Pop vs Coronado for split stay

[SugarSweetLee]

Hi all! We are doing a split stay Dec 18-25. We will be moving to Swan halfway through and will have 1 HS, 2 EP and 1 MK day while there. During the first 3 nights/2 days of the trip, I'm undecided between Pop and Coronado. We will be doing 1 AK and 1 MK day, so Skyliner access is not a factor.

It will be our honeymoon, btw. Is Coronado worth the extra splurge? (budget IS a factor for us) How does the bus/pool/food situation currently compare at each?

 

[Heather07438]

I think Coronado is worth the splurge for a more romantic setting overall. And (if it's open?) you can check out the new Gran Destino tower which is gorgeous.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Can't speak to the current food situation since I haven't been to either resort since before the shutdown....

But as an experienced adult, I do prefer Coronado. It's probably my old-timey, Gen X'er taste in decor, but Pop is a grey, laminate and cramped. The vanity situation is horrible. There's barely any room to turn around. Coronado is beiger/tanner, so perhaps ever so slightly "warmer" and slightly less cramped. And I love the landscaping too.

On the other hand, I actually wouldn't go out of my way to stay at either.....

 

[RoseGold]

Neither of these hotels are what I would consider honeymoon worthy, especially Pop. It's cheap and cutesy and overrun with kids, but you are on your honeymoon. Coronado is mostly a business hotel, again not your goal. And I would definitely not be relying on a value resort bus system. For your honeymoon, I'd try to extend Swolphin.

If you can't do that, I'd rent DVC points and go to Saratoga. Or, I'd go Caribbean Beach. I'd take the skyliner to the RIV resort, if I need better buses. Or, take some Ubers and go to Margaritaville, especially if that first day is open.

 

[sWDWcopeland]

Google room pictures. I think you'll like the feel and look of Coronado much more than POP. Also check out 3 Bridges bar and grill atCSR. It's worth it!!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Forgot to mention, we have done Pop before! (as well as AoA and some AS) It's been fine, but normally we are open to close parksers, where this trip will be a little more leisurely. We do have a budget (already close to maxed out ), which is why some of the other resorts (particular Deluxe) aren't in the running.

We also can't rent DVC points due to needing a little flexibility with dates if there is any early season snow that will extend my husband's classes later than projected [we are set to leave on the day of his last exam]).

Coronado and Swan would both be new to us. I have been reading some terrible reviews lately about Swalphin that have me a bit skeeved out and wary of doing any of our stay there, let alone the whole thing...but the location can't be beat for the days that we want to go to EP/HS, which is why (so far) we haven't canceled or changed that leg of the trip.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

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[SugarSweetLee]

Neither of these hotels are what I would consider honeymoon worthy, especially Pop. It's cheap and cutesy and overrun with kids, but you are on your honeymoon. Coronado is mostly a business hotel, again not your goal. And I would definitely not be relying on a value resort bus system. For your honeymoon, I'd try to extend Swolphin.

Swan has recently changed to Mears buses, which seem worse than Disney's system from everything I've read so far, so I'm just not sure how that would be an improvement.

And forgive me if I misread your statement, but are you saying Coronado has a value resort bus system?

 

[RoseGold]

Swolphin are lovely. They have much better hotel dining, because they are trying to get you stay in the (non-Disney) hotel. I think Swolphin is a great choice.

I think the bedding is better than the Disney deluxe. They have bathrobes, which even $800/night Poly does not. I didn't get one, but I think some of the rooms have a killer view. And you get the swan paddleboat on the lake for free.

Transport is likely to be a mess wherever you stay, I would expect some Ubers. Pop buses are dead opposite of what I am looking for in a honeymoon experience, even in the best case scenario. Swolphin has the advantage that you could use BW/Yacht buses next door.

 

[Farro]

Neither of these hotels are what I would consider honeymoon worthy, especially Pop. It's cheap and cutesy and overrun with kids, but you are on your honeymoon. Coronado is mostly a business hotel, again not your goal. And I would definitely not be relying on a value resort bus system. For your honeymoon, I'd try to extend Swolphin.

If you can't do that, I'd rent DVC points and go to Saratoga. Or, I'd go Caribbean Beach. I'd take the skyliner to the RIV resort, if I need better buses. Or, take some Ubers and go to Margaritaville, especially if that first day is open.

Have you stayed at Gran Destino? Looks gorgeous, totally couple-worthy. Not many conventions happening right now either.

OP - CSR has a lot more options than POP for dinner/cocktails at night:
Three Bridges (on the water and looks very nice, outdoors, lantern lighting, faux fireplace)
Dahlia Lounge (beautiful with a spectacular view)
Rix Bar/Grill. Plus pool bar and Barcelona Lounge in the mornings for specialty coffees and pastries.

Your transportation is bus. It's centrally located, so (i'm told) a short ride once you get going!

 

[RoseGold]

Have you stayed at Gran Destino? Looks gorgeous, totally couple-worthy. Not many conventions happening right now either.

Location is a complete non-starter to me. Might as well be off-site. If I'm going to stay off-site, it will be somewhere nicer, like Margaritaville. For that price, you could go even nicer. Coronado is a beast of a business hotel, like a huge casino hotel. I do not consider that romantic. I recognize many people are looking for that, but not me, and it sounds like not OP.

There are many things Disney hotels do NOT do well, like toiletries and bedding and bathrobes, even in the deluxe.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Have you stayed at Gran Destino? Looks gorgeous, totally couple-worthy. Not many conventions happening right now either.

OP - CSR has a lot more options than POP for dinner/cocktails at night:
Three Bridges (on the water and looks very nice, outdoors, lantern lighting, faux fireplace)
Dahlia Lounge (beautiful with a spectacular view)
Rix Bar/Grill. Plus pool bar and Barcelona Lounge in the mornings for specialty coffees and pastries.

Your transportation is bus. It's centrally located, so (i'm told) a short ride once you get going!

GDT does look lovely! It's just out of reach for our budget, which is already stretched.

 

[Farro]

GDT does look lovely! It's just out of reach for our budget, which is already stretched.

I think the rooms in all of CSR are very similar to the Tower decor. You can still use all the amenities at the Tower. Just in case you were still wondering!

Have a great trip!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I think the rooms in all of CSR are very similar to the Tower decor. You can still use all the amenities at the Tower. Just in case you were still wondering!

Have a great trip!

Thank you for the tip!

 

[Octoberbaby]

We usually stay deluxe, but CSR was a wonderful surprise for us when we stayed last year. We thought GDT was so beautiful we are booked there in a few months instead of YC, which is my absolute favorite. It was the resort that I least expected to enjoy, but the dining and lounges especially with the addition of GDT puts it up there as one of our favorites now.