Each and every hotel at Walt Disney Global has promoting issues that you’ll’t to find from their actual international opposite numbers–from location to setting to themed design to ‘distinctly Disney’ decor. This publish takes a take a look at what we imagine to be the visitor rooms which might be distinctive and maximum magical lodging.
Something to notice here’s that we’re lumping in combination best-themed and best-decorated rooms, which is one thing maximum lovers appear to do anyway. Themed design is transportive. It makes an attempt to make you droop disbelief, taking you to all over again and position, whether or not that be turn-of-the-century Nationwide Park hotels within the Pacific Northwest or a bygone technology of Atlantic Town boardwalks.
Adorned design is precisely what the identify suggests. The All Megastar Motels, for instance, have motifs–sports activities, song, motion pictures–and are common boxy motel constructions adorned with higher than existence cool animated film icons from fan-favorite Disney motion pictures that have compatibility the ones visible motifs. They’re Disney via and thru, even supposing their taste may well be deemed garish by means of some. Now not us, to be transparent–we adore Disney cheesiness and entirely get why it appeals to households with babies.
Whilst adorned and themed lodges would possibly appear at odds with one some other in response to the above descriptions, they in reality have extra in commonplace than they do variations. At their ideal, each the best-themed and best-decorated lodges and amusing and eccentric, evoking an “most effective at Walt Disney Global” response. Every means appeals to other lovers, however they each are compelling in their very own tactics.
That is against this to numerous more recent designs. Walt Disney Global lovers are fast to criticize new thought artwork and reimaginings, incessantly complaining about initiatives being bland, generic, sterile, or too just like ‘actual international’ designs. Comb throughout the feedback of just about any of our articles about hotel room reimaginings. You received’t discover a unmarried one the place the fan reaction is unanimously sure. In lots of instances, even the consensus is adverse. You’ll to find destructive comparisons to hospitals and cafeterias, and lovers bemoaning a lack of appeal.
With that during thoughts, let us introduce (or reintroduce?) you to what we imagine are a minimum of probably the most best-themed rooms at Walt Disney Global…
We’re speaking concerning the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. Those are the one princess-themed visitor rooms at Walt Disney Global, that includes characters from animated motion pictures together with Aladdin, Attractiveness and the Beast, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Frog. We just lately had the risk to revisit Riverside for the primary time shortly with our daughter, and fell in love with the hotel in all places once more.
It was once a little of a complete circle second for us, as we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside on a number of of our early journeys in combination when we may have the funds for to start out splurging on Reasonable Motels, together with once I proposed to Sarah (spoiler: she stated sure). So it was once amusing to be again at a spot that held such a lot of particular reminiscences. And we do assume Riverside is a smart hotel, particularly from a thematic standpoint, the place it feels virtually like a Deluxe because of its gorgeous grounds and setting.
For years, Port Orleans Riverside was once our favourite Reasonable Lodge for this very reason why. That hasn’t been true for ~5 years, and if I’m being fair with myself, I really like the concept of Port Orleans Riverside greater than the exact hotel. We nonetheless like to discuss with and spend time at this thematic exemplar, but if push involves shove and we’re in reality doing a keep for sensible functions, Riverside is reasonably low on our Checklist Rating All the Absolute best & Worst Motels at Walt Disney Global.
Level being, Port Orleans Riverside has nice design and a spotlight to element within the commonplace spaces (that are immersively-themed within the conventional sense of the phrase) and within the visitor rooms, with each the common rooms and Royal Rooms being choices. This publish goes to center of attention only at the later; should you’re within the facilities and ideas at the hotel as an entire, learn our Disney’s Port Orleans Lodge – Riverside Assessment. That covers swimming pools, transportation, facilities, common rooms, eating, and a lot more.
Turning to the Royal Rooms themselves, something that makes them particular is the ‘technology’ wherein they have been finished. The Royal Rooms debuted again in 2012, at a time when Walt Disney Global was once attempting its hand at extra character-centric rooms. Artwork of Animation debuted that very same 12 months, the Pirate Rooms had already debuted, and a number of different take a look at rooms have been rumored (together with Haunted Mansion ones–truly unhappy the ones by no means got here to fruition). It was once a golden age for WDW room designs, coming after a glance that felt impressed by means of your grandma’s space and ahead of an overcorrection that ended in bland and dull appears to be like.
