A truly fun part of planning a Walt Disney World vacation is picking which resort hotel you want to stay in! Then again, the choice can also cause of a bit of stress. After all, accommodations are a major part of your vacation expenses. And with OODLES of options to choose from, how do you know which one is the best fit for your traveling group?

Perhaps you’re trying to decide between two options that look fairly similar at a glance, but a deeper dive into each might help you feel more certain about which one you’re leaning towards. That’s the approach we’re taking today as we compare Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

We’re going to tackle this topic with help from a few chosen categories: Common Ground, Theme/Rooms, Pools, Food, and Transportation. Are you ready?

Common Ground

So, what do Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs Resort share in common? For starters, they both fall into the middle category of Disney Resort hotels. Categories are Value, Moderate, and Deluxe, and both of these are Moderate Resorts, so room sizes and guest perks are fairly comparable. (Coronado Springs offers additional accommodations thanks to its unique Gran Destino Tower.)

Another thing these Resorts share in common is that they are both MASSIVE! So much so, in fact, that they each offer an internal bus system that guests can take around the hotel to get to the main Bus Station THEN travel from there to the theme parks!

Of course, where the sprawling grounds may lead to more walking (and bus riding) than you might anticipate, the grounds at each Resort also feature a lake providing lovely water views, scenic strolling paths, and hammocks for relaxing on a sandy beach.

At Caribbean Beach Resort, the lake is called Barefoot Bay, while Coronado Springs is home to Lago Dorado.

Additionally, both Resorts have undergone fairly recent makeovers which have changed each in MAJOR ways. We’ll dive into each of these topics a bit when discussing the various categories, but 2019 brought BIG changes to Coronado Springs Resort with the opening of Gran Destino Tower. That same year, the Disney Skyliner made its debut, and this transportation system finds its hub at Caribbean Beach Resort. Though that sounds like one big change per Resort, those additions went hand-in-hand with several other renovations and enhancements at each hotel.

When looking at price comparisons, you’ll find a fairly similar range when it comes to Standard guest rooms. Bear in mind that Coronado Springs presents additional room options due to Gran Destino Tower.

The least expensive room option at Coronado Springs Resort goes for about $290 per night for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit. The range goes aaaaalllll the way up to  $2028 per night for the most expensive room (the Executive Suite) at the most expensive time to visit. Please note that these estimates do not account for any tax or current discounts.

At Caribbean Beach Resort, the least expensive room option goes for about $297 per night for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit. The range goes to $494 per night for the most expensive room at the most expensive time to visit. Please note that these estimates do not account for any tax or current discounts.

Now let’s dive into the differences…

Theme/Rooms

Caribbean Beach Resort

You’re on ISLAND time at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! The atmosphere is whimsical, bright, and colorful. With its relaxing island vibe, this Resort sets a calypso tone for a vacation within a vacation!

The spirit of the Caribbean is alive and thriving at Old Port Royale, the Resort’s main building. This “port of entry” is where guests check in, and serves as the hub for dining and shopping.

Five distinct villages are situated around the shores of the Barefoot Bay. The villages are named after Caribbean islands — Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica, and these colorful quarters are where the Guest Rooms are located.

Standard and Preferred Rooms feature two Queen beds, a King bed, or two Queen beds and a child-size pull down bed, and can accommodate up to five guests depending on the bedding options.

The color scheme inside the rooms is a bit more muted than outside, opting for breezy corals, blues, and rattan accents to keep the island vibe going.

Take a complete Photo Tour of a Caribbean Beach Resort Standard Room here!

Alas, the famed Pirate Rooms of yore are no more. However, you should know that some of the rooms in the Trinidad area are currently receiving a makeover! Initially Disney announced that the rooms would be refurbished and decorated with “characters from under the sea.” More recently, Disney has provided a bigger reveal with a look INSIDE these new rooms with theming inspired by The Little Mermaid!

You can take a closer look at these upcoming rooms here.

Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs Resort draws its theme and inspiration from Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures.

The general feel is more modern than that of Caribbean Beach, especially with the 2019 addition of the stunning Gran Destino Tower.

It’s also worth noting that Coronado Springs hosts a Convention Center, so fellow guests may likely be convention guests in addition to vacation guests. But that doesn’t mean that Coronado Springs doesn’t also have a sense of fun, which you’ll spy in touches around the Resort!

Most Standard and Preferred Rooms in the Casitas (guest room housing outside of the Gran Destino Tower) can sleep up to 4 adults.

