I know something you don’t know. Only other ‘Nado heads like myself understand.
The porte-cochère of this incredible resort rivals that of other Disney deluxe resorts, and even puts some to shame.
Walking into the lobby, the sounds of lively guests and Spanish guitar echo against the Moroccan incense lamps on the walls.
Impressive white columns and a bright, open design remind you that you are in a modern space, while hints of clean hibiscus and friendly cast members remind you that you are on vacation.
This is the lobby of the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Coronado Springs Resort (CSR) is one of four Disney moderate resorts, which celebrates the unique blend of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American cultures. I am very biased to the CSR, having stayed many times at what I would call our “home” resort.
On one of our last stays at the CSR, my husband, daughters (16 and almost 3), and I traveled to Disney World with my parents and mother-in-law. Seeing as we were with a group of mostly adults, a Club Level stay at the CSR was the perfect fit for this particular vacation. More on that in a bit…
Mod-Luxe: Bougie on a Dime
The CSR is unique in that it is priced like a moderate resort, but it is filled with deluxe amenities. It’s even nicknamed “mod-luxe” by some.
It is home to a convention center that boasts 228,000 sq. ft. of total function space. Event organizers understand the draw of hosting their conference at Disney World, intended to attract convention-goers from around the country. This means higher chances of a “successful” conference, with higher attendance numbers, and more value for industry vendors and attendees alike.
Disney simply cannot have guests visit The Most Magical Place on Earth and be underwhelmed.
In order for organizations to send professionals to conferences, and in order for conference planners to balance the cost of putting on a conference, lodging, meals, and incidentals must stand in a reasonable position as compared to industry-accepted per diem rates.
So, what does this mean for “regular” Disney-goers like you and me?
It means that the Coronado Springs Resort is a smart economical choice. You are getting amenities that can only be found at Disney’s deluxe resorts (gyms, lounges, views, dining), but with a moderate price tag.
I *love* me some bougie Disney! And *everybody* loves saving money.
Club Level at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
For our most recent stay, we wanted the grandparents to feel spoiled. They deserve it- they’re pensioners having worked their entire lives.
We wanted a place for them to unwind, recharge, and connect in the evenings. We didn’t want them to worry about having to coordinate a grocery delivery. We also didn’t want them to be tied down to three meals a day.
So, we booked a club level stay.
Club Level is a special room category available only at Disney’s deluxe resorts, *and* at the CSR. Again, this makes the Coronado Springs Resort very unique.
Most of Disney’s club level lounges are simply known for food and beverage offerings. More on that in a second.
The Chronos Lounge
The club lounge at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is named the Chronos Lounge, paying homage to Chronos in the Disney-Salvador Dali film Gran Destino.
I was a sucker for the panoramic views of Hollywood Studios (Galaxy’s Edge, Tower of Terror), Swan & Dolphin resorts, and Epcot (Spaceship Earth). Expedition Everest could be seen from the hallway corridor window close to our room.
At night, cast members would dim the lights, and fireworks could be seen from Hollywood Studios and Epcot simultaneously. I cried watching fireworks the first night.
The CSR’s Chronos lounge is the largest of Disney’s club level lounges, with plenty of comfortable seating, a television, gorgeous restrooms (I *had* to mention them), board games, and even a child’s toy chest and play area. We played Scrabble as a family at least three times.
Club Level for Kids
Now, I used to think that club level wasn’t for kids. This trip taught me otherwise.
My daughter was 2, almost 3 during our check-in day. I love that she was treated like any other guest, being properly greeted by name when she entered the lounge, and asked about her day every evening. She quickly learned that this was a space where she could grab endless snacks (she especially loved the fresh fruit and berry cups), and Mickey stickers were plenty.
She would use cloth napkins as blankets for the club’s dolls, and towards the end of the trip, cast members would give her more “blankets” to help her babies sleep.
Speaking of cast members, before this trip, I was especially curious about the club staff and concierge, also known as Signature Services.
Club Level Cast Members & Disney’s Signature Services
Upon our arrival, a Signature Services Cast Member gave us an overview of how the lounge worked. They explained that while the coffee service officially began at 7:00 am, cast members began trickling in as early as 6:30 am, with the primary purpose of helping club guests with their Genie+ selections.
I was blown away by this.
Each morning, I would mosey into the lounge, freshly showered, around 6:50 am. I’d make a cup of coffee and prepare for our family’s first Genie+ and/or Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) selection.
I consider myself an expert in all things Disney, but one morning, I couldn’t snag an ILL for our family of 7. I walked over to the concierge when that happened. They empathized with me, and offered to keep an eye on it.
I went back to the room, finished getting myself and the baby ready, went back to the lounge, and we all had a filling breakfast.
