For all your need to know stuff on Riverside, use the portorleans.org site. For an unofficial website on something, it is top notch, really comprehensive and also its accurate. Your probably best doing yourself a favour and not reading too much into some of the posts on tripadvisor, which going by your earlier comment about conflicting info you probably have, so I shall give my opinion on the talked about stuff.
Walking. The problem here of course, is a large number of people have a problem with that because they are that - large. If you walk reguarly and don't break into a sweat after 20 yards then you will be fine. Depending on your pace your about 10 minutes from the main part of the resort to the places at the edges. Now, that isnt that far when you consider the distances walked in the parks. There is a whole host of paths within Riverside. The one thing to remember is the wide grey paths will always take you onto the main path that goes around the Sassagoula river in a loop from the main part of the hotel. You will also find that walking around the floor you are on will bring you out on to the main path quicker, than if you go down the steps nearest you and round the path it leads onto.
Buses. This is another thing that is often over exagerated, and often from people whose tolerances on waiting are shorter than others. We go from the last weekend in June for two weeks - so over 4th July. Normally, we might have one or two times where we might have a longer than 20 minute wait, but never much longer than that. You can always get a driver to radio to his dispatcher to get the one for your park to look at getting a bus sent. If you want a more immediate response then you could always phone WDW Transport: 407-824-4321. I've got the number in my phone, never had cause to use it though. As has been said there is the main stop at the front of the hotel, and 3 around the perimiter. Magic and Downtown/Typhoon do the outside first and then the front. Magic swapped to outer route as it was normally the busiest, so it can drop off and pick up the outer stops first, allowing it to take on more at the South Depot and then see how many are left at the South Depot. If it goes full at South then the next bus is dispatched to do the South first and then around the hosue. All the other buses do the front and then go around. If getting a seat is important, then go to the main stop. If you dont mind standing then go to your nearest stop, as its going to save you a walk. It comes down to what might be a seat vs walk scenario. I know what I would choose.
If you are leaving a park and it has been a while, then go to the man in the white van and explain how long you have been there for and see what they say. From MK (or EPCOT at night if they split buses) hop on a bus to FQ and then walk or get the boat up. I did that a few times last year if the RS queue was too long when often there was no queue for FQ.
What some people don't realise, or may not be aware of is, you have resorts like the EPCOT resorts - Yacht/Beach Swan/Dolphin Boardwalk that all share the same bus from some places. Or hotels like the MK resorts sharing. When you think of the numbers and price for those resorts - we are def better off.
Rooms. I personally don't think the rooms are that small, however you will get people who are used to rooms of a bigger size at some chains and expect Disney to be the same. When it comes to Disney you are going to be in your less than most hotels so are smaller. As you'll also be aware the rooms are all being done up just now, not that they needed it really, but its nice to have a refresh. Bathrooms. This is what I don't understand with some of the reports on tripadvisor. Yes, the room in which the bath and toilet is small, but you have two sinks outside shared between max 4 or 5 of you. Now, for a family orientated room that is a pretty good idea as you can all get ready that bit quicker than you would if your sink was in the bathroom with the tub and toilet.
Food. The food is decent and RS is often classed as having one of the best food courts, and thats what it is - a food court - so you should expect quick service meals like you would get at a food court anywhere else like a mall. I think people have the belief they will be having restaurant quality food in there (or anywhere) as it is a hotel but your not going to as its not designed to be that, and the prices reflect that. A lot of people have misconceived ideas about what to expect, of course, if they read up, like you have, then that wouldnt be such a problem.
Why is it good?
We wouldn't stay anywhere else than RS. Yacht/Beach a possibility as can walk to EPCOT but the bus service would be a pain - and we used it once last year to get from AK to Yacht club. Ooft.
Riverside is one of the best landscaped resorts on property, and the walk around it adds to the quality of the place. If you are up early enough then you can get some great reflection photos on the river.
What is also good about the resort is that unless you are at the main part of the hotel or the main pool on ol man island it always seems quiet - which is a nice change from the parks. The quiet pools are also a treat - the ones at the mansions are the best though as always think the ones at the bayou's are nosier, and due to the shape, you can have your own space in the mansion one to say throw a ball about without annoying anyone which you cant do at the bayou pools.
Personally love the food on offer in the foodcourt - especially the chocolate cake, rich as anything, but really, reallly nice.
The entertainment offered at the pool, and the movie nights are now going year round which is a bonus and perfect for the 'day off' from the parks. You also have 'YeeHa Bob' in the lounge, although we have never really spent more than a handful of nights there in our time going, for a number of reasons - normally want to be in a park or we come back and its packed and he is alrite, but not the thing we would sit at each night.
The boat to Downtown is a really nice relaxing way to get about - just hope there isn't much in the way of thunder and lightning as if there is, it wont run.
