month.
Please remember however that we are still only three days into a year-long trial period and there is plenty of time for any of the above information to change in line with practical needs and guest comments and experiences.
Update on 21 Oct: A copy of the waiver document which guests need to sign when they check dogs in to the hotel can be DOWNLOADED HERE.
A few interesting new bits of information:
So far, the room assignment department at Port Orleans Riverside has not been given any specific directions from Walt Disney World management to indicate that they must enforce the accommodation of all dogs in building 24 only, so they are still expecting that existing booking for other room categories will be assigned to one of the original four dog-friendly areas (buildings 15, 24, 80 and 95 on the map) although building 24 will definitely be the preferred choice wherever possible. For example, if a guest had booked a Royal River View Room room six months ago, and they now state that they wish to bring a dog with them, they will be assigned a room in building 95 close to the originally marked Dog Relief area on the Dog Friendly Locations map. Similarly, someone who originally booked a Preferred Location room would be placed in building 15.
Any guest who has expressed a wish to be located away from dogs will be assigned a room as far away as possible from those original four designated areas.
As far as common areas go, at the moment dogs will be permitted - under control and on leashes - in all common areas of the resort except for Food & Beverage locations (such as Boatwright's Dining Hall, the food court and presumably the River Roost Lounge) and the fenced pool areas. The lobby and even merchandise shop are fine, as are all the public pathways. This policy is covered by the wording in point 12 of the waiver document.
The maximum seven hour 'alone-time' rule will be mostly left to guests' honesty, but in cases where there is concern the electronic door-lock system can be interrogated remotely to prove how long a room has been left unattended. Similarly, Disney are aware that there may be situations where the required 30-minute return time to attend to a barking dog may potentially be difficult to enforce when guests are away from the hotel.
Initial collateral leaflet for guests arriving with dogs. This is information still subject to change.
Walt Disney World has just announced several new discount offers for hotel stays and packages during Spring 2018, and unusually the Port Orleans resorts are included for at least some of these offers. These discounts will have limited availability and will sell out quickly (and you may find restrictions on some dates and room categories) so book as soon as you can and be flexible with your dates if you want to snag a bargain. As always, I recommend visiting MouseSavers.com for full details of this and any other Disney offers.
The sections of the offers which relate to the Port Orleans resorts are as follows:
Gift of Magic Offer (room-only or as part of a package)
Get "up to 20%" off a room-only booking (or the room portion of a package booking) at Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter for most arrival dates from 1 January 2018 to 14 April 2018.
Disney Visa Card holders can get an increased discount level of up to 30%.
Park tickets can be added to form a package, but there is no discount on the tickets. However if you decide to add a five-day or longer park hopper ticket, Disney will apparently give you an extra day free.
No minimum stay is required but any dates which don’t fall within the valid period, or are blacked-out, will get charged at full rack rate.
Another website (Inside the Magic) is reporting that Port Orleans bookings are only getting a 10% discount, and for the period from 1 January until 22 February you may not be offered the deal on Friday or Saturday nights.
Book by 2 January 2018.
Play, Stay, Dine Package Offer (dining plan discount as part of a package)
Get a discount on the regular Disney Dining plan when you book a package at Port Orleans Riverside (French Quarter is excluded from this offer) for arrival dates from 1 January 2018 to 10 March 2018.
For moderate resorts the discount off the Dining Plan works out to around 45%, and while you can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan if you wish, the cash value of the discount remains the same.
Minimum stay is 3 days and you need to include at least a 2-day park ticket for each guest.
Arrival dates must be within the offer period but you can stay as long as you like and receive the full discount until the end of your stay.
The planned dates for the upcoming Port Orleans French Quarter guest room soft-goods refurbishment project are as follows. Please remember that this schedule may be subject to minor changes:
Building 2 — Jan 6 – Feb 9, 2018
Building 3 — Jan 23 – Feb 25, 2018
Building 1 — Feb 10 – Mar 13, 2018
Building 5 — Feb 26 – Mar 31, 2018
Building 4 — Mar 14 – Apr 16, 2018
Building 6 — Apr 1 – May 4, 2018
Building 7 — Apr 17 – May 20, 2018
In order to minimise disruption the work will be undertaken on a floor-by-floor basis for each building, starting on the third floor and working down to the ground floor. There should be very little impact to guests staying in the other buildings, and no one will be allocated to a room on a floor that is currently under construction. However it is possible that guests may be allocated to rooms on other floors in the same building, depending on occupancy requirements at the time.
No further details or photos are available as yet, but the work will most likely include changing out the carpeting for hard wood-effect flooring, possibly adding a shutter of some sort between the bedroom and the vanity area, and other general decor and soft goods replacements including the addition of a larger Smart TV hung on the wall. I would be most surprised if we didn’t also see some of the added features that have been popping up at other resorts (for example Pop Century) such as USB charging sockets, extra storage options, etc. And if we are really lucky, perhaps something a little less stark than the plain-white bed linen that recently appeared at the resorts. Only time will tell.
Once French Quarter is complete, refurbishment will commence on Riverside’s Alligator Bayou section, and finally the Riverside Magnolia Bend mansion buildings will complete the project in 2019.
The October 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—10pm. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure (quiet) pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. The evening campfire activities will take place from 5:30pm-6:30pm on the same evenings as the movies at French Quarter, but every day at Riverside (now confirmed). There are no movies scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.
Halloween Activities — Tuesday 31st October 2017
Riverside
2:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($) at Ol’ Man Island Pool
3:30pm Ol’ Man Island Ghoul Party at Ol’ Man Island Pool
6pm—8pm Boo: On the Bayou! Located in the courtyard near the Riverside Lobby. Join us for these fun activities in the courtyard: Themed treat stations starting in the courtyard and continuing around Ol’ Man Island. Offerings and supplies are subject to availability. A costume contest is available for all ages! Please check in by 6:15pm to participate. Create your own slime souvenir ($) at our Slime Lab!
8pm—9pm Happy HallowGLOW Party Located in the courtyard near the Riverside Lobby. Light up the night with ghoulish delight! Join us for bright lights, dancing, prizes, games and more!
9:30pm—10:30pm Spooks, S’mores and More! Located on Ol’ Man Island, enjoy complimentary marshmallow roasting at the campfire pit.
French Quarter
2:30pm Ghosts, Ghouls and Games Pool Party
3:30pm Halloween Arts & Crafts ($) beside the Doubloon Lagoon Pool
6pm—9pm Mardi Ghoul Bash in the Courtyard outside the Main Lobby. Join us to celebrate Halloween with a trick or treat trail, DJ, Mickey Tie-Dye ($), dancing, games and fun for the whole family! Join us at 6:00pm for our costume contest.
9pm Chilling Campfire between Buildings 5 & 6
The French Quarter Pumpkin Hunt: Trick or Treat? Thirteen of Disney’s most mischievous villains have taken over Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter and are hiding around the Resort. We need your help to find them! To get started, visit the Front Desk to pick up your booklet. Find all 13 villains, and return to the Front Desk to claim your sweet treat.
Some other activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — Grab a map and join in on an exciting selfie scavenger hunt around Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. To get started, visit the Riverside Levee Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Fat Tuesdays — Let the good times roll! Join us every Tuesday at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for activities celebrating the spirit of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. There’s Mardi Gras magic for all ages!
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
Family Game Night — Join us at the Mardi Grogs patio seating at French Quarter for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family. Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool parties, at both Port Orleans Resorts.
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 (payment required).
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 will be away performing at a private event on Saturday 14 October.
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.
Orange Country, FL - which covers almost all of Walt Disney World, including the Port Orleans Resorts - has announced that a mandatory curfew will take place from 7pm tonight (Sunday 10th September) until 6pm on Monday. This will exclude emergency services, medical personnel and critical services staff. See https://newsroom.ocfl.net/2017/09/orang ... -10-7-p-m/ .
This means that guests will be unable to leave Port Orleans for the duration of the curfew, and given the external access nature of the accommodation buildings people will effectively be confined to their rooms from 7pm tonight. Make sure you have sufficient provisions for you and your family and hunker down!
I've also heard from someone I know at the resort that Port Orleans is hosting about 400 rooms of emergency electrical teams from all over the country, and 110 rooms of nurses and doctors to assist with relief efforts. There are apparently many more at the other resorts too. As noted in previous posts, the main parking lots are packed with emergency and maintenance vehicles too. When you need to accommodate a lot of people in a single geographical area with good access to where they are going to be needed, I guess Disney is the place to be.
After barrelling though the offshore islands and Cuba and causing huge devastation and some loss of life, Hurricane Irma is now heading northwards towards Miami and then up into the rest of Florida. Current predictions show the eye will most likely track very slightly to the west of Orlando (most directly over the St. Petersburg/Tampa area) during Sunday night, and will probably still be at Category 3 or 4 level by that point which poses a severe threat of damage to buildings and personal injury. Orlando International Airport will be closed from 5pm on Saturday.
Although this will be a very serious event, remember that Disney takes the safety of its guests extremely seriously and has a whole range of contingency plans are already in place. Also their building construction is second-to-none in the area and generally the work is significantly above locally required specifications. Walt Disney World will be one of the safest places to ride this out.
Disney will be closing all of its theme parks on Saturday night, with no evening entertainment or fireworks scheduled, and nothing is expected to be reopened until Tuesday. Blizzard Beach and ESPN Wide World of Sports are already closed, and Typhoon Lagoon will shut on Saturday afternoon. Disney Springs will close at 9pm on Saturday. The planned Night of Joy at ESPN on Saturday and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on Sunday are cancelled, and exchanges or full refunds will be offered for these and any other pre-booked activities. All dining cancellation charges are also being waived until Tuesday. For more detailed information and advice, see Disney's dedicated Irma page, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/hurricane-irma-info/ and their general hurricane policies at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/hurricane-policy/ or tune in to Channel 3 on your in-room television if you are already on site.
There may need to be a mandatory room curfew (in line with any local policies) which could potentially last from 24 to 48 hours, and there will probably be no housekeeping services available for the duration of the storm, so please ensure that you are as prepared as possible. Disney movies will be complimentary on Channel 31 of the in-room television system to help to keep the kids occupied.
Port Orleans is advising guests to stock up with water, snacks and non-perishable items for their rooms, ideally purchasing from the theme parks or Disney Springs as resort services will be severely stretched as all guests return to the resort to hunker down over the weekend. Distribution of emergency food packages will commence at 5pm on Saturday from the main buildings, but from previous experiences you should expect lengthy queues. Disney is providing flashlights for all rooms, and you would be advised to fully charge all of your necessary battery-powered devices in advance in case of power outages.
Our thoughts and good wishes are with everyone in the path of this unprecedented hurricane, and we hope that all our friends, cast members, and the "hunkered down" resort guests stay safe.
[Update on 10 Sept] Orange Country, FL - which covers almost all of Walt Disney World, including the Port Orleans Resorts - has announced that a mandatory curfew will take place from 7pm tonight (Sunday 10th September) until 6pm on Monday. This will exclude emergency services, medical personnel and critical services staff. See https://newsroom.ocfl.net/2017/09/orang ... -10-7-p-m/ .
This means that guests will be unable to leave Port Orleans for the duration of the curfew, and given the external access nature of the accommodation buildings, people will effectively be confined to their rooms from 7pm tonight. Make sure you have sufficient provisions for you and your family and hunker down!
I've also heard from someone I know at the resort that Port Orleans is hosting about 400 rooms of emergency electrical teams from all over the country, and 110 rooms of nurses and doctors to assist with relief efforts. There are apparently many more at the other resorts too. As noted in previous posts, the main parking lots are packed with emergency and maintenance vehicles too. When you need to accommodate a lot of people in a single geographical area with good access to where they are going to be needed, I guess Disney is the place to be.
More In-room information communication, with a complimentary flashlight.
Emergency maintenance vehicles waiting in the Riverside parking lot ready for the aftermath.
More Preparation around the resort.
Update at 5pm EST Saturday. The packaged snack bag at resorts is much cheaper than the one that they offered during last year's hurricane, looks like they took note of some rather disgruntled feedback from guests:
The September 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 pool operating hours are currently 9am—10pm, but expect those to be reduced soon as the summer season ends. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure ("quiet") pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. The evening campfire activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same evenings as the movies. There are no movies or campfires scheduled at either resort for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday. On Sunday September 3, French Quarter will be running some extra poolside activities for Labor Day weekend.
Some other activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — 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 Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Teen Arcade Challenge — Do you have what it takes to win our Teen Arcade Challenge? Guests ages 12-17 are encouraged to compete in our exciting challenges to win prizes! Join us at 4:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays in the Medicine Show Arcade at Port Orleans Riverside.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Fat Tuesdays — Let the good times roll! Join us every Tuesday at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for activities celebrating the spirit of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. There’s Mardi Gras magic for all ages!
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
Family Game Night — Join us at the Mardi Grogs patio seating at French Quarter for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family. Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool parties, at both Port Orleans Resorts.
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 (payment required).
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 will be away on vacation commencing Friday 25th August and returning to the Port on Wednesday 6th September.
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.
All of the guest room mattresses at Port Orleans Riverside have been replaced over the past couple of months with new Sealy mattresses which have the extra quilted padded layer on the top. The replacement project for more than 2,000 rooms cost over $1m, but I can personally confirm that they are really comfortable!
The project also benefited French Quarter incidentally, as the most recently-installed of the mattresses that were taken out from Riverside rooms (there is normally a rolling program for mattress changes) were moved over to French Quarter to replace the oldest inventory over there.
You may also be interested to know that in addition to daily housekeeping cleaning, and more intense cleaning between guests, there is also a rolling program to ensure that every room in the resort is refreshed on a regular basis. For example at Riverside, every weekday 24 rooms are removed from inventory and given an intensive deep clean. This includes things like carpet washing, paintwork and decor touch-ups, minor maintenance jobs, etc. That way, every room receives special attention at least once every 17 weeks.
Port Orleans Riverside is currently trialing new wall-mounted bathroom toiletry dispensers instead of the regular small bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Alligator Bayou building 14 is being used for the tests as it is the most popular, and thus consistently occupied, area of the resort.
There are three large bottles installed in a silver/chrome press-top dispenser unit on the wall at the end of the bath (the wall nearest to the door). The product is the same range as before, featuring H2O+ Bath Aquatics "Natural Spring" separate shampoo, conditioner and body wash (the regular small bottles are currently from H2O's the "Sea Marine" line). Guest reaction is being closely monitored, especially the amount of requests that the front desk or housekeeping receive daily for in-room supplies.
In other news, towels are currently being provided at the Riverside quiet pools, with one placed at the end of each sunbed in the morning and extras available in the laundry room.
The latest update to the My Disney Experience mobile app includes a number of resort-related improvements. You can now use the app to monitor your Disney Dining Plan credits and balance, and also see your room charges and your live folio balance. The previous update added online checkin to the list of mobile features, so it seems a lot of work is going into improving the hotel guest features.
The previously announced Riverside Mill food court flooring replacement project has been delayed by one week as the newly imported tiling got held up in customs for longer than expected. Work will now commence on Monday 28 August. The first area to be tackled will be the carpeted region closest to the door leading to Alligator Bayou as that is the smallest section and will allow the company to evaluate how long the process is likely to take. Then work will continue around the back of the food court, finishing with the section closest to Boatwright's Dining Hall. A new doorway leading directly from the food court into the Boatwright's upper seating area has been installed to help deal with the potential overcrowding issues, especially at breakfast time.
French Quarter's food court flooring is also being refreshed section-by-section at the moment, the project should take a few weeks to complete.
The waterwheel outside the Riverside Mill is currently turned off for maintenance. The water course/trough was repaired and refreshed last year, and now attention is being paid to the wheel itself. The work will take about a month, during which time there will be scaffolding erected along the end of the building. The food court windows facing into the work area have been covered with cladding.
The large carpet rugs in the Riverside lobby are away for cleaning, they should be back in place within the next week or so.
The next round of guest room "soft goods" refurbishments will commence at the beginning of 2018 starting with French Quarter rooms (one building at a time) and then progressing in the middle of the year to Riverside's Alligator Bayou section, and then on the rest of Riverside during 2019. Changes are still to be confirmed, but they will include replacing the existing carpeting with hard flooring, new larger wall-mounted TVs, and the addition of smaller details such as USB sockets for charging mobile devices. More details and dates will be confirmed later.
The August 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 pool operating hours are currently 9am—10pm. These hours are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure ("quiet") pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. The evening campfire activities will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same evenings as the movies. There are no movies or campfires scheduled at either resort for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday. On Saturday August 12, both resorts will be featuring the premiere of Disney XD’s new Duck Tales series.
Some other activities to watch out for (on select days, see schedules for details):
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — 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 Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Teen Arcade Challenge — Do you have what it takes to win our Teen Arcade Challenge? Guests ages 12-17 are encouraged to compete in our exciting challenges to win prizes! Join us at 4:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays in the Medicine Show Arcade at Port Orleans Riverside.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Fat Tuesdays — Let the good times roll! Join us every Tuesday at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for activities celebrating the spirit of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. There’s Mardi Gras magic for all ages!
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
Family Game Night — Join us at the Mardi Grogs patio seating at French Quarter for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family. Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool parties, at both Port Orleans Resorts.
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 (payment required).
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 will be away on vacation commencing Friday 25th August and returning to the Port on Wednesday 6th September.
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.
Visit Orlando's annual "Magical Dining Month" will be occurring in September, and this year Boatwright's Dining Hall at Port Orleans Riverside will be included as one of the restaurants participating in the event.
Magical Dining is a month-long program (with a special preview week starting August 25) that ends on October 1, where participating restaurants feature three-course, prix fixe dinners at the special price of $35 per person. Each three-course dinner includes several choices of appetizer, entrée and dessert selected from the restaurant's regular menu. Tax and gratuity are not included, and you can book directly with Disney exactly as normal. No special vouchers are required, simply tell your server that you'd like to take advantage of the offer. One dollar from each meal will benefit a local charity - Freedom Ride or BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation.
Choice of Appetizers Amelia’s Salad fresh greens, seasonal ingredients, and house vinaigrette
Mardi Gras Fritters house-made pimiento cheese fritters with pepper jelly
Crawfish Bisque traditional-style bisque with crawfish tails, a touch of sherry, finished with crème fraîche
Choice of Entrées Jackson Square Etouffee crawfish simmered in rich seafood sauce over rice
Chicken and Dumplings pan-seared chicken breast, hand-rolled potato dumplings, mixed vegetables, and cream sauce
General Fulton’s Prime Rib slow-roasted prime rib with our specialty crafted chicory-coffee blend, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and horseradish cream
The July 2017 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, including Independence Day events. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The main feature swimming pool operating hours are 9am—10pm which will continue during the peak summer months. These times are enforced and the feature pools are gated and locked when there are no lifeguards on duty, however the five Riverside leisure ("quiet") pools are generally available at any time (within reason).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. The evening campfire activities resumed on 19 June and will take place from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the same evenings as the movies. There are no movies or campfires scheduled at either resort for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.
Some other activities to watch out for (select days, see schedules for details):
SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — 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 Marina from 9:00am-5:00pm! Be sure to share your selfies with the hashtags #SassagoulaSelfie and #PortOrleans.
Teen Arcade Challenge — Do you have what it takes to win our Teen Arcade Challenge? Guests ages 12-17 are encouraged to compete in our exciting challenges to win prizes! Join us at 4:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays in the Medicine Show Arcade at Port Orleans Riverside.
“Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning Sunday Runday dash around French Quarter resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Fat Tuesdays — Let the good times roll! Join us every Tuesday at Doubloon Lagoon Pool for activities celebrating the spirit of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. There’s Mardi Gras magic for all ages!
Mardi Gras “Mask”-erade — Sashay your way down Alligator Alley to join in on Mardi Gras fun! Located near the Musical Alligators at French Quarter, our Mardi Gras fun will include dance parties and mask-making ($)
Family Game Night — Join us at the Mardi Grogs patio seating at French Quarter for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family. Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Come glow with the flow at our nighttime pool parties, at both Port Orleans Resorts.
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 (payment required).
Independence Day (Tuesday 4th July) Activities
Note: There is no afternoon Barbecue event occurring on Ol’ Man Island this year.
Ol’ Man Island (Riverside)
1:00pm Beach Ball Boom!
1:30pm Red, White & Water Balloon Games
2:00pm Watermelon Eating Contest
3:00pm Star Spangled Scavenger Hunt
3:30pm All-American Pool Party
4:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($)
6:30pm–7:30pm Stars, Stripes & S’Mores! Join us at our evening campfire for complimentary marshmallows with s’mores kits available for purchase.
8:30pm–9:30pm Red, White & Glow Pool Party. Join us as we light up the night to celebrate the Fourth of July with our Red, White & Glow Pool Party! There will be lights, dancing, games and prizes for all!
Doubloon Lagoon pool (French Quarter)
1:00pm Beach Ball Boom!
1:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($)
3:00pm Red, White and Blue Balloon Toss
3:30pm Patriotic Pool Party
4:30pm Watermelon Eating Contest
5:30pm Stars and Stripes Scavenger Hunt
6:30pm Backyard Bash Lawn Games (on French Quarter Green, by buildings 5 & 6)
7:00pm All-American Campfire (on French Quarter Green, by buildings 5 & 6)
8:30pm Light Up the Night: Red, Blue and White Pool Party
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 will be playing all of his regular shows throughout June, July and most of August. However he will be away on vacation commencing Friday 25th August and returning to the Port on Wednesday 6th September.
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.
The USA ‘rack rates’ for Rooms and Packages in 2018 were released on Tuesday 20 June 2017, roughly the same time that they have been issued for the past two years. You can now book rooms and packages with Disney online or via the Disney telephone Reservations Center for 2018 vacations, up to the normal maximum of 499 days in advance.
For the first time ever, the highest daily rates at Port Orleans — a ‘moderate’ resort — exceed $400 per night, which is over the Christmas period in a Royal Pool View or Royal River View room. Ouch! It looks like at French Quarter, King Bed and Pool Views are still considered the premium options now, way higher than River View. Also the variations within the four Royal Room categories often remain fairly minor, so if you’re planning on splurging on a Royal Room then you might want to consider the excellently-located Pool View, or River View, options.
Overall, room prices have risen by an average of 5.54% from last year’s rates, which equates to +13% from two years ago, and +18.4% since 2015. See the Room Rates Page for more details.
I’ve been having real difficulty trying to understand and differentiate the seasonal grouping blocks this year, as many of the blocks now seem to include up to three weekly price points (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday being the cheapest, then Sunday & Thursday, and finally Friday & Saturday at a really hefty premium). This is what is causing all the wild fluctuations in the graphs below. Once I know the seasonal grouping dates I can create average weekly rates for each season type, which should make the graphs more readable and useful.
In the meantime, I’ve created a spreadsheet covering each of the sixteen room categories at Port Orleans for every day in 2018, which you can DOWNLOAD HERE. I did observe that some of the initial prices released on 20 June had changed two days later, so while that list is accurate as of 22 June 2017 there may be some further modifications over time.
The evening campfire activities, which were temporarily suspended on 14 April due to extremely dry weather and local wildfire risks, are scheduled to return next week, commencing 19 June. They will be included in the July schedules, but for the rest of June:
Port Orleans Riverside will hold its Campfire on de' Bayou events on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Port Orleans French Quarter will hold its Cajun Campfire events on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
On June 20th, Arneil, the instantly recognizable and very popular Greeter at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter, will be celebrating 30 years as a Walt Disney World Cast Member. Arneil, who is a Viet Nam veteran, came to Disney from Illinois in 1987. He began working at EPCOT Center as an Attractions Host in Future World at what was then called World of Motion (which later became GM’s Test Track.) He also worked at the much-missed Horizons attraction before that too closed.
In 1990, when the Walt Disney World Yacht and Beach Club Resorts first opened, Arneil became one of their original Bell Services cast members. He remained there for sixteen years, subsequently transferring to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in 2006.
After nearly five more years at Wilderness Lodge, Arneil was encouraged by his friends in Disney management to take on the role for which he has since become so well known. In 2010, Arneil created the colorful “Monarch of the Mardi Gras” persona for the many guests arriving, departing or just passing through the lobby at Port Orleans French Quarter.
