How One of Our Least Favorite Disney World Resorts Won Me Over

No hotel at Walt Disney World is universally beloved. Even fan favorites like the Poly (“the 70s called”), Wilderness Lodge (“too rustic”), Contemporary (“ugly rooms; dated atrium”), Animal Kingdom Lodge (“too drab & dreary”), and any resort with Victorian styling (“it’s like grandma’s cottage”) have plenty of critics. None have unanimous 5-star reviews among guests.

Some resorts are more polarizing than others. In this category, I’d place the All Stars, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Fort Wilderness, and Coronado Springs Resort. We’ve made the case as to why the All Stars, as Walt Disney World’s cheapest hotels, are actually good. They get a pass from many fans on the basis of price, and have plenty of proponents for that same reason.

Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are both DVC, meaning they have actual owners with a vested interest in them. Not to mention that OKW is beloved as something from the heart of the Disney Decade, even if it is what unleashed DVC onto Walt Disney World. And nothing is more quintessentially the ‘Vacation Kingdom of the World’ than Fort Wilderness Campground. It’s obviously not for everyone, but even most fans who would never stay there appreciate that it exists and enjoy an occasional visit.

That leaves Coronado Springs Resort (CSR), which in our view is the most “disrespected” hotel in all of Walt Disney World. I was going to write divisive there, but fans are mostly dismissive of CSR. The reality is that Coronado doesn’t have nearly as many advocates as it does detractors.

Many fans just flat-out forget it exists. I get a chuckle out of people on social media sharing their favorite Moderates, and Coronado not being mentioned at all, good or bad. Accordingly, this article will make the case for Coronado Springs, explaining how it went from our most-hated resort to where I stay more frequently than anywhere else.

Let’s start with the most-hated part. Suffice to say, we did not always love Coronado Springs Resort. We first stayed here in 2011, making it the last Moderate Resort we checked off our lists. It was immediately our least favorite, far behind both Port Orleans Resorts, Caribbean Beach, and Fort Wilderness.

The reasons for this were multifaceted, but in a nutshell, we stayed here while the hotel was hosting a huge convention and we were still in our honeymoon phase with Walt Disney World at the time. We had this rosy notion about the Disney Bubble (back then, we didn’t even check email while on vacation), and the other guests were largely conventioneers as opposed to tourists.

The vibe was off due to the guest demographics, and it felt like an “un-Disney” resort in terms of its themed design. At least, that was our surface level assessment. “Un-Disney” is a term that’s often applied to Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Coronado Springs. It’s unfair and inaccurate in all 3 cases.

It took a long time, but we gradually started warming to Coronado Springs. This first began during the construction of Gran Destino Tower, which we meticulously documented with monthly construction updates. Those constant visits brought our attention to details we’d previously overlooked, as well as amenities and the subtle style of the resort.

That started to change even more when we lived in Central Florida, and Coronado Springs was the closest on-site hotel to our house. From the time that Three Bridges and Gran Destino opened to the phased reopening, we ate at Coronado Springs more than anywhere else on property. Not only was the food great (more on that below), but the drive was short and security was never a hassle (it’s basically the anti-Contemporary in that regard).

The real turning point, though, has come over the last couple of years. The two resorts where I stay most frequently are Coronado Springs and All Star Sports. This is because they’re the two Value and Moderate Resorts I’ve found to consistently have the best last-minute availability. This isn’t hugely surprising, as Coronado Springs can be feast or famine depending on whether it’s hosting a large convention. If so, there’s no availability. If not, it’s often wide open in a variety of room categories.

During these many visits and stays over the last several years, here’s what we’ve come to appreciate most about  Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort…

Dining at Coronado Springs

The only non-Deluxe Resort with a viable claim to being one of Walt Disney World’s best food hotels is Coronado Springs. This is arguably the #3 pick for hotels with the strongest restaurant rosters at WDW. “Arguably” is doing some heavy lifting here, as I don’t actually think it’s #3, but it is exceptional and probably is top 5.

