Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Tour | One of the Best!
This fan-favorite destination keeps Disney vacationers coming back time and time again. Join us on a Port Orleans Resort – Riverside tour and discover why this hotel is such a beloved choice.
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Intro
If you’ve recently booked a stay at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and are curious about the layout, you’re in the right place! Our comprehensive tour covers all the major highlights, including the resort’s charming gift shop, welcoming check-in lobby, themed restaurants, and fun-filled recreation areas. Find a quick explanation, name, and picture for the locations, ensuring you get a clear and vivid preview of what to expect at Port Orleans – Riverside.
Sassagoula Steamboat Company
The Sassagoula Steamboat Company is our first stop on the Port Orleans Resort – Riverside tour. It’s also located at the heart of the resort. If you’re checking into your room in person, this will likely be your first stop. To save time, make use of the reserved 30-minute parking spots nearby. The building’s steamship theme is evident, with the lobby designed to resemble a steamship ticket station. Conveniently located between the Alligator Bayou section and the Magnolia Bend mansions, the Sassagoula Steamboat Company is a charming introduction to your stay.
30 Minute Parking for Check-In
The parking lot in front of the Sassagoula Steamboat Company can get quite busy. To make your check-in process smoother, remember to use the 30-minute parking spots designated for check-in. We missed this convenient option initially, and using it would have saved us some time. Be sure to take advantage of it to streamline your arrival!
Bell Services
Bell Services is conveniently located just outside and to the left of the main entrance. If you’d like some help with your luggage, simply drop off your suitcases here, and Bell Services will ensure they are delivered to your room.
Front Desk and Grand Lobby
Upon entering the building, you’ll be greeted by a large, open room to the right. This stunning space is designed to emulate a waiting room for passengers about to embark on river steamboats. Look up, and you’ll discover some hidden Mickeys! You’ll also see the names of various cities and towns around the ceiling, representing the ports of call for the river steamboats. The grand lobby is full of beauty and charm.
This grand room serves as the information hub of the resort. Here, you can check into your hotel room in person, grab a resort map, or ask for directions. Cast Members are available to provide details about the resort, including pricing and operating hours for activities and restaurants.
Medicine Show Arcade
The Medicine Show Arcade is connected to the lobby. For a detailed description of the arcade, check out our Recreation & Activities article. [Link to article]
Fulton’s General Store
Fulton’s General Store is located to the left of the main entrance. The gift shop is large and expansive, just like the rest of the resort. You’ll find everything you need (and more!). It’s possibly my favorite hotel store, thanks to its extensive selection, wonderful theming, and unique and diverse amount of items available.
From medicine and toothbrushes to kitchen utensils and bowls, and a wide range of unique children’s toys, Fulton’s has it all. You’ll also find clothing and an array of Disney World merchandise that you might see at Disney Springs and the parks. What’s truly special is the selection of Port Orleans-specific merchandise. My favorite find was the “Beignet all day” coffee cup!
Side note: the beignets at the sister resort Port Orleans – French Quarter are worth the walk! They taste better than the beignets in Magic Kingdom, and you cannot buy them at Riverside-just at French Quarter.
River Roost Bar
River Roost is the place to be during Yehaa Bob’s show! This lounge is the best spot at the resort to relax and get a drink. There is a full bar menu and four appetizers you can order. Some drinks on the menu include the Southern Hurricane, Cold Brew Martini, Whiskey Breeze, beer, wine, and bourbon. The River Roost Bar menu also has appetizers such as a charcuterie board, but please note there are only four food items on the menu, and you can order until 10 PM. Never fear-the hotel’s quick-service restaurant is just down the hall. My husband and I ordered drinks and watched Yehaa Bob’s show for a bit, then ordered dinner at the quick-service restaurant. There were healthy and delicious options here!
Yehaa Bob has entertained with sing-along piano performances for over 20 years. His shows are a fan favorite. There’s a niche audience of Disney fans who specifically choose to stay at Port Orleans just to enjoy his performances during their vacations.