Anyone who takes a few minutes to stop and chat with Arneil will quickly appreciate that he loves people, and particularly enjoys the opportunity to interact with all of the diverse cultures and backgrounds that are represented by Disney guests.
Although his first name is of Scottish origin – he is named after a family friend in Glasgow – Arneil is primarily of Dutch heritage. It doesn’t take much encouragement for him to share his Dutch roots with anyone who is interested, and you’ll find that he has some interesting, and famous, ancestors.
Arneil is an avid reader with a keen interest in history and languages, so it should not surprise anyone to know that he speaks several languages fluently, including Dutch, Flemish, German and Afrikaans. But what may not be so obvious is that he is also able to greet guests in more than a dozen more languages. Saying “hello,” “goodbye,” or simply exchanging well wishes in such diverse tongues as Spanish, Hindi, French, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Italian, Vietnamese, and Arabic has become second nature for him, and an integral part of his Mardi Gras persona.
Arneil, with his plume-adorned top hat and clad in the bright green, gold and purple of Mardi Gras, has become an iconic presence in the French Quarter lobby, often the first cheery face that you see on arrival, and the last to wish you “Bon Voyage” as you depart.
I encourage you to stop and chat whenever you have the time, and especially if you happen to be at French Quarter on Tuesday June 20th don’t forget to congratulate him on thirty years with Walt Disney World, a milestone certainly worthy of recognition and appreciation.
Incidentally, although Arneil may not be a member of these forums, he does read the posts from time to time - so, if you have any comments, memories or well-wishes for him, post them here or on this Facebook thread and we’ll make sure he sees them.
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Last summer, I wrote a short song for Arneil which I presented to him at the end of one shift, along with a copy of the lyrics as a keepsake. The acoustics of the glass and tile lobby were not exactly conducive to getting a studio-quality recording with non-professional video gear, but a few attempts later in Scat Scat’s we got something that while maybe not technically perfect seemed to capture the spirit nicely. You’ll note that Arneil was quite familiar with the lyrics by then, and started acting them out as we went along!
The June 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.
As from Sunday 28 May, the main feature swimming pool operating hours are 9am—10pm which will continue during the peak summer months. These times 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).
Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. There are no movies scheduled at either resort for Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.
The evening campfires are currently still suspended due to local dry conditions and fire hazards.
Riverside is adding some new activities into the mix this month in a similar vein to those introduced at French Quarter in May:
Swashbucklin’ Saturdays — A fun-filled day of Pirate activities. The activities start at 1pm on Ol’ Man Island and wrap up with the screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl at 8:30pm.
Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30pm—9:30pm: Glow with the Flow Pool Party — Join us on Ol’ Man Island as we Glow with the Flow of the Sassagoula River into the night! The parties occur on evenings when there is no Movie Under the Stars showing.
Daily: #SassagoulaSelfie Scavenger Hunt — Grab a map and join in on an exciting selfie scavenger hunt around Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. Guest may visit the Riverside Levee Marina from 9am—5pm daily to get started.
Continuing Daily: Arts & Crafts ($), Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration ($), Ol’ Man Island Pool Party, and other regular poolside activities. Times vary, see schedule.
French Quarter’s new activities continue this month too, with slightly less emphasis on poolside games and Movies Under the Stars than Riverside:
Sunday 8am: “Beignet Dash” Fun Run — A quick early morning dash around the resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required). Check-in begins at 7:30am on the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. The run begins at 8:00am.
Monday & Tuesday, 7:30pm—9:30pm: Doubloon Lagoon Glow Party — Come glow with the flow at the Doubloon Lagoon Glow Party.
Wednesday 7pm—9pm: Family Game Night — Join us in Scat Cat’s Lounge for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family.
Thursday 8pm—10pm: Mardi Gras Musical Mixer — Bebop on down to Scat Cat’s Lounge for a night filled with your favorite musical activities.
Friday & Saturday 8:30pm: Movies Under the Stars (Jungle Book (2016) and Cars this month).
Daily: Mardi Gras Pool Party — Bring the whole family for fun and exciting games during our afternoon pool party! Also Disney Trivia or Name That... on select days. Times vary, see schedule.
Daily: 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 (payment required). Times vary, see schedule.
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.
A new adult-oriented activity is being trialled at the Muddy Rivers pool bar: Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary.
Available Sunday lunchtimes, 11am-1pm, for $13 you can get a Bloody Mary made with whatever extras you desire - including Ham & Salami, Cheese, Bacon, Pickles, Limes, Celery and Peppers.
This is currently a test, but if successful they plan to move it indoors to the River Roost Lounge.
Apparently Tuesday 16th May 2017 will be National Barbecue Day! Who knew? Well obviously someone in the Port Orleans Riverside Food & Beverage team received the memo anyway, as the resort will be providing a mini Food and Wine festival all of its own between 5:30pm and 8:30pm on Tuesday 16 May. Representatives from the resort’s brewery sponsor Abita will be on hand, and the chefs have dreamed up a range of delicacies to suit every taste that will be freshly cooked for guests. There will be plenty of other fun too, including music, dancing and craft activities.
Rather than buying one specific meal, you will be able to purchase special coupons to redeem for the various food and drink items at the event. For $15.99 adults will receive four coupons, while children will get two coupons for $8.99. Drinks will cost £12.50 for two beverage coupons. You will also be able to make use of Disney Dining Plan credits.
Smoked Brisket with Homemade Mac & Cheese, paired with Sassagoula Sweet Tea.
Grilled BBQ Shrimp with Southern Style Cheesy Grits, paired with the Abita Amber.
Grilled Andouille Crusted Zellwood Corn on the Cob.
Abita Turbo Dog BBQ Pork Slider with Summer Slaw, paired with the Abita Turbo Dog Beer.
Spicy Satsuma Bayou Wings, paired with a Citrus Crush.
Southern Sweets, paired with a Bailey’s Frozen Cappuccino.
Memorial Day (Monday 29 May) will also see an afternoon outdoor barbecue event located beside the Muddy Rivers pool bar on Ol’ Man Island. Similar to the ones held on other recent public holidays which have proven very popular, you will be able to purchase a selection of freshly grilled items:
Cheeseburger $10.29
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich $9.99
Grilled Hot Dog $7.49
Grilled Corn on the Cob $3.99
Sassagoula Shaved Ice (assorted flavors) $3.99 [Presumably not grilled!]
All Entrées will be served with choice of two sides, which include coleslaw, baked beans, and house-made chips.
On the 4th of May 1997, a new piano player named Bob Jackson made his first appearance at the Cotton Co-Op lounge at Disney's Dixie Landings Resort, following a recommendation to apply from none other than the lounge's previous incumbent who he met at a gig at Orlando's Blazing Pianos bar. Dixie Landings (renamed a few years later to Port Orleans Riverside) was to become the regular home for his "Ye Haa Bob" persona for the next 20 years.
Surprisingly at the time, the Cotton Co-Op 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 this location into a lively destination attraction, and his duelling 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 Jackson is still wowing the crowds four nights a week at what is now known as the River Roost Lounge. His zany mixture of toe-tapping, sing-a-long standards, and increasingly frequent Disney classics performed in his own inimitable and enormously energetic style, attracts 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 his website) 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!
The May 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—9pm. These times 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 currently suspended due to local dry conditions and fire hazards, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, but only on Friday & Saturday at French Quarter. There are no movies scheduled at either resort for Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday.
The recreation activities at Riverside will be similar to those presented for the last year or two, but French Quarter sees some changes this month:
Sunday 8am: “Beignet Dash” Fun Run — a quick early morning dash around the resort, finished with a tasty beignet (payment required)
Monday & Tuesday, 6:30pm—8:30pm: Doubloon Lagoon Glow Party — Come glow with the flow at the Doubloon Lagoon Glow Party
Wednesday 7pm—9pm: Family Game Night — Join us in Scat Cat’s Lounge for a night filled with games and fun for the whole family
Thursday 8pm—10pm: Mardi Gras Musical Mixer — Bebop on down to Scat Cat’s Lounge for a night filled with your favorite musical activities
Friday & Saturday 8:30pm: Movies Under the Stars (Moana or Finding Nemo this month)
Arts & Crafts Activities or Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration presented daily (payment required) but otherwise there is a generally reduced selection of afternoon poolside activities
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.
The free “Disney Dining Plan” offer for USA room & ticket package bookings during Fall 2017 was announced on 24 April 2017, and as usual it’s sadly only of limited benefit to Port Orleans guests. Given that our two favourite resorts already sell very well, Disney simply doesn’t need to offer very much in the way of extra enticement, especially for the smaller French Quarter resort.
Port Orleans French Quarter is completely excluded from the 2017 free dining offer, however at Riverside the Quick Service plan is being offered in limited quantities and room categories for arrivals from 21 August to 30 September 2017. There is a minimum stay of three nights and you must purchase at least two days of Park Hopper tickets per person to be eligible. You can also upgrade to the Regular or Deluxe Dining Plans for a fee. Bookings must be made by 7 July.
In addition to Free Dining there are some other Summer/Fall 2017 room-only offers worth considering, although again you may have to be quick to snap up anything for Port Orleans as the allocation is limited. Theme park tickets can be added to the discounted room rates to build a package.
Summer Room-Only Discount: Up to 25% off many Moderate Resort rooms for stays from 28 May to 31 August 2017 (must be booked by 14 July). French Quarter is completely excluded, and availability at Riverside (15% discount) is now fairly limited too.
Enchanted Escape Room-Only Discount: Up to 25% off many Moderate Resort rooms for stays from 1 August to 7 October 2017 (must be booked by 31 August). Both Riverside (15%—20%) AND French Quarter (20%, but from 1 Sep—7 Oct only) are included in this offer, but book soon as availability is limited.
As always, please see the excellent http://www.MouseSavers.com website for full details of this and other offers.
Port Orleans Easter Sunday Recreation Activities, Character Greetings and Movie Schedules for 16 April 2017
Note: ** As from 14 April 2017, all campfire activities at Walt Disney World are temporarily suspended due to the extremely dry weather and local outbreaks of wildfires.
Riverside
9am — Candy Scramble (Building 90 Courtyard) 9:30am — Lawn Games (Building 90 Courtyard) 9:30am–11:30am — Character Greetings (Building 90 Courtyard) 10:00am — The Egg Hunt (Pathway to Ol’ Man Island)
Ol’ Man Island Poolside Activities: 11:30am–12:30pm — Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 12:30pm–1:30pm — Bunny Hoppin’ Pool Party 1:30pm–2pm — Egg Drop 2pm–3pm — What’s In Your Easter Basket? 3pm–3:30pm — Egg-straordinary Trivia 3:30pm–4:30pm — Easter Arts & Crafts ($)
6:30pm–7:30pm — Campfire on de’ Bayou (Ol’ Man Island) **
French Quarter
9am — Candy Scramble (Courtyard Lawn between Buildings 5 & 6) 9:30am — Lawn Games (Courtyard Lawn between Buildings 5 & 6) 10am — The Egg Hunt (Pathway to Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
Doubloon Lagoon Poolside Activities: 11:30am–12:30pm — Easter Arts & Crafts ($) 12:30pm–1pm — Egg Drop 1pm–2pm — Bunny Hoppin’ Pool Party 2pm–3pm — Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 3pm–3:30pm — Egg-straordinary Trivia 3:30pm–4:30pm — What’s In Your Easter Basket?
5:00pm–7:00pm — Character Greetings (Courtyard Lawn between Buildings 5 & 6) 6:30pm–7:30pm — Cajun Campfire (Courtyard between Buildings 5 & 6) ** 8:30pm — Movie Under the Stars, “Zootopia” (Courtyard Lawn between Buildings 5 & 6)
(Setting up the Easter 2016 Candy Scramble, photo by David Kletter)
The April 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—9pm. These times 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 6:30pm—7:30pm, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
At 1pm at French Quarter and 3:30pm at Riverside there will be poolside Arts & Crafts Activities, with Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration occurring on select days as shown on the schedules (payment required for these activities). See Resort signage or a Recreation Cast Member for details.
April 11 Movie Preview: Disneynature’s “Born in China”. Join us at Port Orleans Riverside for a special advanced screening of the new film which ventures into the wilds of China, capturing intimate moments with three animal families: a doting panda bear, a two-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey and a mother snow leopard.
Easter Sunday activities will be announced closer to the date.
The “Bayou Pirate Adventure” riverboat activity cruise for children aged 4—12, which ran three days a week from the Riverside Marina, has been discontinued at short notice. The final cruise was on March 30th 2017. Similar cruises remain available from several other Walt Disney World resorts such as the Yacht & Beach Club, the Grand Floridian and the Caribbean Beach. Disney is currently in the process of contacting any guests who have already made bookings for this activity to offer them alternatives or compensation.
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 will not be playing his regular shows on Wednesday 19 April or Thursday 20 April as he will be on vacation.
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.
Sadly, the kids' "Bayou Pirate Adventure" riverboat activity cruise for children aged 4-12, which ran three days a week from the Riverside Marina, will be discontinued at the end of this month. The final cruise will take place on Thursday 30 March.
Similar cruises will remain available from several other Walt Disney World resorts, such as the Yacht & Beach Club, the Grand Floridian, and presumably still Caribbean Beach too (although at the moment there is so much construction going on at that resort that it wouldn't be my first choice).
[Update: This decision must have been made fairly recently, so Disney is currently in the process of contacting any guests who have already made future bookings for this activity to offer them alternatives or compensation]
The March 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 pool operating hours are currently 10am—9pm. These times 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 5:30pm—6:30pm, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm, 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.
At 1pm daily there will be Arts & Crafts Activities, with Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt decoration occurring on select days as shown on the schedules (payment required for these activities). See Resort Lobby signage or a Recreation Cast Member for details.
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: March 4, 5, 6, 7*, 11*, 12, 13, 14*, 18, 19, 20, 21*, 25, 26, 27* & 28. * Jason will be playing with Greg Hayworth on March 7, 14, 21 & 27, and on March 11 there will be a solo show from John Stevens.
Port Orleans has always had a reputation for fun and games at Mardi Gras (which this year occurs on Tuesday 28th February) and this time there will be a number of brand new activities available at French Quarter - although guests from Riverside are of course very welcome to attend too. Some events will be free, while others will incur additional charges.
In addition to the regular afternoon poolside games, guests can enjoy:
10am—11am - Pargo Parade : The annual parade will begin at Riverside and end in the French Quarter Courtyard. Organised by the cast members of the resort to kick off the Mardi Gras celebrations, pick a location along the parade route to watch a series of fun decorated floats inventively created using the resort's 'pargo' carts. Candy and beads will be distributed by the parade participants.
11am—Noon : Guest Interaction with Pargo Parade participants.
Noon—2pm - Painting on de’ Bayou : Located by the Scat Cat’s Stage, guests will experience an instructor-led class allowing them to create their very own New Orleans themed masterpiece to take home, priced at $39.99 + tax. Scat Cat’s Club will offer a full menu and specialty drinks, with a cocktail server to take your orders.
3pm—5pm - Scat Cat’s “Magic Mardi Gras Mixer” : Located in the Scat Cat’s Club lounge, adult guests will be able to indulge in the spirit of Mardi Gras with specialty food and cocktails, and there will be a Roaming Magician available to spellbind everyone.
5pm—8pm - Mardi Gras Courtyard Celebration : Located in the French Quarter Courtyard, events will include Mickey Tie Dye ($17 + tax), Beignet Walk, Dance Party hosted by a DJ, King Cake Eating Contest, Create Your Own Mardi Gras themed Tumbler/Wine Glass ($8.00 + tax), Bead Toss, Roaming Magician.
5:30pm—6:30pm - Cajun Campfire (note the later than normal start time).
7pm - Movie Under the Stars : “The Princess and the Frog” screened on the lawn between buildings 5 & 6.
In the event of inclement weather, events will be moved into the French Quarter Lobby.
If you are visiting Port Orleans this week there are a few special Valentine's Day activities (all clean family-friendly fun!) on Tuesday February 14th, plus a special four course menu-for-two available at Boatwright's Dining Hall in the evening for $120, finished off a with champagne toast. Thanks as always to Special Agent John for the photos.
Effective this Sunday, 12 February 2017, there will be a $5 handling fee charged for every incoming mail item or package delivered to the resort for guests. This follows a (presumably-successful?) trial carried out at the Value resorts over the last few months , during which I guess 'successful' was defined as making more money for Disney than before they started charging? With the current trend of nickel and diming guests at every opportunity, I can’t say I’m exactly surprised though. See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest ... -services/ for the official announcement (tucked in after the bullet points at the bottom).
The fee is per box or envelope, whatever the size or shape - and regardless of whether it's a single small letter or a large heavy box. However the fee will not apply to deliveries dropped off in person at Bell Services such as Garden Grocer, Owner's Locker, etc. It also does not apply to internal WDW items such as Disney Florist, Disney Vacation Club and purchases made at the parks and sent back to your hotel, nor will it be charged for gifts or items that the guest wasn't expecting (such as items left by other guests, travel agent welcome packages, etc).
To be honest I think the biggest reason for this charge is the massive increase in the quantity of product that people are having shipping to them, which is I suspect due in large part to the prevalence of information, tips and suggestions passed round on the internet (including sites like this one). Also with airlines charging more for bringing stuff along as baggage, and Disney charging ever more for something as simple as a bottle of water, it will probably only get worse.
Ten years ago there would be a few guest items a day delivered to the resort, and this would be handled by front desk staff as needed. Now though, there is a constant flow of delivery people with boxes stacked to the ceiling throughout the day. POR has had to allocate a complete extra room (which used to be office space) solely for package storage, and there is now a dedicated staff member to handle everything.
While this does all seem like another case of biting the hand that feeds, I guess as long as the incremental revenue remains greater than the losses incurred from guests deciding that it’s no longer worthwhile to stay on property, this sort of thing will continue whatever anyone says. The next two charges that I fear we might see before too long will be the implementation of a resort parking fee, and/or the addition a per night resort surcharge - as if that wasn’t already embedded into the extraordinarily high rack rates which went up again by 7% per year. I do hope not, but only time will tell.
However if you are unhappy with this charge being surreptitiously added, I suggest you make your complaint known at the time and see what can be done about it.
The separate 'Internal Shuttle' bus service that was launched at the start of December will be ending on 12 February 2017 due to lack of demand. The system will revert back to its previous arrangement where the Disney Springs buses also act as an internal shuttle service between the Port Orleans bus stops.
From 12 February, the Disney Springs bus service will stop first at French Quarter, then continue on to Riverside calling at the South, West, North and East Depots, then it will stop again at French Quarter before exiting the resort and heading to Disney Springs.
Reminder: The Port Orleans to Disney Springs bus service no longer calls en route at Typhoon Lagoon after 1pm. Instead, guests travelling after 1pm need to change at Disney Springs for a dedicated Typhoon Lagoon bus. Similarly, there is no direct bus service at any time for guests travelling from Port Orleans to Blizzard Beach, instead you'll need to get a bus to Animal Kingdom first and change there to a direct Blizzard Beach bus.
Twenty-five years ago, at the far end of the Disney-created Sassagoula River, a new hotel complex was nearing completion ready to become the sister resort for the recently-opened Disney's Port Orleans...
Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort opened to the public on 2nd February 1992 featuring the charming rustic-styled Alligator Bayou Lodge buildings. Shortly after that, phase two of the resort opened with the more elegant sophistication of the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings, bringing the total number of guest rooms up to 2,048.
On 1st April 2001, the original Port Orleans and Dixie Landings locations officially merged to form one large resort. The combined complex was now to be called Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, with the area formerly known just as Port Orleans changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and the area formerly known as Dixie Landings changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. The combined resort now spanned some 325 acres and featured a total of 3,056 guest rooms, making it the largest in Walt Disney World.
For more background on the History of Dixie Landings and Port Orleans, please see our History and Backstory pages.
Twenty-five wonderful years of creating Southern-themed magic later, and the spirit of Dixie Landings (if not the original name) lives on.
We'd like to wish all the cast members past and present a wonderful Disney Birthday, and we look forward to visiting for the next 25 magical years.
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.
Update 14 Jan: The Doubloon Lagoon swimming pool and Aquatic Play Area are now open again. The water-slide will remain closed for a while longer while work on it is completed.
The pool hours are currently 10am-8pm, and the Mardi Grogs pool bar will be open from noon until 5pm (hours may be adjusted at bartender's discretion).
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)
Christmas Day
1:00pm—2:45pm Holiday Themed Poolside Activities
3:30pm—4:30pm Holiday Craft: No Sew Holiday Pillows ($)
5:30pm—6:30pm Campfire (French Quarter only)
7:00pm Movie (French Quarter only, The Nightmare Before Christmas)
New Year’s Eve (at both resorts)
6:30pm—7:30pm Campfire
7:30pm—8:30pm Craft: Make your own Toast Glass, sparkling cider included ($)
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
Update: Apparently there was a choir singing in the French Quarter courtyard on Sunday 18 Dec and then at the Riverside Levée marina area on 19 Dec. However nothing was mentioned in any of the schedules to communicate this to guests, so perhaps there’s still hope for some character greetings or a Santa drop-in on Christmas Eve? Photo courtesy of Mary Thomas on Facebook
There will also be a “Jolly Holiday” themed version of the Sassagoula River Pirate Cruise for kids aged 4—12. The cruises are available on Sunday 18, Tuesday 20, and Thursday 22 December and can be pre-booked by calling 1-407-WDW-PLAY. Checkin begins at 9am at the Riverside Levee Marina for a 9:30am departure, and the cruises will finish at the Fishin’ Hole on Ol’ Man Island at 11:30am. Snacks and drinks are included, and the event costs $39 plus tax per child.
I’m still awaiting confirmation as to whether the temporary "Scat Cat’s Café" table-service restaurant which operated from the old Bonfamille’s Café location at French Quarter during Christmas week last year will make a reappearance. So far it doesn’t look too hopeful though.
Update on 22 December: Sadly, the temporary table-service location at French Quarter that was opened over Christmas 2015 will not be making an appearance again this year. Apparently due to concerns that the Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory refurbishment might overrun its scheduled re-opening date, they felt unable to commit to using the Bonfamille’s Café space early enough to make definitive plans.
The December 2016 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.
For the next few months, the main feature swimming pools will be operating their winter hours of 10am—9pm. 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 5:30pm—6:30pm (please ignore the typo on the Riverside calendar), and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:00pm, 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 3:30pm—4:30pm daily, there will be Holiday Crafts hosted in each of the resort lobbies. These paid activities include: Create Your Own Picture Frame, No Sew Pillows, Create Your Own Countdown Plaque, Create Your Own Map Coasters or Ornaments, and Character Fuse Beads. Also, for the entire month of December, every Saturday will feature Holiday-themed poolside activities.
The format of the Recreation Calendar handout sheets has changed this month, with all of the activities for each resort now listed on one side only (a resort map is printed on the back). Please check back closer to Christmas for the specific Holiday activities.
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). During December, his shows will have a distinctly festive feel.
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: December 5, 6*, 11, 12*, 13*, 17, 18, 19, 20*, 26, 27* & 31. Note: Jason will be playing with Greg Hayworth* on December 6, 12, 13, 20 & 27.
According to Orlando Park News, there have been a few minor, but very welcome, changes to the bus service provided at the Port Orleans resorts.
First, there is new a dedicated Internal Shuttle bus linking all four Riverside bus stops and French Quarter. There has been an Internal Shuttle system in place since early December 2015, which ran in conjunction with the Disney Springs route, but apparently this has now been extended to use a dedicated bus. The new shuttle service starts at 6:30am and provides round-trip transportation from French Quarter to Riverside South, West, North, and East until 12:30am daily, extended to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Also, in an effort to reduce bus overcrowding and wait times during the peak demand period, from approx 8am until 11am the service from Riverside to the Magic Kingdom will now operate using two separate buses. The first will stop at the South Depot only, and the other will cater solely for the three outlying circle Depots, West, North and East. This should make using the outlying bus stops a much more attractive proposition for guests visiting the Magic Kingdom in the morning.
