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Location
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Downtown Disney Resort Area
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Category
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Moderate Resort
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Theme
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America's Old South - from the Bayou to the Stately Mansions
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Central Building
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The Sassagoula Steamboat Company building houses Registration, shopping and dining.
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Resort Layout
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The Resort is divided into two sections: Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. The Bayou has 2-story buildings scattered through the woods. Across the river is Magnolia bend with its Southern Mansions (2-3 stories) and manicured lawns
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Alligator Bayou buildings do not have elevators, but Magnolia Bend buildings do.
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Facts & History
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Opening Year
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1992 |
| History |
Opening shortly after it's little sister down river, Dixie Landings was designed with a clear story. An Old Man found the quiet spot tucked along the shore of Sassagoula River and settled there. Others followed and built cracker style houses in the Alligator Bayou. Over time, a Steamboat Company set up shop and the community prospered. As you move up river, nicer and nicer homes were built, with elegant manor homes lining the Magnolia Bend. Business was so good even the city of Port Orleans benefited from the river traffic. |
| Imagineers wanted a very large, old oak tree for the recreation area's swimming pool. They finally found one more than one hundred years old, located twelve miles away. A special cypress box 22 feet square was built to hold the tree's immense and delicate root system. The tree-moving team slowly unearthed the tree, keeping it hooked to cranes above. The 85-ton oak was then lifted onto a flatbed tractor trailer and moved at a cautious speed of four miles per hour. It took three days to reach the resort, and because of its height and branch span, 108 light poles and six traffic signals had to be moved out of its path. |
| Originally called Dixie Landings until 2001 |
| Design |
The Orlando firm of Fugelberg Koch & Associates of San Diego was responsible for the design of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Dixie Landings Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Old Key West Resort. Each of these reflects distinct geographical styles of architecture taken from the old South and the islands of the Caribbean. |
| Christmastime |
Southern Hospitality inspires the decor for the holidays. |
Types of Rooms
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Standard –
Garden
Parking lot
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314 Sq ft. 2 Queen beds, Tub/shower & toilet, double vanity, table with 2 chairs, dresser with TV, nightstand, small bench and wall hooks. Alligator Bayou rooms also have a child-sized murphy bed
Accommodate 5 people + 1 child under 3 in crib.
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Water
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314 Sq ft. 2 Queen beds, Tub/shower & toilet, double vanity, table with 2 chairs, dresser with TV, nightstand, small bench and wall hooks. Alligator Bayou rooms also have a child-sized trundle bed
Accommodate 5 people + 1 child under 3 in crib.
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King
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314 Sq ft. King bed, Tub/shower & toilet, double vanity, table with 2 chairs, dresser with TV, nightstand, small bench and wall hooks.
Accommodate 2 people + 1 child under 3 in crib.
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Handicapped
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314 Sq ft. King bed, Roll-in shower & toilet, double vanity, table with 2 chairs, dresser with TV, nightstand, small bench and wall hooks.
Accommodate 2 people + 1 child under 3 in crib.
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Additional fee for each person over 2 people per room. No charge for children under 17 staying with adults.
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All Disney resorts are smoke free. Smoking allowed in designated locations.
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Exterior hallways
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Room amenities
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Mini-refrigerator, hair dryer, coffee maker & free coffee packets, in-wall safe, iron & board, TV with limited cable, alarm clock-radio, phone with voicemail and ceiling fan. Toiletries: soap, face soap & shampoo.
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A curtain separates the bath area from the rest of the room – allowing for additional privacy.
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Crib and bed boards/rails available by request
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Complimentary WiFi
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Connecting rooms available. Put in your request when booking your room; they are not guaranteed.
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Registration
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Check in
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room guaranteed by 3:00pm
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Check out
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by 11:00am
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Late check out
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can be requested the night before check-out
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Early arrival
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Be sure to Check-in at the Registration desk upon arrival, the room may be ready early, or at the very least they'll give a phone number you can call from any house phone in WDW to get you're room number - therefore you don’t have to go back to the registration desk.
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Express Check-out
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Upon arrival you can leave a credit card on your room account. It can then be used to make charges to your room during your stay. And then, the morning you leave, an itemized bill will be on your door handle. If there are any problems, then you can contact the Front Desk - otherwise you're all set and can leave without going back to Registration.
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Magical Express
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For those of you flying into Orlando Intl Airport, Disney is making it even easier to get to their World. You’re given special tags to put on your luggage. Then when you arrive in Orlando, just get on the Magical Express bus – they’ll take you to your resort to check in. You go off and have fun, and you’re bags show up in your room later that day. Before your departure, you'll get a letter saying when you should be at the lobby to check your bags and catch your bus to the airport.
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What you get at check in
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Resort Map: shows Riverside and French Quarter resorts
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Resort ‘newsletter’, Sassagoula Times. Includes dining, shopping, and recreation info for the resort. Also has other important resort information and phone numbers.
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"Your Guide to the Magic" with dining, shopping, recreation and WDW property map
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WDW Theme Park times Guide
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Key to the World -- your room key not only opens your room, but is also your early entry ID, charge-to-room card, and perhaps your theme park ticket – Don’t Loose It
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| If you drove, then you’ll get a parking pass – use it or your room key to park for free at the theme parks, and also to get through the security gate back at your resort. |
| What to ask for |
Wild About Safety coloring book for kids (or big kids)
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Theme Park maps
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Any special activities at the resort, or kids activities
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Resort amenities
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Lobby Concierge
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your source for tickets, dining priority seating, dinner shows, recreation reservations, fishing or fireworks cruises, and other information
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Business Services
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fax & other limited services through front desk
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Bell Services
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Luggage services, taxi & limo.
