How Our Family Fell in Love with the Moderate Category

The surprising Disney quote that changed the way we vacation—and eventually helped launch my small business

Before our first Walt Disney World vacation, I had already heard all the warnings.

Disney costs a fortune. Get ready to take out a loan. Prepare yourself for the price.

You know—the usual encouraging advice people give when you tell them you want to take your family to Disney. 😂

So, naturally, I assumed we would be a Value Resort family.

There were five of us traveling: Robert and me, my parents, and Harper, who was two at the time. Because children under three do not need their own theme-park admission, Harper was still free. I thought choosing a Value Resort would be the obvious way to make the trip affordable.

Then I received our first quote.

It was insane.

I had worked with an agent, but the numbers were still so much higher than I expected. Then a friend recommended an agent from The Mouse Detectives and encouraged me to let her price the trip—just to see whether she could get us there for less.

She came back with a room at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

A Moderate Resort.

And somehow, it was more than $1,000 less than the Value Resort options I had already been quoted.

We were shocked.

We booked it—and we absolutely loved it.

Harper sitting on the bed in our room at Disney’s Coronado Springs during our

Disney Value vs. Moderate Resorts at a Glance

Before I tell you why Coronado Springs won us over, here is the simplest way to understand what often changes when you move from a Disney Value Resort to a Moderate Resort:

This does not mean a Moderate is automatically better for every family. If your priority is the lowest available price or bold, larger-than-life Disney theming, a Value may be exactly right. But if your family values a waterslide, a quieter atmosphere, more dining choices or a room that may accommodate five, a Moderate is absolutely worth pricing—not merely assuming it will cost more.

Coronado Springs Changed What I Thought a Disney Resort Could Be

Coronado Springs was the Resort for our very first Magic Kingdom and SeaWorld trip, so it will always have a special place in our family’s story.

We arrived expecting a hotel room near the parks. Instead, we discovered that the Resort could be part of the vacation.

The beautiful grounds, the water, the pathways and the peaceful atmosphere made simply walking around feel like part of the adventure. We could spend a full, exciting day in the parks and then return to a Resort that felt calm and removed from everything.

And then there was the pool—with a water slide!

Once you travel with a child who is genuinely excited to return to the Resort pool, you realize how much the hotel can shape the entire vacation. It was no longer just where we slept. It was somewhere we wanted to explore and enjoy.

That first stay completely changed my assumptions. We hadn’t paid more to move up from a Value. Because of the available promotion and the way our travel party fit in the room, the Moderate Resort had actually saved us a significant amount of money.

Surely, though, that was a one-time stroke of Disney luck.

Except it wasn’t.

Disney’s Coronado Spring’s Grand Destino Tower lit up at night.

Then Riverside Made Us Moderate Resort People

When we planned our next trip, Harper had turned three. She was no longer the free two-year-old who could fit into our previous plans without being counted toward the standard room occupancy.

We were now a family of five in Disney’s eyes, and I assumed that meant we would need two rooms at a Value Resort.

While we waited for our agent’s quote, I started pricing two Value rooms myself. Once again, I expected that to be the least expensive way to make the trip work.

Then the quote arrived.

Our agent knew something I didn’t: select rooms at Disney’s Moderate Resorts could accommodate five Guests with a child-size fifth sleeper.

She quoted us Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and once again, the price was around the same—or even less—than the Value options I had been considering.

I was shocked all over again.

Then we stayed at Riverside and fell completely in love.

We have now returned to Port Orleans Riverside more times than I can count. Its quiet, storybook atmosphere is exactly what we want after a busy day in the parks. Walking through the Resort never feels like trudging across a hotel property. It feels like a little adventure of its own.

We have spotted bunnies, squirrels, lizards and even an owl once! Those tiny moments aren’t listed as Resort amenities, but they are part of what we remember. The winding paths, beautiful landscaping and peaceful surroundings allow us to slow down without ever feeling as though we have stepped outside the Disney experience.

Coronado introduced us to the Moderate category. Riverside made us want to return again and again.

Harper posing outside our Royal Princess Room by the balcony overlooking the courtyard.

Moderate Does Not Automatically Mean More Expensive

That is one of the biggest lessons I want families to take from our story: Disney Resort categories do not always price out in the order you expect.

A Value Resort may have the lowest starting room rate, but that does not guarantee it will create the lowest total for your particular family and dates. Your travel party’s size, room occupancy, available promotions and the number of rooms you need can completely change the comparison.

