Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #210: Coronado Springs: Gran Destino Tower Resort Review
Step into a world where Disney magic meets Spanish elegance at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. In our latest episode, we're unpacking everything you need to know about our weeklong stay at the Grand Destino Tower—a magnificent addition that's transforming how we think about moderate resorts at Walt Disney World.
From the moment you enter the dramatic lobby with its Moorish-inspired hanging lanterns and intricate bronze screens, you realize this isn't your typical Disney moderate. We explore how this unique resort—Disney's first designed specifically for conventions and business travelers—creates an experience that feels decidedly more upscale without the deluxe price tag. The subtle Disney touches are there if you look for them, hidden Mickeys woven into luxurious surroundings that draw inspiration from the fascinating collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali.
The Grand Destino Tower offers surprising amenities, from the destination dispatch elevator system (which takes some getting used to!) to rooftop dining and lounges with breathtaking views of Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. We dive into the extensive dining options that might just surprise you—including our personal experience watching Fantasmic while sipping a smoky Oaxacan Old Fashioned at Dahlia Lounge. Though transportation relies solely on Disney's bus system, we discovered the resort is much better positioned than it appears on maps, with surprisingly quick access to most parks.
Is this moderate resort right for your family's next Disney vacation? We share our honest thoughts about who would love this resort and who might want to look elsewhere. If you're planning a Walt Disney World trip and wondering whether the Grand Destino Tower delivers the perfect balance of Disney magic and sophisticated relaxation, this episode is your essential guide. Subscribe now and discover whether this Spanish-inspired oasis deserves a spot on your Disney bucket list!
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Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 210. Today we are talking about our recent seven night stay at the Grand Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk Disney merch. So this week, disneystorecom, there is a new Lego set. It is Ideas Disney, pixar, luxo Jr, and we actually saw this in person at the Lego store in Disney Springs. So if you are familiar with Pixar and like the lamp and the ball, this is what that Lego set is. And so, again, it's Luxo Jr. It's 613 pieces. I think it is a great looking set. It is $69.99. I think if you are a disney pixar lover, like this would be great to add to your lego collection and possibly to a desk or a bookshelf. Um, and again, for the price, I thought it, I thought this was a great deal. So go check that out again. Disneystorecom. We again also saw it in person at the lego store when we were in Disney Springs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it wasn't that big.
Speaker 1:It wasn't so. That's why I'm like it would be good for, like a desk or, you know, bookshelf.
Speaker 2:Maybe we can move all this junk over here on the desk and put it there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, maybe.
Speaker 2:All right, thank you everybody. Episode number 210. We're going to talk about our recent stay at Coronado Springs, at the Grand Destino Tower. If you're new here, we have a lot of new listeners. I'm Zach. I'm Brittany and thank you so much for joining us. We do this show every single week and we have two goals One, just to help you get through the week. Talk some Disney, take you to. Walt Disney World Helps us, we know it helps you.
Speaker 1:And our other goal. Well, we hope it helps you we.
Speaker 2:And our other goal. We've been told by a lot of listeners that it does help get them through the week, so we appreciate that it helps us get through the week as well.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And then we hope to help you have a better Walt Disney World vacation. We do these reviews every time we go on a trip and we hope it helps you make a decision based on our opinions. Again, these are just our opinions. You may have a different experience than us, but this is what we think of the resorts and restaurants we go to and maybe you can help sway you either way to go to wherever.
Speaker 1:Yeah, whether it's oh, okay, maybe that's not the place we need to stay, or hey, I don't know if we should try that restaurant after all kind of thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so what does Disney say about Disney's Coronado Springs Resort? Yeah, so what does Disney say about Disney's Coronado Springs?
Speaker 1:Resort. So Disney says. Celebrate the unique blend of Spanish, mexican and Southwest cultures at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. This beautiful lakeside oasis offers classic influences, disney touches and modern comforts to energize and inspire Romance and relaxation. From the moment you arrive at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, you'll be swept away to a romantic paradise like no other Before you even reach the. How do you say it?
Speaker 2:Portico Share.
Speaker 1:Thank you. You'll be welcomed with magnificent views of this resort hotel, which is particularly captivating at night thanks to its dramatic lighting. Thanks to its dramatic lighting, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort features a grand entrance with three elongated archways and a signature ribbon-patterned design that lends to a striking architectural expression. Upon arrival, step through an entryway featuring intricate wooden screens and in a grand two-story lobby adorned with rows of moorish hanging lanterns, all beautifully enhanced by subtle lighting. The rear wall of the lobby features a full height decorative bronze screen inspired by Spanish tile patterns.
Speaker 2:So when you go to check into a moderate resort, this is not what you think.
Speaker 1:No, because this is it is beautiful. It's everything it just said.
Speaker 2:It is like you're walking into a deluxe resort.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's very grand.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:Yes, centralized amenities, so a hub of activity. Villa del Lago, the Lake Villa, is a mirage, a bygone age whose passion for life is celebrated in the rich legends, lore, art and cuisine represented here. Located at the intersection of the three new bridges that span the lake and link to the hotel, villa del Lago represents a bustling crossroads for those in search of recreation and relaxation. A bustling crossroads for those in search of recreation and relaxation. This scenic setting is also home to Three Bridges. Bar and Grill, a lakefront restaurant serving up tasty cuisine. Behind the central bar is a stone hearth where you can relax by a glowing fire pit in the evening as you sip in on refreshing beverages.