While the River Roost Bar is an ideal spot for a date night, you’ll also find families with kids enjoying the music. During Bob’s performances, it can get a little loud as the audience joins in singing along. If you’d rather talk and have the music in the background, the lounge area by the fireplace is the perfect spot. Here, you can easily chat with your party while still listening to the music.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall
Boatwright’s Dining Hall stands as the only sit-down table service restaurant in either Port Orleans – Riverside or Port Orleans – French Quarter. You will find casual dining with a menu inspired by New Orleans cuisine. The restaurant is themed after an old boat shipyard, complete with a giant skeleton of a partially constructed boat that greets you at the entrance.
While not among the most popular dining spots, Boatwright’s has seen improvements in recent years. The good news is unless you’re visiting during peak times like Christmas, you can usually secure a table with a last-minute reservation—or even without one at all!
Riverside Mill (Quick Service Restaurant)
Riverside Mill is a popular and beloved quick-service restaurant. If you order the right thing, it’s healthy and delicious food that can rival that of any table service restaurant. Plus, eating here means you won’t wait as long for your food, will pay less, and won’t need to tip. I ordered food almost equivalent to what you can order in the sit-down restaurant next door. The only difference is Riverside Mill offers the meal at a more affordable price and with minimal wait.
The theming at Riverside Mill is exceptional. A highlight is the 35-foot working water wheel in the seating area. The water wheel powers a functioning cotton press—which is pretty impressive for a quick-service restaurant! You can’t really find theming details like this in the newer Disney hotels. It’s these intricate touches that make dining here a unique experience. With five food stations, there’s something to satisfy every member of your party.
When To Use Mobile Order at Riverside Mill
I highly recommend using Mobile Order during the morning breakfast rush. This is when everyone is eager to grab a meal before heading to the parks, and it can get pretty busy! For us, there was a wait for our morning food, and doing a mobile order that Dad can pick up while everyone else keeps getting ready for the day can save a lot of time in the morning.
During lunch or dinner, however, consider ordering in person. Some of the best menu items may not be available via Mobile Order. It depends on the day of the week and time of the year, but there usually isn’t as much of a rush during lunch and dinner, either. So I suggest going in person to see if you’d like to order something that isn’t available on the mobile order.
Marina
The Marina is conveniently located next to the Sassagoula Steamboat Company. If you walk outside from the hotel lobby or restaurant area, it will be hard to miss the boat dock. Read my Port Orleans – Riverside Transportation article for more information on this Disney travel option.
Riverside Levee Bike and Boat Rental
Located directly to the right of the water taxi dock is a building where you can go for many of the recreational activities found at the resort. Here, you can rent bikes, embark on fishing excursions with rented boats, or even enjoy a specially-booked cruise. The carriage rides embark near this location as well. Discover more about these recreational options in my article on Port Orleans – Riverside Recreation and Activities.
Ol’ Man Island
The next stop on our Port Orleans Resort – Riverside tour is Ol’ Man Island, a 3.5-acre area inspired by Tom Sawyer. There are three wooden bridges connecting it to the other areas of the resort. The feature pool, themed after an abandoned sawmill, is located on Ol’ Man Island. There is also a hot tub, kiddie pool, playground, and fishing hole. Don’t miss out on visiting Muddy Rivers, the island’s pool bar.
Alligator Bayou
The hotel rooms with a charming rustic vibe are found in the Alligator Bayou section of the resort. This area includes pools, hotel rooms, parking, and bus stops situated north and west of Ol’ Man Island and the Sassagoula Steamboat Company. For detailed insights into the hotel rooms, check out my post about the Port Orleans – Riverside Hotel Rooms Review.
Magnolia Bend
Magnolia Bend features hotel rooms themed a little classier after a Southern mansion. The Royal Rooms are also found in Magnolia Bend. Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend hotel rooms have the same quality and type of bed, TV, etc. with simply different theming and decor. Located east and south of Ol’ Man Island and the Sassagoula Steamboat Company, this section also hosts pools, parking lots, and laundry facilities. For a detailed review of this section and its accommodations, check out my Port Orleans – Riverside Hotel Room Review.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this Port Orleans Resort – Riverside tour! This overview of the resort’s buildings should give you a good idea of what to expect during your stay. Check out my other posts on Port Orleans Riverside, including information on the resort’s transportation and the recreation and activities the resort has to offer. Have you stayed at this resort before? What did you think of the gift shop, bar, and restaurants found at Port Orleans – Riverside? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
