When Gran Destino Tower first opened, many guests were skeptical. Including us. But it has quickly risen to the top as a fan favorite and for good reason! Read on to learn all about Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs.
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Coronado Springs Resort at Disney
Coronado Springs is a moderate resort at Walt Disney World, and quite a large one at that. Home to the Coronado Springs Convention Center, this resort is often overlooked by many guests who are trying to avoid, well the conventions. It’s a reasonably priced resort though and should definitely be kept in mind for your Disney trip, as it has some of the best resort restaurants on Disney property. And makes for a great work, or staycation.
Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort
Although Gran Destino Tower may seem grander and a standalone resort, it’s actually still part of Coronado Springs and therefore a moderate resort. We’ve stayed at Coronado Springs many times before and have grown to love this resort for its unique theming. So, we when we initially stayed here in 2019, we weren’t really sure how we would feel about this new addition. Boasting a blend of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American cultures, Gran Destino Tower takes decorative touches to the next level to give guests what feels like a truly immersive experience.
The Lobby at Gran Destino
The lobby of Gran Destino could be a destination all in itself. The décor is stunning, the music is relaxing and you can even head down the stairs to the Barcelona Lounge for morning coffee or an afternoon snack, or a fun cocktail. With Spanish and Moorish influences throughout, this lobby is really a masterpiece. Even if you’re not staying at Gran Destino Tower, the lobby here is actually now the check-in area for Coronado Springs, so if you are staying in any of the rooms in Coronado Springs, you’ll get to see the beauty of this place upon arrival.
The Rooms at Gran Destino Tower
The rooms at Gran Destino Tower are pretty standard with the new renovations that are being done throughout the resorts at Walt Disney World. The rooms themselves didn’t really “wow” us, but they are clean and modern and kind of on trend with what the rest of the hotel world is doing right now. While the room itself was fairly basic, Disney knows their details and we were happy to find some fun ones throughout in the décor.
What we did love, however, was the view. We were put in a water view room and it was lovely to be able to look out every morning at the water and see the span of the resort. If you can snag a water-view room, we highly recommend it! We also really enjoyed the layout of Gran Destino in that it is set up more like a deluxe resort than a moderate one. And by that, we basically mean that the doors are on the inside of the building, rather than facing outside like a typical moderate room. It definitely gives the resort a more quiet and more luxurious feel.
The room is complete with built-in toiletries(save room in your suitcase!), a Keurig, and the same long desk space we love in the regular Coronado rooms, perfect for getting work done if there for a convention, or just needing space to display your ears. Hey, who are we to judge?
Deluxe Suites at Gran Destino Tower
The Deluxe Suites at Gran Destino are definitely on the pricier side. But if you’re looking for a room with plenty of space and a separate bedroom, without the cost of a 1-bedroom or higher in a Disney Vacation Club villa, this might be the ticket. Though you can always find a better deal on family suites at Art of Animation, or family suites at All Star Music, these suites are more upscale and offer all of the conveniences of the Tower and Coronado Springs in general. So, it’s a great middle ground between family suites at the Value Resorts and DVC rooms.
Dining at Gran Destino Tower
Gran Destino Tower has really tried to become a destination all in itself. Remember when we mentioned Barcelona Lounge earlier? Well not only do they have their own lounge on the lowest level of the tower, but they also have a pretty fantastic tapas restaurant as well as another lounge on the top floor, Dahlia Lounge.
Toledo-Tapas, Steak & Seafood not only offers fantastic tapas-style small bites but also full entrees and elegant desserts. Dahlia Lounge, located directly across from Toledo, offers stunning views from their balcony as well as premium wine, signature cocktails, tapas, and charcuterie boards. The atmosphere of both is great, and they even share a few of the same menu items. If you’re lucky enough to be on the top floor of either of these restaurants during the fireworks at Hollywood Studios, you’ll be treated to a wonderful show!
The Transportation at Gran Destino Tower
Gran Destino Tower shares the same transportation as Coronado Springs. At this time, they only have bussing as their available mode of transport. As a guest at Gran Destino, you’ll still have access to Minnie Vans, but as far as free transportation is concerned, buses will be your go-to here.
Is Gran Destino Tower good for families?
This is a little bit more difficult to answer because it will really depend on your family. The overall feel of Gran Destino Tower is a bit more grown up, and overall we noticed fewer children here in general.
That being said, Coronado Springs has always been known for their more grown-up demographic, since they tend to be the most business resort due to its convention center. There are Disney touches throughout the resort, but they are pretty subtle the tower itself is beautiful but doesn’t really scream Disney. If your family is ok with that, then we say go for it! If you prefer the more “Disney” atmosphere, then this may be a little out of your comfort zone.
Does Gran Destino Tower have balconies?
Nope! One of the major differences between staying at Gran Destino Tower and a Deluxe resort is that the rooms don’t have balconies.
Can you see fireworks from Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs?
Yes you can! There are actually several places you can see the fireworks from, including some of the guest rooms. You can also see fireworks from Toledo or Dahlia Lounge. As well as from Chronos Club. If you’re not staying in the tower, you can also see the fireworks pretty well from the bridge near Three Bridges Bar and Grill.
How many floors is Gran Destino Tower?
Gran Destino Tower is 16 floors! The top floor is where you can find Toledo and Dahlia Lounge.
Is Disney’s Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower worth the price?
As of right now, we think it’s a steal! Yes, it is a little more expensive than say, a standard room at Coronado Springs or even Port Orleans French Quarter. But many times we see prices really comparable to Caribbean Beach Resort available in the tower. This resort just feels like a deluxe resort, but at a moderate price point. Being the only moderate resort with a club-level lounge, Chronos Club, and offering multiple types of suites
We completely think this resort is worth its moderate resort price tag. Remember though, pricing is always based on availability, so if the resort becomes more popular, or if you’re booking during a busier time, you can expect prices to be higher.
Overall, we love Gran Destino Tower. It has become one of our favorite resorts to visit for a Disney staycation and is just beautiful at Christmastime at Disney.
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
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