Wishing a Very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at Port Orleans today and during the extended Holiday weekend - and especially to the dedicated cast members who will be working today to keep the guests comfortable and happy.
And as is the custom, the Christmas decorations went up this week - in fact most were in place by Monday - and the whole resort is looking really festive this year, especially French Quarter.
The Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory food court at Port Orleans French Quarter re-opened to guests on Saturday 19 November after a four-month refurbishment with a brand new menu and completely updated kitchen facilities, along with a new cleaner look. The fully updated menu is now available on our main food court page.
Notable changes include a New Orleans inspired menu, which includes many old favorites (such as beignets of course) alongside lots of exciting new options. New breakfast items include Breakfast Po’ Boys, Cajun Grit Bowl with Shrimp, Molasses-Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll, Jumbo Sweet Potato Belgian Waffle, Grilled Steak and Scrambled Eggs, and Crispy Fried Chicken on Biscuit with Maple Bacon Jam. For Lunch/Dinner you could try Crawfish Mac & Cheese Burger, Create-Your-Own Signature Rice Bowl or Create-Your-Own Pasta, Southern Classic — ‘Meat & Three’, Cajun Bayou Pizza, Jambalaya, Daily Po’ Boys, Sassagoula Power Salad or French Quarter House Salad. Gelato has replaced the traditional ice cream flavours, which is a great upgrade.
Your food will now be served on real bamboo plates with proper metal cutlery instead of the previous paper plates and plastic knives and forks, bringing a much more upmarket feel to the dining experience. The trash & tray disposal areas have also been improved to allow depositing items for washing separately from general food waste and pizza boxes (although oddly nowhere for plastic bottles?) however only time will tell whether this may create something of a bottleneck when the food court is particularly busy.
The five food service counters have been reorganised slightly (the bakery is now in the middle for example) and the existing windows at either side of the service area have been removed. The redesign has also opened up access through to the main seating area (where the Grab'n'Go cabinets used to be) and moved the registers into that space instead. New taller Grab'n'Go cabinets have been installed in the middle of the already rather cramped space in the middle of the service area, which will surely just cause more congestion to the queues during busy periods? Within 24 hours staff were trying to address this issue by moving the cabinets around, but I'm surprised nobody realised the potential problem during the planning stages. I'm guessing they didn't want the service/register area to extend out any further out in the seating area as they are now quoting the restaurant capacity as 395 compared to the original 300.
Refillable cold beverages are now available from eight new Coca Cola Freestyle machines - a very popular replacement for the previous two regular drink fountains - offering a far wider range of carbonated, still and diet options. The central beverage island is themed to resemble an unfinished 'work in progress' Mardi Gras parade float - or so they tell us anyway, but it doesn't seem very intuitive until you've been told.
Which brings us neatly to perhaps the most controversial change: the theming, or perhaps more the lack of it. For a long time, guests have commented negatively on the huge 'creepy' masks hanging from the ceiling as part of the Mardi Gras float factory theme, and removing those faces was always going to be part of the overall plan for the refurbishment. However now there is nothing at all hanging from the ceiling, just industrial-looking steel girderwork and skylights (which admittedly does give the benefit of making the room feel lighter and more airy). The remaining few salvaged Mardi Gras props are now displayed on shallow balconies above doorways, where you may spot Tiana and Prince Naveen hidden within the playing card designs. The colourful New Orleans jester which previously stood proudly just outside the serving area is gone too. Even the flooring is now a nondescript grey rather than the warm earth tones that were featured before, and the chairs and new tall stools are cold metal designs rather than wooden.
I have been told that there is still some detail work to be completed which won't be ready until January, and that they didn't want to risk delaying the re-opening any further to wait for it. This will apparently include some chandeliers for the main seating area, but it's hard to see how that will make a major impact in mitigating the rather stark and utilitarian feel.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by French Quarter General Manager Punam Dayabhai-Jairambhai and one of the Walt Disney World Ambassadors, took place at 8:30am - however the food court had actually opened several hours earlier because it would have been impossible to transition the live food service from the previous day's temporary location back to the main food court during food service without causing major disruption to guests.
Regular visitor Steve Denney was on hand to bring us the latest opening news as it happened (all of which was posted live on our Facebook page over the weekend) and he has since consolidated his thoughts and photos into a review article in the comments.
For other reports, please see Disney Parks Blog post, the DISboards overview, and the excellent AJ Wolfe's Disney Food Blog article (AJ's site is always well worth a visit for the excellent foodie photos anyway).
So is everyone ready for Saturday's grand re-opening of the Port Orleans French Quarter food court? There's still some decor detail to be completed (although it seems that the ceiling will be plainer than before) but they are already testing out the kitchens on some very willing cast member victims (no guests yet, sorry) and the feedback is pretty good!
Breakfast choices include Sweet Potato Belgian Waffles, Buttermilk Pancakes with various toppings, Grilled Steak and Scrambled Eggs, Whole Grain Croissant Breakfast Sandwich, Crispy Fried Chicken on Biscuit with Maple Bacon Jam. All apparently served on real flatware with real cutlery rather than the previous paper plates and plastic knives and forks (which also means less waste I assume). The beverage island now features eight Coca Cola Freestyle machines instead of the previous two multi-dispenser units for cold drinks.
As we reported previously, the Grand Opening will be on Saturday morning at 8:30am, spread the news! So is anyone planning to head over there? Here are a few quick teaser pictures to whet your appetite...
I've just had confirmation that the "Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory" food court at Port Orleans French Quarter will be reopening to guests on Saturday 19 November, featuring "American cooking inspired by the flavors of New Orleans". There will be some brand new menu items, plus some old favourites of course. After a couple of days of internal menu testing, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 8:30am on 19 November.
And of course it wouldn't be French Quarter without...
The November 2016 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 opening hours will remain at 9am-10pm during November. The evening campfires will operate from 4:30pm until 6pm this month, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:00pm, 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.
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Due to other commitments, Bob will not be performing his regular Port Orleans shows on Saturday 29 October, Thursday 3 November or Friday 4 November.
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. Their 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 (8pm—11pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended. Jason & Billy at Scat Cat’s, November 2016 (Saturday—Tuesday): November 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28. Jason will be playing with Greg Hayworth on November 8, 15, 22 & 29. No shows are scheduled for November 1, 16 & 19.
I'm sure everyone has been following the news of Hurricane Matthew, which is now hours away from reaching the Florida coastline and is then expected to push its way up the East coast over the next couple of days. Most of central Florida is now on high alert, and Disney have announced that the theme parks will all close at 5pm on Thursday and remain closed all day on Friday, with any outdoor events (such as the Halloween parties) cancelled.
The Fort Wilderness Campground has been completely evacuated, and the treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs (next to the Sassagoula River) and the lagoon-side bungalows at the Polynesian Village Resort are also being closed for the duration and guests relocated.
The resorts will be laying on extra support - food, drink, supplies, entertainment, etc - for guests who will presumably be advised to remain in their rooms during the worst periods of the impending weather system, which currently looks likely to be around the middle of the day on Friday.
I'll post more information on what Port Orleans are doing as-and-when I get updates. Obviously the situation is very fluid at the moment, as the predicted track and severity of the storm changes hour-by-hour, and multiple contingency plans are being put into operation.
My thoughts are with the cast members and guests at my favourite place right now - hunker down and stay safe everyone.
[Update on Friday morning] I've heard that in the expectation of the food courts being closed on Friday, the WDW resorts have been selling emergency snack boxes containing a very small sandwich, a piece of fruit, packet of chips, and a tiny cookie (not even a drink) for $12.99! This really smells like gouging to me - IMHO these should be provided for free to all guests who will be effectively trapped in their rooms. However I gather that if you complain, the cost is being refunded - I guess the cast members must feel guilty about charging for it too. And it probably goes without saying, but all Disney transportation will be shut down for the whole of Friday, and the airports are closed to all commercial flights too.
[Update on Friday afternoon] The resort food courts re-opened for breakfast this morning, initially with slightly limited menus to help process the heavy demand as quickly as possible. With the hurricane now past the Orlando area, the Walt Disney World theme parks are scheduled to be open tomorrow (Saturday) at 8am, with everything else following soon after. Disney Springs will be re-opening around 5pm on Friday evening, although probably not everything will be open initially.
The October 2016 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 hours will remain at 9am—10pm for now. The evening campfires will commence at 6:00pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
Halloween Activities (Monday 31 October)
RIVERSIDE, OL’ MAN ISLAND POOL 1:30pm Beach Ball Blast 2:00pm Halloween Mickey Tie-Dye (fee) 3:30pm Oogie Boogie Pool Party 4:30pm Villain Bingo 6:00pm—9:00pm Trick-or-Treating 9:00pm Chilling Campfire
RIVERSIDE, HALLOWEEN BASH ON THE BAYOU 6:00pm—9:00pm Join us for activities in the Lobby Courtyard for a Monster Bash Dance Party, Bewitching Games, Costume Contest, Decorate Your Own Pumpkin (fee), and Character Meet and Greets! Select food and beverage and merchandise items will be available for purchase.
FRENCH QUARTER, HALLOWEEN BASH 4:00pm—7:00pm Join us for activities in the Lobby Courtyard for Halloween Mickey Tie-Dye (fee), Monster Bash Dance Party, Bewitching Games, Costume Contest, Trick-or-Treating, and Character Meet and Greets. Select food and beverage and merchandise items will be available for purchase.
FRENCH QUARTER, MOVIES UNDER THE STARS (on the green between buildings 5 & 6) 7:00pm—8:30pm Watch a Halloween double-feature of Walt Disney Animation Short Films Toy Story of Terror and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad while roasting marshmallows around a Chilling Campfire. 8:30pmHocus Pocus
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Due to other commitments, Bob will not be performing his regular Port Orleans shows on Saturday 29 October, Thursday 3 November or Friday 4 November.
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. Their 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 (8pm—11pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended. October 2016 dates: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 & 31. (Not playing Tuesday October 25).
The September 2016 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 hours will remain at 9am—11pm for the first few days of September, and then they switch to 9am—10pm from September 5th. The evening campfires will commence at 6:00pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
On Labor Day (Monday 5th September) there will be a few extra “End of Summer Extravaganza” daytime poolside activities at both resorts, plus an afternoon barbecue.
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 (Weds—Sat).
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. Their 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 (8pm—11pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended. Jason & Billy's September dates are 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 & 27. Greg Hayworth will be subbing for Billy on September 6, 13 & 27.
Posted Thursday 4th August 2016, 9:42am (EDT) by Admin
For anyone staying at Port Orleans at the moment (or if you are just in the area and want to pop by) we've got a small informal meet at the River Roost Lounge (next to the POR lobby) at 7pm on Saturday 6th August. Everyone is welcome, see you there?
The August 2016 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 hours are 9am—11pm for the rest of the summer, including the new children’s Aquatic Play Area at Port Orleans French Quarter. The evening campfires will commence at 6:00pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, with both activities still occurring on alternating days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Bob will be on vacation from 29 August until 6 Sept.
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. Their 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—11:30pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended. July 2016: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 & 31.C'mon Disney, Jason & Billy certainly deserve a permanent contract if anyone does!
The temporary food location, in place during the current refurbishment work of the main food court, is located in the old Bonfamille's Cafe area as expected, and is thus quite a bit smaller than the normal food court. To provide for the maximum seating capacity they can (which appears to be around 20 tables) you order your food at two registers and cast members bring it out from the kitchens directly to your table (rather like the quick service system in use at the Be Our Guest restaurant, but without the magic roses). This means that no Create-Your-Own options are available. See below photos for menus.
There are chilled grab'n'go cabinets too, plus two Coca Cola Freestyle machines and coffee machines for use with your refillable mugs. Tables in Wonderland cards are accepted, as is the Quick Service Dining Plan. Extra transportation between French Quarter and Riverside is available should you prefer to use the full food court there.
The automated player piano in the lobby has been removed for the time being to allow better access, but otherwise Scat Cat's Club is operating as normal (including evening entertainment).
The refurbishment work is expected to continue into the Fall, and should be completed sometime before Thanksgiving.
Some photos have been uploaded by NCDisneyMom from the POFQ thread on the DISboards (she apologises for the focus in some of them, it was a bit dark to get good shots). Thanks for the update:
The USA ‘rack rates’ for Rooms and Packages in 2017 were released at 6am EDT on Tuesday 21 June 2016, roughly the same time that they were issued last year. You can now book rooms and packages with Disney online or via their telephone Reservations Center for 2017 vacations, up to the normal maximum of 499 days in advance.
The average room prices at Port Orleans went up by 7.1% compared with last year’s rates, and by 12.1% compared to 2015 rates. French Quarter was hit the hardest, with some room categories, such as King Bed, seeing a nearly 12% annual rise. That’s some inflation rate they’ve got down there in Florida!
The overall tiering at French Quarter seems to have settled into a new pattern too, with River View rooms now considered to be a mid-tier rate, and King Bed and Pool View firmly at the top level. Presumably this is demand-based, as King Bed rooms at French Quarter always guarantee a corner room, and Pool View rooms are all very conveniently located for access to the main building, bus stop, and ferry dock.
The original heavy differentials for Royal Rooms have now been almost completely eroded, with Garden, Pool and River views mostly selling at the same nightly rate, and even then only around $6 more than the cheapest Royal Rooms. So if you are planning a Royal Room vacation, it’s definitely worth considering a Pool View (for the guaranteed convenient location) or a River View.
There is no separate price point for Independence Day this year, so the Summer rate lasts for a full two and a half months from May 29 to August 12. Some room categories now feature weekend pricing during the Summer period, although most are still block-priced as in previous years. And even more strangely, in several categories (such as Preferred Location rooms and all of the Royal Room options) weekend nights during Summer are actually priced lower than the surrounding weekday rates, rather than the normal $30 or so hike for Friday/Saturday nights. I do wonder if this might be an error?
Once again, Memorial Day appears to be an anomalous blip at Riverside, significantly more expensive than even Christmas week at $383 per night for a River View room — a full $70 more than a similar River View room at French Quarter for the same nights.
The July 2016 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The main feature swimming pool hours are 9am—11pm for the rest of the summer, including the new children’s Aquatic Play Area at Port Orleans French Quarter. The evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9:00pm, with both activities still occurring on alternating days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter. Other daily recreation activities seem to be somewhat reduced from previous months, or perhaps they are just not yet fully itemised?
Update: The reason for the calendars looking so sparse this month is that the resort is testing out a new system for poolside activities. The activities Cast Members will now be able to pick and choose games that are more relevant to the guests who are in the pool at that time, as opposed to a more structured fixed schedule grid. The campfires are also operating for an extra half-hour per day
July 4th (Independence Day) activities at Port Orleans Riverside (Ol’ Man Island Pool) 11:00am Beach Ball Blast 11:30am Water Balloon Games 12:00pm Red, White and Blue Relays and Races 12:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 2:00pm Patriotic Pool Party 3:00pm Stars and Stripes Scavenger Hunt 3:30pm Ice Cream Drop 4:30pm Water Balloon Games 5:00pm Star Spangled Dance Party 6:30pm Patriotic Campfire, on Ol’ Man Island 8:30pm Movie Under the Stars: Zootopia, in the courtyard by Oak Manor
July 4th (Independence Day) activities at Port Orleans French Quarter (Doubloon Lagoon Pool) 11:00am Beach Ball Blast 11:30am Mickey Tie-Dye ($) 12:30pm Red, White and Blue Relays and Races 1:00pm Watermelon Eating Contest 2:00pm Patriotic Pool Party 3:00pm Stars and Stripes Scavenger Hunt 3:30pm Water Balloon Games 4:30pm Revolutionary Hula Hoop Games 5:00pm Star Spangled Dance Party
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Bob will be on vacation from 29 August until 6 Sept.
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. Their 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—11:30pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended. July 2016: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 & 31.C'mon Disney, Jason & Billy certainly deserve a permanent contract if anyone does!
It looks like the cat is now out of the bag as to why work has recently been occurring inside the original Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant location at Port Orleans French Quarter (as reported here back in April, in http://www.portorleans.org/news.php?first=300416).
Starting 11 July - which is a little sooner than was recently intended, but the dates and scale of the project have already been adjusted several times - the Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory food court will be closed for a few months for refurbishment work. The work is due to be completed "sometime in the fall". In the meantime, the original Bonfamille's area will be brought back into service to act as a temporary quick service food court, serving many of the resort's regular hot and cold favourites - including of course the signature beignets.
Guests will also be able to make use of the Riverside Mill food court and Boatwright's Dining Hall table-service restaurant over at Port Orleans Riverside, and free shuttle transportation will be provided.
I've been trying to get further information on a few specific things that people have been asking, and can confirm the following:
Yes, you will definitely be able to use your refillable mugs (they are part of the Dining Plan after all, there would be a LOT of complaints if refills were not available).
Yes, beignets & dipping sauce will be available.
Yes, hot breakfasts will be available in the morning just like normal.
The menu will be very similar to what you can get at present, although the exact details have not been finalised as yet so I can't be too specific. Suffice to say that staples such as Mickey Waffles, Bounty Platters, French Toast, Pancakes, etc should be available at breakfast time, and for lunch/dinner there will be things like Jambalaya, Po'Boys, burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizzas, baked potatoes, gumbo/soup, roast salmon, etc. As usual, the dinner menu will include a few extra items not available at lunchtime. I'm not sure whether make-your-own items will be available, but as I said the menu is still to be finalised.
The Grab & Go range may even be extended to include bakery items, sandwiches, muffeletta, etc.
Tables in Wonderland will continue to be accepted at the temporary location at FQ, but it won't be accepted at the Riverside Mill (even though that may be acting as an overflow location).
The extra transportation between FQ and Riverside will probably take the form of a minibus/van transfer shuttle, but it will be based on what the actual level of demand turns out to be.
Evening entertainment at Scat Cat's Club at French Quarter will be continuing as normal (which currently means the excellent Jason and Billy from Off Kilter).
The best information on the end date for the refurbishment at the moment is that it will definitely be done before Thanksgiving, but how much before then is not certain.
A few little hints on what to expect from the refurb: some of the 'scarier' giant face masks will be removed, but other parade icons will remain to maintain the theming. The overall design will be remodeled slightly, with new paint, flooring, equipment, etc. I also gather that after the refit the drinks fountain area may include the new Coca Cola "Freestyle" machines, which I think is great news!
(The original Bonfamille's restaurant, as used during Christmas 2015 with the revised name of Scat Cat's Cafe)
The current Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory - maybe the big scary heads might be on their way out?
The following email is being sent out to guests staying at French Quarter during the affected period (which will last until sometime during the fall):
Thank you for choosing Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter as your vacation destination! We eagerly await your arrival and look forward to sharing our hospitality with you.
Here at the Walt Disney World® Resort, we believe that in order to continue delivering the best Guest experience, we must renew and refresh our offerings at every opportunity. In preparation for your upcoming stay, we want to make you aware that Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Food Court will be closed for enhancement and unavailable during your visit.
Rest assured, while we are working our magic, there will be plenty of dining options available to you:
An alternative dining experience will be available adjacent to the Lobby. This location will proudly serve Guest favorites such as jambalaya, gumbo, po-boy sandwiches, other hot and cold entrées and our famous beignets. In addition, there will also be a selection of grab 'n' go meals available for purchase.
Bus transportation will be provided from 7:00am to 12:00am to our neighboring Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, where you can dine at Riverside Mill Food Court or stop in for dinner at Boatwright's Dining Hall from 5:00pm to 10:00pm.
Our in-room pizza delivery service will continue to be available from 4:00pm to 12:00am daily. The menu includes pizza, hot and cold sandwiches and pasta which you can order by pressing "Dining Options" on your in-room phone.
The Disney Reservations Center phone line won't be able to tell you anything that's not in the information sheet that they've been sent though (they are just a call center). Since it says exactly the same as the guest email that has already been mentioned, I can't see they can object to it being quoted here too:
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court refurbishment
In order to continue delivering the best possible experience for our Guests, we are commited to refreshing and enhancing our offerings. Beginning July 11, Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court will be closed for future enhancements. When assisting Guests with reservations at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts through this fall, please share these alternative food and beverage options:
An alternative dining experience will be available adjacent to the lobby and Scat Cat’s Lounge. This location will be serving Guest favorites such as jambalaya, gumbo, po-boy sandwiches, other hot and cold entrees and our famous beignets. A selection of grab ‘n’ go meals also will be available for purchase.
Guests can dine at Riverside Mill Food Court or have dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall (open from 5-10 p.m.) at our neighboring resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Bus transportation will run from 7 a.m.-midnight to accommodate Guests who wish to take advantage of this alternative.
In-room pizza delivery service will continue to be available from 4 p.m.-midnight. The menu includes pizza, hot and cold sandwiches and pasta, which can be ordered by pressing “Dining Options” on your in-room phone.
There are a few rather pointless reactive FAQs too, which just reiterate the start date as being 11 July until Fall, the fact that the dining plan will be accepted (which will still be Quick Service incidentally), and that there will be no noise impact in the guest accommodation areas "while you are enjoying your room" (yes, that's precisely how it's written in Disney-speak).
A couple of new items have appeared at the Port Orleans food courts over the past few weeks, which is welcome news indeed after the removal of multiple options a few months ago.
Starting at French Quarter - and I can't believe this wasn't a thing already - but for $6.79 you can now get a Beignet Sundae - a larger sized New Orleans beignet served in a bowl with ice cream and sauce. A classic plus ice-cream too, what more could you ask?
And over at Riverside there is now a speciality Bayou Burger - Chopped Prime Rib on a 7oz Burger with an Abita Beer Fondue served on a Toasted Onion Roll with House Made Pickles (with choice of Coleslaw or French Fries). $12.99
(Thanks to Scott Campbell for the Bayou Burger photos, and Disney for the Beignet Sundae)
The June 2016 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.
As from Sunday 29 May, the main feature swimming pool hours will be 9am—11pm for the rest of the summer, including the new children's Aquatic Play Area at Port Orleans French Quarter. The evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
Continuing this month: The mid-afternoon Disney Junior Pool Party at 2:30pm features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Bob will NOT be at the Port on his usual nights of June 23, 24 & 25 (he is taking some personal time to visit his high school class reunion in Ohio).
Port Orleans French Quarter's Scat Cat's Club does not currently have its own 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. Their dates are only announced a month or so in advance, but if you happen to be around for any of the following evenings (8:30pm—11:30pm) do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended: June: 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 & 28. C'mon Disney, Jason & Billy certainly deserve a permanent contract if anyone does!
Celebrating 25 Years of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort 17 May 1991 - 17 May 2016
In 1982, Walt Disney World Executive Dick Nunis proposed a new development near to the Empress Lilly steamboat-inspired restaurant in the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village area (today known as Disney Springs). The expansion was to include an intricately-themed hotel complex designed to evoke the relaxing laid-back feel of the city of New Orleans, reminiscent of Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. Surrounding the ‘recently docked steamboat’ would be a variety of themed buildings, with affordably priced guest rooms on the upper levels and restaurants and retail outlets on the ground floor.
Sadly this plan never materialised during the turbulent early eighties, however in the world of Imagineering good ideas never really die and the two-level resort hotel and shopping/dining district eventually reappeared in the mid-1990s as Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
In the meantime, as part of massive expansion plans brought about by new Disney chief Michael Eisner, the New Orleans resort concept was resurrected from the vaults — but instead of being situated within the rapidly expanding Disney Village Marketplace area, it was relocated to create an entire new themed area to be accessed via a specially built waterway, the Sassagoula River.
So it was that Disney’s Port Orleans Resort first opened its doors to the public on 17th May 1991. Originally featuring just 432 guest rooms in three buildings, the room count was soon increased to 1,008 as construction work on the remaining four buildings was completed. Nine months later its sister resort, Disney’s Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans Riverside), opened — and the rest, as they say, is history!
For more background on the resort, and fun facts and trivia details, please see our History and Trivia pages.
