Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2011

[KatMark]

All the photos have now been inserted.

For anyone who has been recently or who is going, please feel free to post pictures...the more the merrier.

If you want me to add some to the photo page, please PM me so that I can give you my email address to send them to me and then I will insert them in the appropriate place.

Again, I thank you for ALL of your support over the years.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Buzz sent over some additions to the convention schedule - I'll get the list updated over the weekend.

 

[LuvMySoldier07]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to write a short review about my recent stay at Coronado. First off, we booked a preferred king room and I could not be happier with our room assignment. We stayed in Casista 3 ground level ( room 3113 to be exact) . We were so close to El Centro and had a beautiful courtyard view. We made the mistake on the first day going to bus stop 2, thinking it was closer when actually it was so much better going to bus stop 1 outside el centro. It was also nice because we were the last to be picked up so we went straight to the parks. ( except the days where the Epcot bus took us to Blizzard Beach first and its not even opened!)
The resort is absolutely beautiful! We usually stay at the Poly which is my favorite, but Coronado definitely comes close. I actually like the rooms better at CSR than Poly because of the more modern feel and king sized beds. I also loved having the sink outside the main bathroom area.
The bus service was hit or miss but nothing to complain about. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus, but had full buses most of the week. CSR always seemed to have the closest busstop to the park entrance which we appreciated. The first day at ME, the line for Poly/Contemp/Bay Lake wrapped around, while we were the only ones on the CSR line.
The only negative about this resort was Pepper Market. I did not care for the food, and did not like the set up. It was very crowded both times we went there due to the convention going on which just made the experience worse. Other than that, I have nothing negative to say about CSR. We had an amazing time and can't wait to stay here again in the future

 

[aubriee]

All the photos have now been inserted.
Again, I thank you for ALL of your support over the years.

Great job with the new pictures. Thanks for all you've done for this thread. I hope I didn't jinx myself, but I just added one of the Rancho pictures as my desktop. I still want to be in the Cabanas when I check in next Saturday (just six more days), but did like the picture of the Rancho scenery just as a change for my desk top.

Buzz sent over some additions to the convention schedule - I'll get the list updated over the weekend.

You're doing a really great job on this thread. Thanks so much for taking it over when Kathy needed you to.

 

[lovethattink]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to write a short review about my recent stay at Coronado. First off, we booked a preferred king room and I could not be happier with our room assignment. We stayed in Casista 3 ground level ( room 3113 to be exact) . We were so close to El Centro and had a beautiful courtyard view. We made the mistake on the first day going to bus stop 2, thinking it was closer when actually it was so much better going to bus stop 1 outside el centro. It was also nice because we were the last to be picked up so we went straight to the parks. ( except the days where the Epcot bus took us to Blizzard Beach first and its not even opened!)
The resort is absolutely beautiful! We usually stay at the Poly which is my favorite, but Coronado definitely comes close. I actually like the rooms better at CSR than Poly because of the more modern feel and king sized beds. I also loved having the sink outside the main bathroom area.
The bus service was hit or miss but nothing to complain about. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus, but had full buses most of the week. CSR always seemed to have the closest busstop to the park entrance which we appreciated. The first day at ME, the line for Poly/Contemp/Bay Lake wrapped around, while we were the only ones on the CSR line.
The only negative about this resort was Pepper Market. I did not care for the food, and did not like the set up. It was very crowded both times we went there due to the convention going on which just made the experience worse. Other than that, I have nothing negative to say about CSR. We had an amazing time and can't wait to stay here again in the future

I've never stayed at the Poly but did visit friend's rooms when they've stayed there. The rooms seemed dark. The CSR rooms seem brighter. It is nice having the sink outside the bathroom! More people can get ready at a time.

Was your negative experience at the Pepper Market at lunch or dinner time? Just curious if the shortened lunch hours were a factor in your experience.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question. Our vacation is getting closer and I wondered, since this is our first disney trip, if we should do online check in or not. I am not sure what the benefits are online vs regular check in. If someone can please help me with this, I would really appriciate it. So nervous since this is a surprise and I am trying to get everything together without my DS(10) knowing. Thanks in advance

We usually do online check-in, and we have changed oour room assignment there without any issue. But since this is your first trip to CSR (and to Disney), I'd probably do regular check-in. The CMs in the regular line will spend more time going over the information in your packet and will explain more about transportation, extra magic hours, and the resort in general. Have a great trip!

You're doing a really great job on this thread. Thanks so much for taking it over when Kathy needed you to.

