Port Orleans News
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Disney Press Event shows new rooms at Port Orleans Resort
Posted Friday 20th May 2011, 8:25am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel
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As part of a press event, journalists from the press and online sites received a tour of Port Orleans to view the various new features, including a tour of the refurbished and Accessible rooms at French Quarter, plus previewing the model room for the new Royal Themed rooms at Riverside. |
20th Birthday Activities at Port Orleans French Quarter
Posted Tuesday 17th May 2011, 7:03am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel
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If you're going to be at the resort today, don't miss out on the birthday cake being served in the lobby area of French Quarter, and enjoy some great jazz entertainment from the resort's talented resident musician, Elliot Dyson, who will be performing all day today at the Scat Cats lounge right next to the lobby. Have a great day - I just wish I could be there to join in the fun!  |
Port Orleans turns 20 years old on Tuesday 17 May 2011
Posted Sunday 8th May 2011, 11:18am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel
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The first three buildings of the original Port Orleans Resort - the section that is now known as French Quarter - originally opened their doors to the public on 17 May 1991, two decades ago. Riverside - or Dixie Landings as it was then known - opened a year later on 2 February 1992. Now the combined resort offers a total of 3,056 guest rooms and employs around 1,200 cast members.  “We say it’s the place where Disney magic flows with Southern charm,” commented Valerie Bunting, general manager of the resort, in the article. Born in Virginia, Valerie loves the New Orleans area and said she feels quite at home at the resort which she has managed for nearly two years. “I’m in heaven here. It transports you back to a quieter time. You’d never know that you were in the middle of the Walt Disney World Resort.” “When I’m just walking by the river, I see people sitting on benches just at peace with themselves,” said Valerie, who has been a cast member for 35 years. “It’s a haven.” I'd just like to add grateful thanks to Valerie and her whole team for the work they put in to keep this resort looking as picture-perfect as it did on opening day twenty years ago - perhaps even better now that the foliage and vegetation have had a chance to mature - and ensuring that the visiting guests experience a fabulous and truly magical stay. Here's to the next twenty years. Happy Birthday Port Orleans! |
Riverside Refurb due to start with Acadian House on 26 June
Posted Friday 6th May 2011, 11:50am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel
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The latest information regarding the Port Orleans Riverside room refurbishment project indicates that work will commence on 26 June 2011, starting with the Acadian House mansion building (building 80). |
Official - 'Royal Rooms' coming to Port Orleans Riverside!
Posted Tuesday 26th April 2011, 5:39am (EDT) by The Sassagoula Sentinel
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The Disney Parks Blog has just confirmed that the much anticipated 'Royal' themed rooms will be coming to Port Orleans Riverside during the upcoming refurbishment. One-quarter of the resort's room capacity will be given over to the new themed rooms.
 Since The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans, Port Orleans Riverside was deemed a natural fit for this story - although I'm not quite sure why French Quarter was not regarded as an even more obvious fit. During a guest’s stay, they will discover special mementos left by Tiana’s royal friends from classic Disney animated films such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, etc. For example, bathroom faucets are in the shape of Aladdin’s lamp and the luggage bench is in the shape of Sultan the dog that turns into a bench from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. During creative development of these Storybook Rooms, Disney characters and storylines were chosen that would remain “evergreen” and maintain their relevance over time. Attributes to the room include:
The concept art does looks somewhat scaled back from the original version that was mooted in a guest survey back in August 2010. Note the lack of ceiling detail, less ornate bedheads, missing shelf, no coats-of-arms & ornamental swords beside the curtains, etc. when compared to the older artwork show below:  |