Here’s the dining lineup:

• Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood
• Maya Grill
• Cafe Rix
• Rix Bar & Grill
• Three Bridges Bar & Grill
• El Mercado de Coronado
• Siestas Cantina
• Laguna Bar
• Barcelona Lounge
• Dahlia Lounge
• Chronos Club Level (not a restaurant, but great food service)

No matter where you rank Coronado Springs for food in the grand scheme of all hotels, there is little debate that it’s the best Moderate Resort. Every other hotel at this tier has one table service restaurant (and it’s debatable whether French Quarter even has that many). Coronado Springs has at least 4.

In Gran Destino, Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood is the Michelin-recognized rooftop table service restaurant. Our most recent Toledo Review: Walt Disney World’s Wonderful, Modestly-Priced Michelin Restaurant was effusive. In the words of Michelin Guide, Toledo is worth a detour.

The next-door Dahlia Lounge offers one of the coolest bars at Walt Disney World. Downstairs, the lobby Barcelona Lounge is a coffee bar by day and a bar by night. These are great places to hang out and unwind with friends or family at the end of a long day, so long as a convention isn’t happening.

Over at El Centro, which used to be the main lobby, you’ll find the El Mercado de Coronado food court, plus Maya Grill, Rix Bar & Grill, and more. In the middle of the sprawling complex is Three Bridges Bar & Grill, the over-the-water table service restaurant that we love.

Beyond volume and quality, the ‘secret strength’ of dining at Coronado Springs is operating hours. As someone who routinely “forgets” to eat dinner and/or enjoys a good fourth meal, I’ve come to greatly appreciate both Dahlia Lounge and Three Bridges, both of which are open until midnight most nights. These late hours are a rarity at Walt Disney World; something few other hotels have for actual places to eat, as opposed to bars.

The biggest weakness of Coronado Springs is the food court. There are some diamonds in the rough on the wide-ranging menu, and we’ve had great meals here over the years, but it still might be the second-weakest Moderate Resort food court. Still better than almost all Deluxes, though!

All-Weather Readiness

As covered in Best & Worst Room Locations at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Building 4 or 5 is our go-to room request. And unlike many Walt Disney World hotels, where I don’t follow my own advice for the sake of experiencing a variety of locations for research, this is a request I actually make. (I’ve done more than enough research stays at Coronado.)

This is the best of all worlds for me–first bus stop, fancy buildings, and a mangeable walk to El Centro and Gran Destino. It’s also all without the premium pricing. On occasion, I’ll even request a specific block of rooms so I’m right at a corner with stairs and a “view” of Lago Dorado (the big lake in the middle of the resort).

One of my most recent stays at Coronado Springs really put this location to the test. On my checkout morning, the skies opened and a torrential downpour began. I didn’t have the hands to carry my luggage and an umbrella, but I still managed to stay mostly dry.

I accomplished this by using the series of covered walkways that connect Buildings 1-3 to El Centro! I did have to walk ~10 feet out in the open, but the rest was via covered walkways that exist to connect the preferred rooms where convention guests typically stay to El Centro. I’ve used these in the past for staying out of the sun and heat, and they’re a huge advantage that few fans realize even exist. I’d also add that the walk from Building 4 or 5 to the bus stop is very easy.

Great Architecture

Theming-wise, Coronado Springs is underrated. The resort evokes “the spirit and romance of Spanish-colonial Mexico” during the time that explorer Don Francisco de Coronado searched for the legendary Seven Cities of Gold.

There are three different architectural influences at the resort (all under the general umbrella of Southwestern): Cabanas, Ranchos, and Casitas. The architectural styles around the resort vary from rural to ranch to urban. Coronado Springs is also very spread out, around the 22-acre Lago Dorado, giving each distinct ‘district’ of the resort breathing room.

The Cabanas are the more agrarian area, and the buildings reflect this with a more rustic appearance. The placemaking around the buildings is similarly spartan. Aspects of this area are colorful and designed to evoke the feel of Mexican beach resorts, but I don’t really see that.

Ranchos have more neutral color schemes and draw inspiration from southwestern cattle ranches. According to Imagineering, this area is more arid, and populated by ranches. But not in the rural and agrarian sense–these are like where wealthier farmers would live. There’s also a dried and rocky stream bed and decent amount of vegetation, including formidable cactuses.

