News Coronado Springs Expansion - Gran Destino Tower

[Jon81uk]

What do you mean by faltering?

1900 Park Fare is still tough get reservations for. GF Cafe is the necessary standard sit-down hotel breakfast fare and seems reasonably busy without necessarily needing reservations. The only one I could see that maybe isn't doing great business is Citrico's, but with the margins on Disney food, I'd be quite surprised if it was struggling to stay afloat.

and don't forget that just because you can't get a reservation it doesn't mean the restaurant is full, they may just have fewer waitstaff scheduled as they expect to be quiet and would rather only run with half the tables available but all of them booked, rather than staff the whole restaurant and have unoccupied tables.

 

[Jambo Joe]

I am sadly forced to conclude there are a number of posters on this board that simply don’t like any kind of change. Anything different than when they first started going to WDW is found wanting. In the case of Coronado - the changes being completed appear to be for the better. The room refresh actually added more Disney touches. The new tower and the floating restaurant look really interesting - I will reserve judgment on the look of the tower on the outside until I see it in person. I have a similar perspective on CBR and the future Riviera too, and I am looking forward to walking through both in upcoming visits.

I am not a Disney apologist if you have seen my postings. Disney definitely makes mistakes. Anyone watching them fumble around for what to do about Epcot the last decade knows they are not perfect.

 

[larryz]

It's a tower. So, how is it going to be anything but modern? Can't exactly do 14 floors of adobe brick.

Thank the Anasazi...

 

[Missing20K]

I agree and to be honest what do people consider "heavily themed"? Because looking at the concept art for a random tower it contains a lot more elements than a standard hotel would. Also the lobby looks really nice and contains far more detail than an average Marriott or other chain out there but I guess people have certain boxes they check in their head to determine what is good theming.

I'm sure there is lots of room for discussion but here would be my list.

Heavily themed:
All the deluxes (except the DVC portions, Poly villas excluded)
POR/POFQ
CBR (it's borderline for me)

Moderately themed:
OKW
Saratoga
Coronado
Fort Wilderness

Lightly themed:
All Stars
POP

A standard hotel should not be the bar in which they are attempting to leap. The bar was set, by Disney themselves, with what they've accomplished at their best resorts.

Judging solely by the concept art (which I fully admit is not as proper as experiencing the space in person) and construction photos, I feel this would fall somewhere between lightly themed and moderately themed.

 

[larryz]

Over 2400 rooms now??!

It was already hard enough to find a few chairs at the pool!

Maybe with the added Guests we can finally get some good competitive volleyball games.

Unless the Tower has its own reception desk, checking in and out just became a bit more like a nightmare...

 

[Missing20K]

Unless the Tower has its own reception desk, checking in and out just became a bit more like a nightmare...

That last piece of concept art Steve posted looks like it shows a check-in desk to the right hand side.

EDIT: Or is it a bar? Now I'm not sure.

EDIT 2: It does look like a bar. One would hope all 2400 potential guests are not all forced to one reception desk.

 

[mitchiavelli]

Is this the Gaudi resort?

 

[Missing20K]

Is this the Gaudi resort?

If it must be of a more contemporary design, I would have preferred something more along this aesthetic. Phoenix Biomedical Campus - Health Sciences Education Building

 

[GCTales]

The issue is that Coronado has great convention facilities but the fact it was essentially a glorified motel (outward facing rooms, multiple buildings) greatly impacted groups' desire to book there. This tower allows them to tap into the market even greater.

This nails it perfectly.

I travel on a regular basis for business, including multiple conventions / conferences per year.

Disney is the only place I consider staying at a motel style facility. In fact, Coronado is the only location I have stayed at where I have stayed in a motel style room. I know for a fact that it has been a complaint. / item of dissatisfaction for some of the conferences I have attended there. Having hotel style rooms (internal access) and suites (senior management / VIPs) makes this a much more attractive conference hotel to industry.

 

[JenniferS]

Unless the Tower has its own reception desk, checking in and out just became a bit more like a nightmare...

We checked in online, (brought last year’s bands, as they don’t ship to Canada), and received our room assignment via email.

We didn’t go to the front desk until the fourth or fifth day, and then only to pick up our Hoop Dee Doo tickets.

