Resort Spotlight: Disney's Coronado Springs

Disney's Coronado Springs is one of the moderate resort hotels on Walt Disney World property. To tell you more about this resort, I invited my friend and colleague Sherry Jackson to share her experiences there.



Read more to see what Sherry says about this moderate resort hotel with a Southwestern flair.




Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
from Sherry Jackson

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs is a beautiful, peaceful resort. With Mexican and American Southwestern décor, you walk in and truly feel like you have stepped into a far away, exotic location. Split into 3 different themed areas: the Ranchos, Cabanas, and Casitas, this is a huge resort! This is a convention resort, but we found it to be a very quiet and cozy place. 

Room at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Most of the rooms contain two queen beds, a table and chairs, and a vanity outside of the bathroom, and coffeemakers can be found in every room. Outside of your room, you will find a white sandy beach, palm trees, hammocks swaying in the breeze, and maybe even an extra friend or two! 



Dining options include Café Rix, Laguna Pool Bar, Maya Grill, Pepper Market, Rix Lounge, and Siestas Cantina. We ate breakfast at Maya Grill, and it was delicious!



Transportation at Coronado Springs to the parks is by bus only, and this is a non-sharing bus resort, meaning you won’t have to wait for other resort stops along the way. Unless you request a room near a bus stop, walking from your room can be about an 8-10 minute walk, depending on where your room is located.

Lost City of Cibola Pool at Disney's Coronado Springs

There are 3 themed swimming pools, the main pool sporting a huge Mayan pyramid with a waterfall cascading down, and a water slide around. We loved it! There are so many magical things about this resort, and I could go on for days about it! We will definitely stay here again and again!



Thank you, Sherry!

Many thanks to Sherry Jackson for her insight on this wonderful moderate resort! Be sure to check out Sherry's blog: Disney by Pixie.

To read more about the various resorts at Walt Disney World, read my previous blog post:  Behind the Magic: Disney World Resort Options.

Walt Disney World: Other Character Meals

If you would like to dine with characters other than Mickey and the gang or the Disney princesses, there are 2 special options just for you!

Winnie the Pooh at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom

The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom features Winnie the Pooh and friends, while Hollywood & Vine in the Hollywood Studios welcomes favorite characters from the Disney Junior television shows. Read more to find out the details!



The Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom welcomes Winnie the Pooh and his friends (usually Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is served buffet-style, with all of the characters visiting each table to interact with the guests. As with every character meal, characters are happy to take pictures with guests and/or sign autographs. There is also a fun parade for guests, who follow the characters around the dining room.

Eeyore at The Crystal Palace

Breakfast is available starting at 8:05 a.m., which means that it is possible on certain days to have breakfast before the park opens. This allows guests to get pictures on Main Street with fewer crowds, as well as bypass crowds at park opening.

Hollywood & Vine

Disney Junior Play 'n Dine features characters from the popular Disney Junior television shows at Hollywood & Vine in the Hollywood Studios. Characters are part of the breakfast and lunch experiences only. Characters change regularly as Disney Junior shows grow or decline in popularity; past characters have included: JoJo and Goliath (JoJo's Circus), Leo and June (The Little Einsteins), Handy Manny, and Special Agent Oso.  There are usually 3-4 characters available at each meal.

Special Agent Oso and Disney Junior Play 'n Dine

The food is served buffet-style, with all of the characters visiting each table to interact with the guests. There are also entertainment portions where the Disney Junior characters dance with the younger (and younger-at-heart) guests. Breakfast is available starting at 8:00 a.m., which means that it is possible on certain days to have breakfast before the park opens. This allows guests to get pictures on Hollywood Boulevard with fewer crowds, as well as bypass crowds at park opening.

Conclusion

So what do you think? Are you ready for a meal with Pooh or Disney Junior friends?

For more information on other character dining experiences, read my posts on dining with Mickey and friends, or with the Disney Princesses.

Overlooked Attractions: Frontierland

Have you ever found yourself with a Fast Pass to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain, and wondering what to do with your time before that magical window opens? Although these two rides are by far the most popular in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, there are several hidden gems to be discovered.

Frontierland has many fun and interactive attractions that have little to no wait time, due to the popularity of the attractions mentioned above. If you find yourself with time to spare in Frontierland, try some or all of the following:

Frontierland Shootin' Arcade

This has been one of my favorite things to do in Frontierland since I was a little girl. It's something I remember always doing with my Daddy, and I'm glad to take my girls to experience it, too. This attraction has been running at the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971.


