Top Moderate Hotels in Disney World

Disney’s moderate hotels are an excellent option for guests who want to splurge on a nicer room but aren’t prepared to pay the price of a deluxe resort. These hotels typically offer more subtle theming, creating a more elegant feel. Their rooms are slightly larger and they offer more dining options than the food courts found at the value resorts.

Disney World has 5 different moderate hotels to choose from, but we’ve put together a guide of our top two options.

Disney World has two Port Orleans resorts: French Quarter and Riverside. While both are good options, our top choice has to be Port Orleans – French Quarter.

This beautiful hotel will transport you to the beautiful landscapes of Southern Louisiana just in time to celebrate Mardi Gras. French Quarter is inspired by the iconic Bourbon Street with gorgeous wrought-iron balconies and gas lamps sprinkled throughout the resort. It has the perfect amount of theming without feeling too over-the-top like some of the value resorts.

A major benefit of the French Quarter hotel is that it is one of the smaller Disney hotels. This means fewer people waiting in line for transportation. Unlike Port Orleans – Riverside, French Quarter also has only one bus stop. This means less time wasted on stop-and-go pickups when all you want to do is make it to Magic Kingdom or one of the other Disney theme parks.

Being a smaller hotel also means less walking. When staying at larger resorts like Art of Animation or Disney’s Caribbean Beach, you can sometimes end up walking 10 minutes just to get from the bus stop to your room. At the end of a long day of walking around Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, a short walk to your room is a gift that French Quarter can provide.

A major selling point of the French Quarter resort is that they have live music 5 nights a week at the Scat Cat Club. After spending all day in the theme parks, you can make your way back to your hotel and listen to the soothing sounds of jazz music. While all Disney resorts offer movies under the stars and campfires, the French Quarter is one of the only Disney hotels to offer almost nightly live entertainment.

The only downside to French Quarter is that it is the only moderate hotel that does not have a table-service option for dining. However, you can enjoy a quick meal at the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court. There are also two bars: the Scat Cat’s Club Lounge and Mardi Grogs.

Despite not having a table service option for meals, French Quarter makes up for it with the Scat Cat’s Club Cafe where you can order delectable Mickey-shaped beignets.

If dining is a priority for you on your Disney vacation, don’t be turned away by the lack of restaurants available at French Quarter. Because of its location, French Quarter is able to offer complimentary water taxi rides over to Disney Springs where you can dine at some of the best restaurants at the Disney World resort.

Because of its newest addition of the Gran Destino Tower, Coronado Springs has the newest rooms of all the moderate hotel options, making it one of our top choices.

Disney describes the Coronado Springs Resort as a “unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures.” Because of its theming, it feels a little more adult than some of the theming of the value hotels. This can be perfect for couples enjoying a romantic Disney World stay, but the water slides and fun activities also make it fun for families with children.

While this is a larger resort and would normally mean a lot of walking, staying at the Gran Destino Tower guarantees that you won’t have to worry about making a long hike out to one of the far buildings of the resort.

Coronado Springs has numerous dining options, from sports grills to rooftop restaurants. They even have a lakeside dining option – Three Bridges Bar & Grill is a perfect place to enjoy dinner on the water after spending the day in the theme parks.

Since it is a larger hotel, Coronado Springs has 3 leisure pools, as well as their main Lost City of Cibola Pool, one of Disney’s better pools on property. This pool is inspired by the Mayan ruins and has a 123-foot-long water slide, as well as the largest hot tub you can find on the Walt Disney World property. After a swim, you can enjoy a game of beach volleyball with your family or go and play in the Iguana Arcade

This hotel is also excellent for art lovers. For additional fees, you can sign up for a mosaic art class or the Colors of Coronado Painting Experience led by a master painter. Let one of our travel agents know if this is something you’re interested in, and we can help get your classes booked so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Coronado Springs is the only moderate hotel to offer Club Level rooms, though this is only available for those staying in the Gran Destino Tower. If the benefits of Club Level are something you know your family would enjoy, we can help you book those rooms with the best rates we can find!

If you’re looking for a more elegant Disney stay, Coronado may be the perfect place for you and your family.

If you’re looking to spend a little more to go beyond what a value resort can offer, Disney’s moderate hotel rooms may be your best option. Our travel agents can help you decide which moderate hotel is best for you and find the best rates to help you make the most of your next Disney World vacation!