Resort Rundown: Disney’s Coronado Springs Overview

Disney’s Coronado Springs has gone through the most dramatic expansion in Walt Disney World resort hotel history. A bold blend of cultures is celebrated here, with Spanish, Mexican, and Central American influences weaved throughout the resort. A tranquil lake is the centerpiece. Accommodations are found within a collection of themed buildings from ranch style to the awe-inspiring Gran Destino Tower. Come explore this reimagined resort that is both tranquil and lively.

Location

This resort is nestled between Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, near the western portion of Disney property. Although Coronado Springs is not in the exact center of Disney property it is fairly close and generally within a 10 minute ride to any of the four theme parks once on board the bus. The furthest destination is Disney Springs. None of the theme parks are in walking distance, but an argument could be made that Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park and Winter Summerland are walkable since they are just a mile away and there is a sidewalk from the resort. (Just make sure you safely cross Buena Vista Drive from the resort first.)

Rooms

Crisp white linens are paired with warm earth tones, and touches of Disney adorn each room. The traditional buildings, (Ranchos, Casitas, and Cabanas) each have their own exterior theming and themed landscaping, plus its own small swimming pool. 

The room types are based on three features: view (standard, water, or preferred), bed type, and location. The traditional buildings, as well as the Gran Destino Tower have the same room types, except Gran Destino Tower has the option of club access and has either standard view or water view, but not a preferred view.  All room categories have the option of a king bed, generally at a higher rate. There are also a few suite types available. 

Speaking of views, you can use the awesome TouringPlans Room Finder to help you narrow down the exact room location you would like. Plug in your preferences and find rooms that match your needs. This tool is free to use.

Club Access – Chronos Club at Gran Destino Tower

The Chronos Club offers guests a variety of conveniences and extra touches including evening turndown, the club-level lounge – serving refreshments 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, personalized Concierge and Front Desk service, and complementary health club access.

Dining 

Your taste buds will never be bored at this resort. Enjoy a refreshing beverage at five different bars and lounges, grab a quick bite at two casual and quick-service locations, and delight in a memorable meal at three full-service restaurants.

Barcelona Lounge located inside the Gran Destino Tower is a bakery and bar all rolled into one, with specialty coffees in the morning and specially crafted gin cocktails in the evening. Dahlia Lounge is perched at the top of Gran Destino Tower with an atmosphere inspired by Salvador Dali. Right next door is Toledo, and if you’ll allow the pun, the views and food will have you saying “Holy Toledo!”. Maya Grill and Rix Sports Bar and Grill round out the full service options. Laguna Bar, Siestas Cantina, Three Bridges Bar & Grill, el Marcado de Coronado, and Cafe Rix finish off the massive dining options here, and don’t forget In-Room Dining too!

Toledo is a very popular restaurant during fireworks time and reservations book up quickly. You can use the TouringPlans Reservation Finder to help you secure that hard-to-get dining reservation. Simply select your desired restaurant, then plug in your desired date and time or meal period, then select to be notified either via email or text message and viola! This incredible tool is available with or without a TouringPlans paid subscription, but you do need to create, or have, a TouringPlans login. 

Pools

Since the resort is comprised of four villages or areas, there are four pools available. One quieter village pool is located at each of the traditional sections (Casita, Ranchos, and Cabanas). There is one large themed pool with a waterslide and a Mayan-style pyramid towering over the pool with water cascading down the front. All pools are available to all resort guests regardless of which section your room is located. 

Recreation

The fun doesn’t stop in the parks. Besides four sparkling pools there are plenty of other recreation options at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. The Dig Site is the resort’s recreation hub, which includes the main pool, Lost City of Cibola Pool. Also at The Dig Site, your little ones can get some extra energy out at the Explorers Playground, engage in a round of beach volleyball, or play some video games at the Iguana Arcade. Movies under the stars and a campfire take place near The Dig Site too. If you’re a runner or walker you can stick to your routine with the 0.9 mile jogging trail around the resort’s lagoon.

Transportation 

Bus transportation is the only transportation option available at Disney’s Coronado Springs. There is one main bus station out front of Gran Destino Tower. Three other bus stops service the resort’s villages (Casita, Ranchos, and Cabanas). The buses loop the resort and stop at each station before heading out to the final destination. 

Convention Center

One of the reasons, perhaps the main reason, Coronado Springs went through such a massive transformation is to make it more attractive to convention and event guests. The resort has had a convention center since opening. Attractng convention guests is one of the reasons this resort has more dining, more room types, and other features like a Business Center, that are uncommon at the other Moderate resorts. This also means that some parts of the resort can be bought out for a private event. Catering to convention guests also gives the resort a more refined feel.

More Information

See inside a Gran Destino Tower room for yourself, check out our video here:

We sure ran through a lot of information about Disney’s Coronado Springs, so here’s a handy-dandy infographic that sums it all up: