Port Orleans News

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.

For more information, please see the official page on the Walt Disney World website.

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).

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.