(Just a reminder, Caribbean Beach Resort Rooms can sleep up to five guests, depending on bedding options.)

Gran Destino Tower provides even more options for guests.

Tower Rooms and Suites can sleep up to 4 adults.

And there are options for some great water views!

Of course, that’s a very brief glimpse, so we encourage you to check out MORE of Gran Destino — including plenty of room photos — HERE.

Click HERE for a photo tour of Gran Destino Tower!

Results

More than any other aspect of the Resorts, this category comes down to personal preference. Those looking for more classic Disney whimsy will likely lean towards Caribbean Beach Resort. Those looking for a bit more of a mature vibe may feel more at home at Coronado Springs Resort.

Pools

Oh, BOY! Are you ready for some poolside FUN? Because you can have PLENTY at either Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs!

Caribbean Beach Resort

Ready to channel your inner Pirate? Then your destination is the zero-entry Fuentes del Morro pool at Caribbean Beach Resort!

Of course, calling it simply a “pool” is not doing it justice. Themed like a colonial Spanish fortress, this water area also includes not one, but TWO waterslides and water-spraying cannons!

Wee pirates can enjoy a water play area just for them, complete with mini slides. And a whirlpool is also available for less splashing, and more RELAXING. Guests at the Resort may also swim in any of its five leisure pools.

Not only is the Fuentes del Morro pool itself completely epic, but it also boasts the nearby Banana Cabana pool bar (which we’ll check out more in our “Food” category).

Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs offers the Dig Site pool complex featuring The Lost City of Cibola pool!

A 50-foot pyramid is the centerpiece of this Mayan ruins-themed area, which is complete with a 123-foot-long waterslide.

Additional features include a kiddie pool and a sand volleyball court for some extra fun in the sun. And the Dig Site offers guests the chance to unwind in the largest whirlpool spa in Disney World!

Three leisure pools are also available around the Resort.

Results

As much as we would love to make this easy on you, we’re comparing two of the best Resort pools in all of Disney World here! This is probably as close to a draw as we’re going to get, since clearly both pools provide truly memorable settings… along with a TON of fun!

Food

Our next two categories of Food and Transportation present some pretty major differences between the two Resorts in question. Let’s dig into to our very favorite of the two topics: FOOD!

Caribbean Beach Resort

When Caribbean Beach Resort received its aforementioned makeover, the dining options received a makeover, too. Caribbean Beach offers five dining options for guests.

Centertown Market is the Resort’s primary Quick Service location. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves up classic favorites like burgers and chicken strips alongside Latin- and Caribbean-inspired dishes such as Yucca and Jerk Chicken Bowls, a Rum-Mango Barbecued Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Fish Tacos.

Tucked inside this large eatery you’ll also find the Centertown Market Grab & Go filled with baked goods like morning pastries and cupcakes, quick bites like sandwiches and salads, and a coffee bar serving hand-crafted beverages.

Spyglass Grill is your other — much smaller — Quick Service option. Though you’ll find some seating, it’s primarily a walk-up window for grabbing a quick Caribbean-inspired breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

While we’ve enjoyed some tasty meals here, its primary purpose is providing a place to eat for guests closer to the Trinidad area of this sprawling Resort.

Sebastian’s Bistro is the Table Service restaurant at Caribbean Beach Resort. It features an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal!

The family-style dinner served here is inspired by Caribbean and Latin cuisine.

Banana Cabana is NOT your average pool bar! Sure, you can grab a tropical frozen drink to bring to the Fuentes del Morro pool.

But you can also stay put for quite awhile to enjoy some appetizers (like Caribbean Pull-Apart Rolls or Jerk Chicken Wings), a full entrée, or some seriously scrumptious Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding!

All this in a setting complete with plenty of seating (including swing chairs) in a shaded open-air setting complete with a steel drum chandelier. We LOVE it!

We’ve got one more spot for you… Caribbean Beach is one of the few Resorts with its own Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea kiosk. And this one is conveniently located at the Resort’s Disney Skyliner Station!

Grab your cuppa joe before hopping onto a Skyliner gondola to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, and you can save some serious time in line at the in-parks Starbucks locations!

Click HERE for the Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!

Coronado Springs Resort

Settle in, friends… because we’re about to explore the 10 dining options at Coronado Springs Resort!

El Mercado de Coronado is the primary Quick Service option at Coronado Springs. While a bit of Tex-Mex fare is available in the form of Nachos and Sante Fe Chicken sandwiches, you may be surprised to see find plenty of pasta and flatbreads up for grabs, too.

