The Moderate resorts at Walt Disney World all have a lot going for them. They’re a popular choice for families owing to the added space over Value resorts, great theming, and reasonable pricing when compared to Deluxe resorts. The question of what Disney World moderate resort is the best is a common question, but one that’s difficult to answer. Each resort has a lot going for it and which one is best is going to depend heavily on what you’re looking for. We’ll try to answer the question of which one best is for the average Disney guest (whatever that means!) by highlighting what makes each resort special.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort is probably the most popular moderate resort among first time Disney Guests. It’s got a lot to pull in the first time visitor, most of all the theming. The Caribbean Island vibe just screams vacation and appeals to the adults in the group while the Pirate theming of the pool makes it a hit for the kids. It was the first Disney Resort I have ever stayed at, and is tied with the Boardwalk for most stays for me personally. I have many fond memories at this resort.
The resort underwent a huge overhaul fairly recently to make room for the Disney Skyliner transportation system and Disney’s Riviera Resort. These two additions give Caribbean Beach and undeniable win in terms of access to amenities outside of the resort. The Skyliner is a game changer, giving guests essentially direct access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via a 10-15 minute float through the air. This makes it a great choice for guests planning to spend a lot of time at those parks.
The addition of Disney’s Riviera Resort basically as part of Caribbean Beach gives that resort something other Moderate resorts don’t have – a signature dining experience in Topolino’s Terrace. The restaurant is a fan favorite and boasts once of the best Character Dining Breakfasts on property – just be quick with your ADRs for that one they go extremely fast!
So Caribbean Beach has great theming including the pool, excellent dining, and unique transportation. We can end the post here and declare them the winner, right? Not so fast! Despite all this, it’s not a resort I look to stay at personally. There are definite downsides. The primary one is that the resort is HUGE and the amenities are centrally located at Old Port Royale. That means you can get a significant walk away from dining, the main pool, and other amenities. The other big negative for us is that it’s a clear favorite of families which can make things feel extremely chaotic. It can sometimes feel like an extension of the Magic Kingdom in that regard. Those are personal preferences though, showing why finding an objective best resort is a bit of a fools errand. However, there is no denying that Disney’s Caribbean Beach is objectively a great resort for most visitors.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Coronado Springs has a lot in common with Caribbean Beach. It’s also a resort that recently had a significant addition to the hotel grounds with the construction of Gran Destino Tower several years back. Unlike Caribbean Beach and Riviera which are separate resorts, Gran Destino Tower is part of Coronado Springs. The rest of the resort is more like Caribbean Beach proper with outbuildings spread out across a large area. The tower is undeniably upscale feeling, feeling more like a top tier Vegas resort than a Disney Hotel. This can be a pro or con depending on perspective.
The other resort buildings are more inline with the buildings at Caribbean Beach. They’re smaller outbuildings spread around the resort with three distinctively themed areas – Ranchos, Casitas, and the Cabanas. Everyone seems to have their favorite. I’ve only ever stayed at the Ranchos, but I appreciated the desert feel of the grounds. I think most guests would say Caribbean beach has better theming, but I think that’s incorrect. I think the Caribbean beach theming is probably more popular – who doesn’t love a tropical island or pirates?! But I think Coronado is objectively more interesting theming across the resort.
One area where Coronado shines is with on-site dining. Toledo, at the top of the Gran Destino tower, is a signature restaurant at normal table service prices. It’s arguably the biggest hidden gem on property and is not to be missed if you’re staying at Coronado Springs resort. Another hidden gem on property is the Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa Del Lago – a restaurant that is literally in the middle of the lake. Not only does this present great ambiance but it helps negate the biggest downside of these sprawling moderate resorts by giving guests a dining option that’s central to any location. There are also 2 more table service restaurants at Coronado – Maya Grille and Rix’s Sports bar – as well as the usual cafeteria style quick service dining. So many options and all of them good to great!
The pool at Coronado Springs is criminally underrated as well. The Dig Site pool is fantastic with a nice pool bar. The location of this pool is another great move by Disney as they placed across the lake from the main buildings. Not only does this mean that each building is fairly close to something, but it spreads guests out across the resort so one area doesn’t get too chaotic. Well played Disney!
It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows at Coronado though. Transportation is a definite negative and has caused many guests to swear off Coronado after one visit. Disney busses are the only transportation option available at the resort and the addition of Gran Destino Tower put considerable strain on the system for a couple of years. Disney seems to have figured it out and bus transportation seems more reliable lately, but if busses aren’t your thing then neither is this resort. The other downside is that this is a convention resort. The guest demographic is going to skew much more adult when a conference is in town. For some this is a big enough negative to choose another resort, for couples like us I think it’s a benefit. Really depends on your situation and perspective.