As a special Anniversary treat, we’ve just made available for downloading a complete early copy of the official eight-page Port Orleans ‘resort newspaper’ The Sassagoula Sentinel as a fully detailed PDF file. Enjoy!
Port Orleans French Quarter (the original 'Port Orleans Resort') opened its first 432 rooms to guests on 17th May 1991, twenty-five years ago this week. Come to the lobby courtyard between 5:30pm and 8:30pm on Tuesday 17th May for the new weekly 'Fat Tuesday' Mardi Gras Block Party, this week also celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the resort.
Events include: Dance Party, Beignet Walk, Games and Activities, Mickey Tie Die, Specialty Food & Beverage, and Merchandise Offerings.
Afterwards, join talented duo Jason & Billy for a fun evening of musical entertainment at Scat Cat's Club, adjacent to the main French Quarter lobby.
Work will commence in the next few weeks inside the old Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant location at Port Orleans French Quarter in order to prepare it for temporary guest use during August to October this year. This will most likely not be full table service though, so you won't be able to make ADRs in advance. I don't have any exact details of dates to release as yet, but as soon as I know anything more definite I will let everyone know, and I'll also post information on other related work which may be occurring at the resort during the same timeframe... As always, stay tuned for updates and keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, etc.
The Bonfamille's location was last used during Christmas 2015 for a brief two-week table service experience serving cajun-inspired options under the name "Scat Cat's Café", and prior to that it functioned as Walt Disney World's test kitchen facility:
(Photo from Christmas 2015)
In other food-related news, it looks like the Muddy Rivers pool bar at Port Orleans Riverside will soon be installing facilities for limited hot food preparation. Don't get too excited, it won't become a full quick service dining location or anything like that, but there will be simple hot fried food available - french fries, chicken nuggets, wings, etc - prepared to order by the bartenders. See PerfectFry.com for an idea of the sort of equipment they are planning to use, and it seems that connection points have just been fitted in readiness (I have no idea why they didn't do this during the recent two-month refurbishment period, which you'd have thought would have made a lot more sense):
The May 2016 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 hours are currently 9am—10pm, including the new children's Aquatic Play Area at Port Orleans French Quarter. The evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
Continuing this month: The mid-afternoon Disney Junior Pool Party at 2:30pm features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Bob will not be at the Port on his usual nights of 20 and 21 May due to a wedding commitment in New York.
Port Orleans French Quarter's Scat Cat's Club does not currently have its own 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. Their dates are only announced a month or so in advance, but if you happen to be around for any of the following evenings from 8pm, do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended: May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29 (with Greg Hayworth), 30 and 31. C'mon Disney, Jason & Billy certainly deserve a permanent contract if anyone does!
Disney has just issued the details of what has become an annually anticipated offer for guests staying on-site during the Fall. To try to increase occupancy levels during this traditionally quieter period, they are offering the Disney Dining Plan for free at select resorts when you book a full-price room and ticket combined package.
Sadly for Port Orleans fans though, the offer seems to be following the same overall pattern as last year. French Quarter is completely excluded from the offer for all dates, and Riverside is only available for limited dates and room types (only valid for arrivals from 23 August 2016 to 1 October 2016). To take advantage of the offer you need to book a minimum of three nights stay, and include at least two days worth of park tickets for every guest in the room. Currently you need to book by 8 July.
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Other current offers relating to the Port Orleans Resorts include the following, which cannot be combined with Free Dining:
Awaken Summer Room-Only Discount: Up to 25% off Moderate Resorts, excluding French Quarter, for stays between 30 May and 25 August 2016. Book by 10 June.
Back To School Room-Only Discount: Up to 25% off Moderate Resorts for stays between 1 August and 5 November 2016. Book by 31 August.
Availability and room types are limited so if you can be flexible with your dates and room category choices that may help.
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Note: All of the above offers are only valid for bookings made via the US Disney Reservations Center, or the US Walt Disney World website (i.e. priced in US Dollars). For other markets, different offers may be available.
For example, the UK Walt Disney Travel Company has just released its 2017 offer which only provides the Quick Service Dining Plan at Moderate Resorts, but is available for most dates in 2017 when you book a room along with 7, 14 or 21 day tickets for everyone, plus they give you a 'free' $200 Disney Gift Card per booking. The 2017 offer provides two counter service meals (which no longer include desserts) and TWO snack items per day, plus one refillable mug, and it is valid at both French Quarter and Riverside for most dates from 1 January – 29 March 2017 and 17 April – 30 November, 2017 (subject to availability and room category choice). Book by 7 July 2016.
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For general information on all the current offers available, and other ways to save money on Walt Disney World trips, I highly recommend a visit to MouseSavers.com.
FamilyFun Magazine's annual Best Family Vacations Travel Awards survey features only one Walt Disney World destination within its overall Top 10 "Best of the Best" list - and that is our very own Port Orleans French Quarter.
2,000 families who travel with kids aged 3 to 14 rated nearly 500 US destinations that they had visited within the past five years in five categories - and they obviously had great taste, we couldn't agree with their choice more!
The April 2016 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 hours are currently 9am—10pm, including the brand new children's Aquatic Play Area at Port Orleans French Quarter. The evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm, 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.
Continuing this month: The mid-afternoon Disney Junior Pool Party at 2:30pm features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
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 (Weds—Sat). Note: Bob will not be at the Port on his usual nights of 7, 8 and 9 April as he is travelling up to Alaska for a few days.
Port Orleans French Quarter's Scat Cat's Club does not currently have its own 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. Their dates are only announced a month or so in advance, but if you happen to be around for any of the following evenings do yourself a favour and pop along, they are highly recommended: April 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30. C'mon Disney, Jason & Billy certainly deserve a permanent contract if anyone does!
Disney has just released the following information:
Punam Dayabhai-Jairambhai will transition from her current role as senior manager, Merchandise & Operating Participants, Disney Cruise Line Operations, to General Manager, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Punam, who has also previously worked with Adventures by Disney based in California, will be taking over from current General Manager Suzette Noble who has been overseeing both resorts since Valerie Bunting was transferred to a new role last August. Suzette will now switch over to managing the Port Orleans Riverside section only.
The brand new (and much anticipated) children’s Aquatic Play Area at French Quarter officially opened to guests at 9am this morning, complete with plenty of whimsical - and suitably drenching - water play features, all with a unique New Orleans twist.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Port Orleans' General Manager Suzette Noble, French Quarter's Proprietor of Rooms & Recreation Stefanie Shomper, and Walt Disney World Ambassador Caitlin Busscher. Many thanks to Denise from MouseSteps.com for the photos and to Jeff Lange for his great video of the event:
Other work undertaken at the same time includes the addition of extra fencing and lockable gates at all of the entrances and exits to the pool area, plus improvements in disability accessibility with the replacement of some stepped access routes with inclined slopes. There have also been some new features added at the Mardi Grogs bar, including air heaters for the cooler winter months and some extra snack items (pretzels and popcorn).
For more background and photographs of the entire construction process, which started back in October 2015, please see our previous news items, or the Refurbishments Page.
After a flurry of last-minute activity, restocking the bar, finishing off the new fencing and clearing away the debris and equipment, the Ol' Man Island area was handed back to resort staff on Friday 4th March to allow them to start rearranging the sun beds, checking safety equipment, and preparing the island for guest access.
At 9am on Saturday 5th March, Ol’ Man Island finally reopened to guests, and the Muddy Rivers pool bar was once again supplying its customary southern libations as if nothing had happened.
The most noticeable changes from a guest's point of view are the new and sadly somewhat intrusive metal perimeter fences and sturdy lockable gates ("Stalag Riverside" anyone?), although given enough time the foliage should grow up to obscure the majority of the fencing. Currently the gates do not have electronic access control via the use of magic bands, but that is presumably just a matter of time if they want to cut down on the number of day-tripping tourists travelling up the Sassagoula River from Disney Springs for a sneaky dip in "Old Man" Everette Peace's swimmin' hole...
There have also been a lot of other, less visible, tasks completed and other minor modifications made. The entire lining of the pool has been stripped and retreated, meaning that the whimsical frog & alligator edging tiles are gone, replaced with a tasteful if rather generic brown/beige product. The hot tub now has more disability-friendly features including the removal of the old stepped access path, and adding a chair hoist and double handrails for entry.
The Muddy Rivers pool bar has been refitted and its equipment updated, and the nearby restrooms have also been completely refitted (and featuring some lovely new inventive signage too).
For more background and photographs of the entire construction process, which started in January 2016, please see our previous news items, or the Refurbishments Page.
Friday night, and it looks like everything is set for Ol' Man Island to reopen at 9am in the morning. The (sadly still rather intrusive) fences and gates are complete, all construction equipment is gone, the bar is restocked and the sunbeds are back in place. Even the snazzy new restrooms should be good to go [groan, sorry about the pun!].
The French Quarter Aquatic Play Area will open at 9am on Monday morning.
Who's going to be the first to update us with some re-opened photos?
The Riverside Mill food court has removed a number of breakfast options from its menu, including one complete serving zone (the counter in the corner, to the left of the Omelets). The odd thing is that most of these lost items were only introduced late last Summer:
Breakfast Sandwich
Egg White Frittata Sandwich
Quiche Lorraine
Create-Your-Own Fruit Bowl
What remains (apart from the other Make-Your-Own options and the Bakery) are just the generic - and presumably least healthy - Bounty Platter, Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, Biscuits and Gravy, and Grits.
I can only assume this is a cost-cutting exercise, but whatever the reason I can't see how it can do anything other than result in even longer lines for guests.
[Added on 6 March] French Quarter's Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory has also removed one breakfast item that was added last summer, their Quiche of the Day selection.
[Further Update] Many lunchtime Po' Boy options were also removed from the French Quarter menu, plus the Chilli-Cheese Hot Dog and Fried Chicken Sandwich - and even Chocolate Cake appears to be gone.
French Quarter - Doubloon Lagoon and Children's Water Play Area (Now due to open by 6 March)
Update 25 February 2016: The target completion date for the French Quarter children’s water play area has again been slightly delayed, this time from 29th February to 6th March. Workers are starting to add the final detailing and test the water features, but landscaping, fencing and some remaining pathway construction over the buried pipework is still to be completed.
The Mardi Grogs pool bar has just had some new features installed, including pretzel and popcorn machines and air heaters to allow more people to sit outside during the cooler winter months. Pretzels are priced at $3.19 each, or $4.19 with a cheese dip, and popcorn is $3.50 (plus tax).
Update 29 February 2016: Testing of the water elements commenced this afternoon, and it looks great with lots of spray fountains and a fun fill-and-tip water wheel at the top. Thanks as always to John Schmidt for sending the photos and video. The splash play area is marked as having a sloped depth of 11 inches in the middle, and will presumably have the same 48-inch height restriction as per other resorts.
The remaining pathways have now been laid around the water play area and landscaping added, and most of the green construction fences have been removed, but other current work includes the removal of the steps from the northern access pathway to the hot tub, adding ramped access from the Mardi Grogs bar to the seating area, and replacing some worn-out decking on the boat dock.
Riverside - Ol' Man Island (Due to reopen by 4/5 March)
Update 28 February 2016: The access bridge from the Riverside Marina to Ol’ Man Island reopened for guests around 5pm on Friday 26 February, albeit with a few areas of paintwork that still need finishing.
Work is progressing well on the main pool area, and the pool itself was refilled several days ago. The perimeter fencing is almost complete, and lockable gates are being installed across all of the pool-access pathways. While the gatepost edging is at least styled in keeping with the island theme, the outlying fences and the gates themselves are all metal and more than one person has commented on the new “Stalag Riverside” look. Hopefully once the foliage is allowed to grow a bit the fence will be much less noticeable, and there has already been some new planting on the mansion building side of the island. At least it’s better than the incongruous wire-mesh fencing that has recently been added around the Polynesian leisure pool.
There is still a lot of work to be completed on the restrooms and the River Roost bar area (there isn’t even a bar counter-top at the moment!) but the expectation is still that the area will be ready to be handed back to the resort team by Friday 4 March. This does not necessarily mean that the pool will reopen to guests on that day though, as final approvals from the Reedy Creek folks will be needed, along with resetting all the furnishings in the area and revisiting the training of the lifeguards (as one of the guard stations has been moved slightly). The most likely opening date at the moment is Saturday 5th March, but that could still move either way.
Update 29 February 2016: Cement work outside of the restrooms is making progress, and bar elements such as the counter-tops now appear to be done and thematic detailing is being restored. Final touches on landscaping are being worked on, and they are skimming and brushing out the pool. Some minor finishing work was still being done to the bottom of the slide. A double-handrail and a chair lift have been added to the already somewhat cramped hot tub.
The March 2016 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 hours are currently 9am—10pm.
The evening campfires will commence at 6pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm, occurring on alternating days at the two resorts - Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.
Continuing this month: The mid-afternoon Disney Junior Pool Party features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
Reminder: The Ol’ Man Island pool area is closed until at least 4 March. Also, the new children's water play area at French Quarter is currently scheduled to open around 6 March, assuming there are no further construction delays. See the Refurbishments page for more details.
Easter Sunday Activities for 27 March 2016
Morning Activities, located on the lawn near Oak Manor (building 90) at Port Orleans Riverside: 8:30am Character Greetings 9:00am Candy Scramble 9:30am Mickey Tie-Dye (payment required) and Lawn Games
[Updated: Candy Scramble Easter 2016 - now that is a LOT of Candy!]
Afternoon Poolside Activities: 1:30pm Disney Trivia 2:30pm Disney Junior Pool Party! 3:00pm Egg-citing Relay Games 3:30pm Bunny Hoppin’ Pool Party 4:30pm Bunny Bingo (POR only) 4:30pm Mickey Tie-Dye (payment required) (POFQ only)
Evening Activities on the lawn between buildings 5 & 6 at Port Orleans French Quarter: 6:00pm Campfire 6:00pm–8:00pm Character Greetings 7:00pm The Great Golden Egg Hunt 8:00pm Movie Under the Stars: The Good Dinosaur (PG)
Easter Baskets will be available for purchase at merchandise locations.
French Quarter - Doubloon Lagoon and Children's Water Play Area (Due to open by 29 Feb)
Lots of progress this week, including fitting of the remaining water-slide segments and the removal of the protective covers from some of the water features. On Sunday 21 February, after the final Pebble Tec coat had been applied earlier this week (there is apparently no cushioned flooring) they started filling the basin area with water via garden sprinklers, presumably for initial drainage and leak testing before they start on the various underground-fed elements. The final sections of concrete pathway are nearly ready for laying, and the plumbing control systems and piping are being hidden behind permanent walls.
The new fencing surrounding both the main pool and the water play area is almost complete, and most of the gates have now been installed — although not all are fully functional yet. The fencing is similar to the existing wrought-iron design, although slightly shorter and less ornate — whether the existing product was no longer available, or the new sections are just a cheaper alternative, is not clear.
Riverside - Ol' Man Island (Due to open by 4 Mar, access bridge planned to re-open sooner)
The Ol’ Man Island project is progressing quickly, and is reported to be on target for its planned reopening date of 4th March. Refurbishing of the slide is complete and the final gel coat has been applied, and maintenance work on the decorative water channel is also finished. It looks as though the main pool’s Pebble Tec layer has also been applied (although from the photos more finishing still needs to be done, and some overflow edge tiling is not yet complete) and on Sunday workers were filling the pool with water to continue testing it.
Lots of work has been carried out on the Muddy Rivers building too, with extensive wood repairs, a new counter, and new electrical and drink dispenser systems (plus two additional beer taps). The poolside bathrooms are being refreshed too, including the addition of a companion bathroom. The bar staff have been given an access date of 2nd March to start restocking in preparation for reopening to guests few days later.
There is still quite a lot of concrete work to be completed, including a new ramp up to the hot tub to replace the old steps, and several sections of damaged deck that are being relaid. About half of the new perimeter safety barrier has now been erected, and while the new metal railings don’t fit in quite as well as they could with the rest of the predominantly wooden detailing, much of it is hidden by foliage so it doesn’t stand out too badly. Some sections next to the walkways appear to be more suitably themed though.
On the access bridge, in addition to the new decking, two underlying support beams have been replaced and workers are also replacing some of the boards on the curved arches and along the sides. This work is on-track for the bridge to be reopened to guests slightly before the main island opening date.
Riverside - Magnolia Terrace Mansion Building Roofing Work
Extra weekend work is helping to catch up on a slightly delayed start, and phase one is still on schedule for completion by 26th February, after which it looks like they will be moving on to one of the northern wings of the building (the end facing towards Acadian House). As rooms were removed from inventory during the roofing work, the extended downtime is being used to perform deep cleaning, carpet extraction and other general painting/maintenance on the guest rooms.
On Riverside's Ol' Man Island, new lighting poles have been added (still to be painted) and metal support posts for the access gates have been installed across the pathways. It is still unclear whether the rest of the perimeter barrier will be tastefully ‘in tune’ with the wooden post, slat and rope designs around the rest of Everett Peace’s reclusive little island, or whether Disney will take the easier option and just use metal railings (which incidentally do work very well with the wrought ironwork theming over at French Quarter):
Skimming of the inside of the Ol' Man Island pool now seems mostly complete and they have started tiling the upper edges. The new tiles appear to be a generic mottled brown/beige rather than the whimsical bayou foliage and wildlife design that was there previously:
Meanwhile, over at French Quarter's Doubloon Lagoon, more concrete has been laid at the new children's water play area, and some of the heavier equipment has been removed now. It also looks like they have fitted the gratings over the edge drainage channel. Landscaping and laying of the soft rubberised flooring has not yet been started:
The recent changes in the management structure at Port Orleans are becoming a little clearer (well, to me at least!) so I thought a minor update was in order. The main aim seems to have been to reduce the amount of management layers between the General Manager level and the hourly-rate cast members to just two steps. Port Orleans was pretty much there anyway, so these tweaks have been relatively minor.
Several new "Proprietor" roles have been created, which are an amalgamated department manager role covering more than one traditional line of business, Where this has caused some positions to disappear (such as in Food & Beverage, Recreation and Merchandising) those staff have been redeployed as Duty Managers at different resorts and there have been no enforced job losses - although at least one retiree who oversaw Food & Beverage across multiple Sassagoula area resorts has not been replaced. A few hourly positions have been lost or reorganised too - such as the roving iPad-wielding additional checkin staff - but those CMs have been rotated into other roles within the same departments.
So the new management structure looks like this:
Port Orleans Riverside General Manager: Suzette Noble Proprietor, Rooms and Recreation: Lon Rydberg (also overseeing new Guest Experience Managers supervising the front desks) Proprietor, Food & Beverage and Merchandise: James Campbell Proprietor, Housekeeping and Custodial: Mintaka Senanayake (a previous Guest Service manager from French Quarter, before she transferred to Caribbean Beach three years ago)
Port Orleans French Quarter General Manager: To be announced Proprietor, Rooms and Recreation: Stefanie Shomper (also overseeing new Guest Experience Managers supervising the front desks) Proprietor, Food & Beverage and Merchandise: Matthew Vache Proprietor, Housekeeping and Custodial: Drew Weaver
The main access bridge leading from the Riverside Marina and food court over to Ol' Man Island is currently closed for three weeks to allow worn-out wooden decking to be replaced, and for some structural work on a support beam to be completed. This work has been timed to coincide with the refurbishment of the feature swimming pool and the reduced occupancy levels in the Magnolia Terrace mansion building to attempt to reduce the amount of guests inconvenienced by the closure.
The bridge should be re-opened by Saturday 27 February but in the meantime guests will need to use the riverbank pathways and alternative bridges in order to cross to the other side of the resort or to access the children's playground and the fishing hole.
Work is continuing on the Ol' Man Island pool refurbishment, and more vegetation has been cut back beyond the seating areas in readiness for the installation of new perimeter fencing. Work is currently still on schedule for completion by 4 March.
Progress is finally being made on the children's water play area at French Quarter, and it looks like they have now finished the underground piping work and laid most of the remaining concrete pathway. Although there still appears to be a lot of work left to do, the target completion date currently remains at 29 February.
Additionally, construction staff are working around the perimeter edges of the main pool area, adding additional wrought-iron safety fencing between the pool deck and the Mardi Grogs seating area, and also installing lockable gates at the main entry/exit locations. I believe this is most likely part of a general Disney response to two recent tragic incidents involving children who accessed hotel pools unaccompanied or outside of lifeguard hours (see Orlando Sentinel articles in March 2013 and July 2015).
Update on 2 Feb: I've just been informed that the afternoon Mardi Gras activities planned for Port Orleans French Quarter on Tuesday 9 February, including the character greetings, have been CANCELLED for this year. The cut-down version of the cast member pargo parade will still take place at 10am though. The Recreation Activity Schedules that had already been printed for this month have been withdrawn, so I've removed them from the site too. I'll provide further updates as soon as I know more.
With all the departmental shake-ups going on at Port Orleans at the moment I'm still awaiting the full Recreation Schedule files for February (although quick photos are on the site). However I can confirm that the annual Mardi Gras 'pargo parade' put on by cast members will be going ahead on Tuesday 9th February at 10am, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale than in previous years.
This year’s theme will be "Candyland", but only six instead of the usual ten pargos will be used. The different lines of business (Custodial / Engineering / Food & Beverage / Front Desk / Housekeeping / Merchandise / Operations Learning & Development / Recreation / Watercraft Transportation / etc) will be combining to create the floats, and I'm not sure whether there will still be a departmental competitive element or not.
A quick roundup of the latest news on the various refurbishment projects going on around Port Orleans, plus a bit more on the current Management Restructuring process.
French Quarter Children's Water Play Area
Work was originally scheduled to be completed by 24 December 2015 but work-permit issues delayed the planned re-opening date until 19 January 2016. However construction is obviously overrunning considerably beyond that based on the photos taken on 23 January which show water piping is still being installed and they haven't even started on laying the flooring yet. The information that I'm hearing at the moment is pointing towards an opening date of around 29 February 2016.
Riverside Ol' Man Island pool refurbishment
Work commenced on schedule on 11 January 2016 and the target completion date is still 4 March 2016. The work is mostly routine maintenance and perimeter fencing modifications. All of the through-route walkways, the children's playground and the fishing hole currently remain open, although letters recently sent out to guests indicate that some pathways may need to be temporarily closed during the work and the children's playground may also be affected at some point. There are no evening campfires at Riverside at the moment, but the French Quarter alternative is still available daily. A free shuttle service to French Quarter is in place, and the five quiet pools at Riverside are open as normal. The River Roost Lounge in the main building is opening a little earlier in the day than normal to compensate for Muddy Rivers being closed.
Riverside Magnolia Terrace roofing work
The building 85 roofing work will be split into five phases, and is expected to run through until 15 July 2016. The first phase has already commenced, which comprises the whole of central section of the building. That section should come back into service on 26 February and then work will commence on each of the four outer 'wings' in turn.
A major reorganisation of the management structure at Port Orleans (and many other areas of Walt Disney World) is currently in progress, and some details are now starting to emerge. The following information is pieced together from multiple sources, but I'm sure there's more news still to come:
The current Port Orleans General Manager, Suzette Noble, will now become the General Manager for Port Orleans Riverside, while Port Orleans French Quarter will get its own General Manager (still to be announced).
"Proprietors" appears to be a newly-created level of management overseeing multiple areas such as guest service, front desk and recreation, reporting directly to each resort's General Manager. The current Guest Service Managers (Lon Rydberg at Riverside and Stefanie Shomper at French Quarter) have been promoted to this new role, while the original front desk/guest service management positions have been renamed as Guest Experience Managers, reporting to the Proprietors.
The former Food & Beverage managers, James Campbell and Matthew Vaché, will now take on additional overall responsibility for the Merchandise departments at Riverside and French Quarter respectively.
The exiting French Quarter Merchandising Manager has been transferred to the All Star Resorts as Duty Manager.
There will also be separate Executive Housekeepers at both properties instead of the current combined operation.
Good luck to everyone in their new roles - I suspect it's going to be a busy adjustment period!
