Resort Rundown: Coronado Springs Resort
Let’s talk the Moderate resort with the Deluxe feel: Coronado Springs! This beautiful resort, themed American Southwest/Northern Mexico, is located between Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Coronado Springs opened on August 1, 1997, and is massive. There are nearly 2,000 rooms and suites in 3 villages surrounding the 15-acre lake called Lago Dorado. With the addition of Gran Destino Tower, which is based on the work of Salvadore Dali, there are an additional almost 600 rooms in the 15-floor tower. It is also important to note that this is a Convention Hotel, so there is also a 95,000 square foot Convention Center with a ballroom and business center. The ballroom can accommodate up to 5,000 people.
Casitas is themed after Urban centers, like Santa Fe. This is where the convention guests are centered. Casitas, meaning little houses in Spanish, is surrounded by courtyards, fountains, and palm trees. The buildings are three or four stories.
Casitas is GORGEOUS and full of beautiful decoration, including topiaries featuring The Three Caballeros!! There is also one of the 3 leisure pools, 1 each for each village.
The Ranchos section features 2- and 3-story pueblo-style villas that reflect more arid rural regions in a rustic ranch setting, complete with small streams tumbling over a rocky stream bed.
The two-story Cabanas are themed to Northern Mexico’s serene shoreline, and nearly half the rooms have a view of Lago Dorado.
Gran Destino Tower is Spanish-style and Moorish-tile style in the fashion of Salvadore Dali. The front desk now serves the entire resort. You can also find the fitness center and several restaurants here.
The Lost City of Cibola Pool
This is by FAR the coolest pool/recreation area at Walt Disney World. First we have the pool, themed to Mayan Ruins, with a 50-foot pyramid and a 123-foot waterslide. There is also a HUGE hot tub, a playground, arcade, Siestas restaurant, and a children’s pool. It is massive, it is fun, it is perfectly themed: the Disney Trifecta!!
Dining
Maya Grill — Mexican steakhouse, table service
Three Bridges Bar and Grill
Rix Sports Bar and Grill
Dahlia Lounge
Barcelona Lounge
Siestas Cantina
Cafe Rix
El Mercado de Coronado
Coronado Springs offers standard rooms that sleep 4, 99 rooms with King sized beds, disability access rooms, and, located in Gran Destino Tower, Deluxe Suites and One-Bedroom Suites with Club Access, and Presidential Suite with Club Access. The Tower offers a Deluxe Resort feel at a Moderate Resort price. There are several recreation options available to guests, including 3 leisure pools, one large pool with arcade, playground, hot tub, and children’s pool and quick service restaurant, volleyball, jogging trail, movies under the stars, fitness classes, campfire activities, and Sunday fun runs.
As for location:
Casitas 1 is directly over the convention center and closest to Pepper Market, Maya Grill, the Main Bus Stop (now relocated closer to Gran Destino Tower) and the Front Desk (now also located at Gran Destino Tower). The Health Club and Beauty Salon are located between Casitas 2/3 and Casitas 4. A second Fitness Center is located in Gran Destino Tower as well. Casitas 3 and 4 are closest to the Casitas Quiet Pool (and Guest Laundry). Casitas 4 is nearest the Casitas Bus Stop (Bus Stop 2). Casitas 5 is the furthest of the Casitas from the Main Building but closest to the Dig Site. Ranchos 7A and 7B are the closest to the Dig Site. The Ranchos share a bus stop with the Cabanas (7A being the closest Ranchos building to Bus Stop 3). Ranchos 6A and B are the furthest buildings out and probably the quietest. The Cabanas Building 8A is close to both the Cabanas Bus Stop (Bus Stop 4) and the Dig Site. Cabanas 9B is closest to Main Building (El Centro, which is where you will find Cafe Rix, Maya Grill, etc.), the Marina, and is just a short walk from Bus Stop 1. Cabanas 9A is closest to the Quiet Pool (and Guest Laundry). Gran Destino Tower is closest to the Quiet Pool near Cabanas 9A, but the Dig Site pool is just a slightly longer walk. Gran Destino Tower has several dining and drinking options, but the nearest quick service is El Mercado de Coronado in El Centro. An enclosed hallway connects Gran Destino the El Centro.
Is Coronado Springs massive? YES. It is ginormous. You WILL walk a lot. Is it a great place to stay? YES. Coronado Springs is gorgeous and, due to it’s location, it’s like an Oasis in the middle of your best fantasy. If you’re going for a fully immersive “Disney” themed vacation, this resort isn’t going to be for you. But if you want to feel like you’re on a vacation in a Southwestern Desert Oasis, like a vacation for your vacation, and you want to plan 1 or 2 resort only days, this is the PERFECT place for you. You will never be bored here!
Contact me today to book your visit to Coronado Springs (or ANY Disney Resort, I love them all!)
Originally published at https://danielleatlovethemousetravel.com on July 16, 2021.
