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What You Need to Know About Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Savannah Sanders
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With over 20+ resorts to choose from at Walt Disney World, choosing your home away from home at the most magical place on earth can be a little overwhelming. To make the decision process a little easier, and to guarantee that you’re fully informed, we’re covering what you need to know about Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

Disney’s Coronado Springs – The Basics

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a Moderate resort located near Animal Kingdom. One unique facet of this resort is that it is a convention property, although you will find many families staying at this resort as well.
The theme is Mexico and the American Southwest, and the resort is divided into four areas: Ranchos (2- and 3-story buildings), Cabanas (2-story buildings), Casitas (multistory buildings), and Gran Destino Tower (a large modern hotel building).
The resort surrounds a large, 22-acre lake. For amenities, there are three small pools and one large swimming complex with a reproduction of a Mayan pyramid complete with a waterfall.

Disney’s Coronado Springs – Our Room

On a recent stay, Chrissy from our team stayed in room 3190 in the Casitas building. This is a preferred room in building 3.

The room measures 18.5 feet by 12.6 feet and contains two queen beds and a large built-in desk area (5 foot long by 13.5 inches wide) with a desk lamp, a six-drawer dresser, and a single desk chair.
There’s also a sitting chair near the window.

The beds are on raised platforms with plenty of under-bed storage room for suitcases.
Between the beds, there is a nightstand with a phone and ample standard and USB outlets.
There’s also a Keurig coffee maker, mini-fridge, steam iron, ceiling fan…
…a flat-screen television, hairdryer, and in-room safe.
The bathroom is separated from the sleeping area by two sliding barn doors with the double-sink vanity measuring 6 feet 3 inches by 4 feet 11 inches. The bathroom space itself measures 6.4 feet by 4.5 feet.
There’s a surprising amount of storage both under and around the vanity, as well as in a large cabinet.
Here is where guests will find an ironing board and an additional blanket and pillow.
The shower and toilet are separated from the vanity area by a pocket door.
The glass-doored shower is a decent size.
But unfortunately for fans of Disney toiletries…
…they’re no longer complimentary single-use bottles at Coronado Springs. Instead, like other resorts on property, Disney’s H2O products now come in large pumps that are mounted to the wall.
We took several light meter readings in the room with the blackout curtains closed, and the results were almost the same:
  • Nightstand 272
  • Pillow 386
  • Vanity 618
  • Desk 110
And as with the growing trend at Disney resorts, the room contains laminate floors instead of carpet, giving the room a sleek, modern look.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Amenities

Because this resort has such a large footprint, its variety of amenities are spread out, including at Gran Destino tower. Here’s what’s available:

Gran Destino Tower Fitness Center

Located inside the Tower on the lobby floor (2nd floor), this gym is open from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Masks are currently required inside the gym. Gym towels are provided, as well as a filtered water machine and individually wrapped cups.

La Vida Salon and Spa (currently closed for COVID-19 precautions)

El Centro 

Located next to Grand Destino Tower, El Centro is home to Coronado’s gift shop, food court, and the Rix Lounge.

Laundry Rooms

Guest laundry facilities are located in the same cluster as the resort’s smaller pools – Casitas, Ranchos, and Cabanas — and are the same prices and machines as other resort locations. Note that there is no laundry at the Dig Site.

Coronado Springs Pools & Recreation

Coronado Springs is home to one main pool and three leisure pools all of which resort guests have access to. Pool towels and life vests are complimentary and available at each pool.

Lost City of Cibola Pool 

The largest pool at the resort, the Lost City of Cibola Pool can be found at the Dig Site which is located between Ranchos and Cabanas but open to all resort guests. It has a capacity of 256 people. No key or MagicBand is required to enter.


Pool hours span from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The centerpiece is a 50-foot pyramid with a 123-foot-long Jaguar slide on the side of the ruins. There is also a spa with a capacity of 22 people for 15 minutes max.

The children’s pool sits next to the main pool and is zero entry. It’s also gated with a capacity of ten people.

There’s also the Explorer’s Playground that’s open for kids ages 5 to 12 years with a capacity of ten guests.

The kitchen at Siestas, the Dig Site’s pool bar, operates from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. while the bar serves from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. There is one line for the bar and a separate line for food and soft drinks.

 In addition to a number of umbrella tables, there are two ping pong tables with paddles and balls available for free.

Iguana Arcade (currently closed for COVID-19 precautions)

Casitas Pool

This pool is less than a minute’s walk from both preferred rooms to the Casitas Pool. There is no lifeguard on duty with its hours spanning from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. and a capacity of 80 people. It’s only 5 ft. at its deepest point.

Ranchos Pool

Hours span from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. with a capacity of 80 people. There is no lifeguard on duty.