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Walt Disney World is embarking on (yet another) reorganisation of its management infrastructure. The changes broadly relate to the organisation of management reporting structures, with departments now organised more by physical location rather than thematically. Reporter Sandra Pedicini writes:
"The reorganization will give general managers and executives authority over geographic locations – say, the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland – rather than traditional categories such as merchandise or food and beverage. The philosophy is to take a more holistic approach to management, focusing on the overall guest experience, Disney said."
Of particular interest to Port Orleans aficionados will be the element of the plan to assign each hotel its own individual General Manager, rather than the previous practice of one person overseeing several resorts. This may result in Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter becoming somewhat more autonomous than they have been in the past.
As I understand it at present, the current Port Orleans General Manager, Suzette Noble, will retain overall control of the Riverside resort, while a new General Manager (still to be announced) will be brought in to oversee French Quarter. There will also be some shake-ups in the way the various lines of business are managed, such as Recreation now coming under the overall local control of each resort's Guest Services manager (previously Recreation was a combined team) and the Food & Beverage managers at each resort will now incorporate Merchandise into their remit. Both resorts will also gain their own Executive Housekeepers, rather than having one large team covering both resorts. Whether or not this will alter the current policy of cast member roles sometimes being shared between the two resorts is still unclear, but Disney have announced that there will be no lay-offs as a result of these changes.
It seems unlikely that there will be any significant impact on the overall guest experience, at least in the short term, but perhaps giving French Quarter its own autonomy may result in more facilities being provided directly for guests staying there, rather than everything being shared with Riverside? And it surely can't escape the notice of an incoming General Manager that French Quarter is the only Disney Moderate Resort that doesn't currently operate its own table service restaurant in addition to a food court.
More changes will no doubt become apparent over the coming weeks, but to me this all vaguely smacks of someone in an executive position at Walt Disney World with too much time on their hands looking to "make their mark". Let's wait and see what happens, it could be an interesting year...
The January 2016 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.
From 11 January onward, the feature pool on Ol’ Man Island at Riverside will be CLOSED for refurbishment work and is not due to reopen again until approx 4 March. The closure includes the children’s splash pool, the hot tub, and the Muddy Rivers pool bar - however the fishing hole and children’s playground will remain open. Riverside’s Recreational Activities will move over the main building area during the closure.
The access bridges leading to the island will remain open for most of this period, however you may find some individual bridge closures at times. The five quiet pools at Riverside, along with the main pool at French Quarter, will continue to operate normally.
The main feature swimming pool hours will reduce to 10am—9pm from 3 January.
The evening campfires will commence at 5pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm daily at both resorts. Until 10 January the campfire events will take place on alternate days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter. From 11 January onward, the campfires will take place daily, but at French Quarter ONLY.
Continuing this month: The Disney Junior Pool Party (4pm daily) features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more! [at French Quarter ONLY from 11 January]
Two members of Off Kilter, the popular celtic/rock fusion band which performed at Epcot's Canada pavilion prior to the now-defunct lumberjack show, are currently appearing live several evenings a week at Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter. Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes will be playing three blues/bluegrass oriented sets each evening, 8pm-11pm. Bring your requests - and they might even throw in an Off Kilter tune or two!
Planned dates until the end of January 2016 are: Sunday, Dec 27 Monday, Dec 28 Saturday, Jan 2 Sunday, Jan 3 Monday, Jan 4 Tuesday, Jan 5 Sunday, Jan 10 Sunday, Jan 17 (after the Highland Games!) Monday, Jan 18 Sunday, Jan 24 Monday, Jan 25 Sunday, Jan 31
My spies at Port Orleans are not on the ball this week, so this news just in from AllEars.net:
For a limited time over the Christmas period, the former Bonfamille's Café table-service restaurant adjacent to Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter will be turned into Scat Cat's Café. This temporary location will serve dinner nightly from December 21 - 30 between 5pm and 10pm.
The All-You-Can-Eat Cajun inspired meals, served family style, cost $25.99 for adults and $14.99 for children under 10, and reservations can be made at the podium just off the main lobby from noon to 10pm.
Appetiser: House Salad with sweet roasted garlic vinaigrette; house made corn bread Entrée: Grilled Andouille Sausage, Cajun-roasted Chicken, Slow-cooked Pot Roast, Vegetable Jambalaya with Maque Choux, Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens and Mac and Cheese Dessert: Deep South Bread Pudding with Banana-Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Disney has recently made a few tweaks and adjustments to the free bus system which transports guests from the Port Orleans resorts to the theme parks. The route changes actually make a lot of sense, and should make the service generally more consistent and predicable for guests when visiting the different parks - and hopefully reduce some of the confusion that has been reported over the years.
The bus information page at portorleans.org/buses.php is now fully up-to-date with the new details, but the main points to take away are:
Buses now start running at 7am (whereas the first buses used to be around 6:45am).
The first few buses of the day all run as shared services from French Quarter and Riverside (apart from the Animal Kingdom buses for some reason).
For the rest of the day, more of the routes now operate as independent services rather than having so many shared French Quarter/Riverside routes. Both the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios now appear to have their own separate services running to and from Riverside and French Quarter all day for example.
Whenever bus routes do happen to be shared, the first call is now always French Quarter rather than one of the Riverside stops (which used to vary park-by-park).
The Riverside pickup order for all of the theme parks now consistently has the West Depot as the first call, then North, East and South.
The Disney Springs buses continue to also act as an Internal Resort Shuttle service, with stops at French Quarter, Riverside South/West/North/East and then back to French Quarter again before heading onward to Disney Springs.
So what do people think of these changes, and if you've experienced any of the new routes over the last few days did you feel that the service has improved? Let us know via the comments or on our Facebook page.
The December 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 5pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm daily at both resorts. The campfire events will this month take place on alternate days at the two resorts — Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter. The main feature swimming pool hours will remain at 9am—10pm for the rest of December, but will be reduced during January/February.
Special Festive Events: December 16: Holiday Performers 8:30am & 9:30pm, French Quarter Lobby December 17: Holiday Performers 7pm & 8pm, Riverside Lobby December 18: Holiday Performers 7pm & 8pm, French Quarter Lobby December 19: Holiday Performers 8:30am & 9:30pm, Riverside Lobby December 20: Holiday Performers 8:30am & 9:30pm, French Quarter Lobby December 21: Holiday Performers 7pm & 8pm, Riverside Lobby December 22: Holiday Performers 7pm & 8pm, French Quarter Lobby December 22: Cast Member “Deck the Gingerbread House” Competition Guest Voting 9am—5pm, Riverside & French Quarter Lobbies December 23: Holiday Performers 8:30am & 9:30pm, Riverside Lobby December 24: Character Greetings in the Lobbies (8am—9:15am at Riverside, 10:30am—11:45am at French Quarter), 1pm—3pm Festive poolside activities, 4pm Campfires, 5pm—9pm Meet Santa Claus in the Riverside Lobby, 6pm Holiday Treat Decorating, 7pm Christmas Movies Under the Stars December 25: 1pm—4pm Festive poolside activities, 5pm Campfires, 7pm Festive Movies Under the Stars December 31: 8pm—midnight New Year’s Eve Parties in both Lobby Courtyards, Ring in the New Year with festive fun and a live countdown to 2016!
Continuing this month: The Disney Junior Pool Party (1:30pm daily) features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more! Mickey Tie-Dye: Please join us at 1:30pm at the Riverside lobby courtyard on Sundays and Thursdays for our Mickey Tie-Dye activity (chargeable purchase).
The planned dates for the Port Orleans Riverside Ol' Man Island pool closure are now set as 11 January 2016 to 4 March 2016 . This includes the main and children's pools, the hot tub and the Muddy Rivers pool bar - but the campfire, kids' playground, fishing hole and through-route walkways will remain open. This work could potentially run a little longer, but that's the most accurate information I have at present.
Also, construction work on the new Port Orleans French Quarter children's water play area is running slightly behind schedule due to some permitting issues, and it is now scheduled to open on 19 January 2016.
Posted Sunday 1st November 2015, 4:59am (EST) by Admin
Denise and Jeff from MouseSteps.com visited Port Orleans for Halloween and posted this great video of the cast members' annual pumpkin decorating contest. They really went to town with the beautifully detailed and fun designs this year, and pumpkins included Muppets, Scrooge McDuck, Star Wars BB-8, Genie, Inside Out and even a candy apple design - and I especially liked the multi-layered Alice in Wonderland/Cheshire Cat creation.
The November 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 5pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm daily at both resorts. The main feature swimming pool hours are currently 9am-10pm.
Mickey Tie-Dye: Please join us at 1:30pm at the Riverside lobby courtyard on Sundays and Thursdays, or near the Doubloon Lagoon pool on Tuesdays, for our Mickey Tie-Dye activity (chargeable purchase).
Continuing this month: The Disney Junior Pool Party (1:30pm daily) features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
The Port Orleans Riverside main feature pool on Ol' Man Island (including the children's pool and the hot tub) will be closed from 11th January 2016 until 4 March 2016 for maintenance work. This could potentially run a little longer, but those are the most accurate dates I have at present.
All of the five quiet pools at Riverside will remain open, as will the French Quarter "Doubloon Lagoon" pool, which may be used by Riverside guests.
Update 7 Nov: A few people have been asking which sections of Ol' Man Island will still be open during the pool refurbishment work. As far as I can tell at the moment, the closure will be limited to the pool area itself (including the kids' pool, hot tub and Muddy Rivers pool bar). All the through-route walkways, the children's playground, the evening campfire and the fishing hole will remain open. The River Roost Lounge in the main building will open a little earlier in the day to compensate for Muddy Rivers being closed (which is actually quite common during Jan/Feb anyway, when it can get a bit cold for people to sit out by the pool).
Update 22 Nov: Dates for the pool closure now set as 11 January 2016 to 4 March 2016. This could potentially run a little longer, but those are the most accurate dates I have at present.
The October 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours will be 9am—10pm as from 27 September.
Halloween (Saturday 31 October) will feature lots of fun activities, including Halloween Bash parties (4pm-7pm at POFQ and 6pm-9pm at POR) with Trick or Treating, Eerie Musical Games, Tricky Trivia, Bewitching Games, Monster Bash Dance Party, Costume Contest, Creepy Crawly Arts and Crafts, and Meet and Greets with Disney Characters. There will also be themed poolside games during the day, a Chilling Campfire in the evening, and over at French Quarter the movies starting at 8pm will be Toy Story of Terror followed by Hocus Pocus. There will also be displays of decorated pumpkins made by the resort cast members on Friday 30 October, and guests will be able to vote for their favourites.
Continuing this month: The Disney Junior Pool Party (1:30pm daily) features music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
Resurfacing work on the guest check-in parking lot outside the Port Orleans Riverside main building will commence following the Labor Day holiday on Wednesday 9 September, and should hopefully be completed by 12 September (weather permitting). It is expected that one half of the parking area will be closed at a time, with all access temporarily redirected to either the left or right entrance points as the work progresses.
Update on 13 Sept: More work on the parking lot will be taking place 14-16 Sept.
The September 2015 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter were posted last week [Sorry, I forgot to post to the News page when I updated the main page]. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are 9am—11pm.
The Riverside Fair returns on Sunday, September 6. Join the cast members at the Ol’ Man Island pool area at Port Orleans Riverside from 11:30am — 9pm as they celebrate Labor Day with Poolside Games, Poolside Barbecue (extra charge for food), music and more!
Continuing this month: Splash into summer with the Disney Junior Pool Party featuring music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
The food court menus were updated at both Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter on 19 August 2015. I happened to be strolling through the Riverside Mill early in the morning on the 19th when they were changing out some of the signage, and will update the full menu pages as soon as I get a chance between all of our family vacation activities [Edit: All menu pages have now been updated]. In the meantime, I received the following update information from the resort:
At Riverside Mill, you can look forward to enjoying a few adaptations of your favorites. For breakfast, the new Egg Sandwich comes with bacon or sausage and provides a quick meal for our guests on the go. A selection of new quiches provides some variety to guests looking for something a little different. The Breakfast Po’ Boy also joins breakfast as an item that is both popular and themed. For lunch and dinner, the delicious Veggie Wrap has been joined with the popular Muffaletta Sandwich to create a vegetarian Muffaletta with roasted vegetables. Finally, many of you have already shared how excited you are that Corn Dog Nuggets have joined the menu! Our guests are sure to love all of these new additions.
At Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, scrumptious additions have joined process improvements to create a menu that is varied, delicious and efficient. In addition to the Quiche and Corn Dog Nuggets above, we’ve added several rotating options to all meal periods to provide countless variations throughout a guest’s stay. For breakfast, the popular bounty platter is now a create-your-own option, allowing you to pick from a selection of meat, fruit and breakfast sides. Lunch has an expanded Po’ Boy menu with additions of catfish, chicken parmesan and rotating cold salad Po’ Boys. Dinner might prove to be the best of all with rotating Pastas of the Day and Entrées of the day. French Market Meatloaf, Whole Roasted Salmon and Pork Roast will make for an amazing dinner option. In all, over 37 items were changed or added to create a delicious, memorable and varied experience for our guests.
I tried the 'make your own' Breakfast Platter facility at the Sassagoula Floatworks almost by accident yesterday, and noticed the breakfast potatoes are now served as hash browns instead of cubes, and a lovely thick slice of gammon/ham is also an option in addition to the regular bacon strips. All I've got to do is work out how to document all the new rotation options without spending seven full days in the food courts! [Many thanks to F&B Manager Matthew for his help on that one]
According to Orlando Theme Park News, from Sunday 2 August to Saturday 8 August the evening Sassagoula River Cruise ferry boats will be trialling separate, non-stop, services from Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter directly to the Marketplace Dock at Downtown Disney between 5pm and 11pm nightly.
Any guests planning to hop between the two resorts during this period will not be able to use the water ferry service, however complimentary buses will be available from the bus stops at the front of each hotel.
Update on 11 August: I just heard back from someone in river transportation that the trial was so successful and popular with guests that it has already been decided to continue it indefinitely. This applies to boats after 5pm, when Riverside boats will run approx. every 15 minutes and FQ boats every 20 mins.
River Roost lounge entertainer "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson will be taking some personal time off to recover from outpatient surgery from 11-20 August 2015. Presumably Disney will be providing alternate entertainment for Port Orleans Riverside guests in the meantime.
Hope it goes well Bob, and we all look forward to seeing you back at the Port as soon as you are feeling well enough.
The August 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are 9am—11pm.
Continuing this month: Splash into summer with the Disney Junior Pool Party featuring music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
Port Orleans General Manager Valerie Bunting will soon be moving to a new position within Walt Disney World. After six very successful years overseeing Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter, Val will be going back to her original park operations roots as "Director, Parks Arrival Experience, Program Management and Park Support" (and no, I'm not really sure quite what that entails either).
From my own experience, and from other people’s comments, Val is an inspirational, enthusiastic and well-liked leader, and lots of great stuff has happened under her watch - including a major refurbishment of the entire resort, the introduction of the popular Royal Guest Rooms, and not to mention the amazing feat of keeping these two resorts running at close to 100% occupancy year-round.
Val has previously worked in senior management positions at both the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom (see 2009 News Post) and her strongly guest-service oriented attitude will no doubt prove a real bonus for any Disney post. I'll add more details once the announcement of her successor has been made public - it’ll be fascinating to see who is going to replace her, and they're certainly going to have a tough act to follow!
Good luck in your new role Val, and I hope you enjoy it as much as you seem to have enjoyed looking after the Port.
Update 1 August:
The new General Manager of Port Orleans has been announced as Suzette Noble, who has for a number of years been the General Manager of Downtown Disney Merchandise.
She started her Disney career in 1997, having previously been a manager with Chico's, the women’s clothing retailer. Prior to working at Downtown Disney, Suzette was general manager, Disney's Animal Kingdom and liquidation merchandise operations. Her husband is also a senior manager at Walt Disney World, so the Mouse obviously runs deeply in their household.
Update on Val Bunting, February 2016: Shortly after Val's departure from Port Orleans to head up the overall Park Arrivals Experience team, Disney reorganised the operational structure to bring that function directly under each park's individual management structure. Val moved over to take charge of the Entertainment division at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and has recently had overall responsibility for the Animation Courtyard area added to her remit.
As always, I need to preface this sort of posting with the fact that plans and dates can change at any time and I don't currently know any more than what I've stated below. As and when more concrete information and exact dates become available, I'll post further updates here. And of course maintenance and refurbishment are always going to be ongoing somewhere - there'll be other projects down the line in 2016 too, which I'll be able to let you know about closer to the time.
Beginning in early October 2015, work will commence on removing the old children's splash pool at Doubloon Lagoon in order to install a new "Interactive Water Feature" play area. I’m sure you've seen these popping up at other Disney resorts, and now it'll be French Quarter's turn - and I hear from someone who has seen the plans that it should be rather impressive. Don't worry though, the work shouldn't impact on the main swimming pool facilities. No word as to when the Riverside children's pool will get the same treatment, but presumably that will happen too at some stage.
Roofing refurbishment will commence on the Magnolia Terrace mansion building (building 85) at Port Orleans Riverside in January 2016. This will be the same kind of work that was undertaken on Oak Manor (building 90) during the equivalent time period back in 2014, and so will presumably involve temporary closures of portions of the building on a rolling basis to avoid inconveniencing guests. Even so, guests should be aware that there will probably be scaffolding visible around the current work areas, and some daytime noise too. By way of comparison, the Oak Manor work in 2014 took about six months to complete and was finished in mid July, see the 2014 news post.
Update on 22 Nov: Construction work on the new Port Orleans French Quarter children's water play area is running slightly behind schedule due to some permitting issues, and it is now scheduled to open on 19 January 2016.
Starting July 5th, Port Orleans Riverside will be bringing back the cocktail servers at the Ol' Man Island pool area. There will also be a new bar menu, including specialty drinks that will be unique to Port Orleans. Keep an eye on these news pages, and on the Muddy Rivers page, for more information.
Update posted on 2 July: I've just updated the Muddy Rivers page with the new menu, which starts on Sunday 5 July.
The food is still the same as the previous menu, and many of the existing drinks remain the same too, but there are a number of specialty drinks which are new and unique to Port Orleans (a traditional Hurricane, Front Porch Freeze, Gata-Melon Juice, NOLA Cola, and the non-alcoholic Bull Frog Brew). One cool option is the 'All That Jazz', which is a layered frozen drink containing three of the other new cocktails.
The previously-published Recreation Schedule already covers the basic details, but here's a bit more information for anyone staying at Port Orleans this coming Independence Day weekend (Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July) who is not intending to spend the whole day at the parks. Most of the main activities will be taking place at Riverside, but French Quarter guests are very welcome to join in the fun too.
Riverside Fair (3rd and 4th July)
Hours: 5pm to 8:30pm
Location: Riverside Lobby Courtyard (inside the Lobby in case of inclement weather)
Food and Beverage will be selling themed drinks and food items
Merchandise will be selling themed items as well
There will be character greetings, as well as a live band throughout the event
Complementary face painting, where guests have the opportunity to choose between a few themed designs
Each division of Port Orleans will be hosting their own 'booth' which will include a game of some sort (Recreation will provide the prizes for each booth)
Recreation will be hosting activities throughout the event as well, including a dance party, cake walk, trivia, and opportunities to win more prizes!
Recreation will also be offering Mickey Tie Dye: Guests can tie dye their own shirt, and even find a hidden mickey within their tie dye. Both child and adult size shirts will be available, and the activity will cost $17
At the end of both the 3rd the 4th events, guests can enjoy the Movie under the Stars at 9pm in front of Building 90 Oak Manor (3rd: The Princess and the Frog, 4th: Big Hero 6)
Poolside: Ol’ Man Island at Riverside (3rd and 4th July)
Food and Beverage will be hosting an outdoor barbeque where guests can purchase food and drink items from noon to 5pm
Recreation will be hosting themed activities from 1pm to 4:45pm
Poolside: Doubloon Lagoon Pool at French Quarter (4th July only)
French Quarter will be hosting themed poolside activities from 1pm to 6pm
This will be followed by Campfire at 7pm and the Movie under the Stars (Lilo & Stitch) at 9pm
The July 2015 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, including Independence Day events. See the main Recreation Activities Schedules page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are 9am—11pm.
Independence Day Activities (Friday 3rd July and Saturday 4th July) include: Riverside Fair with patriotic games and a poolside barbecue on Ol’ Man Island; Arts & Crafts, Liberty Games, Live Entertainment and Disney Character Greetings in the courtyard by the Riverside Marina; Specialty merchandise and Food & Beverage items available to purchase; Themed poolside games and a Patriotic Campfire in the evening at French Quarter.
Continuing this month: Splash into summer with the Disney Junior Pool Party featuring music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
Walt Disney World released the 2016 Room and Package Rates for their resort hotels, including Port Orleans, at 6am EDT on 22 June. Bookings can now be made via their website or telephone booking line up to the regular 499 day advance limit (meaning the cut-off is currently around 3 November 2016).
The full price structure for all room categories in 2016 is now listed on the Room Rates page.
Prices this year vary from $197/night for the cheapest Value rate Standard View rooms up to $378/night for a Pool View Royal Room at Christmas time. The average increase from last year’s rack rates is 4.54% (French Quarter accounting for about 3.75% of this, with Riverside higher at nearly 5%) so not exactly in tune with America’s current negative inflation rates or its reduction in average hourly earnings. All of which may make staying on-site at Disney in 2016 a significantly more pricey option in real terms for many people.
The premium nature of the various Royal Guest Room categories continues to stay pretty flat compared to the tiering that was in place when the Royal categories were first introduced back in 2012. There is often very little difference between the price of Standard View Royal Rooms and the various higher categories — and at many times of the year, Garden, Pool and River views are all exactly the same price.
I have no idea why French Quarter’s Garden View rooms are currently showing as cheaper than Standard View rooms for most dates. It could be an error within Disney’s pricing systems which will be rectified at some point, or it could be the intended rate. Whichever, it’s currently a bit of a bargain!
Also, for some reason, Pool View and King Bed rooms at French Quarter are now mostly more expensive than the previously top-tier River View rooms. I guess I can understand the Pool View premium price as those rooms give an excellent guarantee of proximity to the main building and also to the bus stop and boat dock, but I’m not sure why King Bed should have followed suit too. Maybe people are starting to realise that you can legitimately request any view type that you want when you book a King Bed room?
I just heard that the Port Orleans Riverside lobby is now a "rainy day" location for character visits. On those really stormy days where Florida downpours could keep you and your kids away from the parks, you might just find that the characters come to you instead.
This is NOT a scheduled meet-and-greet and it will only happen sporadically, often with very little notice even to the resort cast members. So if it does happen to occur while you are there, make the most of a lovely photo opportunity - but don't make special plans around the possibility of it happening.
This photo was taken during the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June in the main registration lobby, where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Tigger and Stich were greeting resort guests.
The June 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are 9am—11pm.
New for this month: Splash into summer with the Disney Junior Pool Party featuring music and activities from some of your favourite Disney Junior shows. Join in with awesome activities and games such as Sofia Says, Doc McStuffins Trivia, sing-alongs and much more!
Also, at 9pm on Friday 26 June at both resorts there's a special Movie Under the Stars feature premiere of Disney Channel's "Teen Beach Movie 2" (rated TV-G).
WDWMagic.com has today reported the following information relating to Rapid-Fill Mug purchases at Port Orleans Riverside:
Reported by guests staying at Pop Century, All Star Resorts, and Port Orleans Riverside, the new pricing structure consists of a single option of $16.49 + tax for the entire length of stay. The 1 day, 2 day, and 3 day options have been eliminated, and the $16.49 is a reduction from the previous $17.99 length of stay price.
Rapid Fill mugs allow refills of fountain drinks, tea and coffee at the resort self-service beverage locations.
It isn't clear yet if the new pricing will be rolled out to all hotels.
This replaces the existing tiered pricing structure of $8.99 for 1 day, $11.99 for 2 days, $14.99 for 3 days and $17.99 for your entire length of stay (nominally up to 14 days, but that can be extended by a cast member if you are staying longer than that). At present it only applies at Riverside, with French Quarter's food court retaining the old multi-day pricing structure.
