Disney's Coronado Springs Resort vs Walt Disney World Dolphin
Photo: Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Photo: Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
At a Glance
| Coronado Springs | Walt Disney World Dolphin | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Moderate | Deluxe |
| Area | Animal Kingdom Resort Area | Epcot Resort Area |
| Transportation | Bus | Walk, Boat, Bus |
| Table-Service Dining | 5 restaurants | 7 restaurants |
| Quick-Service Dining | 6 locations | 3 locations |
| Pool Amenities | Pool, Hot Tub, Water Slide | Pool |
| Extended Evening Hours | No | Yes |
| Top Highlight | Gran Destino Tower offers true Deluxe-quality rooms at Moderate price | Walking distance to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios |
Tier
Coronado Springs
ModerateWalt Disney World Dolphin
DeluxeArea
Coronado Springs
Animal Kingdom Resort AreaWalt Disney World Dolphin
Epcot Resort AreaTransportation
Coronado Springs
BusWalt Disney World Dolphin
Walk, Boat, BusTable-Service Dining
Coronado Springs
5 restaurantsWalt Disney World Dolphin
7 restaurantsQuick-Service Dining
Coronado Springs
6 locationsWalt Disney World Dolphin
3 locationsPool Amenities
Coronado Springs
Pool, Hot Tub, Water SlideWalt Disney World Dolphin
PoolExtended Evening Hours
Coronado Springs
NoWalt Disney World Dolphin
YesTop Highlight
Coronado Springs
Gran Destino Tower offers true Deluxe-quality rooms at Moderate priceWalt Disney World Dolphin
Walking distance to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood StudiosOverview
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
A moderate convention resort themed around colonial Spanish and southwestern influences, anchored by Gran Destino Tower and Lago Dorado.
Walt Disney World Dolphin
A large Marriott-operated convention resort on Crescent Lake with Disney benefits and direct access to the Epcot-area walkway network.
Amenities
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Recreation
- Pool
- Hot Tub
- Playground
- Arcade
- Running Trail
- Marina
- Volleyball
- Water Slide
Wellness
- Spa
- Fitness Center
- Massage services available
- Salon
Rooms
- club-access reservations — chronos club
Other
- Business Center
- Laundry Facilities
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Recreation
- Pool
- Tennis Courts
- Jogging Trail
- Arcade
- Playground
- Camp Dolphin for children ages 4-12 from 5pm to midnight with themed activities, video games, arts and crafts
- Swan paddleboat rentals on the white sand beach
Wellness
- Fitness Center
- Spa
Rooms
- Club Level
Other
- Laundry Facilities
- Child Care
- Business Center
- Boat launch courtyard between Swan and Dolphin; Friendship launches to Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- Gift Shop
Transportation
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Walt Disney World Dolphin
-
Walk
EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Boat
EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Pros
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
- Gran Destino Tower offers true Deluxe-quality rooms at Moderate price
- Exceptional dining at Toledo restaurant atop Gran Destino Tower
- Beautiful Lago Dorado lake and lush resort grounds
- Large convention facilities make it great for business travelers
- Impressive pool complex with Mayan pyramid waterslide
Walt Disney World Dolphin
- Walking distance to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Can be booked with Marriott/SPG hotel points for potentially free nights
- Crescent Lake location with boat service and BoardWalk access
- Shula's Steakhouse and Il Mulino are top-tier dining options on property
- Often cheaper than equivalent Disney-owned Deluxe resorts
Cons
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
- Very spread-out resort with long walks from casitas to the main hub
- Primarily a convention hotel, can feel less magical than other resorts
- Far from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios by bus
- Moderate pricing but far location makes it less convenient
- Some areas of the resort feel dated and in need of updates
Walt Disney World Dolphin
- Not a Disney-owned resort, so no Early Entry or advance booking perks
- Resort and parking fees are high in addition to the nightly rate
- Dated exterior design with the iconic dolphin statues divides opinion
- Rooms were historically smaller and less updated than Disney Deluxes
- Bus service to non-walkable parks is less reliable than Disney buses
On-Site Dining
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
-
Barcelona Lounge
Quick ServiceAmerican
breakfast · snack
View menu -
Cafe Rix
Table ServiceAmerican, Quick Service - Coffee
breakfast · lunch
View menu -
Dahlia Lounge
Quick ServiceSpanish
snack
View menu -
El Mercado de Coronado
Quick ServiceAmerican, Mexican
breakfast · lunch · dinner
View menu -
Laguna Bar
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Maya Grill
Table ServiceAmerican, Mexican, Seafood, Steakhouse
dinner
View menu -
Rix Sports Bar & Grill
Table ServiceAmerican
breakfast · lunch · dinner
View menu -
Siestas Cantina
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Three Bridges Bar & Grill To Go
Quick ServiceLatin
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago
Table ServiceLatin
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Toledo - Tapas, Steak & Seafood
Table ServiceSeafood, Steakhouse, Spanish
dinner
View menu
Walt Disney World Dolphin
-
Bourbon Steak - A Michael Mina Restaurant
Table ServiceAmerican, Steakhouse
dinner
View menu -
Bourbon Steak Lounge
Quick ServiceAmerican, Steakhouse
snack
View menu -
Cabana Bar and Beach Club
Table ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Fuel
Table ServiceAmerican, Quick Service - Coffee
snack
View menu -
Phins
Table ServiceAmerican
dinner
View menu -
Rosa Mexicano
Table ServiceMexican
breakfast · lunch · dinner
View menu -
Rosa Mexicano Lounge
Quick ServiceMexican
snack
View menu -
The Fountain
Table ServiceAmerican
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Todd English's bluezoo
Table ServiceSeafood
dinner
View menu -
Todd English's bluezoo Lounge
Quick ServiceSeafood
snack
View menu
Community Discussions
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
- Coronado Springs : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Coronado Springs Resort : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Disneys Coronado Springs : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- First time back to Coronado Springs since 2006.. it's ... r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Thoughts on Coronado Springs as a whole - Reddit r/WaltDisneyWorld
Walt Disney World Dolphin
- Dolphin or Swan : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Dolphin Resort and Upgrades : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Walt Disney World Dolphin : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort Fees & Card Holds r/WaltDisneyWorld
Videos
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
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