Cabanas Pool

Hours span from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. with a capacity of 61 people. There is no lifeguard on duty.

Movies Under the Stars

Free outdoor movies are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays on the Gran Destino Tower Lawn at 8:00 p.m.

La Marina

Rental hours are from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. with craft hours spanning from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Bike rental prices are $5.00 for 30 minutes, $11.00 for 60 minutes, and $20.00 for all-day. Fishing rentals are $10.00 for 30 minutes and $16.00 for 60 minutes.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Transportation

Let’s talk about getting around Coronado Springs.
First of all, there are 4 bus stops – one at each building section and one at Tower/El Centro. Each bus stop services all 4 Disney Parks and Disney Springs while transportation to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon is from El Centro/Stop 1 only. Due to the resort’s vast grounds, Coronado Springs also offers an internal bus where at El Centro guests can transfer.
For reference, our room at Casitas was a 3 minute and 48-second walk to Bus Stop 2.

Dining at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs is home to several dining locations including the lakefront Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Villa del Lago, the Maya Grill (currently unavailable), the Rix Sports Bar & Grill, and grab ‘n go coffee and pastries at Cafe Rix. There’s also the rooftop Dahlia Lounge, as well as the Barcelona Lounge known for coffee and espresso.
For something light, El Mercado de Coronado is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But for more refined fare and atmosphere, Toledo in Gran Destino Tower offers fine Spanish dining with a rooftop view. Note: At the time of writing, Toledo is currently unavailable.
What are your thoughts on Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort? Let us know in the comments!

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Savannah Sanders

Savannah has been visiting Disney World since she was a year old and has gone back almost every year since. In the real world, she teaches high school history and government and enjoys writing about all things Disney. Savannah can be reached on Twitter @DisneyParkSavvy.

11 thoughts on “What You Need to Know About Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort”

  • Sadly, this is old information. I attended a conference at Coronado Springs in early January, snd everything was open and available. The restaurants, spa, arcade..nothing was closed. It is a great resort and have been attending the annual conference there almost every year since 2011. (2021 conference was virtual). I love this place, so much to do. Great place to just walk around the lake.

  • I was wondering if the rooms had coffee makers in them and if they do are they K cups or the Pods????? we drink a lot of ice coffee and hot coffee thank you in advance. And where in this resort is the best rooms to stay at with 2 grandkids????

    • Yes, the rooms have coffee makers with k cups. I think your best bet for a room with grandkids would be a room closer to the dig site, which is the big pool and play ground area. Or choose a room that would be closest to the main building where the restaurants are.

  • Just this morning I check out of Coronado Springs. I was part of a 2,500 person conference. While masks are required, we found everything open. Yes, the arcade was open…I was in it! The Mayan restaurant was open. Reservations recommended, but open and quite busy. I love this property. The remodel is tremendous! I admit, I love the quiet softness of carpet, but the rooms are very well done. I love walking the beautiful, well kept grounds. It was my 6th time there, due to annual conference, and whine there this year, reserved for next year. Also, you check in/out on your phone with their app. No need to wait in line at the front desk, which is now in the new tower building.

    • Sorry you were not able to get a room in the cabanas, but I am sure your stay was wonderful. My husband and I are hoping to go again in a couple of years. Coronado Springs is a lovely resort. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  • Hello,
    My husband and I just recently stayed at Coronado Springs, and it was by far the best choice we made for a resort stay! This was our first time going to Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts. This resort is absolutely beautiful with all of its details and amenities. The Three Bridges Restaurant was the best. I used this website to choose our favorite room, and we actually got the exact room of choice. Thank You! We planned our vacation for our 20th anniversary, which was delayed a year due to covid-19. We had an amazing time, and would stay here again if we are ever able to do so.

    • Is there a way you can request the room of your choice, or did you just get lucky?

      • Hi Allison,
        If you are subscribed to Touring Plans they have a feature that allows you to see the views of each room. First put in the criteria for the type of room to narrow it down. Once you have reviewed the room options, put in your request with Touring Plans, and they send the request on your behalf. Of course there is no guarantee that you will get your room choice, so I guess in that sense I did get lucky. Note you need to link your Disney confirmation number with your Touring Plans account.
        Hope this helps,
        Blessings Erica

      • Erica, I just this morning checked out after 6 days at CS. I requested the room (cabana near the dig site) and they said they would have honored my request as in the past, but the building was closed for remodeling. I was in Casita building 2 great room. They really do try if you ask and message a reminder.

    • What room was your room of choice an why?

      • We stayed in the Cabanas room 8650. We wanted to be somewhere quiet with a water view. This room has a great view of the lake, and hammocks just outside on the beach.

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