I recently stayed at Coronado Springs for the first time and have decided that it is my new go-to "budget" resort. From the moment we stepped foot onto the Coronado Springs grounds, we were in complete awe. Everything from the theming, to the dining, to the rooms themselves was top notch and I foresee us staying here many more times in the future. The resort felt like a Deluxe resort, but at the price point of a Moderate resort. For the life of me, I cannot understand why this resort is not more raved about.
1) Theming
I didn't know what to expect of the theming of Coronado Springs. From the Disney groups that I am in, I had heard rumblings that Coronado Springs was the least "Disney" feeling, since this Resort hosts the conference center that businesses utilize for business trips. It is true that the theming is not over the top "Disney," but then again what resort at Disney World is except for the All-Star Resorts and Art of Animation. None of the moderate or deluxe resorts base their theming around Disney characters, but instead their theming is based around a certain theme or aesthetic.
The theming at Coronado Springs is absolutely amazing and I would go so far as to say that it is as good as one of the Disney World parks. The entire time we were on the resort grounds, I felt like I was in a Disney park. The theming was completely fluid and as you walked around the giant campus, never once did the theming break. It felt like its own world.
The resort was quite large and spread out. As you walked the loop around the resort, there were different sections, which maintained the same "Spanish" theme but also each had their own distinct feel. There was a giant lake in the middle of the resort and three bridges met in the middle to help shorten walking time around the sprawling resort. The three bridges all met in the middle of the lake, at a restaurant fittingly named "Three Bridges."
My personal favorite section of the resort was Ranchos. This was unfortunately the furthest section from the main building "El Centro" and the last bus stop of the bus loop. However, I was awestruck by how cool the theming was in this area. It was evident that Imagineers put a lot of thought and effort into the theming. It might be slightly annoying to be so far away from El Centro and the dining locations, but I think I would like to stay in this section next. I do not think it would be too inconvenient, because although the resort does have large, sprawling grounds, there are multiple bus stop pickups throughout the resort to get to the Parks. The buses came pretty frequently, and I never felt "stranded" waiting at the bus stop near our room. Estimated pick-up times for each bus stop could also be viewed on the My Disney Experience App.
The best part of the theming at Coronado Springs, is the main pool. It is Mayan themed, featuring a giant pyramid and 123 foot long water slide. This area is very well thought out. It even hosts the largest hot tub on Disney property that can fit up to 22 people.
2) Rooms
Our room was located in the Casitas section, which was right next to the main building. This was considered a "preferred room" which just meant the location was closer to the main building, dining options, and bus stops. These buildings had little alleyways and plazas in between them and truly felt like you were in a Spanish square. Everything from the appearance of the buildings, the fountains, and the twinkling lights was absolutely gorgeous.
We had a standard room, which was pretty spacious and consisted of 2 queen beds, a minifridge, and a roomy bathroom featuring 2 sinks. Although a similar layout to the average Disney hotel room, it did feel larger and had a more upscale feel than just an All-Stars room. There were also fun "nods" to Disney in the rooms, with little photographs referencing the Three Cabaneros. While the resort is spread out, I do not think there are any "bad" rooms at Coronado Springs. The resort puts in a lot of effort to accommodate guests, like bridges to cross the lake and multiple bus stops scattered throughout the grounds.
3) Dining
The dining at Coronado Springs is very good. Every place that we ate and drank at was fantastic, and I am shocked that you don't hear more good things about the restaurants at this resort. Unlike some resorts like The Polynesian ('Ohana) and Animal Kingdom Lodge (Boma), none of the restaurants at Coronado Springs seem to have cult followings. However, I really enjoyed everything I had and would absolutely make it a point to go back to them.
Rix Sports Bar and Grill is located in the "El Centro" building. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It is just a casual sports bar where we saw business travelers grabbing a late lunch and weary husbands grabbing a drink at the bar. However, the food was SO good. I got the Rix Steak Sandwich, and it could've quite honestly been the best sandwich that I've ever had. They serve Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at this restaurant and all of the menus have great options. I will absolutely be returning here.
Three Bridges is a restaurant that only serves dinner and has a really fun atmosphere. As I mentioned above, it is located in the middle of the lake and is the center point for 3 bridges that all come from different directions of the resort. It is absolutely beautiful eating there at night, out on the water with the surrounding resort lights. It very much feels like eating al fresco in Spain.
The food is fantastic as well. I ordered the pork carnitas which came out as a charcuterie board, and I was able to craft my own carnitas tacos. They also offered a wide range of Sangrias, featuring a Sangria flight. We had already had a pre-dinner drink so we opted out of that. But of course, no Mexican meal is complete without churros, and these did not disappoint. They were fried perfectly and served with delicious caramel and chocolate sauces.
Dahlia Lounge is a bar located on the top floor of the Tower at Coronado Springs. It has floor to ceiling windows as well as a balcony, offering views of the Tower of Terror and Galaxy's Edge. We were told that if you were there at the right time, you could watch the Hollywood Studios and the Epcot fireworks going off at the same time. I can't tell you how cool it was to sit having a drink, casually looking up to see the iconic Tower of Terror in the background.
The lounge does offer bar snack type food, but we opted to have a pre-dinner drink here. The drinks were pricey, $15- $20 per cocktail, but it was an upscale vibe and a nice way to start off our evening.
We had some great food and drinks at Coronado Springs, but we didn't even get to eat at all of the restaurants that the resort had to offer. There are 9 bars and restaurants offered at the resort, which is definitely more than most, if not all, of the other Disney World resorts.
4) Price
This is the best part- Coronado Springs is considered a "Moderate Resort" which means it will be priced in the moderate tier. The price averages around $280 a night. A room in the Tower building is slightly more, as this building is much more modernized and fancy. It is geared towards business travelers. If you happen to utilize one of the resort discounts that Disney offers seasonally, you can get an even lower price. When we stayed at Coronado Springs, we were able to utilize a resort discount and it ended up only being $150 more total than a stay at an All-Star Resort would have been. Not bad at all.
In my opinion, this price point is amazing for all that the resort has to offer. It is very much in line with the offerings of a Deluxe Resort, with multiple table service restaurants and bars, amazing, detailed theming, roomy upscale rooms, and a luxurious feel. It does have the slight disadvantage that the only Disney offered mode of transportation is by bus since the skyliner, monorail, and ferry do not connect to Coronado Springs. However, I think the buses are very reliable and consistent at this resort and do not leave you waiting for too long. Also, it's location is close to almost everything, with a very short bus ride to Disney Springs, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. It is a slightly longer bus ride to Magic Kingdom.
All in all, Coronado Springs is my new go to "budget" resort. You will feel like you are staying Deluxe but with the moderate price. There is so much to do and theming to appreciate that you could easily have multiple "resort days" without getting bored. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this resort!
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