The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Pools

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside is a gigantic resort with lots to explore! Since the resort is spread over a sizeable area, you’ll find a quiet or leisure pool near most accommodations.

Additionally, the resort has a significant feature pool on Ol’ Man Island, centrally located between the resort’s lobby, Alligator Bayou, and Magnolia Bend. For this article, we’ll look at each of the pools at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort.

We’ll discuss pool hours, special features, and other amenities you won’t want to miss during your Walt Disney World vacation. I’ve also added plenty of pictures of the pools at Riverside so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect beforehand.

The 6 Pools at Port Orleans Riverside

Port Orleans Riverside has six pools—yes, you read that right—six pools! One of those pools, Ol’ Man Island, is the resort’s feature pool. Guests can access the main pool by crossing the Sassagoula River on one of three wooden bridges from Magnolia Bend, Alligator Bayou, or the resort’s lobby.

In addition to the resort’s feature pool, Port Orleans Riverside has five leisure pools that offer a more private setting than Ol’ Man Island. Two of these leisure or quiet pools are located among the mansions in Magnolia Bend. The other three quiet pools are deep in the swamp of Alligator Bayou. Here is a map that highlights the location of each pool.

Pool Details for Planning Your Vacation

Pool hours vary throughout the year. During the hotter months, feature pool hours at Port Orleans Riverside are typically between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. However, those hours are usually shortened to 10:00 p.m. after Labor Day.

The five quiet pools open earlier than the feature pool. However, these pools are not attended by a lifeguard. During our last stay, the quiet pools opened at 9:00 a.m. However, that was during the chillier portion of the year. We’ve seen quiet pools at other resorts open as early as 7:00 a.m. during the hotter months.

Pool hours are posted at each gate. If you think you might use the pool early, we recommend taking a photo of the pool hours when you arrive so you’ll know how early or late you can use the pool.

Per Disney, pool lifts and other access options are available for guests with disabilities or limited mobility. Pool hours and lifeguard availability vary by pool and are subject to change. (Reference)

We receive many questions about whether or not you should pack towels for the pool. The short answer is no. Pools are provided at each pool at Port Orleans Riverside, so there is no need to take up extra space in your luggage. Guests can grab as many towels as they like at the pool. Additionally, if you plan to visit the water parks, complimentary towels are provided to resort guests, so you won’t need them there either!

Each pool at Port Orleans Riverside offers complimentary life jackets to guests. Various sizes are available.

Ol’ Man Island (The Feature Pool at Port Orleans Riverside)

Ol’ Man Island is a 3.5-acre island home to the feature pool at Port Orleans Riverside and a separate fishin’ hole. You’ll find a poolside bar, kiddie pool, water slide, playground, and more within the area.

Riverside’s feature pool is fashioned after an abandoned sawmill.

This pool has a maximum depth of 4’6″ (4 feet, 6 inches, or 1.3 meters).

It’s a large pool with multiple entry points. Recreation cast members provide poolside entertainment in the afternoons. This entertainment consists of trivia, games, and other fun elements.

Several water features spring from the sawmill.

Like all pools at Walt Disney World, Riverside’s pool is heated to 82 degrees. However, pools close from time to time during dips of colder weather. Given the warmer climate most of the year, it is common to find guests utilizing the pools in the coldest months, like January and February. We get a few days of cold weather now and then.

Here are a few more pictures of the main pool at Port Orleans Riverside.

Port Orleans Riverside Pool Slide

The Ol’ Man Island Pool has a water slide. A small staircase leads up to it from the far side of the pool.

The water slide is 95 feet long, and the pool depth at the bottom of the slide is 3.5 feet.

Here is the entrance to the water slide. Before you go, you’ll need to wait until the light turns green.

Here’s where the slide loops and continues under the bridge before it dumps you into the pool. This water slide is mild and suitable for most children. It’s nothing compared to the Flying Jib water slide over at Stormalong Bay, but it’s still fun!