Right around the time we were ready to head out to the parks, the cast member called me over to say that she was able to snag the ILL that I couldn’t! I handed her my credit card quickly, and she took care of it.
This may be an example of a cast member going above and beyond; it happened one of nine mornings during our trip. However, I can personally say that I witnessed cast members on laptops each morning, doing their best to help club guests in the same manner.
Chronos Lounge Food
Before ever having had a club level stay, I’d heard people ask about the “value” of the food at club lounges. Is it worth it?
It didn’t feel fair to compare what we paid to what we physically ate and drank. I felt like it was important to talk about *all of the other things* first because when you are booking a club level stay, you are not just paying for food and drinks.
However, I acknowledge that food and drinks are the primary club level perk for many, and absolutely one of the most convenient amenities I’ve ever experienced while at Disney.
The beverage cooler felt like a God-send, we would simply grab bottled water from it each morning to bring into the parks. It was always stocked with sodas and juice throughout the day, in addition to beer and other alcoholic items in the evenings.
Along with bottled water, we would grab oranges, bananas, granola bars, pretzels, or other grab-and-go items daily.
The Chronos Lounge shined in the breakfast category (in which most guests can take full advantage of before heading out to the parks), with a surprising amount of substantive breakfast offerings. Regular items included a very cool coffee machine that could be used all day and night, frittata, avocado toast, pastries, nuts, grab-and-go fruit, cereal, granola bars, bagels, salmon & capers, meats & cheeses, hot chocolate, tea, juices, and more.
I was especially fond of the multi-grain croissants, which were as airy and buttery as regular croissants. My husband was a huge fan of the steel-cut oats and banana bread, my 16-year old ate her weight in avocado toast, and my mother (a bariatric surgery patient) loved the hard-boiled eggs and meat & cheese skewers.
It’s very easy to tire of theme park snacks and quick service, so we were extremely pleased with the balance and the variety of the Chronos Club offerings.
Snacks, hors d’oeuvres, select beverages, desserts, and cordials also varied by day. Typically, we’d have one late lunch/early dinner counter or table service at the parks, and return to the lounge in the evening hours.
There were plenty of options that included proteins and fats, like smoked paprika salmon with tomato chutney, grouper, seared tuna with spicy mayo, albondigas with chimichurri (for those that needed a full “meal”), but were balanced with flavorful bright foods, like al dente pasta and marinara, crudités, couscous, paella, hummus, pan con tomate, salad, bravas potatoes, meats & cheeses, gazpacho, and more.
Wine, cava, and beer selections were offered in the afternoons and evenings, cordials and liquores were brought out with the desserts nightly. I can’t comment on the alcoholic beverages, other than that they were restocked frequently. I did enjoy my go-to glass of chardonnay, which was chilled perfectly, balanced, and not overly woodsy or fruity.
A variety of cookies were pre-wrapped, and sometimes we’d take a few to the room to pack in our park bag for the next day. Desserts were typically served in a shooter or sample-sized portions, like gooey cake, berry mousse, and chocolate espresso mousse. My 16-year-old daughter raved about the delicate macarons.
Relaxing and Affordable
Our club level stay at the Coronado Springs Resort was extremely relaxing, and to call it enjoyable would be an understatement.
The resort itself is fabulous, even if not staying club level.
There are several fine table and counter service restaurants onsite, including Rix Sports Bar & Grill, El Mercado, and the Dahlia Lounge, a waterside bar, Mayan-themed pool and smaller neighborhood pools, the largest hot tub on Disney property, Panchito’s gift shop, and it also offers dockside fishing and bike rides, and it is home to two gyms and even a spa (as of the date of writing this article, has not yet reopened).
I wish I could bottle the smell of the Gran Destino Tower and take it home.
Again, the Coronado Springs Resort is unique for having deluxe amenities- of which can only be found at Disney’s deluxe resorts.
If you are looking for over-the-top theming that screams “Disney,” the CSR might not be for you. But if you are looking for a retreat with Disney touches and adult-friendly amenities, the CSR fits the bill. The CSR is a smart choice if you want to do Disney in a luxurious way but only pay the moderate resort price tag.
Need Help Planning Your Disney Trip?
If you’re already connected to a Smart Moms agent, you’re in great hands because every Smart Moms agent goes through tons of ongoing training. We are also a Disney Platinum Earmarked agency!
If you’re not already connected with a Smart Moms agent, I’d love to help you plan your trip! I frequent the parks and truly love and have a passion for helping families get to Disney. I specialize in traveling with grandparents, speak Spanglish, and I am a military mom of two awesome dudes and two girls. Just click here to fill this out and I’ll be in touch.
