Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Review: What to Expect

Discover the magic of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

A Brief Overview of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is a sprawling, 220-acre lakeside oasis that blends Southwestern American, Mexican, and Spanish influences, offering guests a unique and immersive experience. Located in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, this resort caters to both leisure and business travelers with its extensive amenities and vibrant theming.

Rooms

With over 1,900 rooms, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort offers a variety of accommodations to suit every need. Rooms are divided among three distinct areas: the Casitas, Ranchos, and Cabanas, each with its own unique charm and décor. The recent addition of the Gran Destino Tower has elevated the resort's offerings, providing guests with modern, upscale rooms featuring stunning views of the surrounding area.

Dining

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort offers a variety of dining experiences to satisfy every appetite. From quick-service eateries to fine dining, guests can enjoy:

• Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood: Located atop the Gran Destino Tower, this rooftop restaurant offers a sophisticated menu inspired by Spanish cuisine, with breathtaking views of Walt Disney World.

• Three Bridges Bar & Grill: Situated on the waterfront of Lago Dorado, this casual dining spot serves up delightful small plates and refreshing drinks.

• El Mercado de Coronado: A quick-service food court that provides a variety of dishes, perfect for guests on the go.

• Rix Sports Bar & Grill: A lively venue where guests can enjoy classic American dishes while catching their favorite sports games.              

• Maya Grill: A full-service restaurant that serves delicious Mexican and American cuisine.             

• Lounges & Bars:

  • Siestas Cantina: Located by the main pool, this poolside bar offers snacks and beverages.

  • Dahlia Lounge: Perched atop the Gran Destino Tower, Dahlia Lounge offers stunning views, creative cocktails, and a sophisticated ambiance.

  • Barcelona Lounge: Located in the lobby of the Gran Destino Tower, Barcelona Lounge serves specialty coffees by day and artisanal cocktails by night.

  • Café Rix: A convenient grab-and-go spot offering a variety of pastries, sandwiches, and beverages, perfect for a quick bite before heading out to the parks.

  • Laguna Bar: Situated by Lago Dorado, Laguna Bar provides a relaxing outdoor setting to enjoy refreshing drinks and light snacks while taking in the beautiful waterfront views.
    

 Photo by Tom Bricker

Recreation

The resort features numerous recreational activities to keep guests entertained throughout their stay:

• The Lost City of Cibola Pool: A spectacular, themed pool area complete with a 50-foot Mayan pyramid and a thrilling waterslide. It's a perfect spot for families to relax and play.

• Quiet Pools: There are 3 quiet pools located in each section of the resort for those seeking a more peaceful atmosphere.

• Fitness Centers: There are two fitness centers for guests who want to maintain their fitness routine while on vacation. The La Vida Health Club Fitness Center is in the Casitas section and the Fitness Center at Gran Destino Tower.

• Jogging Trails: A 0.9-mile scenic path around the resort's lake provides a picturesque setting for a morning run or a leisurely stroll.

Transportation

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort provides convenient transportation options for guests to easily navigate the vast Walt Disney World Resort:

• Disney Bus Transportation: Complimentary bus service is available to all Disney theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, ensuring guests can travel effortlessly throughout the resort. Buses come approximately every 20 minutes and make stops at all four internal bus stops.

• Minnie Van Service: For a more private and direct transportation option, guests can use the Minnie Van service, available through the Lyft app. These whimsical vehicles are driven by knowledgeable Disney Cast Members and provide a direct and efficient way to travel around the resort.

Cost

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate level resort. As with any Disney World Resort, prices can vary significantly based on the time of year, room type, and any special events happening.

The standard rooms typically range from $200 to $350 per night. While the rooms in the Tower range from $300 to $500 per night. For more luxurious accommodations, suites and club-level rooms can range from $500 to over $1,000 per night. The club-level rooms offer additional amenities and exclusive access to the Chronos Club lounge.

To get the best value for your stay, have flexible dates. If possible, plan your trip during off-peak seasons to take advantage of lower rooms rates. Also, always check for discounts! Disney often offers special offers (passholder, Florida resident, Disney+) seasonal discounts, or packages that include park tickets and dining plans. Even if you have already booked your trip, if a discount pops up, you can contact Disney to have it applied to your booking.

Our Experience

 Photo by Tom Bricker

Room Review

When planning your stay at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, one of the key decisions you'll face is choosing between a standard room and a tower room.