This is one of the few attractions that are not included with admission to the Magic Kingdom. However, it only costs $1.00 for 35 shots, and money has never been better spent on a whole lot of fun! This old-fashioned game requires you to shoot at targets with rifles that have infrared lights. The target gallery is set up like a town out of an old western movie. Some of the props move, such as the train; others are stationary, but all of them have a fun effect when you hit them.


The wait for this attraction is not usually long, and even if there is a bit of a line, 35 shots go by quickly, and the next person can take their turn. This is a must-do for me when going to the Magic Kingdom, and I am always disappointed if we miss it for any reason.

Country Bear Jamboree

One of the last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped design, the Country Bear Jamboree is a fun show full of audio-animatronic bears who sing, dance, and enter from above on a swing! 18 hillbilly bears perform in this crazy show that is not always politically correct, and it's fun for kids and adults alike. This show has been playing at the Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971.


The Country Bear Jamboree was recently refurbished in the fall of 2012. The original show had a running time of a little bit over 15 minutes, and now the time has been reduced to 10 minutes. There is rarely a wait for this show, beyond the wait for the previous show to finish. The shows run one after another, and it is a nice air-conditioned break from the rest of Frontierland. It is definitely a fun break, especially in the summer months!

Tom Sawyer Island

This fun interactive attraction opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, but was designed personally by Walt Disney for Disneyland Park and opened there in 1956.


To get to Tom Sawyer Island, guests journey by raft across the Rivers of America to arrive on the island, where they are free to explore until dusk (when the Island closes). Sites to visit on Tom Sawyer Island include: Harper's Mill, Injun Joe's Cave, Fort Langhorn, Potter's Mill, and Tom Sawyer Scavage Fort. There is plenty on this island to fill hours of time for the adventurous at heart!

Conclusion

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are definitely the thrill rides of Frontierland, and not to be missed. However, use your time wisely and don't forget to visit the rest of Frontierland as well!

What is your favorite Frontierland attraction?


Walt Disney World: Meals Fit for a Princess

There are many character dining experiences available at Walt Disney World, and of course, some of the most popular ones are the meals with the Disney Princesses.

Ariel at Akershus

Do you have a princess who wants to dine with her Disney peers? There are three Disney Princess character meals available at Walt Disney World. Each has its own style, so read more to find out about each one!

Cinderella's Royal Table

The most well-known of the Disney Princess dining experiences, Cinderella's Royal Table is located on the second floor of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. The main appeal of this experience is of course the magic of dining in the castle!

Cinderella's Royal Greeting

It is absolutely necessary to make reservations for Cinderella's Royal Table as early as possible. Advanced dining reservations are accepted up to 180 days in advance, and this highly-sought-after experience fills up quickly. This is the most popular character dining experience at Walt Disney World! The earlier you can make reservations, the better your chances of choosing the date and time you prefer.

Aurora at Cinderella's Royal Table

All three meals are available at Cinderella's Royal Table. Breakfast times start at 8:05 a.m., so it is even possible to have a breakfast reservation before park opening! Likewise, dinner is served until 10:00 p.m., so on nights the park closes early, you may be in the park after closing. This is an advantage because it offers prime opportunities for pictures on Main Street without the usual crowds, as well as allowing you to be well into the park before the main groups of people enter.

Bella at Cinderella's Royal Table

When arriving at Cinderella's Royal Table, guests are first allowed the opportunity to meet with Cinderella. A picture is taken by a Disney photographer, and the price of the meal includes the photo package, delivered to your table before the end of the meal. The package arrives in a special Cinderella photo holder, and includes one 8x10 and two 4x6 copies of the picture with Cinderella, plus one 8x10 picture of Cinderella Castle. A group of up to 4 guests receives one photo package, while a group of 5-8 receives 2 photo packages, and a group of 9-12 receives 3 photo packages! In addition, children receive a special gift, usually a wand or sword.

Cinderella's Royal Greeting

The meals at Cinderella's Royal Table are all-you-care to enjoy, but vary slightly in choices. Breakfast includes pre-plated plates of American breakfast food. Lunch consists of a pre-selected appetizer, with choices from the menu for the entree and dessert. Dinner allows for choices of appetizer, entree, and dessert.

