Port Orleans News

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.

Many thanks to Jenni Lee over on the Port Orleans Magical Guide Facebook Group for her first photos. Please see our Gallery Page for lots more images and higher resolution versions too.

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.

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.

(Thanks to Jim and John for the info and flyer)

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).

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).