 

[Lensman]

That lobby looks soooo pretty!!!

That's what I thought at first, but I looked more closely and it seems to be a bar - with barstools, a single bartender, and bottles lined up against the back wall. That said, that bar looks sooo pretty!

That said, would this be the biggest use of space for a resort bar on property? It's enormous and even has an balcony area overlooking the bar. It really seems much more like a lobby space, to your original point. Hmm.

Then again, I could see this being a great private party area as part of a convention.

 

[jt04]

That's what I thought at first, but I looked more closely and it seems to be a bar - with barstools, a single bartender, and bottles lined up against the back wall. That said, that bar looks sooo pretty!
View attachment 320513

That said, would this be the biggest use of space for a resort bar on property? It's enormous and even has an balcony area overlooking the bar. It really seems much more like a lobby space, to your original point. Hmm.

Then again, I could see this being a great private party area as part of a convention.

Space Mountain has 4 pillars very similar to this.

 

[JenniferS]

That's what I thought at first, but I looked more closely and it seems to be a bar - with barstools, a single bartender, and bottles lined up against the back wall. That said, that bar looks sooo pretty!
View attachment 320513

That said, would this be the biggest use of space for a resort bar on property? It's enormous and even has an balcony area overlooking the bar. It really seems much more like a lobby space, to your original point. Hmm.

Then again, I could see this being a great private party area as part of a convention.

Reminds me of the old Rix Lounge.

 

[larryz]

We checked in online, (brought last year’s bands, as they don’t ship to Canada), and received our room assignment via email.

We didn’t go to the front desk until the fourth or fifth day, and then only to pick up our Hoop Dee Doo tickets.

Clearly, that's the model they expect most of their conference people to use. I only hope it works better for them than it did for my party, where 25% of us couldn't charge anything to her (Not-so-)MagicBand.

 

[Lensman]

Clearly, that's the model they expect most of their conference people to use. I only hope it works better for them than it did for my party, where 25% of us couldn't charge anything to her (Not-so-)MagicBand.

Or maybe it's going to be an innovation in resort design where the lobby and front desk (by day) will double as a lounge and bar (at night).

 

[lazyboy97o]

One of the first things I was taught when creating architectural renderings and concept art, is that one shouldn't hide the most important aspect of the design/building. This particular piece has foreground vegetation masking a good 1/3 to 1/2 of the building. Foreground elements should frame the image and provide a contrast of colors, depth and detail.

But how else will we know that the renderer bought Lumion Pro and has all of its awesome trees?

I agree and to be honest what do people consider "heavily themed"? Because looking at the concept art for a random tower it contains a lot more elements than a standard hotel would. Also the lobby looks really nice and contains far more detail than an average Marriott or other chain out there but I guess people have certain boxes they check in their head to determine what is good theming.

Elements and ornament are not themselves theming. The entire design should be derived from the story, being more than just a box with stuff glued onto it.

 

[larryz]

Or maybe it's going to be an innovation in resort design where the lobby and front desk (by day) will double as a lounge and bar (at night).

Or maybe you get a room and a drink when you check in... drunk people spend more.

 

[MisterPenguin]

BREAKING!!!!* More info from Disney Meetings Blog...

https://www.disneymeetings.com/blog...gination-of-disney-s-coronado-springs-resort/



Man, those pathways are *lit*!!


*Am I blogging it right?

 

[JenniferS]

BREAKING!!!!* More info from Disney Meetings Blog...

https://www.disneymeetings.com/blog...gination-of-disney-s-coronado-springs-resort/



Man, those pathways are *lit*!!


*Am I blogging it right?

In that video, the tower appears to blend in quite well with the existing El Centro.

I’m excited. According to my countdown, I’ll see it with my own eyes in 320 days.

 

[Lensman]

BREAKING!!!!* More info from Disney Meetings Blog...

https://www.disneymeetings.com/blog...gination-of-disney-s-coronado-springs-resort/



Man, those pathways are *lit*!!


*Am I blogging it right?

Lol

And the video confirms that the drawing in the concept art that looked like the lobby and reception is in fact the "two story grand lobby", including barstools and a backdrop of bottles behind the front desk.