Speaker 2:So I will say this about this resort and we're going to get into our opinions and everything a little bit later, but they nailed the theming here and the inclusion of where you are.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Right, like you, when you're on property, you, you are immersed in this theming.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:This is not like and I've criticized this is my criticism for Caribbean beach. You don't feel immersed in the caribbean landscape because there's, you can see roads, the roads, you can see the skyline, you can see the riviera like it's all there, right, not here. You are fully immersed in this culture, in this theme. Here, when you're walking around the grounds at grant at uh, coronado Springs, I thought yeah, yeah, no, I would agree.
Speaker 1:I mean, you know, you can't really see, you can't I mean often the distance and stuff you can see what you're seeing in the tower in the tower you yeah, you can see like Animal Kingdom and stuff we had a great view of the backside of Exhibition Everston yes, um, but like when you're, yeah, but when you're walking around property and everything, just looking around, I mean you, you're just seeing the resort itself and hearing the music and beautiful and the way it's set up and where you go for most of the restaurants and the shop and everything like it looks like that's.
Speaker 1:That would be like a like a mall area kind of thing, but in within the city so to speak?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so when we review resorts, my main thing is do I feel like I am immersed in what they are describing? And here 100%.
Speaker 1:Right, and when I say within the city, like the resort, not like Orlando or anything, but yeah, they did an amazing job.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm really impressed with it. All right, so let's talk about a little history. This is one of the newer resorts. It opened on august 1st 1997 and it is disney's first moderate resort designed for conventions and business. Yes, it is the only moderate resort with suites because of the convention and business areas that are there. The moderate resort is located in the animal kingdom area of walt disney world with 1915 rooms.
Speaker 1:That's a lot yeah, but it never felt overcrowded wherever we were at well, because we were in the tower well, but even like when we were at the pool and stuff, like yeah, it was crowded and everything but it wasn't overwhelming. No, I agree with that uh this.
Speaker 2:It is themed to colonial and ancient Mexico and is owned and operated by Disney Parks Experiences and Products. It underwent a major renovation starting in 2017, when they built the Grand Casino Tower, and it was part of the major renovation and the Grand Casino Tower opened on July 9, 2019. So we stayed here in October of 2019, and this was brand spanking new.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and some things have changed a lot. From what I remember, that particular trip was a little bit of a blur and we did not stay in the tower, but we did check in there.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But even then they were still kind of completing certain halls like the lower level stuff.
Speaker 2:There was still some construction stuff going on, yeah the theme and name of the new tower drew inspiration from the collaboration between walt disney and salvador dali to create the short named destino. That was quite, if I remember the biographies and stories that I've heard about this. This was quite the endeavor to get them to work together. They both wanted to work together but to get the short done it took a long time, but you can see this in the artwork in the lobby of the Grand Destino Tower. There's subtle nods to Walt and subtle nods to Salvador Dali and everything.
Speaker 1:And on one of the screens in the lobby they have it playing as well. They do, yes.
Speaker 2:The Grand Destino Tower has 545 rooms, including 50 suites. It's the only Walt Disney World property to use a destination dispatch elevator system. Brittany, explain this a little bit more.
Speaker 1:So once you get the hang of it, it's easy and you love it. But instead of pressing like up or down on the outside of the elevator and then getting inside and pressing the floor that you need to go to, you hit the screen. It's like a computer screen, like you hit the screen and if you're on the seventh floor, it's like a computer screen. You hit the screen and if you're on the seventh floor, you press seven and then it tells you okay, go to elevator A or elevator B or whatever, and then that elevator is only going to take you to that destination. Or if someone in those few minutes that you're waiting for the elevator, if someone else presses a button, it'll coordinate a couple together. But there's like six or seven total elevators there. So but you must do that ahead of time. You can't just hop on an elevator like you're used to doing, and once you're inside, try to go to your destination.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it was fine for us, but for some older older people, we did notice they were having problems with it, and so we just asked them like, hey, what, what? Do you know what floor you're going to? And then we we helped them out with that right yeah but it can be a little.
Speaker 1:If you're tired or confused, it can be a little confusing yeah, and a lot of this just comes from what you're used to. You know, out of habit we're like, oh, go in the elevator and then press the floor you know where. Now you have to do it ahead of time, but I did like it because you weren't ever waiting super long. You know, it's not like just a couple elevators hitting every floor, it's only doing like a couple at a time. And you know, I don't know like I really liked the elevator system.
Speaker 2:So it wasn't like when we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel we had to wait 30 minutes for an elevator.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, exactly yes.
Speaker 2:So the other guest areas of Coronado Springs is the casitas, ranchos and cabanas and those are those different areas and they have their own separate bus stops which we'll get to the bus transportation stuff in a minute.
Speaker 1:Yes, and when we had stayed here previously, did we stay in the ranchos?
Speaker 2:No, we stayed in casitas. Okay, I can't remember if it was casitas or ranchos.
