Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend: Which Side of Port Orleans Riverside is Right for You?

Until recently, I had never stayed in the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside. We’ve always received a room assignment in the Magnolia Bend section. But since we updated the majority of our resort coverage this last year, I wanted to do something different. So, I booked a room with a fifth sleeper at Port Orleans Riverside to secure a room in the Alligator Bayou section of the resort. The result was unexpected, to say the least.

Below, I’ll compare the two widely different resort areas of Port Orleans Riverside so you will have an idea of whether the Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend is right for you. This tremendous resort has grown on me through the years, and I truly enjoy our stays here. Since I’ve stayed in both resort areas, one section of the resort is now a clear winner for me. But I must warn you, that area might not be the same one you pick, and that’s completely okay.

There is also one other caveat. If you decide on Alligator Bayou, you’ll need to reserve a room with a fifth sleeper. For Magnolia Bend, you’ll want to reserve a standard room, a king room, a river view room, or a Royal guest room.

a side by side photo with an Alligator Bayou building on the left and an Acadian House photo on the right — Will you choose Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend?

A Quick Comparison of Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend

Before we get too far into the comparison, it is essential to note a few things that might make your decision clear immediately before we get into the mushy stuff, like immaculate landscaping and dreamy Spanish moss.

For the Alligator Bayou, the pros are:

Fifth Sleeper Rooms
Preferred Room Location (Upgrade)
A True Bayou (Read Swampy) Feel

*Unfortunately, we have one major negative factor for Alligator Bayou. The buildings in this section of the resort do not have elevators. They are all two-story buildings. But you’ll have to take the stairs if you receive a 2nd-floor room assignment in this resort section. Even for those who can manage the stairs, it can be challenging to get luggage up and down on your check-in and arrival day.

staircase to the Alligator Bayou Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside — You might have to take the stairs to get to your room in Alligator Bayou. These buildings don’t have elevators.

For Magnolia Bend, the pros are:

Royal Princess Rooms (Upgrade)
A True Southern Feel
All Buildings have Elevators

If you need a fifth sleeper or want a preferred room location, the clear choice will be Alligator Bayou. However, if you are wary of not having an elevator, you will likely want to go with Magnolia Bend. Aside from these items, we have to dig a little deeper to figure out which part of the resort is right for you!

the woods and scenery in the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside — Buildings are scattered throughout Alligator Bayou.

The truth is that Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend couldn’t be more different if they tried. Think princess vs frog, with the princess section being Magnolia Bend and the Alligator Bayou section being the frog. Yes, the entire resort has touches of The Princess and the Frog theming, and it works.

When you first enter the Alligator Bayou section of the resort, you feel like you’re stepping into a forest. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might find leaves scattered over the grounds or wildflowers blooming in spots where sunlight streams through the trees. This section of the resort captured my heart as soon as I saw the tiny moss-covered ponds and Spanish moss dripping from the trees. As someone who grew up getting lost in the woods pretty regularly, this place feels familiar.

Across the Sassagoula River, the Magnolia Bend section of the resort is prim and pristine. The well-manicured lawns pop with the light-colored mansions in the backdrop. You’ll find trimmed hedges and roses in bloom around every corner. Giant Magnolias and Oak trees provide canopies along the paths to each building. Pretty is the word that comes to mind.

Here are a few photos for comparison:

the Sassagoula River with the white mansions of Magnolia Bend on the opposite side — A row of mansions sits across the Sassagoula River at Magnolia Bend.

an Alligator Bayou building surrounded by trees and greenery — A Building in Alligator Bayou

a walkway in the Magnolia Bend surrounded by giant Oak trees — Giant Oak Trees in Magnolia Bend

a small foot bridge crosses a moss covered pond in the Alligator Bayou — Moss Covered Pond

a rose garden with an oblong fountain filled with bright blue water — The Royal Rooms Areas of Magnolia Bend

a swamp-like setting with a variety of trees and plantings in Alligator Bayou — The Landscape of Alligator Bayou

Like each section’s unique landscape, the rooms couldn’t be more different. The standard rooms in Magnolia Bend are minimal, with touches of Tiana and friends here and there. However, if you upgrade to a Royal Princess room, you can expect tons of princess theming. If you have someone in your party who’s into princesses, you might consider the upgrade. But, personally, I don’t consider this upgrade necessary and think it’s a little overrated. We stayed in a princess room years ago, and I expected to feel like we were getting something more since we had paid more. But it just felt like a regular hotel room with princess decor. So be careful with those expectations.

