Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World are often the unsung heroes when it comes to staying on property. They offer a bit more than the Value Resorts but are more affordable than their more expensive counterparts, the Disney Deluxe Resorts. Here’s a roundup of the Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World!
Walt Disney World has 3 resort categories. Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Each resort category offers different things, at different price points, and in this post, we are sharing what you need to know about value resorts at Walt Disney World. And how you can decide if a Disney Moderate Resort is right for your Walt Disney World vacation!
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What Are Disney Moderate Resorts?
Some of our favorite resorts at Disney World are moderate resorts. A step up from Disney Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts offer hotel rooms typically in the $250-$450 per night range. Offering a variety of views, you can stay in any of these hotels for a Disney Hotel experience, without too much “Disney.” Unlike the Disney Value Resorts, they also offer a variety of transportation options to get you to and from the parks. Disney buses, boats and even the Skyliner are options at some of these hotels. There are four moderate resorts at Walt Disney World.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach
- Disney’s Coronado Springs
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Moderate Hotels at Disney World are similar to Deluxe hotels in that they also have a table service restaurant, and a Disney Bar and Lounge. Things like beaches at Caribbean Beach, the boat service to Disney Springs from the Port Orleans Hotels, and the Chronos Club Level at Coronado Springs, make the upgrade to a moderate resort, worth it for many. Here’s everything to know about the Moderate Hotels at Disney World.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is themed to the Caribbean Islands. Brightly colored buildings, small beaches throughout the resort, and a lush tropical setting make this resort really feel like you’re on vacation. It’s home to the Pirate rooms and is located right next to Disney’s Riviera Resort. This resort is quite large, although it’s size has diminished a bit since Disney took down the old Barbados and Martinique sections to replace with the Riviera.
Pros of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
We love Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, so there are a lot of pros to us! Firstly, it’s located on the Skyliner route. This gives you easy access to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and any of the other Skyliner resorts in case you want to grab food or just visit. It also tends to be one of the less expensive moderate resorts, and room availability is pretty good. Since it’s within walking distance of Disney’s Riviera Resort, guests staying here have more dining options at their fingertips. Dining options like Topolino’s Terrace, Le Petit Cafe, and Primo Piatto might be a little bit challenging to get to if you’re staying somewhere else, but at Caribbean Beach, it’s right there!
And Caribbean Beach has its own dining options that are pretty great as well. We are big fans of Sebastian’s Bistro and even their food court has some different types of cuisine that we’ve enjoyed seeing in a food court setting.
Cons of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Since the size of the resort is quite large, that can mean a lot of walking. For some, that’s not really a big deal; but for those who are traveling with little ones or who have mobility challenges, it should be noted. Since the resort is so large, it can make taking the Disney busses a hassle. They are usually quite crowded. And due to the multiple bus stops at this resort, sometimes the people at the last stop, those staying in Aruba, don’t get picked up and you have to wait a while for the next one to come around. And the Skyliner can be quite far from the rest of the resort unless you’re staying in Jamaica.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has gotten an upgrade in recent years! The addition of Gran Destino Tower not only brought in a new class of rooms for moderate resorts, but also new restaurants and lounges. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is themed to the American Southwest, while Gran Destino Tower is inspired by Spanish influences. The rooms at Coronado Springs are set up in a traditional fashion for moderates, with multiple buildings and doors that open up to the outside. Whereas Gran Destino Tower is set up more like a deluxe resort, with all of the rooms with doors on the inside of the building.
Pros of Disney’s Coronado Springs
Coronado Springs is a great place to stay, especially if you’re on a budget. The rooms, excluding those in the tower, tend to be on the less expensive side. And due to the size of this resort, there is usually plenty of availability. There are also quite a few different room types to choose from and at different price points, so it’s generally pretty easy to find something that suits your needs. The dining options at Coronado Springs are pretty fantastic and we think that’s a huge plus!