Speaker 1:We were able to walk pretty quickly from the lobby area to our Because it was like on the other side, back behind, where the the convention side yeah.
Speaker 2:The casitas are five buildings close to the convention center. Okay, there we go, see if you just read a little bit further down. The ranchos are four Pueblo style buildings and the cabanas are three buildings to the right of the ranchos. All were renovated in 2018, and I will say they were pretty nice. I remember the room when we stayed there in 2019. I was impressed by it for a moderate resort.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it's very nice. It was nice and spacious, yes, very spacious.
Speaker 2:Coronado Springs has the largest convention center in Walt Disney World, with 220,000 square feet of meeting space Wow, that's a lot. Yes, and the Coronado Ballroom is the largest ballroom in the southeastern United States at 60,214 square feet. Wow, that's massive. It is.
Speaker 1:And you did have some people here for conventions when we were staying.
Speaker 2:There was a lot of people here for conventions, but again.
Speaker 1:I never felt like oh excuse me, pardon me, kind of feeling.
Speaker 2:No, it wasn't crowded.
Speaker 1:No, yeah, like even when we went which we'll talk about in a little bit like different dining areas and stuff I never felt like, oh my gosh, you know there's so many people?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, all right. So let's talk about transportation. You got the bus.
Speaker 1:You have the bus. That's all you got, yeah.
Speaker 2:So here what Okay.
Speaker 1:So there's four stops.
Speaker 2:There's four stops and the Grand Destino Tower is the last stop.
Speaker 1:However, it is stop number one.
Speaker 2:For Disney Springs? Yeah, which is weird.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's weird though, because it's called stop one. So you would think-.
Speaker 2:It would be stop one.
Speaker 1:Everywhere, but when you're going to the parks, it's the last stop. Yeah stop one everywhere.
Speaker 2:But when you're going to the parks, it's the last stop, yeah. So if you're so, I don't want to sound bougie for us I'm gonna say I'm gonna sound a little bougie for a second here, okay right we paid extra money to stay in the grand destino tower well, we wanted to experience right. Yes, okay, but we did pay extra money to stay at the grandestino tower. We should have been the first stop well, here's my thing and this is gonna probably sound even bougier.
Speaker 1:But when you have the grandestino tower and then you have the other buildings as well, and as big of a resort as it is, I wish they would have a separate bus for the tower because it was, and yeah because and it wasn't bad like most of the time, it was fine. There were a couple of days, though, where you are definitely crammed in standing as the last stop.
Speaker 2:You are standing remotely yeah, so and I feel for those dads with the strollers folded up standing with them yes, I've been there, I've been there. Um so yeah, that would be my one complaint, I guess and I know that's a bougie complaint, but if you're paying more to stay at somewhere else, you would expect a little.
Speaker 1:Like you should be stop one. We should be stop one or, like I was saying, even a separate bus, and maybe not all day, every day but like the peak times, so like rope drop park opening dinner time things like that, because this is a large resort with a lot of people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the buses when we were going to and from the parks were always packed, and this is unique, though I'm going to say one more thing if you're going to typhoon lagoon, it is the disney springs bus. They stop at typhoon lagoon first yeah well, they or they did that one time because 90% of the people on the bus were going to Typhoon Lagoon yeah.
Speaker 2:So keep that in mind as well. If you're going to Blizzard Beach, it's literally right down the road and you can just drive or take an Uber. I would not waste the time of going to Disney Springs and then taking another transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. To me, that would just be a waste of time. Also, this resort, if you look at it on the map, looks like it's away from everything.
Speaker 1:That's what I was just about to say. But it is not no, because we were like, oh, it's going to take a little while to get here and there, but yeah, it is close to everything. But really magic kingdom. And even then it wasn't it wasn't that bad.
Speaker 2:Disney springs took forever. Yeah, it seemed like yeah, but like epcot, hollywood studios and animal kingdom I mean very short drive, yeah, very, and epcot epcot was right there too.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, so, um, and even hollywood studios, like hollywood studios, was just a tad bit longer. But I mean, I I was very pleased with you. Know the location for sure, and, like Blizzard Beach, literally right down the road.
Speaker 2:Fortunately we had our car, so we drove there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but still I was just because I was expecting it to take a lot longer to get to places, and it wasn't bad.
Speaker 2:I was too, except for Disney Springs. But yeah, it's a bust going to a modern resort, it's going to be packed. Yeah, and I did notice at night they did not announce the stops. When they were coming up to the bus stops, they did not announce which stop it was and with it being late at night and people are tired, a lot of people were confused. They were like oh, is this our stop or is? Is this? You know? Are you sure? I'm sure.
Speaker 1:Okay, but during the day they definitely do.
Speaker 2:During the day, but at night because I remember that specifically people like is this our stop, is it not? And then looking out trying to decide if this was their stop or not. Maybe, I don't know I had a y our youngest.
Speaker 2:All right, so let's let's hear from travel planner Erica, who booked this entire trip for us, and, uh, we really appreciate you did a great job and made this really just a stress-free planning and vacation. Yes, Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming, but that's where our new sponsor comes in. You've heard us talk about her for a long time and now she's the official sponsor of this podcast. Travel planner specializing in Disney destinations. She takes care of every detail, from finding the best resort options for your family booking, dining reservations to park strategies and now offers a special, lightning-ling booking service to your park days. She truly offers top-tier service from start to finish and the best part is her planning services are free when you book your room and ticket package with her.
