Inside the design of Disney World’s new Gran Destino Tower

Disney’s Coronado Springs resort recently opened the Gran Destino tower which sits near Lago Dorado (“golden lake”) and adds 545 modern guest rooms and new meeting and dining spaces to the convention focused resort. The new tower has a distinctive look and its lobby will be the new check-in location for the entire resort.

We spoke with David Stofcik, executive architect at Walt Disney Imagineering, about the design of the hotel and how the incorporated it into the Spanish and Mexican theme of Coronado Springs.

Gran Destino Tower takes its name from the classic Disney film “Destino.” Drawing inspiration from the surrealist animated short, the tower is a whimsical, magnificent visual feast, diverse in its design and execution. The tower’s outdoor Destino Plaza are also ideal for weddings, business receptions or other special events.

The design of the hotel takes its inspiration from the springs found inside the Mayan-ruin themed pool complex and the resort’s lake that is visible from within the hotel’s lobby.

Past its grand entrance and signature ribbon-patterned design that climbs up the side of Gran Destino Tower, guests step into a stunning lobby – an homage to the Catalan Modernism style. On their way to check in, new arrivals pass intricate wooden screens with rows of beautiful Moorish hanging lanterns, while decorative bronze screens inspired by Spanish tile patterns accent the rear wall of the lobby.

The warm colors and patterns of Barcelona inspire the sun-filled Barcelona Lounge on the lobby’s lower level, offering plenty of casual seating and lake views. Beneath a magnificent chandelier framed by sculpted plaster columns, guests can enjoy coffee in the morning and cocktails as the day progresses.

While we’ve heard a lot of complaints about how plain the hotel looks on the outside, the inside has a lot of playful elements and is a brilliant reflection of the Spanish architecture styles of Seville and Catalan regions of Spain. For a moderate resort, the Gran Destino tower adds a lot of Deluxe level design and amenities, elevating Coronado Springs to what Disney reps called their first “Lifestyle” brand hotel.