To those who have stayed at both Coronado and Caribbean...

breebella

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Which resort did you like better? Here is my dilemma. I have stayed a Coronado twice and enjoyed it very much. I want to try something new, but afraid to mess with a good thing. I'm not interested in POR at all.

My questions:

Is Caribbean Beach resort larger than Coronado? I know some people complain about the size of both resorts, but I have not found the walk around Coronado to be a problem because its so pretty.

The main pool at CB is closed, so how is that impacting the quiet pools? Are they more crowded?

How does the bus system compare? Coronado does not share, how about Caribbean?

Finally, how about the food? I've heard lots of complaints about the Pepper Market, but I find it to be good, especially when on the dining plan. How is the food at CB?

Thanks so much.
 
Your right, don't mess with a good thing. CSR has everything you like. A fantastic main pool area, the best transportation I've experienced at any WDW resort and terrific food options. The check in area is in the same building as the food court and every building has an elevator.
 
I've stayed at both. Caribbean Beach way back when I wanted to try something new as well. We had only stayed at what is now called Riverside. It was fine but nothing that knocked my socks off. Since then, if we have stayed at a moderate, I pick Coronado Springs. We once did French Quarter and that one did knock my socks off. I thought I was giving Caribbean Beach the short shift because of the earlier experience so we tried it again. Still didn't knock my socks off.

We are two adults (the first Caribbean Beach stay was with our teenage son). We did NOT like the hot tub at Caribbean Beach being right smack dab in the middle of the main pool. Coronado Springs seemed more peaceful. We were in the Ranchos section and it was quiet (although not close to anything but that was fine with us).

Of the moderates, here are my choices - French Quarter, Coronado Springs, Riverside (but that is tainted because we haven't stayed there for a while - it could be #2), and then way in the back Caribbean Beach. It just wasn't "Us".

Just my 2 cents.
 
We've only stayed at the CSR. We have visited all of the other moderates and eaten at all of their counter services. We did not like the counter service at the Caribbean at all. In fact, only two of the stations were open when we were there...I think we were there around 2:30 in the afternoon. The resort itself is very pretty, it is just not us because we go to the real beach for the "tropical."
 


I have stayed at both (as well as both Port Orleans) and I prefer CBR. I preferred the lusher grounds, it has the nicest quiet pools I have seen at any WDW property, the lovely exterior of the buildings and we had wonderful bus service, the best we have had at any moderate. Although I think bus service is just hit or miss and a luck thing. You can have good or bad with that at any resort. We never had any problems at CBR and they don't share busses with any other resort just as CSR doesn't. I also loved the fact that at CBR you have some incredible views of Illuminations which was very nice. As far as size, I didnt' notice it being any bigger than CSR (even though I know its technically a larger lake that the buidlings surround). Both resorts are spread out, if the size of CSR didnt' bother you, the size of CBR will not either.

The rooms at CBR are a tad bigger and it has double sinks vs. the single sink set up at CSR. Not a biggie for some, for others that double sink thing is a must! Our room was always spotlessly clean at CBR and CSR, so we had good experiences with both resorts.

I don't think you can make a bad choice. I might lean towards trying CBR after their main pool is reopened however, the quiet pools are again very nice (there are six of them) and two have slides. CBR was the one resort we stayed at where nobody in my family of four was in any hurry to get to the parks!

I enjoyed CBR's food court more than CSR's but that's just me. We ate at least one meal there each of our nine day stay and all the stations were always open. I also liked the fact it there was no gratuity added. I have eaten at both Maya Grill and Shutters and would rank those about even (enjoyed them both). CBR doesn't have the room service CSR does.

Again, I don't think you can make a bad choice. CSR has a hugely loyal fan base so I am sure you will get a ton of responses in that resort's favor. I happen to love them both, just love CBR more. Have fun deciding, that's half the fun!
 


We have stayed at both. We prefer CBR over CSR. I felt like I did much more walking at CSR.

I didn't like that I had to pay a mandatory 10% tip to eat in the Pepper Market. They sat us and then disappeared. This happened more than once.

I think once the new pool opens at CBR many people will find that CBR is their favorite resort.
 
I have stayed a Coronado twice and enjoyed it very much. I want to try something new, but afraid to mess with a good thing. I'm not interested in POR at all.

Is Caribbean Beach resort larger than Coronado? I know some people complain about the size of both resorts, but I have not found the walk around Coronado to be a problem because its so pretty.

Thanks so much.
You answered you own question. ;)

CBR surrounds a 45 acre lake and CSR only a 15 acre lake. CBR does not have elevators and CSR does in each building not to mention the spa, fitness center and salon. The also have the new Rix Lounge and Cafe Rix.

CSR because the main pool area is great, the transportation is the best and the food options are terrific. You won't find a bigger, better selection and if you on the DDP, it the best CS location. You can get a rib eye steak for CS credit.
 