Speaker 1:We're thrilled to have Travel Planner Erica as the official sponsor of this podcast, and exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners. When you plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation or your next run Disney racecation with Erica, you'll receive a Disney gift card based on the value of your trip on your arrival day to put towards your Disney snacks.
Speaker 2:So if you're dreaming of a magical Disney trip, she's the expert you want, on your side, ready to plan. Reach out to Erica at TravelPlannerEricacom or follow her on facebook and instagram at travel planner erica. Yeah, again, she did such a great job just seamless, smooth, easy.
Speaker 1:Thank you, erica, you made this trip so easy and and wonderful yes, and she added you know a notation for our stay that it we were celebrating our anniversary and everything too.
Speaker 2:It was 15 years.
Speaker 1:Yes, all right.
Speaker 2:You got it right. I did All right. Moving on to dining, brittany, tell us about some of the places to eat here. Yeah, that's a lot of places to eat.
Speaker 1:Yes, so this first one we did not go to but Toledo. It is a tapas, steak and seafood restaurant. Dine on tapas, seafood and steak in style at this Spanish haven inspired by surrealist art and the 1930s avant-garde.
Speaker 2:Avant-garde.
Speaker 1:Avant-garde. Okay, sorry. So this again we did not experience, but it is a unique rooftop dining experience. Savor dishes and small plates inspired by flavors of spain while feasting your eyes on the sweeping views from this rooftop restaurant. Spend the evening enjoying delicious tapas, sublime steaks and succulent seafood under a large pair of olive trees and shimmering vaulted ceilings. Our on-stage tapas kitchen serves small plates, charcuterie and cheeses. Enjoy entrees such as our aged hand-cut Spanish I don't know how to say that for two.
Speaker 2:Charcuterie.
Speaker 1:No, it's a chuletón, I have no idea. For two, or any of the delicious, sustainable seafood offerings Charred octopus, shrimp or seafood paella for two. There's wines with over 50 choices hand-selected by Somalia. Yes, thank you. I'm like, why are you not reading this so?
Speaker 2:anyway, I don't know how to pull it up. I'm looking at the menu.
Speaker 1:So now we did not eat here, but I have seen some like vloggers and stuff do some videos here and it looks like it would be beautiful and breathtaking up here and the views you get inside and outside.
Speaker 2:Honestly, this would be a date night place, something we would not bring our two heathens to, although they do like fancy. Well, they do like bougie food, and Spain is known for their tapas. Right yes, and so I think this would do. I would hope this does a good job of keeping up with that. They do have charcuterie boards and steaks and paella and yeah, it doesn't look overly expensive. That 115 for two looks like a good, you know a good deal.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, maybe if we had a date night just me and you, this would be a good place we would go oh for sure, because that, like when I've seen videos on it, I'm like, oh yeah, that would be date night place, but you know, at Disney with the kids it didn't happen.
Speaker 2:Maybe we take an adults only trip again next year.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 2:Zach, I know.
Speaker 1:Yes. We will see. I would like to, but yeah, all right Got to have coverage for kids.
Speaker 2:All right, next up is Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa Del Lago. All right, next up is Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago. What does Disney say about this place?
Speaker 1:So, yes, three Bridges Unwind and dine amid an idyllic open-air setting of Spanish-American ambiance and cuisine. So we're not going to go too much into this, because we're doing a dining review on this next week. Yeah, now this is your lakefront restaurant, inspired by Dreamers, adventurers and Explorers, and the name is because you have three bridges leading to it. To get to this, it's in the middle of the lake there. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it does have beautiful views and it can be a romantic place for dinner. But I mean you can bring the kids Like. I mean you can bring the kids Like. When we were there, there were people that looked like they were trying to maybe have an early date night, but then there were families there as well. All right, Moving on. So we're not even going to talk about the menu or anything until we do the review.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, all right, then caught me off guard there. All right, rick's Sports Bar and Grill. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, local draft beers and a unique spin on classic sports fair while cheering on your favorite team, offering 31 state-of-the-art tvs to view nightly sporting events. It's an upscale sports lounge. Provides the perfect spot to unwind and chat with fellow sports fans. Reservations are accepted most nights. Is this another one that we're going to do a dining review on?
Speaker 2:I didn't need here, and you and nolan only did so. Do y'all want to, or not?
Speaker 1:I personally don't really want to, so I'm going to go ahead and talk about it, yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm looking at the menu now. It just looks like bar food. It's like your typical sports bar, yeah, so that's why I'm like I don't really want to, yeah.
Speaker 1:So let me talk about it then. Yeah, All right, it is what we said. They do breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nolan and I ate here for dinner and he got the wings off the appetizer menu and he said they were really good. I did have one and I mean to me they weren't the best but they were all right. And then I just ordered another appetizer as my meal as well the loaded nachos, and it is definitely a good serving. It was good. Was it the best? No, but the nachos were priced at $16. The wings were $20 because you get 10 of them.
