Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Villains After Hours event at Magic Kingdom (so much fun!). While planning for the last minute trip, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to stay at the newly opened Gran Destino Tower located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. For those not familiar, Coronado Springs falls into the moderate resort category and is located in the Animal Kingdom resort area. It was originally opened in August 1997, boasting a blend of Spanish, Mexican, and American Southwest cultures. After living in New Mexico for six years, I can say the theming of the main resort area fits the bill! In this blog, I will be focusing only on the offerings of the Gran Destino Tower. The new Gran Destino Tower opened in July 2019 after much anticipation. In addition to the guest rooms, the Gran Destino Tower houses the Barcelona Lounge, Dahlia Lounge, and Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood. Major highlight: this location is the ONLY moderate resort with Club Level rooms!

As we pulled into the main entrance, we were taken aback by the grandness of the Gran Destino Tower. After a short stop at the gate to show my ID, we were able to quickly get parked and head into the Gran Destino Tower. There is a parking lot conveniently located adjacent to the tower so parking is very easy. Valet is also offered if you want to take that route.  Since I started the check-in process on the My Disney Experience app, we were greeted at the door by a very nice Cast Member named CJ welcoming us home (always one of my favorite parts of staying onsite). One person in our party needed to pick up their Magic Band at check-in, which was a seamless process. As you walk into the tower, it is impossible to miss the amazing views of the two-story grand lobby. Although the other areas of Coronado Springs really exhibit the Southwest theming, Gran Destino Tower has a more sleek, modern feel. Don’t worry, you will still find Micky in the carpets and some wallpapers.

We opted for a standard room, and it was stunning! Admittedly, I normally don’t stray far from Port Orleans – Riverside when staying at moderate level resorts. Our room in the tower was so much larger than the standard room we have grown accustomed to at POR. I was surprised by the size of the rooms in the tower. With wood floors and sleek counters, the modern feel carried over from downstairs. The room was filled with light from the large windows, and we had a great view of Tower of Tower! I loved the use of barn doors for the bathroom. A large wardrobe offered more than enough storage space for our items. As I mentioned before, Club Level rooms are an amazing option available at the Gran Destino Tower. Club Access rooms give you access to the Chonos Club which includes light refreshments and drinks during your stay, as well as Disney Signature Services.

Barcelona Lounge is a great stop if you are needing a coffee fix!  I’m a huge coffee fan, and this stop was amazing! It is located on the first floor of the two-story lobby I mentioned earlier. Not a coffee fan? Still drop by and check out one of the cocktails!

The 16th floor houses the Dahlia Lounge and Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood. Dahlia Lounge provides a great place to enjoy a cocktail and snack while mingling with your friends. It does have an outdoor area that can be accessed as well. We managed to snag a last minute reservation at Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood so we could enjoy a nice sit-down meal. I’m a self-declared wine snob, and I was very impressed with the options available. Very rarely do I ask for recommendations because I have been burned in the past by servers not really understanding wine, but not at Toledo! I’m a cabernet sauvignon girl, but am open to other reds. I mentioned my preference to our server, and she did not disappoint. We shared a Spanish Charcuterie board, which was amazing. For entrees we chose the Red-Wine Braised Chicken, and Manhattan Steak. The portions are a great size. We unfortunately did not have dessert, but my colleagues have assured me that it is amazing as well. Keep an eye on the ceiling. The colors change periodically and are a wonderful sight.

Toledo was wonderful. You are able to have views of Hollywoods Studios, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom depending on where you are seated, but the views are very limited. With that being said, be careful. If you are looking for a place to view Happily Ever After, or one of the other nighttime shows, this is NOT the place for you! You will be much happier at California Grill that offers dinner with firework viewing where the music is piped in. Although this was a slight disappointment, I still highly recommend Toledo, especially for date nights!

The only transportation option at this location is the bus line. There are three stops for the resort, one of these is located steps from the entrance to the tower making it super convenient to hop over to the parks. The stops were never overcrowded like you might see at other resorts. Pay attention to the transportation boards at the stop to find out when your next bus is coming. You can even check the bus times on the My Disney Experience app so you know exactly when you need to be there!

Overall, I was VERY impressed with the Gran Destino Tower. We will definitely stay here again.  If you are looking for a deluxe feel at a more affordable price, this is the place for you! Are you getting ready to plan your next adventure? I would love to help!