Disney World Moderate Resorts Ranked Cheap to Expensive
Walt Disney World has resorts that they own and operate. These resorts are heavily themed and give their guests a fluid experience from the moment they begin their day until they lay their head down at night. Staying at a Disney World resort has many benefits, for more on that click here. Disney World resorts range in price. There are four price categories: value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villas. Which means anyone at any budget can stay at a Disney World resort. For a ranked list of the value resorts from cheapest to most expensive click here. Today we’re going to look at the Moderate resorts, and rank them from cheapest to most expensive.
There are 5 moderate resorts. These resorts are sprawling. Each of the resorts has a hub area featuring restaurants, eateries, shopping and guests services. The remainder of the resort is made up of big buildings filled with guest rooms. These building areas share a quiet pool and a bus stop. Each moderate resort also has a feature pool, featuring at least one waterslide.

Now let’s take a look at each of the resorts and where they rank from cheapest to most expensive.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort $232 per night
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the largest resort because it has a massive tower filled with rooms at the hub of the resort. Coronado Springs is found in the Animal Kingdom resort area, making it a quick bus ride to the Animal Kingdom but quite far from all other theme parks. Coronado Springs has a stellar pool area with a waterslide coming out of the eye catching temple. There’s a neighbouring digging area and playground for young kids. Coronado Springs is a popular convention destination. So the resort has some impressive dining, despite the fact that it’s in the Moderate category. It has 10 restaurants, eateries and lounges. That’s almost as many as Hollywood Studios!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort $240 per night
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is found in the Epcot Resort area. It’s on the skyliner, which means guests have two methods of transportation. Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Caribbean Beach is another huge resort. With a number of neighbourhoods hosting buildings filled with guests rooms, all sharing a bus stop and quiet pool. The main lobby building hosts a number of quick-service restaurants, a shop and a table-service restaurant. The feature pool is closely located to this main building, with an amazing water-play area and waterslides. The resort is fixed around a body of water, which has an island at the very centre of it. The island hosts a fun playground and walking paths.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside $256 per night
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort has two campuses: one is Riverside, the other is French Quarter. Generally speaking they are the same price, but I’ve seen deals offered at one spot and not at the other. Or free dining plan at one and not the other. So they are not always the same price per night. For more on how you can get the best deal for your Disney World Vacation click here. Port Orleans Resort is found in the Disney Springs Resort Area. Guests have boat access to Disney Springs and must take bus transportation to all theme parks. Riverside’s main building is home to a festive environment with great cafeteria style dining area and one of our favourite Resort Restaurants, Boatwright’s. The hub area of Riverside is a fun atmosphere, comparable to the Boardwalk. There’s lots of walkways, a large waterwheel, a ferry, bridges. It truly feels like its own entity at Disney World. There are several building areas that house guests rooms. Each area shares a quiet pool and a bus stop. The feature pool is found on an island at the centre of the resort. On the island guests will find a playground, pool bar, waterslide and kiddie pool.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter $256 per night
The sister to the Riverside resort, French Quarter is a smaller scaled resort. There’s less bus stops and things are closely located to the main lobby building. There are several ways that French Quarter differs from all other Moderate Resorts. There are no quiet pools. There is only the main pool. Which means that pool will be busier. There is no table service restaurant, which is tricky for guests on the Disney Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan Plus and Deluxe Dining Plan. Guests only have the choice of a quick-service restaurant. It also only has one bus stop. They do have a great feature pool that has been updated with a water play area.
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort $414 per night

The most expensive of the Moderate Resorts is Fort Wilderness. This resort is home to camping sites as well as these cabins. The cabins have a kitchenette, with a fridge, microwave and dishwasher. The bedroom hosts a queen size bed, and a set of bunk beds. The living room has a sleeper sofa. So you can easily have 6 people stay in these cabins. Fort Wilderness is an enormous spot. The cabins are closely located to the front entrance, which is not really the hub of the resort. The resort has two hubs, one with the buffet restaurant, shops, playgrounds and Tri-Circle-D ranch. The other hub has a shop, the feature pool, playground and sports area. Guests staying here can use the boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom or bus transportation to each park. The higher cost of the cabins is because of the space you get from staying here.
Between the first four resorts, there’s not a massive difference in price per night. But when you’re looking at a 6 night vacation, $24 per night equates to $144 savings. And when you’re taking a Disney World vacation, every penny saved can go towards park tickets, dining or merchandise.
For more information on how to help you decide which resort is the best spot for you to stay during your Disney World vacation take a look at these previous posts:
How To Choose Your Disney World Resort
The Difference Between a Value Resort, Moderate Resort and Deluxe Resort
How Much Does a Trip to Disney World Cost