How to Choose A Walt Disney World Hotel – Moderate Resorts

Today I continue my series on Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation from beginning to end. Last week was the Value Resorts. Now it’s time to continue with how to choose a Moderate Resort! (For more information on the Moderate Resorts, check out this post.) There are five Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World. They are Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins.

The moderate resorts all have great theming. Some have specialty rooms such as pirate rooms (Caribbean Beach) or royal princess rooms (Port Orleans Riverside). Some of these resorts even have capacity for 5 or 6 guests so they can be great for large families. All of the resorts have a lot to offer including restaurants, great pools (with water slides and hot tubs), running paths, and gift shops.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach Resort is a large resort. There are 5 separate villages (Barbados, Aruba, Jamaica, Martinique, and Trinidad) with multiple room buildings in each village. One really great perk of this resort is the beautiful water views that it has from much of the property.

The rooms will have 2 queen beds or 1 king bed, with the exception of the Pirate Rooms which have two full-sized beds. Many rooms (non-pirate) have an extra twin-sized Murphy bed allowing them to accommodate up to 5 guests. For a room closest to the main building, main pool, bus stop, and food areas (Old Port Royale), choose a preferred room over a standard room.

One of the gems of Caribbean Beach is the Pirate rooms. They are really adorable! The flooring looks like the deck of a pirate ship. The beds are even shaped like pirate ships! The downside to these rooms is that they are the farthest away from Old Port Royale, but the rooms are really fun so it might be worth it for you.

This resort is really big but there is an internal bus system which will stop not too far from your room and take you up to Old Port Royale. You can also walk there quite easily.
Dining- Old Port Royale is home to Sebastian’s Bistro- a full service restaurant with Caribbean food. There’s also a food court- Centertown Market- open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Banana Cabana is the pool bar, open midday.

Theme Park access is easy via Disney Bus or Minnie Van (or your own transportation if you wish). Soon you’ll be able to access Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot via Disney’s Skyliner, scheduled to open soon.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs resort is also a large resort, and the new Gran Torino Tower is great for both families and business travelers alike. This is the only Moderate resort with a convention center, so it also has some junior suites and a few business level amenities. Most rooms have two queen beds and some rooms have one king bed. With the exception of the junior suites, the rooms all accommodate up to four guests.

Dining- Being such a large resort, there are quite a few restaurants at Coronado Springs. For a quick meal, you can visit the Pepper Market or Cafe Rix. Maya Grill is a great option for a table service restaurant. And for business travelers and weary parents alike, you can grab a drink at Rix Lounge, Siesta’s Cantina (pool bar), or Laguna Bar.
Theme Park access is easy via Disney Bus or Minnie Van (or your own transportation if you wish).

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort

Port Orleans Riverside is a great resort with two main sections- Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. The Bayou section looks like the bayous of the South and has the feel of a swamp. (Though the Disney magic of air-conditioning is in the rooms so it’s not as bad as the swamp inside!) Magnolia Bend looks a lot like the old South plantation mansions. This section even features two buildings of Royal Guest Rooms- where you can stay like a princess in these whimsical yet beautiful rooms.

There is an internal bus system from the guest rooms up to the Sassagoula Steamboat Company main building if you prefer that to walking.

Dining- There are a few restaurants and lounges here. The full-service restaurant is Boatrights Dining Hall, themed after a shipyard. The food is classic cajun cuisine and it’s a fun place to eat. For a quick meal, visit the Riverside Mill food court or grab some various grocery sundries from Fulton’s General Store. If you’d like an adult beverage or some quick bites, visit the River Roost Lounge in the evenings, or the pool bar.

Theme Park access is easy via Disney Bus or Minnie Van (or your own transportation if you wish). Access to Disney Springs is available via Sassagoula River Cruise ferry boats.

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

This resort is my favorite moderate resort! It’s by far the smallest resort with only 7 small buildings for rooms. Most rooms have 2 queen beds which will accommodate up to 4 guests, but some rooms have a king bed which will accommodate up to 2 guests. The swimming pool has a water slide that has you sliding down a dragon’s tail. The river view rooms have a beautiful view of the Sassagoula River.

Dining- Being a smaller resort, there is not a table service restaurant, but there is a fantastic food court where you can celebrate Mardi Gras every day. The Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory has all kinds of food, but don’t leave until you’ve tried their beignets which are just as good as you’d find in New Orleans! There is also a small grocery area in Jackson Square Gifts and Desires, and the bar/lounge at Scat Cat’s Club, and a small bar at the pool.

Theme Park access is easy via Disney Bus or Minnie Van (or your own transportation if you wish). Access to Disney Springs is available via Sassagoula River Cruise ferry boats.

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Fort Wilderness Resort deserves its own post because of the many activities they offer, but they have two options for stay. One is campsites, where you bring your own tent or RV, and the other option is the Cabins that can accommodate up to 6 guests. The Cabins have a full kitchen but only one bathroom, so if you need more space you might want to consider a Deluxe Villa resort, but these Cabins are more moderately priced. One really fun thing here is renting a golf cart for the week which can help you get around the campground.

Dining- quite a few options are at Fort Wilderness. Crockett’s Tavern, P and J’s Southern Take Out, and the Fort Wilderness Food Truck are the quick service options. For table service (and a show!) try Trail’s End buffet, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, and Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, which is a full show with dinner. These three restaurants are popular among all Walt Disney World guests no matter where they are staying, so be sure to make a reservation if you’d like to eat there.

Theme Park access- you can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom, or a bus to the other theme parks or other guest areas. An internal bus system will take you to the bus stop or boat dock. It’s a must to take this internal bus system because there is not a sidewalk throughout the entire resort.

So there you have it- an overview of the Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World! Do you have a favorite Moderate Resort? Let us know in the comments! Up next week – the Deluxe Resorts!