There are also a lot of rumours currently circulating that Disney intends to modify the way that Snack and Meal Credits function on the Disney Dining Plan from Sunday 31 May. In essence, it seems that Snack credits will become more versatile and can be spent more simply and with less restrictions (e.g. all basic ice creams and non-alcoholic drinks will be included, as will caramel/candy apples, large Mickey cookies, fresh popcorn, etc). There will also be many locations (including the food courts and both of the gift stores at Port Orleans) where it will be possible to convert one Meal Credit in order to purchase three Snack items instead. More details if and when this is officially confirmed, but from all I've heard it seems very likely at the moment.
Update on 31 May: It seems that the modifications to the Disney Dining Plan regarding Snack Credits are indeed now available to guests who ask for them, although Disney appears to be holding back on making any official announcement [was rumoured to be happening on 4 June, but that has passed now; the earlier leaked details can be found at http://www.inquisitr.com/2121592/disney ... n-in-2015/ though].
I recommend keeping an eye on the excellent Disney Food Blog for the latest reliable information.
Update on 19 Aug: The single price point for the length-of-stay mugs is now $16.99.
Posted Tuesday 26th May 2015, 5:00pm (EDT) by Admin
Over the past month or so I've been working my way steadily through a backlog of over a thousand image files which have been building up on my hard drive from my past few visits to Port Orleans. The urgent newsworthy pictures were posted at the time of course, but I still had a lot of multiple-exposure 'HDR' photos which needed processing, and a ton of general background images too.
Now (finally!) they're all done and the duplicates have been removed, and there are about 800 brand new high-resolution photos from the past few years available across the various Photo Galleries on the site for you to enjoy, making more than 4,200 Port Orleans pictures in total. Some of the updated Galleries include:
Please feel free to use the social media buttons at the bottom of each webpage to Like or Share your personal favourite Galleries with your friends and followers on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pintrest. And do let me know if there are any views or subjects that you think should be covered which I've missed, and I'll try to catch up with them on my next visit.
Port Orleans Riverside has added some patriotic banners around the rear courtyard area of the main building, and will be holding a special "Riverside Fair" event to commemorate Memorial Day Weekend on Sunday 24th May. Events will include Games, a Dance Party, Cake Walk, Live Entertainment, Character Meet & Greets, Specialty Food & Beverage and Merchandise offerings, Face Painting.
The May 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 7pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 9pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours start out at 9am—10pm, and should be extended to the full summer hours of 9am—11pm from 24 May.
Disney has today released their Free Disney Dining Plan offer to encourage bookings for the slower Autumn/Fall season, valid for visits commencing on selected dates between 28 August 2015 and 21 December 2015. However, once again, the deals available for guests planning to stay at Port Orleans are very limited.
Port Orleans French Quarter has been completely excluded from the offer again this year, while Riverside has a few rooms available for the first month only, from 28 August to 2 October. I'm guessing that those will probably sell out fairly quickly though, so get your bookings in quickly if you don't want to miss out. Note: you will need to book a non-discounted stay of at least three nights, with a minimum of two days worth of park tickets, in order to receive the standard Dining Plan for everyone in your party for the entire length of your stay.
For more details on this promotion, and for other deals and money saving offers related to Walt Disney World (including a new Late Summer offer giving 20% discounts on rooms at both Riverside and French Quarter) I highly recommend a visit to MouseSavers.com. It's well worth checking to see what other deals are available on the dates you plan to travel, as unless you are a group of 3+ people staying in one room, and are big eaters in the first place, it can sometimes work out cheaper to get a better room-only discount and then pay for food as you go. 'Free' dining isn't always quite the deal it first seems once you crunch the numbers.
Posted Saturday 25th April 2015, 5:00am (EDT) by Admin
I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked for my opinions as to what sets the Port Orleans resorts apart from the myriad of other places to stay within the Walt Disney World area. There are so many reasons to choose from, as a brief browse around this website will quickly confirm, but I've just created (for what it's worth anyway) my own personal Top Ten List.
I'd love to know if you think I've missed anything out - what are the special reasons that bring you back to the Port year after year...
Orlando Park News is reporting that the bus stop at Port Orleans French Quarter will be closed for refurbishment work starting on Monday 13th April:
"Guests staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter should note that the hotel's bus stop will be undergoing a refurbishment starting April 13. During this refurbishment, the bus stop (which serves the entire resort) will be temporarily relocated near Building 3."
As of now, the reopening date of the main bus stop has not been confirmed.
Update on 24 April:
The temporary bus stop is in the parking lot behind building 3 (so just on the other side of the main lobby building to where the normal bus stop is located) and they have set up a tented covered area, with seating and some potted plants, for people to wait. I know that the work includes replacing some concrete, but I'm not sure of anything else that might be planned (e.g. a wait-time screen?). See DISboards Port Orleans French Quarter Q&A Thread for a few photos.
Update on 30 April:
The main bus stop at Port Orleans French Quarter will be re-opening tomorrow (1st May) after three weeks of work replacing roadway concrete.
Following a successful trial over at French Quarter, the Port Orleans Riverside laundry machines are also now switching over to cashless payment, and will soon only be able to accept card payments.
As of the end of March 2015, both of the mansion building laundry rooms have already been converted, as has the Alligator Bayou laundry next to the quiet pool by building 18. The room by the 'twenties' pool is currently closed while work is completed on swapping the machines, leaving just the final laundry room in the Alligator Bayou thirties section to be completed very soon.
Note: As Disney is using an off-the-shelf card processing solution, there is no facility for guests to pay using Magic Bands or even old-style Disney Key to the World cards. However, as no ZIP code or PIN entry is required, any credit, debit or pre-loaded dollar payment card should work - including internationally issued cards - just as long as they have a magnetic stripe on the back.
Update on 4 April: Work is apparently now complete, all of the laundry rooms have been updated.
The new machines (including the existing ones over at French Quarter) are also internet connected. Yes, really! You can check on the current status of any of the washers and driers at Port Orleans via the website http://www.laundryview.com/disneyworld/ using either a computer or a mobile device, which allows you check for available machines and also to see when your own load is finished.
"I was hoping to pick up some shifts on my nights off from the Port at a new Restaurant at Disney Springs called The Boathouse. Unfortunately, the gig was unable to launch before we could play the first note!"
Original Story:
Port Orleans Riverside's popular resident evening entertainer, the legendary "Ya Haa" Bob Jackson, will be soon spending even more time performing at Walt Disney World when the new Boathouse Restaurant opens as part of the Disney Springs development at Downtown Disney.
Bob is tentatively scheduled to start working at the new restaurant on his nights off from Port Orleans - does the man never sleep?! He'll apparently be playing on the water taxi there, and will be performing instrumental jazz standards with a sax player from 4pm-10pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. The restaurant hasn't officially opened yet so the schedule below is still subject to change, based on a currently planned opening date of Monday 13 April.
Note: Bob has a personal day-off planned for Friday 10 April, so he won't be performing at the River Roost Lounge that day.
Wed 01 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Thu 02 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Fri 03 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sat 04 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sun 05 April - Ocoee Christian Church (10:45am-noon) Mon 06 April - Off Tue 07 April - Give Kids the World Wed 08 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Thu 09 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Fri 10 April - OFF Sat 11 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sun 12 April - Ocoee Christian Church (10:45am-noon) Mon 13 April - Boathouse (Disney Springs) Tue 14 April - Boathouse (Disney Springs) Wed 15 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Thu 16 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Fri 17 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sat 18 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sun 19 April - Ocoee Christian Church (10:45am-noon), Boathouse (Disney Springs) Mon 20 April - Boathouse (Disney Springs) Tue 21 April - Boathouse (Disney Springs) Wed 22 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Thu 23 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Fri 24 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sat 25 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Sun 26 April - Ocoee Christian Church (10:45am-noon), Boathouse (Disney Springs) Mon 27 April - Private Event Tue 28 April - Boathouse (Disney Springs) Wed 29 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside) Thu 30 April - River Roost Lounge (Riverside)
Bob's schedule can also be found on his website, or subscribe to his monthly email newsletter.
The April 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 6:30pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8:30pm daily at both resorts. The feature swimming pool opening hours are currently 9am—10pm, which should be extended to the full summer hours of 9am—11pm sometime around May.
Special Easter Sunday events on 5 April will include Character Meet & Greets, Candy Scrambles and other games, Easter Arts and Crafts, Bunny Bingo, and The Great Golden Egg Hunt. Pre-made or customisable Easter Baskets will be available for guests to purchase from 3-5 April at both resort gift shops (Fulton's General Store and Jackson Square Gifts & Desires).
Celebrate Earth Day by joining the cast members in the Lobby to vote for your favourite recyclable art creation. Made by the Cast Members from the resort, see their creativity on display and cast your vote on 21 April from 9am-3pm. Also, in celebration of Earth Day, on Wednesday 22 April the Movie Under the Stars presentation will be Disneynature’s “Bears”.
Lounge entertainer Tom Casey will be finishing his run at Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter at the end of March.
According to his Facebook page, evening entertainer Tom Casey will be finishing his contracted run at Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter at the end of March. Thanks for all the fun and live music at Scat Cat's over the past couple of years Tom, and good luck for your future projects.
There has been no announcement as yet as to who will be replacing Tom.
The March 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 6pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm daily at both resorts.
New for March at Port Orleans French Quarter is Frozen Friday: "Do you wanna build a snowman?" Then join us at the French Quarter Green (between buildings 5 & 6) every Friday for fun-filled Frozen themed activities for all ages:
4pm - Frozen Trivia, Snowman Building, Troll Bowling and more
If you want to watch the special Mardi Gras parade that the Port Orleans cast members put on every year for resort guests, pop over to the www.eyesonears.com website at 10am EST tomorrow morning (Tuesday 17 Feb) as site user Darlene (username 'newharmony') plans to live stream it.
You'll need to be registered on the site to view the video feeds and join in with the live chat, but it's quick and free to do. Then, the best page to watch the stream on would probably be www.eyesonears.com/media/mobilecams, where the video will be on the 'M2' feed. [If you can't use that link for any reason, you can try the Ustream feed directly at www.ustream.tv/channel/eyesonears-m2]
If you miss it, Darlene has said she will record it so you'll be able to catch up on it later.
The Port Orleans resorts will be continuing their annual tradition of celebrating the Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday") festival, just like their counterparts over in the 'real world' New Orleans, on Tuesday 17 February 2015.
The annual cast-member designed and run 'Pargo Parade' will be taking place at 10am this year, a little earlier than in previous years, which should allow more guests to enjoy the fun before heading off to the theme parks for the rest of the day.
There will also be an evening of Mardi Gras celebrations over at French Quarter from 5pm-9pm, including a Dance Party, Contests & Prizes, Cake Walk, King Cake Eating Contest, Characters, and Face Painting.
Direct-to-Room check-in service will become a permanent feature at Port Orleans as from Tuesday 10 February.
For those people who were following the limited tests that took place last year, you may be pleased to know that the 'Direct to Room' checkin service will now become a permanent feature at the Port Orleans resorts starting from next week, Tuesday 10 February, and soon after then at the other Disney resorts.
It still won't be compulsory of course - you can always head over to the Front Desk when you arrive if you prefer, or if you need something specific - but assuming you've already received your Magic Bands in the post and have completed the necessary online process, it will be possible to have your resort room number communicated to you by email and/or text message shortly before your arrival. You will then be able to completely bypass the whole traditional registration process and go straight to your room with your Magic Band already activated and ready for use to get you into your room, pay for dining, use your ticketed admissions into the theme parks, access FastPass+, etc.
While this won't appeal to everyone - especially for those first-time visitors who may not know their way around the resort yet - for returning guests who just want to get to Disney and head straight off to a park, it could be a real time-saver.
The February 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 5pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm. These events will this month take place on alternate days at the two resorts - Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.
Oh, and don't forget Mardi Gras on Tuesday 17 February.
No sooner does the new year arrive than we are starting to see some brand new resort-specific merchandise arrive at the Port Orleans shops. After years of waiting, this is a very welcome sign of a change in direction from Disney. So far we've received some pictures and prices of the range on display in Fulton's General Store at Port Orleans Riverside, and presumably there are similar items over at French Quarter too.
These three pictures were recently posted by @Schmoofy, out there in the Twitterverse:
And DISboards user FelisLachesis has just added some more photos and checked the prices:
Plus the products which were previously available:
Posted Thursday 1st January 2015, 7:11am (EST) by Admin
I'd like to wish everyone a fabulous New Year - I hope 2015 is a good one for you, and hopefully it will include at least one visit to our favourite resort hotel.
I'm sure there will be lots to look forward to at Port Orleans this year, and a few changes might even be coming in the very near future. For example, I hear that following the successful trail period in the summer there will soon be a permanent facility for direct-to-room check-ins which, although optional, will be a very useful feature for returning visitors who already know the resort. And all those people who have been longing to be able to pick up some resort-specific merchandise at the gift shops might just be in for a pleasant surprise the next time they visit [see news update on 3rd Jan for some pictures and prices of new products].
It also seems like an opportune moment to do a quick roundup of some of the little bits of Port Orleans news from last year which may not have made the headlines:
The new Sassagoula River Ferry dock at Downtown Disney opened in mid-August, using a custom-built jetty linked to a new footbridge between the Rainforest Café area and the Saratoga Springs Resort:
For guests using the Disney Dining Plans, the included Refillable Mugs are now often distributed from the main registration lobby during busy times, so you can pick them up as soon as you check in.
A limited-menu continental breakfast has recently been made available at the River Roost Lounge featuring pastries, coffee, etc. Very convenient for a quick pre-park snack with no lines.
The road layout at the main bus stops has been modified slightly to accommodate the turning circles of double-length articulated "bendy" buses which should help to ease the waiting times during busy periods. Photo of the work site in August:
During the summer, the landscaping teams trimmed back some of the larger trees which were starting to obscure guests' views. In particular, the river-facing courtyard at Magnolia Terrace (near to the pretty little gazebo) has been opened up considerably, and there will be more flowering plants added to bring a splash of colour to that area:
The old thick quilted comforters were removed from guest bedrooms earlier in the year, to be replaced by plain white sheeting and a decorative bed-scarf across the foot of the bed. There is a possibility that the somewhat incongruous white covers may be replaced by more tastefully themed colours at some point in the future.
Trials were held in some French Quarter rooms to see if removing the adjustable blinds from guest rooms might help to make the rooms brighter. I don't know whether this test will be expanded to the rest of the resort, but I rather hope not as the only remaining option for guest privacy was to shut the curtains completely, which rather defeats the object:
Winter operating hours for the main feature pools (9am-10pm) were introduced at the start of December, and it is likely that the hours will be reduced still further in January/February. The campfire and movie schedules have also been trimmed back a little for the low season, with events now occurring on alternating days at Riverside and French Quarter.
A new backstory-themed menu was introduced at Boatwright’s Dining Hall at the end of October, and a trial was carried out in November/December offering a selection of cold food options at the Muddy Rivers pool bar.
Major work was completed on the Oak Manor roof during the Spring/Summer, necessitating a rolling closure of parts of the building for several months.
On 2nd March, the popular boat rental facility at Port Orleans Riverside's marina was shut down. It was initially speculated that this might have been due to the ongoing construction work in the Downtown Disney area, but at the moment it seems that the closure will be permanent.
On 24th February, the resort airline checkin/bag-drop service was extended to include some International flights in addition to the existing domestic routes.
It's been a busy year for this site too, with several new features and information pages being added to portorleans.org. FastPass+ and My Disney Experience are now a staple part of any stay at Walt Disney World, and details were added to the site back in February. Also, lots of work has gone into updating the building floorplan maps and creating new panorama views of all of the guest room types. There's also been plenty of behind-the-scenes activity to make the site menus and forums operate more reliably on some mobile devices and make the News pages more easily browsable. Plus all the routine adjustments to cover the 2015 room price releases, updates to the restaurant menus, monthly recreation schedules and so on. Here's a quick summary from the Site Updates page:
13-Dec-14: Rewrote the News parsing PHP code to tidily paginate the display pages and provide better access for individual items. 09-Dec-14: Added more details and photos to the two resort gift shop pages, Fulton’s General Store and Jackson Square Gifts & Desires. Long overdue! 06-Dec-14: Revised the top menus to be more compatible with iPhones. Also updated fonts and made some other site-wide layout tweaks. 03-Dec-14: Completed 6 new 360° panoramas, including new in-room images showing the updated bed covers. 18-Nov-14: Added new food options being offered for a trial period at the Muddy Rivers pool bar. 15-Nov-14: Updated all of the food court and pool bar menus and prices (Riverside Mill, Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, Muddy Rivers and Mardi Grogs). 04-Nov-14: Added the full 2015 room rack-rate pricing structure, including graphical representations of the seasonal price fluctuations. 01-Nov-14: Further updated building floorplan maps (corrected the annotations for some connecting Accessible rooms) and added a direct access page to make it easier to view or download individual maps. 29-Oct-14: Updated the choices and prices to reflect Boatwright’s Dining Hall's new ‘themed’ menu. 09-May-14: Updated building floorplan layouts to include details of all Connecting Rooms. 01-May-14: Site now includes Google Ads, hopefully remaining fairly unobtrusive within the overall user experience. Visitor donations just weren’t covering the overall running costs, so a necessary evil I’m afraid. 11-Apr-14: Added new Mobile layout to the Discussion Forums to make them easier to use on phone screens. 31-Mar-14: Added Sassagoula Pizza Express menus and poolside & in-room delivery details. 30-Mar-14: Updated site layout and menu bar to provide easier site navigation. 03-Feb-14: Added “My Disney Experience” page covering the Disney website & mobile app, Magic Bands, FastPass+, etc.
Well, that's about it for now - have a very Happy New Year everyone!
The January 2015 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 evening campfires will commence at 5pm this month and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm. These events will this month take place on alternate days at the two resorts - Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday at Riverside, and Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at French Quarter.
The Christmas / New Year 2014 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 evening campfires commence at 5pm over the holiday period this year and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm. These will both take place four days a week, with the other three days featuring indoor activities at 5pm instead.
There are lots of other free festive activities for all the family planned too, including live performers, character greetings (with Santa himself making an appearance at Riverside) on Christmas Eve, cookie decorating, a cast member gingerbread house competition, and a New Year's Eve Party at Riverside.
The December 2014 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 evening campfires commence at 5pm in December, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7pm. Extra Christmas Eve / Christmas Day schedules will be posted closer to the time.
Posted Sunday 16th November 2014, 11:55am (EST) by RiverRooster
Today food is available at Muddy Rivers [the pool bar on Ol' Man Island]. They are now offering a selection of sandwiches, including: Tuna Salad Croissant ($10.49); Cajun Turkey Club ($10.49); Muffeletta ($10.49); Ham & Cheese Croissant ($9.99); Kid's Meal Turkey Sandwich ($6.99); and Kids Meal Uncrusted PB&J ($6.49). A cocktail server is also walking the pool deck. I'm told this will be in place for a trial period [ending 10 January 2015, coinciding with the end of Marathon weekend].
[Update from Admin 7 June 2015] Just had an email from one of my contacts at the resort, and the Muddy Rivers poolside food and cocktail service has been continued, and there are plans to expand it in the future.
On 29 October 2014, Port Orleans Riverside launched new updated food menus at its Boatwright's Dining Hall table-service restaurant and the River Roost Lounge (the famous home of "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson). While many of the food offerings have remained similar to previous menus, several new Appetisers and Entrées have been added and a number of the options have been renamed to fit in with the resort's elaborate themed backstory (see the Back Story Pages).
You can now start your meal with appetisers such as Colonel Peace’s Crawfish Pieces or Ol' Man Island Oysters, and then continue with General Fulton’s Prime Rib, Jackson Square Étouffée or Sassagoula Short Ribs - not to mention the signature Boatwright's Jambalaya - and finish off with Brew du Krewe or Doubloon Bread Pudding.
The November 2014 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 evening campfires commence at 5:30pm in November, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 7:30pm.
The Disney Parks YouTube Channel has just posted a couple of fun Port Orleans videos, one showcasing the resort in general and the other highlighting the Alligator Bayou rooms. Enjoy!
The October 2014 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 evening campfires commence at 6pm in October, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm.
Lots of special Halloween activities will be hosted on Friday 31 October, but if you wish to watch a movie please note that French Quarter will be presenting Toy Story of Terror at 8:30pm and Nightmare Before Christmas at 9pm, while Riverside will be hosting “Madame Medusa’s Moonlit Campfire” on Ol’ Man Island at 9pm instead of a movie.
The September 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size printable PDF versions.
The outdoor movies will start at 8:30pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.
Walt Disney World has just released their hotel room 'rack rates' for the whole of 2015, including both of the Port Orleans resorts. See http://www.disneyworld.com and enter your required dates for a quote.
The full breakdown of all the 2015 rates for all room categories at Port Orleans are now available on the Room Rates page. Here's a quick overview of how they break down by season.
Riverside’s River View rooms are at their most expensive on Memorial Day ($340/night), when even at Christmas they are only $331! Even a Royal River View room is cheaper over that weekend. And in the Spring/Summer, the incremental increase from Standard View to River View is now as much as a whopping $78/night extra (it used to be about $25/$30 a few years ago):
This year the Royal Rooms seem to be going for much less of a premium than before — for example during the summer, Garden, Pool and River View Royal Rooms all cost exactly the same, just $6/night more than a Standard View Royal Room. So if you’re paying for a Royal Room anyway, definitely consider upgrading to River View:
The French Quarter premium rooms generally seem quite a bit cheaper than Riverside’s for similar dates, and there is somewhat less of an increment when moving up between categories. And during the summer, French Quarter’s River View is actually cheaper than Pool View:
The August 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size printable PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
The July 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month. Special activities are scheduled for American Independence Day (4th of July).
Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter will both be taking part in a two-week trial of an innovative new time-saving checkin procedure for guests arriving between Monday 16 June and Saturday 28 June 2014.
To qualify, guests with arrival dates between 16 and 28 June will need to have first created a My Disney Experience account, and already received their Magic Bands at home (meaning that this test will only be available to domestic US residents). The guests will also need to have completed Online Checkin, and paid in full prior to arrival - including setting up a PIN number for their account. Basically, everything you would normally do while standing at the Front Desk needs to have been completed in advance.
Any guests who meet these requirements will automatically receive a notification email a few days prior to arrival to make them aware of the test, and then an hour or so before their stated arrival time they will get a further text message and/or email indicating their assigned room number. They are then free to proceed directly to their room without any need to first call at the Front Desk.
Anyone not wishing to take advantage of this test - or perhaps needing more information, or with questions or concerns about the location of their room - should simply show up at the Front Desk and check-in normally. There is no need to "opt out" if anyone does not wish to participate, this is purely an added convenience.
This is only an initial time-limited test at the moment, not a soft-launch, and it will not currently be extended beyond the trial period. The results will then be evaluated to decide whether this system could work for a more general roll-out at Walt Disney World at some point in the future.
The trial will not be advertised generally, nor promoted to guests who have not already met the above criteria, so if you'd like to participate just get yourself set up in My Disney Experience, do your Online Checkin, and wait for your email.
[Updates added on 6 June]
This trial system is not compulsory, I guess it's mainly for repeat guests who often ask about whether the Front Desk line will be shorter or longer if they do online checkin, or if they arrive at 10am or 11am, etc. Think of it as "FastPass to your Room" if you like, or "Checkin+". If you don't want to use it though, that's entirely up to you.
"Paid in full" happens automatically for packages at 45 days out (and I assume for room-only at 6 days?) so no need to do anything in those cases. If you want to check, or force a payment through so this system will definitely kick in, just call the Reservation Center in advance. The system will not apply to any bookings where an ID needs to be confirmed upon arrival (e.g. cast member bookings, etc).
Welcome Packs will not (for the trial at least) be sent to rooms in advance. If you need one - for example for a map, parking pass or other welcome collateral - you'll need to pop by the Front Desk at your convenience to pick one up.
MagicBands and all their paid features (park tickets, dining plan credits, etc) will go live once the reservation is centrally 'checked-in' on the system, which is also when your text will be sent advising you of your room number - so guests can go directly to a park upon arrival at WDW if they wish.