Thanks! It's not that hard when Kathy is still helping and we have so many regulars who are great about answering questions. It's a group effort.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to write a short review about my recent stay at Coronado. First off, we booked a preferred king room and I could not be happier with our room assignment. We stayed in Casista 3 ground level ( room 3113 to be exact) . We were so close to El Centro and had a beautiful courtyard view. We made the mistake on the first day going to bus stop 2, thinking it was closer when actually it was so much better going to bus stop 1 outside el centro. It was also nice because we were the last to be picked up so we went straight to the parks. ( except the days where the Epcot bus took us to Blizzard Beach first and its not even opened!)
The resort is absolutely beautiful! We usually stay at the Poly which is my favorite, but Coronado definitely comes close. I actually like the rooms better at CSR than Poly because of the more modern feel and king sized beds. I also loved having the sink outside the main bathroom area.
The bus service was hit or miss but nothing to complain about. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus, but had full buses most of the week. CSR always seemed to have the closest busstop to the park entrance which we appreciated. The first day at ME, the line for Poly/Contemp/Bay Lake wrapped around, while we were the only ones on the CSR line.
The only negative about this resort was Pepper Market. I did not care for the food, and did not like the set up. It was very crowded both times we went there due to the convention going on which just made the experience worse. Other than that, I have nothing negative to say about CSR. We had an amazing time and can't wait to stay here again in the future

Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you enjoyed CSR. We enjoy the Poly as well, particularly for its location, but I find CSR to be a much better value for the price.

Was your negative experience at the Pepper Market at lunch or dinner time? Just curious if the shortened lunch hours were a factor in your experience.

I was wondering that, too. I know the PM can be busy at breakfast during a convention, but many conventions have lunch brought into the convention center and some have scheduled evening activities. I'm curious if the convention affected PM crowds at a meal other than breakfast.

 

[Tinkerbella001]

Hello everyone!! Just found this thread and read all 10 pages! We will be at CSR in 28 days, so excited We've eaten at the restaurants and love the look and feel of the resort. Also curious about room requests. We are traveling with children, will it be warm enough to swim? We would like to be close to a bus stop as #1 priority, and have already requested adjoining rooms.

Why are so many negative about the ranchos? TIA!

 

[LuvMySoldier07]

I've never stayed at the Poly but did visit friend's rooms when they've stayed there. The rooms seemed dark. The CSR rooms seem brighter. It is nice having the sink outside the bathroom! More people can get ready at a time.

Was your negative experience at the Pepper Market at lunch or dinner time? Just curious if the shortened lunch hours were a factor in your experience.

It was at lunch on our arrival day which was last Saturday. It was very crowded and took a long time just to order the food at the stations. The wait for preparing the food was even longer. The meal took about an hour which I thought was surprising for a "quick service". Me and DBF really prefer the quickservice places with the touch screen ordering, and wound up going to the contemporary for breakfast on MK days bec the food was better and it was much quicker. Again, this was the only negative about our stay at CSR. I loved the resort so much!

 

[cheerbaybee]

Hello everyone!! Just found this thread and read all 10 pages! We will be at CSR in 28 days, so excited We've eaten at the restaurants and love the look and feel of the resort. Also curious about room requests. We are traveling with children, will it be warm enough to swim? We would like to be close to a bus stop as #1 priority, and have already requested adjoining rooms.

Why are so many negative about the ranchos? TIA!

omg we are leaving in 27 days!! lol. With the weather no one really knows what the weather will be like. Just watch the weather channel everyday. Right now the weather is beautiful.... but in florida things change quickly.

 

[lovethattink]

It was at lunch on our arrival day which was last Saturday. It was very crowded and took a long time just to order the food at the stations. The wait for preparing the food was even longer. The meal took about an hour which I thought was surprising for a "quick service". Me and DBF really prefer the quickservice places with the touch screen ordering, and wound up going to the contemporary for breakfast on MK days bec the food was better and it was much quicker. Again, this was the only negative about our stay at CSR. I loved the resort so much!

That's very ironic. We ate at the Pepper Market last Saturday too! But we got there about 10 minutes before it closed at 2. It wasn't very busy then. But the wait for a fajita is ALWAYS long. We ended up getting chicken quesadillas because it's half the wait.

Promptly at 2 those gates went down. But they continued to serve those inside.

 

[saskdw]

25 Days here!!!

 

[LuvMySoldier07]

That's very ironic. We ate at the Pepper Market last Saturday too! But we got there about 10 minutes before it closed at 2. It wasn't very busy then. But the wait for a fajita is ALWAYS long. We ended up getting chicken quesadillas because it's half the wait.

Promptly at 2 those gates went down. But they continued to serve those inside.

We were there around 12:30 so that's probably why it was so packed. I got the chicken quesadilla also and dbf had a burrito. I thought the food was alright at lunch but did not care for my cold french toast and bacon for breakfast.
Did you try Maya Grill? It looked like such a pretty restaurant and hardly anyone was ever eating there. We just never had the time to try it and we wish we had.
By the way, wasn't the weather beautiful last week? It was by far the best weather I have ever had on any of my Disney vacations

 

[lovethattink]

We were there around 12:30 so that's probably why it was so packed. I got the chicken quesadilla also and dbf had a burrito. I thought the food was alright at lunch but did not care for my cold french toast and bacon for breakfast.
Did you try Maya Grill? It looked like such a pretty restaurant and hardly anyone was ever eating there. We just never had the time to try it and we wish we had.
By the way, wasn't the weather beautiful last week? It was by far the best weather I have ever had on any of my Disney vacations

If we ate there, it would have been back in the late 90's. I remember seeing signs for the buffet breakfast there years and years ago. I know we didn't do the breakfast there, but we may have eaten there once.

