Our experience at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and wondering where to stay? Disney offers many different resort options, each with its own unique themes, features and benefits. During our visit to Orlando we stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

This resort is inspired by the cultures and colours of Mexico and the American Southwest. It’s a huge property with a large tower (pictured above and below) and multiple villages that surround a peaceful lake.

In this blog post, we share our experience at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, including a few travel tips for visiting Disney World in Orlando.

Before we get started, we feel its important to let you know that we did NOT work with this Disney property and we did NOT receive any perks or compensation.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is considered a moderate resort at Walt Disney World. This means that it lands somewhere between the value resorts and deluxe resorts when it comes to price and quality. Check room prices and availability here.

The resort is located within the greater Walt Disney World Resort area, which means guests have easy access to the Disney theme parks.

Related – We made a few Disney World mistakes. Here’s what NOT to do.

The Grounds at Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a very big property. In fact, we were informed that it’s the same size as Magic Kingdom, which we found interesting. The resort has 1,915 rooms and suites situated in three villages – Casitas, Ranchos and Cabanas – and a 15-story tower called Gran Destino Tower.

The complex surrounds a 15-acre lake called Lago Dorado, which is the centerpiece to this extensive Disney resort. We enjoyed our time wandering around the property in the evenings. It has a calming atmosphere that allows you to relax and decompress after full days spent at Orlando’s many theme parks.

View the Coronado Springs Resort map here.

Check room pricing and availably at Coronado Springs Resort here.

Pull up a chair and enjoy the beautiful lake views inside the resort. The grounds at Coronado Springs spread over 142 acres. It’s a huge property. The path around the lake is about a mile.

The above village, The Cabanas, has a beach area with lounge chairs, umbrellas and hammocks. But do not swim in this area. There are several signs that warn against possible alligator or snake sightings. Stick to the pools for swimming.

Save up to $81 on Disney World tickets here.

Waterfront views of the Southwest-inspired architecture at Coronado Springs Resort. I was feeling good about the photos I captured until I saw these professional photos on the hotel listing.

Three wooden bridge split the lake and meet in the middle at Villa del Lago and Three Bridges Bar and Grill.

Coronado Springs Restaurants

Coronado Springs has several restaurants and bars on the property, including Maya Grill, Rix Sports Bar and Grill, and the Three Bridges Bar and Grill (pictured above).

It’s important to note that unless you have a vehicle (we did not), you will likely dine at one of these restaurants because the property is somewhat isolated. There are no walkable restaurants nearby. However, if you do have a vehicle, Disney Springs is not too far away. It’s home to a variety of shops and restaurants.

See the full list restaurants at Coronado Springs Resort here.

You will want to make dinner reservations each day to avoid disappointment. It’s one of the many Disney World mistakes we made.

You can make reservations via the My Disney Experience mobile app.

Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago is a nice place to unwind after a day of exploring Orlando’s theme parks. It’s located in the middle of the lake, Lago Dorado, and has an open-air setting.

View the Three Bridges Bar and Grill menu here.

Above is the Coconut-Curry Chicken and Basmati Rice and Marinated Chickpeas.

Above is a photo the kids meal at Three Bridges restaurant. Our boys enjoyed the chicken tacos with corn and fruit.

Dahlia Lounge is a rooftop restaurant located in the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort.

Located on the same floor is Toledo Tapas, Steak and Seafood. This restaurant serves up incredible views with its variety of small plates inspired by the flavors of Spain. Dinner reservations are required.

The swanky Barcelona Lounge is an espresso bar in the morning and Spanish-style Gin Tonic bar in the evenings. It’s located in the main building, near the hotel lobby and reception.

Siestas Cantina is a poolside restaurant that serves cocktails, beer, drinks, sandwiches, burgers and nachos. You can take your food and drinks back to your pool lounge chair while wearing your swimsuit. No shirts, no shoes? No problem.

This is a convenient place to eat at the resort when enjoying your pool day.

El Mercado de Coronado is a grab and go, cafeteria-style restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also serves desserts, snacks and drinks. You can bring your takeout items back to your hotel room or dine in the large eating area.

See the El Mercado de Coronado menu here.

Lunch menu at El Mercado de Coronado. Prices for hot lunch range between $15-$20.

Dining area at El Mercado de Coronado. It seats over 400 people and is a good spot to fuel up without the need for reservations.

Mickey Mouse themed waffles for breakfast at El Mercado de Coronado.

Save up to $81 on Disney World tickets here.

Rix Sports Bar and Grill

The Rix Sports Bar and Grill is a 300 seat lounge located across from El Mercado in the building near the convention center. It’s a typical American sports bar that serves draft beer, cocktails, fried food, hamburgers and several large televisions that play live sports.

It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You must make dinner reservations at Rix.

See the Rix Sports Bar dinner menu here.

California Chicken Sandwich at Rix Sports Bar and Grill.

Kids menu at Rix Sports Bar and Grill offers hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese. You’re kids should be happy dining here.

Laguna Bar is located outside on the shores of Lago Dorado, near the restaurants at El Centro. It’s open in the evenings and serves a variety of cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

This is a nice spot to relax and enjoy the warm breeze at night.

Maya Grill is the most popular restaurant at Coronado Springs Resort. It serves Mexican cuisine and has a Mayan-themed décor.

See the Maya Grill menu here. Dinner reservations are highly recommended.

Above is the Chicken Enchiladas at Maya Grill, served with delicious Fried Plantains.

The service at the restaurant was not great when we visited, however this dish was incredible and probably the best meal during our time in Orlando.

