Each resort at Walt Disney World has promoting factors you can’t discover from their actual world counterparts–from location to environment to themed design to ‘distinctly Disney’ decor. This put up takes a have a look at what we consider to be the visitor rooms which might be distinctive and most magical lodging.
One factor to notice right here is that we’re lumping collectively best-themed and best-decorated rooms, which is one thing most followers appear to do anyway. Themed design is transportive. It makes an attempt to make you droop disbelief, taking you to a different time and place, whether or not that be turn-of-the-century Nationwide Park lodges within the Pacific Northwest or a bygone period of Atlantic Metropolis boardwalks.
Embellished design is precisely what the identify suggests. The All Star Resorts, for instance, have motifs–sports activities, music, motion pictures–and are common boxy motel buildings embellished with bigger than life cartoon icons from fan-favorite Disney motion pictures that match these visible motifs. They’re Disney via and thru, even when their model could be deemed garish by some. Not us, to be clear–we love Disney cheesiness and fully get why it appeals to households with young children.
Whereas adorned and themed resorts could appear at odds with each other based mostly on the above descriptions, they really have extra in frequent than they do variations. At their greatest, each the best-themed and best-decorated resorts and enjoyable and eccentric, evoking an “solely at Walt Disney World” response. Every strategy appeals to totally different followers, however they each are compelling in their very own methods.
That is in distinction to numerous newer designs. Walt Disney World followers are fast to criticize new idea artwork and reimaginings, typically complaining about tasks being bland, generic, sterile, or an excessive amount of like ‘actual world’ designs. Comb via the feedback of just about any of our articles about resort room reimaginings. You gained’t discover a single one the place the fan response is unanimously optimistic. In lots of instances, even the consensus is unfavorable. You’ll discover unfavorable comparisons to hospitals and cafeterias, and followers bemoaning a lack of attraction.
With that in thoughts, enable us to introduce (or reintroduce?) you to what we consider are a minimum of among the best-themed rooms at Walt Disney World…
We’re speaking concerning the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. These are the one princess-themed visitor rooms at Walt Disney World, that includes characters from animated movies together with Aladdin, Magnificence and the Beast, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Frog. We just lately had the possibility to revisit Riverside for the primary time shortly with our daughter, and fell in love with the resort over again.
It was a little bit of a full circle second for us, as we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside on a number of of our early journeys collectively as soon as we might afford to begin splurging on Average Resorts, together with once I proposed to Sarah (spoiler: she stated sure). So it was enjoyable to be again at a spot that held so many particular reminiscences. And we do assume Riverside is a superb resort, particularly from a thematic perspective, the place it feels virtually like a Deluxe because of its lovely grounds and environment.
For years, Port Orleans Riverside was our favourite Average Resort for this very cause. That hasn’t been true for ~5 years, and if I’m being sincere with myself, I like the thought of Port Orleans Riverside greater than the precise resort. We nonetheless love to go to and spend time at this thematic exemplar, however when push involves shove and we’re truly doing a keep for sensible functions, Riverside is considerably low on our Record Rating The entire Greatest & Worst Resorts at Walt Disney World.
Level being, Port Orleans Riverside has nice design and a focus to element within the frequent areas (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 put up goes to focus solely on the later; in the event you’re within the facilities and ideas on the resort as a complete, learn our Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Evaluation. That covers swimming pools, transportation, facilities, common rooms, eating, and rather more.
Turning to the Royal Rooms themselves, one factor that makes them particular is the ‘period’ wherein they had been accomplished. The Royal Rooms debuted again in 2012, at a time when Walt Disney World was making an attempt its hand at extra character-centric rooms. Artwork of Animation debuted that very same yr, the Pirate Rooms had already debuted, and quite a lot of different take a look at rooms had been rumored (together with Haunted Mansion ones–actually unhappy these by no means got here to fruition). It was a golden age for WDW room designs, coming after a glance that felt impressed by your grandma’s home and earlier than an overcorrection that resulted in bland and boring seems.
