Disney World Moderate Resort Rankings
Which Walt Disney World Moderate Resort hotel is best? It’s a common question among vacation planners, and unlike Value Resorts, it’s difficult to answer. Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter each have strengths & weaknesses, and our “worst” might be your “best.” (Updated November 6, 2022.)
With that said, we’re going to attempt to rank the best and the worst Moderate Resorts, being as objective as humanly possible here. We’re also going to note the pros & cons of each, discuss theme, amenities, resort layout & size, and other variables that impact the ranking. That way, you can choose the Walt Disney World Moderate Resort that will appeal to you most, irrespective of its ranking here.
This article was pretty much entirely re-written following the opening of Gran Destino Tower, which is itself a separate entry on this list. Both Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs also finished multi-year expansion and refurbishment projects and the Port Orleans Resorts have had their guest rooms redone. We’ve again revisited the rankings in Late 2022 based on recent stays and visits this year. Suffice to say, all of these Moderate Resorts are dramatically different from what they were like even a few years ago.
In general, the Moderate Resorts don’t receive enough attention. Budget-minded tourists flock to the Value Resorts (read our Value Resort Rankings), and guests seeking more extravagant trips go to the Deluxe Resorts (read our Deluxe Resort Rankings). While these are good reasons to stay at Value and Deluxe Resorts, what about those who want a little compromise? Those for whom cost is a concern, but not the overriding concern?
We often find ourselves in this position, and frequently pick Moderate Resorts when looking for the best compromise. I feel that all of the Moderate Resorts offer solid theming, which is far superior to the Value Resorts (unless you have small children who really like the style of the Values). Moreover, Moderates are significantly cheaper than the Deluxe Resorts. This makes Disney’s Moderates the ultimate “compromise” option.
With that in mind, let’s dig into the rankings…
N/A. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
We’ve decided to remove Fort Wilderness from our rankings as it’s a complete disservice to them and the other resorts on this list to even draw a comparison. Walt Disney World has Fort Wilderness listed as a “Moderate Resort” but that’s only because the campground doesn’t fit anywhere else. Ultimately, Fort Wilderness is a love it or hate it kind of thing, and you probably already know whether it appeals to you.
I happen to love Fort Wilderness. It’s one of my favorite places (calling it a “resort” is playing a bit fast and loose with the term) in Walt Disney World. Until Shades of Green came into being, we stayed at Fort Wilderness every year on our family trips, and I made a lot of memories there.
Beyond that, it’s one of the few vestiges of the original “Vacation Kingdom of the World,” and is a stark contrast to most other places to stay at Walt Disney World. The theming is natural: an undisturbed bastion of wilderness, with just enough artifice carved out so that Disney guests never are truly “roughing it.”
Fort Wilderness certainly isn’t for everyone, but preconceived notions and misconceptions of what it is will likely preclude some from giving it a chance. The Cabins are, in essence, Villas in cabin form, and are nicer than many other hotel rooms. This gives guests the best of both worlds: the ability to enjoy the natural world while staying in a nice hotel room. Fort Wilderness offers fishing, boat rentals, and a myriad of other activities that families with young children will enjoy, and has some great dining, too.
All of that said, given its price and the nature of the cabins, it doesn’t really make sense for me to compare it to the Moderate Resorts. It’s a great resort, if that’s what you’re after, but it is a definite outlier from the rest of this list in terms of what it offers and its price point. For that reason, I’m ranking it last. It’s by no means a bad option, but that’s with the “if you have a larger party wanting to stay in a cabin” caveat.
For what it is (an alternative to a Villa or Family Suite), I’ll give it a “highly recommend” ranking, but if you’re in the market for a single Moderate Resort room, you shouldn’t be looking at the Fort Wilderness Cabins.
5. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Our full Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort review has long considered the hotel something of a “mixed bag.” On the one hand, I think the rooms are among the nicest of all standard Moderate Resorts as they utilize space very well, are very modern, and have a variety of substantive enhancements not found at other resorts.
Moreover, Coronado Springs has an excellent pool area, far and away the most robust slate of dining options of any Moderate Resort, and other amenities not found at other hotels on this list. While not to everyone’s tastes, some of the outlying buildings are nicely themed, as well.
