Moderate Resorts

I have stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort and the Port Orleans Riverside resort multiple times. I really like them both.

Moderates have slightly larger rooms than the Value Resorts but still have the basic layout. You have a large room with two Queen size beds, a table and chairs, an armoire with a T.V. in it and drawers for your clothes. The bathroom consists of the tub/shower and toilet with the two sinks and vanities in the area just outside the bathroom. There is a coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, a safe etc. It’s my understanding that all moderates now have small refrigerators in them as well.

I have always found these resorts to be rather quiet and convenient. They both boast multiple bus stops around the resort, themed food courts, and ‘quiet pools’. Quiet pools are close to the buildings and are less crowded than the main pool at each resort. In addition, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter have a ferry boat that takes you to and from Downtown Disney. It’s a nice scenic ride and a good change from traveling by bus.

Caribbean Beach has a series of buildings with names like Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Trinidad North and South. They are painted different pastel colors and each have a bus stop near by. The Old Port Royale houses the gift shop and food court and a sit-down restaurant called Shutters at Old Port Royale. I have found the food court menus to be pretty much the same whether it is a value or moderate resort. The moderate’s food courts can get crowded at times and Caribbean Beach is usually the home to the Cheerleader contestants and can be pretty noisy and crowded at that time of year.

Riverside has two sections; Alligator Bayou , which are rustic log cabin like buildings, and Magnolia Bend, which is reminiscent of the old plantation mansions. I prefer the latter although I have never tried the Bayou. Maybe I feel like I’m just a mansion type person. They also have a nice sit-down restaurant called Boatwright’s Dining Hall. Like Caribbean Beach they have multiple bus stops close to the various buildings.

I like these moderates. It always feels like I’ve come home whenever I’ve stayed there. The buses can still get crowded at times with SRO, but not as often as I experienced at the value resort. The cost is only slightly higher than the value and well worth the extra money.

You can get more detailed information including pictures on both of these resorts by going to wdwig.com and clicking on Accommodations.