As a last-minute addition to our late-November trip itinerary, Chris and I decided to spend a day at Animal Kingdom. This meant we needed to extend our hotel plans. Because this change of plans was so close to our trip date we could not extend our reservations at the Hard Rock Hotel. So, we decided to a book a room at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! And while it was a short stay, we are glad we did! Disney does such a great job with holiday decorations. If you have not visited Disney during the holiday season, I highly recommend you consider planning a trip!
We got a bit of a late start on our drive down, so we arrived at Coronado Springs around 8:30 pm. Because our stay was during the weeks following Disney’s reopening after COVID-19, we had contact-free check-in using the Disney World app. Disney has really done a great job with their Magic Bands, which served as our room keys. (You can also use the app as your room key as well.)
Coronado Springs is a “moderate” Disney resort, or, a mid-level resort nestled between value and deluxe. The casitas are exterior-entry with courtyards and plazas dotted along the property. The resort has a Spanish-colonial vibe with lots of terra-cotta and earthy tones. We watched a YouTube video prior to our trip and learned that the resort pulls many of its theme elements from Destino, the Disney and Salvador Dali collaboration film. This is especially obvious in the hotel lobby. (More on that later.)
This lantern wall is adjacent to the lobby doors.
Coronado Springs Casitas Room
Our room was located in Casitas 3. It was spacious and clean. In fact, our remote controller was sanitized and sealed in its own packaging. (I hope that this continues beyond COVID-19!) Our room featured artwork from The Three Caballeros. One of the parts I appreciated the most was the long bar top/counter space— perfect for spreading out the contents of your suitcase!
The bathroom area features a double sink, a small armoire-style closet, and great lighting. The sinks are separate from the sleeping area with a track-mounted door. The toilet and shower are in a second separate space with a pocket door for privacy, which I appreciated. I was able to dry my hair late our first night with the lights on while Chris got a head start on getting some rest.
To me, the bed was unfortunately lacking. I found it a bit hard— it felt as though it had a dip in it. Mattress aside for this princess and the pea, we were quite happy with our room!
Coronado Springs & Gran Destino Tower Lobby and Common Spaces
After dropping off our luggage, we made our way to dinner. Along the way, we got to see some of the common areas of the resort. The lobby is beautiful and warm and heavily pulls influence from the film Destino, a collaborative project between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali. Two large murals on either side of the lobby feature the main character from Destino as well as a very stylized Walt Disney.
Several gorgeous Christmas trees filled the lobby during our stay! Truly, Disney does an amazing job with the decorations throughout their resorts and parks. I saw so many beautiful trees on our trip.
Do you see the hidden Mickey?
We did not get to try it, but it is worth mentioning that there is a coffee bar in the 1st level of the lobby as seen in the photos above!
The Dahlia Lounge
The Dahlia Lounge is a rooftop bar with tapas and small plates. It is located on the sixteenth floor of the Gran Destino Tower. We were very pleased to see that servers were not only masked, but also wearing shields. This was actually our first time eating in a restaurant since March! (Is it technically in if you are on a balcony…?)
To the left, The Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In the center, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Universal Studios.
The Dahlia Lounge offers a fantastic view. From the balcony, you can see the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and attractions at Blizzard Beach.
The Dahlia Lounge’s decor is lovely. It continues the surrealist themes present in the lobby. You’ll recognize the dandelion pattern that flows throughout the bar space from Destino. Destino is available on Disney+ if you have not seen it!
Chris and I shared two items off of the menu. He chose the honey and sherry wings and I got the bocadillo. Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures because I was tired after a long day of work and travel and I forgot! But, trust me they were both delicious!
Rix Sports Bar
The next morning, we made our way to Rix Sports Bar for our 8 am reservations. Staff wore full PPE and condiments were individually packaged for safety. I chose the Rix Omelet and Chris had the All American Breakfast. Both were good, but nothing unexpected. Just your standard hotel breakfast fare! From breakfast, we packed our bags and headed to Animal Kingdom!
We enjoyed our one-night stay at Coronado Springs. Due to COVID-19 several of the resorts attractions and restaurants remain closed. Had we spent more than a single night at Coronado Springs, I imagine we would have ventured up to the Dahlia Lounge again. The view is lovely and while we were there the weather was perfect for patio seating.
We loved exploring the Disney parks and staying at Coronado Springs & Gran Destino Tower during our recent trip to Orlando to use our Universal Orlando Annual Passes. Click here to read about Christmas Time Attractions and Activities at Universal Studios!
[…] If you enjoyed this review of the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort and want to read another park hotel review, check out my post on Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. […]