For essentially the most section, the Royal Rooms are unchanged since they debuted over a decade in the past. Port Orleans Riverside were in the course of a resort-wide cushy items refurbishment in 2019 and 2020, with the Royal Rooms subsequent as much as cross underneath the knife in March 2020. The closure got here, and that most commonly didn’t occur. One of the crucial Royal Rooms did finally end up changing the carpet with new laminate flooring and different mild refreshes, however that’s it. Maximum of them are materially unchanged since 2012–save for the mattress runners, that have been lengthy long gone even pre-closure.
Their age would possibly have you ever apprehensive, however we discovered the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside to be in shockingly just right form. Those rooms have been obviously constructed to final with sturdy fabrics, as I’ve observed rooms which might be lower than a 12 months outdated in worse situation. For the reason that they’re over a decade outdated and nonetheless glance this just right, I’m additionally going to bet that they’ve observed some upkeep and refreshes over time. The minimum quantity of damage and tear is solely outstanding, regardless.
Port Orleans Riverside is among the maximum spread-out lodges at Walt Disney Global, however the Royal Rooms have a really perfect location. Those are the identical of Most popular Rooms when it comes to distance from the foyer and meals court docket. All the Royal Rooms are situated in Magnolia Bend, or even essentially the most far off rooms must be a few 10-minute stroll from the eating places and the entirety else. Even the Ol’ Guy Island function pool space isn’t that a lot farther, and there’s a quiet pool between the Royal Room constructions.
The Royal Rooms are sub-divided into Woods/River View rooms and Usual View rooms, with the previous having top class pricing maximum nights. The view is immaterial. Moderates have external hallways and no balconies, so it’s now not as though you’ll revel in that view, anyway.
What would possibly topic is location, because the rooms with a view also are going to be rather nearer to the bridge resulting in the foyer. Generally, the gap goes to be negligible, however it could topic to you. I wouldn’t pay the rest for the slight location distinction. Usually, we additionally wouldn’t pay a top class for a most popular location (and as an alternative would make a strategic room request)–however Riverside is one exception to that. It’s simply so sprawling.
You’ll be able to get a really perfect location at Riverside with out splurging on a Royal Room, so the most important promoting level is clearly going to be the decor. Fortunately, it’s pretty and truly well-done. Fairly than just have a number of purple and sparkly stuff along side princess photos plastered at the partitions, the Royal Rooms in reality really feel regal. They’re shockingly stately and virtually chic. Smartly, a minimum of to the level a small-ish Reasonable Lodge room with external hallways can really feel that approach.
Severely, despite the fact that. There’s a staggering quantity of consideration to element in those rooms. They’re a long way and away essentially the most elaborately-done Reasonable Lodge rooms, and not anything has been dumbed down or got rid of over time for the sake of more uncomplicated upkeep, cleansing, and many others. They’re each and every bit as immersive these days as again in 2012. (Smartly, until you get one with the fake picket flooring, which means that no magic carpet carpet.)
For rooms that spotlight princesses, Imagineering did a truly nice activity at making the Royal Rooms ‘impartial’ for the princess-averse other people for your birthday celebration. Extra importantly, effort was once made to the completing and element of the rooms. A number of woods, wealthy texture, and completing make the rooms have an surprising intensity. Therefore the identify Royal Rooms as an alternative of Princess Rooms.
Our daughter is simply too younger for princesses and stereotypically girly stuff. Her peak hobby is filled animals, which she enjoys for the colours, textures and ‘style’ of the lengthy tags. I do assume she has an innate appeal to exact princesses, however that’s now not the similar as photos at the wall or regal decor.
Something I do know she beloved is the light-up headboards within the Royal Rooms at Riverside. Those have been an enormous hit. She changed into completely enraptured when the fiber optic fireworks began lighting fixtures up, bouncing herself at the mattress, giggling, and getting all wound up. Those fireworks rank proper up there with faux fart sounds when it comes to the extent of amusement introduced. I most effective want there have been an “at all times on” mode so I didn’t must press that button each and every ~30 seconds.
We’d suppose that those headboards would likewise attraction to any child, and that there’s sufficient right here for any lady or boy to revel in. In case your teenager is obsessive about automobiles, there may well be a extra evident select, however if in case you have one princess lover and one child who’s detached to all of that, the Royal Rooms must nonetheless be fantastic. They tread that line properly. Apart from the princess portraits, the Royal Rooms don’t seem to be so excessive that they’ll be eyeroll-inducing to any individual over age 8.
On the time they have been designed, The Princess and the Frog was once one of the vital fresh motion pictures by means of Walt Disney Animation Studios and it have compatibility the theme of Port Orleans Lodge fairly effectively, so Princess Tiana is highlighted all over the room. To the finest of my recollection, this was once the primary time she made an enduring (non-meet & greet) look at Walt Disney Global. Clearly, that has modified since.
