Port Orleans News

Walt Disney World has launched its annual free Disney Dining Plan offer - covering 20 August to 23 December 2018, with some lengthy blackout periods - but this year the deals exclude both of the Port Orleans Resorts completely. Last year there were limited periods of availability for Port Orleans Riverside only, but this year you'll need to look elsewhere if you want free dining. Presumably with both Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach undergoing fairly extensive construction work at the moment, Disney feels they do not need the offer any extra incentives for people to stay at the already very popular Port Orleans Rresorts.

All is not completely lost for Port Orleans fans though, because Disney have also just launched a new "Enchanted Escape" offer, which gives room discounts of between 10% and 25% (based on dates and selected room categories) for Moderate resort stays. This offer includes both Port Orleans Resorts, and it can be combined with tickets to make a package. However availability will be limited and these kinds of offers always tend to sell out very fast, and for Port Orleans you should expect to most likely only get the basic 10% rate. You can book for stays starting from 2 August until 7 October, and your booking needs to be made by 7 September.

As always, for more details please see the excellent mousesavers.com. These offers only relate to bookings made directly with Walt Disney World and/or via USA travel agents. Other counties may have different offers - the UK for example offers free dining for Port Orleans stays during 2019.

Happy Easter! There will be lots of fun activities on Easter Sunday (1st April) for all the family at both Riverside and French Quarter, including games, egg hunts and character greetings:

10am-1:30pm - Easter Brunch at Boatwright's Dining Hall. $32 per adult (includes a Sparkling Wine), $17 per child (9 and under, includes a Sparkling Beverage). Reservations available via My Disney Experience or 407-WDW-DINE

Riverside:

• 9am - Candy Scramble (building 90 courtyard)
• 9:30am - Lawn games (building 90 courtyard)
• 9:30am-11:30am - Character Meet & Greet (building 90 courtyard)
• 10am - Bunny Hoppin' Activity Trail (buildings 85 and 90 courtyards)
• 11:30am-12:30pm - Mickey Tie-Dye (Ol' Man Island Pool) ($)
• 12:30pm-1:30pm - Bunny Hoppin' Pool Party (Ol' Man Island Pool)
• 1:30pm-2pm - Egg Drop (Ol' Man Island Pool)
• 2pm-3pm - What's in Your Easter Basket? (Ol' Man Island Pool)
• 3pm-3:30pm - Egg-straordinary Trivia (Ol' Man Island Pool)
• 3:30pm-4:30pm - Easter Arts & Crafts (Ol' Man Island Pool) ($)
• 6:30pm-7:30pm - Campfire on de' Bayou (Ol' Man Island)

• 8am - Beignet Dash. Get in on the Easter spirit by joining us for a quick run or walk around French Quarter and Riverside! Check in begins at 7:30am along the riverwalk between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool. It's going to be a bunny hopping good time for the whole family. ($)
• 9am - Candy Scramble (between buildings 5 and 6)
• 9:30am - Lawn Games (between buildings 5 and 6)
• 10:30am - This Way, That Way, Wonderland Egg Hunt (between buildings 5 and 6). Stop by the French Quarter Green to pick up your Scavenger Hunt Guide. It will lead you on a journey to find 5 eggs themed to some of your favorite Alice in Wonderland characters hidden throughout French Quarter. Find them all and claim your prize at Doubloon Lagoon Pool.
• 11:30am - Mickey Tie-Dye (Doubloon Lagoon Pool) ($)
• 12:30pm - Egg Drop Relay (Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
• 1pm - Bunny Hoppin' Pool Party (Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
• 2pm - Decorate Your Own Water Bottle (Doubloon Lagoon Pool) ($)
• 3pm - EGG-Straordinary Trivia (Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
• 3:30pm - What's in Your Easter Basket? (Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
• 5pm-7pm Golden Afternoon Garden Party (between buildings 5 and 6). Join us for an evening of fun for the whole family including themed lawn games and character meet and greets, as well as Merchandise and Food & Beverage offerings available for purchase.
• 6:30pm - Very Merry Unbirthday Campfire (between buildings 5 and 6)
• 8:30pm - Movie Under the Stars (between buildings 5 and 6). Alice in Wonderland

As an alternative to the recently announced room discount offer, you can also get any of the Disney Dining Plans free for all children aged 3-9 when you book a package including full-priced room, theme park tickets, and the same dining plan for everyone in the room (Quick Service, Standard, or Deluxe are available). Valid for arrival dates from 11 June 2018 to 30 August 2018, your overall stay with the offer can extend further as long as you arrive by 30 August. The minimum stay is three nights and you must purchase at least a three-day base park ticket for each guest. Both Port Orleans resorts are included in the offer and you need to book by 1 August 2018.

As with all such offers, some dates and room categories may not be available, and you should weigh up the overall benefit compared with other options such as the Summer Room Discount. As Port Orleans is only receiving a maximum of 10% room discount, the free children’s dining offer might work out better value for you, especially if you have more than one child in the room and were intending to get a dining plan anyway. For example, if you have two children and would be purchasing the standard dining plan, you might save around $52 per night which is far better than a 10% discount.

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.