We have stayed at the CSR several times, 10 times to be exact!
Like you we wanted to try something different so last june we tried the CBR, and sorry to say we probably will never stay there again.:sad1:
First of all the rooms were ok not much different then the CSR other then the 2 sinks, (no big deal for our family of 4). The one think I didn't care for is the air conditioner in the CBR, it is under the window, so if you want to sit by the window it gets chilly and if I turn it down or off the room warms up quick. We also had some pretty trashy neighbors. Every night they would sit in their doorway drinking and smoking, putting their smoke buts out in the wall. I'm not saying that their is anything wrong with drinking, (I myself like to sit back with a drink or two while on vaca.) but these people were trashed and loud every night, a different type of individuals.
We stayed in Aurba #51 which was short walk over the bridge to the food court, but we found ourself driving to the bus stop because at the end of the night, that walk got pretty long back to the room. They also have several more bus stops. So as far as the bus, CSR hands down.
Was not impressed with the food court at CBR the food was nothing really different. The CSR has more variety, and the additional 10% for real flatware, napkins, plates and someone to get your drinks, clear your table.....well worth it.
We have stayed at the CR, Poly, WL, AKL, POR and POFQ as well. CSR is our favorite moderate with the POFQ following a close 2nd.
If your mind is not completely made up, try a split stay.
:goodvibes
 
We also had some pretty trashy neighbors. Every night they would sit in their doorway drinking and smoking, putting their smoke buts out in the wall. I'm not saying that their is anything wrong with drinking, (I myself like to sit back with a drink or two while on vaca.) but these people were trashed and loud every night, a different type of individuals.

You do realize that trashy people probably also on occasion stay at CSR so that while your experience with these annoying and rude neighbors was unfortunate, it can happen anywhere and is not indicative of the typical CBR patron. When you say they were "different type of individuals" does that mean different from you or different from CSR guests?

I have to say that as much as I love CSR and understand the loyal following, it amazes me how so many of these threads turn into something that makes one feel like they are having a brain fart if they choose a different moderate.
 
You do realize that trashy people probably also on occasion stay at CSR so that while your experience with these annoying and rude neighbors was unfortunate, it can happen anywhere and is not indicative of the typical CBR patron. When you say they were "different type of individuals" does that mean different from you or different from CSR guests?

I have to say that as much as I love CSR and understand the loyal following, it amazes me how so many of these threads turn into something that makes one feel like they are having a brain fart if they choose a different moderate.


I can't speak for the pp, but perhaps she is tired of all the people that talk about how all the convention people are always drunk at the CSR and wanted it pointed out that it happened at a resort other than CSR. We ran into it at the POR when we made the mistake of going there for dinner last year. Like I said, I'm not speaking for her. And like you said, it happens everywhere--NOT just the CSR or the CBR.
 
Well when that gets posted (and for the record I don't find nearly as many anti CSR posts as I do anti CBR posts, I think because CSR is so sacred who would dare) I tell people, when I stayed there that wasn't my experience. And there was a huge convention during our stay and I didn't see one out of the ordinary thing. I had a friend who stayed there two weeks ago and she noticed it and I told her that its not the norm. The fact her husband was part of the convention and in on the fun may have been her beef, who knows!

I just have noticed that there are posters who have a uniform answer to "stay at CSR its the best" for each and every "where should I stay thread". I happen to think that when someone has the same answer to each and every question, they have a blind spot.

To me different families have different needs so sometimes I will go off my CBR radar of love and actually recommend something else.

And I have to add to clarify my own point of view, given the pool closure at CBR, I think the OP should stick with CSR and then try CBR for another trip. As much as I love CBR I didn't stay there last trip because of the pool thing. I have to practice what I preach I guess!
 
I like the money saved by not tipping at the food court, I don't care about the different food either at PM. If i'm at a mod its because I wanted to save money that trip or I just go deluxe. I don't appreciate the raised prices and tipping at PM so I choose not to go there.

I have to agree with some of the other pps who say if you speak an opinion against CSR you're often treated as deficient in some way. I don't really see what's wrong with my opinion, but I've been ripped for it before. The added cost is there but frequently i'm told its not or to ignore it or something else like it elsewhere. I choose to eat elsewhere, any other mod. If its not a big deal for you, then enjoy the lovely food at csr :).

I find the grounds very nice at CBR, and I think it'll be humorous to see how many people change their tune when the new pool opens up just because its new. I quite liked the old on myself.

OP, CBR has 7 pools, so they won't get overly crowded even with the main one down.
 
I have stayed at both, and I like Coronado better. The only thing I liked better about CBR was having 2 sinks in the room, and that really is not a big deal to me.

Here are my reasons:
-The Dig site is just way cool!
-I like having the check in desk, guest services and the food court all in one building. This was a hassle for me at CBR. And that stupid internal bus takes forever.
-I really liked the food court at CSR. It felt like eating table service.
-I liked that the resort had fewer bus stops so it didn't take forever to get out in the mornings.
-Both resorts are pretty, and though I liked seeing the Illuminations fireworks from CBR, I hated that I could see Pop Century and Bonnet Creek (an offsite resort)
 
Have stayed at both and enjoyed both stays but prefer CSR. CBR is nice but it has less efficient busing and less desirable dining imho. The grounds at both are beautiful but we feel the rooms at CSR are cleaners, fresher, and more comfortable.
After trying CBR last summer for a change, we decided from now on when we are staying moderate to go with CSR. :)
 

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