Disney's Moderate Resorts

Fun, themed architecture and pools all at a moderate price.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Room Rates: $133 to $209 per night (+ tax)*
Rates vary depending on season and room type
 

2004 Resort Seasons

What your Disney Dollars will get you
Each room will offer you exterior corridors and standard rooms that feature:
Size - 314 square feet
Beds - two double beds, or one king-size bed
Furnishings - an armoire, TV, nightstand, table with two chairs, in wall safe
Bathroom – pedestal sinks, large mirror, open vanity area, toilet and tub/shower in separate area
Extras - a coffee maker.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach The 2,112 guests rooms are found in two story brightly colored buildings scattered around a 45-acre lake affording each “island” its own beach. Guest registration takes place in the Customs House and the resorts eateries and shops are housed in Old Port Royale. Guests when not relaxing in beach chairs or hammocks might be found at play on Barefoot Bay or in the resorts main pool themed as an old Spanish fort.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort The 1,967 rooms are located in two, three and four story buildings all set around a 15-acre man made lake called Lago Dorado. The blend of Northern Mexican and American Southwestern architecture and theme invites guests to follow in the footsteps of famed explorer Francisco de Coronado.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside The 2,048 rooms are divided between two distinctly  themed areas. The Alligator Bayou section is made up of  two story buildings designed and themed to represent a backwoods or Cajun theme, while the Magnolia Bend section is a series of two and three-story buildings that allow for a Mississippi plantation theme.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter The 1,008 rooms are located in seven three-story buildings that allow guests to visit a picturesque and nearly perfect Disney version of New Orleans.

So What’s The Difference?
In the way each resort is laid out and designed not really all that much. Each resort will offer guests bus transportation to all Walt Disney World destinations. Each will offer an extensive food court and one full service restaurant. Each will have one main pool which follows the overall theme of the resort. Smaller quiet pools can be found scattered around the property.

So, should I just toss a coin or what?
Looking a little closely at each resort, subtle but noteworthy differences begin to emerge. Some may influence your decision, while others may not.

Transportation
While each resort enjoys bus transportation only one has direct bus transportation. That is the Coronado Springs Resort. Guests who board the Magic Kingdom® bus at the Coronado for example will head directly to the Magic Kingdom®. Guests who board the Magic Kingdom® bus at the other moderate resorts will find themselves stopping at one or two other stops before heading onto the Magic Kingdom®.

Multiple bus stops can be found scattered around a perimeter road approximately every second or third building with the exception of Port Orleans - French Quarter. The French Quarter is serviced by a single bus stop and although this resort is smaller than the others, some guests may find that they have more than a casual stroll to catch a bus.

Guests at Port Orleans -  Riverside and French Quarter are treated to a leisurely boat ride down the Sassagoula River into Downtown Disney, which is one of Disney’s dining, shopping and nighttime districts.

Dining
As mentioned each moderate resort offers a food court and one full service restaurant. Although each food court is elaborate and offers a wide variety at breakfast, lunch and dinner the Pepper Market at Coronado Springs is a stand out. This “Open-Air Market” seats over 400 guests and is simply the best food court at the Walt Disney World® resort.

So what’s not to like?
The minuses encountered at the moderate resorts will be felt in the areas of check in, transportation and dining.

We’re here
Check in will take place at the main commerce center, which will often leave you with a real hike to your room. If required due to a physical limitation, transportation for guests to their room can requested at the front desk. If this is a concern for you, you may need to request a building closer to the main commerce area prior to check in. Presently only the Caribbean Beach resort will guarantee preferred building location at a $15.00 per additional room cost.

Bell services at these moderate resorts are a step up from the value resorts and do afford guests a means to transport their bags to their building. Guests who arrive with their own car will be given a map with directions and can drive themselves and their bags to a self parking lot adjacent to their building.

We’re hungry
Dining options for guests include a rather extensive food court and one full service sit down restaurant. If you would like to venture outside your resort to one of the more two hundred or so Disney restaurants this will require a little planning and about a pound or two of Pixie Dust. This is especially true if your choice is to dine at one of the restaurants located at another Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel. This may require that you first take a bus to one of the transportation hubs and then grab another means of transportation to your ultimate destination. If you are dining at another Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel, our advice is to drive yourself or take a taxi. Another great dining option is grab the bus headed to Downtown Disney and take advantage of this wonderful dining, shopping and night time entertainment district.

So what’s to like?
What makes these four Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels so popular?

Value
Guests at any of Disney’s moderate resorts enjoy all the amenities and privileges of a Walt Disney World Resort® guest, including Extra Magic Hour (early entry into the theme parks) and guaranteed theme park admission even at the busiest times of the year, and, all for a room rate that won’t require  you to cash in your IRA.

Did you say a little elbow room for moderate price?
With an affordable per night room rate, families who would like a little extra room should explore the possibility of two connecting rooms. This will afford you twice the bathroom and living space and the opportunity of a little privacy after the kids go to bed, simply by closing the connecting door.

In our next issue we will explore the Walt Disney World® deluxe resorts.

So join us next time when we see how many Disney dollars it takes to experience the ultimate Walt Disney World® vacation.