Speaker 1:Now, some other items that we did not try, they do have, you know, some other chicken and burgers and poke bowls and stuff, and then they have grilled cheeses. They have grilled cheeses, salads, clubs, you know chicken sandwiches, and then you have loaded mac and cheese as one of your enhancements. And then they have fried Oreos and a s'mores brownie or a churro iced latte for dessert. But at that point we were just too full to really have anything that rich. Now, little one. Nolan did want to go get a donut at the quick service, like food court area, but again, it was good. But I've heard a lot of people just like really rant and rave about this restaurant and I don't know. I feel like personally, like I'm glad that it's offered here, you know, to give people that option to just kind of have that sports bar atmosphere at such a nice resort, but I think I've eaten better at local ones here.
Speaker 2:This is not geared for families.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:This is geared for the guys that are here.
Speaker 1:There were families there Right.
Speaker 2:But I'm saying this is marketed towards the guys that are here on conventions and businesses so they can watch their sports and talk business. Right, that's what this is and just eat a little bit and eat and drink and and watch the game, whatever the game is or talk business right that this is not for families. I wouldn't think no families can eat here, but this is marketed for right because there's no other place on property now that the ESPN zone is closed down to watch sports.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so and it wasn't really that busy either. I mean we were there earlier, so like we were able to walk right in and get a table. I know it mentioned reservations accepted most nights and maybe on certain nights and certain games and stuff going on.
Speaker 2:There's a big convention there. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But, but again, like would I if I had a choice to go back, would I no?
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, next Dahlia Lounge. Now, I did go here and this is it says Passion Reign Supreme in a rooftop lounge inspired by Spanish surrealism. So when you go up to to the, I think it's 17th floor I think so you got Toledo's on the left, Dahlia Lounge on the right.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you kind of See, I thought one was one floor below the other. I could be wrong, I could be wrong as well.
Speaker 2:I wasn't paying that much attention, I just knew where I was going. Yes. And so you can sit inside, beautifully designed, beautiful decor. You can sit inside or you can sit outside. I just chose to sit outside and I caught the very end of Fantasmic, beautiful view of Hollywood Studios and I just enjoyed the ambiance of sitting outside. Now they have some tapas here. I did not eat. This is after we ate at Summer House on the Lake.
Speaker 1:So I wasn't hungry.
Speaker 2:No, but they do have quite a good menu A cookie flight, charcuterie board, calamari, shrimp sliders, chicken wings, churros, yeah. But here's where I got my interest peaked. At Two things here Create your own old fashioned for $17.50. At two things here a create your old, your own old-fashioned for 1750, and choose from five whiskeys, five simple syrups and five bitters to create your own old-fashioned. Or they have a Oaxaca old-fashioned for 1850 and this is made with mezcal. And I asked my server I was like which one should I do? And she goes are you a? Do you like unique? Which one should I do? And she goes do you like unique old fashions? And I said yes, she goes, get the Oaxaca old fashioned.
Speaker 2:I said okay, very smoky, very unique. I loved this old fashioned.
Speaker 1:Yeah, did you only have one. I only had one.
Speaker 2:I was just enjoying. I know Sitting on the over the balcony watching over, looking over Hollywood Studios, and just enjoying this drink Very delicious and you did send me a picture of Fantasmic and it was, I mean, yes, you couldn't hear anything.
Speaker 1:You couldn't hear anything, but the view was pretty good.
Speaker 2:Very beautiful view. I just enjoyed just looking out over Galaxy's Edge and I just love Galaxy's Edge, but at night, you know. So I would recommend this place. Very good view, unique drinks here. Yeah, I enjoyed it. It was a nice time to wind down. People had their kids there, you know, so it's not an adult-only place and sidebar.
Speaker 2:I ran into old friends there randomly that we used to live here in Nashville with us. They live down there now but, yeah, I would recommend this bar. It was very good, very unique drink there. If you like old fashions, try the Oaxacan old fashioned. If you do, go here to Dahlia Lounge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the friends that he mentioned, like they were having just a date night, yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:Well, they had told me they have friends that are Club 33 members and had gone to dinner at Club 33 at Animal Kingdom Okay. And then they wanted to end their night. And then they ended their night at Valley Lounge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but that tells you, like you know, people like it, people like this place.
Speaker 2:People will go out of their way to come here and have a drink, especially locals.
Speaker 1:Right, because it's just a cool place. Right, it was very beautiful, all right. Next is barcelona lounge. Feel transported to the heart of carolina's cafe society at this day tonight. Espresso bar in spanish style gin tonic hub. So I did get a coffee drink here one morning and this isn't a lobby.
Speaker 1:This is the lower lobby, the lower lobby bar yes, so you have the lobby level in the tower and then you have the lower lobby and this is in the lower lobby. Um, so they do have breakfast. I did not eat here but they have like pastries and like croissant sandwiches and breakfast wraps, but then they have um coffee, I believe, till I want to say it was like 12 o'clock and then they closed for a couple hours and opened back up later in the afternoon through evening, um, but I had a. I'm trying to find an espresso I had.
