CBR or CSR?

[motaei]

Hi! I am new to this site. I was going to make reservations at ASM for mid December for 6 nights, but I'm thinking they will offer a discount that will make the moderates a good deal during this time, so I am thinking CBR or CSR. (POR sounds too iffy with the construction). We will be two families with 4 kids: three boys age 10 & one girl age 8. Can anyone help me decide which resort would be better? I have been designated the "official" travel agent for the trip. :confused:
Thanks in advance

[daannzzz]

Both are wonderful, colorful, fun resorts. The Caribbean Beach has slightly bigger rooms (340 Square feet) and two sinks in the vanity area. Coronado Springs rooms are 315 square feet and have only one sink in the vanity but have a coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Both are arrayed around a lake. The lake at CBR is much bigger but has a bridge across the middle. CSR has a smaller lake and a bridge on one side of the lake making it convenient for people on that side but not on the other. CBR has 6 quiet pools and the main Pirate pool with a small slide. CSR has 3 quiet pools and a large mainpool with pyramid and water cascading down the steps with a much longer slide. You will find people debate over the food court at CSR. I like it a lot but others didn't care for it. Look at all the pictures and choose the one you like the best. Both are great for a WDW stay.

[Karebear]

You will get many different replies on this one. However, my family's vote goes to CSR. The reasons being that we like the main pool area more than CBR and also have experienced the best bus transportation at CSR (the best on property so far). If those things aren't important to you, then you might like CBR more. They both are great places to stay. Happy planning!

[stringercapecod]

I'll start by saying I haven't stayed at any of the moderate resorts but on our last trip we resort-hopped to all of them.
It's really a matter of personal taste. I loved the country feel of PO Riverside but I would have to agree with you about the renovations. CBR was very pretty with lots of trees and grass but still a tropical, beachy feel. The main pool area was nice and adjacent to the food court which was also clean and new looking. CSR was my least favorite. We ate at the food court and I didn't care for the food at all. The grounds were very "southwest", kind of brown and dry looking. The pool was cool but smaller than I expected.

Hope my two cents helps. :p

[motaei]

Thanks everyone so far for responding! Karebear - I am sure the kids will prefer the long slide (I hope the weather will be "warm" enough in December - not that the kids care too much anyway ;) ) & since we plan on park hopping, the bus service will be very important to us. Thanks for the input. Since we may never get a chance to ever get to WDW again, I just want to make the best choice I can. I look forward to more input from others. :)

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

motaei:

My vote goes to the CBR. We stayed at CSR in 1999 and really did not care for it that much. I will admit that it was probably due to the location of our rooms--all the way in the back. We would rather of been upfront by the main bus transportation and food court. Back then, I did not know any better to request a certain location.

Next year, we are going to stay at CBR and I will fax in my room request.

Either way, you will certainly have a great time!!!

P.S.--My voted would of been PO--French Quarters if that could of been an option.

[Buzz2001]

They are very similar. Check out my website below for info and pics of CSR

[shellyhoward]

I have not been to CBR, but I loved CSR. We stayed in the Cabanas section (9B). Our view of the lake was beautiful. The flowers were gorgeous, the small sand area with the hammocks was very relaxing and the kids loved it too. I also loved the main pool area. The slide is definitely a must for the kids. I didn't go to the pepper market much, but I did like it the couple times we ate there. We had rented a car so we ate outside the resort mostly.

I am sure whichever you choose you will LOVE....lots of luck!

[epcotfan]

If the kids love swimming then my vote would go to CSR. They have a long slide. It is 123 feet long. Also the pool is wonderful!
If you prefer larger quarters then CBR may be the way to go.

[SuzEm]

I just returned from a stay at CBR and was really a little disappointed in comparison to our stay at CSR in 2000. CBR is very nice and the landscaping is beautiful, but I just wasn't as impressed with that resort as I was with CSR. The bus service at CSR is far superior. We stayed in Ranchos 6B which really didn't seem that far to me in comparison to how far it seemed from Jamaica 46 to Port Royale. I think I liked the wide open feel of CSR more than the closed in feel of CBR. I know CBR rooms are larger, but they really didn't feel any larger than CSR. In fact, when we stayed at CSR, we moved to WL and the rooms at WL actually felt smaller to me than CSR (I know they're not). I prefered the pool at CSR to CBR, and also preferred the quite pools. When comparing CSR to WL I really couldn't decide which I liked better - really liked them both. I think CSR has a little more deluxe feel to it than CBR. Of the resorts I've stayed at, CBR is the only one I probably wouldn't return to unless I had to.

[ppony]

The 10th through the 16th of Dec and we're staying at CSR. We've had the fortune of staying at 7 of the resorts in the last 3 trips (resort hopping is SO fun!). We have not stayed at the CSR yet but have heard lots of good about it (some bad of course)...it's all in the individual experience. I didn't care of CBR at all. Many reasons really but there were so many things that rubbed me the wrong way (and I'm NOT too picky) that I won't go back there. I had a not so plesant stay at the Poly too but I will try it again, so I'm not stuck in general with one experience but there's just so much else to experience. It was isolated I hope. Though I MUST concur with many about the musty smell!!! WHOA. PO-FQ was wonderful! We loved it! PO-RS was nice but I prefer FQ though not their restaurant. SO that's my take!!!

Of all the DIS boards, I bet I spend the most time on this one. I just love the resorts. resort planning is so much fun to me! I think I'll be caving soon and putting us in the Poly or Contemp for the last 2 or 3 days of our trip. I can't help it! Have fun planning!!!!! It's our favorite time of year to go!:wave:

[motaei]

Hi ppony!
Maybe I'll see you there! We are planning from the 12th to the 18th! Actually, my family may get there on the 11th, so that I am there when our friends arrive from overseas on the 12th. (Since I'm reserving the room, I have to check in for all of us....as I understand it) Oh darn! One extra night for me. :jester: ! Since I am also "tour guide", this should give me a chance to get oriented a little bit before we dig into WDW.
I have to admit that CSR is sounding better & better on this thread. I love all the input!!!!