Last Friday was cold to me, especially in the morning and evening. The afternoon was nice and cool. Saturday, Sunday and Monday were beautiful!! We stayed at POP, but ate at the Pepper Market twice.

 

[DisneyEsther]

If you do on-line check-in there is a seperate line that is generally shorter and they already have your room assigned, keys made, park passes, and everything else ready to go. It's usually very quick. We don't use on-line check-in because we are particular about our room assignment. When using on-line because everything is already made-up it's a long procedure to change everything to a different room. Where as without they just need to find an available room if there is one because they have to make the KTTW cards anyway.

Downside for us is we might have to wait in a longer line and check-in takes longer. But we go for 14 days we don't want to be stuck in a room we don't like.

Well, we are in no rush once we get there. So I think regular check in will be fine. Especially since we are requesting connecting rooms. I know its just a request, but as long as my mother is right next to us we are fine. Thank you for your help

We usually do online check-in, and we have changed oour room assignment there without any issue. But since this is your first trip to CSR (and to Disney), I'd probably do regular check-in. The CMs in the regular line will spend more time going over the information in your packet and will explain more about transportation, extra magic hours, and the resort in general. Have a great trip!

Yes, regular check-in sounds like the way to go for at least this trip. Alot to learn and see. Can't wait to see my son's face when he realizes we are not going to drop him off at school Thank you


25 Days Left until our First Trip

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Hola Everyone!

The new thread looks great! I'm working Front Desk/Resort Runner at Coronado so I am glad there is a place I can come see everyones opinions of this wonderful resort!

A quick update, they just finished redoing the floors in the lobby adding tile that looks like wood. It turned out great!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hola Everyone!

The new thread looks great! I'm working Front Desk/Resort Runner at Coronado so I am glad there is a place I can come see everyones opinions of this wonderful resort!

A quick update, they just finished redoing the floors in the lobby adding tile that looks like wood. It turned out great!

Thanks for the update! And lucky you for working at CSR!

 

[KatMark]

Hola Everyone!

The new thread looks great! I'm working Front Desk/Resort Runner at Coronado so I am glad there is a place I can come see everyones opinions of this wonderful resort!

A quick update, they just finished redoing the floors in the lobby adding tile that looks like wood. It turned out great!

Wow...lucky you working at our "home away from home." Enjoy!

 

[pjhootch]

Well I just went ahead and completed online check-in, which means I'm 10 days away. Man do I need a vacation!

I figured online check-in was fine for us since we just aren't picky about room location at all. As long as we have 2 queen beds and a toilet we can walk wherever we need to be. It's been quite a few years since we stayed at CSR, but the last time we were WAYYYYYY out in the Ranchos, just about as far from the main building as we could get. We mostly loved walking around the resort despite the distance, so I decided there was no reason to make a room request and it will be nice to have tickets ready for us when we get there.

We were thinking about heading to MK for a couple of hours after checking in, but they close at 7 for the party and I don't think we'll get to the resort until 2:30, so we might go to Epcot instead.

Does anyone have an idea how crowded it might be before the MK party on 11/30?

 

[aubriee]

Hola Everyone!

The new thread looks great! I'm working Front Desk/Resort Runner at Coronado so I am glad there is a place I can come see everyones opinions of this wonderful resort!

A quick update, they just finished redoing the floors in the lobby adding tile that looks like wood. It turned out great!

Thanks for the info. Any idea what the weather's supposed to do in the next couple of weeks? I packed today, but had a hard time deciding what to pack. I round up deciding to wear a pair of jeans on the plane with a light jacket. I also packed one pair of shorts, 2 prs of capris, and the rest long pants with five short sleeve tees and five long sleeve tees. I also threw in a sweat shirt, a thin windbreaker, a pr of thin silky thermal underwear, a pr of thin gloves, and a crocheted scarf/hat combo, along with one swim suit and a coverup. Too much? I never know what to pack for late Nov/early Dec trips.

Well I just went ahead and completed online check-in, which means I'm 10 days away. Man do I need a vacation!

I figured online check-in was fine for us since we just aren't picky about room location at all. As long as we have 2 queen beds and a toilet we can walk wherever we need to be. It's been quite a few years since we stayed at CSR, but the last time we were WAYYYYYY out in the Ranchos, just about as far from the main building as we could get. We mostly loved walking around the resort despite the distance, so I decided there was no reason to make a room request and it will be nice to have tickets ready for us when we get there.

I'll be checking in next Sat (just 6 days). Can't wait. Like you I really, really need this vacation. I decided not to do online check in this time, because I'm so afraid of getting stuck out in the Ranchos. I'm hoping for Cabanas 8A (or at least somewhere in the Cabanas). Plus I had to book a split stay with the first night under the AP discount and the next seven nights under a bounceback deal I booked when I was there last May. I'm hoping I can stay in the same room for the whole trip though.