Since we've talked about the deluxe resorts, let's take a quick look at Walt Disney World moderate resort hotels.
To be completely honest with you, the Walt Disney World moderate resort hotels are some of my favorite resorts. Especially when you look at the prices. AND some of these resorts have amenities as nice as some of the deluxe resorts.
So let's stop wasting time, and take a look at our first moderate resort!
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
The first of Walt Disney World moderate resort hotel we are going to look at is Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
I really like this resort. Disney has done a great job of making you feel like you are actually in the Caribbean! The colors are vibrant, and the flora and fauna (yes, there is a Sleeping Beauty joke in there) are lush and lovely. This is a really laid back resort. They even have beaches and hammocks that you can enjoy!
There are a couple of things that stand out at this resort. The pool has a water slide and zero entry. They also have themed rooms. Can you guess what the theme is? PIRATES! That's right, they have pirate themed rooms that you so cute and fun! If you have a pirate in your family (wannabe or real) these themed rooms will fit the bill!
This resort is also going to be connected with the new Skyliner that Disney is putting in. That means that you will have a way to get to Epcot and Hollywood studios that ISN'T a bus! (Not that the busses are bad, they just aren't fast.) The Skyliner is supposed to open in the fall of 2019.
There are several places to eat at this Walt Disney World moderate resort. Caribbean Beach Resort has Sebastian's which is a casual sit down restaurant. It also has the Centertown Market which is a quick service place. You can grab and go at this restaurant too. And they just added the ability to do mobile ordering which is a great perk!
If you are looking for a place to get a drink, there is the Banana Cabana. I love that name! Banana Cabana not only has drinks, but you can also get some food too. It's basically bar food, but that happens to be some of my favorite food! And as you might have guessed, it is by the pool.
The last place to eat is Spyglass Grill. It's a quick service walk-up counter (which also has mobile ordering). It's next to the Trinidad pool area. The patio also overlooks Barefoot Bay. A really laid back location.
There are lots of activities to enjoy. You can fish, rent a bike, play volleyball, and jog. They also have movies under the stars. And Caribbean Beach even has a Pirate Adventure Cruise that your 4 to 12-year-olds can take. It is A LOT of fun!
Let's move on to our next Walt Disney World moderate resort.
Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside Resort
My favorite moderate resort hotel at Walt Disney World is Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside!
It is beautiful! You have a choice to either stay in the Bayou, or in a stately mansion. My favorite is staying in the bayou. However, if you have a Tiana fan or princess fan, they have princess suites that will satisfy any prince or princess in your family.
There are a couple of places to eat. First, there is Boatwright's Dining Hall. This is a casual dining sit down restaurant where you can get New Orleans style food. You can also eat at Riverside Mill Food Court. This is a quick service restaurant and has some great choices for everyone in the family. It also has a big water wheel in the dining area. I'll be honest though, it can get a little loud. There are two bars, the River Roost, and Muddy Rivers (which is the bar by the pool).
There are several activities at this resort. They have a pool, fishing, surrey bikes, and movies under the stars. You can even get a horse-drawn carriage ride. It is really nice!
As an added bonus Yeehaa Bob performs at Port Orleans Resort - Riverside! You may not know who that is right now, but believe me when I say DON'T MISS YEEHAA BOB! It is a great show for the whole family to enjoy! Definitely worth seeing. You won't be sorry!
Next let's take a look at the sister resort to Port Orleans Resort - Riverside.
Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
The sister Walt Disney World moderate resort hotel to Riverside is Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter.
Now, I'll be honest, I have never stayed here. However, a lot of people say that it is their favorite resort. It is themed to the New Orleans French Quarter. It is not as big as Riverside, and some people really like that about it. No matter where you are, it's not a long resort to the front of the resort.
There are a few places to eat at this resort. The first is Sassagoula Float Works And Food Factory. It is a quick service restaurant. The highlight of this restaurant is the beignets. They are amazing, and if you have ever had beignets in New Orleans, these are just as good. And they are shaped like Mickey! There is Scat Cat's Lounge where you can listen to jazz and the blues. There is also Mardi Grogs which is a bar that overlooks the Sassagoula River. A really nice location.
There are several activities at Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. You can paint by the river, take a horse-carriage ride, or watch movies under the stars. This resort has a fun Mardi Gras themed pool, with a water slide. They have a Cajun campfire. You can rent bikes or a surrey bike. You can go fishing or spend time in the arcade (a favorite activity of my children).
Let's move on to our next Walt Disney World moderate resort.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Coronado Springs is a Walt Disney World moderate resort hotel that is themed to the Spanish explorers, artists, writers, and architects. It really tries to embrace the Spanish culture.
The Coronado Springs Resort is a BIG resort. It is also a convention resort. What that means is that they have a few things that are more like a deluxe resort than a moderate resort.
One thing is that Coronado Springs has a brand new tower with more rooms. The tower is good looking, and there is a restaurant at the top named Toledo. It is a tapas, steak and seafood restaurant. I can't really speak to how good it is since it hasn't opened yet. But it will, soon!
There is a great pool with a water slide in it. It is themed around a Mayan pyramid. It is a lovely pool that I think the whole family will enjoy.
There is also a fitness center and spa in Coronado Springs. It is the only moderate resort with a spa! Along with that, there is a business center. Coronado also has a laundry and dry cleaners. I'm sure that is because they do a lot of convention and meeting business. However, I wish all the resorts had this. It is a really nice touch!
Coronado Springs definitely offers the most amenities of any of the Disney World moderate resort hotels. And usually, you get all of that or a pretty reasonable price. The only bad thing about the resort is that it isn't really close to anything. It's kind of out there on its own. But you still have Disney transportation, so you can get around. You also need to remember that it is a convention hotel, so there will be a lot of people there that are not going to the parks and are there just for business. It gives it a little bit more formal feel at times.
It is a really nice place though, and I think the new tower is only going to enhance this resort hotel.
Final Thoughts...
As you can see, there are a lot of choices when you are looking for a moderate resort hotel at Walt Disney World. You can be in the bayou or in New Orleans, or in a Spanish inspired location. It all just depends on what you are looking for in a resort hotel.
I personally love staying at any of these Walt Disney World moderate resort hotels. For the price, you get all of the beauty and theming of a deluxe resort, and lose only a few amenities along the way. You really can't make a bad choice at this level. (But I think you should stay at Port Orleans. Just sayin'...)
What do you think about the Walt Disney World moderate resort hotels? Do you agree with me? Have any suggestions about them? Leave a comment so we can talk about it! I would love to hear what your thoughts are!
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