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 March 7, 2025.)
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 Spring 2025 based on recent stays and visits within the last year.
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 even though Walt Disney World still lists it as a “Moderate Resort” as of 2025 in some spots on its website (but not all anymore). For one thing, the new DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness aren’t even classified as Moderate Resorts, anyway. For another, it’s a complete disservice to the Cabins and the other resorts on this list to even draw a comparison.
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.”
For whatever it’s worth, we love the new cabins. (See our Review: Disney World’s New Controversial Cabins Are Actually Great.) It’s also noteworthy that you can save money by renting DVC points, and stay in one of these brand new cabins for roughly the same price as a regular Moderate Resort–if not less! Regardless, the Fort Wilderness Cabins are very unique and unlike anything else on this list. For what it they are (an alternative to a DVC Villa or Family Suite), I’ll give the Fort Wilderness Cabins a “highly recommend, but taste-specific” rating.
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. This isn’t to say that the outlying buildings are bad (there’s actually a lot we love about them), but they’re not good enough to overcome the staunch competition posed by the other Moderate Resorts.
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.
Honestly, we would not recommend most guests stay at Port Orleans Riverside, especially first-timers. Instead, enjoy a ‘best of both worlds’ approach by staying at French Quarter and walking over to Riverside to enjoy its amenities and ambiance. That’s the smart play.
3. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
If this list were simply a barometer of popular opinion, we would rank Port Orleans French Quarter #1. It’s the Moderate Resort we receive the fewest complaints about, and it’s our understanding that it has a very high guest approval rating. This makes sense. French Quarter offers a consistently good experience and makes no obvious missteps. It’s not as “sexy” of a resort as the top 2, but you are likely to have a reliably good experience here–and without making room requests.
In recent years, POFQ has also fixed a few of its faults. Back in the 1990s, this resort was simply Port Orleans. When the post-9/11 dip in tourism hit Walt Disney World, the former Dixie Landings and Port Orleans Resorts, were consolidated to save on operating expenses. This meant the shuttering of the Bonfamille’s Cafe table-service restaurant, and loss of other amenities, which became shared with its sister resort, Port Orleans – Riverside.
The good news is that the relatively new Scat Cat’s Club Lounge is a fantastic addition that has taken over the old Bonfamille’s Cafe space, serving a mixture of drinks and small plates along with live jazz music. It’s not a fully-fledged table service restaurant, but the food is good and it’s fun. Port Orleans French Quarter also has another lounge serving freshly-made beignets, which are a strong selling point. We’re not kidding–guests love these beignets.
Another huge selling point of French Quarter is its size–POFQ is 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. French Quarter also wins in terms of transportation and only having a single bus stop, which makes it more efficient than the other Moderate Resorts, even if it is all-bus transportation.
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.
Within the last 6 months, Port Orleans French Quarter received new rooms–a major update that has aesthetic pros and cons, but the end result is that the guest accommodations look and feel fresher. You can see more in Newly Reimagined Port Orleans Rooms Add Princess & Frog to French Quarter.
French Quarter has a lot going for it, and you’ll likely be very satisfied with a stay here. While it doesn’t have any game-changing features like the top 2 resorts on this list, it also lacks their faults and pitfalls. It’s entirely possible you’ll see more upside from the condensed layout and convenient, single bus stop than you will downside of no novel transportation or high-scale amenities.
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” or “Poor Person’s Poly.”
Within the last year or so, all guest rooms at Caribbean Beach Resort have all been refreshed. While the regular rooms lost some of their color and character, they were also updated so they’re not as dark, dreary, or–most importantly–worn. Some of these rooms had a lot of wear and tear at the end of their lifecycle.
More significantly, there are also the new Little Mermaid-inspired rooms that are shockingly nice, DVC caliber accommodations. These are some of our favorite rooms at Walt Disney World, and although they are (frustratingly) not a distinct booking category, you can book the ‘correct’ type of room and request them. That’s highly recommended for these “Under the Sea” rooms, which are now by far the best option at CBR.
Aside from that, 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, the lobby is modern, and Sebastian’s Bistro has serious ‘Ohana vibes…except it’s better and cheaper (continuing that ‘Poly Lite’ comparison).
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.
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.
The Skyliner is Caribbean Beach’s flagship feature, and why we think you should book it over French Quarter. However, it’s not all upside. Caribbean Beach has lost some of its serene, tropical charm. On top of that, it’s another sprawling Moderate Resort with an internal bus loop as opposed to a single stop. We receive more complaints about the size and walking distance at Caribbean Beach than anything else, so it’s imperative that you make a room request for one of the best locations at CBR if you do elect to stay here. If a more manageable resort size is make or break for you, book French Quarter or the next entry instead.
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 the look of Gran Destino while standing in the outlying buildings at Coronado Springs Resort. From inside Gran Destino Tower, we love it. 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–not just the #1 Moderate Resort.
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 this won’t matter to most guests. It looks nice and has thematic flourishes. 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, as is the internal transportation loop and having multiple bus stops. And in theory, the same could be said for Gran Destino being located at a sprawling resort. But the reality is all of that doesn’t matter as much here, as everything you truly need is under one roof. You can access all of the amenities you need without ever stepping foot outside or walking around the outlying areas of Coronado Springs, and even the main bus stop is closer at Gran Destino Tower than it is at French Quarter. All of this, plus Deluxe Resort caliber accommodations at a Moderate+ price makes Gran Destino Tower our #1 pick.
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. If we wanted this list to be more of a cop out, we would’ve put Port Orleans French Quarter at #1 because (as noted), it’s the fan-favorite with the highest approval rating. Or we would’ve had French Quarter, Caribbean Beach, and Gran Destino all tied for #1. Honestly, as lame as that might’ve been, it’s probably the fairest assessment!
In our view, the top 3 each have incredibly compelling selling points. Which one is truly #1 comes down to personal preference and which amenities you value most. 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!