On the other hand, Gran Destino towering in the distance is a blight on the rest of the resort. This boxy, Vegas-style hotel aimed at conventioneers is definitely at-odds with the rest of the resort’s theming, and doesn’t belong at Coronado Springs. (Others who rank Coronado Springs low feel the convention clientele drags down the atmosphere; we disagree, but it’s a common enough complaint to warrant listing it here.)
With Gran Destino now open, our position on Coronado Springs Resort is that you should stay in that tower–if it appeals to you–or at a different resort entirely. More than anything else, themed design is what separates Walt Disney World resorts from the competition. In that regard, Gran Destino too huge of a blow to the rest of Coronado Springs to ignore.
4. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
It breaks my heart a little to put this in the #4 slot. For years, Port Orleans Riverside was our favorite Moderate Resort, and where we stayed more than anywhere else on this list. That hasn’t been true for at least a few years, and if I’m being honest with myself, I now love the idea of Port Orleans Riverside more than the actual resort. We still love to visit and spend time at this thematic exemplar, but when push comes to shove and we’re actually doing a stay for practical purposes, Riverside ranks low on our list of choices.
The simple fact is that each of the top 3 entries offer actual advantages to improve the quality of your vacation. That comes either via superior ease of access or luxurious accommodations. Riverside has neither of those things, instead having some of the most inefficient transportation and basic rooms, even following the recent refresh. Those downsides have become too big to ignore, and are the reason we find ourselves visiting Riverside rather than staying here–even though we love it.
With that said, Port Orleans Riverside has many strengths. It has an underrated slate of dining options, from the food court to the hidden gem table service restaurant to the lounge. It offers the theming of a Deluxe Resort for the price of a Moderate. It has the entertainment offerings of a Deluxe Resort for the price of a Moderate.
Riverside is divided into the rustic Alligator Bayou and more stately Magnolia Bend mansions; this gives it more variety, and richness in detail and design. The backstory is likewise interesting, engaging, and executed cleverly throughout the resort.
The grounds are absolutely stunning, with rich wilderness in the bayou and perfectly manicured gardens around the mansions. The quiet pathways that litter Riverside make it a great place to take a romantic stroll or evening surrey bike ride. Despite being fairly spread out, it presents as intimate and romantic, and offers the most immersive themed environments of any Moderate Resort.
Thanks to the bikes, carriage rides, and fishing, there’s a lot to do at Riverside. There’s also great evening entertainment for adults. Dining is also great at Riverside, with an excellent (and well-themed) restaurant in Boatwright’s and a very fun food court that offers plenty of variety in Riverside Mill.
3. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter used to be its own resort, simply “Port Orleans.” When the post-9/11 dip in tourism hit Walt Disney World, the former Dixie Landings and Port Orleans Resorts, which were in the process of being consolidated, received further consolidations to save on operating expenses.
This is significant because it meant shuttering Bonfamille’s Cafe table-service restaurant, and the loss of bike and boat rentals. French Quarter now “shares” these amenities, plus watercraft rentals and carriage rides, with its sister resort, Port Orleans – Riverside. While annoying, it’s fairly easy to access all of this with a short walk or boat ride over to Riverside.
Fans of French Quarter are most likely to point to its size–it’s the most compact of all the Moderate Resorts–as the primary reason why it’s the best Moderate Resort. With the opening of Gran Destino Tower, French Quarter has been bested in that regard, and falls down the list a bit as a result. However, the two aren’t really comparable–especially in price–so it’s difficult to penalize French Quarter in that regard.
Then there’s the exceptional themed design at French Quarter, with a romanticized take on New Orleans. It is intimate, has beautiful fountains and wrought-iron details, plus the alligator band (who doesn’t love a musically-inclined alligator?!). The pool is strong, the grounds are charming, and the layout is a definite selling point for families.
French Quarter has a lot going for it, and we ultimately give it the slight edge over Riverside because it’s likely you’ll see more upside from the condensed layout and convenient, single bus stop than you will downside from having to walk to Riverside for a table service dinner or various recreation.
2. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Thanks to its massive reimagining, Caribbean Beach Resort has addressed some of its biggest weaknesses and is now a contender for the title of best Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World. If you’ve read our full review, you know that I love Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and consider it “Polynesian-Lite.”
