Pure elegance. Those are the two words that pop into my mind when recalling my visit to the new 545-guestroom Gran Destino Tower at the 2,385-room Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Walt Disney World Resort’s largest convention resort. Opened this past July, this lifestyle resort is, as Melanie Braunstein, marketing strategy manager for Disney Destinations, says, “a first of its kind for Disney.
“I was just stunned when I walked in here. The renderings did not do it justice—my jaw dropped when I walked in,” she says.
Gran Destino Tower takes its name from the surrealistic Disney animated film “Destino,” which was released in 2003, but whose production originally began in the 1940s as a collaboration between Walt Disney and Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Everywhere there are visual cues that hark to “Destino” and Spain: the Barcelona Lounge—whose stained glass feature wall behind the bar pays homage to some of this city’s most iconic architectural gems; the tower’s rooftop table service restaurant Toledo – Tapas, Steaks & Seafood, serving small plates such as patatas bravas (“fiery” potatoes) as well as cazuelas (chef interpretations of classic recipes served in a traditional Spanish terra cotta dish) with diners dining under the canopy of an intricate vaulted ceiling with shimmering stained glass accents; and the rooftop Dahlia Lounge, inspired by the heroine in “Destino,” with dandelion chandeliers and metal bell accents to ceiling coffers with swirling patterns reminiscent of her flowing hair, as well as a terrace offering sweeping views of Walt Disney World Resort.
Dahlia Lounge.
Guests staying at Gran Destino Tower have access to all of their Disney Coronado Springs Resort favorite dining spots, including Maya Grill, El Mercado de Coronado, and Rix Sports Bar & Grill, and new to the resort is Three Bridges Bar & Grill, located on an island in the middle of Lago Dorado and accessed via three new walkways stretching across the 22-acre lake. Three Bridges is one of Braunstein’s favorite spots. “It’s such a fun atmosphere—you get the breeze off the lake and great eats, as well as those signature cocktails.” She notes that the addition of the three bridges spanning the lake was in response to guest feedback, pointing out that “the bridges make it so much easier for the guests to get around
the resort.”
Accommodations
Guests will be wowed with the views of the lake and beyond from almost anywhere in the resort, including their accommodations—in fact, the views are one of the accommodations’ nicest assets. And with 545 guestrooms, including 50 suites, there are plenty of accommodation choices to offer your clients. Rooms are quite spacious, featuring barn-style doors that bring more openness to the space. One of our favorite details in the accommodations is the tile work in the bathrooms, reminiscent of the decorative style in Spain’s Catalan region. And those bathrooms, by the way, come with an enclosed toilet and double sinks. Other small, but newsworthy details include USB table lamps and headboard reading lights.
You can recommend one of the suites—44 750-sq-ft. Deluxe Suites; four 1,100-sq.-ft. 1-bedroom Suites; and two 1,875-sq-ft. Presidential Suites—which grant your clients access to Chronos Club, located on the 15th floor of the tower with light refreshments available throughout the day, and where cast members can assist guests with vacation planning.
All guestrooms feature a new interactive TV system that provides a more customized and Disney-differentiated in-room experience, enhancing the guest experience with Disney-quality services, content and personalization. For example, guests can view their Disney PhotoPass images on the large screen and stream their entertainment services from their personal devices to the in-room TV.
Stay Active
The opening of the Tower brings with it a brand-new fitness center, as well as an array of activities such as yoga and boot camp classes, and nature walks. In fact, Braunstein says that probably one of the best surprises for Tower guests is the “variety of recreational activities that are being offered. There’s a very robust programming of activities…really trying to promote that lifestyle experience and kind of having that diverse offering for
the guests.”
Contact Information
Gran Destino Tower: disneytravelagents.com
What’s In it For Travel Advisors: Know the Facts About Gran Destino Tower
- 15-story property
- Dining and cocktails with panoramic views at Toledo – Tapas, Steaks & Seafood and Dahlia Lounge
- Barcelona Lounge, in the lower lobby, offers coffee in the morning, cocktails remainder of the day (there are over 20 gins and three different house-made tonics)
- Destino Plaza off the lower lobby is ideal for weddings
- Recommend one of Toledo’s signature desserts—Tapas Bar, a crunchy chocolate bar with bite-sized flavors of Spanish coffee, crunchy chocolate, raspberry mousse and lemon curd