We have stayed in both the standard rooms (Ranchos and Cabanas sections) and the Tower. Surprisingly, we prefer the standard rooms.

• Tower is close to food (never even have to go outside) but farther from the pool.

• The tower room is slightly larger (375 sq ft. vs 314 sq ft for a standard room) most of that extra space is due to the entry hallway. While this hallway was nice, it wasn’t a usable space.

• The bathrooms in the standard room are more convenient since the shower and toilet are separate from the sink. This allows one person to get ready while someone else uses the shower.

• Standard rooms have ceiling fans! This makes a big difference in air flow at night, and we really wished we had this in our tower room.

• Standard room have more storage, especially in the bathroom.

Our favorite location for a standard room is Cabanas 8A. This building is close to the pool, a bus stop, and only a short walk to dining. When the weather is nice, the walk along the lake is really amazing.

Dining Review

While staying at Coronado Springs Resort, we have eaten at Rix’s Sports Bar & Grill, Siesta Cantinas and El Mercado de Coronado.

Rix's Sports Bar & Grill: The food quality was very good for the price, though the menu was small. Service was friendly but slow, and there were limited options for my daughter's wheat allergy. She ordered the plain chicken breast and enjoyed it.

El Mercado de Coronado: A good variety of options with decent quality. They offered gluten-free waffles and chicken tenders, which my daughter loved. There's plenty of seating, but no mobile ordering for allergy items.

When you have allergy items, because you can’t order ahead, you must wait by the station for 5-10 minutes. With mobile ordering, you can get a seat or look through the other items while you wait. This is why we always mobile order at least the allergy items each meal.

Siestas Cantina: Typical pool bar with good but expensive drinks and average food. No gluten-free substitutions were available so we only ate here once.

Recreation Review

Coronado Springs Resort has my kids’ favorite pool, The Lost City of Cibola Pool. This is their favorite slide of all the hotels we have been to so far. We try to visit the pool each day after spending the mornings in the park. The pool is a good size so you can find some space to relax, and my kids will happily go on that slide for hours.

The playground here is also one of the more unique and themed ones at Disney resorts. My kids really enjoyed playing on it and didn't get bored after 3 minutes like at some of the others.

We spent some time in the Iguana Arcade. This arcade is on the smaller side but had enough games to keep my kids busy for about an hour. Also, none of the games were broken which is an issue we frequently come across at Disney arcades.

Transportation Review

Coronado Springs Resort only has bus transportation. For us, this isn’t a deal breaker, we do not mind taking the bus. However, during our most recent stay, we took a Minnie Van each morning to the parks so that we did not have to deal with the morning crowds at each bus stop. This allowed us to take our time in the morning and leave when we were ready.

We did take the bus back to the hotel each day and never waited at any of the parks for more than 5 minutes for a bus to arrive. While staying at the Tower we were the last to be dropped off but this only added an extra 5-7 minutes to our commute which we didn’t mind.

In previous trips, we have taken the bus in the morning. We are rope droppers and would try to get on the first bus of the morning. Doing this, we never had an issue with the bus being full or having to stand on the way to the parks.

Stay Here or Steer Clear?

Who should stay here?

Families that love to have diverse food options. There is no shortage of sit-down restaurants, lounges, and quick service options ensuring everyone in your party can find something they enjoy.

Those looking for a laid-back environment that provides a unique and relaxing retreat from the hustle and bustle of the parks. Even when we have been there during conferences, the resort has a calm and peaceful vibe.

Families who plan to spend a lot of time in the pool. The Lost City of Cibola Pool, with its impressive Mayan pyramid and waterslide, is a standout feature that guarantees fun for the whole family.

Who should steer clear?

However, Coronado Springs may not be the best fit for everyone. Guests who prefer a variety of transportation options, such as monorails or boats, might find the resort's reliance on bus services somewhat limiting. There are also four internal bus stops, which can add time to your commute and fill buses before your stop.

 Additionally, those looking for strong Disney theming throughout the resort would be disappointed here. There are subtle Disney nodes throughout the hotel but no larger-than-life theming like some of the other resorts.

Final Thoughts

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort offers a unique blend of comfort, style, and convenience, making it a top choice for many visitors. Whether you're here for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a business trip, this resort promises a magical stay filled with memorable moments. We love staying here for the different food and recreation for a more affordable price.