Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Staycations are always a great time, but it's even more fun when your stay is at Disney! We tried another fun property - Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - and this one completely caught us by surprise! 

When we look at a Disney hotel stay, amenities are always a MAJOR plus for us.  But when we're helping a client plan, convenience comes in pretty high.  So this property, though not the most convenient to park access, blew us away!  

It is considered one of Disney's Moderate properties, and is more often used for larger stays (given the convention center on property). But here you'll definitely feel like you are getting a great mix of stays - the price point of the Moderate properties but the value of the Deluxe properties.  And quite honestly, what keeps this hotel at its sweet price point is solely its location - everything else was just elite!​

Stay

So what do we mean with all these references to location? 

This Animal Kingdom area resort takes you a bit away from the main Disney locations - most people like the perks of having the Skyliner or Monorail as additional transportation options. But if you're looking to feel like you're on a true getaway, you'll get this as soon as you drive in, greeted by a cast member at the gate. You'll notice the location takes you a bit away from the center of it all, making it like an escape!​

You'll be directed to the lobby in the Gran Destino Tower to do your check-in or luggage drop.  With Disney's enhanced technology, you may not even have a reason use the lobby other than to hold your luggage while you use the amenities! The My Disney Experience app has everything loaded for you, right on your phone, so you can check-in digitally (give them an arrival time on or prior to check-in day) and then receive a notification to your phone when your room is ready!  

Room key?  No problem! It's on your smart phone via the app as well - it will even direct you to your room and allow you to enter your room via your device.  But if you're not interested in these enhancements, just stop by the check-in desk and grab a room key for use during your stay. We recommend it anyways as a back-up to just your phone. 

As soon as you step foot on property you feel like you're transported to a Deluxe resort.  And as you walk into the tower, you'll find some luxurious decor, incredible art, and welcoming views that the tower itself hides on arrival.  The resort is situated around a lake with accommodations surrounding all of it, flanked by the main pool and tower as the main points of interest, and scattered by the other villages.

This resort has a few sets of accommodations to choose from:

• Gran Destino Tower rooms (also where you'll find club level & suites) - the most convenient
• Casitas (suites) - close to the amenities in the Tower
• Standard rooms (location like water view or preferred may vary the price point) - have the set up of the other Disney moderate properties 

​There is a price gap difference between each, sometimes a jump of $100+/night in each category, depending on where you book to stay.  If it's a matter of staying budget friendly, there is nothing lost in staying in a standard room which still grants you luscious views of the property. But if you enjoy a little more of an upgraded stay and close to it all, the Tower will fulfill your needs!

This stay we booked ourselves a Gran Destino Tower Room with water view - granting us view of the property. The room itself is tastefully decorated in modern Latin American flair, and with the elegance that can rival the big name hotel brands we widely recognize.  The room was a generous size, and with the perks of feeling like you're staying in a Deluxe, was completely worth the price point!

Fun tip, booking in the Tower  with standard view (and requesting a high floor), may also get you prime fireworks viewing from the comfort of your room! 

Play

We made this stay another one where we completely immersed ourselves in what the resort had to offer. ​

The resort, like every other, has a main pool with water slide and activities. This one is called the Dig Site, just a short walk from the Tower.  Each of the villages, or annex buildings, also have their own pools (without any additional amenities). 

Movie Under the Stars is an every other night activity offered at Disney resorts, whether they are poolside or some other central area - here they are on the lawn outside the Tower. It's a nice way to wind down the night and relax to a Disney feature with your family, especially after a busy day. 

This is all just the beginning, this resort also offers arts & crafts and dining experiences to book separately.  This includes Colors of Coronado Painting Experience, Spanish Mosaic Art, and Sangria University (each at an additional cost). Our crew enjoyed marshmallow roasting by the pool as the sunset, making our pool day superb!

Eat

There is NOT a shortage of places to eat here - but be prepared, they're all centric to the Tower.  And if you're looking food with a Latin flavor, this hotel is perfect for you! 

The flagship restaurant is Toledo, situated on the 16th floor of the Tower, featuring an upscale menu of tapas, steak and seafood, just as its name suggests. 

Right next door is Dahlia Lounge, if yu're looking for a more relaxed but just as satisfying experience.  Fun tip: Make sure your visit coincides with the fireworks - the outside balcony looks perfectly to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT! 

Heading back downstairs, just down the way from the lobby and heading towards the convention center, you'll fine plenty of other dining options to accommmodate your stay!
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• Rix Sports Bar & Grill - mix of food with a more relaxed atmosphere
• Maya Grill - casual Mexican dining 
• Barcelona Lounge - another location for light eats and drinks 
• El Mercado de Coronado - cafeteria style quick service dining 
• Cafe Rix - treats on the go

Stepping outside, even more awaits

• Three Bridges Var & Grill at Villa del Lago - flanked in the middle of the lake (lago) with outdoor dining options
• Laguna Bar - drinks outside the Tower
• Siestas Cantina - quick eats and drinks right next to the pool

There was not a lack of options here!  And getting to first hand experience a few of these, we were satisfied with how different each location was from each other but the ease of service and experience each one brought! 

Take it from us, whether you're coming for a new to you Disney hotel OR looking for an on-property getaway, this is the spot!  It offered the resort experience that we craved but still had the Disney magic that we long for!