Best moderate resort for easy/flexible dining with kids

[Griffin11]

I was curious as to everyone's thoughts on the best moderate resort in terms of easy/flexible dining that's kid-friendly. What I mean by easy/flexible are options that don't require an ADR, or generally have last minute availability. Happy to leave the resort to eat, but we will be restricted to Disney transportation, so it would have to be a short Disney commute to any off-resort options.

My kids will be 5 and 7, are pretty reasonable for their ages in terms of what they will eat, and I don't want them just eating burgers/mac and cheese/pizza all week. We will be travelling at a lower crowd time (late January or early February 2023).

I know CSR has the most dining options in the resort itself, but how does that compare to other moderates with close options off-resort: POR/FQ (Disney Springs) and CBR (other skyliner resorts and Boardwalk)?

To put it another way, if it was 4 pm, you have no dinner plans, and want to make sure your 5 and 7 yr old kids can eat by 5:30pm or so, what moderate resort would you want to be at?

 

[karen4546]

if you are staying at a moderate resort for the convenience of the food court then POFQ is a short 3 minute walk no matter where your room is located.

the boats go from POFQ to Riverside and Disney Springs. There are many options at DS.

Riviera resort has a decent QS menu if you are staying at CBR.

 

[The WDW 3]

If I was dependent on getting back to the resort to eat, then I would want something closer and with more transportation options.

 

[Wood Nymph]

To put it another way, if it was 4 pm, you have no dinner plans, and want to make sure your 5 and 7 yr old kids can eat by 5:30pm or so, what moderate resort would you want to be at?

We really like Port Orleans Riverside. They have some very good and kid friendly dinner options in their food court. You also have a table service restaurant if you want a leisurely meal. There is the boat to Disney Sprungs, which is fun and give you lots of options. The main pool is great with a fun slide, too. And if you ask for a room in Alligator Bayou, you could get the small Murphy bed that one of the kids can sleep in. They are the perfect age for it.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I would choose one of the PO resorts. The QS at Riverside is good. We've yet to try the TS or the QS at French Quarter. The boat ride to Disney Springs is lovely and there are a ton of QS and TS dining options there.

 

[Ikaikalani]

POFQ would be my suggestion, it has a great food court and is a smaller resort, less crowded.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

I'd say POR/POFQ.

 

[stinkpickle]

Another vote for one of the Port Orleans resorts

 

[Griffin11]

Thanks everyone for their comments. I had been booked at FQ for my COVID-cancelled trip, so glad to know I was on the right track!

 

[eandt]

Thanks everyone for their comments. I had been booked at FQ for my COVID-cancelled trip, so glad to know I was on the right track!

You will love French Quarter .... our favorite moderate by far.

 

[Deb & Bill]

As long as you want counter service, you would be fine. If you want table service, you'd need an ADR and not expect to just walk up.

 

[cutigerlady]

My recommendation is CBR. You have access to the food court at CBR and QS at Rivera, plus a short skyliner ride to the Boardwalk or AOA/PC. At CBR, they also have an outdoor bar/restaurant that has lots of kid friendly food. I stayed here with my 10 year old in a standard room right next to the skyliner station (also Joffrey's for my morning coffee) and it was a quick walk to both food court areas. You can order food to have it delivered if necessary.

I found that most all of the restaurants at DS when it is not busy, require a reservation (because of limited staff). You can book many of these locations on Open Table and it doesn't have a penalty for canceling. You need to plan to make the reservations the morning of at the latest. Some of the QS places had limited hours or were closed.

 

[philharmagic fan]

We're local and used to eat at Boatwright's a few times each year (hooray - they're reopening and we have reservations for later this month!). We usually reserved right at opening (5pm) and often saw them take walk-up requests at that time. Riverside and FQ are only 10 minutes apart by a really nice walking path along the river, so you actually have 2 QS options (we've stayed at Riverside but sometimes walked to FQ for beignets).

 

[BrotherCraig]

Our kids really enjoyed Caribbean Beach Resort and the dining there. It was easy and had a good selection for families.