That’s a long way from the one movie with a presence within the Royal Rooms. After that, I’d say that Aladdin is essentially the most distinguished, because of the magic carpet at the flooring (if in case you have carpet), tap, and persona portraits of Jasmine and Aladdin. Princess-wise, you’ve additionally were given Rapunzel, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, and Ariel.
The princes also are repped. Curiously, Beast’s persona is known as “Prince Adam” within the room, which is a supply of controversy amongst Disney lovers. (No, I’m now not kidding.)
When it comes to facilities to be expecting from the rooms, you’ve were given the usual Reasonable Lodge facilities, corresponding to mini-fridge and low maker. One problem is that the rooms sleep 4, versus the 5 of Alligator Bayou rooms because of the pull-down mattress in the ones rooms.
Any other problem as a consequence of the loss of refurbishment is that the rooms are caught in 2012 from a technological standpoint. As a result of there’s a customized body across the tv, this implies an older and smaller flatscreen with clunkier interface and contours. It additionally method no USB ports (even if if our fresh remains at different lodges are any indication, it’s about 50/50 as as to if the ones will paintings–and so they’re truly sluggish, regardless).
The larger deal is arguably the little high quality of existence options which might be lacking, corresponding to increased beds for suitcase garage, bedside telephone stands, and different space-saving design components. At the plus facet, they did upload the ‘Hiya, Disney’ gadgets. Small victory, I assume? I additionally recognize the desk and chairs, which has disappeared from some fresh room redesigns.
All Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside function two queen-size beds. There aren’t any king mattress rooms on this phase, neither is there any area for added roll-away sleepers. At the plus facet, the mattresses have no doubt been upgraded sooner or later since 2012. I’m an enormous fan of the Beautyrest Plush Best bedding, and the pillows also are precisely to my tastes.
We had a crib for our most up-to-date keep within the Royal Rooms with Megatron, and it was once very, ahem, comfortable. Up to we adore the themed design and seeing her mesmerized by means of the headboard, this in reality made the Royal Rooms a non-starter for us on long term remains. If we’re going to do the smaller Reasonable rooms, we wish to do a king mattress to liberate extra flooring area.
Right here’s a video of the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside Lodge to turn how they appear in 2024:
In spite of everything, the one reason there’s a query mark within the name is as a result of I’m now not fairly certain the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside surpass the Automobiles, Lion King, and Discovering Nemo Circle of relatives Suites at Artwork of Animation. With regards to this taste of adorned kid-centric visitor rooms, the ones are the one actual festival. Specifically, the Automobiles Circle of relatives Suites do a really perfect activity with each bringing to existence the animated movie international and being themed (there’s automobile and mid-century trendy design on show).
At the themed entrance, I’m keen on the hotels. The redone rooms at Animal Kingdom Resort are superior, and even if the resort facet of Desolate tract Resort is a little more blended, the Boulder Ridge facet are my absolute favourite rooms at Walt Disney Global. I additionally truly just like the reimagined rooms on the Grand Floridian, that are a night-and-day development over what was once there ahead of. In most cases talking, maximum redesigned rooms at Walt Disney Global are trending in the appropriate route. Optimistically that bodes effectively for the way forward for the Royal Rooms, however I’m extra skeptical right here.
To that time, I’ll admit that there’s a little of selfishness in sharing this to unfold “consciousness” concerning the Royal Rooms and doubtlessly build up hobby in them. I’m truly keen on highly-themed rooms and, if the present laborious items refurbishment at Port Orleans French is any indication, the Royal Rooms shall be up for a top-to-bottom overhaul by means of 2026 or 2027. A method or some other, this model of the Royal Room shall be long gone.
What continues to be observed is whether or not Imagineering revisits the concept that with a modernized take or is going in a distinct route utterly. Our hope is for the previous, so our daughter can revel in them once more if/when she enters her princess segment. I’ll take {that a} step additional and hope that Imagineering doubles-down on this kind of room, including themed classes like this to lodges all throughout Walt Disney Global. This sort of thought has been an enormous hit on the global lodges and it sort of feels like Walt Disney Global visitors would cross loopy for one thing identical!
Making plans a Walt Disney Global go back and forth? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney Global Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Evaluations. To economize on tickets or resolve which kind to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Trip Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the finest position to start out is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
Your Ideas
Do you just like the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside? Is that this level of themed or ornamental design for your tastes, or do you like extra delicate kinds? Would you believe staying within the Royal Rooms for the sake of your children? Do you compromise or disagree with our overview of the Royal Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Lodge – Riverside? Any questions we will be able to mean you can solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas beneath within the feedback!