Here is a photo of our room at Magnolia Bend. We have a Magnolia Bend room tour if you would like to see more photos or a video of the room.

a standard room with two queen size beds in Magnolia Bend — Magnolia Bend Standard Guest Room

The rooms in Alligator Bayou were a bit of a surprise. From the pictures I had seen, I knew they would have a darker look and feel. But I did not realize they were much more heavily themed to The Princess and the Frog than Magnolia Bend. This room has the fifth sleeper, and I was impressed with the room’s look and feel. While the room was darker, it felt comforting and cool after a long day in the Florida sun.

Here is an overall photo of the room. Again, we have a separate Alligator Bayou room tour if you would like a further comparison.

a standard room with a fifth sleeper and two queen beds in Alligator Bayou — Alligator Bayou Room Comparison

In addition to what we’ve already discussed, you’ll want to know a few other things about staying at Port Orleans Riverside. For starters, be prepared for extra walking around the resort. I think this is something that really needs to be embraced ahead of time. The first time we stayed here (over ten years ago), I had no idea what we were getting into as far as getting around the resort.

Regardless of whether you stay in the Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bends section of the resort, you’re going to have a walk somewhere. In most cases, you’ll have a short walk to the bus stop in your resort area. By short, I would say a five-minute or less walk. Most walks from your building to the resort’s lobby will take approximately 7-10 minutes unless you stay in a preferred room. Preferred rooms will have the advantage of being a less than five-minute walk to the nearest bus stop and lobby. This upgrade will be worth the consideration for some of you.

You can take the resort’s internal bus (the Disney Springs bus) to get around. However, even if you get lucky and catch this specific bus right away, it will take longer to do this than it would to walk. (You can also catch a regular park bus to the lobby, but you’ll want to inform the bus driver. If the bus fills, they will continue to the park instead of making all the stops.)

Port Orleans Riverside has four bus stops: the West, the North, the East, and the South Depots. So, you will have to make multiple stops when coming to and from the resort. This will make travel times to and from Port Orleans Riverside even longer. However, that is the case with any of the significant moderates like Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs. If you prefer a resort with only one stop, you might consider Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, next door to Riverside. We have a separate comparison of Riverside vs. French Quarter if you need help discerning between them.

the central hub area of Port Orleans Riverside — Port Orleans Riverside Resort

The Resorts Gal Spin on Magnolia Bend vs. Alligator Bayou

What I enjoy and what you enjoy might be entirely different. But I always like to share my spin on things in hopes that it will help you feel confident in making your decision. We invest a lot of money in our trips to Walt Disney World, and I’m sure you do as well. I do not take that lightly when it comes to preparing anything to share on this website.

Sometimes, I imagine myself playing that game where someone holds a microphone and asks you ten questions to which you have to respond to in less than a minute. That may sound silly, but I will do this to check my response. If you had asked me five or more years ago what my least favorite resort at Walt Disney World was, it would have been Port Orleans Riverside. (It’s All-Star Movies, for the record, and it’s fine, too.) But I love all of the resorts at Walt Disney World for different reasons. I can also see why a resort might not work for some while others are floored at the fact that someone else doesn’t like their favorite resort. (It’s the harsh reality of many Facebook groups that have become reminiscent of civil war grounds. May the odds be ever in your favor when you post a comment.)

Anyway, longtime readers know that over time (and a couple of miles), I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the stunning landscape of Port Orleans Riverside. So, I knew going into this stay that I would enjoy the Alligator Bayou section of the resort. But I didn’t expect to completely adore the rooms as much as I did. Those darn expectations, why do we have them? They either hold us back or ruin everything sometimes.

So, if the question arose: Would you choose Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend? The quick response would most definitely be Alligator Bayou. The area reminds me of the deep woods behind my childhood home, and I love that. Of course, for you, the answer might be completely different. Overall, I hope this comparison presented the facts and helped your decision-making process. Or maybe it gave you a fresh perspective and a new resort to try next time!

For more information, you might enjoy The Resorts Gal Guide to Port Orleans Riverside or some of these other related articles:

In the Comments

So what do you think? Do you agree with my spin? Or do you prefer Magnolia Bend? Feel free to share your unique spin on Port Orleans Riverside in the comments section below. We would love to hear your thoughts, questions, or any other feedback you have. It’s also helpful to us and other readers who also enjoy reading the responses.