Speaker 1:A ice cold brew with sweet cream is what I ended up having and it was good. Um, I I'm one like coffee drinks and the heat and stuff. I might not drink the whole thing, but it was. It was really good and I just sat in that lower lobby area listening to the music and just kind of people watching and looking out, because they have these windows where you can see out to the lake there and everything and just really had a little bit of me time.
Speaker 2:You know, yeah, you need that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, so yeah, would I recommend it For sure. Did I get to experience it later in the evening and have any adult beverages? I did not. I had planned to but it just never happened. But I think it's another really good laid-back area, you know, and different mornings walking through there and stuff too, like a lot of people would stop and get here, get coffee here before they go into their conventions yeah, all right.
Speaker 2:Next is a siesta's cantina kick back and relax. It's a poolside hideaway where you can grab a bite sandwiches, burgers and nachos and sip on specialty cocktails as you drift off into a siesta. It's a pool bar.
Speaker 1:It is. That's what it is. And one of the days, here, nolan and I split the chicken tenders and it's your Disney chicken tenders.
Speaker 2:It's our chicken tenders, yeah.
Speaker 1:And you know. But I mean it's convenient because it's right there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I did get some drinks, you know, while I was there at the pool, and they do have a southern crunch quesadilla and some more spanish type of stuff, but it's still it's.
Speaker 1:It's a pool bar. Yeah, that's what it is. Yeah, and you know, like he was saying, it has like shrimp tacos and things, but, um, yeah, me and nolan just split the chicken tenders and we were good, so, uh, but I like that it's open from, or the food anyway you can get from 11 to 9 yeah so so most of the the day, but I think the pool opened at like eight o'clock it was an earlier pool pool opening time. I feel interesting.
Speaker 1:Yes, all right next is cafe. Nope, I'm sorry, maya grill. Our home is your home at this grand mexican dining room featuring ancient, modern styling and Nuevo Latino cuisines. So we did not eat here, but the picture on the website looks like it is really pretty and the pricing is anywhere from $15 to about $35 for adult meals. And so you are like in the Mayan area.
Speaker 1:I guess you could say, um, that's what it's themed after and you know you have on the menu a big menu it is a really big menu so we're not going to dive in, but of course you're gonna have like your chips and salsa, guacamole, tostados, flattas. You're gonna have some salads, fajitas, your way. There's going to be like short rib and fish, tacos, chicken enchiladas, quesadillas, chicken or steak. You're going to have like your rice and your beans and all of's see the leches cake and and more so. Uh, again, we did not eat here, um, but you know, the prices for what you're getting look fairly reasonable.
Speaker 2:Some are a little more on the higher end, but yeah I'll say this I didn't even know this place existed until we walked past it at the uh going to the quick service place oh yeah like I've never heard any youtubers talk about it. Nobody's ever talked about this place, so either it's just really, really bad or just nobody knows about it, right, I don't know. Yeah, so who knows, this could, could have been our favorite one delicious, who knows?
Speaker 1:right, so all right. Next is cafe rick's. So this is your more like pastries, yogurts, fruits, salads, coffee, smoothies all day. Um, and so it's. It's next to the sports bar we were talking about earlier. Um, we did not go here, but it seemed to be busy in the mornings just like a grab and go place yeah, exactly, grab and go.
Speaker 1:I mean, they do have like breakfast burritos and stuff, and then like later in the day you can get different sandwiches and Cobb salads, buffalo, turkey, things like that. But yeah, we didn't go here, but it is your grab and go. So then you have the El Mercado de Coronado and this is more like your food court dining spot. This is a quick service.
Speaker 1:Yes, quick service, where there's different lines you can go to and each line, you know, offers different things, whether it's in the morning, lunch or dinner, so you can get your refillable mugs for breakfast. You know they're going to have anything from your Mickey waffles Mexican style breakfast to your traditional breakfast sandwiches and pastries, the breakfast sandwiches and pastries, the breakfast plates and we did eat here for breakfast one day, it was all right, nothing special.
Speaker 2:It was basic breakfast and I was thinking about this for a second. We did not feel really that good after eating breakfast here because it was all just like pre-made stuff, right Well, yeah, so I wonder if that kind of played into us kind of having not the best day at Epcot.
Speaker 1:No, I think it was the heat.
Speaker 2:Well, because we didn't eat. And you say that I enjoyed Epcot. I'm not saying we didn't have a bad day, I'm just saying we were just kind of like tired and worn down the rest of the trip. We didn't eat breakfast before going to the parks. I think the heat did play into it, but I think that we were full from breakfast before we even got to the park. Yeah. And I think that may have contributed somewhat.
Speaker 1:It could be Just a thought. I was fine at Epcot, really, it was just the heat in the afternoon.
Speaker 2:Well, yes, I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I think we were so full all day from eating so much that may have contributed a little bit, I don't know, because we still pigged out at lunch. We did, I know. Just a thought. Okay, just a thought, just a thought.
Speaker 1:But just a quick glance at the lunch menu, you know they have cheeseburger, chicken tenders, sandwiches, side salads. They have rice bowls which the rice bowls may have been good here and nachos, subs, pizza, pastas and more. So that's your later in the day menu and again, this is more of like a food court type area. Yes, yes, yes. All right, you want to do the last one.