Amenities at Coronado Springs Resort

The centerpiece of Coronado Springs is its impressive Mayan pyramid, located at the Dig Site pool complex. The Lost City of Cibola Pool, pictured above, has a 123-foot-long waterslide featuring a Jaguar spirit animal. It also boasts the largest hot tub on Walt Disney World Resort property.

The resort has plenty of amenities to keep you busy during your stay, including a fitness center, spa, and jogging path. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll love the playground, arcade and games.

Save up to $81 on Disney World tickets here.

The resort offers complimentary life jackets for kids, which is a nice feature.

Before our boys learned to swim, we would have to bring life jackets and vests in our luggage. Not ideal when traveling with carry-on luggage.

Things to do at Disney’s Coronado Springs

There are several family-friendly activities each day at the Lost City of Cibola Pool, including Disney trivia, afternoon pool party and an evening campfire.

Some of the other activities at the resort include:

Evening movies on the outdoor lawn
Soccer billiards
Arcade and games room
Kids playground near the main pool
Outdoor ping pong tables
Giant chess board and shuffleboard

Outdoor playground at Coronado Springs Dig Site complex.

Above is the entrance to the Iguana Arcade. It’s located at the Dig Site pool complex.

Our boys enjoyed playing shuffleboard in the evenings.

Have you tried outdoor soccer billiards before? Here’s a short video.

Movie night under the stars on the outdoor lawn in front of Gran Destino Tower.

Coronado Springs Resort Standard Room

Coronado Springs has a variety of room types, from standard rooms to suites. We stayed in a standard room with two queen beds.

The standard rooms at Coronado Springs are comfortable, clean and modern. It’s a nice room, but nothing special. The beds are comfortable and the room has a mini-fridge, which is nice when traveling with kids.

Room service cleaned the room every two days (I think? It was not every day).

Room buildings at Coronado Springs

There are 1,951 rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort located in four sections across the property. Gran Destino Tower is the main building with rooms on the 3rd through 15th floors.

The resort is divided into 3 village areas: the Casitas, the Ranchos and the Cabanas.

The Casitas suites are a luxurious option that offer even more amenities, including a separate living area and a whirlpool tub. The Ranchos are made of up 4 pueblo-style buildings that have 3 floors. The Cabanas are made up of 3 buildings that have 2 floors.

The Spanish Colonial design reflects the architecture of the American Southwest and Mexico.

Main lobby at Coronado Springs

The lobby lounge and bar is a sight to behold. The four tall columns in the center of the lobby create an atmosphere of luxury and elegance. It certainly makes a powerful first impression.

A wall of lights in the lobby area of the Gran Destino Tower.

Work stations at the lobby level of the main building. I love the unique and creative design of this area.

The above photo was captured in the El Centro area, in between the main tower and convention center. The resort has lots of areas to spread out, which makes it feel less busy.

Transportation at Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is located inside Walt Disney World Resort, but it’s not within walking distance of the theme parks and attractions.

Coronado Springs offers complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks.

The bus stops are located throughout the property. Plan to arrive at the bus stop early and be prepared to wait in line. It can get crowded at peak times.

The designated bus stops inside the resort are: (1) Gran Destino Tower, (2) Casitas, (3) Ranchos, and (4) Ranchos and Cabanas.

Coronado Springs offers an internal shuttle system. Transportation is provided in marked golf carts that bring guests to and from all villages inside the resort.

We stayed in the Ranchos building. The bus stop is located within steps of this building, which is very convenient. This is one of the perks to staying at a Disney World Resort hotel.

What are the benefits to staying at Disney World Resort?

There are several benefits to staying at Disney World Resort hotels.

Close proximity to Disney theme parks: Disney hotels are located inside Disney World Resort, or in close proximity, so you can easily access the parks without having to travel far.
Extra Magic Hours: Guests staying at Disney World Resort hotels are eligible for Extra Magic Hours. This allows you to enter the Disney parks early or stay late on select days.
Disney transportation: Disney provides free transportation between its resorts and parks. This means you don’t have to worry about renting a car or dealing with parking.
Disney dining plans: Guests staying at a Disney World Resort hotel can take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan, which allows you to pre-pay for your meals at select restaurants.
Package delivery: If you make purchases inside the theme parks, you can have the item(s) delivered to your resort. This way you don’t have tp carry the items with you all day.

Related – We made a few Disney World mistakes. Here’s what NOT to do.

Transportation from Orlando Airport to Disney Coronado Springs Resort

We took an Uber from Orlando Airport to Coronado Springs Resort. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the airport (or vice versa), but it can take longer if there’s traffic. Price was approx. $50 USD.

We’re told that you can organize bus transportation from the airport to the various Disney World resort hotels. We did not investigate this option because we arrived in Orlando a few days before staying at this Disney property.

Disney Coronado Springs Resort address is 1000 West Buena Vista Drive. Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8403. The resort phone number is (407) 939-1000.

Check hotel room rates and availability here.

Final thoughts. Would we stay here again?

I imagine the question you are asking yourself is, “did we enjoy our time at this Disney resort” and/or “would you stay here again in the future”? The answer to both questions is Yes.

Reminder – we did NOT receive any compensation or perks while staying at this resort.

It’s a nice property. We like how close it is to Disney Hollywood Studios and Disney Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The complimentary bus transportation and early entry are very nice features. This alone makes it worth staying here.

While the resort is a Disney hotel, we did not find it to be overly Disney. I’m glad the hotel does not have Disney characters everywhere. You get a little “Disney burnout” after spending days exploring the parks, so we like that the hotel is not a big advertisement for Disney products.

Save up to $81 on Disney World tickets here.

Have you stayed at a Disney World resort? What did you think?

Share your Disney World Resort experience in the comments below. Our readers thank you.

Our experience at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando