Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Adds a Deluxe Level Experience to Resort (Photos, Video)

Hi everyone!

We were invited to stay one night at the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, leading into the day it officially opened. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has always risen above the Walt Disney World moderate resort definition, offering the La Vida Health Club, a wider variety of restaurants and bars than other moderates as well as the largest Walt Disney World hot tub and a 50-foot pyramid with a jaguar slide at the feature pool area. Where the resort lagged was in accomodations that convention goers might expect. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has the largest convention center on property and now the Gran Destino Tower offers Presidential Suites, Deluxe Suites, and the Chronos Club (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort did test club level briefly ten or so years ago). There are also other upgrades that benefit the entire resort, including a new restaurant, new lounges, and beautiful views. BUT, Gran Destino Tower is NOT a deluxe resort. It has many of the components for one, but is still part of a moderate resort.

I spent seven years in the travel industry with one year at the Disney Reservation Center and six years as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. I would very much recommend the Gran Destino Tower for those looking for an upgraded moderate resort experience. Here is our Mousesteps Weekly YouTube Show about the Gran Destino Tower, and then ten ways the Gran Destino Tower (and as a whole, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort) differs from other moderate resorts.

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Here is our show about the Gran Destino Tower.

1 – It has an elegant, two story lobby – This stunning lobby includes beautiful light fixtures, the Barcelona Lounge (lower lobby) and the check-in for the entire resort.

Here is our video of the lobby at night with almost nobody around.

2 – Gran Destino offers interior rooms – All other moderate resorts – and the rest of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – have exterior doors and hallways. I am a big fan of interior hallways and this is a big plus for me with Gran Destino. I believe the standard rooms are 375 square feet, which is quite a bit larger than other moderate rooms as well. The room felt spacious.

3 – There is a Club Level Lounge (the Chronos Club) – No other moderate resort has a club level category. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort did offer club level briefly about 10 years ago but hasn’t recently. The Chronos Club should be a very popular option for guests.

4 – It offers the Gran Destino Fitness Center – This is the second fitness center at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. No other moderate resort has a fitness center and while not as big as some on property, the two should be more than enough for those looking to continue working out during their stay. La Vida Health Club does offer more facilities such as a spa and beauty salon.

Gran Destino Fitness Center

5 – Gran Destino has Deluxe and Presidential Suites – Disney’s Coronado Springs has a Junior Suite category in the Casitas. But the Gran Destino Tower expands upon that with 44 Deluxe Suites, 4 King Suites and 2 Presidential Suites. We toured a 750-square foot Deluxe Suite and it’s really nice! But note that it does only sleep 4 guests.

Deluxe Suite

6 – There are expansive views from a tower – The Gran Destino Tower has 16 floors, and we watched Magic Kingdom fireworks (in the distance) from our 12th floor room. We also enjoyed views of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from the Dahlia Lounge, which also gives a glimpse of Epcot and a look at the back of Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. No other moderate resort offers views like that.

The view from our room on the 12th floor

7 – There are a plethora of dining and drink options – This will pertain to the entirety of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, but Gran Destino brings one new full-service Spanish restaurant in Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood and two lounges – the Barcelona Lounge and Dahlia Lounge (the latter is part of the celebration of the Disney-Dali animated short Destino that the tower is named after and inspired by). Three Bridges Bar & Grill also just opened, it is not in the tower but certainly supports the extra convention and leisure business the tower will bring. There are now a total of ten restaurants and lounges at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, which is a lot more than any other moderate.

Scallops at Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood

Daytime look inside Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood

Dahlia Lounge

View from seating at the Dahlia Lounge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from Dahlia Lounge

However, I feel that the Gran Destino Tower could benefit from at least a decent continental breakfast (on the 16th floor if possible) and a refillable mug option. Actually, a full counter service location in Gran Destino would be really nice. It isn’t a very long walk from the tower to El Centro, but it is long enough if you are just looking for something quick.

8 – You could spend all day looking at hidden Mickeys – It feels like Disney wanted to make sure that the Gran Destino Tower was an obvious Disney addition. I don’t think I have ever seen so many hidden Mickeys before, they are everywhere. Between those, the Walt and Mickey portrait and the Dali-Disney connection, it’s obvious all over the tower who owns and runs Gran Destino Tower.

Hidden Mickeys in the hallway carpet

This portrait includes a hidden Mickey inside a Destino bell. Bells and dandelions are found throughout the resort

Hidden Mickeys in the elevator

Hidden Mickey in Chronos Club art

Hidden Mickeys in the accent below

Hidden Mickey in a lobby lamp

Hidden Mickey and dandelions

The children’s lobby area has one too

Real Mickey with Walt

9 – There is a lot of public seating – One of the first things I noticed when walking around the resort was how much seating there is. The lower lobby at the Barcelona Lounge especially has quite a bit. It reminds me of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in that regard.

10 – Each room has an interactive television experience – We didn’t have a lot of time to check this out, but Disney says of it,” This new television system will enhance the guest experience with Disney-quality services, content and personalization”. We did connect a phone to it and watched a YouTube video. Photopass photos can be seen on the television, and there is Disney music as well as on-demand movies and more. The interactive television is here at the Gran Destino Tower first.

And of course, there are convention facilities and meeting rooms are here and not at other moderate resorts. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort caters to convention goers but also to leisure guests.

The Gran Destino Tower can almost stand on its own as a deluxe resort – adding a pool with recreation and a counter service dining location would be two big ways to do that. But instead, it’s part of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and in my opinion, right now it’s probably the best resort value on Walt Disney World property. Tower rooms start in the mid-200s per night during off season (during the week), a little more expensive than other rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs but I think it is worth it. The Standard Tower prices fall within moderate resort pricing. If there is no big convention in town, that is when you’ll more likely find any applicable discounts (I found under $200 plus tax for a night in July in a Standard Tower room with a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder discount). We partner with MEI Travel/Mouse Fan Travel and highly recommend them if you are looking for an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

I will add our Mousesteps Weekly YouTube Show #316 when we record it tomorrow – it will be all about Gran Destino Tower!

Here is our video of the Gran Destino Tower opening ceremony!

Thank you to Disney for hosting us, all views are mine