The Coronado Springs Resort is a beautiful resort from the outside. It has beautiful breezeways reminiscent of the great Southwest. It’s also a very large resort. There 1,877 rooms over 13 buildings scattered around the complex. Some are as far as half a mile from the main building. The resort offers an internal shuttle via golf carts that run between the resort buildings.

Disney’s Coronado Springs is the newest of Disney’s Moderate Resorts. It’s also the most unique. (Unique doesn’t always equate to best.) When Disney built this resort they worked at making it a convention destination. So they did things a little differently. They put some convention space right alongside the main lobby. They also made some changes to the way the food court works and put a top of the line restaurant inside the resort. (Again, I say, unique is not always better.)

The Theme

This resort is themed after the great Southwestern United States. It’s built and painted to look like something out of the New Mexico desert. It does a pretty good job, except for all the green trees and big bodies of water and grass and green surroundings. (Not many palm trees in New Mexico.)

The Complex

The Coronado Springs resort is a massive place. It stretches over several acres. It’s made up of the central gathering place which is called El Centro, and 3 guest areas – Casitas, Ranchos and Cabanas.

The resort is so big it has 4 bus stops.

Rooms

The rooms at Coronado Springs are just a little larger than the standard rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, but the same size (314 sq. feet) as the rooms at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. They come in 2 configurations, standard and king.

The regular rooms at Coronado Springs Resort are just a little larger than the standard rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, but the same size (314 sq. feet) as the rooms at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. They come in 2 configurations, standard and king.

The Room

Room at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – Photo by kyosuke

Standard Rooms

The standard room sleeps 4 (plus an infant, under 3, who can sleep in a crib). In 2009, the bedding was upgraded from double to queen beds. This makes the room more comfortable for families.

Each room is equipped with just about everything a family would need on a vacation.

• Beds (two queens)
• Flat Screen Television
• Table and 2 chairs
• Telephones
• Free Wi-Fi
• Alarm clock
• Safe
• Coffee maker (coffee included)
• Refrigerator
• Iron and Ironing Board
• A Hair Dryer

Standard rooms come in two views. Standard View and Water View. The only difference between the two is what you can see out the window.

Disabled Access Rooms

There are 99 rooms that have been designed for the disabled. These have roll in showers and rails in the appropriate places.

King Rooms

There are 60 rooms (being upgraded to 224) that have one (1) king sized bed in the room. These rooms only sleep two (2) people. They are the same as the standard rooms except for the bed.

Junior Suites

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has 31 Junior Suites. These are really a standard room with a king room connected. The bed has been taken out of the kings room and a sleeper couch has replaced it. These rooms sleep 6 and cost a little more than 2 standard rooms.

Business Club Level Rooms

As a business destination Coronado Springs Resort is not your standard convention hotel. Since it opened, the resort lacked amenities that business travelers are accustomed to.

In 2009 Disney added a Business Club Level to the Casitas area. The Business Club Level gives guests access to a lounge and a separate front desk and guest services. The lounge serves continental breakfast, midday snacks and evening wine (extra cost) and cheese.

Business club rooms have extra amenities such as robes and turndown service. They also are have better quality bedding and furnishings than in the standard rooms. Be advised, this area is considerably more expensive than other rooms in the resort, but the amenities and the rooms are much nicer.

El Centro

El Centro is the center of the resort. It’s where you’ll check in when you arrive, and where you’ll find food, shopping and most of the recreation available at the resort. The convention center is connected by large enclosed breezeways.

El Centro is also where you’ll find these dining options.

• Maya Grill
• Pepper Market

The Dig Site – Photo by Michael Gray

Pools

The Coronado Springs Resort has a large central pool called The Dig Site. It’s modeled after a Mayan pyramid and themed to look like a site in the middle of an archaeological dig. This has got to be one of the most unique pools at Disney World. It has a 46 foot tall Mayan pyramid surrounded by a large pool, a sand volleyball court, a bar called Siesta’s and the largest outdoor hot tub in Disney World.

Each of the building groups have a quiet pool.

Entertainment

There is a lot to do around the resort. At the Marina you can rents bikes and go for a ride, you can even rent a surrey bike (seats 4) and take the family for a leisurely ride. It wouldn’t be a marina without boats. You can rent those cool SeaRaycers.

There are volleyball courts, hammocks, children’s play areas, an arcade (standard Disney issue), and even a health club (see below). There’s plenty to do at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort.

Health Club and Spa

No convention destination would be complete without a health club and spa. This is another difference between this resort and the rest of the Disney Moderate Resorts.

The La Vida Health Club is available 24/7 with a room key (no extra cost). It has staff available from 6 am to 9 pm. It has 3,000 square feet of Cybex weight machines, free weights, treadmills and stationary bikes. There are also tanning facilities and a large sauna. Personal training assistance is available.

The Casa De Belleza Salon offers hair styling, coloring, make-up and nail services and all the other things you can get at top notch salons. It’s open from 9 am to 6 pm. Call for appointments.

Convention Hotel

When the resort was built it was designed to be Disney’s affordable option for conventions. A convention center is attached to El Centro and the Casitas area is being remodeled to be more friendly to business guests.

There are some special rooms available for convention goers.

Dad’s Convention at Disney World page

Transportation

The resort is a little removed from most of the main activity areas at Disney World. The only transportation to and from the resort is by bus. Even getting around the resort can be problematic. There are specially equipped golf carts to get you to your hotel room with your luggage.

Getting around the resort can be a bit challenging. It’s a huge place. It’s about a mile from the front desk to the outlying buildings. Transportation inside the resort is by bus. (Late night movement is a problem.)

You really might want to consider having a car if you’re planning to stay here.

PS. Disney has implemented a daily fee for guest parking a car overnight at any Disney hotel.

Location

The resort is located a little off the beaten path. You have to be going there to get there. It’ on the other side of World Drive on the road to Disney’s Holllywood Studios. Once your there, your there. (Dad’s so eloquent sometimes.)

Map to the Coronado Springs Resort

View Coronado Springs in a larger map

Address and Phone Number

Disney Coronado Springs Resort
1000 West Lake Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Fl 32830
(407) 939-1000
(407) 939-1001 (fax)

Reviews of the Coronado Springs Resort at TripAdvisor

Make Your Reservations

Doesn’t this just sound like a great place to spend a little Disney Time? I agree. Why not go over and get started with Dad’s partners at Destinations to Travel. They have all the experience you’ll need to put together a perfect vacation.

Dad’s Destinations to Travel page

Dad’s Bottom Line

This resort is also the least convenient of the moderates. It’s the newest and the most problematic. It is beautiful, it’s usually quieter than the other moderates, it’s also the most expensive.

Coronado Springs Resort is a “love it or hate it” destination. There’s usually no middle ground.