Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside

One of the things that make staying at a Disney World resort hotel unique is the theming. Where else can you stroll along the New England Coast, swim by a Mayan ruin, celebrate Mari Gras in New Orleans, and observe Okapi on the wild plains of Africa, all while staying within the confines of Central Florida.  Disney hotels are waiting to immerse and transport you to a different time and place.  Disney has now gone a step further with the creation of story rooms.  What an exciting way to step into the story and become part of the magic!

The Pirate Rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort were the first story rooms available in Walt Disney World.  Next in line were the Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. OK, where do I sign up? I had a feeling this was going to be absolutely incredible and reserved my own “Princess Room” for my birthday trip this past May. The story begins with Princess Tiana inviting some of her princess friends to come and stay at her river home. Her friends were kind enough to bring several presents to decorate the rooms, and give future guests the royal treatment. Oak Manor and Parterre Place (Buildings 90 and 95 in Magnolia Bend) are the mansions that have been transformed. These lavish rooms are draped in deep blue and gold.  Of course the centerpiece is the bed (queen sized) with an incredible headboard depicting the bayou area where Tiana spent some of her time. The picture comes alive with fireworks activated by a button on the side of the headboard.


Princess Tiana herself left a note on the table welcoming us to her rooms, and hoping that we will have as many happy memories as her and her friends have shared. Pictures of Tiana and her friends adorn the walls, and many decorative touches around the room are from her princess friends. Some of the decorative items include the magic carpet from Aladdin, Genie’s lamp fashioned into a water faucet, a clothes hanger area from Cinderella, a lovely frame for the picture of Tiana and her friends from Snow White, and a gorgeous shower curtain from Ariel.  The shower curtain features Ariel’s treasures from the sea including gems, starfish, sand dollars, snarfblatts and dinglehoppers that I would buy for my own house!  Everything in this room has been given the royal touch, and even something as mundane as a heating/air conditioning unit has been transformed.

An interesting feature is the picture showcase including pictures of the Princesses at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside with their princes, pictures of Princess Tiana spending some girl time with her friends around the resort, as well as silhouette pictures of all of the princes on a royal banner type of backdrop. The outside of the buildings have not changed dramatically; however, the courtyard areas now include banners proclaiming the names of the princesses and a royal throne to sit on.

All in all it was a magical stay and there was no doubt that I was completely immersed in the story for my birthday trip. What more could a princess ask for?

Marie