Casitas are more urban, with Spanish architecture similar to what exists in Southwestern cities. Thematically speaking, this is the nicest outlying area of Coronado Springs. The exterior design of the Casitas reflects the urban core inspiration, as these buildings just feel more affluent and lavishly designed. Unlike the Ranchos, which are subtle and take time to appreciate, the quality of Casitas is outwardly apparent.

The problem for many guests is that, unless you stay in the Casitas, the themed design at Coronado Springs is more on the subtle side. It lacks the vibrant colors of Caribbean Beach, the festive flair of French Quarter, and the romanticism of Riverside.

Coronado Springs leans into muted, earthy colors. Not only that, but many of its most striking visual features are tucked away into courtyards. It wasn’t until almost a decade after our first stay that we finally stumbled upon some of these stunning features.

Whereas the beauty of the Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach Resorts is immediately apparent, Coronado Springs is heavily layered, and is peeled back with exploration–fitting for a resort themed to the Seven Cities of Gold. Unfortunately, it’s easy for even longtime Walt Disney World fans to miss this beauty amidst the sea of beiges and browns.

Take the time to slow down and savor CSR, and you’ll be rewarded with an exemplar of themed design that can hold its own against any of the Moderates. And that might just be #1 in attention to detail!

Functional Rooms

All of the standard rooms at Coronado Springs were redone ~7 years ago, and will soon be the oldest standard rooms at Walt Disney World. Despite this, they’ve aged really well and do a great job of balancing theme with functionality. (As covered in Year-Plus Project at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, we fully expect another room overhaul in 2027-2028.)

Coronado Springs offers the highest quality rooms of any Moderate, with upgraded bedding, a nice desk for getting work done, and subtle details that make them reasonably well-appointed. These are feature-filled rooms are undoubtedly aimed at business travelers as opposed to families (note the presence of a desk, which is vanishing in other rooms), although they work for both.

Standard rooms at Coronado Springs are tasteful and high quality, with enough thematic touches to give them personality. They are also brighter and have a certain freshness to them that’s difficult to articulate. They’re neither the pinnacle of themed design nor functionality at the end of the day, but they’re ‘workhorse’ rooms that deliver despite not getting as much attention as the character-centric rooms at other resorts.

Cost & Discounts

On average, Coronado Springs is the cheapest Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World. It’s typically about $20 to $50 less expensive per night than French Quarter or Caribbean Beach for almost every rate season of the year for standard rooms. Riverside is typically much closer, and can even be a better bargain for certain dates.

Discounts are consistently the best at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, with 5-10% more savings than other Moderate Resorts. Availability is also almost always best at Coronado Springs, and it often has room inventory under special offers when other resorts are ‘sold out’ of discounts.

All of this in aggregate can create a bigger gap between effective room rates at Coronado Springs and other Moderates. There are times we’ve seen Coronado cost nearly $100 less per night than Caribbean Beach or $50 less than French Quarter. When the difference is that significant, the choice is easy.

Transportation Pros & Cons

Coronado Springs Resort is not adjacent to any of the theme parks, meaning there’s no novel transportation (boats, monorail, Skyliner, walking, etc) to any of the theme parks or Disney Springs. It’s all buses.

All bus transportation is a downside, and to make matters worse, service at Coronado Springs has been hit or miss since Gran Destino opened. Buses can be crowded, especially at popular hours or during peak season. It gets better when Coronado Springs is hosting a convention, as those guests are less likely to utilize buses. It’s also not nearly as bad during the off-season or even when the parks are only somewhat busy.

Transportation is definitely the biggest weakness of Coronado Springs. Even if the buses aren’t busy, it still has a large internal loop that can be tedious for transit. This is another reason I’m a big fan of Buildings 4 and 5. Even when I’m staying at Gran Destino, I just get off at this bus stop at the end of the night and walk.

The silver lining to the transportation at Coronado Springs is that Uber and Lyft are usually fairly abundant. In my anecdotal experience, the pickup time for drivers is the faster than any other resort. I assume this is due to its status as the convention center hotel, meaning it’s a popular pickup and dropoff spot.