For essentially the most half, the Royal Rooms are unchanged since they debuted over a decade in the past. Port Orleans Riverside had been within the midst of a resort-wide comfortable items refurbishment in 2019 and 2020, with the Royal Rooms subsequent as much as go beneath the knife in March 2020. The closure got here, and that principally didn’t occur. A few of the Royal Rooms did find yourself changing the carpet with new laminate flooring and different gentle refreshes, however that’s it. Most of them are materially unchanged since 2012–save for the mattress runners, which had been lengthy gone even pre-closure.
Their age may need you fearful, however we discovered the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside to be in shockingly fine condition. These rooms had been clearly constructed to final with sturdy supplies, as I’ve seen rooms which might be lower than a yr previous in worse situation. On condition that they’re over a decade previous and nonetheless look this good, I’m additionally going to guess that they’ve seen some upkeep and refreshes through the years. The minimal quantity of damage and tear is simply exceptional, regardless.
Port Orleans Riverside is likely one of the most spread-out resorts at Walt Disney World, however the Royal Rooms have an incredible location. These are the equal of Most popular Rooms by way of distance from the foyer and meals court docket. The entire Royal Rooms are situated in Magnolia Bend, and even essentially the most distant rooms ought to be a couple of 10-minute stroll from the eating places and the whole lot else. Even the Ol’ Man Island characteristic pool space isn’t that a lot farther, and there’s a quiet pool between the Royal Room buildings.
The Royal Rooms are sub-divided into Woods/River View rooms and Normal View rooms, with the previous having premium pricing most nights. The view is immaterial. Moderates have exterior hallways and no balconies, so it’s not as in the event you can get pleasure from that view, anyway.
What may matter is location, because the rooms with a view are additionally going to be barely nearer to the bridge resulting in the foyer. Typically, the gap goes to be negligible, however it may matter to you. I wouldn’t pay something for the slight location distinction. Usually, we additionally wouldn’t pay a premium 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 will get an incredible location at Riverside with out splurging on a Royal Room, so the largest promoting level is clearly going to be the decor. Fortunately, it’s beautiful and actually well-done. Reasonably than merely have a bunch of pink and sparkly stuff together with princess footage plastered on the partitions, the Royal Rooms actually really feel regal. They’re shockingly stately and virtually elegant. Nicely, a minimum of to the extent a small-ish Average Resort room with exterior hallways can really feel that method.
Critically, although. There’s a staggering quantity of consideration to element in these rooms. They’re far and away essentially the most elaborately-done Average Resort rooms, and nothing has been dumbed down or eliminated through the years for the sake of simpler upkeep, cleansing, and so forth. They’re each bit as immersive right this moment as again in 2012. (Nicely, until you get one with the fake wooden flooring, which suggests no magic carpet carpet.)
For rooms that spotlight princesses, Imagineering did a very nice job at making the Royal Rooms ‘impartial’ for the princess-averse individuals in your get together. Extra importantly, effort was made to the ending and element of the rooms. Plenty of woods, wealthy texture, and ending make the rooms have an surprising depth. Therefore the identify Royal Rooms as an alternative of Princess Rooms.
Our daughter is simply too younger for princesses and stereotypically girly stuff. Her prime curiosity is stuffed animals, which she enjoys for the colours, textures and ‘style’ of the lengthy tags. I do assume she has an innate attraction to precise princesses, however that’s not the identical as footage on the wall or regal decor.
One factor I do know she liked is the light-up headboards within the Royal Rooms at Riverside. These had been an enormous hit. She grew to become completely enraptured when the fiber optic fireworks began lighting up, bouncing herself on the mattress, laughing, and getting all wound up. These fireworks rank proper up there with pretend fart sounds by way of the extent of amusement provided. I solely want there have been an “at all times on” mode so I didn’t must press that button each ~30 seconds.
We’d assume that these headboards would likewise enchantment to any child, and that there’s sufficient right here for any lady or boy to get pleasure from. In case your teen is obsessive about vehicles, there could be a extra apparent decide, however you probably have one princess lover and one child who’s detached to all of that, the Royal Rooms ought to nonetheless be advantageous. They tread that line properly. Apart from the princess portraits, the Royal Rooms should not so excessive that they’ll be eyeroll-inducing to anybody over age 8.
On the time they had been designed, The Princess and the Frog was probably the most current motion pictures by Walt Disney Animation Studios and it match the theme of Port Orleans Resort fairly properly, so Princess Tiana is highlighted all through the room. To the very best of my recollection, this was the primary time she made a everlasting (non-meet & greet) look at Walt Disney World. Clearly, that has modified since.
