Our Disney story didn’t start with a castle; it began with a stroll along the Sassagoula River. In 2005, we chose Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter for our honeymoon, marking our official bayou beginning. We immediately fell in love with the ornate architecture, the vibrant energy of the Sassagoula Floatworks, and the pristine grounds. It served as our perfect introduction to Disney—even though the menu lacked beignets at the time!
Life eventually took us on a 12-year detour while we built our careers and started our family, but the river never stopped calling us back. In 2017, we finally returned, trading our quiet pace as a couple for the beautiful chaos of traveling with three children. To fit our family of five, we moved up the river to Port Orleans Riverside and fell in love with it just as deeply as the first.
Riverside offers us the perfect balance: peaceful, manicured grounds mixed with the lively atmosphere of the Riverside Mill and River Roost. Our family traditions now live here. Every vacation officially starts with dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall. While I’m the only one still mourning the loss of the legendary shrimp and grits (RIP to a legend), the meal remains our mandatory first-night tradition. Between the kids dominating the Medicine Show Arcade, browsing Fulton’s General Store, or catching a Sassagoula Riverboat to Disney Springs, this resort is where we feel most at home.
In recent years, our travel party grew by four paws—twice! Our two mini bernedoodles, Mickey and Daisy, now join the family tradition. While they don’t stay at the resort with us, they’ve become our favorite road trip companions for the drive down to Florida.
We created Beignets and Bayou to share our love for this specific corner of Disney. We want to help other families find that same mix of relaxation and park magic. Join us as we navigate the parks with a party of five, hunt for the best snacks in the World, and share tips on finding your own slice of peace along the riverbanks.