While the guest rooms are once again starting to show their age (and will likely be refreshed again in 2023), the pool, restaurants, and main lobby are all top-notch. These have all been enhanced, and Caribbean Beach Resort now feels nicer and chicer. Banana Cabana pool bar has been upgraded, Sebastian’s Bistro is a quality waterfront restaurant, and the lobby is modern.
The biggest upgrade at Caribbean Beach Resort is the Skyliner gondola. Caribbean Beach Resort is the hub for the Skyliner, with two stations offering access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, plus Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts. This is an absolute game-changer for easily accessing those parks within minutes, which is great for Early Entry and midday breaks. Not having to rely on buses to get to these two parks is huge, the value of which cannot be overstated.
Then there’s the addition of Disney’s Riviera Resort, a new DVC tower that replaced several guest buildings at Caribbean Beach. The advantage here is in the amenities that Disney’s Riviera Resort offers. Dining is the big thing, with Primo Piatto, Le Petit Café, Bar Riva, and more easily accessible. Most importantly, there’s Topolino’s Terrace–both the Signature dinner and the Character Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends.
It’s not all upside. The construction of Disney’s Riviera Resort and the Disney Skyliner gondola system together destroyed some of the serene, tropical charm of Caribbean Beach. It’s no longer the lush tropical paradise that it once was–even if the new lobby and check-in, transportation, and dining options all count as huge substantive upgrades that will improve the quality of your trip.
1. Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort
Gran Destino Tower is destined to be a polarizing, love it or hate it, resort. If you read the above section on Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, you might assume we fall in the “hate it” camp. However, our full review of Gran Destino Tower reveals a bit more nuance.
We hate Gran Destino while standing in the outlying buildings at Coronado Springs Resort. From inside Gran Destino Tower, we…well, love is too strong of a word, but we recognize its strengths. Quite simply, Gran Destino is an excellent option for adults, honeymooners, or anyone wanting consolidated accommodations with everything they need under one roof. In fact, an argument can be made that Gran Destino Tower is one of the best luxury resorts at Walt Disney World.
The biggest upside to Gran Destino Tower is price. While the slate of amenities here makes this hotel tower comparable to many Deluxe Resorts, pricing is more like a Moderate Resort at a slight premium. Granted, it’s not located near any theme park and the themed design is not on par with the Deluxes, but if you’re not a “Disney person” or don’t care about theme and are just after a luxurious stay, Gran Destino is a very compelling option.
That lack of a distinct theme is arguably the biggest downside of Gran Destino, but we are cognizant of the fact, that this won’t matter to everyone. It sneaks into this spot with a laundry list of amenities and features the other Moderates just cannot touch. We’ve found ourselves staying here more and more, especially when rates are competitive. All-bus transportation is a definite downside, but it’s worth the hassle for getting Deluxe Resort caliber accommodations at a Moderate+ price.
Ultimately, there really is something for everyone at the Moderate Resort tier. If you want sprawling grounds that feel worlds away from Walt Disney World amid a richly-themed resort setting, Port Orleans Riverside is for you. If you want most of that minus the sprawling layout and with better transportation, check out French Quarter. For unrivaled transportation thanks to the Skyliner and easy access to exceptional eating, Caribbean Beach is your best bet. Looking for luxury accommodations that might be more at home in Las Vegas than Walt Disney World? Gran Destino Tower is unbeatable.
Even when it comes to those takeaways, our opinions aren’t the gospel. What separates any of the resorts on this list is pretty insubstantial or a matter of personal preference. That plus the priorities for your Walt Disney World vacation make a big deal with how these will rank for you. Given that, we’ve laid out the pros & cons of each Moderate Resorts so you can weigh the relevant considerations accordingly and make an informed decisions when booking your hotel!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts
Which is your favorite Moderate Resort? How would you rank the hotels in this tier? Are there any that you dislike? Do you agree or disagree with our list, or the pros & cons for each Moderate Resort? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
WE have just booked flights for April 2015 but as of yet have not booked our hotel. We are coming from the UK for 2 weeks with our 2 children, daughter will be age 11 and son will be age 3. I am really torn between POR, POFQ and CBR. I thought I had made up my mind with POFQ, I like the fact that it is small in size and only has 1 bus stop but POR seems to offer a little bit more on site (although to be honest I don’t know how much of our time will be spent at the resort site, on our previous 2 week visits I think we may have visited the pool maybe 3 times each time) but then there is CBR which has a lovely bright theme! We have always stayed in Pop Century and we have always found it very clean, bright and fun and the bus service was always fab (which is important as my husband has less patience than the kids) but with the fab deals that UK residents are getting from Disney it makes it cheaper for us to stay in a moderate resort. Any thoughts on what you think would suit us best. PLEASE HELP!!!