You can enjoy your meal right there in the roomy dining area, or choose one of many grab-and-go options like an entrée salad or sandwich.

The fantastic dessert bar tends to fly under the radar, but the cupcakes and cronuts are well worth a look (and taste!). Adults can even pick up a layered Fiesta Margarita here!

Next door, Café Rix also offers an above-par selection of pastries for breakfast, and you can grab a specialty coffee to start your day.

Coronado Springs is home to several Table Service restaurants. Maya Grill serves authentic Mexican fare for dinner (which you can enjoy with a tequila or margarita flight).

Rix Sports Bar & Grill is a casual spot where you can grab some great pub grub (don’t miss the WATCHOS) while you take in the big game on one of its bajillion TV screens.

It was love at first site when the lovely Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Villa del Lago opened to deliver ON-the-water dining to Coronado Springs!

This shaded, open-air restaurant serves up sharable plates along with full entrees like Steak Frites. Or you can simply enjoy a crafted cocktail or a glass or two of house-made sangria.

(Pssst… did you know that you can also earn your Sangria Diploma here? It’s true!)

Casual outdoor lounges include Siestas Cantina, located at the Dig Site pool area. (You can also grab a bite to eat here, too.) Laguna Bar is a small but charming waterfront bar that also serves up some of the eats from Rix Sports Bar & Grill.

But we’re not done yet…

Barcelona Lounge is a stunner of a space, located on the lobby level of Gran Destino Tower.

It serves as an espresso bar by day, and a gin bar by night (though other spirits and wines are also on offer).

Travel all the way up to the rooftop’s Dahlia Lounge to enjoy tapas, Spanish wines, and crafted cocktails in an upscale setting complete with fantastic views.

Those rooftop views extend to the gem that is Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood.

Guests can expect cuisine inspired by Spain at this Signature restaurant, including seafood and steak options. Small plates and House Boards (charcuterie and cheese) are plated in an on-stage tapas kitchen. Wine lovers should take note that 80% of its vintages on the extensive wine list are from Spain.

Truly, it’s almost an embarrassment of riches when it comes to dining at Coronado Springs Resort.

Click HERE for our Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

Results

It’s no contest here. The win goes to Coronado Springs Resort for its sheer variety, food quality, GORGEOUS settings, and wide range of pricing options from casual to upscale. In fact, not only does Coronado Springs win out in a food contest over Caribbean Beach Resort. These days, Coronado Springs can hold its own against Deluxe Resorts when it comes to offering true destination dining in Disney World.



Transportation

So, what happens when you want to explore things OUTSIDE of your Resort? Just like all Disney Resort hotels, free transportation is provided to all four Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs at both Resorts. But there is another MAJOR different to explore…

Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach Resort used to be limited to Disney Bus Transportation.

And while guests can still find Bus service for several destinations, that all changed in a BIG WAY in 2019 with the addition of the Disney Skyliner, connecting EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with four Disney Resorts.

In fact, the Skyliner station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach is the HUB for the gondola system! 

All three Skyliner lines come and go from the Caribbean Beach Skyliner station, and any transfers that happen from line-to-line occur at this station.

From here, guests are able to travel directly to and from Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, Disney’s Riviera Resort continuing to or from EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, meanwhile, simply offers bus service.

And, due to the fact that the nearest park is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, that means you can expect longer rides times to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom.

Find our Guide to Disney World Transportation HERE

Results

Again, this is an easy win…. But this time that win goes to Caribbean Beach Resort, which has earned major bragging rights in this category thanks to the Disney Skyliner!

The Winner!

“Aaaand the winner is”... whichever Resort YOU think it is for your group’s needs and desires. If a certain style or vibe doesn’t jump out at you between Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, you might find it most helpful to consider your group’s park touring M.O. above other factors. If you plan on making the theme parks the focus of your vacation, Caribbean Beach Resort might be your best bet due to better transportation, with the Disney Skyliner providing easy access to TWO parks! Plan on enjoying your Resort’s dining options while there? You’ve got LOTS more to choose from at Coronado Springs Resort.

The great news, though, is that BOTH Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs Resorts have come a LONG way over the past several years, jumping to the top of the list of many guests (even over some Deluxe Resorts) for all of the factors we’ve discussed here. So our question to YOU is… which Resort do you prefer from what you’ve seen today? We’d love to hear it!

Contemporary vs. BoardWalk Inn Disney World Resort Guide 2023

Would you rather stay at Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs? Please let us know with a comment!