News Coronado Springs Expansion - Gran Destino Tower

[note2001]

Photo update as of Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Beautiful photos by @wdwmagic. Thanks for the great overview.
Here are a few other surprises, or hidden areas, that I found.


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Thanks for the pics!

I really like the benches by the pond.

Why in the world would they opt for fake turf? That really bothers me as real grass would cool the area, while plastic grass retains the heat. I thought Disney was trying to prove it was environmentally friendly, LOL.

The reading room needs something more, maybe on the wall. It's kind of closet like. Imagine being a kid who comes to study in there... imho, it's kind of creepy.

 

[Flynnwriter]

The fake grass. The awful signage. The unimaginative “touch” of Spain. It’s a real embarrassment for Disney and sign of more ordinary that is coming with The Riviera and Reflections. Disney is aiming low and delivering the ordinary at extraordinary prices. Sad.

 

[Jon81uk]

Thanks for the pics!

I really like the benches by the pond.

Why in the world would they opt for fake truf? That really bothers me as real grass would cool the area, while plastic grass retains the heat. I thought Disney was trying to prove it was environmentally friendly, LOL.

The reading room needs something more, maybe on the wall. It's kind of closet like. Imagine being a kid who comes to study in there... imho, it's kind of creepy.

I think there is an area at the Poly where they opted for fake turf too. In a high traffic place, or where you might regularly hold outdoor events, fake turn makes a lot of sense.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

The fake grass. The awful signage. The unimaginative “touch” of Spain. It’s a real embarrassment for Disney and sign of more ordinary that is coming with The Riviera and Reflections. Disney is aiming low and delivering the ordinary at extraordinary prices. Sad.View attachment 388534

Seeing these pics...is the one on top the Treasure Island Casino in Vegas?

 

[Chupaca Bruh]

Looks like the Rosen Center

 

[EricsBiscuit]

In regards to the theming, I think they didn't do something like Dixie Landings because their target audience are conventioneers.

 

[Disone]

I agree with this.

The only hotel at WDW that is iconicically Disney is the Contemporary, where else in the world can you ride a monorail through a hotel?

I agree the Polynesian is classically Disney, but is not particularly unique or a one-off. Similarly Port Orleans (particularly French Quarter) is very classically Disney in that it does a great job of recreating the architecture of a city district or area and invoking the nostalgia of that style of architecture.

The Gran Destino tower may not have the same ability to invoke that nostalgia, but neither do the Swan or Dolphin really.

It's a beautiful hotel for sure, but I'll agree that it does seem to be struggling on theme. It's not taking you to a time or a place. It's coming across more as a nice Marriott, Hyatt, or Hilton. Perhaps that was intentional as they try to cater a little bit more to the business Traveler as Coronado has the largest Disney owned Convention Center on Walt Disney World property, Destino Tower was built to address feedback from many of the groups that were booking CRS. Clearly this allows them to have far more rooms near the convention center, and they probably got some feedback. Maybe All those Convention groups wanted a little bit more of a business-like hotel? That said, Like the Swan and Dolphin, I don't think it's going to age particularly well. It's pretty now but in 15 to 20 years I think it's going to come across as dated.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Photo update as of Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Beautiful photos by @wdwmagic. Thanks for the great overview.
Here are a few other surprises, or hidden areas, that I found.



You've already seen the high-tech elevator touch screens in the elevator lobbies. After you select the floor, the screen changes to show which of the six elevators (A through F) will be arriving, and which direction to turn, from your current position, to see the elevator opening for you. Of interest, once inside the elevator, there are no push buttons to select another floor or to change your mind.

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Unless that elevator is the one from Willy Wonka and can go sideways....how high tech can an elevator get?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Why in the world would they opt for fake truf?

Outdoor lawn parties for conventioneers or weddings.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In regards to the theming, I think they didn't do something like Dixie Landings because their target audience are conventioneers.

What [aesthetic] design decisions were dictated by convention attendees?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

What [aesthetic] design decisions were dictated by convention attendees?

It’s just a gander that it’s different from other Disney resorts because of its target audience.

