Disney Springs Boat to Port Orleans: Sassagoula River Cruise
If you’re at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort, you might want to head to Disney’s Port Orleans resort, whether that’s to see the incredible Mardi Gras theming of Port Orleans French Quarter or the more tranquil Spanish moss and antebellum architecture of Port Orleans Riverside. Or maybe you just want the incredible Mickey shaped beignets. We always make time for beignets at Scat Cat’s every time we’re at Disney.
Good news. There’s boat transportation that will take you right to French Quarter and Riverside. I tell you what you want to know—where is the boat, what are the hours, and how long does it take? Then, I’ll tell you some other fun facts along the way.
We’re on a boat. I’m gazing in wonder back at my wife…or at French Quarter.
Sassagoula River Cruise Ferry Service
The Sassagoula River Cruise Service is a small ferry that runs from Disney Springs to Disney’s Saratoga Springs, Treehouse Villas, Old Key West, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside.
Hours of Operation
The hours of operation are 10AM-11PM
The hours of the ferry boats may vary depending on the dock, and the last boat boards 30 minutes prior to close. The boats may also temporarily stop for inclement weather and may not be running if there are low water levels. Finally, be aware that the ferry service is regulated by the government, and Disney gets in trouble if they get off schedule (the dockhand informed me of this on our last trip). Because of this, the boat captain won’t wait for you if you’re running down the dock if it will make them late.
The hours at the resort aren’t the same as the Disney Springs hours. Also, it’s definitely not a steamboat.
Flags
Each boat has a prominent flag that lets you know what route it’s running. Therefore, you’ll know if your boat is already there or pulling in. Here’s the color key.
Purple Flag- Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
Yellow-Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Purple and Yellow- Both Port Orleans Resorts
Blue- Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (and Treehouse Villas)
Green- Disney's Old Key West Resort
Obviously, if you’re heading to Port Orleans, get a boat with yellow flags or purple flags. If you see one with blue flags or green flags, they won't take you where you want to go.
Here’s the boat we’re waiting for passing in front of Port Orleans Riverside rooms. Yellow means Riverside.
Disney Springs Dock Location
Disney Springs currently has only one boat dock location on the far northeastern (top right) side that will take you to the Disney Springs resort area. The internal water taxi that goes between different areas of Disney Springs is currently shut down (which had red flags, so if you see that they're back up!). Head towards Rainforest Café (the giant volcano), exit security and take a short walk onto the dock. You won’t have to go through security at Port Orleans, but you will have to go through security again when you return to Disney Springs.
The dock at Disney Springs the Marketplace area.
As I mentioned, Disney Springs used to have multiple docks, but they’ve narrowed it down to just the one dock at Marketplace now. Here’s a map of the location.
Here’s a screenshot I grabbed of the Disney Springs boat dock location.
Port Orleans French Quarter Dock Location
After you leave Disney Springs and head across Village Lake, you’ll enter the Sassagoula River. After passing by Saratoga Springs and Treehouse Villas on the right, your boat will keep right at the fork (the left will take you to Old Key West). The dock for Port Orleans French Quarter will be on the left.
My wife and our friend rocking the Minnie Beignet Ears at French Quarter. They smell like powdered sugar.
Once you disembark the boat, you’ll be directly behind the pool. Beyond that is the lobby of the hotel, where you’ll find a quick service restaurant, the Scat Cat coffee shop (where the beignets are!), and the Scat Cat lounge, a bar with live jazz music. Out in front of the lobby is the resort’s only bus station. Here’s a map of the location.
My screenshot of the Port Orleans French Quarter dock location from the My Disney Experience App.
Port Orleans Riverside Dock Location
The Port Orleans Riverside Dock
The Port Orleans Riverside dock is located past the French Quarter dock, also on the left. It’s in a little cove directly behind the Riverside lobby. Riverside has a quick service and table service restaurant called Boatwright’s, as well as the River Roost. The River Roost is a bar that frequently features, Yehaa Bob, a phenomenal pianist and hysterical entertainer, perhaps one of the most underrated shows at Disney World.
Here we are hanging out with the infamous Yehaa Bob.
Here’s a map of the location of the dock.
The location the POR boat dock.
What You’ll See Along the Way
If you’re leaving Disney Springs, you’ll get unique views of the beautiful waterfront features of Disney Springs such as the Paddlefish steamboat, the Edison tower, and the Aerophile. On the other side of Village Lake, you’ll see the sprawling area of Saratoga Springs DVC Resort.
The Paddlefish steamboat as viewed from the Sassagoula Steamboat. Neither are real steamboats.
As you enter the Sassagoula river, you’ll be in a heavily wooded, marshy area, but you’ll see the gorgeous and secluded Treehouse Villas poking out on the banks of the river. You’ll also see the well-manicured fairways and greens of Lake Buena Vista Golf Course that takes a significant portion of Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. The LBV Golf Course was one of the first things constructed at Disney World.
Once you enter Port Orleans, you’ll see the colorful facades and wrought iron of the French Quarter resort. In Riverside, you’ll see the stately white columns and incredible mossy oaks of a more rural, aristocratic Louisiana.
The French Quarter rooms. Don’t forget to use the convenient poles to tie up your horse.
FAQ about the Sassagoula Boat Service
Can you get to Magic Kingdom by boat from Disney Springs?
No, while you can get to Magic Kingdom by boat, it is a separate body of water (Seven Seas Lagoon), and can only be accessed at the Transportation and Ticket Center or one of the Magic Kingdom resorts.
Are there Other Ways to Get to Port Orleans?
If you don't want to take the boat to Port Orleans, you can also take a free Disney bus to every resort, or you can take rideshare. Rideshare includes taking a Minnie Van, which is a Minnie Mouse themed vehicle driven by Disney cast members, but run by Lyft. Finally, you can drive your own car. While not as scenic, traveling by road will be faster than the boat service.
How Much do the Disney Boats Cost?
Disney Boat transportation is free as long as you aren't on a special ticketed boat ride like an Amphicar or fireworks cruise.
How Long Does the Boat Ride to French Quarter Take?
It takes about 17 minutes to get to Port Orleans French Quarter and about 20 minutes to get to Riverside.
Conclusion and Further Reading
So if you're at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) and want to head to Port Orleans for beignets or because you're staying there, the boat ride is a great way to go. There is no more relaxing way to travel at Disney World except for maybe the Disney Skyliner (assuming you don't have a panic attack from the heights).
This article is really just about how to get beignets. Here we are with the prize.