That’s removed from the one movie with a presence within the Royal Rooms. After that, I’d say that Aladdin is essentially the most outstanding, because of the magic carpet on the ground (you probably have carpet), faucet, and character portraits of Jasmine and Aladdin. Princess-wise, you’ve additionally received Rapunzel, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, and Ariel.
The princes are additionally repped. Apparently, Beast’s character is known as “Prince Adam” within the room, which is a supply of controversy amongst Disney followers. (No, I’m not kidding.)
By way of facilities to anticipate from the rooms, you’ve received the usual Average Resort facilities, equivalent to mini-fridge and occasional maker. One draw back is that the rooms sleep 4, versus the 5 of Alligator Bayou rooms because of the pull-down mattress in these rooms.
One other draw back ensuing from the dearth of refurbishment is that the rooms are caught in 2012 from a technological perspective. As a result of there’s a customized body across the tv, this implies an older and smaller flatscreen with clunkier interface and options. It additionally means no USB ports (though if our current stays at different resorts are any indication, it’s about 50/50 as as to whether these will work–and so they’re actually gradual, regardless).
The larger deal is arguably the little high quality of life options which might be lacking, equivalent to elevated beds for suitcase storage, bedside telephone stands, and different space-saving design parts. On the plus facet, they did add the ‘Hey, Disney’ models. Small victory, I suppose? I additionally admire the desk and chairs, which has disappeared from some current room redesigns.
All Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside characteristic two queen-size beds. There are not any king mattress rooms on this part, neither is there any area for additional roll-away sleepers. On the plus facet, the mattresses have positively been upgraded sooner or later since 2012. I’m an enormous fan of the Beautyrest Plush Prime bedding, and the pillows are additionally precisely to my tastes.
We had a crib for our most up-to-date keep within the Royal Rooms with Megatron, and it was very, ahem, cozy. As a lot as we love the themed design and seeing her mesmerized by the headboard, this truly made the Royal Rooms a non-starter for us on future stays. If we’re going to do the smaller Average rooms, we have to do a king mattress to release extra flooring area.
Right here’s a video of the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside Resort to indicate how they give the impression of being in 2024:
Ultimately, the one cause why there’s a query mark within the title is as a result of I’m not fairly positive the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside surpass the Vehicles, Lion King, and Discovering Nemo Household Suites at Artwork of Animation. In the case of this model of adorned kid-centric visitor rooms, these are the one actual competitors. Specifically, the Vehicles Household Suites do an incredible job with each bringing to life the animated movie world and being themed (there’s automotive and mid-century fashionable design on show).
On the themed entrance, I’m a fan of the lodges. The redone rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge are superior, and though the lodge facet of Wilderness Lodge is a little more blended, the Boulder Ridge facet are my absolute favourite rooms at Walt Disney World. I additionally actually just like the reimagined rooms on the Grand Floridian, that are a night-and-day enchancment over what was there earlier than. Usually talking, most redesigned rooms at Walt Disney World are trending in the fitting course. Hopefully that bodes properly 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 bit of selfishness in sharing this to unfold “consciousness” concerning the Royal Rooms and doubtlessly improve curiosity in them. I’m actually a fan of highly-themed rooms and, if the present laborious items refurbishment at Port Orleans French is any indication, the Royal Rooms can be up for a top-to-bottom overhaul by 2026 or 2027. A method or one other, this model of the Royal Room can be gone.
What stays to be seen is whether or not Imagineering revisits the idea with a modernized take or goes in a unique course fully. Our hope is for the previous, so our daughter can get pleasure from them once more if/when she enters her princess section. I’ll take {that a} step additional and hope that Imagineering doubles-down on this kind of room, including themed classes like this to resorts all throughout Walt Disney World. One of these idea has been an enormous hit on the worldwide resorts and it looks like Walt Disney World friends would go loopy for one thing related!
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Your Ideas
Do you just like the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside? Is that this diploma of themed or ornamental design to your tastes, or do you like extra delicate types? Would you contemplate staying within the Royal Rooms for the sake of your youngsters? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of the Royal Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
