I love the moderates for many different reasons. The first reason, and to me, the most important reason, is that they are sentimental to me. My family has stayed at Port Orleans Riverside Resort (formerly Dixie Landings) and Caribbean Beach Resort dozens of times, and so every time I stay at one of these resorts, I am reminded of the fun times I’ve had in the past with my family. When we stay at these resorts together, my family often talks about my late Uncle Bob, who was particularly fond of Caribbean Beach Resort. Uncle Bob was a HILARIOUS man, and whenever he comes up in conversation, my family and I share a lot of laughs. Every so often, my brother Justin and I will reflect on previous stays and the fun we had there as a family of five (with our parents and other brother) ‘back in the day’.
The second reason I love the moderate resorts is that they are a perfect balance of value and indulgence. Like the value resorts, the moderate resorts all feature large food courts and a main feature pool, but when you pay the extra money to stay at a moderate resort, you are now getting a themed water slide, an outdoor whirlpool, a sit-down restaurant located at your resort, and a larger room with larger beds (value resorts offer double beds, whereas moderates and deluxe resorts offer queen beds).
The third and final reason to LOVE the moderate resorts is the theming. I LOVE the theming throughout Walt Disney World (almost as much as I love the food!). There are four resorts in this category, and there are four great themes to enjoy- the Caribbean Islands, the Southwest United States/ Mexico, the Antebellum South, and New Orleans French Quarter. These resorts are beautifully themed, and there are beautiful photo opportunities around every corner.
Since I love the moderate resorts so much, I am going to rank them in order of my least favorite to my favorite, and I’ll explain what gives them that ranking. When I say ‘least favorite’, please take that lightly- I love all of the moderate resorts, and I would stay at any of them again! Let’s begin!
4: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort & Convention Center- The last two words of the resort title are what rank this Southwest United States/ Mexico-themed resort the lowest, in my opinion. When I am on vacation, I’m excited to be away from the hustle and bustle of real life. When we stayed here in January 2015, there was a nurses’ convention going on (for those of you who don’t know, I am a Registered Nurse). Imagine my surprise when I am on the bus one afternoon, heading to Epcot with my family, and I hear talk of Foley catheters, medication administration, and IV insertion techniques. No thank you! I realize that this is a very specific instance, and we were just unlucky to be staying there during this convention, but for me, this was unpleasant. It certainly didn’t ruin my day, my stay, or anything else, but it made my husband and I realize that we prefer a resort where EVERYONE is on vacation, rather than half a crowd who is there for work. On the flip side, because this is a convention resort, there are more amenities than the other three moderate resorts. Coronado Springs features a day spa and a fitness center, and is the only moderate resort with these amenities. Coronado Springs also features two table service restaurants (the only moderate resort to do so), an indoor lounge, two outdoor watering holes- one right off the main lobby next to the lake, and one at the main pool, and a cafĂ© in the main lobby (in addition to the large food court). The rooms at this resort are comfortable and pretty, the food court offers delicious Mexican fare, in addition to American favorites, and the hot tub near the main feature pool is the largest on Disney property!
(The outdoor Laguna Bar at Coronado Springs)
3: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- French Quarter- This New Orleans French Quarter-themed resort is the smallest of the moderate resorts, and it is important to mention that it’s the only moderate with just one bus stop (the other three each have multiple bus stops). This can be both a pro and a con- pick-up and drop-off are quicker and more simplified, but then again, unless you have a room very close to the main lobby, you’ll have further to walk to get to the bus depot. This resort does not offer a table-service restaurant- Port Orleans Resort- Riverside is where the table-service restaurant is located at this resort (I still, however, think of these two sister resorts as two separate locations- each offer different theming, and the check-in locations are located in two different lobby areas, one for each resort). Port Orleans- Riverside is, however, accessible via a walkway along the scenic Sassagoula River- it’s about a 15 to 20-minute walk depending on how fast of a walker you are. Port Orleans- French Quarter has a neat food court with a Mardi Gras theme- the standout snack here is the New Orleans-inspired beignets, which are available all day at the bakery! The pool is also very cute, and kids and adults alike seem to really enjoy the Mardi Gras theming (please also note that this is the only moderate resort which does not feature any quiet pools, as all of the other moderate resorts do). The guest rooms at this resort are beautiful, and many state that they enjoy the more compact size of this resort as opposed to the larger resorts in this category.
