

Coronado Springs
Coronado Springs is an excellent choice in the moderate category with a large variety of room choices available. The addition of the Gran Destino Tower has really transformed this resort to make it feel more like deluxe accommodations, instead of being the most budget friendly moderate resort. Coronado Springs is located in the Animal Kingdom resort area. It is right in the heart of Walt Disney World and close to every theme park, except Magic Kingdom.
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The theming of the resort is a beautiful blend of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwestern influences. The Gran Destino tower is uniquely themed based on the Disney short, Destino. It is a gorgeous tower with a grand lobby, in true Disney fashion. The Tower and the rooms feature high tech amenities like buttonless elevators and smart TVs. You will not be disappointed with this new addition to the resort.
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The resort is laid out along the Lago Dorado and has four main areas: Gran Destino Tower, Cabanas, Ranchos, and Casitas. Each area has a bus stop and with the exception of the Tower, a quiet pool. The majority of dining and shopping is located in the Tower and el Centro, the original check-in area, which is connected to the Tower.
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Coronado Springs is a great option year round and has a gorgeous Christmas tree for the holidays in the lower lobby of the Gran Destino Tower. It is used as a convention resort. There is a very large convention center right off of el Centro. This gives Coronado Springs a unique feel. If seeing people in business suits while you are on vacation is not something that is appealing to you, look at the other moderate resorts or Pop Century. Also, with the exception of the Tower, all of the rooms have exterior corridors and are fairly spread out. So, if you don’t want to deal with the rain when going to and from transportation or to and from the main building, I would skip this resort during the summer and fall, or opt for one of the preferred sections or the Tower.
ROOM CATEGORIES
This resort offers a wide variety of room categories including suites and club level accommodations. For the original section of the resort, you have preferred (Casitas buildings one through three), standard, water view, executive suites, and one bedroom suites. Within these categories they have a two sleeper king bed option or a four sleeper two queen bed option. The Casitas executive suites sleep eight people, the one bedroom suites sleeps six people and the one bedroom king suites sleeps four people.
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The Gran Destino Tower is booked in its own category separate from the other three areas. There are two different views: standard and water. The standard view looks out of the front of the tower towards the entrance to the resort and the parking areas. The water view is the back of the tower and looks over the resort and Lago Dorado. You have the option for the two sleeper king or the traditional four sleeper.
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The Tower is also home to the club level accommodations. The four sleeper options are standard view, deluxe suite, or a one bedroom suite. The presidential suite sleeps six. Club level access has a lot of perks, including access to the lounge from 7 am to 10 pm. There are food and drinks all day making it great for your resort days or grabbing something before hitting the parks. Club level guests can also buy three additional fastpasses per day and book those fastpasses 90 days out instead of 60.
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Club level and fastpasses are currently unavailable.

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TRANSPORTATION
The only transportation offered at Coronado Springs is bus service. There are four bus stops around the resort. Each area has its own stop starting with the Cabanas, then going to Ranchos, then Casitas, and finally the Tower. When I stayed, I did not mind the bus transportation or the multiple stops. None of the buses were overly crowded by the time they arrived at the Tower stop and we never had to wait for a second bus. The bus back from Disney Springs does the bus stops in reverse, stopping at the Tower first. If you are traveling with strollers, I suggest requesting the Cabanas area, if not staying in the Tower, so that you are the first bus stop.
DINING
Coronado Springs has multiple dining options and almost all are located at El Centro or in Gran Destino Tower. The two exceptions are the pool bar, Siestas Cantina, and Three Bridges Bar and Grill. Siestas Cantina is located at the Dig Site. This is the main pool and it is located on Lago Dorado in the Cabanas section. The food menu is quite expansive for a pool bar and includes appetizers, salads, entrees, and a selection of kid meals. It is definitely a great option for the Cabanas and Ranchos sections. Three Bridges Bar and Grill is located in the middle of Lago Dorado. It is a unique open air dining experience with an ambiance that is meant to take you to another place and time. The menu here features shareable options, some salads and entrees, and a large array of alcoholic options.
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Inside Gran Destino, there is Barcelona Lounge, Dahlia Lounge, and Toledo. Barcelona Lounge is a coffee bar located on the lower level of the Tower’s lobby. It is open from 6:30 am to midnight. The menu has light pastries, appetizers, and a variety of coffee drinks, alcohol, and other refreshments. This is a great stop to grab some coffee and a light breakfast before rope dropping your favorite park. Dahlia Lounge is a rooftop spot featuring tapas and drinks from 4 pm to midnight that is inspired by Spanish surrealism. Finally, another rooftop option is Toledo. It features tapas, steak, and seafood. You’ll love this amazing experience and the views from atop the gorgeous new Gran Destino Tower.
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The remainder of the dining options are in El Centro which connects Gran Destino and the convention center. You have a variety of options from sit down restaurants to the quick service cafeteria, El Mercado de Coronado. This is where the refillable mug stations are located as well. If you are on the dining plan, it is quite a hike to get to these stations from Ranchos section and I would keep that in mind when selecting a room category and making requests on your online check-in.
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Toledo is currently closed.
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AMENITIES & RECREATION
Coronado Springs has the same basic perks of all on site hotels: ability to book dining 60 days out from check-in, transportation to and from Orlando International Airport, and free transportation around Walt Disney World Resort. Just like with the other resorts, there are many options for recreation at Coronado Springs. Make sure to check the daily schedule.
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There are four pools at the resort. The main pool, the Lost City of Cibola pool, is located at the Dig Site. This is such a fun location. The pool is amazing and themed to look like Mayan ruins. There is a 50-foot pyramid that features a 123 foot long water slide with a water spitting Jaguar. You’ll also find Disney’s largest hot tub here, with room for twenty-two. The kids will love this area. You’ll not only find a kiddie pool and a completely themed out kids play structure, but the Iguana arcade is also tucked away in the Dig Site. The other three pools can be found in each of the original sections of the resort and are quiet pools.
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For outdoor recreation, you’ll find a jogging trail. The jogging trail is just shy of one mile and loops around Lago Dorado. There is also a sand volleyball court at the Dig Site. At night, Coronado Springs has movies under the stars at the Dig Site.
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Coronado Springs is a great option in the moderate range. Many of the rooms are priced the same as the higher end of Pop Century or the Little Mermaid rooms, making it a great value. While the rooms in Gran Destino Tower start at the higher end of the moderate resort pricing, they are worth it. I highly recommend the Gran Destino Tower for adult only trips. The rooms are luxurious and the Tower is simply beautiful. If traveling with kids, try and get the cabanas or ranchos. You’ll be near the Dig site and one of the first bus stops. While these are the furthest sections from El Centro, the walk is not as bad now that they have added bridges across Lago Dorado. I definitely recommend Coronado Springs to those wanting to enjoy deluxe style accommodations on a budget at Gran Destino Tower or if you want to stay in a moderate resort, while still being budget conscious.
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Some amenities may be reduced or unavailable during your 2021 stay as a result of safety measures to stop the spread of COVID 19. Please always check Know Before You Go on the Walt Disney World website before traveling for the most up-to-date information.
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Iguana arcade is currently unavailable.
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