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Valet Parking
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Not available at this resort
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Airline Check-in
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On the day of your flight you can print out your boarding passes for select airlines. Located inside Registration lobby.
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Laundry
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Laundry facilities located at each quiet pool. Dry cleaning available through housekeeping.
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Fitness Center
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Not available at this resort
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Salon
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Not available at this resort
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Child Care
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Not at this resort. Call "Kid's Night Out" 407-828-0920
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Misc Services
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ATM, Pre-paid phone cards & postal box are located inside Registration Lobby. Stamps available in Fulton's General Store.
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Wifi
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Complimentary
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Ice & Vending Machines
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Located near the elevators or centrally in each building.
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Wheelchair rental
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As a guest of the resort, you can request a length-of-stay wheelchair rental. A refundable deposit is given at Lobby Concierge and you are given use of a push-style wheelchair for the length of your stay. Available on a first-come first-serve basis.
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Recreation
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Pools
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Ole' Man Island has a large pool with water slide, kiddie pool and spa. Rest rooms with showers are also available.
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There are 5 quiet pools around the resort.
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Towels available at Ole’ Man Island only
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| Life jackets available free of charge. Located at Ole' Man Island. |
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There is no swimming in Sassagoula River
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Arcade
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Medicine Show Arcade located in Sassagoula Steamboat Co.
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Rentals & Sports
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Riverside Levee:
Surry Bikes/Quadricycle and Bicycles
Kayaks and Watermice
Pontoon Boats
Fishing Excursions
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Cane pole fishing on Ole' Man Island Fishin' Hole. 7am-2:30pm.
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Playground
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located on Ole' Man Island
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Jogging trails
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.7 mile around Riverside; 1 mile to French Quarter and back.
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Children’s activities
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At the Levee and Ole' Man Island – inquire with marina staff.
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Hair wraps
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Along Sassagoula Steamboat Co. dock
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| Caricatures |
Located in lobby |
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Pressed penny machines
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Located in lobby
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Disney cartoons
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Playing in lobby and Riverside Mill dining room
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Other Entertainment
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Horse Drawn Carriage Rides: 30 minute ride trough property from 6pm to 9:30pm nightly (weather permitting). Seats up to 4 adults or 2 adults & 3 children. Reservations highly suggested. Advance Reservations: (407) WDW-PLAY; same day reservations: (407) 824-2832; walk-ups may be available.
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Campfire on de' Bayou, a special storytime and sing-along around a fire held seasonally behind Port Orleans Riverside's Ol' Man Island Fishin' Hole, runs approximately from the end of October through March. The program is only offered on Sunday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m., weather permitting. S'mores kits are sold for $7.00 (tax included). No reservations are necessary. |
Dining
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Boatwright’s Dining Hall
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Table service; featuring down-home cooking. Located in Steamboat Co. building
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Dinner 5pm-10pm
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Riverside Mill
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Counter service, Food court; the usual variety of foods with nightly specials. Located in Steamboat Co.
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Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 6am-12mid
limited menu after 10pm
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Muddy Rivers Pool Bar
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Full service bar and snacks. Located on Ole' Man Island next to pool
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11am-dusk
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River Roost
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Full service bar and appetizers. Located in Steamboat Co. Entertainment some evenings.
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4pm-12mid
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Sassagoula Pizza Express
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In Room delivery. Pizza, appetizers & drinks.
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4pm-12mid
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Refillable Mug
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Available for purchase and use at Riverside Mill.
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Shopping
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Fulton's General Store
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Port Orleans logo items/clothes, standard WDW souvenirs, clothes for all ages, nick-nacks, housewares, etc. Food, drinks, and various sundries available. Located in Steamboat Co.
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Package Pick-up
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Packages sent to the resort from the Theme Parks can be picked up at the designated counter inside Fulton’s General Store
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Transportation
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Monorail
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Not available at this resort
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Buses
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There are 4 bus stops in Riverside (and one in French Quarter): Blue Bayou/River Delta (West), North, South, and East depots.
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Buses are available to all Theme parks, both water parks and Downtown Disney.
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Boat Service
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Available from the Levee
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Boat transportation to French Quarter and Downtown Disney Marketplace.
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Walkway
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Walkway between Riverside and French Quarter along the Sassagoula River.
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Pros
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Beautiful setting and landscaping
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Even when full, seems quiet and relaxing
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Riverside Mill has recently remodeled and has improved significantly! Love the Custom Cereal/Yogurt!
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You can always walk over to French Quarter for Beignets.
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Boat service to Downtown Disney is very nice and relaxing
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Staff has always been very good and helpful
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Cons
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Large resort - it can be a long walk to the Main Building or bus stops
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Buses are pretty timely in arriving, but getting to your destination can take some time
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Waiting for the Boat Service to Downtown Disney can be a long time
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You have to walk all the way over to French Quarter for Beignets
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Other info
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Address & phone
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1251 Dixie Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Main: (407) 934-6000
Fax: (407) 934-5777
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