Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts: Differences and Details

Last updated on September 4, 2026

Wondering what the differences are between Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts at Walt Disney World in Florida?

When you stay at one of the Disney World Resort hotels, you’re always in the middle of the magic! Disney resorts offer amenities, theming, and conveniences you just can’t find at other hotels off-property. But how do you know which Disney resort is the best choice for your family? 

As a Disney expert and frequent visitor to Walt Disney World, I’ve designed this guide to help you decide.

What to Expect at WDW Resort Hotels

A Value Resort will save you money, but a Deluxe Resort delivers fantastic theming, higher-end dining choices, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And the Disney Moderate resorts…they fall somewhere in the middle.

If you’re on a tight budget but want to stay on-property at WDW, a Value Resort is the easy choice. But if you want to experience a bit more luxury and upgraded amenities, you’re going to have to decide between Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts.

A Disney Moderate Resort is a huge step up from Value Resorts, but of course not as high-end as what you’ll find at a Deluxe property.

Disney Deluxe Resorts have all the bells and whistles and are far more luxurious. For instance, all Deluxe Resort rooms come with furnished patios or balconies, while you won’t that option at a Moderate Resort. They also have nicer bathroom amenities and more luxe decor inside the room. Deluxe rooms are reached via interior hallways, while Moderate Resorts have outside walkways.

Some things come standard at all Disney Resort hotels, regardless of which hotel category you stay in. Whether you stay at the cheapest Value Resort or fanciest Disney Villa, you’ll find: 

• A pool (or several pools)
• Free baggage transfer between Disney Resort hotels
• Early Theme Park Entry 
• Laundry facilities
• Retail shops and food court on site
• Ability to make dining reservations in advance
• A mini-fridge in your room
• Free parking 
• Friendly, helpful Disney service
• Ability to charge purchases to your room
• Complimentary transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs

Now, let’s take a look at the differences between Moderate and Deluxe Resorts.

Disney’s Moderate Resorts

Disney World Moderate Resort hotels tend to have a more subdued atmosphere. The rooms are lovely, the grounds beautifully landscaped, and the hotel’s lobby and common areas all add to the ambiance.

What You’ll Find at Disney Moderate Resorts

• Beautiful theming with a grownup feel
• Lush landscaping
• Rooms that open to outside corridors
• Table Service restaurant (except at Port Orleans French Quarter), food courts, and pizza delivery available
• Multiple pools – a main themed pool with a water slide and other quiet pools throughout the property

In the Moderate category, my favorite is the Port Orleans French Quarter. One of the two Port Orleans resorts, it is one of the smallest in size overall, which makes it easy to navigate and you won’t have to walk far to get to the lobby, restaurants, pool, or bus stop. It features a lovely New Orleans style architecture and is quite charming.

The Port Orleans Resort Riverside offers Royal Guest Rooms, located in two the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings. If your Walt Disney World vacation includes little girls, you’ll definitely want to check out this Disney World Moderate Resort!

Another cool thing about staying at either the Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter is they offer complimentary boat service from the resorts to Disney Springs.

Moderate Resort Hotels

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Deluxe Resorts

Like with most things at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the more you pay, the more you get.

Disney World Deluxe Resorts are detailed in their style and architecture – from elegant Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to the modern Contemporary Resort to the African vibe of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Deluxe resorts will give you the largest rooms, the fanciest bath products, and most attentive service. And, Deluxe resorts have the best pools with the biggest water slides. If you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge can even watch wildlife grazing from the privacy of your balcony!

What You’ll Find at Disney Deluxe Resorts

• Lavish theming with fantastic lobbies and gift shops
• Rooms that open to inside hallways
• Rooms with private balconies
• Table Service restaurants (including 1 upscale option) and Quick Service dining
• A main feature pool with a water slide and other quiet pools
• On-site gyms, spas, and child care centers
• Superb service
• Valet parking

But the biggest perk and something that is absolutely exclusive to Disney Deluxe Resort guests is Extended Evening Hours. Several nights per week, one of the four theme parks stays open two hours late and only people staying at either Disney Deluxe Resort hotels or Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts (DVC) can stay to enjoy rides and more. We were able to do this recently when we stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and it was amazing! Basically, almost every ride we wanted to go on was walk right in. 

When it comes to dining, you’ll find the most variety at Disney Deluxe Resorts. Each one has multiple restaurants, including quick service and table service restaurants, as well as several bars. They also offer highly-themed, upscale restaurants.