I’ve been surprised by the ease and affordability of using Uber and Lyft around Central Florida. It feels like 2016 all over again, both in terms of pricing and the high volume of drivers. This was not the situation from 2021 through last year, and frankly, it feels like there’s been a big shift even over the course of this year.

Accordingly, I usually budget for one rideshare per day when staying at Coronado Springs. I only use it when in a pinch, which actually isn’t that often. I probably end up using Uber or Lyft every other day, at most. Even if I used it twice per day, the value proposition of Coronado Springs would still probably win out over other Moderates.

Despite some transportation troubles, I’ve never had any issues getting from Coronado Springs to any of the parks in time for the start of Early Entry. Buses are abundant very first thing, and crowding is seldom an issue. It’s closer to regular rope drop when the problems arise. Early bird gets the worm, in more ways than one! I also tend to leave the parks long after closing, at which point there’s zero issue with overcrowding. Just avoid the regular rope drop rush and post fireworks exodus and you should be fine.

Other Amenities

The Dig Site pool is one of the Top 10 Pools at Walt Disney World. Beyond the pool and its 123-foot water slide, there’s also an arcade, play area, Siesta’s bar, volleyball court, and the largest hot tub at Walt Disney World.

This pool complex is easily the nicest overall at any Moderate, with an amenity set that’s arguably Deluxe-tier. This is one thing that I’ve always appreciated about Coronado (even when I disliked the resort as a whole), so I can’t say the Dig Site helped change my mind about the resort. Nevertheless, we’d be remiss not to mention it.

Coronado Springs is also the only Moderate with a fitness center, and it actually has two of them. Again, not something that moves the needle for me. The last place you’ll catch me at Walt Disney World is in a gym. I’m walking 20,000+ steps per day, so extra exercise just feels needless.

One way I do like to “exercise” is with late night strolls around the resort. As discussed elsewhere, I’m a big fan of sprawling properties, and Coronado Springs has the best of both worlds with the three bridges across Lago Dorado offering a number of shortcuts that condense the resort. Those bridges are also great for strolls, as the breeze coming off the water can be refreshing at certain times of year (so like 10 months).

Coronado Still Isn’t For Everyone

It’s important to note that the title of this post is that Coronado Springs “Won Me Over.” It’s where I stay most frequently for solo research trips. Coronado Springs is not where our family stays most often. Our daughter has never stayed here, period. There are several reasons for this, but the biggest is location and transportation.

The things that I can simply work around are non-starters with a toddler. We’re not going to use rideshare, and the idea of cramming onto a bus with a stroller (and potentially a sleeping baby) at the end of a long night is unappealing. I’ve seen parents on the crowded Coronado buses at park closing. Their faces don’t scream “I’m living the dream!”

There’s also the practical reality that I’m doing research trips with regularity. I’ve spent more nights at Coronado in the last two years than Sarah and our daughter have at Walt Disney World in total. While I’ve come to appreciate it, the opportunity cost of staying at Coronado versus my favorites is not as high since I’m visiting frequently.

There’s also the fact that I’ve used subtle repeatedly to describe Coronado Springs, explaining how it took us a while to appreciate the resort. That was as adults. Our daughter is a toddler. She doesn’t do subtle. She likes some of the other Moderates and Deluxes, but she mostly loves over the top design and characters. Much of Coronado would be lost on her at this age, and that would still be true if I converted this post to audiobook form and used it at bedtime to put her to sleep.

This is one of the big reasons why, when we’re not using Disney Vacation Club points, we’re splurging on Our Favorite Hotel for Disney World Trips as Parents with a Toddler or even potentially ‘downgrading’ to one of the Value Resorts, especially those on the Skyliner. For family trips, we want to stay somewhere special, and even though I love it, Coronado is more the practical pick as opposed to the magical one.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you stayed at Coronado Springs Resort? What did you think of the overall experience? Did you take the time to explore the courtyards and drink up the details? What about taking advantage of the dining and other amenities? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment that Coronado is an underrated resort? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!