Jasmine at Cinderella's Royal Table

Of course, next to dining in the castle, meeting the Disney Princesses is the highlight of the meal! Cinderella does not come to tables during the meal, as she is busy greeting guests downstairs. Her friends come to each table for autographs and/or pictures. Princess characters are subject to change, and may include: Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, and/or Snow White. There are usually 4-5 princesses in addition to Cinderella.

Snow White at Cinderella's Royal Table

Prices at Cinderella's Royal Table range from $35-$75, depending on the meal and ages of the guests. The price includes the photo package, meal, tax, and gratuity. Payment in full is required at the time of booking. When dining on the dining plan, this meal requires 2 table service credits, due to its popularity.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

If preferences or circumstances prevent dining in Cinderella Castle, the Disney Princess dining experience at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is another wonderful option. Located in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, Akershus also provides a royal experience for visiting guests.

Belle's Royal Greeting

Although this experience is not as popular as dining in Cinderella Castle, advanced dining reservations are still highly recommended in order to be able to dine on the date and at the time you prefer. Advanced dining reservations are available up to 180 days in advance.

Snow White at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

All three meals are available at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Breakfast times start at 8:00 a.m., so it is even possible to have a breakfast reservation before park opening! This is an advantage because it offers prime opportunities for pictures without the usual crowds, as well as allowing you to be well into the park before the main groups of people enter. We were able to walk on to Test Track at park opening, since Akershus is closer to the attraction than the entrance is!

Mulan at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

When arriving at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, guests are first allowed the opportunity to meet with Belle in her yellow ball gown. A picture is taken by a Disney photographer, and the price of the meal includes the photo package, delivered to your table before the end of the meal. The package arrives in a special photo holder, and includes one 8x10 and two 4x6 copies of the picture with Belle. A group of up to 4 guests receives one photo package, while a group of 5-8 receives 2 photo packages, and a group of 9-12 receives 3 photo packages!

Belle's Royal Greeting

The meals at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall vary depending on the meal. Breakfast includes American breakfast food served family-style. Lunch and dinner begin with a Norwegian cold buffet, with choices from the menu for the entree, and a dessert plate to share.

Cinderella at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Meeting the Disney Princesses is always the highlight of the meal! Belle does not come to tables during the meal, as she is busy greeting guests. Her friends come to each table for autographs and/or pictures. Princess characters are subject to change, and may include: Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Snow White, and/or Mary Poppins. There are usually 4-5 princesses in addition to Belle. There is also a "Princess Parade" for younger guests to follow their princesses in a parade around the dining area.

Aurora at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Prices at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall range from $25-$60, depending on the meal and ages of the guests. The price includes the photo package, meal, and tax, but not gratuity. When dining on the dining plan, this meal requires 1 table service credit.

Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner

Another Disney Princess dining experience is Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This experience includes Cinderella and her entourage, and the character interaction is top-notch!

Fairy Godmother at 1900 Park Fare

Advanced dining reservations are always recommended in order to be able to dine on the date and at the time you prefer. Advanced dining reservations are available up to 180 days in advance. However, this meal is generally available even on short notice.

Anastasia at 1900 Park Fare

As the name would suggest, this experience is offered at dinner only. An advantage to this location is that it does not require park admission, since it is located at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. It is also a short monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom, if you do go in to the park on the day of this experience. The meal at 1900 Park Fare is a buffet dinner, including dessert. Many guests have commented on the strawberry soup served here!

Little Princess at the Grand Floridian

When arriving at 1900 Park Fare, guests are first allowed the opportunity to meet have a photo taken in front of a fairytale backdrop. Characters are usually not included in this photo. Photos are then brought to your table and you have the choice to purchase them. This photo is included as part of the special Photopass + package, which allows you to prepay for dining and attraction photos, as well as a photo CD.

Drizella at 1900 Park Fare


Characters appearing at this meal are all connected to Cinderella. Characters may include: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, Anastasia, Drizella, and Lady Tremaine. Many guests have commented on the fun interaction with the characters, including shenanigans from the stepsisters.

Drizella at 1900 Park Fare

Prices at Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner range from $20-$45, depending on ages of the guests. The price includes the meal and tax, but not gratuity. When dining on the dining plan, this meal requires 1 table service credit.

Overview

There is a Disney Princess dining experience to fit many preferences. Which is the right one for you and your royal family?