Review: The Pools at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
By Dave Shute
(For the first page of this review of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, see this.)
THE POOLS AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has four pools. The main pool, full of amenities, is the Lost City of Cibola pool at the central Dig Site.
Three of the four accommodations areas at Coronado Springs–the Casitas, the Ranchos, and the Cabanas–has a pool as well, each much smaller than the main pool, and with no material amenities.
The new Gran Destino Tower between the Cabanas and the Casitas added (net) about 25% more rooms to the resort, but no new pool. From it, the main Dig Site Pool is a little more than 200 yards, and the closest quiet pool, outside Cabanas 8c, is less than 200 yards.
THE DIG SITE AND LOST CITY OF CIBOLA POOL AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
The Lost City of Cibola Pool is the main pool at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Themed to represent a lost Mayan ruin including a decaying pyramid handy for sun-bathing, it’s the second best family pool among the moderates, bested only by the more kid-appealing pool at Caribbean Beach. It’s by far the best pool for adults among the moderates.
For kids, the appeal is the exotic theming, the playground, and the 123 foot water slide. For adults, the appeal is the expanse of pool chairs, biggest hot tub at Disney World, and hot food at the pool bar.
The pool is centrally located in an area of Coronado Springs called in total “The Dig Site.” See the map below. The Dig Site area and pool is just above the words “Lago Dorado.”
This area is convenient to Gran Destino, the Ranchos and Cabanas, and some of the Casitas. Other Casitas rooms are a hike, although new bridges added in 2019 cut some of the walking. The Ranchos, Cabanas, and Casitas areas each also has a smaller pool, and this smaller pool is particularly convenient if you are in buildings 1-3 at the Casitas and you don’t need the amenities and fun of the Dig Site.
The pyramid dominates the pool.
Next to it is an 120 foot+ water slide.
The Dig Site pool is quite large, with plenty of varied lounging areas, but is more crowded after the added rooms of Gran Destino Tower.
There’s also a fairly weak kids pool…
…a fire pit…
…a hot tub–the largest at Disney World…
…a volleyball court…
…and a bar, Siestas, that unusually among the moderates serves hot food.
The Siestas menu. The menu changes from time to time–see Disney’s website for the latest.
Siestas sometimes has live entertainment.
Next to Siestas is an extensive playground, with ping pong and cornhole games available. The large sandbox that used to be here was removed in a 2018 renovation, kinda busting the “Dig Site” theme.
There’s also a slide, and…
…in the background, a jungle gym.
The entire area is called The Dig Site…
…and is particularly nice at night.
Each accommodations area except for Gran Destino has its own smaller pool as well–and those come next!
THE CASITAS POOL AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
The quiet pool at the Casitas is the only pool at Disney World laid out for swimming laps.
The Casitas pool from the other end…
…and the side.
The Casitas pool at night.
THE CABANAS POOL AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
The Cabanas pool.
The Cabanas pool from the other end.
THE RANCHOS POOL AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
There’s a quiet pool in the Ranchos area as well.
TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT
- Overview and summary review of Coronado Springs
- The theming and accommodations areas of Coronado Springs
- A photo tour of a standard room at Coronado Springs
- A photo tour of a Gran Destino Tower room at Coronado Springs
- Amenities at Coronado Springs
- Dining at Coronado Springs
- The pools at Coronado Springs
OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- Where to stay–the Basics
- Where first-timers should stay
- Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them
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2 comments
im torn between Coronado and Port Orleans riverside. I love the Coronado but haven’t been since the Tower was put up… Looking to go end of june. Are the bus stops and pool much busier?
Erinn, they definitely can be, and since you won’t run into much convention traffic in late June, most likely they will be–as families use the pools and buses more than convention folks… I would give it a try–maybe a split stay, starting at Coronado and then moving to Riverside?
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