Speaker 2:All right, we're going to Laguna Bar and, surprisingly, the smallest place has the largest description. Slip on a refreshing beverage at this breezy lakeside tequila and mezcal bar, boasting an impressive menu of unique handcrafted cocktails. The tropical vibe makes for a relaxing atmosphere after a long day visiting the parks yeah, and this is like right outside of that area, but it's right up next to the lake.
Speaker 1:Ooh, they have a soup du jour. Oh, okay, that's the soup of the day. Mm-hmm, I know it's a joke, okay, okay, I'm like what, but go ahead.
Speaker 2:For you dumb and dumber fans out there.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:I've watched that maybe a couple of times, but I'm not going to make the references.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and I didn't realize that they had all this stuff. Looking at the menu, like I thought it was just a drink place.
Speaker 2:That's what I thought too. I thought it was just drink.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but apparently they have wings and tenders and nachos.
Speaker 2:Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Rick's Boneless Tenders Tossed in your choice of Signature Dry Rub, carolina Barbecue, garlic, palm, buffalo. Are these the Buffalo Chicken Tenders?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it could be Like the ones that we have here Could be.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:I don't know, though, because it says Rick's, so it's like the sports bar, is it?
Speaker 2:different than the disney tenders, I don't know.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, but I I honestly thought, because the place looks small, like we saw it outside, but we never stopped I think we need a research trip just for this. Oh my goodness, anyways, um, but apparently you can. You can eat there and then soup du jour, but I didn't get the reference.
Speaker 2:Sorry, sounds good, I'll have that.
Speaker 1:Burgers, grilled cheese, caesar salad, chicken sandwiches, steak sandwich, turkey club. So yeah, I didn't know they had all this. I just thought it was like your cocktails.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just thought it was a bar. Yeah, interesting.
Speaker 1:Which I had wanted to come here for a margarita, just never made it.
Speaker 2:Sorry moms. It's okay, all right, so that will do it for dining. That's a lot of dining places for a moderate resort.
Speaker 1:Yes, and it's because of the convention space, right, yeah, yeah, but I mean, but it's good and I think that's why, even though there were conventions going on and everything, because there's so many options it never felt like you were overly crowded, Right.
Speaker 2:All right, so we're going to talk about the pools. There are one main pool, the Lost City of Cibola pool, and then three leisure pools at the different areas of the resort. Yes, we only went to the main pool, and it's a beautiful pool. It's got the Mayan ruins there and it's a 50-foot pyramid. I thought it was a great pool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it has a slide 123-foot long water slide with a spitting jaguar while you ride it, and it has a hot tub. But the theming was very nice. And again, you have that siestas pool bar. Right next to it there is a sand volleyball court. Over there you have a kiddie pool area. This is also the area where you have, like, the arcade and shuffleboard and stuff too, yeah, and a little playground.
Speaker 2:I forgot, yeah, yeah. What other activities are there here? They do all the stuff at the pool and then they have campfire activities. They do movies on the lawn, which we did see from our room, and for a moderate resort, this is the only moderate resort that has a fitness center. Yes, because of it being the convention area, so yeah, yeah, I mean they do a lot of activities.
Speaker 1:Like one thing I would have liked to do you know, if we'd had maybe one more resort day and zach took the kids, kind of thing. Um, I would have liked to have done the spanish mosaic art, where you create your own disney inspired mosaic during the workshop in the dahlia lounge. I would have that would have been something I would have paid extra to do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, they do a lot of that stuff here as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what I just said yeah, I know. Okay, you said they do a lot of that stuff here as well. Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I was reiterating what you said. Oh yes, okay, all right. So what was your initial impression?
Speaker 1:So I think I enjoyed staying in the tower more than in the casitas. Okay, the location of this resort. Again, like we were saying earlier, we were kind of worried it was going to take a while to get everywhere, and it really didn't, except for Disney Springs, because Magic Kingdom even felt less than Disney Springs, correct, and although we were talking about the you know the bus stop situation and everything, overall it wasn't bad. There was at dinnertime. I feel like they need to run more buses for Disney Springs, though, because there were. There was a time where we waited quite a while, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stay in the resort. The room was very spacious as well. Um, and would it be like one of my top choices to stay at again? No, maybe not my top, but if someone was like hey, you know there's a room that we're going to get, would you like to come? We're staying at Disney's Coronado Springs and the Grandestino tower, oh yeah, I'll go.
Speaker 2:So we just answered every question in one right there, huh well, I was just yapping, sorry, all right. So my first impression it was beautiful, very well themed, busy. I did not get that moment when we walked into the lab, when we walked into check-in area. You know, you get that when you walk in to Riverside or you walk into any Disney resort, except for a value you walk in and you get that vibe right.
Speaker 2:I did not get that here. It seemed very busy. A lot of people were there Again, beautiful, very well themed. I did not get that, just relax.
Speaker 1:There's more people at Polynesian than here, though.
Speaker 2:But you still get that when you walk in, you go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right at the Polynesian, like with the smells and everything. I did not get that here.
