One of Disney World’s oldest hotels is undergoing another major transformation.
Walt Disney World has been updating several of its resort hotels throughout 2026, with construction affecting guest rooms, restaurants, and shared facilities. Some projects are expected to continue well into 2027, meaning guests booking future vacations may encounter temporary closures during their stays.
Among the properties undergoing work is Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, a Moderate Resort that originally opened as Dixie Landings in February 1992. The hotel was renamed in 2001, becoming part of the larger Port Orleans complex alongside Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Located along the Sassagoula River, Riverside has 2,048 rooms spread across two areas. Magnolia Bend features grand Southern-style mansions, while Alligator Bayou is designed to resemble a more rustic Louisiana setting.
Guests can also visit Boatwright’s Dining Hall, relax at the Ol’ Man Island swimming pool, or take a boat to Disney Springs. Select rooms feature The Princess and the Frog (2009) theming inspired by Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.
However, the resort has spent much of the past year undergoing extensive renovations, with a new phase of construction now affecting one of its busiest areas.
Major Port Orleans Riverside Refurbishment Reaches Hotel Lobby
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside has begun closing sections of its main lobby as construction work continues throughout the property.
Black curtains now divide the lobby, blocking guests from entering much of the check-in and guest services area on the right side of the building.
Construction equipment can be seen above the barriers, which do not reach the ceiling. A raised work platform is visible, while blue painter’s tape covers decorative details on several columns.
Other signs of progress include a newly painted gray wall. It’s currently unclear whether this will be the finished color or whether Disney intends to restore the lobby’s existing pale yellow and green design.
The construction has also resulted in changes to several guest amenities.
The lobby restrooms are currently closed, with guests directed to facilities at River Roost instead. The resort’s mailbox has also been moved to Fulton’s General Store.
Despite the restrictions, guests can still use the main building. Check-in and guest services remain available at the far end of the lobby, while seating is accessible in unaffected sections.
The refurbishment began in early October and is expected to continue in phases until early December 2026. Visitors arriving for Thanksgiving may therefore find that parts of the lobby remain behind construction barriers.
This isn’t the first time Riverside guests have encountered restricted access this year.
In March, part of River Roost temporarily closed behind construction walls. Work was also visible on the exterior of the resort’s main building.
Then, in August, Disney closed the boardwalk outside Riverside Mill Food Court while workers replaced wooden flooring and railings. Temporary barriers prevented access to the walkway, requiring guests to use alternative routes.
Disney World Hotel Construction Will Continue Into 2027
While work on the lobby is expected to finish before Christmas, the wider refurbishment at Port Orleans Riverside still has months to go.
Disney began renovating the hotel’s guest rooms in May 2025, with the project scheduled to run through August 2027. Work is taking place in phases across the property rather than requiring the entire resort to close.
According to Disney’s official website, guests may see or hear construction activity during their stays.
The renovations include updates to rooms in Magnolia Bend, home to the resort’s Royal Guest Rooms. These have received refreshed furnishings and additional Princess and the Frog details, including stained-glass artwork and decorative references to Tiana and Naveen.
Riverside isn’t the only Port Orleans property currently experiencing changes.
At neighboring Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, Scat Cat’s Club – Café and Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge closed on October 6 for separate refurbishments.
The café is expected to reopen in December, while the lounge is scheduled to return in January 2027. Guests can still purchase beignets and coffee at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory during the closure.
Similar projects are underway elsewhere at Walt Disney World. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort are among the other Disney hotels undergoing refurbishment work in 2026.
At Riverside, however, the immediate impact is on guests entering the resort’s main building, where construction barriers now occupy a significant portion of the lobby.
Have you stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside?
