There is no shortage of accommodation options in the Orlando area but there are significant advantages to staying at a Disney property if you are planning on visiting the Disney parks. And who could visit Orlando without park hopping?
While visiting Orlando Florida and the Walt Disney World parks, my home away from home was the gorgeous Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. My stay was hosted in an accessible room in the Gran Destino Tower. I used this as my base while exploring Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is an elegant hotel, perfect for those wanting all the conveniences of a Disney resort, without necessarily being immersed in Disney theming at every turn.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort’s Gran Destino Tower is a sophisticated hotel with Spanish flare inspired by Salvador Dali’s work. Pops of colour, ornate design and lavish decor make this a unique accommodation choice. This is catergorised as a moderate Disney property but I felt it was luxe all the way.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort accessible accommodation
My super comfortable room at Disney Coronado Springs Resort was stylishly decorated, spacious and jam-packed with wonderful accessible features.
For wheelchair users the wooden floors and uncluttered room will make circulating easier.
Either side of the bed offers plenty of space for transferring from a wheelchair to the bed.
Bedroom facts – Bed height 57cm and under bed clearance 20cm
A large sliding barn-style bathroom door provides easy access to the spacious bathroom which is equipped with double-sinks, lever taps, grab rails and lowered towel rails and hooks.
The shower offers the choice of a height adjustable shower head or an overhead shower.
A shower bench and lowered amenities are also offered in the shower recess.
Bathroom facts – door clearance into bathroom 98cm, toilet height to pan 44cm and toilet height to seat 46cm. Shower seat height is 46cm and the shower has a retractable lowered clothes line. A lowered magnifying mirror is located next to the bathroom sink
The accessible room I was staying in also offered an interconnecting room, visual alarms and doorbell. I managed to fit in quite a lot in the bar fridge which enabled me to have a quick breakfast before heading out early to the parks.
It’s often noisy being close to the elevators but if wheeling a distance on carpet is difficult for you, it would be good to put in a room request to be closer to the elevator. The Gran Destino Tower is vast and corridors long.
Pool time at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort extends over an expansive area, offering various accommodation options including The Casitas, The Ranchos and The Cabanas, in addition to the Gran Destino Tower accommodation where I stayed. For that reason the pool is located in the middle of the entire property so it is a bit of a walk or wheel to get to the pool. Elevators offer access to the ground floor of the Gran Destino Tower and it’s then a level walk to the pool complex. The Dig Site is the main pool area at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and is themed to represent a Mayan kingdom. A large Mayan pyramid is at its centre. 
Like the resort, the pool is extensive and offers hoisted access into the main pool and spa and lifeguards are on duty during pool hours to ensure guest safety.
If you get peckish after all that swimming, a pool bar offers food and drink options to save heading back to the hotel. Companion restrooms are not offered by the pool but there are accessible stalls within the men’s and women’s bathrooms.
The lake and grounds are the ideal place to decompress after a day in the parks. While I was visiting plenty of families were enjoying the outdoor cinema showing Disney movies on the lawn and a campfire for cooking smores.
I was so dedicated to exploring the parks I didn’t have time to check out the onsite dining options but there is plenty of variety if you don’t want to leave the hotel after a busy park day.
Guest laundry
Visiting Florida in June I was pleased to be able to do my washing while staying at the hotel. Hot humid days meant there was no recycling clothing! It’s lovely to have the convenience of an on-site guest laundry.
Getting to the Disney Parks from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
When it comes to organisation, the Disney company is a master. A slick transportation operation runs between the various Disney resorts, the parks and Disney Springs (the Disney shopping and entertainment district). I used the bus to travel from the resort to all the parks and Disney Springs, and I can’t fault it. The buses run regularly, even during off-peak times, and I never had any problem getting a bus when I needed it.
Hotel guest park perks
Guests of the Disney hotels and resorts gain access to the parks a half hour before other visitors. In Disney park time, a half hour is a massive advantage. I utilised this half hour to ride some of the most popular rides in the park. Early access definitely helps visitors make the most of their Disney days and it’s worth taking it into account when choosing your accommodation.
While I was hosted at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, as always my opinions are my own and I had a truly comfortable and magical stay. You can read more about the hotel on the Disney website.
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