Hi Al,
Welcome to planDisney! I'm happy to be able to help you with your question about
complimentary transportation around the Walt Disney World Resort.
The Port Orleans resorts -- both
Riverside and
French Quarter -- are beautiful properties that feel serene and secluded, but they are conveniently close to the theme parks and Disney Springs.
Your easiest means of transportation between the Port Orleans resorts and Magic Kingdom will be on one of the Walt Disney World buses. At French Quarter, the bus stop is right in front of the main lobby. At Riverside, there are four stops: in front of the main building and on the west, east and north sides of the larger resort. Monitors at each of the bus stops will show you the approximate arrival time for the next bus to each destination.
Once you leave the resort property, it's only about a 10-minute ride right to the front gate of Magic Kingdom and vice versa. You will reboard a Port Orleans-bound bus at the designated station outside Magic Kingdom.
If you drive or take a ride share vehicle to Magic Kingdom, you will arrive first at the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you take a monorail or ferry to Magic Kingdom. Besides the bus, the only way to get directly to the entrance of Magic Kingdom is by
Minnie Van, which incurs an additional cost.
From your resort, you also will be able to take buses from any stop to the other three theme parks, the water parks (though a transfer may be necessary) and to Disney Springs. Or climb aboard a Sassagoula River cruise boat for a leisure sail to
Disney Springs. The boat ride is especially lovely in the evening.
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. Please let us know if we can assist in any other way as you plan your vacation.
Enjoy!
Wilma