[AreWeThereYet]

We have stayed at both resorts. CBR once and CSR twice. Guess which one we liked better??

We would actually go back to Coronado Springs again for two reasons: The great pool area and the wonderful Pepper Market. This food court seems to have a much better selection and better quality options for mealtime. We have enjoyed eating all types of dishes for all meals, and have never been disappointed with the food or the service. Rooms are fine for our family of four, and we found that if we get a room between the main building and the pool it makes walking to either place a breeze.

CBR was the first WDW resort we stayed at and we would not hesitate to go back if there was no room at CSR. We've also been to POR and liked those rooms as well, but we only spent the night before a cruise so I can't really comment on the amenities there.

Hope you enjoy your stay - I'm sure you will, no matter which resort you choose.



:jester:

[safetymom]

CBR would be my choice. I just returned from a stay at CSR. I was attending a convention. I wasn't that impressed with the Pepper Market. I don't like the mandatory 10% that they charge for seating you and bringing your drinks. Yes you get real silverware but I got my food for takeout to avoid the charge.

I was in building 4 which wasn't convenient to anything except the very noisy quiet pool.

I wasn't impressed with the bus service either. I waited at the main stop.

I also wasn't impressed with the room theming. It just looked drab and too many patterns going on. If you need your cell phone forget about reception in many parts of the resort. I saw many people hanging off the balconies or down by the lake to get reception.

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by safetymom
If you need your cell phone forget about reception in many parts of the resort. I saw many people hanging off the balconies or down by the lake to get reception.

Cell phone problems are not limited to CSR. I had trouble at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and most of the Theme Parks.

[safetymom]

I was comparing the cell reception between CBR and CSR. At CBR I could receive calls in my room. It only went to voice mail at CSR.

Since CSR is a convention hotel you would think the reception would be better. There were large groups of people in the spots that did receive reception about the convention centre.

BTW, if you stop in the gift shop at CSR CM's Doris and Karl are wonderful.

[Buzz2001]

I also wasn't impressed with the room theming. It just looked drab and too many patterns going on.

The color schemes in both rooms are very festive. Not sure what you talking about.

http://www.wdwig.com/cscasrm.jpg
CSR room

http://yourmagicaljourneys.com/images/csr_room1.JPG
CSR room

http://www.wdwig.com/cbr34.jpg
CBR room

http://www.wdwig.com/cbr24.jpg
CBR room

[safetymom]

That is not the bedspread that was on the beds in my room and the others in my party at CSR. They were tan with black. Sorry I didn't take a picture of them to share.

[Buzz2001]

Could be...each section at CSR has a different bedspread but I don't remember a tan and black one. Maybe they have new ones. Does anyone have newer photos? Time for another trip to update photos.

http://www.wdwig.com/cs101.jpg
ranchos

[safetymom]

We were in Casitas 4 & 5.

[SuzEm]

CBR has it's share of people hanging off the balconies to talk on their cell phones. I could receive calls in my room, but I usually stepped outside for better reception (I was on the 2nd floor). Other people I talked to there could get absolutely no reception in their rooms, so I considered myself lucky to get calls in the room. Friends of mine there at the same time could get no reception without going to the parking lot. I think what kind of phone you have has a lot to do with it.

[safetymom]

We had 5 different phones and 5 different providers and they all had problems at CSR. We went other places in WDW and didn't have that problem.

My point is since CSR is a convention hotel it should have had better reception. When I stay at CBR I am on vacation so it doesn't make a difference but when I am at CSR I am trying to conduct business so being able to make and receive calls is important.

[susy]

I've been to both and like both. I think kids their age will like the slide at CSR better. At CBR, it is MUCH shorter.

They do have lunch items at the pool (CSR) and the breakfast buffet at Maya Grill was YUMMY!!!!

[Buzz2001]

My point is since CSR is a convention hotel it should have had better reception. reception isn't up to the resort or WDW, its up to your provider. They position the towers and satellites.

[safetymom]

I find it hard to believe that Disney can't do something about this. There wasn't one person there that wasn't grumbling about the phone problem. If you stood by the fountain when you came out of the exit of the Pepper Market you could get reception. Move two feet and your signal was gone.

We ended up switching hotels so we could receive phone calls. I am sure many others complained about the problem. I also put that in my letter of complaint and thanks to the resort and WDW.

I don't care to debate this but thought I would pass the information along. I thought that is what this board is about sharing information. Someone else may need to be in touch when they are staying at CSR.

[Buzz2001]

There is no debate, you just don't care for CSR and that's your right as it is everyone else here to have an opinion on their favorite resort.

That's what's great about WDW, they have a resort for almost everyone.

[safetymom]

I can understand why some families like CSR over CBR. I was just reporting my experience at CSR.

WDW is wonderful that they try to provide something for everyone with all their resorts.

[motaei]

Thank you for all of your wonderful input! I just got off the phone with CRO & made my reservations!!:bounce: I have to admit the water slide & the large hot tub were the clinchers for me, so we will be staying at CSR. (actually the bad cell phone reception is sort of a good thing...as I am married to a man who is a bit of a work-aholic) ;) I've been to Dinseyland & Legoland with him standing in line talking business. Thank you again for all the great feedback!! WDW, here we come!!!

[Buzz2001]

Great choice! Enjoy and have a great time!!!