The room number will normally be confirmed and a text sent about one hour before your stated arrival time, but it could be as close as 15 minutes if a suitable room is not ready early enough. If a room is still not ready by then, a message will be sent advising of the delay but your band will still be activated for all the other features but obviously not for door-key access yet. A followup message will confirm the room number later, and you will be able to use the door-key feature after that.
There will be three other Walt Disney World resort hotels taking part in the trial at the same time.
The June 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
Our popular Port Orleans building floorplan layouts have just been updated to add even more detail. Not only can you check the various room types & categories, and the locations of all the Accessible rooms, but you can now see every pair of rooms that includes a Connecting Doorway too. While special room requests can never be guaranteed of course, it is now much easier for you to check to see if a particular room request might be realistic or not.
See the Room Locations and Requests page and click on any of the buildings in the resort maps to see expanded floorplan views. You can also download combined PDF documents for each section of the resort from the Maps and Directions page.
I hope you enjoy the updated maps, and have fun planning!
Around this time for a number of years, Walt Disney World has launched a free 'Disney Dining Plan' promotion for room with park ticket packages booked for the slower months of the Fall, usually starting in late August and often getting extended until mid-December. Previously, Port Orleans was one of the resorts included within the offer but unfortunately it appears that Riverside and French Quarter have perhaps become victims of their own success and Disney have opted not to include them in the promotion this year.
Forecasted occupancy levels are monitored regularly by Disney, and offer details can be changed with very little notice if they think they need to promote a particular resort which is not selling well - but unfortunately (for us anyway) Port Orleans' average occupancy level is dramatically higher than either of the other two Moderate resorts (Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs) so there is currently not much likelihood of Disney needing to offer extra incentives for guests to stay there.
If you're interested in switching to another resort in order to take advantage of the offer, please see the various online discussion threads (such as http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3271072) for more details. The dates are 31 Aug - 23 Dec with some lengthy blackout dates covering most of October and parts of November/December, and bookings commence on 2 May for Disney Visa card holders and 7 May for everyone else.
The May 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
The Oak Manor roof refurbishment work which started back in January is continuing apace. So far, the central three-story section of the building is complete, as is the river-facing wing on the Parterre Place side (i.e. closest to the quiet pool and the footbridge over to the main buildings).
They are currently working on the northern river-facing wing (closest to Magnolia Terrace) and that should be completed on 9th May. Then work will move over to the parking lot side of the building, with a currently scheduled completion date of the 18th of July.
Tune in via your web browsers or mobile devices tonight at 8:30pm (EST) to watch the WDW Radio LIVE show, this month coming to you direct from the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside with everyone's favourite entertainer, Ye Haa Bob Jackson. Have a great evening folks!
The April 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 8:30pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.
There will be extra activities on Easter Sunday (20 April) including Character Meet & Greets, Jelly Bean Guessing Contest, Easter Candy Scramble, Cupcake Decorating and Family Games such as croquet, egg races and tug-of-war.
The March 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 8pm and the daily campfires commence at 6pm this month. On Sunday 2 March, the Oscars ceremony will be screened live at the Riverside Lobby Courtyard instead of the regular movie.
On Tuesday 4 March, Port Orleans will feature its annual Mardi Gras celebrations, including a mini-parade around the resort organised by the cast members - starting at French Quarter at around 1:30pm and getting to Riverside by 2pm.
Note: French Quarter's "Doubloon Lagoon" pool will reopen on 4 March after its seven-week refurbishment.
Also, in what appears to be a massively short-sighted and very disappointing move, as from 2 March 2014 Disney has seen fit to permanently close the Port Orleans Riverside Levee boat rental facility. Very Bad Show, Disney - you are meant to be all about "plussing" your parks and resorts, not "minussing" them. If you wish to make your views known, ask for an explanation, or request that this decision be reversed, please contact wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com.
Well this one came out of the blue... the Riverside Levee boat rental marina will be permanently closing as from Sunday 2 March.
Very Bad Show, Disney - you are meant to be all about "plussing" your parks and resorts, not "minussing" them.
The Sassagoula river ferry will continue to operate to and from Downtown Disney as normal, as will the children's pirate cruises and the cycle rentals, but no more Sea Raycers, kayaks or other boat rentals. As far as I know at the moment, this will be a permanent closure. Apparently this will happen at the other Moderates too.
Update 2 March: I contacted my friend Denise from mousesteps.com and she and her partner Jeff took a trip over to Riverside yesterday and rented out a pontoon boat for an hour-and-a-half and took one last nostalgic trip along the Sassagoula before the service finally closed last night. Her report and photos can be found HERE, and Jeff's video of the trip on YouTube HERE. So sad to see this wonderful facility go away.
Update 4 March: I've heard mutterings that this might be something to do with an external (third-party) contractor who ran the rental service. To be honest, I'd always assumed it was run by Disney directly (certainly the staffing was provided by Disney cast members) but I've never really had the need to look into it.
According to website WDW News Today, the facility was not popular enough at the Moderate resorts and so the company has pulled out, leaving just the Deluxe Resort locations operating. I'm guessing the current closure of the DTD rental dock for the Disney Springs project won't have helped either.
The Downtown Disney Marketplace ferry dock (located next to the Rainforest Cafe) will be closed from 22 February 2014 until the fall for construction work related to the new Disney Springs project at Downtown Disney. In the meantime, the Port Orleans river ferry boats will still run as normal, but they will use the Pleasure Island dock in the centre of Downtown Disney instead.
The temporary new routes will be as follows:
Port Orleans River Cruise – Yellow Route Service between Downtown Disney Pleasure Island and Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts
Disney Vacation Club Ferry – Blue Route Service between Downtown Disney West Side and Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Resort & Spa and the Treehouse Villas
Internal Downtown Disney Water Taxi – Red Route Service between Downtown Disney West Side and Pleasure Island only
[Edit] The new Port Orleans ferry dock opened mid-August, connected to a brand new bridge between Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney near to Rainforest Cafe. I've posted photos via the @PortOrleansOrg Twitter account and on Facebook.
Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter will be extending their Resort Airline Check-In Service to include guests travelling on International flights as from 24 February 2014.
As with existing guests travelling on domestic US flights, the Resort Airline Check-In Service allows guests to check in for their flight directly at their hotel on their day of travel, including retrieving boarding passes and dropping off checked luggage. This is part of a gradual roll-out, and all Disney Resorts will be offering the International Airline Check-In facility by 17 March.
The airlines which participate in the scheme are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways - which given that these are all internal US carriers does seem a little ironic, but at least many of them do fly overseas too.
The February 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5pm this month.
Reminder: The French Quarter “Doubloon Lagoon” pool area is closed for refurbishment work until approx 28 February 2014, so activities will take place in the courtyard there instead of the pool. The pool bar and hot tub are closed too. For those who want to swim, there is a free shuttle service which takes guests directly over to the Riverside pool on Ol’ Man Island, and all guests can use the five quiet pools too.
The traditional plastic 'Key to the World' cards will be phased out at Port Orleans as from Tuesday 7 January 2014 as part of the ongoing rollout of Disney's new MyMagic+ system. When you check in after that date, each guest will automatically receive a Magic Band wrist bracelet only, with no backup plastic card supplied unless specifically requested.
The Magic Bands have been in testing for several months, and allow you to access everything that the old KttW cards did, and more - guest room door access, theme park admission, Disney Dining Plan credits, resort-wide payment facilities (charged back to your room account), FastPass+ pre-bookings for attractions, car park access, etc.
You can manage all of your bookings, customise your Magic Bands and make dining & FastPass+ reservations via a personalised account system called My Disney Experience, which can be accessed from the Disney website or via mobile devices or using terminals in the parks.
Guests who, for whatever reason, are not comfortable with the bracelet system can still request a plastic card which will do all of the same things - but it will simply mimic the tap-to-use operation of the Magic Bands (using its own RFID chip) rather than providing a magnetic stripe for swiping in the old-fashioned way. This means that you will no longer be able to reserve attraction times using the old legacy Fast Pass system - you will only have access to the new interactive FastPass+ variant. That sadly means that from now on, unless you have pre-booked you're probably not going to get a FastPass for the headliner rides such as Soarin' or Toy Story Midway Mania. Another nail in the coffin for spontaneity at Walt Disney World, I'm afraid.
The January 2014 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5pm this month.
Posted Wednesday 25th December 2013, 6:19am (EST) by Admin
So being a Brit, I always get a bit puzzled by the whole American "Happy Holidays" thing ... but with today being the actual 25th of December, I would like to wish everyone a very genuine and sincere:
And if you happen to be at Port Orleans today (as a guest or Cast Member) have an amazing time:
Just as a bit of a heads-up, as it might have an impact how people choose to request rooms, refurbishment work on the roof of the Oak Manor building (Port Orleans Riverside's building 90, in the Royal Guest Rooms section) will begin on 19 January 2014 and continue for about 6 months.
Construction staff will only be working on one wing at a time, so the majority of the building will remain open - but of course there may be visual intrusion from other parts of the building with some scaffolding, daytime noise, etc.
The December 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5pm this month.
Don't miss the seasonal musical presentations in the run-up to Christmas. Special events including games, activities and Character Greetings will take place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and more fun is planned at Riverside for New Year's Eve from 9pm until midnight.
I've just had confirmation that the long-awaited shipment of replacement in-room refrigerators for Port Orleans Riverside is now due to arrive at the resort later this week. It will obviously take a little while to get more than 1,200 fridges installed into guest rooms, but they will be starting as soon as the delivery arrives and are hopeful that all rooms should be completed and have working fridges by 20 November, just in time for Thanksgiving vacationers. (As previously posted, French Quarter was completed last month)
The Port Orleans French Quarter swimming pool, Doubloon Lagoon, will be closed for refurbishment from mid-January until the end of February 2014 (which includes the busy President's Day week). The dates are tentatively 13 Jan - 28 Feb, but that may change slightly depending on how long the work eventually takes. Disney will be running a free shuttle service between POFQ and POR during the closure to allow guests to use any of the six Riverside pools in the meantime.
The POFQ hot tub will also be closed for some of the time, but not necessarily for the whole of the refurbishment period. The laundry and kids playground will remain open, but the Mardi Grogs pool bar and the restrooms will be closed.
Update on 28 Jan: Rather than running large shuttle buses from the front of the hotels, they are using the small 'golf-cart'-like pargo vehicles to take guests from the front of the pool area at POFQ directly over to the pool at Riverside in a few minutes. Very little hanging around, just hop in and go. Return trips are just as easy.
Update on 27 Feb: The POFQ pool is due to re-open on Tuesday 4th March.
* * *
As from November 2013, the POR and POFQ feature pools (i.e. Ol' Man Island and Doubloon Lagoon) will both have extended lifeguard operating hours of 9am-11pm. However, outside of those times both pools (including the hot tubs) will be fully CLOSED and guests will not be allowed to use them - so sadly no more midnight soaks in the hot tub after a long day at the parks.
Off-season (e.g. 5 January - 15 February 2014, but dates are subject to change based on demand and other factors) the feature pool and hot tub hours will be reduced to 9am-9pm.
The five quiet pools around the Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend areas of POR will still remain available for swimming at any time outside of these hours (at your own risk of course), it's only the main feature pools which will have restricted access times.
Touringplans.com, the web presence of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World guidebook, has just unveiled a superb new resource for anyone planning a trip to Port Orleans (and many of the other Disney hotels). They sent photographers round every single floor of every building, capturing a snapshot of the view that you will see from the window of each of the 3,000+ rooms at the resort.
So finally questions such as "how much of the river can I see from a River View room?" and "what are the parking lot views like?" now have definitive answers for everyone to see. Some elements of this new section are still being adjusted, but it is already an excellent place to peruse if you're planning a stay on Disney property. (Quite aside from their existing superlative park touring resources, which can save you a lot more time in line than FastPass+ is ever likely to do)
The November 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5pm this month.
The on-going issues with the replacement of fridges at most Disney resorts due to safety concerns are sadly not quite behind us yet, at least not for all guests.
First the good news: If you are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter, you should now be OK. All rooms should now have working fridges installed, although staff do still need to do a 100% room audit next week to confirm that their inventory lists are fully correct. But there should no longer be any need to make special requests.
Port Orleans Riverside guests, however, are not going to be so lucky. There has been no improvement at POR over the last month or so, and the number of rooms with working fridges currently stands at around 40%. About half of these are needed to help satisfy guests with medical or other special requirements (including moving fridges around between guest stays) so the 'random chance' of you happening to get a working fridge is currently only about 20%.
Maintenance staff have now physically removed the old affected units (rather than leaving them in situ with a warning letter) but unfortunately the next batch of replacement fridges - which was originally hoped for around the start of November - is now looking to be nearer the end of the month. No confirmed dates are available yet, but as soon as I can let you know anything more specific I will post the information here.
The gorgeously detailed and themed comforter bedspreads which formed so much of the initial impact of that first moment when you walk into a Port Orleans guest room appear to have been removed. According to reports from current guests (in Alligator Bayou and French Quarter so far) there isn't even a "bed scarf" now (that strip of decorative fabric which some hotels place along the foot of their beds) to mitigate an otherwise clean & sterile expanse of 'hospital' white.
Before & After:
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think that a deeply themed and story-based environment such as Port Orleans is really the right place for the latest trendy fashionable hotel chain look. It also seems a real waste, given that the 3,000+ comforters were only a year or two old after the last refit.
What a shame, I feel that Disney really can (and did!) do better than this.
[Added 2-Nov] A new plain-look Royal Room bed (see DISboards thread) With or without a runner at some future stage, still bland.
[Added 4-Nov] And not looking much better in Magnolia Bend. Probably the least impact so far though, as apart from the bedhead artwork the MB rooms are more lightly themed anyway: (thanks for the photo John)
Over the next couple of weeks there will be some adjustments to the Sassagoula River Ferry service to and from Downtown Disney due to the upcoming annual Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival (18-19 Oct) and the various planned events on Lake Buena Vista at Downtown Disney.
The resort ferry services affected are Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter and Saratoga Springs, and additional buses will be provided during these times.
Most of the the ferry boats will not be running during the following periods: 9 October: 4:35pm - 6:45pm 10-17 October: 10:00am - 11:00am and 3:15pm - 6:45pm 18 October: 10:00am - 11:00am and 3:15pm - closing 19 October: 10:00am - 5:30pm
Update on 9 Oct:
I've just heard that the Port Orleans river ferry services to and from Downtown Disney will only be impacted on the main day of the races, Saturday 19 October. On that day, there will be no river ferry service until 5:30pm. Prior to that, the Port Orleans river ferry service will operate as normal.
The October 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, including special Halloween activities. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The evening campfires commence at 6pm this month, and the Movies Under the Stars will be screened at 8pm (except for Halloween which will be 7pm/9pm).
Halloween Activities for 31 October include:
Disney Character Meet & Greets
Candy Corn Guessing Contests
Scavenger Hunts
Cake Walks
Monster Mash Dance Party
Costume Contest (all ages)
Pumpkin Decorating & Crafts
Trick-or-Treating
Haunted Campfires
Reminder: the Riverside campfire site on Ol’ Man Island is still closed at the moment, but the main refurbishment work has now been completed apart from some final safety checks, so it should hopefully be reopened by early October. In the meantime guests can still use the new French Quarter campfire site.
There has been a TV screen sitting quietly and unobtrusively at the Port Orleans Riverside South Depot for some time now, and it has recently been turned on. Now guests waiting at the bus stop can get a real-time estimation of when the next Disney Bus for their destination should arrive:
The information should get updated immediately as busses are changed or delayed, and if new ones are deployed to a route, and it is all based on the central despatch system linked to the GPS tracking devices fitted to all of the buses in Disney's fleet.
At present this is only at the Riverside South Depot with no immediate plans for the outer stops or French Quarter, but it's still a very nice start!
With special thanks to our dedicated specialist research team who have swung into action armed with covert photographic equipment and integrated wireless network communications tools (thanks mrsmomo, that means you and your smartphone! ) we find that several new menu items have now been added to the Boatwright's Dining Hall menu as from 25 September. A few existing items have gone up by a dollar or two, but mostly the prices have stayed the same.
Pimiento Cheese Fritters $8.49 (Appetiser) with Pepper Jelly
Slow-Cooked Beef Short Rib $24.99 (Entrée) Cheesy Grits and Red Wine Reduction ~ Recommended Pairing: Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County ~
Sweet-Tea Brined Pork Chop $21.99 (Entrée) with Sweet Potato Hash, Citrus-Whiskey Glaze, and Onion Straws ~ Recommended Pairing: Canyon Road Merlot, California ~
The restaurant has removed the existing Salmon Salad from the menu to make room for the new items. The new Slow-Cooked Beef Short Rib is already getting rave reviews, it had only been on the menu for 24 hours and already several people have commented on how good it is.
The food court menus were also updated at the end of August with a few new items, see the Riverside Mill page for full details.
BREAKING NEWS: I'm hearing reports that the My Disney Experience system is now allowing Port Orleans French Quarter guests with arrival dates as early as 19 October to customise Magic Bands and make FastPass+ reservations for their stay. The system seems to have updated overnight. More information as soon as I get it.
Update at 6:30am (Eastern): I just had an email, the official French Quarter start date for Magic Band / FastPass+ is for arrivals from 30 September onward.
The current testing period lasts until 31 October, so nothing can be set up beyond then at present. However the general expectation is that the system will mostly likely continue seamlessly after that period, once Disney has loaded the new dates onto the system.
The September 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 8:30pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.
Reminder: The Riverside campfire location on Ol' Man Island will be closed for most of September, you will need to use the new French Quarter campfire site instead.
The newly-built campfire firepit at Port Orleans French Quarter which we mentioned a couple of weeks ago has now opened for guests as from Thursday 22 August. Located in Beignet Square - the courtyard between buildings 5 and 6 where the evening movies are screened - the campfire will take place every evening for a couple of hours before the movie starts.
Oddly enough for a custom-designed location, there is currently no bench seating provided (unlike at the previous area) which a few guests have already commented upon. This will be reviewed over the coming weeks as the old location is transformed back to its previous use. Note: children under 12 must be accompanied to the campfire by an adult.
Also, the Riverside campfire on Ol' Man Island is currently closed for about a month for refurbishment work (the exact completion date is somewhat dependent on how cooperative the September weather turns out to be). In the meantime, cast members will be helping to transport interested guests over to French Quarter's campfire by pargo (golf cart).
I was asked to hold back on posting this until today, but Magic Bands will be issued to all Port Orleans Riverside guests for stays commencing 3rd September onward.
Emails and letters will start going out today to inform guests arriving within 18 days that they can pre-book their FastPass+ times (up to 60 days out in fact) and customise their Magic Bands (colour and name) via the My Disney Experience site and/or mobile app. It may not be possible for Disney to contact all guests (e.g. international guests, or those who have booked via some travel agents) but the new system will still apply to everyone regardless.
Continental USA guests should be able to get their Magic Bands mailed out in advance, others will need to pick them up at the Front Desk when they check in. Key cards will still be issued as a backup for the foreseeable future.
While this is still officially classified as a "test", the general expectation is that unless there are major problems this will most likely remain permanent.
French Quarter will follow within the next few months.
The footbridge between the Magnolia Terrace mansion building and Ol' Man Island is closed for maintenance work (decking replacement) during the day from Monday 12 August for the next five days. Alternative routes are signposted via the other two bridges. The bridge will be re-opened each night.
Fridges: Both Riverside and French Quarter are now at around 40%-50% working fridges, after about 400 new units were installed at the initially worst-hit French Quarter. Specific medical requests are all being granted, but general requests are still being dealt with on a case-by-case basis (they are moving fridges around to try to help guests, but there are no guarantees at present). 500 more are expected at the end of August, which will make the situation easier again, and the remainder hopefully by early November.
"Rapid Fill" Mugs: The new RFID-chipped mugs started to be issued to new guests from today, but the equipment to enforce their use at the drinks dispensers won't be activated until 19th August. The chips are being activated as you buy them (there is a new device at the tills, which sets each mug up for its period of validity depending on which option you've paid for) so they should work immediately once the dispenser sensors are turned on. Existing guests won't be forced to swap their mugs when the system goes live next week as their mugs will already be active.
Riverside had orange, purple and green mugs today, but French Quarter hasn't got the green ones as yet. The new mugs can officially be refilled at any Disney resort hotel which has a beverage dispenser location, not just at your home resort.
Magic Bands: These should be coming fairly soon now (not quite this month though) and I'll be able to post more information, and hopefully some dates, when I get home from my Port Orleans vacation at the end of this week. I can confirm that Riverside will be first though, with French Quarter a month or two later.
French Quarter Lobby: Two new chandeliers are due to be installed over the next few weeks, and there will be new signage added above the desks soon too. As part of the refurbishment budget, the pianola player-piano at the side of the main atrium (near to Scat Cat's) was repaired and now periodically plays live music in the lobby.
Swimming Pool Life Jackets: Free kids’ life vests are now available at all pools across property, starting about a week ago. They are proving very popular already, as previously you had to request one from the Marina.
French Quarter Campfire Relocation: The firepit is being moved to the end of Beignet Square, the courtyard lawn located between buildings 5 and 6 where the evening movies are shown. Work is almost complete, and the switchover should be taking place in the next week or two. The previous river-view campfire location by building 6 will revert to a seating area, probably as a smoking area. Update: the new campfire location opened on Thursday 22 August.
The August 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
As part of a test running from 1-31 August, guests using Disney’s Magical Express service and staying at Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter will be able to opt to leave for the airport from the Downtown Disney area rather than from their resort.
This presents an additional opportunity for guests to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment at Downtown Disney to complete their Walt Disney World Resort experience. [OK, that Disney-speak translates to "lets you spend even more money with Disney"]
Eligible guests must have a domestic flight that departs from Orlando International Airport between 3 pm and midnight, or an international flight between 4 pm and 1 am, on the day of check out.
Reservations should be made no later than 48 hours prior to departure by calling the automated reservation line at (407) 566-6900.
Disney’s Magical Express motorcoaches depart from the center of Downtown Disney, near the Pleasure Island bridge closest to Raglan Road Pub and Restaurant. Area signage and Disney’s Magical Express Cast Members will be available from noon-9 pm to provide assistance and directions for guests. There will also be information leaflets at the resort.
Guests must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time, which will be approximately three hours prior to domestic flight times, and four hours prior for international flights. Disney’s Magical Express motorcoaches may make multiple stops and will depart promptly.
Participating guest luggage can be handled in the following ways:
Resort Airline Check in: It is recommended that guests participate in Resort Airline Check-in if possible (details of this service are provided at Resort check-in)
Resort Bell Services Transfer: Alternatively, guests can check luggage, including carry-on luggage, with the Resort Bell Services team to be transferred to the Disney’s Magical Express Bus Stop at Downtown Disney, where Guests will claim their bags prior to boarding the motorcoach. Allow at least two hours prior to your scheduled motorcoach departure time. Luggage will travel with Guests on the motorcoach.
For more information, you can call Disney’s Magical Express on 1-866-599-0951.
Walt Disney World's new refillable mug program — "Rapid Fill" — is being rolled out at all resort hotel locations with self-service beverage stations. The drinks stations at the Port Orleans food courts are in the process of being modified at the moment, so presumably after a short testing phase the system will be going live soon (no confirmed dates as yet though).
The new Rapid Fill mugs feature a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip installed in the mug which allows it to be used for a specific amount of days, all the way through to the guests’ entire length of stay if required (multiple-resort stays are allowed, but the days must be CONSECUTIVE).
The new mugs will allow guests to refill beverages at any resort's self-service beverage station, not just at their home resort (but NOT at the theme parks or water parks). Guests will be able to check their remaining days via the fountain beverage dispenser’s display screen.
The prices for the new mugs will be as follows: $8.99 for 1 day $11.99 for 2 days $14.99 for 3 days $17.99 for length of stay (4-14 days, but can be specifically extended for longer stays)
Note: It will still be possible to buy a single drink (paper cup) at the food courts, which will contain an RFID chip coded for your current visit only.