Cons of Disney’s Coronado Springs
Coronado Springs only has bus transportation. Due to this, the bus lines can get very long, both at the resort and at the Parks. There is also a conference center at Coronado Springs, so it can be quite busy when there is a business conference.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is often a fan favorite in the Moderate Category. Its small size makes it very manageable and not feel too overwhelming. It is themed to New Orleans’ historic French Quarter, with fun hints of Mardi Gras. It’s located right next to Port Orleans Riverside, making it easy to get to if you want to enjoy their grounds or restaurants. The vibe here is fun and quaint and we always love visiting it when we have the time.
Pros of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Since this resort is so small, there really is no bad place to stay. Every room is convenient to the food court and main transportation areas. There is also a ferry boat that takes guests to and from Disney Springs, making it an easy ride over. French Quarter is also home to Disney’s famous Mickey beignets, and they are cooked fresh as you order them. It really is quite a treat! They also have the Scat Cat’s Club on site, which means late night drinks, and live music. Plus, that fact that it is walking distance to Port Orleans Riverside means that you also get access to those restaurants as well.
Cons of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
One of the biggest cons of staying at French Quarter is that the only transportation to the Parks is the Disney busses. Luckily, due to its smaller size, the lines tend not to be too long and the waits are usually pretty reasonable. Since it is smaller, there is also usually less availability and the rooms tend to be more expensive than some of the others in this category.
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside is a beautiful, peaceful resort located right on the Sassagoula River. It’s themed to the Louisianna Bayou of the old south. This resort is welcoming and charming and is home to the Royal Guest Rooms, which are some of the prettiest rooms at Walt Disney World!
Pros of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans Riverside is generally a pretty quiet resort due to its sprawling layout. There are plenty of places to walk and you can even rent bikes to ride along the river. Just like French Quarter, there is ferryboat transportation to and from Disney Springs. As mentioned earlier, this resort houses the Royal Guest Rooms, which are sure to be a treat for any Princess fan.
Cons of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Also like French Quarter, there is only one method of transportation to and from the Parks and that’s the Disney busses. The lines and wait times are usually not too bad, but it’s good to note that it’s your only option. This resort tends to be a little more expensive than some of the moderates and the Royal Guest Rooms are many times excluded from discounts and promotions.
Pros and Cons of Disney Moderate Resorts
Are Disney Moderate Resorts right for your family trip to Disney World? To level set, we stayed at Disney Value Resorts for years before we upgraded to the next level. And then after that we found it hard to go back to the Value Resorts, unless for nostalgia reasons. The Pros of a Disney Moderate Resorts include the on property restaurants, which just gave us so many more options of where and what to eat. The transportation alternatives for us were huge! The chance to stay at Caribbean Beach, with easy access to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT because of the Skyliner where big pluses. And then the boat transportation at Port Orleans Resorts, not to mention the beignets, gives us an easy reason to stay every time.
Cons of the Moderate Resorts are somewhat obvious. They are more expensive, they are not really Disney themed and don’t really “feel” like Disney. That said, that can be both a good and bad thing. While Disney’s French Quarter has cute touches, if you’re there to take advantage of Scat Cats Lounge, live music or the boutique resort feeling, it can be pretty pricey for a stay.
Disney Moderate Resort Prices
While the Disney Value Resorts are the cheapest at Walt Disney World and the Disney Deluxe Resorts the most expensive, many consider the Moderate Resorts at Disney to be worth the price. How much do the Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World cost? As with all of the resorts at Walt Disney World, this really depends on the time of year and availability. At between $200-$400 per night, give or take, it’s in the middle range of cost on the Disney Resort Categories list. And while this does vary throughout the year, and changes with different room type choices, you’d be surprised what an upgrade this feels like from the All Stars Resorts.
Overall Review of Disney World Moderate Resorts
There you have it. All four resorts are in the Moderate category. With more upscale amenities and a variety of transportation options, like the Boat Transportation at the Port Orleans Resorts, or the Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, we think you’d find the extra cost worth it if you’re hoping to add Disney Resort time to your vacation. Have you stayed at any of the Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World? Did you have a favorite?
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she’s watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
