Have you looked at the wide variety of Walt Disney World Resort hotels? There are so many different options – with various themes, locations, and price categories. Want to save money but don’t want to stay in a value resort? Walt Disney World offers a few moderate resorts that can be great for families.
I’ve stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (a Disney moderate resort) a few times and have always enjoyed my stays. While it’s typically known as a convention hotel due to the large attached conference center, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is also great for families visiting Walt Disney World.
Note: I am a former member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and stayed in this resort at no cost in the past and at a discounted cost for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference. I’ve also paid for my stay on other occasions. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
When booking your Walt Disney World vacation, consider purchasing through our affiliate Get Away Today. They offer great prices on tickets and can book many hotels.
Disney Coronado Springs Resort and Gran Destino Tower Review
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was a big resort, but it’s now even bigger with the addition of the Gran Destino Tower. The resort is inspired by Mexican, Spanish, and Southwest American cultures, which you can see in the decor and cuisine.
Location of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Located in the Animal Kingdom section of Walt Disney World, Coronado Springs is actually pretty central within WDW. You’ll need to take buses to all of the parks (there’s no monorail or boat access), but the bus rides were never very long. The resort itself is large, and there are four separate bus stops. Buses to the parks stop at all four stops.
While you won’t need to do too much walking for the buses, you may find yourself with a long walk to El Centro (where you’ll find the restaurants, a gift shop, entrance to the convention center, and the front desk).
If you do have a preference as to how close you are to the amenities, you may want to request a specific building. Contact the hotel directly about a week in advance if you’d like to do that. Requests are never a guarantee but they will try to accommodate you if possible – although keep in mind that preferred rooms (closer to El Centro) are offered at a higher rate.
Rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Like the other moderate resorts at Walt Disney World (see our Port Orleans review here), the rooms at Coronado Springs are comfortable and fairly standard. Rooms include comfortable queen-sized beds, a coffee maker, a refrigerator, a safe, flat-screen television, a desk, and premium toiletries.
The hotels are motel-style, and room doors lead directly outside. Therefore, there are no balconies or patios. Rooms offer complimentary WiFi, and I found it to be reliable during my stay.
Room types include standard rooms, preferred rooms, water-view rooms, and suites. Rooms with two queen beds or one king bed are offered. I generally don’t care as much about my room view when staying in this type of room.
In most cases, you probably won’t spend too much time in the actual room during your Disney vacation. Location is generally more important. However, if you do plan to spend time in the room, it may be a good idea to pay for the upgrade.
When booking your room, you’ll also notice that you will be able to choose between Gran Destino Tower rooms and suites and regular resort rooms and suites. There are also suites in Gran Destino Tower, including deluxe, one-bedroom, and deluxe suites. Club-level rooms in Gran Destino Tower are also offered.
Restaurants at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
As a convention hotel, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort offers a number of food locations – more than you’ll find at some of the other moderate resorts.
El Mercado de Coronado: Originally called the Pepper Market, El Mercado de Coronado is a food court offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s located in El Centro and is the perfect location for a quick bite.
During my most recent visit, I ate all of our breakfasts and one lunch there. The food is delicious and there’s also a premium coffee bar. There’s plenty of seating, but I’d recommend arriving early or late to avoid the crowds.
Maya Grill: Open for dinner, the Maya Grill serves Southwest-inspired cuisine. It’s a table-service restaurant, and reservations are accepted.
Toledo – Tapas, Steak, and Seafood: Located on the roof of Gran Destino Tower, Toledo is a popular restaurant offering tapas. Reservations are accepted and recommended.
Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago: This open-air Spanish American restaurant is located along the lake.
Cafe Rix: a grab-and-go location that offers snacks, pastries, and beverages.
Siestas Cantina: Located poolside, this quick-service location serves food and beverages.
Laguna Bar: Looking for a beautiful spot for a quick drink? This bar is located on the waterfront and serves alcoholic specialties.
Rix Sports Bar and Grill: Enjoy cocktails and light bites in this indoor lounge.
Barcelona Lounge: Grab breakfast and coffee in the morning, or visit for cocktails later in the day.
Dahlia Lounge: A rooftop lounge offering tapas, cocktails, and Spanish wines.
Room service is also available.
Amenities at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Although many families don’t spend too much time in their rooms when visiting Walt Disney World, you’ll still find lots of great amenities at Coronado Springs. Despite the conference focus of the resort, there are some great family-friendly amenities.
The highlight is the Dig Site, a recreational area that includes a small playground, volleyball net, arcade, sandbox, a kiddie pool, a huge jacuzzi, and a large Dig Site pool with a waterslide. In the center of the Dig Site is a Mayan Pyramid. There are three smaller pools located around the resort which are more low-key.
During our most recent trip, we spent some time at the Dig Site, and the kids absolutely loved it. When visiting Walt Disney World, I generally like to leave the parks for a few hours in the afternoon when it’s hot and crowded. The pool would be a great activity during that downtime, or you could choose to skip the park tickets for a day and spend some leisure time around the pool.
Other activities at Coronado Springs Resort include a jogging trail, bike rentals, and surrey bike rentals. If you’d prefer to work out indoors, head to the resort’s fitness center. There’s also a salon offering hair, makeup, and nail services.
The resort also offers a number of family activities including campfires and movies under the stars. Check out the schedule when you check in to learn about everything that is offered.
Other Benefits to Staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
While some of the benefits of staying on Disney property have gone away, there are still a few benefits. Guests at the resorts can enjoy entry to the parks 30 minutes prior to park opening. In addition, while complimentary MagicBands are no longer provided, guests who purchase them (or have working MagicBands from past stays) can use them to charge purchases, enter the parks, open their hotel room door, and enter lightning lanes (if you have a valid reservation).
To learn more about Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it doesn’t. You’ll have to take a bus to the theme parks.
While it definitely is a convention resort, there are still some great family-friendly amenities.
No, it’s considered a moderate resort, but does have some fantastic amenities including a beautiful pool.