Walt Disney World has over 25 on-property hotels, and not all of them are created equal. Some, like the Polynesian or Contemporary, are iconic, while others, like the Value Tier resorts, with their gigantic icons, have come to symbolize the resort. However, others remain a bit more…under the radar.

Take the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. This hotel — which opened under the name Dixie Landings back in 1992 — is “hidden” with its sister resort, Port Orleans French Quarter, at the edge of the property near Disney Springs.

Between them, the two Port Orleans Resorts have over 3,000 rooms — the most on Disney property. In fact, Port Orleans Riverside has over 2,000 rooms, making it the second-largest Disney World hotel.

Riverside’s rooms offer a bit of rustic charm with modern amenities. Take a look at this room in the hotel’s Alligator Bayou section.

In addition to two beds, the room also includes a table and chairs with a faux homemade look…

… and a Murphy Bed bench/bureau. 

Note some of the intricate decorative work present in the room.

The rustic details extend to the furniture…

… night table…

… and even the air conditioning unit. 

Themed artwork is present on the walls…

… and even extends to the bathroom with a Princess and the Frog-inspired shower curtain. 

Speaking of the bathroom, the room offers a faux wood-paneled shower…

… and washboard details, adding to the rustic feel. 

Modern amenities present in the room include a litany of outlets…

…a coffee maker…

… and even the “Hey Disney” voice assistant. 

However, that’s not all there is to the story! Right now, the Port Orleans Riverside Resort is in the midst of room refurbishment that will be completed in August 2027, and we got a sneak peek at one of the new rooms in the hotel’s Magnolia Bend area recently. During our short tour, we were shown a room decked out for Cool Kids Summer, including Toy Story toys… 

… and of course Bluey and Bingo! 

The room also featured several of the newer childcare options Disney offers on display, including a crib…

… Diaper Genie…

… and a bath seat!

The new rooms retain decorative artwork…

… and features in line with the hotel’s theme.

No matter if you get a newly upgraded room or an older room, we have to say we adore staying here.

On top of the rooms, Port Orleans Riverside offers the typical perks of a Moderate Tier Walt Disney World hotel, plus access to the Sassagoula Boats. The boats, which generally operate from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, connect the Port Orleans Resorts to Disney Springs, as well as the Saratoga Springs and Old Key West resorts.

Next time you’re considering which Disney World hotel to book, keep the sometimes unfairly overlooked Port Orleans Riverside in mind, as either the older or newer rooms offer a unique experience. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World hotel tips.

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Have you ever stayed at Riverside? Let us know in the comments below.