Port Orleans News

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!

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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!

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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!

• 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!

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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!

[Discuss this item in our Forums...]