5 January 2026 by Steve Bell

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts Overview

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

A perfect middle ground for families who want more space, richer theming, and extra amenities without the price tag of a Deluxe.

Disney’s Moderate Resorts strike a beautiful balance between affordability and comfort. With larger rooms, enhanced dining options, themed pools with water slides, and more relaxed atmospheres, Moderates offer a noticeable upgrade from the Value Resorts without the premium price of the Deluxe tier.

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For many military families, this level hits the sweet spot: more comfort and onsite amenities while still working well with the Disney Armed Forces Salute room discount.

Below is a full overview of the Moderate category, including how these resorts differ from Values and Deluxes, what amenities they offer, how transportation works, and how Shades of Green fits into the picture as a “Moderate Plus / Deluxe Minus” alternative.

Quick Facts About Disney Moderate Resorts

• Category Positioning: Mid-tier between Value and Deluxe
• Room Entry: Exterior hallways (except Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs)
• Room Sizes: Approximately 315 sq. ft. (Cabins larger)
• Full housekeeping service: every other day
• Transportation: Primarily buses; boat service at select resorts; Skyliner at Caribbean Beach
• Dining: Mix of Quick Service and Table Service (except French Quarter)
• Ideal For: Families wanting more space and amenities without Deluxe pricing
• Eligible for Military Discounts: Yes, through the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discount (availability varies)

Location Overview

Disney’s Moderate Resorts are spread across large, scenic areas of Walt Disney World property. These are expansive resorts—often with lakes, rivers, internal bus stops, bridges, and beautiful landscaping that provides a more relaxed feel compared to the high-energy Value Resorts.

Because of their size, walking distances can be longer, but the tradeoff is a quieter, more spread-out environment with more room to decompress between park days.

Theme & Atmosphere

Moderate Resorts feature immersive theming inspired by real-world destinations and architectural styles:

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: Tropical islands, beaches, and bright Caribbean villages
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: American Southwest + Spanish and Mexican influences (plus the modern Gran Destino Tower)
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside: Rustic Louisiana bayou and stately Southern mansions
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter: Compact, charming New Orleans French Quarter atmosphere
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: A wooded campground retreat perfect for outdoors-loving families

The overall ambiance is calmer, more detailed, and more atmospheric than the Value Resorts, making the Moderates a strong fit for families who enjoy unwinding at their resort as much as visiting the parks.

Room Types & Capacity

Most Moderate Resort rooms include:

• Two queen beds (standard rooms)
• A small table with two chairs
• Mini-fridge
• Coffee maker
• Dresser and TV
• Exterior room entry (except Gran Destino Tower)

These rooms sleep four guests plus one child under three in a crib.

Special room variations include:

• Caribbean Beach Resort: Some rooms sleep five with a fold-down Murphy bed
• Port Orleans Riverside: Many Alligator Bayou rooms sleep five with a Murphy bed
• Pirate Rooms at Caribbean Beach: Themed rooms with double beds
• Cabins at Fort Wilderness: Sleep six and include a full kitchen

Transportation Options

Caribbean Beach Station

All Moderate Resorts offer:

• Bus transportation to all theme parks and Disney Springs

Additional transportation benefits include:

• Disney Skyliner access at Caribbean Beach Resort
• Boat transportation from both Port Orleans Resorts to Disney Springs
• Internal bus loops at most Moderate Resorts (French Quarter is the exception with a single stop)

Port Orleans Water Taxi

Caribbean Beach, in particular, offers a major perk: fast Skyliner access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Dining Options

Moderate Resorts offer more robust dining options compared to the Values, including:

• Table Service restaurants (all except French Quarter)
• Quick Service food courts
• Pool bars and lounges
• Enhanced lounge menus at Coronado Springs
• Pizza delivery and late-night to-go options

The dining improvements are one of the biggest reasons many families move from Value to Moderate Resorts.

Pools & Recreation

Moderate Resorts introduce a significant amenity upgrade with:

• Themed feature pools with water slides
• Hot tubs (not available at Value Resorts)
• Quiet pools located throughout the resort
• Playgrounds and arcades
• Jogging trails
• Fishing and boat rentals at select locations

The Cabins at Fort Wilderness offer even more recreation, including archery, horseback riding, canoeing, and extensive outdoor activities.

Shades of Green: A Moderate Plus / Deluxe Minus Option for Eligible Military Families

Shades of Green is not a Disney-owned resort, but sits on Walt Disney World property and historically operated as a Deluxe Resort. Its room size, design, and overall layout still reflect that Deluxe heritage.

Today, Shades of Green fits between the Moderate and Deluxe categories, offering outstanding value for eligible military families.

Why Shades of Green Is Considered a Moderate Plus / Deluxe Minus

• Largest standard rooms on Walt Disney World property
• Location: Near Magic Kingdom, a short bus ride to the Transportation and Ticket Center with transfers to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
• Strong pool and recreation offerings
• Rates tied to military rank and adjusted only once per year
• Eligibility for a wide range of military and DoD categories
• Rooms sleep five plus a crib

For military families wanting Deluxe-like room size and comfort without Deluxe pricing, Shades of Green can be an exceptional alternative.

Pros & Cons of Moderate Resorts

Pros

• Larger rooms and more comfortable layouts
• More relaxed and scenic environments
• Table Service dining at most Moderates
• Pools with water slides and hot tubs
• Skyliner access at Caribbean Beach Resort
• Boat transportation at Port Orleans Resorts
• Ideal for longer trips or guests needing downtime
• Some Disney Moderates and Shades of Green rooms sleep five plus a crib

Cons

• Most Moderates are large and spread out
• Longer walks to dining, pools, or transportation
• Higher prices than Value Resorts
• Exterior room entry at most locations
• Quick Service dining can be busy in the morning rush

Who Moderate Resorts Are Best For

Moderate Resorts are ideal for:

• Military families wanting more comfort than a Value without paying Deluxe rates
• Guests staying 5+ nights
• Families who enjoy downtime at the resort
• Guests who want boat transportation or Skyliner access
• Travelers who prefer calmer, more scenic environments
• Larger families needing to sleep five guests (or five plus a crib)

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

There are five different Moderate Resorts on Walt Disney World Property. These resorts come in at a price point between the Values and the Deluxes.

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Let Military Disney Tips’ Recommended Travel Agent Assist You

Navigating resort categories, Shades of Green eligibility, military discounts, and transportation options can feel overwhelming. My recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner can help you compare options and book the best-fit Moderate Resort (or Shades of Green alternative) at no additional cost to you.

I recommend using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (travel agent)! Doing so can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line Vacation, which can be a complicated and overwhelming task.
You have probably seen elsewhere on the site that I recommend The Mouse Experts powered by The Curated Travel Collection as my preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

The Mouse Experts - Military Disney Tips Recommended Disney Only Travel Agent

Wrap-Up

Disney’s Moderate Resorts offer the “just right” balance for many military families—larger rooms, better dining, themed pools with slides, beautiful grounds, and convenient transportation options. Whether you’re floating down the Sassagoula River, relaxing at Coronado’s feature pool, or flying by Skyliner from Caribbean Beach, the Moderate category elevates your stay without stretching your budget like a Deluxe might.

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!