Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Review
Staying on property is a must for a Disney vacation, but get on the website or do a quick google search, and it doesn’t take long to become overwhelmed with the amount of options at Walt Disney World. My family makes it a point to stay at a different resort each trip so I can better serve my clients! Part of what I do once they submit a vacation request, is narrow down the top 3 resorts that would best fit their party’s needs and priorities. There’s always going to be a mix of opinions when it comes to resort choices, so I’m here to give you my honest review!
About Coronado Springs Resort
Coronado Springs is a moderate level resort at Walt Disney World. The theming of this resort is a fusion of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American style making it more subtle as far as Disney theming goes (with some fun nods to The Three Caballeros). This is a popular spot for conferences, and definitely has a more elevated feel than the other 3 moderate resorts. Located nearest EPCOT, this resort is broken down into 5 areas, with beautiful Lago Dorado as the center:
Gran Destino Tower (main hub and centrally located)
Cabanas (buildings with standard rooms closest to the tower)
Ranchos (buildings with standard rooms farthest from the tower)
Casitas (buildings with suites closer to the tower)
The Dig Site (main pool and several recreational activities
Some fast facts about Coronado Springs:
Number of Restaurants: 6
Number of Bars & Cafés: 4
Number of Pools: Main pool with waterslide at The Dig Site + 3 leisure pools at the Cabanas, Ranchos, and Casitas buildings.
Additional Amenities: Fitness center, jogging trail, volleyball court, playground, and arcade.
Complimentary transportation options to the parks & Disney Springs: Bus
Room Tour
The standard rooms here can sleep up to 4 adults with 2 queen beds, bathroom with double sinks and separated shower/tub combo. There are a limited number of king bed options for up to 2 adults, and only the Casitas suites have rooms that can sleep up to 4, 6, and 8 adults. Room views vary from resort view (can be buildings or parking lots), water view of Lago Dorado, or garden/courtyard view if you’re staying at the Casitas. This is also the only moderate resort where you can stay with Club Level access! With a club level room, you have access to the Club Concierge Lounge where you have complimentary continental breakfast, snacks and drinks, evening wine and beer selections, and desserts throughout the day. Plus, the concierge team is there to assist you with anything you need!
Standard rooms have hardwood floors and a good amount of space and storage! See a full video tour below.
Pros & Cons
I told you it was an honest review! We really did love our stay at this resort, but always learn things that I would personally do different or recommend to my clients. I always start with the positives, so here are the pros of Coronado Springs Resort:
Pros:
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Truly the grounds and property here are just beautiful. As soon as I stepped into the lobby I was hit with that “wow” factor. Even though this is a moderate resort, it definitely has an elevated vibe for more of a deluxe feel. The decor is bright and airy, and the layout was easy, every day we would step out of our room I just loved the views.
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I won’t lie, we’ve stayed at most of the value resorts and while I’m not knocking them because I think a couple are truly great, one thing I can say is, particularly in the main areas, everything just feels packed in and peaceful. Going to the main food court area at any value resort can legit be stressful. I never felt that here, and we stayed in the summer when it was busy! It never felt crowded or overwhelming no matter where we were, it just felt peaceful!
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I will say we spent no time in the smaller “leisure” pools at the buildings, but the main pool at The Dig Site (Lost City of Cibola pool) was fantastic. It was spacious and never felt over-crowded, and my oldest son LOVED the water slide! There was plenty of seating, a kiddie splash area, and Siestas is right there if you need a quick bite or drink! The Dig Site in general is a great hub of activity with something to do for all ages and activity levels whether you want to kick back with a drink, play a game of volleyball, soak in the hot tub, or go down the water slide 50 million times.
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Legit would make reservations at a couple of places here, even if we’re not staying at Coronado Springs! Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Villa Del Lago is DELISH! We ate here on our check in day and it was perfect! The food, drinks, and service is wonderful, and the setting is so nice as it is all shaded, outdoor seating on Lago Dorado. Also if you’re gluten free, they have GF churros here! Toledo-Tapas, Steak & Seafood is incredible, both food and setting. If you’re looking for a nice meal, this is a must (and it is still kid-friendly if you have kiddos with you). You’ve got everything from a quick grab and go to fine dining options here, and I love the variety!
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I always tel my clients there is something for every budget at Disney, and you just miss out on way too many benefits staying anywhere else! We’ve stayed in all resort types (deluxe, moderate, and value), and these rooms are a great size with lots of storage space! Moderate resorts have more options and bigger rooms than a value resort, but at a middle of the road price point. I thought these rooms were especially nice!
Cons:
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Now, this isn’t necessarily a con depending on who you are and what you are looking for in a resort or a particular trip. As an introvert, I liked the space because it never felt overcrowded to me. However, I can see especially if you are staying in the Ranchos building things feeling like a bit of a hike. We were in the Cabanas so nothing was too bad of a walk, but my family agreed we would pay a little more per night to be in Gran Destino Tower and centrally located next time.
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One of the things I love about staying on property is you have complimentary transportation to the parks no matter where you stay! That being said, bus is my least favorite mode of transportation at Disney, and that is the only option here unless you want to pay for a Minnie Van. Because it is spread out, there are several bus stops so you don’t have to walk all the way to the front of the resort, but after a long day in the parks, we definitely chose a Minnie Van that would take us straight to our building for the sake of convenience. Again, not a deal breaker, but a small con in my opinion.
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Again, not necessarily a con depending on the person! Some may not want “in your face” Disney theming like some of the other resorts. I did love all the nods and subtle Three Caballeros touches, but if your kids have never seen it, they’ll definitely miss it. This is certainly not a deal breaker for me, but I did slightly miss having a very, “We’re at DISNEY” resort moment.
Overall, we LOVED it here and can’t wait to stay again! This is one of my most booked moderate resorts for clients for good reason. If you are interested in staying here on your next Disney vacation or wondering if it’s the right resort for you, I’m here to help you narrow that down with my complimentary vacation planning services! Fill out a vacation request form, and I’ll reach out to set up a discovery call with you. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook for more adventures!
Until next time, Coronado Springs!