For our family of five, knowing about rooms with a fifth sleeper made an enormous difference. Instead of automatically booking two Value rooms, we could stay together in one Moderate room—and enjoy the amenities and atmosphere we already loved.

That does not mean a Moderate will always be less expensive. Sometimes the Value Resort really is the best value. Sometimes a promotion makes another category unusually attractive. Disney pricing changes, and every family’s needs are different.

But it does mean you should never assume you know the least expensive option based only on the category name.

Price the real vacation. Compare the actual rooms your family needs. Look at the promotions available for your dates. And please let someone who understands Disney’s room configurations check the options before you decide that a particular Resort category is out of reach.

I am very glad we did.

Why We Continue Choosing Moderate Resorts

The surprising prices may have gotten us through the door, but the experience is why we keep returning.

Disney’s Moderate Resorts have become a sweet spot for our family because they give us the balance we want most often: a price we can justify, convenient Disney transportation, feature pools with water slides and a peaceful atmosphere that makes the Resort feel like part of the vacation.

The pools are an experience

Our family loves a pool day, and the water slides at the Moderate Resort feature pools are a big deal for us—especially for Harper.

A Resort day doesn’t feel like a day when we are simply taking a break from the “real” vacation. Sleeping in, exploring the grounds and spending time at the pool is part of the vacation.

Water slide at the Main Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside.

Multiple bus stops can be incredibly convenient

At the larger Moderate Resorts we have stayed at, multiple bus stops throughout the property can make transportation very convenient when your room is near one of them. We don’t necessarily have to hike all the way to one central stop and join the entire Resort before beginning our park day.

Room location still matters—a lot—and every family should understand the Resort layout before choosing a preferred area. But with the right location, we love being able to walk to a nearby stop and let Disney handle the driving.

The atmosphere feels quiet and storybook-like

This may be the quality I love most.

The Moderates we return to feel peaceful without feeling boring. Their size gives us room to wander, and walking from one part of the Resort to another feels like exploring rather than commuting.

Some Guests see a large Resort map and immediately worry about the walking. That is completely fair! But our family often sees pathways, water, landscaping, wildlife and another little corner waiting to be discovered.

After the noise and crowds of a theme-park day, that quieter atmosphere feels wonderful.

View from a walking path at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside.

The Travel Agent Who Helped Create a Travel Agent

There is one more reason this story means so much to me.

The Mouse Detectives agent who found that first Coronado Springs offer didn’t book only one trip for us. She booked several.

Meanwhile, I was falling more in love with Disney. I was constantly answering questions at work, helping people think through their trips and referring friends and coworkers to someone else to book them.

Eventually, I had a thought: What would it look like if I stopped only referring people—and started booking the trips myself?

Could I build a business around something I genuinely loved?

That is exactly what I did.

Today, I am a travel advisor with The Mouse Detectives—the same agency that helped our family discover Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside and an entirely different way to experience Disney.

Now I get to be the person who looks beyond the obvious option. I get to explain fifth-sleeper rooms, compare promotions, think about bus stops and pool slides, and help another family discover that the Resort they assumed was out of reach may actually fit their plans better.

That feels wonderfully full circle.

Welcome to My Moderate Resort Girlie Era

Since that first stay at Coronado Springs, we have stayed at nearly every Walt Disney World Moderate Resort. We have experienced Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach and, of course, Port Orleans Riverside more times than I can count.

Port Orleans French Quarter is the one Moderate we haven’t stayed at yet, so I will not pretend to give you a first-hand review of a Resort I haven’t personally experienced. But I have plenty to say about the ones we know and love. 😂

In this series, I’ll share our honest experiences: what we loved, what we didn’t, our favorite areas, pool and transportation considerations, dining highlights and which families I believe will enjoy each Resort most.

Because the best Disney Resort isn’t simply the least expensive one—or the most expensive one. It is the Resort that fits your family, your priorities, your park plans and your budget.

Our Moderate Resort story began with a quote we almost didn’t request. It led to favorite family memories, more stays at Riverside than I can count and, eventually, a business built around something I genuinely love.

So yes, I am officially in my Moderate Resort Girlie era.

Honestly, I don’t think it is an era. I think this is just who I am now. 😂

Ready to Find Your Disney Resort?

Want help comparing Disney Resorts for your family, dates and budget? Fill out my complimentary quote request form!

Want a fun place to ask questions, share opinions and talk Disney with people who understand the obsession? Join our Facebook group!