Disney's Coronado Springs Review
Our first stay at the moderate resort Coronado Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
Alison Root
8/28/20265 min read
Nick and I recently traveled to Walt Disney World Resort & Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, FL from August 11-18 this year and we decided to stay one night at a Disney World resort we haven't had the opportunity to stay in yet - Coronado Springs.
This resort is stunning with all the detail, especially in the Grand Destino Tower that was built in July 2019. The resort consists of 4 areas to stay in: Grand Destino Tower, Casitas, Ranchos, and Cabanas. If you are wanting to stay in Grand Destino Tower, it does cost a little more and you have to specify when you book the resort. The Casitas, Ranchos, and Cabanas are the original rooms at this resort.
We stayed in the Casitas area, which was really close to El Centro which housed the Panchito's (gift shop), Maya Grill, El Marcado de Coronado (Quick Service location), Rix Sports Bar & Grill, Cafe Rix, Laguna Bar, and a business center. Each area had their own small pool and the Dig Site which is the main resort pool was located in the Ranchos area.
Pro Tip: Technically the Casitas are not the closest to the main pool area, but it is closest to the on-site fitness center and very close to Villa del Lago (known as Three Bridges) and El Centro. If you're wanting to be super close to the Dig Site, I'd recommend staying in the Ranchos section. If you want to be super close to both Grand Destino Tower and Dig Site, the Cabanas section will be for you. You can always request sections if you are not staying in the tower - but it's not guaranteed.
Villa Del Lago (aka Three Bridges)
Casitas, Rancheros, Cabanas, Grand Destino Tower...oh my!
We arrived at Coronado Springs a little later in the afternoon than planned, but once we dropped off our belongings in our room, we decided to head to Villa Del Lago, which is one of the on-site restaurants. Many people refer it to "Three Bridges" because there are three bridges that connect to this restaurant.
The seating was mainly outdoors, but they had a lot of fans running and we were able to sit right on the water, which was really pretty. Our server had mentioned that many people like to come for fireworks at night, but it is first come first serve. This restaurant take walk-in reservations only, so if you are wanting a great view for fireworks I would plan to be there in advance.
We split the dip trio which came with guacamole, cheese dip, and a street corn dip. It was really good and ended up being our dinner because it was a lot of food. We also split the sangria flight since the restaurant is known for them. They also do a Sangria University class but those reservations fill up fast and only happen at select times. Overall, we'll definitely come back here again for the food and atmosphere...and probably a sangria!
Grand Destino Tower
Grand Destino Tower is definitely a great addition to Coronado Springs and is now the icon for the resort. Built in 2019, it was inspired by Salvador Dali and Walt Disney - it blends Spanish-Moorish architecture with a modern feel. It's also has that Deluxe resort feel at a Moderate resort price. It is the only moderate resort that offers concierge-club level amenities for those seeking to add a little extra luxury to their trip.
This is the area you will be dropped off for check in and is the main hub for the bus transportation. There are multiple stops for the bus route at Coronado Springs, but Grand Destino Tower is the primary stop. The lobby area is filled with all the welcoming vibes and Spanish style.
The tower also features different lounges and restaurants on site including: Toledo - Tapas, Steak, and Seafood, Dahlia Lounge, and Barcelona Lounge. We did not get a chance to make it to Toledo since it was closed the day we were there, so if that is a must do for you make sure to make a reservation on a day they are open. We did get a peek at the entrance which was stunning and I also hear the food is amazing. If you're looking for a rooftop restaurant with vibes, definitely check out Toledo.
We didn't get a chance to get into Toledo, however we did get a chance to check out Dahlia Lounge and Barcelona Lounge. Dahlia Lounge is located on the 15th floor of Grand Destino Tower and has inside and outside seating. This rooftop lounge serves up some tapas and a variety of different drinks. This lounge was gorgeous and you could see Hollywood Studios & EPCOT from the rooftop balcony.
Pro Tip: If you want to catch EPCOT fireworks from this lounge, get up there at least 30 minutes to an hour before the show starts if you want a prime viewing. People will stand at the balcony at last minute! They will pump in the music for the EPCOT show and it's kind of cool to see the firework show from an ariel view.
In the main lobby area, if you head down the grand staircase you're going to find the beautiful and vibrant Barcelona Lounge. This lounge serves as a coffee bar in the morning and by mid afternoon into the evening serves cocktails. We grabbed their famous Biscoff coffee on our Disney morning and we had to share it - it was very rich. Behind the bar is a colorful stain glass wall that is said to be inspired by the city of Barcelona. You definitely don't want to miss this area when visiting Coronado Springs.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this resort is absolutely stunning and feels like a deluxe resort at a moderate price. The beds I will admit are not the most comfortable, but in the tower I hear they are better. I'd love to stay here again and spend more time exploring this resort personally. It is a bus-only resort, but they have plenty of busses that run. There wasn't any conferences or any big events happening while we were here, so it was pretty slow - I'd definitely keep that in mind when booking this resort.
In my opinion, is you stay in the Disney bubble there's really no bad place to stay. This resort definitely has its charm and the rooms were really fun. (Video of room tour to come)
Looking to book a Disney vacation? I'd love to help you plan it! Let's get something magical on the books today! Feel free to fill out a quote form or you can contact me at magicalrootstravel@gmail.com.
Happy Travels!