 

[Sky]

To be 100% honest I didn’t think they’d theme it this much. The dining areas are stunning and the tower serves its purpose. If you want the sprawling resort style experience you ask for Cabanas or Ranchos, both of which have a completely different feel. If you want the urban yet quiet experience you opt for Casitas. If you want the ‘swanky, posh’ lifestyle, or if you’ll be walking around in a suit and tie for the next three days, then you ask for the Tower. I’ve stayed at five resorts on site and without a doubt I felt that CSR is the most eclectic of all. It’s a ton of different moving parts, loose stories (and I mean loose), and has the added challenge of hosting large conventions.

What some of y’all are dreaming about is a Gaudi Museum. No matter what, something over seven or eight stories is going to look like a tower, because it is a tower.

WDI wasn’t going to build the Sagrada Familia for Bob from Fargo who’s at a Pharmaceutical Convention and the Smith Family from Wilmington is probably going to request the Cabanas anyway. Everybody gets their vacation.

 

[eddie104]

The fake grass. The awful signage. The unimaginative “touch” of Spain. It’s a real embarrassment for Disney and sign of more ordinary that is coming with The Riviera and Reflections. Disney is aiming low and delivering the ordinary at extraordinary prices. Sad.View attachment 388534

Dude stop it already we get it you don’t like it.

 

[JenniferS]

To be 100% honest I didn’t think they’d theme it this much. The dining areas are stunning and the tower serves its purpose. If you want the sprawling resort style experience you ask for Cabanas or Ranchos, both of which have a completely different feel. If you want the urban yet quiet experience you opt for Casitas. If you want the ‘swanky, posh’ lifestyle, or if you’ll be walking around in a suit and tie for the next three days, then you ask for the Tower. I’ve stayed at five resorts on site and without a doubt I felt that CSR is the most eclectic of all. It’s a ton of different moving parts, loose stories (and I mean loose), and has the added challenge of hosting large conventions.

What some of y’all are dreaming about is a Gaudi Museum. No matter what, something over seven or eight stories is going to look like a tower, because it is a tower.

WDI wasn’t going to build the Sagrada Familia for Bob from Fargo who’s at a Pharmaceutical Convention and the Smith Family from Wilmington is probably going to request the Cabanas anyway. Everybody gets their vacation.

Well said.

 

[lazyboy97o]

What some of y’all are dreaming about is a Gaudi Museum. No matter what, something over seven or eight stories is going to look like a tower, because it is a tower.

WDI wasn’t going to build the Sagrada Familia for Bob from Fargo who’s at a Pharmaceutical Convention and the Smith Family from Wilmington is probably going to request the Cabanas anyway. Everybody gets their vacation.

Being a tower does not require a stucco wall with punched windows. Even then, Disney controls the theme and the typology. If the theme isn’t going to work well as a high rise, then do something else. If the program really is pushing for such height, then develop a concept better suited to that form. There is no need to force the two together if they will not work well together.

 

[dreday3]

Dude stop it already we get it you don’t like it.

Oh he's enjoying himself. Who are we to judge how people should find fulfillment? Wait until Riviera opens, he won't be able to contain his joy!!! Glorious!!!

 

[Jambo Joe]

Also, lobby chandeliers meant to evoke the dandelion motif from Destino and some names from the short being used. But again, Destino seems pretty wasted in a subdued hotel environment. Now, Destino and Salvador Dali's work as the basis for a dark ride in a Spain Pavilion...

We can dream...

 

[Jambo Joe]

I think there is an area at the Poly where they opted for fake turf too. In a high traffic place, or where you might regularly hold outdoor events, fake turn makes a lot of sense.

There’s an area at Boardwalk with fake turf too. It’s a popular spot - you can look out towards the waterfront and the kids can run around.

 

[RandySavage]

^ For the vast majority of its existence that Boardwalk area was actual grass. It was switched to cheaper-to-maintain astroturf a couple years ago, as noted on the prior page. A declasse move by WDW.

 

[Surfin' Tuna]

A declasse move by WDW.

I had to look this word up, but I like it. Has a nice ring to do it. Maybe it would go nicely on the signage at the new resorts. Reflections, a Disney Declasse resort. Rather than waiting years we can just start out a little more honest on the resorts. I will admit that I think Gran Destino is nicer than I thought it would be, but I don't feel that magic there at all. It's as if leadership is just out of touch and doesn't get what made them special. Let's put a wrap on everything we can and slash the budget on everything else. As long as we can see some characters it will all be okay; I'm looking at you Epcot.