Disney Moderate Resorts Overview for Your Disney World Vacation

The Disney Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World offer on-site perks to their guests as well as middle of the road budget friendly option. They offer accommodations for families of 5 and have a few more on-site amenities than the Disney Value Resorts. Today I am sharing what you can expect from your stay at the Disney Moderate Resorts.

The Disney Moderate Resorts are a step up in price and amenities from the Disney Value resorts. They typically offer more on-site dining options and the pool areas usually have water slides. They also offer rooms that fit a family of five which makes them a better budget friendly option for larger families.

Related Post: Disney Value Resorts Reviews

The Disney Moderate Resorts are all located on-site at Walt Disney World. As a family we prefer to stay on-site at Disney World because we like to stay “inside the Disney bubble” This is a personal preference and all families needs are different. Read more about why I like to stay on-site at Walt Disney World.

Staying on-site at Disney does offer perks to their guests. These are:

  • Extra Magic Hours (Enter the theme parks early or stay later.)
  • Make FastPass reservations 60 days prior to arrival.
  • On-site transportation to and from the resort to parks and the Orlando Airport. (Included with stay)

When planning your Disney vacation it is important to decide what your priorities are. Staying at a Disney resort does not give you a huge hotel room but you will have other perks like early park entry. You should consider the needs of your family and how much time you will spend in the room during your visit.

We have stayed off-site and really enjoyed the Encore Resorts. They offer more space but guests will not have access to the on-site perks.

Disney Moderate Resorts

  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort(Located in the Epcot Resort Area )
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Located in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area )
  • Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter(Located in the Disney Springs Resort Area)
  • Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside (Located in the Disney Springs Resort Area )
  • The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (Located in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area)

All of these resorts offer complimentary transportation for their guests to and from the parks. There are pools and playgrounds as well as daily activities for your non-park days. They also all have table-service dining, quick-service dining, and evening pizza delivery.

Table-service dining differs from quick-service in that you sit down and have a server. Quick-service is a food court atmosphere. Most Table-Service dining requires reservations. You do not have to be staying at a resort to make reservations at their restaurants or explore the resort. Pool access is only available to guests staying at that resort.

Overview of the Disney’s Moderate Resorts

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

disney on a budget resorts for families
The pull-down bed is over the green bench.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a good choice for families of five, like us, because the rooms have two queen beds and 1 pull-down child size bed. This fits our family great and it is always a good choice when visiting Walt Disney World.

Caribbean Beach has also gone through room and property renovations making it a great choice for your vacation. Caribbean Beach is one of the largest on-site resorts and the buses make many stops through the resort.

  • Rooms- Standard Rooms (5 People) & Pirate Rooms (4 People)
  • Dining:
    • Sebastian’s Bistro (Table Service)
    • Centertown Market (Quick Service)
  • Pool-Fuentes del Morro Pool(Main Pool with Water Slide), 5 Other pools throughout the resort.
  • Playground, Arcade
  • Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
  • Campfire Activities
  • Parking $19.00/night (As of June 2019)
  • Starting in the Fall of 2019 the Disney Skyliner will offer transportation from Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Read More: 6 Tips for Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Newly added towers at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Photo Courtesy: WDW News

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is going through some big renovations that have lasted well over a year. The Southwest theme will stay the same but they have updated the current rooms as well as added an entirely new section of rooms.

  • Rooms- Standard (4 People) + Junior Suites/Executive Suites (6-8 People)*Not Moderate Priced
  • Dining:
    • Three Bridges Bar & Grill (Table Service)
    • Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (Table Service)
    • Maya Grill (Table Service)
    • Cafe Rix (Quick Service)
    • El Mercado de Coronado (Quick Service).
    • There are also bars and lounges throughout the resort as well as room service and pizza delivery.
  • Pool- The main pool has a water slide and splash area. For a quieter pool you can check out the 3 other pools throughout the resort.
  • Playground, Arcade
  • Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
  • Campfire Activities
  • Parking $19.00/night (As of June 2019)

Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter

Have Diapers Will Travel French Quarter
Photo Courtesy: Have Diapers, Will Travel

Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter is Mardi Gras themed and within walking distance of its sister resort Port Orleans-Riverside. It is the smaller of the two resorts and has a few less amenities than the larger Riverside resort. Guests staying at either Port Orleans resort can enjoy the amenities at each. Read more about Port Orleans-French Quarter from our friends at Have Diapers, Will Travel.

  • Rooms- Standard (4 People)
  • Dining:
    • Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory(Quick Service)
  • Pool- Doubloon Lagoon, Shares pools with Port Orleans-Riverside
  • Playground, Arcade
  • Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
  • Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
  • Sunday Mornings- Beignet Fun Run
  • Parking $19.00/night (As of June 2019)

Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside

Photo Courtesy: WDW News

Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside is the larger of the Port Orleans resorts and it also offers standard rooms that fit five.

  • Rooms- Standard (5 People) + Royal Guest Rooms (4 People)
  • Dining:
    • Boatwright’s Dining Hall (Table Service)
    • Riverside Mill Food Court (Quick Service)
  • Pools- Ol’ Man Island (Main pool with Water Slide), 5 Leisure Resort Pool, Also shared pool with French Quarter
  • Playground and Arcade
  • Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
  • Campfire, Bike Rentals, Fishing
  • Parking $13.00/night (As of June 2019)

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Photo Courtesy: WDW News

Disney’s Cabins at the Fort Wilderness Lodge have a full kitchen and a bit more space to stretch out. They are located at the Fort Wilderness Resort and offer many outdoor family activities.

  • Rooms-Cabin with 1 Queen Bed, 1 Double Sleeper Sofa, and Bunk Bed (6 People)
  • Dining:
    • Trail’s End Restaurant(Table Service)
    • P & J’s Southern Takeout (Quick Service)
    • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Dinner Show)
  • Pool- Meadow Swimmin’ Pool (Main Pool with Water Slide), 1 Leisure Pool
  • Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
  • Archery, Horse Back Riding, Wagon Rides, Fishing, Kayak
  • Chip n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing Along (Free Campfire activity. S mores Kits available for purchase.)
  • Parking $19.00/night (As of June 2019)
  • Guests can also view the Electrical Water Pageant that is on the lake.

Disney Moderate resorts offer a step up from the value resorts and great options for families of five. They have fun on-site activities as well as great pools and places to eat during your Disney vacation.

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