Speaker 2:And this is that's because this is not. It says it right here in. You know, when we talked about it, it's disney's first modern resort designed for conventions and businesses yeah, but I didn't feel like we were staying at a like a marriott no, I know I didn't feel that. So this is a mix between getting the Disney feel, but geared towards conventions and businesses. This resort is not geared towards families. I don't think that's not its first.
Speaker 2:The tower or the resort itself, the resort in general, I feel the families is secondary to catering to the convention crowds. That is my first my thoughts on this, and I felt that because everywhere you looked in the lobby, in the quick service place, in the spaces between the areas there were people on computers, everywhere.
Speaker 1:I think you're exaggerating a little bit.
Speaker 2:They weren't everywhere they weren't everywhere, but you did notice them a lot more than you do like well, yeah, you notice them, because in other places you don't see that, but they're not everywhere I felt it. I don't want to say it took away from like the disney, but it did give more of that Marriott or Hilton feel because there were more business people there. So my impression on this is, if you're wanting to go, get that full Disney feel, this would not be the resort for that.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Now a lot of families do stay here because the price is very competitive for the amenities you get here. You do get a lot more amenities for the price because of this being the main convention resort on property.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So you are getting almost deluxe resort amenities for that moderate price. Then you are still getting that they. There were very beautiful disney touches here there were.
Speaker 1:It was very well done in the hallways, like in the tower and stuff. Like you know, you had hidden, midi hidden midis, hidden midis hidden mickeys in the carpet and like in the room.
Speaker 1:It was very subtle, like mickeys on the wall and things like you know at first glance you might not pick up on. It was very subtle like Mickey's on the wall and things like you know, at first glance you might not pick up on it, but then you're like, oh yeah, that's Mickey. So I mean you are still getting the Disney theming. It's just not in your face.
Speaker 2:It's not in your face and it is very subtly done and it is very well done. I will say I did enjoy. They did it really well. It really well. Um, did I enjoy my stay here? Yes, I really did enjoy my stay here. This was a great stay. Would I want to stay here again?
Speaker 1:no, okay, see, I enjoyed staying in the tower more than in the casitas because the casitas, you're it's. You know, like a moderate, you're gonna hear people right outside your doors and all that. Here, like it was, it was a lot quieter in the rooms. You know like, yes, if people are right outside your door, you're going to hear that, but you're not. You weren't hearing people above you and next to you like you do, like you would in the casitas and stuff yes, yeah, so I would.
Speaker 2:If you're wanting to get more amenities for that moderate price level, I would recommend this resort, but go into it knowing it's not going to have that full pollen, you know, full disney feel to it I thought right especially the check-in area there was a lot of people really dressed up going to the restaurants or leaving or they're on business.
Speaker 2:It just did not have that disney family feel like you get when you go into riverside or you go into even the caribbean beach. Had that same had that. I did get that feel at caribbean beach, especially like grand floridian or the contemporary or you you know the poly or the wilderness lodge. You see nothing but families there.
Speaker 1:That's not what you see when there are a lot of families? There are. Please don't misunderstand him.
Speaker 3:There are a lot of families, I know, but are yes, so please don't misunderstand him.
Speaker 2:There are a lot of families here, I'm not.
Speaker 1:I know, but I want to make sure our listeners.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, there are some families here, yes, when you walk in, but it's a lot of business people as well. Yeah, so I would. Yeah, I just didn't get that disney smack you in the face feel when you walked in. It was more of a disney kind of more, but more businessy feel. I'd say it's 50 50 yeah I would agree 50 50. But when you think you're going on a disney vacation, you want that disney, smack you in the face when you first walk into some people do, some people don't but, yeah.
Speaker 1:So it just depends. But yeah, if you want like all in Disney, then I would agree no. But if you're wanting the Disney feel, but not so much in your face, then yes. Because, the rest of the resort and the theming, like we were saying earlier, is very well done and it is a very beautiful resort.
Speaker 2:The music here is very beautiful, very relaxing, with that Spanish type of feel to it. I do really enjoy that and I'm not saying this is a bad resort. If you're wanting that full family Disney feel, I don't think this is the resort for that, right. But the room was great, beautiful view, the restaurants, their lounge was very nice, but that would be my opinion of it. Does that make sense? It?
Speaker 1:does.
Speaker 2:Anything else you'd like to say?
Speaker 1:Well, you're kind of limiting me because we're going to do a dining review on one of the restaurants. So other things I'd like to say. I guess I need to wait.
Speaker 2:Hang off for the yeah For the dining review on that.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's called a teaser.
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 2:So you really want to talk about three bridges.
Speaker 1:Yes, but it's fine.
Speaker 2:We'll talk about it next week. Okay, all right With that. Thank you everybody for listening. Thank you so much. If you want to support the team, the best way to do that is to book your next vacation with Travel Planner Erica. She takes care of everything. Lightning lanes takes care of everything. Lightning lanes dining, reservations, changes in your reservation. We've done that a ton with her lately, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:Go check her out wwwtravelplanetericacom. She's on Instagram and Facebook at Travel Planet Erica. You can email us circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website is wwwcircleofparkscom and we're on Facebook, instagram and X all at Circle of Parks. Again, thank you so much for listening and we will talk to you next week about three bridges, bar and talk to you soon.
Speaker 3:Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Thank you.