Disney’s moderate resorts sit in the sweet spot between value and deluxe. More amenities than the All-Star resorts and Pop Century, without the price tag of the Polynesian or Grand Floridian. But is the upgrade actually worth it for families on a budget?
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.
We have stayed at three of the four Disney moderate resorts as a family of five, although the fourth Port Orleans-French Quarter we have toured, and it is very similar to Port Orleans Riverside.
They have accommodations for families of 5 and have a few more on-site amenities than the Disney Value Resorts. Overall they are a great option for your Disney trip but let’s get into all the details so you can choose the best one for you and your family.
Here is our honest comparison of every moderate resort: what you get, what you give up, and whether we think the upgrade from a value resort is worth it for your family.
Already know you want a value resort? Read our Disney Value Resorts Ranked for our honest picks from worst to best.
Planning your full Walt Disney World vacation? Our Walt Disney World Guide covers everything- park guides, Lightning Lane strategy, dining, and resort tips.
Moderate Resorts at Disney World
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (Epcot Resort Hotel )
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Animal Kingdom Resort Area )
- Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter(Disney Springs Resort Area)
- Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside (Disney Springs Resort Area )
- Fort Wilderness Cabins were considered a moderate resort, and still are by some, but as per the Walt Disney World website they are not.
Perks of Staying at a Disney Moderate Resort
The Disney Moderate Resorts offer more resort amenities, like water slides and table service restaurants, and cost a bit more than the value resorts.
Some of the perks of staying at a moderate resort include:
- Multiple pools, water slide, splash area
- On-site Table Service Dining Options
- Rooms with a 5th sleeper to fit a family of five
- Transportation to and from all the Disney Parks & Disney Springs
- Early Park Entry (30 minutes before official park opening, all Disney resort guests have this perk.)
- On-site guests can book Lightning Lane 7 days before check-in. (all guests)
There are daily activities for your non-park days. They also all have table-service dining, quick-service dining, and evening pizza delivery.
Cost of Moderate Resorts
The Disney World moderate resorts nightly rate start around $270.00/night. This can fluctuate depending on availability, season, and special offers at the time.
Comparing the Disney Moderate Resorts
Let’s take a look at how the moderate resorts at Walt Disney World compare to each other.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Caribbean Beach Resort has a beachy/pirate theme of the Caribbean. It has island vibes and the rooms are designated as different islands in the Caribbean.
Caribbean Beach is one of the largest on-site resorts and the buses make many stops through the resort, thankfully guests have the Skyliner as an option too. Caribbean Beach is the only moderate resort on the Disney Skyliner route.
The Disney Skyliner transports guests to/from the resort to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because of this the nightly rate may be higher than the other moderate resorts.
- Rooms- Standard Rooms (5 People) & Pirate Rooms (4 People)
- Dining:
- Sebastian’s Bistro (Table Service, Reservations Recommended)
- Centertown Market (Quick Service)
- Centertown Market Grab & Go
- Spyglass Grill
- Banana Cabana
- 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: Included with Stay
This resort is a good choice for a family of five, like us, because the rooms have two queen beds and 1 pull-down child size bed. Full resort review of Caribbean Beach Resort coming soon.
Update: This fit our family great when they were small but now that we are visiting Disney with teens I would not stay a week in this type of room. More details later in this post about a better option.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Southwest theme blends the unique cultures of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest America.
- Rooms- Standard (4 People) + Villas/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)
- Rix Sports Bar & Grill
- Dahlia Lounge
- Barcelona Lounge
- Siesta Cantina
- Laguna Bar
- 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: Included with Stay
Coronado Springs is a good choice if you are a family of 4. It has a great theme and layout giving you a moderate themed resort but without the option of a 5th sleeper.
They do offer village suites that fit groups up to 8 guests but the prices point is not comparable to a moderate resort.
Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside is the larger of the Port Orleans resorts and it also offers standard rooms that fit five. It has been on my Disney resort bucket list for years because of its Louisianna Bayou vibes. and easy access to Mickey Beignets.
Disney’s Port Orleans-Riverside is a large resort that feels like you are miles away from a theme park. It has The Princess and the Frog themed rooms and offers a 5th sleeper for guests.
- Rooms- Standard (5 People) + Royal Guest Rooms (4 People)
- Dining:
- Boatwright’s Dining Hall (Table Service, Reservation Recommended)
- Riverside Mill Food Court (Quick Service)
- Muddy Rivers
- River Roost
- 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: Included with your Stay
Honestly I really loved Port Orleans. We only had one night at the resort and everything about it was welcoming and unique. I loved that we could walk around the lake to French Quarter to pick up Mickey Beignets, and the theme throughout the resort was really nice.
Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter is Mardi Gras themed and within walking distance of its sister resort Port Orleans-Riverside.
French Quarter is the smaller of the two resorts and has a few less amenities than the larger Riverside resort but the theme is outstanding. Guests will feel as if they are walking around the French Quarter.
- Rooms- Standard (4 People)
- Dining:
- Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory(Quick Service)
- Scat Cat’s Club
- Scat Cat’s Club-Cafe (Mickey Beignets!)
- Mardi Grogs
- Pool- Doubloon Lagoon, Shares pools with Port Orleans-Riverside
- Playground, Arcade
- Daily Activities(Trivia/Games/Crafts) and Nightly Outdoor Movies
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
- Parking: Included with Your Stay
Guests staying at either Port Orleans resort can enjoy the amenities at each. If we didn’t need the 5th sleeper I would consider staying at French Quarter to be closer to the beignets! Our full Port Orleans-Riverside review will be published soon.
Is a Disney Moderate Resort Worth the Upgrade?
The honest answer depends on your family’s priorities. Here is how we think about it:
Upgrade to a moderate resort if:
- A pool with a water slide matters to your family, moderate resorts all have them, value resorts don’t
- You want on-site table service dining at your resort
- You want more immersive theming. Moderate resorts feel noticeably more like a destination than the All-Star resorts
- You are staying 5+ nights and plan to spend time at the resort between park days
- You are visiting as a couple or with older teens who will appreciate the atmosphere
Stick with a value resort if:
- You are a family of 5 with kids over 10. The 5th sleeper at moderate resorts is a pull-down child-size bed that works for younger kids but gets tight for older ones. Connecting rooms at All-Star Sports give you more space, two bathrooms, and often a lower total cost
- You spend almost all your time at the parks and only use the hotel to sleep
- Budget is the primary concern. The difference between a value and moderate can be $70-100+ per night, which adds up significantly over a week-long trip
We made this exact decision on our last trip and chose connecting rooms at All-Star Sports over a moderate resort room. The total cost was less than one moderate resort room and we had significantly more space. For our family of five with teens, it was absolutely the right call.
That said, we genuinely loved our most recent Port Orleans Riverside stay. Sometimes the atmosphere and theming of a resort is worth the extra cost, especially when you want the trip to feel special from the moment you check in.
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. All Disney tier resorts offer early entry to their guests.
You should consider the needs of your family and how much time you will spend in the room during your visit.
Deciding on your resort is personal preference, we preferred to have two bathrooms and space over a pool with a water slide. Having a water slide and larger pools may be a higher priority than the space of your room.
It depends on the age of your travel party and what you plan to do. My biggest tip is to do your research and be honest with what you can budget and what is important to you.
You really can’t go wrong staying at a Disney resort during your Disney trip.
Comparing all your Disney resort options? Read our Best Disney Resorts for Families of 5 for our complete comparison across value, moderate, and deluxe options.
Planning your full Walt Disney World vacation? Our Walt Disney World Guide covers everything.
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.