Over the last few days, a lot of All in WDW’s readers have asked me, “Hey!  You love Coronado Springs, Bob.  What do you think about the big news?”

What news?  Well, unless ‘real life’ has had you completely covered up, you’ve seen the reports by now.  It’s all over the ‘net!  Coronado is being “re-tooled”!

More Guest Experiences and Dining Options Coming to Disney’s Coronado Springs!

First, let me ‘pat myself on the back’ for a minute.  I somewhat saw this coming.  Want the proof?  Listen back to …

WDW Main Street – Episode #311 – An “Untouchable” Marathon – The WDW Resorts!

Go to the 1 hour and 14 minute mark, my friends, and you’ll get an initial taste of how I’d start to re-imagine Coronado.

Further, go back to my post from last Monday!  In “Two Unheralded Table Services …”, I commented …

“Coronado Springs is currently undergoing a full refurbishment of their guest rooms.  I’m going to sit back and dream a bit.

Might one of their little-known, under-appreciated Table Services – Maya Grill or Las Ventanas – be next?”

Sure, I never dreamed that Disney would “transform [Coronado’s] landscape with floating gardens and an island oasis that connects the resort through a series of bridges.”

Neither did I imagine an “expansion”!  A “new 15-story tower”?  “[R]ooftop dining with panoramic views” of Disney’s fireworks?  Wow!

Back to the original question … what do I think?  It’s simple.  At the same time as I feel excitement, I also feel deep regret.  So many family memories.  And, our beloved Laguna Bar!

I’ve said this many times before … Mrs. All in WDW and I consider Coronado to be a resort with a Deluxe feel at a Moderate price.

Clearly, this transformation is aimed at elevating the resort.  With the major investments that Disney is making, I think it’s fair to expect Coronado’s moderately-priced status to become a thing of the past.

With this in mind, my opinions are this …

• I fear that the Coronado we’ve long known and loved is about to become a distant, fond afterthought.
• I fear that our $150 – $200 per night room is going to be transformed, itself, into a $350 – $400 per night room.
• I fear that our favorite place on property – Laguna Bar – will, too, become a thing of the past.
• How, exactly, will a 15-story tower fit in with the resort’s “Spanish Colonial” theme?
• I could go on and on …

My friends, we know that “progress” is inevitable.  The metamorphosis that Disney has laid out is truly exciting.  I can’t wait to see the results.

Yet, I can’t help but be very, very sad.  Oh, it’ll make for a great resort, I’m sure.  However, it won’t be our Coronado Springs.