Rapid Fill mugs may be purchased and used at any resort self-service beverage island, and Disney Dining Plan guests will receive the new mugs as part of their package.
A few days ago we reported on the re-opening of the newly refurbished Port Orleans French Quarter registration lobby, and yesterday (Thursday 18 July) saw the official Re-Dedication Ceremony at 9am, presided over by Port Orleans' General Manager Val Bunting and attended by Walt Disney World Ambassador Rich Tamayo.
Denise from the excellent http://www.MouseSteps.com photowalks site was on-hand to document the rededication, and she has posted a great set of pictures of the event (including the free fresh beignets for guests!) plus some photos of the new details in the lobby in her Resort Update. There's also a short video of the ceremony (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... aVg796NqXE) from Jeff Lange of JWLMedia.com.
Now that the lobby refurbishment at Port Orleans French Quarter is complete, entertainment offerings at Scat Cat’s Lounge will resume on Friday, July 19.
Musician Tom Casey will join Scat Cat’s Lounge, performing a dynamic blend of piano and jazz vocals. Tom has previously performed at a variety of venues across the Walt Disney World Resort, including providing vacation cover for French Quarter's previous resident musician, Elliot Dyson.
Performances will take place Friday through Monday at 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 10:30pm. There are no performances scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Update on 10 Aug:
I watched the last hour or so of Tom's set last night. His style is very different from Elliot's, it's no longer a jazz theme but more of a piano-accompanied mix of rock/pop standards (he also has stored backing/rhythm tracks on a laptop, and he does requests). He's very good though, just somewhat different to what you might expect if you're used to Elliot's music.
Tom has just set up a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/TomCaseyAtScatCats - which oddly doesn't seem to come up in searches, but that link works - so pop along there and Like him to see his posts.
As I indicated last week, the Port Orleans French Quarter lobby has now re-opened for guest use after its refurbishment. The plan was to transition services back today (Friday) and be fully open by Monday, but it looks as if the work is pretty much complete now.
It looks very nice, with a fabulous new patterned tiled floor which looks perfectly in keeping with rest of the room. The desks are now dark wood with accented highlight panels along the upper edge in the new two-person 'pod' style so CMs can come out to interact with guests. The effect is more of a subtle change than the recent Riverside update, as the French Quarter desks were already dark wood.
The lovely backdrop behind the main desk area remains, as do the paintings, but on the sad side, the "When the Saints..." music notes are gone. There's also new rug/carpeting and sofas in the TV area, and new golden queue stanchions.
Here are a first few camera-phone photos of the new Lobby to be going on with:
(many thanks to the person who kindly sent them to me this morning)
This was just posted on the Disney Travel Agent Blog. I have no more specific information at present and will update this post when I know more:
Due to a possible defect in the refrigerators in some of the Guest rooms at the Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts, as well as Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Resort hotels at these locations have removed or temporarily disconnected Guest room refrigerators until the issue can be resolved.
Guests staying at these Resort hotels will be notified of the refrigerator removal via a letter in their room. Currently the schedule for replacing the refrigerators at these Resorts is expected to last several months.
This follow-up comment was just posted by Disney:
This is for all Resorts, except Disney Vacation Club rooms and the cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. Currently we do not have an exact timeframe for when the fridges will be replaced, but it is expected to take at least 4 months. At each Resort there will be a limited number of refrigerators available by special request.
Update on 12 July:
The review of all 3,056 rooms at Port Orleans has now been completed, and it doesn't look like it's going to be quite as much of a problem as was first envisaged. Only around 50% of the rooms at Riverside have the type of fridge which will need removing (due to a fortunate piece of luck caused by available inventory during the recent rooms rehab) although the situation is slightly worse over at French Quarter. There will still be issues over the coming weeks of course while replacement fridges are sourced and installed, but it does look like it should be possible for guests to at least request a room with a fridge other than for medical reasons.
The 2014 room Rack Rates and Packages are now available on the WDW USA website with confirmed pricing.
I've just compared a few sample dates for this year vs. next year at Port Orleans Riverside. While the Standard room types actually don't seem to have changed at all, and Garden View goes up by only a few dollars, some other room types have rocketed. e.g. in 'Summer-rate' July, River View goes up from $254/night this year to $279 next, and Pool View from $248 to $273 - that's $25 more expensive, or about a 10% increase. (prices inc taxes)
The July 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
The June 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
The May 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.
According to DISboards member and Port Orleans French Quarter regular 'cruisingkat', POFQ's resident multi-talented jazz musician Elliot Dyson has been let go by Disney. Anyone who has spent any time at the resort will be familiar with Elliot's nightly laid-back jazz sessions at Scat Cat's Club which are a signature attraction of the resort, and I know he will be greatly missed by a lot of folks.
cruisngkat wrote:We go to Disney at least 5 times a year and see him each time we visit. We received a text from Elliot telling us he has been let go. We saw him this past Wednesday and Thursday nights (4/24 & 4/25) and he told us May 4 will be his last night performing at Disney as his contract was terminated.
From the above, I'm assuming this is not just a temporary measure while the lobby refurbishment upheaval is going on next month. As I understand it, both Port Orleans resorts have been at pretty-much 100% capacity for several months now - even during normally slower periods - so if this is a cost-cutting exercise, what on earth are they thinking? Bad show Disney.
We at PortOrleans.org would like to thank Elliot for his many years of entertaining guests at the resort, and we wish him well for the future.
Update, 30 April:
I've had some feedback from a member of the management team at the resort, saying that this is as a result of the Lobby Refurbishment due to commence in two weeks' time, and it is still possible that Elliot may be asked to return after the work is complete. I'll quote a portion of the message here so I don't misrepresent anything:
As a result of being in that space, we have suspended all entertainment in that area due to the change in Guest flow and noise concerns. Elliot will be on hiatus during the refurbishment and we will have entertainment return after everything is completed. Our entertainment partners are part of the process and with the refurbishment will be looking at the offerings at French Quarter to ensure that our offerings match the quality, spirit and theme of the resort. This means that Elliot could easily return after the re-opening, however this has not been confirmed. The news of him let go is only referring to the time of the refurbishment.
However his return does seem far from certain at present according to what Elliot himself has been saying. If you enjoy his shows at POFQ, why not write to Disney to strongly encourage them to re-hire him after the lobby refurbishment is complete?
The washing machines and dryers in the Port Orleans French Quarter Laundry Room (located near to the Doubloon Lagoon swimming pool) are now cashless and you will only be able to pay using a credit or debit card. This is initially a six-month trial and there are no immediate plans to extend it to any of the Riverside laundry rooms (as yet, anyway).
Strangely though, there is no facility to pay using your Key-to-the-World card (room charge) which given the current major push towards contactless payment using room keycards everywhere at Walt Disney World, and the upcoming personalised Magic Band system, does seem a little odd. Perhaps the new RFID payment technology isn't yet ready to be left on its own as a stand-alone unit without CM supervision?
I assume this is primarily an effort to cut down on maintenance costs and provide a more consistent service for guests, but it will also help to reduce the risk of vandalism and theft which has been an issue with cash boxes in the past.
Update on 29 March 2015:
Apparently the Riverside laundries are going cashless too now, and will soon be only accepting credit or debit card payments.
The laundry room near building 18 is already done, and the room near building 25 is closed at the moment so presumably they are currently updating that one. I'll post a further update when I know more details.
As I posted a month ago, this spring will see Port Orleans French Quarter's turn to be given a brand new look for its main registration lobby area, similar to the work completed over at Riverside last summer.
I can now confirm that the work is due to commence on Monday 13 May 2013 and should be completed by mid-July. As always, please remember that work schedules can shift a little, but that's the best information I have at the moment. More details on the estimated completion date should be available in June.
During the period while the current lobby area is closed, all checkin and guest service functions will take place at the old Bonfamille's Café restaurant, just across the central atrium next to Scat Cat's Club - so when you enter the main atrium, you'll need to turn left rather than right.
Update on 20 April: Start date will be Monday 13 May, not 15 May as previously posted.
Update on 9 May: Check-in facilities are now located in the Bonfamille's Café area, in readiness for work commencing on the regular lobby next week.
Update on 2 July: The official re-opening is set for Monday 15th July, but services will probably start transitioning over on Friday 12th July.
The April 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 8:30pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.
Don’t miss the special Earth Day activities this month. Vote in a Recycle and Photo Contest in the Lobby at POR on Thursday 18 April (8am–5pm), then join in with the Earth Day Celebrations from noon-2pm on Friday 19 April beside the POR Marina. Recycle and Photo Contest winners will be announced at the Earth Day Celebration.
The Easter Sunday 2013 Recreation Schedules are now available, see the main Recreation Schedules page for more details.
If you don't fancy spending all of Easter Sunday in the crowded theme parks (and they will be crowded!) there are plenty of activities around both of the Port Orleans resorts to keep you and the kids occupied, including character meet-and-greets, family games and poolside fun, and of course some traditional confectionery-based activities.
Also, both of the resort gift shops (Fulton’s General Store at Port Orleans Riverside and Jackson Square Gifts & Desires at Port Orleans French Quarter) are again offering pre-made and made-to-order Easter Baskets from Tuesday 26 March until Easter Sunday.
Walt Disney World will also be hosting special religious services in the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney's Contemporary Resort Convention Center. Guests will need to use Disney Transportation (rather than trying to park at the Contemporary) to get to the services, which are at the following times:
This spring will see Port Orleans French Quarter's turn to be given a brand new look for its main registration lobby area. Tentatively planned to start sometime in May (details to be confirmed) the refit will be similar to the work completed over at Riverside last summer. During the period while the current lobby is closed, all checkin and guest service functions will take place at the old Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant, just across the central atrium next to Scat Cat's Club.
This also seemed an ideal opportunity to create an archive 360-degree panorama photo of the original lobby design before it is gone forever, and that along with several other Port Orleans French Quarter panoramas are now available to view on our new French Quarter Panoramas page.
The March 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 8pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm this month.
Port Orleans Riverside's celebrated night-time entertainer, "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson, yesterday received the prestigious Walt Disney Legacy Award, given annually to a very select group of cast members for "keeping the magic alive through exemplary performance and commitment to the traditions and ideals established by Walt Disney".
As the highest honour one can receive within Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Legacy Award recognises those exceptional individuals who consistently excel in the categories of: Dream, Create, Inspire. The award is a global program which recognises the outstanding achievements of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Cast, Crew and Imagineers, and each recipient will have first been nominated by their leaders, direct reports and/or co-workers.
Congratulations Bob from all your friends at portorleans.org, this award is richly deserved for the amount of effort and dedication you put into entertaining your guests. Walt would have been proud of you, as you embody the values and traditions that he wanted for the parks (and now resorts) which carry his name - wear your new blue name-badge with pride!
See Bob's Facebook page if you'd like to congratulate him yourself.
The February 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5:30pm this month. And if you’re going to be at Port Orleans for Mardi Gras, don’t forget the special parade of decorated pargo carts which the cast members organise every year — 1:30pm on Tuesday 12 February.
The new keycard touch-to-pay terminals were activated at Port Orleans this morning (a few days later than first planned due to some technical teething problems). You can now pay using your RFID-chip based room keycard at all of the Port Orleans lobbies, shops, restaurants and bars (along with the theme parks and other WDW locations). As far as I know, you cannot use the new system in the laundry rooms, arcades, lockers, etc. though.
Also, if you check in online from now on you should be offered the option of setting up a security PIN number for your keycard, which will save a little bit of time creating one when you arrive. The original intention was to only use the PIN numbers for transactions of $50 at WDW, but more recently all transactions require you to enter your PIN.
The Ol’ Man Island swimming pool slide at Port Orleans Riverside will be closed from 7th January until 1st February 2013. The pool itself will remain open as normal though, it is only the slide that is undergoing maintenance. The Port Orleans French Quarter pool and slide will be fully open during this time though, and guests from Riverside are always welcome to use it.
[Update 20-Jan: Seems from local reports that the main pool slide has been open a lot of the time, perhaps the work finished early or is being done in stages?]
Also, Alligator Bayou quiet pool #2 (the pool located near to buildings 24-28) will also be closed for maintenance work from 23rd January until 26th January 2013. Both of the other quiet pools in the Alligator Bayou area, along with three other pools at the resort, will remain open as normal during this period.
There have been room number layouts for the Port Orleans Riverside Magnolia Bend mansion buildings here on portorleans.org for a few years now, based on maps from the old Sassagoula Times handout which the front desk used to give out to arriving guests. However until now there has been no breakdown available for the other sections, which has been one of the most requested features from site visitors lately.
So, after much research and burning of the midnight oil over the Christmas break, I'm proud to present detailed floor plan layouts for every floor of every building at Port Orleans - that's all sixteen Alligator Bayou lodges, the four Magnolia Bend mansions and the seven French Quarter buildings. All of these new floor plans can be accessed by simply clicking on each building in the resort maps on the Alligator Bayou, Magnolia Bend and French Quarter pages.
I'll try to add even more detail soon, and provide downloadable PDF versions too, so there's more still to come. Although I'm pretty sure that the basic layouts are covered accurately now, if anyone notices any errors please let me know.
[Update 5-Jan-12] As promised I've now added extra detail, plus downloadable/printable PDF versions too. All of the building floor plans maps now include the room categories (Garden/Water/River Views, Preferred, King Bed, etc) and the locations of all of the Disabled Accessible rooms. Happy planning!
The January 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5:30pm this month.
Christmas is almost upon us, and for those guests spending a bit of time relaxing away from the parks there will be lots of fun and games at both Port Orleans resorts. As I mentioned previously, there are musical groups entertaining everyone in the lobbies daily in the run-up to the big day, and on Christmas Eve your kids (oh alright, the adults too) can meet with Disney characters at both resorts in the morning, and Santa will be making a special appearance at the Riverside Lobby in the evening.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone at Port Orleans this holiday season.
I'll try to post more details closer to the time, but visitors travelling to the Port Orleans resorts over the Christmas Holiday period can expect some extra fun for all the family.
Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter will both be hosting Disney Character meet and greets in their lobbies on Christmas Eve (24 December), with the white-bearded gentleman in the red suit also scheduled to make a personal appearance at Riverside on the 24th - presumably before commencing his vital overnight voyage.
There will also be local musical groups appearing the week before Christmas, presenting seasonal entertainment:
Port Orleans French Quarter Lobby
Sunday 16 December (morning) 8:30am & 9:30am - Valencia Community College Intone (Orlando, FL) Tuesday 18 December (evening) 7:00pm & 8:00pm - The Grace Notes (Winter Garden, FL) Thursday 20 December (morning) 8:30am & 9:30am - O-Town Sound Chorus (Orlando, FL) Saturday 22 December (evening) 7:00pm & 8:00pm - First United Methodist Church (Titusville, FL)
Port Orleans Riverside Lobby
Monday 17 December (evening) 7:00pm & 8:00pm - Winter Springs High School Bear Voices (Winter Springs, FL) Wednesday 19 December (morning) 8:30am & 9:30am - Sweet Adelines International, Inc. Sound of Sunshine Show Chorus (Longwood, FL) Friday 21 December (evening) 7:00pm & 8:00pm - Tenoroc High School Vocal Ensemble (Lakeland, FL) Sunday 23 December (morning) 8:30am & 9:30am - Sweet Adelines International, Inc. Sound of Sunshine Show Chorus (Longwood, FL)
The December 2012 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5:30pm this month. A specific schedule for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day activities will be available closer to the time.
The November 2012 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available (they were there at the start of the month in fact, but I forgot to add a news posting as I'd just posted the Halloween one - sorry!). See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below.
The outdoor movies will start at 7pm and the daily campfires commence at 5:30pm this month.
Boooo! Sounds like there's going to be a load of spooky fun for all the kids - and kids at heart - staying at Port Orleans on Monday 31st October this year - including games, food and even some character meet and greets.
There have been some minor changes in options and prices at both of the food courts and at Boatwright's Dining Hall over the past couple of months. The listings on the site now reflect all of the current offerings and prices for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for both adult and kids' meals.
Brand new ‘RFID’ locks are being installed on the doors of all guest rooms during October. French Quarter is now complete [17 Oct] and Acadian House and then the rest of the mansions will come next, followed by Alligator Bayou. These new locks are triggered by tiny proximity-activated chips embedded within the key cards which are issued to guests, allowing the door to be opened by simply placing the keycard near to the new Mickey-head sensor on the door (this one is from Acadian House; the Royal Rooms will have a slightly different style):
This is much easier to use than the old “slide in, pull out” method as far as guest access is concerned, and it also has a number of advantages from an operational point of view. For example, it will no longer be necessary to reprogram keycards at the front desk in the event of a guest issue or a room change, but simply to remotely reprogram a different door lock to accept the same card. The upgrade process should be transparent to guests, who could be issued with chipped Key to the World card in the morning and then return after a day at the parks to find the updated locking system is now on their door.
Support poles for new hammock loungers were reported to have been installed last week alongside the pathway just beyond the fishin’ hole on Ol’ Man Island. Apparently there are going to be eight of these located around the resort, sounds like a lovely little addition. [Update] Here's an image of one of the three new hammocks now located on Ol' Man Island:
General work has been continuing around the resort, such as upgrades to the pathways and bridges around the Alligator Bayou section to provide easier access for guests with impaired mobility.
The parking lots outside of the main lobby buildings at both Riverside and French Quarter now have rather ugly metal mesh fences around their perimeters. Also the first parking lot exit at Riverside (closest to the South bus depot) has been blocked off, leaving just the second exit, closer to the main road. Presumably this has been done for pedestrian safety reasons, but you would have thought it would have been possible to find some fencing that was more in keeping with the theming of the resort rather than this rather nasty generic metal barrier.
The old flip-over price menu boards at the Riverside Mill food court are now gone, replaced by cabinets for flat-screen displays. Until the electronic displays were ready recently, printed signs were being placed in front of the screens daily for the breakfast and lunch/dinner menus.
Earlier in the week, Disney released Room and Package Discount offers for Fall and Winter 2012/13, which include giving up to 30% discount on Port Orleans Riverside room rates and up to $600 off some packages. See our Discounts and Special Offers page for full details and links to the Disney website offer pages.
Fall 2012 Offer
Save up to 20%/25% on stays at Port Orleans Riverside for most nights from 1-Nov-2012 to 22-Dec-2012 (excludes Thanksgiving week, 17-23 Nov).
This is a room-only offer, however tickets and Dining Plans can be added at extra cost. Book by 31st October 2012 via the Disney Reservations Center on (407) W-DISNEY, or contact a specialist travel agent and mention offer code G97.
Winter 2013 Offer
Save up to 30% on stays at Port Orleans Riverside for most nights from 2-Jan-2013 to 7-Mar-2013 (stays from 18-20 Jan are available at some resorts but may have different discounts).
There is also a “Play, Stay, Dine and Save” offer covering the same time period (and including both Riverside and French Quarter) which gives discounts of up to $600 on 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way package prices with the Disney Dining Plan included.
You need to book these offers by 31st December 2012 via the Disney Reservations Center on (407) W-DISNEY, or contact a specialist travel agent and mention offer code Z3K for the room-only offer or Q83 for the package offer.
The October 2012 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, see the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below. The outdoor movies will start at 8pm and the daily campfires commence at 6:30pm. A separate schedule will be released for Halloween closer to the end of the month.
Yesterday the final new custom-made rug carpet, which was originally scheduled to be delivered in October, arrived early and has been laid in the previously-empty open space on the Marina side of the lobby. This has allowed the remaining furniture to be set out too, which was being held back to avoid damaging the new tiles in the meantime. This now concludes the lobby refurbishment, giving a pleasantly consistent look to the new area.
This was the refurbished lobby just prior to the new details being added - click on the image below to scroll around the lobby:
The September 2012 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, see the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below. The outdoor movies will start at 8.30pm and the daily campfires commence at 7:00pm.
The August 2012 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are now available, see the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the images below. The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7:30pm.
The final Port Orleans Riverside Alligator Bayou building (26) re-opened for guests today. The guest room refurbishment was all done a couple of weeks ago, but they kept the rooms out of use until the roof maintenance work was complete and all the scaffolding was taken down.
So now all rooms at both of the Port Orleans resorts have now been fully refurbished and the update program is complete.
According to the Walt Disney World website, room and package booking rates for all of 2013 for the on-site hotels (including Port Orleans) are due to be released on 11 July. Currently the US site only allows you to book until 31 December 2012, although some of the International sites have allowed 2013 bookings for non-US guests for a while now.
Update 6am EST, 11 July 2012: The 2013 booking rates are now available via the WDW online booking system. Full details can be found in our Room Rates page.
The Disney Parks Blog has a short feature on the newly refurbished lobby at Port Orleans Riverside with some nice detail photos, saying "The two-month refurbishment included new tile, colorful rugs, decorative period lighting and some new furniture. The space is very inviting – it sure seems brighter and more spacious to me." See http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... ld-resort/
American Independence Day is fast approaching, and the Port Orleans Resorts will be offering plenty of fun activities to keep the young (and young at heart) resort guests entertained on Wednesday 4th July. These will include old-fashioned lawn games, a watermelon eating contest, candy counting, a cake walk, a pie throwing contest, plus all the usual pool activities, movies, etc.
One quick tip from me: if you want to see the special Magic Kingdom fireworks, go on Tuesday 3rd July. You'll see exactly the same show, but without the crazy crowds. Then you can either enjoy the resort activities on the 4th, or head over to see Epcot's celebrations where the larger size of the park may help make it feel a little less crowded.
And here are the other activities for the rest of July, also available at the usual Recreation Activities Schedule page:
Posted Sunday 1st July 2012, 3:43pm (EDT) by Admin
I can't believe where the time has gone, but five years ago today the very first files were served out from the fledgling www.portorleans.org domain. It wasn't a full site at that point, just a collection of a couple of resort maps and a few pictures I think.
I first registered the actual name on 22 June 2007, and I noticed the timing because I've just this week paid the annual server hosting invoice for the coming year (all donations via the homepage gratefully received... LOL).
The first online post where I referred to anything from the site was on 1 July 2007, on the UK-based DIBB forums (after the idea was first mooted on 11 March in another DIBB thread). A proper 'menu-based' site was still a few months away (26 Oct 2007) but I think I shall count 1st July as the site's official birthday for now.
And now, five years later, the site gets around 1.5 million page hits a year. How time flies when you're having fun!
Thanks for everyone's support, and I hope this site has proved informative and useful.
The main lobby at Port Orleans Riverside has re-opened today after its two-month refurbishment... well, almost. At a fairly late stage they decided to add an extra treatment to the floor tiles, which took a few days to apply and harden. This must of course now be done with the previously-completed section of the lobby too, so they will shut that side off again for a few days while the work is completed. Then the furniture will be put back into place. I don’t know what’s happening about the carpet though - I know that originally a new one was planned to be put down, but it looks like the new floor is all tiled to me.
But it's looking very nice already, this was taken first thing Tuesday morning (26 June):
Update on Thursday 28 June:
The Lobby Refurbishment work is now pretty much complete, with the carpeting (in the form of two giant rugs) now laid and all of the desks opened for guests. A few items of furniture still need to be added, and the kids' TV needs to be moved and queue lines set up, but otherwise it's basically done.
On first view, I'm not completely sure if the darker blue in the carpet might be one colour too many though, but I'm sure it'll grow on me. It's apparently proving very popular with guests.
Update on Thursday 29 June:
There is now a spaciously open section where the old Online Checkin desks used to be - there will be another large rug going in here, and more furniture, but that won't be for several months as the rug is being hand-made. Otherwise, a few small chairs need to be added in front of the children’s TV and some new stanchions for the queue areas which should be installed over the next couple of days.
The new light fittings over the desks seem very evocative of the period theming - and nice to see the lovely artwork on the back wall has been retained:
If anyone was sleeping in an old Alligator Bayou double-bedded room last night, you would have been among the very last few. The final two Alligator Bayou buildings (26 and 35) today go down for refurbishment, so the last of the old rooms (and those old double beds & trundles) will have gone away forever.
Currently, buildings 25, 26, 34 and 35 are down for refurbishment. Two of them (25 and
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