Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: Beautiful Resort, But Not Our Top Pick for Families

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is considered one of Walt Disney World’s moderate resorts, and it is also home to a large convention center. Because of that, the resort has a very different feel compared to some of the more family-focused Disney resorts.

It is beautiful, well-maintained, and has a more adult, business-friendly atmosphere. However, after staying there with my one-year-old, I can honestly say this would not be a resort I would personally recommend for families with young kids or anyone who has trouble walking.

That does not mean Coronado Springs is a bad resort. It really is not. The property is very well decorated, the rooms are comfortable, and the resort has a polished feel to it.

The Resort Layout and Walking Distance

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was just how spread out the resort is. Our building was about as far from the main lobby and front area as possible, and getting there was not exactly easy.

To get from our room area to the main building, we had a long walk around the water. That may not sound like a big deal until you are doing it after a full day in the parks.

After walking all day at Disney, the last thing you want to do is walk even more just to get food, drinks, or anything from the main area of the resort.

The back section does have bus stops, which helps a little because you do not always have to walk all the way to the front for transportation. However, there is no real food or drink access in the back area.

For adults who do not mind walking, this may not be a dealbreaker. But with a stroller, a tired child, and everything else that comes with traveling with a little one, the distance became frustrating quickly.

The Elevator Situation Was Not Stroller-Friendly

Another issue we ran into was the building setup itself. Once we arrived at our building, there was only one elevator, and it was located more toward the center of the building.

Since we had a stroller and were on the second floor, this made getting to the room more annoying than it needed to be.

We had to walk past a flight of stairs and past our room just to get to the elevator on the other side of the building. Then, we had to backtrack to get to the room.

Without a stroller, it probably would not have bothered me as much. However, when you are trying to get a one-year-old, stroller, bags, and park gear back to the room, little inconveniences become much bigger.

Dining at Coronado Springs Was Disappointing

The dining situation was another area where Coronado Springs fell short for me. There is a sit-down restaurant at the resort that was good, so I do want to give credit there.

However, the quick-service cafe area was not great in my experience, and the timing was especially frustrating.

On our departure day, our flight was around 3:00 p.m., and our bus was picking us up around noon. We went down around 10:30 or 10:45 a.m. hoping to grab food before heading to the airport.

Unfortunately, the cafe was closed during the transition from breakfast to lunch, and there was nothing available for us to eat. As a result, we ended up waiting until we got to the airport.

At a Disney resort, especially one this large, I would expect there to be some kind of food option available during that window. For a resort with a convention center and a large number of guests, I really think there should be better food availability throughout the day.

The Room Itself Was Very Nice

The room was one of the stronger parts of the stay. It was comfortable, had good space, and stayed cool, which is always important after long park days.

Since this was our first Disney trip with our one-year-old, we had a few extra needs that we had not really had to think about before. One of those was milk storage.

The room came with a beverage cooler, but those do not get cold enough to safely store milk for bottles. We requested a real fridge, and thankfully that helped us keep milk in the room.

We also requested a crib, but instead we received a pack and play. It worked for what we needed, but it was not exactly what we expected when requesting a crib.

Overall, the room was nice and comfortable. I do not have many complaints about the room itself. Most of my issues were with the resort layout and convenience.

Transportation Was Hit or Miss

The bus system was another part of the stay that was not amazing. Since our stop was the third stop on the route, there were times when buses were already full before they got to us.

That meant we had to wait for another bus, which is not ideal when you are trying to get to the parks with a stroller and a young child.

The fact that buses come to the back area of the resort definitely helps. However, the overall transportation experience still felt less convenient than some other Disney resorts I have stayed at.

More Views from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Who I Would and Would Not Recommend Coronado Springs For

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is beautiful, well-maintained, and has a more grown-up feel than many of the other moderate resorts. I could see it being a good fit for adults, couples, business travelers, convention guests, or people who want a quieter resort and do not mind walking.

However, based on my experience, I would not make this my first recommendation for families with young kids, especially if you have a stroller. I also would not recommend it for anyone who has trouble walking or wants quick, easy access to food and resort amenities.

For families, I would personally lean more toward resorts like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Those resorts feel more family-friendly and, in my opinion, offer a better overall experience when traveling with kids.