Port Orleans News

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.

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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:

• "Ye Haa" Bob Jackson - Sunday nights at 6pm ET - https://www.facebook.com/yehaabob - (PayPal Tip Jar)
• Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes - Sunday afternoons at 3pm ET - https://www.facebook.com/JasonandBilly - (PayPal Tip Jar)
• Greg Hayworth - Sunset Sessions, Wednesday & Saturday at 7pm ET - https://www.facebook.com/hayworthmusic7 - (PayPal Tip Jar)

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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.

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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!

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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.

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