Most recently, Disney has been in the news over their acquisition of Lucas Films & Lucas Arts, thus granting Disney the rights to the most famous film franchise - and "nerd franchise" - of all time, Star Wars. But did you know that Disney also owns ABC and ESPN? One of America's most watched networks, and the everyday sports fanatics favorite TV Channel are owned by the same company that places "Hidden Mickey's" in their theme park bathrooms. May seem comical, but Disney Corporation is a powerhouse.
While it is true that Disney's target audience is children, the corporation understands that without the parents taking their kids to the parks and buying merchandise, their empire would crumble. That being said, Disney places a ton of attention on the adults as well. At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the argument can be made that there are more adult-oriented creations than what exists for children.
While most of the parks themselves are designed for kids (EPCOT being the primary exception), many of the resorts located on Disney property are almost exclusively designed for adults. The Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, & Coronado Springs were designed with the parents in mind. You don't have to have a kid to enjoy what Disney has to offer. In fact, it is suggested that you make a trip with a friend or loved one and really kick back and take it all in.
Twice per year, usually around August-September, Disney offers 35% Florida Residence discounts as a way to boost revenue during the end of Summer (they consider this the beginning of the "slow season"). The areas aren't too crowded this time of year, as all of the kids have returned to school. It is the best time to visit Disney World.
My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at the Coronado Springs Resort this past weekend. We are annual pass holders for the parks, but this was a weekend of firsts. We had never stayed at this particular resort before, and we were most certainly impressed from the start. According to the Disney website, Coronado Springs Resort is influenced by Spanish-Colonial Mexico, and its layout is inspired by the adventures of explorer Don Francisco de Coronado.
Coronado Springs offers plenty of on-site amenities such as 2 swimming pools, hot tub, an open market cafe for breakfast & lunch, Maya Grill restaurant (dinner only. Reservations recommended), multiple outdoor bars, an indoor lounge (that doesn't allow persons under 21 after 9pm), a jogging trail, salon, La Vida Health Center, laundry center, & a childcare center (if you do bring your kids). Disney also offers buses which can take you to Downtown Disney, where you can partake in great shopping, live shows, multiple restaurants, & much more. The resort also has a nice sized shop that sells all things Disney related, along with the essentials, and an alcohol counter and cigar humidor. This resort was truly designed with adults in mind. Beautiful landscaping and water features, combined with Latin-inspired music really provide an excellent and entertaining environment.
Coronado Springs is spaciously laid out, with the buildings (Casita's) wrapping around a lake. Walking paths make any part of the resort easily accessible to each other and the main complex. Vaulted ceilings, tile floors, & Spanish style architecture greet you as you enter the main building.
During our stay, we never visited a theme park. There was so much to do outside of the parks that easily occupied our time. Not too far down the road is a mini-golf course. Got pets? Not a problem, Disney offers a 5-star pet resort nearby as well!There are so many ways to enjoy Disney World without having to fork out the $90 for a 1-day park pass. Let your biggest expense be the resort of your choice, and partake in the incredible amenities that Disney offers. You don't have to cram into a theme park and wait in 90-minute lines for rides just to have the "Disney Experience". There's so much more to that, and most adults are looking for a nice getaway. Resorts like Coronado Springs offer the perfect opportunity for that.
This is of course a theme park based area. Every resort will have children, but you'll have a much more relaxing time if you stay at places like Coronado Springs than you would the more kid-oriented resorts like the 3 All-Star Resorts, which are 100% child-oriented. During our stay, we only encountered a handful of children.The prices will be higher for 4+ Star resorts, but you'll most certainly be getting what you paid for, and Disney makes a great effort in making it worth your while.
If you're ever in the mood for a nice getaway in Orlando, I strongly recommend you treat yourself to a great place like Coronado Springs Resort. You can always work off the extra money you spend here, because it will certainly be worth every penny.
For Disney's Coronado Springs Website, click here!
-James
