Caribbean Beach vs. Port Orleans Riverside Disney World Resort Guide 2023

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be fun, but also complicated — especially when you’re trying to choose between 25 resort hotels. If you’ve narrowed down your choices to these two resorts, how do you make your final selection?

Port Orleans Resort — Riverside

Well, we’re here to walk you through the similarities AND differences between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside.

Whether cost, room size, location, pools, and/or restaurants are most important to you, we share the information that you’ll need to make an informed decision. After all, we want you to stay at the hotel that is best for your traveling party!

Let’s get started and look at all the details so that you can plan your Disney trip with confidence.

Port Orleans – Riverside

There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive, and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip. We’ll dive deeper into the details of these resorts by breaking down our analysis into five categories:

Common Ground
Theme/Rooms
Pools
Food
Transportation

Caribbean Beach Resort

It takes a lot of research to plan a Disney vacation, but we’re here to help.

Common Ground

When planning your Disney World vacation, Moderate Resorts can be a great option that won’t break the bank but offer up some larger rooms and more amenities than a Value Resort.

Before we mention their differences, let’s take a look at what Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans – Riverside have in common. First, both have a relaxed vibe with quality theming.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside

Each have a central lobby building with outer buildings housing the actual hotel rooms.

The main building is a good walk from the rooms

These resorts are sprawling with multiple, internal bus stops.

It’s quite a view, but there is A LOT of walking to do at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

But what about cost per night? These moderate resorts have similar price points!

For Caribbean Beach, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $258 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $551 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit.

For Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $278 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $555 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit.

Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests

Theme/Rooms

Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans – Riverside exude a relaxing atmosphere with nicely done themeing.

Port Orleans – Riverside

These resorts boast beautiful landscaping, but they do have some differences!

Caribbean Beach Resort

You’re on ISLAND time at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! The atmosphere is whimsical, bright, and colorful. With its relaxing island vibe, this Resort sets a calypso tone for a vacation within a vacation!

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The spirit of the Caribbean is alive and thriving at Old Port Royale, the Resort’s main building. This “port of entry” is where guests check in; it also serves as the hub for dining and shopping.

Old Port Royale

Five distinct villages are situated around the shores of Barefoot Bay. The villages are named after Caribbean islands — Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica, and these colorful, two-story quarters are where the Guest Rooms are located. Take note that there are no elevators!

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Standard and Preferred Rooms feature two Queen beds, a King bed, or two Queen beds and a child-size pull down bed. These rooms can accommodate up to five guests depending on the bedding options; they measure 314 sq. ft.

Caribbean Beach Resort guest room

The color scheme inside the rooms is a bit more muted than outside, opting for breezy corals, blues, and rattan accents to keep the island theme going.

Caribbean Beach Resort guest room

Alas, the famed Pirate Rooms of yore are no more. However, you should know that some of the rooms in the Trinidad area are currently receiving a makeover!

©Disney The Little Mermaid-themed rooms are coming to Caribbean Beach Resort

Initially Disney announced that the rooms would be refurbished and decorated with “characters from under the sea.” More recently, Disney has provided a bigger reveal with a look INSIDE these new rooms with theming inspired by The Little Mermaid!

You can take a closer look at these upcoming rooms here.

Take a complete Photo Tour of a Caribbean Beach Resort Standard Room here!

Port Orleans – Riverside

Sweet Magnolia! Let the Louisiana-inspired hospitality charm you while exploring this vast resort. In fact, the resort is so large that it’s split into two sections — Alligator Bayou (swampy setting) and Magnolia Bend (stately mansions).

Welcome to Riverside

The atmosphere of Port Orleans – Riverside is absolutely a winning attribute, helping guests to relax and refuel in a space that’s rustic and comfortable.

Relax at Riverside

Heading inside, the lobby area is beautiful.

Checking in?

The check-in area is pretty grand! Just look at those high ceilings and architecture. Do you spot the hidden Mickeys?

It’s so pretty in here

The entrance is welcoming!

Your stay on the Bayou starts here

Fulton’s General Store is where you can pick up all your souvenirs.

Need some Mickey Ears?

Onto the rooms! This Magnolia Bend building is SO PRETTY with big trees and a courtyard featuring a stately fountain. Riverside is a beautiful hotel!

We could hang out here all day

The 2-story “rustic cottages” in the Alligator Bayou area don’t have elevators. BUT the neighboring 3-story “Mansions” do.

Port Orleans Refurbished Room in Alligator Bayou ©Disney

Twisty pathways wind through the swamp-like setting of Alligator Bayou. Some guests love this side of the resort, others find it more difficult to find their way around and thus, less fun.

Fishing Hole at Riverside

Either accommodations — Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend — are perfectly themed.

Results

Standard room refurbishments were completed in 2016 with a watered-down Caribbean vibe, but they now have sliding doors separating the sink area from the bedroom. If you want the most recently refurbished rooms, try Caribbean Beach as “Little Mermaid” room renovations in the Trinidad village will hopefully be completed in 2023.

They are TOO cute

The rooms at Port Orleans – Riverside were last refurbished in 2019. Many room renovations at Walt Disney World have resulted in a more generic, less themed look. On the exterior, though, Riverside is themed to the max.

NEWS! MAJOR HOTEL CHANGE Announced for Disney World

Pools

When the weather is HOT or you just need a break from park queues, head to your resort pool! After all, the pools have their own unique features and special theming. Feature pools at Walt Disney World hotels usually have at least one slide and also offer poolside activities. Look at the hotel’s recreation schedule for more information. Some Disney resorts are so spread out that they also offer leisure pools. These swimming spots are family-friendly with at least one whirlpool spa. Leisure pools are quieter than the more crowded and active feature pools.

Pool at Riverside

Note that poolside towels are always complimentary.