Disney’s Coronado Springs – WDW Construction Update

Time for another construction update: Disney’s Coronado Springs!  Coronado Springs is a great resort for families traveling with or without kids – the grounds are gorgeous and there is so much to do and see that you’ll feel like you were whisked away into an ancient lost kingdom. My favorite part of this resort has always been the southwestern American motifs and Spanish influence… but it should be noted that this resort’s details are more “sophisticated” than they are “Disney”, so families wanting to immerse themselves in true “Disney” feels, I’d recommend one of the Value-level resorts with their over-the-top Disney theming or the Animal Kingdom lodge.

That said, Disney’s Coronado Springs has come a long way since it opened in 1997, and over the past two years has been undergoing some major construction updates that should hopefully be completed in the next few months.

This week, I stopped by the resort to see the progress on the construction so far.

The current projects that Disney is working on at Coronado Springs are:

• New 15 Story Hotel Tower – Gran Destino will add 545 guest rooms (including 50 suites)  and a rooftop restaurant named “Toledo”.
• New Restaurant – In addition to the restaurant at the top of Gran Destino, Disney is also adding a restaurant in the middle off the lake to be called “Three Bridges Bar and Grill”.
• Updated and Modernized Guest Rooms – All guest rooms have been updated with wood floors, new beds, USB ports, flat screen TVs, Keurig coffee machines, new art, new color scheme and the renovation of the bathrooms.

Guests are now able to book rooms in the Gran Destino for stays starting in July 2019.

The entryway into Gran Destino is enormous and almost completed… and it is hard to tell from the picture, but there are lights on inside of some of the rooms, which means that those rooms are probably almost done!

The architectural metal weaving/ ribboning that they have scaling the center of the building looks magnificent.

Villa del Lago is still closed off, but the fountains are running. This is where the new Three Bridges restaurant will be located.

About Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is considered part of the “Moderate” Resort Category, and the theming certainly matches the name with its American colonial Spanish and southwestern American motifs.

When Will The Construction Be Completed At Disney’s Coronado Springs?

Disney’s Coronado Springs construction should be completed in July 2019.

How Much Do Rooms Cost At Disney’s Coronado Springs?

Depending on the time of year and the type of room you select – cost generally ranges from ~$200 – $400 per night at the Coronado Springs Resort.

Where Is Disney’s Coronado Springs Located?

Disney’s Coronado Springs is located in the Animal Kingdom area.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Address:

• 1000 West Buena Vista Drive; Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
• Phone: (407) 939-1000

Coronado Springs Resort Details

• Check-in: 4pm
• Check-Out: 11am
• Online Check-in: Yes
  
• Express Check-out: Yes
  
• Resort Airline Check-in: Yes
  
• Conference Center: No

Disney’s Coronado Springs Dining Options

• Maya Grill
  • Dinner – Tex-Mex cuisine.
• Rix Sports Bar & Grill
  • Full bar menu with appetizers and lighter entrees. Low-key setting with televised sports.
• Cafe Rix
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – snacks including pastries, salads, coffee.
• El Mercado de Coronado
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – 7 stations featuring American and Mexican-inspired food.
• Siesta Cantina
  • Breakfast, Lunch – Food served poolside.
• Laguna Bar
  • Lakeside lounge with signature cocktails & more.
• Room Service

Restaurants Coming Soon To Coronado Springs…

• Toledo
  • Rooftop restaurant with Spanish-inspired cuisine.
• Three Bridges Bar & Grill 
  • A lakeside spot with sandwiches and salads.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Amenities

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort offers a variety of amenities to make your stay as comfortable and fun as possible, including:

• Explorer’s Playground – A themed, outdoor playground located at The Dig Site main pool complex includes swings, a water-slide, slides, and an “archaeological dig sand box”.
• The Lost City of Cibola Feature Pool (The Dig Site) – This themed area includes a huge pool (120-by-90), a sand volleyball court, the largest outdoor hot tub on Walt Disney World property, the 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) Explorer’s Playground, and the Iguana Arcade. The focal point of the resort, the Dig Site’s 46-foot (14 m), 5 story tall Mayan pyramid themed, with water slide, as a modern archaeological dig of an ancient lost kingdom. At the beginning of the day the Mayan pyramid is turned on and a huge stream of water flows down the giant steps. (Kids are allowed to participate in the opening.) The Dig Site underwent a massive renovation ending in December of 2018.
• Poolside Activities – Family-friendly activities each day at the Lost City of Cibola Feature Pool include Disney trivia, an afternoon pool party and an evening campfire. Activity times listed on a local resort Recreation Activities flier available from the Front Desk or Concierge Desk
• Pools – Three additional courtyard quiet pools are located throughout the resort.
• Iguana Arcade – Adjacent to The Dig Site, an indoor arcade which offers a variety of electronic games.
• Movies Under the Stars – Adjacent to the main pool, nightly offering of a Disney movie (weather permitting).
• La Vida Health Club – A 3,000-square-foot (280 m²) health club and the first fitness center to be located at a Disney moderate resort.
• La Marina – Open seasonally, the marina offers watercraft rentals to guests including boats, water-cycles, kayaks, paddle-boats, and fishing excursions in addition to bike rentals.
• Casa de Belleza Beauty Salon
• Sand volleyball court
• 0.75-mile (1.21km) jogging trail
• Complementary Wi-Fi Internet
• On-Site Parking
• Online Check-in
• Resort Airline Check-in
• ATM & Banking Services (such as currency exchange)
• Childcare Services
• Designated Smoking Area
• Laundry / Dry Cleaning Services
• Concierge 

Coronado Springs Transportation

Aside from driving themselves, here are some ways that Coronado Springs guests can travel from their hotel to the parks or other Disney locations:

• Shuttle Bus
  • The shuttle buses are a complementary, air-conditioned way to travel almost anywhere you want within the Walt Disney World Resort. The buses run at 20-minutes intervals.
  • Bus service from Disney Resort hotels begins 45 minutes prior to park opening and ends 1 hour prior to park closing. Return service to Disney Resort hotels ends 2 hours after park closing.
• “Minnie” Van Services
  • Use the Lyft app to summon a red polka dot “Minnie-van” to whisk you away and take you where you want to go within The Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Minnie Van drivers are Disney Cast Members.
  • Minnie Van service operates from 6:30 AM to 12:30 AM daily.
  • Requests can be made 45 to 60 minutes prior to needing the vehicle. Minnie Van vehicles can accommodate guests with standard wheelchairs, motorized vehicles and ECVs.
• Disney’s Magical Express
  • A complimentary motorcoach offering transportation between Orlando International Airport and select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
  • You also receive complementary luggage delivery to your room.

What do you think about the improvements being made to Coronado Springs? Good, or is it all too much? Leave a comment below to let me know.

Want to see a list of all the WDW resorts? Click here.