Copyright © 1999 by S.M. Moore
 

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Dixie Landings / Port Orleans Riverside

There is no doubt that if Scarlett and Rhett had visited DisneyWorld, Dixie Landings would have been the resort of choice for them. From the moment you drive through the impressive front gates, past gracious live oaks, dripping with Spanish moss, you are transported back in time to an era of the Old South.

The main check-in area is housed in a replica of a steamboat booking office. This impressive building is called the Sassagoula Steamboat Company. Out front under the port cochere, you will find attentive bellman. .  As you come in the front entrance you will immediately notice the attention to detail at this resort. This is southern hospitality Disney style. In the central building, you will find the Front Desk, Guest Services, and restrooms. Around the ceiling you will notice Mississippi River ports of call, including my home town, Memphis. The Disney cast members dressed as clerks will assist you with all your needs and get you read for your river journey. Be sure to note the large paddle fans in the ceiling.

This main building also houses the arcade, the gift shop, and the dining and lounge opportunities at Dixie Landings. As you leave the Front Desk area you will encounter to your left the gift shop, Fulton’s General Store. I personally think this is one of the best resort gift shops. It is large and offers many unique purchases. It also houses a small grocery area, and stamps are available. To the right of the General Store are public restrooms and phones. Adjacent to this area is the Cotton Co-op, the Dixie Landings watering hole. The evening entertainment is some of the best, and the finger foods are wholesome and delicious. This is a busy spot at Dixie. The beautiful mahogany bar is worth a visit.

As you stroll down the lovely wooden plank hallway, you will come upon Dixie’s main restaurant, Boatwrights. This theming is reminiscent of a boat building establishment. Your children will be fully entertained with everything there is to see. Seating for 200 allows plenty of room to enjoy delicious American and Cajun specialties. Breakfast and dinner is served. Dixie Landings’ food court, Colonel’s Cotton Mill,  is one of the most popular on property. The atmosphere is one of a Cotton Mill complete with a replica cotton press and a working water wheel. You can have breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at various hours of the day. You have delicious selections from five counter service areas that include pasta, pizza, burgers, bakery items, ribs, grilled chicken and a deli that has a large selection of sandwiches and other snack items. The selection is definitely some of the best. You would be hard pressed to not be able to find something here, even for your pickiest eaters.

As you leave the food court area and stroll out along the Sassagoula River you will encounter the Alligator Bayou section of Dixie Landings. In Alligator Bayou you find three very distinctive designs of buildings. The landscape is more natural and unplanned with beautiful winding pathways set among small ponds and lush vegetation.  This first area contains (Lodges 14-18) and is the more rustic section of Alligator Bayou. Each building houses about 60 rooms, in a lush landscaped area of natural beauty. The buildings primary colors are of neutral tans, and browns with wood shingled roofs. This area is a reproduction of Cajun areas of the South, with allot of privacy offered. Near lodges 17 and 18 you will find the lovely natural shaped quiet pool with laundry. Lodges 14 and 15 are closest to the Main Building and bus depots.

As you leave this area you come to an area a little less rustic, housing buildings with tin roofs, and lovely blue and dark red accents. Lodges 24-28 are in this location. These locations are among the furthest removed and offer a tranquil, quiet escape from the hustle of DisneyWorld. The quiet pool is closest to lodges 24 and 25. Quiet walkways with lovely ponds, live oaks laced with Spanish Moss, transport you to another time and location.

As you complete your walk along the path near the river you will find the last section of Alligator Bayou. As you move away from the Cotton Mill, you will notice a decrease in the rusticness of the buildings outer decor. Lodges 34-39, will show you brick supports to wide lovely verandahs, with lovely accents of tan and dark teal shutters. These buildings are my favorite of the Alligator Bayou section. The quiet pool here is located near lodge 35 and 36.

All rooms in Alligator Bayou will have similar interiors with rustic furnishings. Each room at Dixie has 314 square feet with 2 pedestal sinks outside the bath, ceiling fan, 2-double beds, TV with armoire for storage, nightstand, and a small table with chairs. The decor at Alligator Bayou features beds hewn from logs and covered with patchwork quilts. Some rooms offer a trundle bed (for an extra fee) to sleep the fifth person in room.

As you walk along the tranquil pathways you will come to the Magnolia Bend section of Dixie Landings. This area is the Old South of ante-bellum mansions, manicured lawns, rose gardens with gazebos with beautiful fountains and reflective pools. There are four large Manor houses in this area of Dixie each housing about 250 rooms. The room size and amenities are the same as the rooms in Alligator Bayou but certainly different in decor. Here you will find lovely French Provincial furniture, bed covers of a lovely brocade fabric, and wall coverings and accents that would be reflective of any Southern grand manor home. There are some king beds in each area of Dixie Landings but most have  2 double beds. The first Manor house we encounter as we leave the Alligator Bayou section is Acadian House, then Magnolia Terrace, Oak Manor, and last Parterre Place. I think it is very interesting to note the outside architecture of each building. The closest manor house to Alligator Bayou, while grand; is certainly not as lavish as the ornate Parterre Place. This is by design that this happens. As you leave the Cotton Mill you encounter the most rustic dwellings at Dixie Landings. As you progress down river toward Port Orleans, your housing reflects a more citified culture. Each area progresses with its architecture just as the river does.

Between Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace you will find a lovely quiet pool and laundry. This is repeated between Oak Manor and Parterre Place and each area is beautifully landscaped with azaleas and other blooming plants indigenous of the south. In this area of Dixie Landings, Parterre Place is my favorite for looks, and location. Magnolia Terrace is closest to the main pool, on Old Man Island.

As the river winds through Dixie Landings it also flows around the recreation area on Old Man Island. This 3 and 1/2 acre recreation center is home to the main themed pool with slide, wading pool, whirlpool, fishing pond, and playground. There is an area with dressing rooms and restroom facilities and a snack/bar area called Muddy Rivers. Old Man Island is the focal point for all Dixie Landings fun in the sun. Across from the island, in the rear of the Main Building you will find the marina, Dixie Levee. Here bikes and water craft of many types can be rented for your daily use. This area also serves as the loading area for the Sassagoula River Cruise that will deliver you to Port Orleans and Downtown Disney. This is a lovely feature that only these two resorts offer. The Medicine Show Arcade in the main building offers a fun selection of video games. This area is to the left of the check-in area.

Transportation at Disney is provided by bus to all locations and by boat to Downtown Disney. There are two main bus stops in front of the Sassagoula Steamboat Co. The Mason Platform and Dixon Platform are convenient to Lodges 14-18 and Parterre Place. The West Depot serves Lodges 24-35, North Depot serves Lodges 36-39, and East Depot serves Magnolia Terrace and Oak Manor providing transportation to all.

I can say without a doubt that Dixie Landings Resort is a favorite among many repeat guests. Its beautifully landscaped grounds, wonderful food and gracious hospitality have won over many devoted fans. It is always on our list for a repeat visit.

Copyright © 1999 by S.M. Moore - Please do not copy this material, or use it on another website, or printed material without prior written permission.

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