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Disney Port Orleans Riverside Resort Review

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Continuing with my Walt Disney World resorts reviews, today I’m covering Disney Port Orleans Riverside! I most recently stayed here in December of 2023 when I reviewed the princess themed rooms at this resort. However, I also stayed in a regular room back in 2016. So, this review will be based off of both stays.

Disney Port Orleans Riverside

Disney Port Orleans Riverside

As I mentioned in my Port Orleans French Quarter Resort review, there are two sister resorts under the Port Orleans Resort name. There’s French Quarter (a much smaller resort with jazz vibes) and this one, Riverside. Both resorts are considered moderates as they are a higher price point than the values. However, they also have classier themes and nicer food. In fact, Riverside even has a sit-down table service restaurant. Both resorts also provide boat transportation to Disney Springs!

Riverside Theme

Port Orleans Riverside is a large resort with multiple bus stops. It’s themed to the stately mansions of the bayou. There’s even a section of princess themed rooms. Overall, it’s a beautiful, peaceful resort. Currently, the regular rooms look very similar to the ones found at the French Quarter. The beds are moderately comfortable, but you are also paying for that comfort.

Now, on to the pros and cons of staying here.

Pros

  • Beautiful resort – This truly is a pretty and calm resort, which is good since you will be doing a lot of walking here.
  • Comfortable rooms – Again, both stays here have been quiet and we slept well. I also appreciated the good water pressure, particularly after staying at Cabana Bay at Universal.
  • Good for adults only stays – The classy touches are perhaps better appreciated by the adults. Children may find the theme (aside from the princess rooms) a little under-whelming.
  • Royal themed rooms – The princess/royal themed rooms we stayed in were really nice! The theme was beautiful and delightful. It’s the only resort to have these sweet rooms.
  • Boat transportation to Disney Springs. If you are planning a visit to Disney Springs, then you can enjoy a lovely boat ride over there.
  • On-site perks – Once again, I love staying on-site for the free park transportation and 60 day advance dining reservations.
  • Boatwright’s Dining Hall – This is the table service restaurant at the resort. We ate here for dinner prior to heading over to Hollywood Studios for Jollywood Nights. We didn’t have a reservation, but they were able to accommodate us within 10 minutes. We enjoyed the sweet cornbread that was more akin to a corncake with its sweet flavor. I got the Taste of the Bayou and enjoyed sampling lots of things. I published a full Boatwright’s Dining Hall review last week if you want to hear more. Suffice it to say, it was nice to have a sit down meal without having to go anywhere else.
  • Carriage rides – We didn’t get a chance to take one, but we did see a couple taking a carriage ride around the resort. It looked lovely.

Cons

  • Large resort – More than likely, you won’t be right beside the lobby or a bus stop. If you book a stay here, know that you will be doing some serious walking.
  • Multiple bus stops – Due to the size of the resort, there are multiple bus stops. That might not sound like a big deal, but when you are tired at the end of the night and you have to stop several times, it adds up. Also, if you are at the last bus stop, then it might take a while for a bus to actually pick you up. Basically, give yourself extra time to get anywhere when you stay here.
  • Bus transportation to parks – We didn’t have time to visit Disney Springs in December. So, we spent a good amount of time waiting for and sitting/standing on the buses this trip.
  • More expensive than value resorts – Yes, you get a lot more and better things for the price here. However, it’s never cheap. We used a Disney+ discount on our stay in December, but it was still pretty expensive to stay here.

Is Port Orleans Riverside Worth It?

I think this is a lovely resort. It’s certainly a unique and relaxing resort. However, it’s expensive and expansive. Personally, I prefer the more compact French Quarter or somewhere on the Skyliner. Have you ever stayed here? What was your experience like?

Disney World Princess Room Review

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In December I was lucky enough to spend a few nights in a Disney World princess room at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside! Here are my thoughts on staying there.

