Choosing the right room location at Coronado Springs Resort is troublesome, as is placing collectively this checklist of the very best & worst buildings on the resort. Nonetheless, this covers room suggestions based mostly upon priorities and preferences for friends staying at what seems like Walt Disney World’s largest resort.
Genuinely, Coronado Springs (CSR) is “solely” the second largest resort at Walt Disney World with almost 2,500 rooms. First place is Pop Century with almost 3,000 rooms. For those who ask me, Coronado Springs feels greater than Pop Century, which is probably going as a result of giant lake within the center and bigger room sizes. It’s an identical story as Port Orleans Riverside, Saratoga Springs, Previous Key West, and Artwork of Animation–all of that are technically smaller resorts as measured by variety of rooms, however have huge footprints.
We keep at Coronado Springs Resort loads. A part of that’s as a result of the usual rooms typically have nice last-minute availability and above-average reductions. One other half is that we’ve each come to like Gran Destino Tower as a luxurious tier resort at inexpensive costs. For a fundamental primer on the resort, together with a glance contained in the visitor rooms, learn our complete Coronado Springs Overview.
Talking of Gran Destino Tower, it was on the heart (not actually) of a large transformation of Coronado Springs Resort within the final 5 years. This enlargement additionally included the closure of the resort’s primary foyer (now positioned within the tower) together with a bunch of recent and redone eating places. The rooms had been additionally refreshed, as had been constructing exteriors and the Dig Website Pool.
From the angle of this submit, the largest change was the addition of Three Bridges Bar & Grill. Properly, extra particularly, the addition of the literal three bridges that gave that its title. Would’ve been kinda bizarre to have a Three Bridges restaurant with zero bridges. These bridges intersect the center of Lago Dorado (the large lake in the midst of the resort) and enormously cut back strolling occasions from one facet of Coronado Springs to the opposite.
Identical to the adjustments at Caribbean Seashore Resort, a variety of what was performed at CSR was aimed toward addressing frequent visitor complaints that the resort was too unfold out and concerned an excessive amount of strolling. This was far and away the most typical reader grievance we heard about Coronado Springs up to now, adopted intently by associated however completely different issues with the bus service.
We’ll be trustworthy with you–there’s no such factor as an objectively “good” or “unhealthy” location at Coronado Springs. It’s all extremely subjective. (To that time, my least favourite space is the Cabanas and I do know others who at all times request these rooms!) Your priorities, preferences, and price range will play a big position in figuring out the constructing and room kind it is best to guide and request. Let’s dig into the choices…
We’ll start with Gran Destino Tower.
For the overwhelming majority of friends, Gran Destino Tower goes to supply the very best location at Coronado Springs. That is the place the principle foyer is positioned, together with a health heart, and the resort’s finest eating places. It’s additionally a straightforward and completely indoor stroll to El Centro, which was beforehand the principle foyer and continues to be dwelling to a number of eating places, a present store, and extra.
Gran Destino Tower additionally has environment friendly elevators and is the one constructing with inside hallways. Due to that, its rooms even have views (albeit no balconies) and as long as you get a excessive sufficient ground, you’re going to see one thing, since this is without doubt one of the tallest towers at Walt Disney World. As such, I’d follow a regular view room (relatively than water view) and easily make a request for a excessive ground.
There’s additionally the Chronos Membership Stage at Gran Destino Tower, which presents far and away the very best bang for buck of any Membership Stage at Walt Disney World. Coronado Springs is the one Reasonable Resort to supply this, and like the remainder of Gran Destino Tower, it punches above its weight.
As you’re most likely guessing, this all comes with a catch. (If not, we wouldn’t have mentioned there’s no goal “finest” and “worst” location at Coronado Springs!) The massive one is pricing. Though Gran Destino Tower presents nice worth for cash relative to Deluxe Resorts, it’s way more costly than the remainder of the resort. You may count on to pay charges beginning at round $100 extra per night time at Gran Destino than the outlying buildings.
The opposite downsides are arguably the bus service and distance from the Dig Website Pool space. Gran Destino Tower is the final bus cease, and on a number of events, we’ve had buses skip us fully as a result of they had been already too full from the primary stops. (Clearly, that is an assumption–however one grounded in actuality since I’ve been on full buses that skip Gran Destino when staying in different buildings.)
