Coronado Springs expansion

[Joe in VA]

Looks like a high-end Vegas resort, just wish there were an adult's only pool attached and I'd be jumping to stay here.

 

[rteetz]

Did you eat or have a drink here? I'm thinking of heading over this weekend vs. California Grill.

I read a review this AM about the bar and it was very positive.

I didn’t do Barcelona but Dahlia was awesome. Toledo is pretty good. I think though that CA Grill is stilly favorite.

 

[hertamaniac]

I didn’t do Barcelona but Dahlia was awesome. Toledo is pretty good. I think though that CA Grill is stilly favorite.

Can I ask if you had a drink and which one? I heard there are a few signature cocktails specific to Dahlia.

 

[rteetz]

Can I ask if you had a drink and which one? I heard there are a few signature cocktails specific to Dahlia.

There are a few. I went with their most popular. It’s a punch. I forget the full name but it was very good.

 

[SL6827]

After looking at the new map, the tower is a straight shot to the pool, hmmmm. It will be interesting to read reports in the next year or so if over crowding dampens the experience at the Dig Site.

 

[Wreckem]

Well I had been bouncing between resorts for awhile now for my Xmas/New Years trip. After the first reviews and pics of everything I decided to go ahead and go forward with CSR for 10 nights club level. CSR club level is substantially cheaper than the deluxe resorts($250ish/night cheaper than Wilderness, $300ish/night cheaper than animal kingdom, $500ish/night cheaper than Poly, etc). Early reports give great reviews for the Chronos Lounge. We shall see.

 

[hertamaniac]

Went there last night via boat from FW to Contemporary via walkway to MK via bus to Coronado (I confirm it was the last stop on the CSR loop, BTW).

The resort is shape overload. I felt lost in a frame-less geometric mind that couldn't decide which art to follow. It was a stunning visual interior and I give full credit to the design team on capturing, well.....whatever they were trying to capture. It immediately reminded me of Wynn's (not Encore) in Las Vegas, referencing only the double height lobby and flanking staircases (not the water feature). Still, the design elements felt too busy and trying to confuse us rather than channel us to a cohesive feeling. I fully admit I don’t know the full back story and may be too judgmental.

This is not to suggest, at all, that Gran Turismo (darn PS4!)...err...Gran Torino...I'll get it right...Gran Destino isn't a solid and wonderful addition to the moderates in WDW. Its design elements absolutely captivated me. I think the designers should take a bow as I've never been more interested in a back story than the "mystique" of Walt and Salvador. That being said, to me, the best feature was the intelligent elevators. You tell them where to go and voila, a magical "you" appears on the screen and points you to the elevator to your desired level; it is genius.

The views from Dahli are, well, excellent. I recently posted I am a perfectionist, and although nowhere near perfect, this was my first high vantage point of Blizzard Beach, Mt. Everest and Galaxies Edge. Would I have rotated the orientation differently or expanded the scope of the viewing decks? Yep.

To me, one of the best and underrated components of Gran Destino (notice I got it right this time) was the back of the resort. Although the front of the resort has a simple and yet soothing water feature, it is the back that drew me in. A simple bird drying it's wings, a myriad of wooden benches lined with rope lights underneath and a view which is over the lake commands it being photo worthy. Although we didn't have one drink or a bite to eat, this resort, assuming it maintains a competitive moderate pricing level, is a welcomed addition to Walt Disney World.

Oops...a light bulb burnt out.