Disney World Princess Room

Disney World Princess Rooms

Technically, these are called the Royal Guest Rooms as it pays homage to Tiana and her prince/princess friends! However, I’ve always thought of them as the princess rooms. So, that’s what I’m calling it. Ha!

These rooms are located at Port Orleans – Riverside. I intend to do a separate post reviewing the resort itself at a later date. However, it’s a sister resort to the Port Orleans – French Quarter that I reviewed last year. That means it’s a moderate with more upscale touches than a value but less amenities than a deluxe.

Amazing Theme

My mom and I loved the theme of this room! There were little touches everywhere that made these rooms feel extra special. From the carpet with the Magic Carpet from “Aladdin” on it to the faucets shaped like the Genie’s lamp, it was so nice to take it all in. You can tell they put extra time and money into these rooms.

Similar to the headboards at Disneyland Hotel, they play a fireworks show. Unfortunately, these are silent fireworks. However, it was a really nice touch that I appreciated.

I think most Disney fans would enjoy spending at least one night in these rooms just to experience the beautiful details. I found myself just sitting in the room and taking it all in a few times.

Luxurious Vibes

Having most recently stayed in a value at WDW in October (Pop Century), this was a breath of fresh air! The room was significantly classier. Plus, we heard very few people while staying here. It was a much quieter experience and we slept great! The beds were definitely more comfortable than the ones found at a value resort.

The theme really made for a luxurious vibe. Even the shower head and faucets are fancier since they are gold in color. These are some of the best themed rooms on property, in my opinion.

Is a Disney World princess room worth it?

As I mentioned above, these rooms are more expensive than a typical room found at this resort. Thankfully, we used a Disney+ discount to stay here, but it was more expensive than a value resort. I would say a stay here is worth it for any Disney film fan, particularly fans of the princess movies. It’s so neat to look for all of the little touches around the room.

I will provide one word of caution on these rooms: they are far away from the lobby and bus stops. The trek to our room at the end of the night was longer than we liked. However, I’m happy we were able to stay here once.

Have you ever stayed in one of these rooms?

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Review

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Having covered each of the Walt Disney World Value Resorts, I am finally beginning my reviews of the moderates today! I’m kicking it off with my favorite one in this category, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter!

Port Orleans French Quarter

Port Orleans French Quarter

Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter is technically a sister resort to the larger Port Orleans – Riverside Resort. Both resorts celebrate the rich history and ornate decor found in New Orleans. As the name implies, this one feels like you are visiting a highly sanitized version of the French Quarter with wrought-iron balconies and a cobblestone street. The other resort celebrates the stately mansions found in the bayou. I will be staying at it in December, so stay tuned for a future review of it soon!

Both of these resorts are considered moderate resorts as they are more expensive than a value resort, but they also tend to have better themes and amenities. The values rely on big statues and bright colors for their themes. The moderates tend to have a classier vibe with nice touches around every corner. The food at the moderates tends to be a touch nicer as well.

Port Orleans French Quarter Room

In February 2023, I stayed in a standard two queen room with my mom. Having stayed primarily at value resorts in recent years, my mom was very impressed with POFQ. She noticed that the theme was a touch classier here. Plus, she realized the beds were a little more comfortable (no fighting over the pull down bed here). We were both happy with the quietness of the resort.

Now, I will do a pros and cons list to help you decide if this resort is a good fit for you.

Pros

  • Beignets – As I stated above, the food at the moderates tends to be a little more diverse than what is found at a value food court. Here, you can get Mickey-shaped beignets! They are an absolute must get if you visit here and I consider them a pro of staying here!
  • Compact layout – I love how small this resort is. Most of the moderate resorts are large, but this one has just one bus stop! That’s very handy when you are tired at the end of a busy park day.
  • Relaxing vibe – The whole vibe of this resort is smooth and calm. There’s even a jazz band on select nights at the Scat Cat’s Club!
  • Cool pool – I’ve actually never swam in this pool, but the Mardi Gras themed pool is in the middle of the resort and hard to miss.
  • Boat transportation – Yes, you can actually take a boat over to Disney Springs when you stay here! Talk about a relaxing mode of transportation!
  • On-site perks – Just like at the value resorts, staying on-site gives you certain perks like free park transportation (just buses here) and 60 day advanced dining reservations.

