Not all Walt Disney World resorts are created equal. Even within resort categories there are some hits and misses. On our most recent trip in March 2026 we stayed at two different moderate resorts and differences were stark leading us to label one resort the worst in category at Walt Disney World. If the picture hasn’t given it away yet, read on to find out which resort we will be skipping from now on.
The worst moderate resort at Walt Disney World used to hold a special place in my heart. It was the resort we stayed at in January 2020 just as COVID was first starting and thus it was our last trip for several years. We looked back at that trip fondly and this resort was a big reason why we enjoyed it so much. So what happened? Well, I think we’ve changed a bit and maybe we’re a bit more picky or at least we know what we like; and it’s not where this resort excels. Also, the resort has had 6 more years of wear and tear and unfortunately it’s very evident.
Ok enough beating around the bush. The worst moderate resort at Walt Disney World is Coronado Springs.
This probably isn’t a controversial opinion to be honest. Coronado has never been a fan favorite. We had found the most common complaints fairly overblown, until this trip. So where does it go wrong? Well let’s start with where it goes right, since that list is much shorter.
Where Coronado Springs excels is with it’s dining options. There are 4 table service restaurants on site including two exceptional options. Toledo at the top of the Gran Destino Tower is basically a signature restaurant at normal table service prices. It’s truly a hidden a gem and will likely stay that way because the resort doesn’t attract visitors like say a Contemporary or Grand Floridian does. If we ever step foot at Coronado again it will likely be to dine here.
The other superb dining option is Three Bridges, located in the middle of the water at the center of it all. This is an extremely popular option and for good reason. The food is excellent and the vibes are off the charts. Coronado is lucky to have it.
Unfortunately, that’s really where the positives end for this resort. Let’s get into the negatives.
We were coming from Port Orleans French Quarter (the BEST moderate resort in our opinion) and the differences upon arrival couldn’t have been more stark. The French Quarter is calm, peaceful, and serene. The lobby at Gran Destino Tower is anything but. Immediately guests are thrusts into a chaotic scene with poor crowd management. It’s kind of a free for all with cast members not really sure who to help in what order.
Next, is the cast members themselves. And to be clear, I think this is a direct result of the environment the resort create but the differences were evident. Cast members at Port Orleans French Quarter were relaxed, present, and engaged. Cast Members are Coronado are not afforded such luxuries and it shows. I don’t blame them, they were pleasant enough and doing the best with what they were given.
Once you leave the tower the age of the resort becomes apparent and it’s clear the villages at Coronado need some TLC. We noticed several room doors with large patches of paint missing. The elevators in the village buildings were suspect, at least ours was. On one occasion an elevator door opened and the elevator was several inches below the floor. We took the stairs instead. Another minor quibble, but something that is not up to Disney standards – the ice maker on our floor was broken. Again, minor, but shows that Disney isn’t prioritizing upkeep of the resort outside of the tower.
The overall cleanliness of the resort and room was below what we experienced at Port Orleans the week prior. We both noticed immediately that our allergies acted up more in this room than they did at French Quarter. There was also more trash around the grounds. Nothing too major but again, it was hard to not notice after having the opposite experience at our previous resort.
The rooms themselves felt smaller despite having the same square footage. I think this is because the vanity area is bigger than at French Quarter. We surmised that this was because Coronado is a conference hotel and it’s more common for unrelated guests to share a room. Thus having a private area to change is more important. Unfortunately, it made the room feel more cramped otherwise. It’s probably not something the average guests would notice without something recent to compare it to, but we had that and we did.
Perhaps the biggest negative about this resort for us is it’s size. We’ve learned we do not like the sprawling moderate resorts. Day to day activities feel like a chore and we really value the convenience of a more compact footprint. This was exacerbated by the fact that we just checked out of the most compact moderate resort. It’s by no means unmanageable but it does seem to rear its head at the worst times, which brings me to the next point. There are not enough pools for this resort!
We were lucky enough to get just about perfect Florida weather – mid 80’s but with low humidity. Crowded pools were expected but what we found was something different altogether – unusable pools. The dig site pool was basically shoulder to shoulder with absolute no chairs to be found at all. Not one. The quiet pools were similarly crowded and we know because we walked to 2 of the quiet pools. By the time we gave up we had walked over a mile just to try to find a reasonable pool experience. For this part of the trip we had no park tickets so being unable to enjoy resort amenities was a huge bummer.
What made this particularly frustrating was that Disney created this problem by not adding a pool to the Gran Destino tower. They built hundreds of additional rooms but did not expand the pool capacity one bit. I would call this a self-own but really it only hurts you and I , the paying guests. And that’s unacceptable.
I am by no means saying that you can’t have a nice time at this resort. You can. If you just need aa acceptable room and like some on-site bars, lounges, and dining, this resort can do that. It is generally one of the cheaper moderates as well. But that said, it just falls short in too many categories for us. I can’t see us going back here for any reason except it being the only resort available – which is actually why we ended up here for two nights. The value just isn’t there for us.