The bus cease and set of buildings instantly earlier than Gran Destino Tower is the Cabanas.
That is mainly the “poor man’s most popular room” at Coronado Springs. As talked about above, I’m not a giant fan of the Cabanas space. For me, this all comes right down to aesthetics. As initially constructed, the resort was designed to replicate three themes and areas of Mexico and the American Southwest.
The Cabanas are the agricultural and extra agrarian space, and the buildings replicate this with a extra rustic look. The placemaking across the buildings can be equally spartan. This solely applies to the surface and customary areas; visitor rooms are primarily equivalent in any respect three of the areas throughout the resort.
The upside of Cabanas is…just about every thing else! These are among the many closest rooms to Gran Destino Tower and, regardless of that, you’re not paying most popular room costs. There’s additionally a quiet pool proper by Constructing 8C, and the Dig Website is close to 8A. One other bus cease is on the alternative facet of that constructing.
If I weren’t oddly obsessive about exterior themes, Constructing 8A can be my favourite in all of Coronado Springs Resort. It’s proper by the function pool and a bus cease, and there’s a ‘shortcut’ path by way of Lago Dorado that results in Gran Destino Tower. (It is a smaller bridge–not counted as one of many three bridges by way of the lake.) I additionally like that it’s proper by Ranchos, which is a nicer trying space of the resort.
In order for you the very best of every thing, are on a price range, and aren’t preoccupied with exterior ‘fanciness,’ then Constructing 8A within the Cabanas is our high advice for a request at Coronado Springs. I personally love the nook rooms and high ground (all buildings at CSR have elevators), however I wouldn’t get carried away on particular room requests past that.
Subsequent up is the Ranchos, which is the cluster of buildings behind the Dig Website Pool.
I completely love the Ranchos, and assume this is without doubt one of the most underrated resort ‘areas’ in all of Walt Disney World. In response to Imagineering, this space is extra arid, and populated by ranches. However not within the rural and agrarian sense–these are like the place wealthier farmers would stay. There’s additionally a dried and rocky stream mattress and first rate quantity of vegetation, together with formidable cactuses.
These phrases and photographs don’t do the Ranchos justice–I actually love this space. There’s a variety of nuance and element to the design that isn’t instantly obvious, however is absolutely fairly good.
I additionally must admit that I like unfold out resorts and a part of the rationale why I like Ranchos is as a result of it’s the quietest space of Coronado Springs, and is a superb possibility for my morning espresso stroll. Even once I’m not staying on this part of the resort, I make a degree of creating laps again right here.
As for downsides, effectively, the space. That is simply 10 minutes from Gran Destino and El Centro. It’s probably not close to something, save for the Dig Website. And even then, Cabanas 8A is nearer.
The opposite upside, I suppose, is that that is the second bus cease and it’s not that removed from Three Bridges Bar & Grill. With all of that mentioned, I’ve a very arduous time recommending the Ranchos to anybody studying a submit like this one until you actually prize peace and quiet. You most likely don’t worth “underrated theme” as a lot as I do, and even then, there’s arguably a greater space of the resort for you.
That brings us to the ultimate cease, the Casitas.
Thematically talking, that is the nicest outlying space of Coronado Springs. That’s not my evaluation, it’s Walt Disney World’s perspective. (It’s also my evaluation.) The Casitas are impressed by the city facilities of Mexico and the American Southwest. The outside design displays that, as these buildings simply really feel extra prosperous and lavishly designed. Not like the Ranchos, that are refined and take time to understand, the standard of Casitas is outwardly obvious.
On this part of the resort, you’ll encounter vibrant, flower-filled plazas with fountains and beautiful courtyards. I might say the Casitas space can be underrated–I actually assume it’s by followers who haven’t taken the time to discover the quiet courtyards–however the distinction right here is that Walt Disney World “charges” it appropriately, and has deemed Buildings 1, 2 and three to be Most popular Rooms. There are numerous nights when these Most popular Rooms within the Casitas price the very same value as Gran Destino Tower. That makes zero sense to me!
I can’t think about any state of affairs the place I’d pay the very same value to remain within the Casitas over Gran Destino Tower. Truthfully, I’d have a tricky time justifying an additional $25 per night time for Buildings 1-3 over Constructing 4 or 5. So I actually wouldn’t pay a premium of $80 to $125, which is what it truly generally prices. For those who’re going to pay the additional, put it in the direction of Gran Destino.