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Though they are booked separately, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter can be thought of as one resort. They’re connected by a peaceful walkway along the river which takes only 5-10 minutes to traverse. You can really think of this as one BIG resort.
In my opinion, Disney’s Port Orleans resort is the best themed moderate resort, hands down. Both Riverside and French Quarter are superbly themed to southern US locations and are the epitome of the bygone era of strongly but tastefully themed Disney Resorts. It’s the only moderate resort where I will gladly spend hours wandering around the grounds or finding a quiet nook to relax and take in the sights and sounds. There is something very special about these resorts in that regard.
If these are sister resorts, then Riverside is the big sister. Disney built moderate resorts a very particular way and Riverside, just like Coronado and Caribbean beach, exemplifies this design. It’s similar to Caribbean beach in that amenities like dining and the main pool are centrally located. If you end up in one of the buildings along the edge of the property you’ll be in for a bit of a haul. But, again, the theming is such that the walk feels shorter than it is. Still, this can be a deal break for many and if it is for you, pay up for a preferred room which will be much closer to amenities.
Dining options is one area for both Riverside and French Quarter fall short. The only table service restaurant between the two resorts is located at Riverside; the underrated but uninspiring Boatwright’s Dining Hall. Nothing on the menu is particularly unique nor is it likely to blow you area, but it’s good food that will appeal to most. The quick service cafeteria style location, Riverside Mill, has the typical Disney quick service fare with some southern flare. All in all, on-site dining is not a reason to pick a Port Orleans, but the options that you do have are good.
If you’re someone who enjoys live entertainment, the River Roost lounge at Port Orleans Riverside offers a unique experience – the musical stylings of Yeehaa Bob Jackson. The fan favorite performer is an attraction in and of himself with folks travelling to the resort just to see him play his piano and hear him sing.
One unique feature of the Port Orleans Resort is the availability of boat transportation to Disney Springs. Running consistently throughout the day, this is one of my favorite “rides” in all of Disney World. A float down the Sassagoula passing the tree house villas at Saratoga Springs at night is downright romantic and particularly peaceful. This transportation option also counterbalances the lack of dining options at the resort itself. Disney Springs is the epicenter of dining on property and has everything you could be looking for. This is a game changer for foodies who don’t mind leaving the resort to scratch that itch.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
While we covered most of what makes the Port Orleans resorts unique in previous section covering Riverside, there is one thing that makes Port Orleans French Quarter a unicorn among Disney’s moderate resorts: its compact size. You can walk from one end to the other in 7 minutes or so. This is reason enough for some to dub it their favorite moderate resort (spoiler alert: like me). Getting off the bus or boat after a long day on your feet and knowing your room is 3 minutes away cannot be overstated. Or how about this, passing through the lobby on the way back to your room (because it’s basically on the way) and grabbing an order of Mickey beignets on the way through. That’s right, the Port Orleans French Quarter offers made to order Beignets at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe usually until around 10 or 11pm.
Next to the cafe serving beignets is Scat Cat’s Club Lounge, offering live jazz music on weekends. This is another top tier entertainment option in the Port Orleans Resort’s repertoire and like Yeehaa Bob, something that folks often plan their day around. Get there early as seats fill up quick. The location also offers small plates so it can be a real night out type feel if you want it to be.
The small footprint, beignets, and live jazz music are what make French Quarter great, but what about the not-so-great? Honestly, there is only one real negative to this resort and that’s the lack of a table service restaurant. In my opinion this is completely mitigated by the easy access to Disney Springs and has wasn’t an issue at all when we stayed there in 2023. Just take the boat to the Boathouse!
Conclusion
We’ve covered all 4 moderate locations and as you can see each has a lot going for it with some negatives that range from dealbreakers for some to minor inconveniences. So which one is best? That will always be a very personal opinion, but I’ll offer what I think are the best resorts based on certain categories as well as what I believe is the overall best moderate resort.
- Best Moderate Resort for Families – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Best Moderate Resort for a Staycation – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Best Moderate Resort for Tranquility/Romance – Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
- Best Moderate Resort Theming – Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
- Best Moderate Resort Overall – Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
What do you think? Do you agree with my list? Do you think I’m way off? Let me know in the comments what your favorite moderate resort is and why!