Cons

  • More expensive – The moderates are more expensive than value resorts, so it may be hard to swing it on a tight budget.
  • No table service restaurant – Riverside has a table service restaurant, but there isn’t one here. However, many table service restaurants are just a boat ride away at Disney Springs.
  • Not necessarily kid-friendly theme – Kids who aren’t familiar with New Orleans may not find the theme here appealing.
  • Bus only transportation to parks – Staying here costs more than staying at Pop Century (which has the Skyliner) but only offers bus transportation to the parks.

Overall

I love the French Quarter Resort. Prior to the Skyliner being installed, it was one of my husband and I’s go-to resorts. However, it’s a good bit more expensive than it was a few years ago. In my opinion, the value of staying here really depends on your budget and needs. This is a great resort for a couples only stay due to somewhat romantic vibes, but you pay for those nice touches too. Have you ever stayed at POFQ?

Cabana Bay Family Suite Review

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On my first solo trip to Universal Orlando Resort, I stayed in a Cabana Bay Family Suite! Today I am sharing my thoughts on the visit. I plan to stay in a regular room with my mom in December, so stay tuned for that review in the future!

Cabana Bay Family Suite

Cabana Bay Family Suite

I actually stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort for the first time on my very first trip to Universal Orlando back in June 2015. However, that was before I was blogging trips and prior to UO building out the resort with additional buildings. So, this was technically my second time staying here. I used a passholder discount to get this room for less than $200/night. Universal considers this resort a Value Resort since it’s one of the cheapest resorts on property, which puts it in the same category as Endless Summer – Dockside and Surfside Inns.

Interior Entry

I paid a few dollars extra per night to upgrade to an interior entry and I’m glad I did. I believe this made the room quieter as I didn’t have to hear the pool as much and the carpet probably absorbed some of the sounds in the hallways. It was also nice not being in the sun when walking to/from the room. I recommend an interior entry for these reasons alone.

The window in my room had a view of a parking lot and the back of the hotel. I did hear some noise from the outdoors, but it was probably much quieter than a pool view room. I also heard some sounds from the room above me. However, that probably can’t be avoided at any hotel these days. I was woken up by the sounds of people returning to their rooms on the night of HHN that I didn’t attend, around 1 AM. So, the interior entry doesn’t guarantee a completely quiet experience, but I assume it is quieter than an outdoor entry.

Extra Space

The reason Universal considers this a suite is because it’s a larger room with more space. It features a sitting area with a pull out couch and tv. There’s also a little kitchenette area. I really enjoyed this additional space as I brought up several meals to the room to eat at the table while watching tv. It made for a relaxing experience. I also sat on the couch to watch some tv and it was moderately comfortable. The chairs in the living room were admittedly less so.

There’s a sliding door to separate the extra space from the bedroom. Obviously, I never needed to use that door. However, I think it would be useful if a bigger family was sharing the space.

The suite also offers a different bathroom configuration. There’s a water closet (separate toilet), followed by a lighted vanity/sink combo in the middle, and then a shower/sink combo. There isn’t anything separating the bathroom space from the beds. I think a curtain or sliding door would be useful here.

Pros

  • More space – this would be great for a family to have more space.
  • Separate space to get ready – the bathroom configuration means someone can get ready while someone else showers.
  • Quieter than some – this was definitely quieter than a suite at Endless Summer.
  • Fun theme – I think most people enjoy the retro theme here.
  • Moderately affordable – depending on the time of the year, it’s a moderately affordable upgrade.
  • Good amount of plug ins – Since this is a room meant to hold more people, it has a good amount of electrical plug ins.

