Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is named after Don Francisco de Coronado and is situated near to Disney's Animal Kingdom but also provides easy access to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Blizzard Beach.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Rooms: 1921 rooms
Rates: from $149 to $249 Check rates

Address: 1000 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Animal Kingdom Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

It is themed on the American Southwest with influences of Mexico, Colonial Spain and New Mexico in the colorful plazas, palm shaded courtyards, regal cactus and fountains. The Resort is situated around the 15 acre Lago Dorado (Lake of Gold) with three distinct villages.

The villages are named The Casitas, The Ranchos and The Cabanas. Each village consists of a group of 2 and 3 storey motel type buildings (13 in total) with terra-cotta tiled roofs styled after Spanish haciendas, villas and Mexican-style bungalows.

Transportation to the Disney theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney is by Disney motor coach.

Rooms

Standard rooms are around 314 square feet and will sleep 4 (plus a baby in a crib). Most rooms come with two double beds though rooms with a single king-size bed are available. An additional rollaway bed can be obtained for a nightly charge.

It is also possible to get a Junior Double room with a Sico wall bed (sleeps 6), a One Bedroom Suite with a Sico wall bed or a king bed (sleeps 4 to 6) or an Executive Two Bedroom Suite (sleeps 6).

There are two types of standard room; Standard View and Water View which overlook the pool or the lake.

Transportation to the Disney theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney is by Disney motor coach.

Dining

The El Centro town center features restaurants, shops and an amusement arcade. Full table service is available at Maya Grill, a breakfast and dinner only restaurant serving Latin-American cuisine in a Mayan decor. The lobby sets the theme for the resort with its Aztec styling.

The Pepper Market Food Court offers Latin, American, Italian and Asian cooking plus a bakery all set in lively street market setting.

There are also two shops, La Tienda Convenience Store and Panchito's Gifts and Sundries selling Disney merchandise and a small amount of groceries and snacks.

Near the Pepper Market is Francisco's Lounge, a 200 seat lounge where you can get south-western drinks like margaritas and tequila as well as snacks.

Recreation

In the center of the resort is an area called the Dig Site which is modeled after an archeologists dig and featuring a 5 storey Mayan Pyramid with waterfalls, 'spitting' jaguars and a 123ft water slide feeding into the Lost City of Cibola feature pool.

There is also the Siesta Pool Bar and Grill serving drinks and snacks, the Explorer's Playground where children can search for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold or play in the fountains and the Iguana Arcade. You can also play beach volleyball or relax in the largest whirlpool in the whole of Disney (room for 22 people!!).

If you fancy something a little quieter, then each village also has its own 'quiet' heated swimming pool plus there is a separate children's pool.

A variety of watercraft including kayaks, canopy boats and Mercury WaterMouse can be rented to explore the lake from La Marina or you can also rent fishing rods and bicycles. Alternatively there is a 0.9 jogging track all the way around Lago Dorado.

The hotel also has an second amusement arcade, the Jumping Beans Arcade located at El Centro, where the children can play a variety of video and pinball games.

Health & Fitness

The Coronado Springs is the only moderate resort with a health and beauty salon; namely the La Vida Fitness Center with Cybex aerobic and exercise machines and the Case de Belleza Beauty Salon with skin and hair care, manicures, pedicures, massage and tanning facilities.

Amenities

The hotel offers a number of amenities including:

• limited room service (7am to 11pm)
• concierge desk
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• in room pizza and meal delivery (late afternoon until midnight)
• free parking
• hair dryer
• iron, ironing board and wall safe
• coffee/tea maker, TV with Disney Channel and ESPN
• voice mail, dial-up internet access (charge applicable)
• wireless (wifi) internet access (some public areas, charge applicable)
• refrigerator
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services

Meeting Facilities

Also unusually for a moderate resort, there are meeting and banqueting facilities with 95,000 square feet of meeting space and ballrooms. There is also an 80,000 sq ft exhibition hall plus a business center. In fact it is the largest and most affordable set of meeting and exhibition facilities at the Walt Disney World Resort.