You can always walk over to POR from POFQ if you want to enjoy some of the resort décor/food. But you are totally correct about the size and bus stop. I stayed at POFQ and was able to walk to the bus stop and food court (to fill up everyone’s free mugs) very easily. And one bus stop made being picked up and dropped off so much easier. It sounds like this is pretty important to your family as well. Good luck.
POFQ is absolutely our favorite! It just has this amazing vibe. It is too bad that Elliot Dyson is no longer performing there. In our opinion, he was miles more entertaining than Yeehaw Bob. We are going back July 4th! So pumped!
We stayed at Ft Wilderness Cabins last year and loved it so much we are returning this year. It was very nice not having close neighbors, like you would in a hotel room, and it had lots of space for the 5 of us to relax. Having the kitchen was also terrific for making breakfast in the morning. We rented a golf cart which turned out to be the best decision. After all day at the parks it was so nice to get off the bus/boat and zoom on back to the cabin. The restaraunt had great food and the pool was a blast. Storage was a big issue for us though. With my husband and I, two kids and my MIL there was THREE drawers to store clothes in. Three more tiny side-table drawers were scattered throughout the rooms. We had to stack clothing on top of the suitcases and the tv stands. It did hurt the experience some, having to make our beautiful room so “messy” due to lack of storage.
I have been wanting to take my daughter to Disney. Thanks for the information. Very informative.
Planning first trip in about 20 years, to celebrate a 70th birthday and a 30th birthday. Leaning towards POR, but tempted by smaller size of POFQ. Just wondering how practical it is to get between the 2 resorts on foot? (eg. to catch POFQ bus even if staying at POR or visa versa. Thanks.
To regularly walk between the resorts, you would need to stay in Parterre or, maybe, Oak buildings. Otherwise, I would personally find the distance too much. For once or twice, it’s a pleasant walk. They do offer boat service between the two. You can view the maps at portorleans.org
We are coming in May with our nine year old boy and can’t decide on the Caribbean versus Port Orleans. I was leaning towards Port Riverside but my travel agent is pushing CBR. I’m not big on the size of CBR and have seen mixed reviews on the food court. Also not big on the smaller sized beds. Agent felt pool was better at CBR and said Port is beard towards little girls? Thank you so much for your insight. This is our first family trip.
I am in the same situation. Can you please help with any suggestion?
Thanks
I am surprised that more families do not take advantage of the cabins at Fort Wilderness. You actually have more room than most of the rooms at all other resorts, you can comfortably sleep more people, you have a full functioning kitchen which can save you money over a longer stay so you don’t have to pay to eat out ever single meal after meal and there are also more activities within the resort itself to do. Also, more than likely, your children will meet some other children to play with when not spending time at the parks.
We have a party of 16–two families with 3 children each …ages 1 yr.–7–8–9–12–and 16 and 3 adult couples…..most will be first time to WDW. Where would you recommend staying? Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Your biggest consideration will be finding rooms that suit 5 people (for the two families of 5). Most of the rooms only have space for 4. I guess once you figure that out your options might be narrowed down a little bit.
Actually this post from above answers that question….
“I enthusiastically agree with your choice for Port Orleans Riverside as #1! We have a family of 5 and this is the only Moderate that we can stay at, as it is the only one that accomodates more than 4 (appropriately exempting the cabins). We love the detailed theming & lush landscaping, as you well described. The dixieland jazz music that is played throughout sets the tone beautifully. We visited at Christmas last year & loved the Christmas-themed music variation. The boatride to downtown Disney is a great bonus, very relaxing. We stayed in a room that had just been refurbished in November in the Bayou section & applaud the changes & improved theming. All in all, this is a spectacular gem for families. Great pick!”
Our absolute favorite resort is POFQ…my husband and I try to go every December. Mark the bartender at Scat Cat’s Club always remembers us. There are fewer children (not that we don’t like children, but we don’t have any ourselves, so a resort that has less children is nice for us)…we love this resort and will always make this our first choice when we are able to go…
We’ve only stayed at two resorts, our first trip we stayed at CBR, second and third trip POP. We loved Pop so much more than CBR! The room size wasn’t noticeable at all….beds were the same size too. The buses at Pop were so much better than CBR and the room at CBR was run down and really seemed dirty.