Alternatively, request Buildings 4 or 5! What I like about these two buildings is that they’re near the bus cease in addition to the bridges connecting to Three Bridges and El Centro. A number of the rooms in Constructing 5 are going to be about the identical stroll to Gran Destino as Constructing 2 or 3; most of the rooms in Cabanas will likely be a shorter stroll. Very a lot a “me factor,” however I additionally like that Constructing 5 is near Ranchos.
I additionally love that the highest ground of Constructing 5 presents an honest view of the EPCOT fireworks off within the distance. This doesn’t warrant a room request–you may solely see them from the hallways, not the rooms themselves. Right here’s a photograph I shot from displaying what this appears to be like like:
Once we’re not staying at Gran Destino Tower, Constructing 4 or 5 is our go-to room request. That is the very best of all worlds for me–first bus cease, fancy buildings, and a mangeable stroll to El Centro and Gran Destino. It’s additionally all with out the premium pricing. Simply take into account that I worth exterior theme and placemaking; when you don’t care or just like the fashion for no matter cause, Cabanas is likely to be the higher choose for you.
That first bus cease will be clutch. I typically complain in regards to the bus service at CSR, and for good cause. The addition of Gran Destino put added pressure on the buses with out added capability, which means the buses will be packed within the early morning or finish of the night time coming again.
There have been numerous occasions when staying at Gran Destino that we simply get off the bus at Casitas and stroll from there to get out of the congestion. Conversely, seats are plentiful from Casitas very first thing within the morning. That is actually what I like most about Buildings 4 and 5–they’re actually near the very best bust cease at CSR.
Lastly, what we most likely wouldn’t suggest. That may be any of the Most popular Rooms, that are all in Casitas Buildings 1 to three. That is talked about above, however I simply wish to hammer the purpose dwelling right here. This categorization perhaps made sense again earlier than Gran Destino, however at this level, I’d relatively not pay further for Cabanas if I had been primarily involved with comfort.
We additionally don’t actually see the purpose in paying further for a water or pool view room at a resort with exterior hallways, however maybe that’s simply us. Throughout hours when friends foot visitors outdoors our room is heaviest, we seldom open our blinds. To every their very own, although. I actually don’t thoughts paying for the standard view and being upgraded to water view, which occurs every now and then.
Personally, I feel you’re higher off reserving the bottom out there charge (commonplace) after which making room requests for particular buildings. For those who guide one of many increased tier classes, you’re boxed into (no less than) that. I additionally wouldn’t request sure room numbers or ranges. Only a constructing, ground, and ‘nearer to [pool/bus stop/etc.].’
The extra basic and open-ended the request, the extra seemingly it’s to be fulfilled. For those who’re getting so particular that there’s just one single room (or a handful of them) that you really want, you’re much less prone to obtain the request.
To assist put all of this into perspective, right here’s a map of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort:
In the end, we all know this presents a number of choices and loads to ponder. Usually, we aren’t overly-keen on requesting particular room numbers (and even ranges), and assume Walt Disney World planners put an excessive amount of emphasis on them. Nevertheless, one factor we’ve realized with Coronado Springs Resort is that location is usually make or break when it comes to visitor notion of the resort–so it’s a good suggestion to make a constructing request.
We keep at Coronado Springs commonly and have come to actually recognize the arguably underrated resort, and need others to share that very same appreciation. Therefore this lengthy evaluation of the very best and worst areas at CSR. It’s positively not the very best resort at Walt Disney World, however followers typically don’t give it sufficient credit score, dismissing it as the tasteless conference resort. Whereas some criticisms of it are legitimate, “bland” actually isn’t certainly one of them.
For those who’re nonetheless torn or are actually extra conflicted than earlier than and need us to make your resolution for you, go for Buildings 4 or 5 if transportation ease issues most otherwise you need the fanciest space of the resort with out paying something further. Constructing 8A is a superb possibility for essentially the most well-rounded space with least strolling, however you is likely to be standing on the bus on the way in which to the parks for Early Entry or rope drop!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever stayed at Coronado Springs Resort for the reason that Gran Destino Tower opened? Which constructing had been you in? Do you may have a favourite part of the resort or a room request you sometimes make? Would you agree or disagree with our CSR constructing and room suggestions? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