Cons

  • Nothing separating the bathroom area – A curtain or sliding door would be useful to conceal this area from the beds.
  • Costs more – A suite is more expensive than a standard room and an interior entry is more expensive than an exterior entry room.

Is a Cabana Bay Family Suite Worth it?

I enjoyed my stay in a Cabana Bay Family Suite. If it’s in the budget, I think it’s a good choice for a Universal Orlando trip.

Disneyland Hotel Review

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On my most recent trip to California, I was lucky enough to share a room with my mom at Disneyland Hotel! This is one of the three deluxe accommodations on property. Keep reading to see if I think it’s worth it.

Disneyland Hotel

Disneyland Hotel

There are three on-property hotels at DL: Paradise Pier (soon to be Pixar Pier), Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and this one. Typically Paradise Pier has the lowest price of the three and we were initially planning to stay there. However, a promo came out in early July that made this hotel cheaper than Paradise Pier! So, we jumped on it and booked it immediately.

This hotel is special in its long history and current design. It opened during Walt’s lifetime, but he didn’t have the money to build it. Thankfully, the company now owns and operates it. It has the most pure Disney feeling of any domestic resort, in my opinion. So, without further ado, here are my pros and cons of staying here…

Pros

  • Magical touches – This resort has the most magical touches of any Disney resort I’ve stayed at. I loved taking in all of the little things in the room. My favorite part had to be the headboard with fireworks that light up and plays music! It’s fantastic to constantly feel like you are in this magical bubble.
  • Walking distance to parks – One of the reasons we love visiting DL (as opposed to WDW) is the walkability of it all. It’s so nice to just walk to the parks or back to the room for a break.
  • Early Park Entry – Staying at one of the three official resorts grants you 30 minutes early access to the theme parks. Although, starting in January 2024, this changes to just one park offering the perk per day. We took advantage of this perk on both of our park days and were happy we did so as we were able to knock out some stuff out early. We got in line for Runaway Railway at Disneyland and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure early.
  • Preferred access to dining reservations – I’m not entirely sure what this guarantees, but I will admit that I had no issues getting the reservations we wanted 60 days out.
  • Comfortable bed – This hotel has a significantly better mattress than most of the Walt Disney World resorts. It felt comfortable all night.
  • Quiet – I think I heard people only once or twice from our room. This is significantly better than the Value resorts at Walt Disney World.
  • Good food – The quick service here (pictured below) is my favorite domestic Disney quick service restaurant. They also have a character buffet offering both breakfast and dinner!
  • Safety – This is the sole reason we booked an official resort this time. We feel safe on property and prefer to not have to walk by the homeless, unlike in my Sheraton Park Hotel Review.

Cons

  • Price – This has to be the biggest con of staying on property. Even with our discount, the room was very expensive! Honestly, the costs of the flights and rooms are prohibitive for many return trips at this point. However, I suppose it’s difficult to put a price on feeling safe.
  • Few plug ins – This isn’t a deal breaker by any means. However, simply due to the age of the resort, there aren’t many electrical outlets in the rooms. They have added a desk with plug ins. That meant that all of our devices were across the room, away from the bed. I was happy I brought an adapter to add more plug-ins.
  • Annoying green light – Again, this isn’t a deal breaker. However, the smoke detector has a bright green light that glowed in my face all night long. I ended up stacking pillows in front of my face in order to sleep.
  • A lot of walking – This hotel is a bit further out than some hotels from the parks. So, wear comfortable shoes.

Is Disneyland Hotel worth it?

I think once again, the value of something is highly subjective. DL charges outrageous prices to stay on-property. However, it’s also hard to put a price tag on feeling safe and secure. It’s definitely a wonderful place to stay for any Disney parks fan though. If it’s in the budget, I say go for it. If it’s not, maybe consider Paradise Pier or an off-site property close to the gates.