This summer we are staying at POFQ. They only have one bus stop and everything I’ve heard about the resort is high praise! Want to try POR soon and I will definetly request a room close to the pool/food court. We walk so much in the parks we want a room that we can get back to quickly for breaks and some of those bus rides at CBR were forever!!!
Tammy, I have read all the reviews on this thread and yours is exactly correct. After walking in the parks all day/night, who wants to walk a long distance to your room or food court. Especially when you have free refillable mugs. One bus stop with rooms near the food court or bus stop is priceless.
My husband and I stayed at the Wilderness Cabins for our honeymoon 18 years ago and we both still have some very fond memories of it. You did miss mentioning one very nice perk about it though. The not having to share any walls with your neighbors! There’s also something to be said about the romance of waking up out in the woods.
As a very light sleeper, this was beyond price for me. Even with us starting to plan to go back for our 20th anniversary, we’re torn between going with deluxe accommodations or going back to the cabins. As kitchy as the cabins are, they are also very sweet and romantic in their own way.
We stayed at Riverside last spring break and loved it. As a family of 5 it is hard to find a room that fits us at a decent price. It had a terrific theme… perfect for napping/resting in the afternoon to get a break from the parks. And my little girl absolutely loved sleeping on the murphy bed!
Wow! This is the EXACT article I needed to read right now…you made my decision easy! Booking POR for our February trip without the kids (just 4 adults and we are going with first time Disney World visitors who grew up going to Disneyland, so we are so excited to show them around!) I’m eager to explore your website to plan the rest of our trip. Thanks 🙂
Hey Tom…which moderte resort do you think would be best for my honeymoon that I will taking in May.
I live in FL and we are only to Disney for one night. I get discounts from my work to stay at the local hotels. I get the best discount outside of value for swan and dolphin. Which one is better to stay at? We are going to Epcot for the day staying overnight and going home.
This is such a great website and resource. Thank you so much for all of your detail. I am still feeling a little overwhelmed. I am planning on going in March of 2014 with my daughter (7). It will only be us two.
Can you tell me if I am understanding you correctly. It sounds like a moderate resort is probably best and we should consider the room only discount. Do you agree?
Last I am concerned about getting to and from the parks. Do all of the moderate hotels have good shuttles or bus service? Is there any I should avoid?
We are going next year to Disney for the first time for any of our party. We are taking my 7 year old daughter and will be traveling with another couple who has a 7 year old son. We will be spending most of our time at the parks, eating, exploring, etc. My question is, with children and not staying at the resort much, would you recommend the French quarter since there is less walking and less bus stops? From all I’ve read, some of the other resorts are so spread out that it would be a lot of walking for kids! Since I have never been, I am basing my whole trip on others recommendations!
If you don’t want to walk a lot, French Quarter is the way to go. Based on what you said, it’s the resort I’d recommend for you.
Hi – just to second your opinion – I would recommend Mansions over alligator bayou. Our family with four girls were really freaked out by all of the alligators /artwork in alligator bayou rooms. I’m sure boys or adults wuldn’t mind, butg our girls do not want to go there again!
Thanks! Also do you have any idea when pin codes for dinning will be released for 2014?
Also do you know when the seven dwarfs mine train will open?
Late 2013 or early 2014.
We are taking our 3rd family vacation to Disney World in March 2014. We’ve stayed at Coranado we loved the bright colors and Spanish theme. We stayed at art of animation and were not pleased the food was not very good and compared to Coranado AOA wasn’t much. I’m torn on where to stay. We have 3 adults and 6 kids coming this time. We want to stay in a moderate resort I’ve considered Coranado again but I curios about Riverside especially since the rooms have undergone refurbishment. The agent I’m talking with recommends the alligator rooms. What do you think? Also when we came last year at this time it was freezing!!!! Is march usually cold in Florida?
Thanks
Katye
March can be cold. Personally, I prefer Riverside in the Mansion rooms, but we stayed in a refurbished Alligator Bayou room and it was really nice. If you know you like Coronado and are picky about your hotel, doing that again might be the safe bet, but I personally prefer Riverside.