Here are some of our favorite spots at Disney Deluxe Resorts: At Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you have ‘Ohana and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace. At the Grand Floridian, there are numerous signature dining establishments including Ciricos, 1900 Park Fare, and Victoria & Albert’s. Head to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for the Yachtsman Steakhouse, Wilderness Lodge for Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, or the Riviera Resort’s Topolino’s Terrace for rooftop dining with their signature character breakfast.

It is very hard to choose a favorite Deluxe Resort – they are all amazing! But if I had to pick it would be a tie between Disney’s Polynesian Village and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

We absolutely loved the vibe at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although our room’s balcony overlooked the pool and not the African Savannah (a huge cost savings, by the way!), we still got to enjoy the animals from numerous vantage points around the hotel. And it is just a very short bus ride away from Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

We loved the Polynesian mostly for the pool area, and because you could watch both the fireworks and Electrical Boat Parade from the shore. The Volcano Pool has a zero entry area by the beach and giant water slide that twists through the volcano. The Pineapple Lanai is adjacent to the pool area, and it is always a bonus to have a Dole whip within easy reach when you’re at Disney World.

Disney also recently opened a new Disney Vacation Club Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The 10-story tall tower sits right on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, and includes studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom villas.

The tower also has its own pool, recreation activities, and restaurants, in addition to all the great amenities at the main hotel.

Other things that set Disney Deluxe Resorts apart from Moderate Resorts include hot tubs at the pool, concierge service, and lobby entertainment.

Hotels on Walt Disney World’s monorail line are all Deluxe Resorts. And the only full service spa at WDW is located at a Deluxe Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian. 

Deluxe Resort Hotels

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

► Looking for more hotel options onsite at Walt Disney World? Click here to this honest comparison of Disney Swan vs Dolphin Resorts.

Disney Deluxe Villas

Deluxe Villas are the ideal choice for families that need more space but still want to stay on-property and take advantage of the amenities offered at Disney Deluxe Resorts.

Disney Deluxe Villas combine the high-end amenities and conveniences of Deluxe properties with the comforts of home. Villas feature a full kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a washer and dryer. They range in size from studio to 2-bedroom, and can accommodate large or extended families. The Villas include all of the services and perks you get with a Deluxe Resort.

Deluxe Villas:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Value Resorts

Even though this guide is all about Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts, it’s worth talking about Value Resorts at Walt Disney World so you have all the facts. 

If all you’re looking for is a bed to sleep in and a shower to bathe in, a Value resort may be for you! Value Resorts have smaller rooms and oversized, sometimes garish decor. For example, Pop Century (which is my favorite Disney Value Resort) has giant bowling pins on the staircases in its 1950s section, and words like “Far Out” and “Peace” towering over the hotel in the 1960s area main pool.

At the All-Star Movies Resort, you’ll find four-story high characters, like the dogs from 101 Dalmatians. 

But these hotels are all fun, clean, and convenient, covering all the basics a family needs on vacation. Service is friendly, and while there aren’t any fancy restaurants on site you definitely won’t go hungry with their large and varied food courts.

What You’ll Find at Disney Value Resorts

• Fun, bright, kid-friendly theming
• Food courts and pizza delivery available, but no Table Service restaurants
• Themed pools but no water slides
• Rooms open to outside corridors
• Large, spread out layout making for long walks to the bus stop
• No doors separating the sink area from the bedroom (there is a curtain)
• Bus transportation to all parks and Downtown Disney (and only 1 internal bus stop)
• Skyliner station at Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts
• Inexpensive room rates

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a slight exception. It is the newest and has mostly suites, a bigger food court and common areas, and therefore a higher room rate.

Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century share a Skyliner station, which in my opinion makes them one step up from the All-Star Resorts, just in terms of ease of transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme parks.

If we had to pick one All-Star Value Resort, it would be All Star Movies. The building exteriors showcase some favorite Disney Movies, making this a fun but not overly-cheesy resort. 

Value Resort Hotels

• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

A Word About Transportation at the Disney World Resorts

You’re visiting Walt Disney World to go to Disney parks, right? So you want to get there fast! Most Deluxe resorts stand out in the transportation category, which is one of the reasons you’ll pay a premium.

The Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary are on the coveted Monorail line. They also offer transportation to the Magic Kingdom via boat, as does the Wilderness Lodge. Other Deluxe hotels offer boat transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and some are even within walking distance!

Bus service is the main form of transportation for most Value and Moderate Resorts. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs, and Disney’s Skyliner has stops at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.

The Skyliner conveniently connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and International Gateway at EPCOT to the following Resort hotels: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Disney’s Riviera Resort also has a Skyliner station.

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