Can’t decide where to book a room for your next Disney World vacation? We’re helping you weigh the pros and cons of a Moderate Resort to make the choice easy.
There are more than two dozen Disney World Resort hotels you can choose from on property, which means you have quite a few choices when it comes to picking accommodations. At Disney, you have Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas Resorts. There are currently five Moderate Resorts on the property: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans – French Quarter, Port Orleans – Riverside, and The Cabins at Fort Wilderness.
We’ll be sharing a few of the pros and cons for this resort category, to help you better determine whether it’s the right one for you.
The Pros of Staying at Disney’s Moderate Resorts
Larger Space at a Moderate Price
With Value Resorts, you are getting the least expensive prices, but those also come with a smaller room space. While Moderate Resorts have a higher price tag, they also come with more square footage, making them an ideal choice for those looking to spend more time in their rooms.
For Value Resorts, a standard room is typically about 260 feet, while a Moderate Resort standard room is approximately 314 square feet. At a price difference of $50 to $100 or so per night, this extra space could be worth it.
More Dining Choices
At the Value Resorts, your only dining choice comes from quick-service eateries. At Moderate Resorts, you also have table service as an option! Each of the resorts offers one sit-down restaurant option along with quick-service (an exception is French Quarter, which shares a sit-down restaurant, Boatwright’s, with Riverside).
Gran Destino Tower
One of the most notable parts of the Moderate Resorts is located at Coronado Springs, where you’ll find Gran Destino Tower. Gran Destino is a 15-story tower on Coronado Springs property, featuring Deluxe Resort-type amenities for Moderate Resort-level pricing.
With numerous dining options, and stunning views of the property from the rooms, Gran Destino ia an incredible option for saving money on Deluxe amenities.
The Cons of Staying at Disney’s Moderate Resorts
Internal Bus Loops
Similar to the Value Resorts, transportation can be an issue for Moderate Resorts. Caribbean Beach Resort offers Skyliner transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while Fort Wilderness has boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. But the remainder of resorts only offer buses as an option for the theme parks (though the Port Orleans Resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs).
Because the resorts are so large, you will likely experience internal bus loops, meaning there are multiple stops for your bus both going to and coming back from the parks. While this means a stop will be close to wherever your hotel is, it also could mean a lengthy amount of time getting to where you need to go (so make sure to plan in some wiggle room).
Motel-Style Entry Rooms
If you are looking to stay at a hotel with doors inside an air conditioned building, you’ll want to choose a Deluxe Resort or a stay at Gran Destino Tower. For the rest of the rooms, you can expect motel-style entry from the outside, with a window looking out to the entryway. While not a major negative, this could mean a bit less privacy, and could also be a matter of preference that you want to take into consideration when picking where to stay.
Is a Disney World Moderate Resort Right for You?
Sitting right in between the Value and Deluxe Resorts, the Moderate Resorts offer the in-between of each: more affordable pricing, with more amenities and extras than the Value Resorts.
Moderate Resorts will offer you more space and options than the Value Resorts, but potentially fewer transportation and choices than the Deluxe Resorts will. Ultimately, it will be up to you and what qualities are most important for your travels.
If you need help deciding, The Vacationeer’s team of experts are on hand to help give you the best advice and knowledge to help plan your vacation.