(The fun serpent waterslide at Port Orleans French Quarter)
2: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort- The tranquility of the Caribbean Islands on Walt Disney World property- what’s not to love? My family will be staying here again this fall, and from what I have heard, the rooms have all been remodeled. When I stayed here last in 2013, the rooms had a hint of Finding Nemo to them, and I thought they were very cute. Now, however, the rooms have a laid-back island vibe, as seen in photos on www.WaltDisneyWorld.com. One of my favorite places at this resort is the island located in the middle of the lake (accessible via a walkway)- I have spotted all kinds of wildlife here, and there are many peaceful spots to sit and relax when you need a break from the craziness of the theme parks! The pool here has a cool Spanish-fortress theme- I am excited to check out the waterslides (yes, 2 waterslides!) this year, as I was pregnant on my last visit and could not ride. There is also a fun kiddie splash area with a mini-waterslide, which my son will be trying out this year! This resort is the only moderate without an indoor lounge, which is definitely a con for those of us who like to enjoy a nightcap- however, the outdoor Banana Cabana lounge is typically open until midnight, and there are plenty of outdoor tables nearby to sit and enjoy a beverage lakeside. One of my favorite things about the food court at this resort as a kid was that the kid’s meals came served in a sand pail, which you can use on the beaches here! I am really looking forward to introducing these fun meals to my son!
(Checking into the Custom House at Caribbean Beach- our last trip as a family of two before our son was born!)
1: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- Riverside- This, to my family, is ‘home’. We love checking out other resorts, and lately, we have been, but to us, the Antebellum South-themed Port Orleans Riverside is comfortable, familiar, and just simply, our favorite. There are actually two sections to this resort- Alligator Bayou, and the Magnolia Bend Mansions. I prefer the mansions, as the rooms are just beautiful in my opinion, but the rustic Alligator Bayou rooms are fun, too (and many of these rooms are closest to the food court!). What do I love about this resort? Well, first off, my family loves this food court- at dinnertime, the River Mill Food Court offers a freshly-sliced turkey dinner plate which usually is served with potatoes, corn, and a piece of cornbread. On our trip last fall in which we stayed at Port Orleans, my mother, brother and I were especially looking forward to this dinner on our arrival day! At lunchtime, we enjoy the create-your-own salads, the pasta bar (also create-your-own), and the sandwiches, including a New Orleans muffuletta, which my husband really enjoyed. The main pool area is called Ol’ Man Island, and features small waterfalls, a really cool twisting waterslide, a hot tub, a small children’s wading pool, and Muddy Rivers pool bar, which serves refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There are dreamy gazebos, manicured flower gardens, a pretty boat ride to Disney Springs, and horse-drawn carriage rides in the evening, making this one of Walt Disney World’s most romantic resorts. The stroll over to Port Orleans- French Quarter is perfect if you love to explore, and the riverside walkway offers plenty of photo opportunities along the way! Finally, the live entertainment at River Roost Lounge is unbeatable. Beginning at 8:30pm from Wednesday through Saturday night, Ye Haa Bob Jackson performs a family-friendly piano sing-a-long show.
(Riverside gazebo at Port Orleans Riverside)
(An Alligator Bayou guest room at Port Orleans Riverside)
One final thing that I’d like to mention about these resorts is that two of them offer themed rooms. Caribbean Beach offers Pirate-themed rooms, complete with pirate-ship beds and a skull-and-crossbone curtain separating the bathroom area from the sleeping area. Port Orleans Riverside offers Royal Guest rooms, which feature framed photos of the Disney Princesses, a welcome note from Tiana (from ‘The Princess and the Frog’), and fiber-optic headboards showcasing fireworks when a button is pushed! These specialty rooms cost a bit extra, but if you have swashbuckling pirate lovers in the family, or Disney Princess lovers, these rooms are sure to be a hit!
The Campgrounds and Cabins are in the Magic Kingdom Resort area and could be perfect for a larger family, as the cabins sleep six people. Fort Wilderness is a lot of fun, and though my family doesn’t typically stay here, we love to trek over for dinner at Trail’s End, to do some exploring, and to watch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom from the beach here! There is a bedroom in the cabin which offers a queen bed and bunk beds, as well as a double sleeper sofa in the family room. The cabins offer a small kitchen and dining table, as well as a porch with a picnic table. The campgrounds offer sites for both RV’s and tent camping, and I do know that there are partial hook-up sites, and full hook-up sites for those bringing/ renting an RV.
(My beautiful family enjoying dinner at Trail's End at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground)
Fort Wilderness has a lot to offer, including a boat ride over to the Contemporary and the Magic Kingdom, horseback riding, lakeside viewing of the Electrical Water Pageant at night, archery, a campfire sing-a-long, fishing, and boat rentals. There is a dinner show every night called the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue, which is very popular with guests staying at all resorts! As I stated previously, my family loves the buffet at Fort Wilderness (Trail’s End)- it is a casual buffet featuring many comfort foods such as fried chicken, pizza, ribs, chili, and peel-and-eat shrimp. There are also a few quick-service locations offering takeout. Please note that due to the size of this resort, multiple buses may be needed to get to the theme parks- there are internal buses which are on different loops, taking guests to the main bus depot. From the main bus depot, buses are available to the theme parks and Disney Springs. Golf cart rentals are also available at this resort for guests staying here.
I hope that this post has been helpful if you are considering a stay in a moderate resort! If you think of any other questions, please feel free to email me at dana_aimee@hotmail.com. Happy Travels!