Hot Tub at Port Orleans Riverside Pool

A hot tub is available near the main pool. It sits behind these two hammocks near the main entrance to Ol’ Man Island.

Kiddie Pool at Port Orleans Riverside

A separate kiddie pool is also available at Ol’ Man Island. Outside the kiddie pool, signage indicates a maximum depth of 15″ (inches). The kiddie pool is separately fenced. So you don’t have to worry about children wandering outside the pool area.

Ol’ Man Island playground sits on the opposite side of the pool near the poolside bar.

This play area is designed for children ages 5-12 years old. It’s a fun area that’s conveniently located near the pool.

Muddy Rivers Pool Bar at Ol’ Man Island

Muddy Rivers is the pool bar at Ol’ Man Island. They have a few sandwiches, a salad, and a couple of kids’ meal options. If you don’t see anything you like, I recommend placing a mobile order at Riverside Mill Food Court. You can walk across the bridge to pick it up and return to the pool.

Muddy Rivers has a cocktail menu and various beers, wine, and non-alcoholic options. During busier times, servers are usually available to wait on guests at the pool.

Quiet Pools at Port Orleans Riverside

Port Orleans Riverside has two quiet (or leisure) pools in the Magnolia section of the resort. The resort’s three other pools are spread out among Alligator Bayou. Each quiet pool is similar. So, you’ll likely want to use the one closest to your room. Additionally, each quiet pool at Port Orleans Riverside has laundry facilities.

Magnolia Bend Pools (Mansions Section)

Below is a photo of the quiet pool between buildings 90 (Oak Manor) and 95 (Parterre Place). So, guests in these buildings, which include the Royal Rooms area, will likely want to take advantage of this quiet pool.

The deepest point for each quiet pool is 5′ (1.5 meters) deep.

Here is the other quiet pool in Magnolia Bend. This pool sits between buildings 80 (Acadian House) and 85 (Magnolia Terrace). We have a tour of the Magnolia Bend rooms at Port Orleans Riverside from our last stay.

As you can see from the photos, these pools are rarely crowded. However, unlike at the feature pool, you won’t have access to food or a poolside bar.

Here is a photo taken from the opposite end of the pool.

You can also see the laundry room sits near the back of the pool. It’s the one with the green double doors. A pair of restrooms with a shower and changing area is also available.

Alligator Bayou Pools

We’ll head over to Alligator Bayou to check out the lagoon-shaped pools. These pools are spread out among buildings 14-39. That is a wide range, but the buildings in Alligator Bayou are not nearly as large as the mansion in Magnolia Bend.

Again, each pool area has a laundry area and restroom.

These pools also have a posted maximum depth of 5 feet.

One of the nice things about Port Orleans Riverside is that it has many trees. Everything is shaded, providing an extra layer of protection from the sun.

The Resorts Gal Spin on the Pools at Port Orleans Riverside

While we like Riverside, unfortunately, the resort does not make our list of the best pools at Disney World. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t necessarily have an issue with the pools at Riverside. But we have always found the feature pool to be bustling, which is understandable given the resort’s size.

Compared to other moderate resorts, Riverside’s pool is not nearly as themed. For instance, the pools at Caribbean Beach are pirate-themed and offer more water features. We also love The Dig Site Pool at Coronado Springs. It’s themed to resemble a Mayan pyramid. (However, all of these pools are generally equally busy.)

Lastly, the pool at the French Quarter is tons of fun for the little ones. Of course, as a guest of the Port Orleans Resort, you can use the pool at French Quarter. But it’s a decent walk (or a boat ride) between the resorts. That pool does have a splash pad, though.

If you would like to learn more about Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, you might enjoy the following:

• Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Restaurant Guide
• Fulton’s General Store Photos and More!
• Port Orleans Riverside Magnolia Bend Tour
• Port Orleans Riverside Alligator Bayou Room Review
• Transportation Options at Port Orleans Riverside

In the Comments

Have you had the opportunity to spend any time at Port Orleans Riverside? What do you think about the resort’s pools? We welcome your comments, experiences, and thoughts.