Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2012

[kris4360]

Title says it all - reserved a preferred room last August reserved the preferred section but was about as far away from the main area as you can be in preferred and equally as far away from the dig site as you can be. As the solo adult with two kids in mid August it was less than ideal.

That said we loved the room, the pool area, the Maya Grill, pepper market and the bus service - so am I crazy to try again this August with the Business class room? Yes the morning/evening snacks are fun but my main reason for spending the extra $ is the building guarantee.

Is the building truly as close to the main area as it looks and how close is the dig sit via what looks like a bridge/walkway?

I am currently holding a reservation for BC but would switch in a heartbeat if I truly felt like the business class location is as close to the main area/pool area as it appears. Any reviews ideas suggestions are truly appreciated!

I just booked a preferred room. What should I request??

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I just booked a preferred room. What should I request??

Preferred rooms at CSR are casitas 1, 2 and 3. Casita 1 is closest to the main building and the El Centro bus stop. Casita 3 is closest to the casita quiet pool, fitness center, and casita bus stop. It depends why you booked preferred. All of the preferred rooms are a 5-10 minute walk to the main pool.

 

[tjmw2727]

Preferred rooms at CSR are casitas 1, 2 and 3. Casita 1 is closest to the main building and the El Centro bus stop. Casita 3 is closest to the casita quiet pool, fitness center, and casita bus stop. It depends why you booked preferred. All of the preferred rooms are a 5-10 minute walk to the main pool.

We had a room as far in the Casitas as we could on the parking lot side near the bus stop but about as far from the pool/main check in area as you could be while paying the extra $.

My kids didn't want the quiet pool and in the August heat after touring the parks a 10 minute (that is being generous) walk isn't what we thought we paid for. Add insult to injury the pool bar and food service area closed at 7ish - leaving us high and dry the first night to walk back to the pepper market for a QS dinner/snack?

Hopefully the location of the business rooms will suit us better - otherwise I will stick with the BC.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We had a room as far in the Casitas as we could on the parking lot side near the bus stop but about as far from the pool/main check in area as you could be while paying the extra $.

My kids didn't want the quiet pool and in the August heat after touring the parks a 10 minute (that is being generous) walk isn't what we thought we paid for. Add insult to injury the pool bar and food service area closed at 7ish - leaving us high and dry the first night to walk back to the pepper market for a QS dinner/snack?

Hopefully the location of the business rooms will suit us better - otherwise I will stick with the BC.

I don't ever book preferred at CSR - it is much more important to us to be close to the Dig Site. My favorite location is 8A, but I would absolutely book business class.

I was responding to the other poster's question about which preferred location to request, not responding to your post about preferred being far away.

My kids rank the CSR pool second only to the Beach Club pool, but they do love the Dig Site.

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't ever book preferred at CSR - it is much more important to us to be close to the Dig Site. My favorite location is 8A, but I would absolutely book business class.

I was responding to the other poster's question about which preferred location to request, not responding to your post about preferred being far away.

My kids rank the CSR pool second only to the Beach Club pool, but they do love the Dig Site.

Great news - thanks for clarifying !

We did love the pool except for the early closing of the bar/food service and we loved the resort in general. I think the extra $ for business class will be worth it for us if only for the location - snacks are a little bonus

 

[Majordis]

Hi. Can someone tell me how long the bus ride is to Downtown Disney? Thank you

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hi. Can someone tell me how long the bus ride is to Downtown Disney? Thank you

I always drive to DTD, but I'm guessing the bus ride is about 15 minutes.

 

[pooh2001]

What is the best souvenir from the CSR gift shop, which can be in your luggage or carry on the plane?

Panchito's Gifts and Sundries shop - logo merchandise, film, toiletries, souvenirs and non-prescription drugs

Towels?
Mugs?
Jewelry?
T-shirts?
Pins?
Something Southwest themed - like what?

 

[Shaden]

Title says it all - reserved a preferred room last August reserved the preferred section but was about as far away from the main area as you can be in preferred and equally as far away from the dig site as you can be. As the solo adult with two kids in mid August it was less than ideal.

That said we loved the room, the pool area, the Maya Grill, pepper market and the bus service - so am I crazy to try again this August with the Business class room? Yes the morning/evening snacks are fun but my main reason for spending the extra $ is the building guarantee.

Is the building truly as close to the main area as it looks and how close is the dig sit via what looks like a bridge/walkway?

I am currently holding a reservation for BC but would switch in a heartbeat if I truly felt like the business class location is as close to the main area/pool area as it appears. Any reviews ideas suggestions are truly appreciated!

Yes, it is as close as it looks. 2 mins to the pool, 2 mins to the busstop, 2-3 mins to Pepper Market, 2 mins to quiet pool and laundry.

As the PPs have noted, YES !

I'd actually say more like 30 seconds to the bus stop

 

[Ilivetogo]

What is the best souvenir from the CSR gift shop, which can be in your luggage or carry on the plane?

Panchito's Gifts and Sundries shop - logo merchandise, film, toiletries, souvenirs and non-prescription drugs

Towels?
Mugs?
Jewelry?
T-shirts?
Pins?
Something Southwest themed - like what?

Panchito's has a LOT of stuff. What's the "Best" thing? I suppose that depends on what you might want. The only thing I can think of that you would NOT be able to put in your suitcase would be liquids. That includes SNOWGLOBES!! Don't get that if you want to carry it on the plane.

I got a really nice Mickey-head necklace there. It's my favorite souvenir.


IMGP7849 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr


IMGP0593 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr


IMGP0592 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr


IMGP0595 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr


IMGP0590 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr


IMGP0597 by Ilivetogo toFL, on Flickr

.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Hi. Can someone tell me how long the bus ride is to Downtown Disney? Thank you

In December the one and only time we used the bus was to go to DTD - it took about 40 minutes from the bus stop near Casitas. I don't know if that was unusually long but we drove there the next time as it only takes about 10 minutes in the car.

 

[pooh2001]

Thank you ! I love all the pictures - I want to be there now!

 

[saskdw]

In December the one and only time we used the bus was to go to DTD - it took about 40 minutes from the bus stop near Casitas. I don't know if that was unusually long but we drove there the next time as it only takes about 10 minutes in the car.

40 minutes is a little extreme, but DTD is typically the longest ride from any resort that isn't located right next to it. I've taken the bus from CSR to DTD about 4-5 times 15 mins is the quickest and 25 mins was the longest. Typically quicker on the way back for some reason, 10-15 mins on way back. Something to do with traffic I'd guess. It was the same way when we stayed at CBR in 2008, service was great to all parks, but longer to DTD.

 

[Missytara]

There is no advantage to going to DTD to transfer to a resort. It can be some of the longest waits, especially at busy parks times when they "Dead-head" buses or send as many buses as possible to the parks to pick up passengers.

However, coming back from a resort, it is always an advantage for the four resorts surrounding Disney, because the water taxis run every 10 minutes after 4 pm. You are never waiting long for a water taxi when coming back, once you get to the DTD hub stop.

It is a great advantage for those of us who like to end our evenings at the resorts and return to, for instance, POR for the remainder of the evening.

 

[Majordis]

Thank you for all the responses. We are considering CSR for one night pre cruise and wanted to visit DTD.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Thinking of returning to CSR for a 3rd time in October. There is a convention at the Dolphin that will need to be attended by 1/2 our party on most days. Is there a reliable way to get there by bus, or does it make more sense to rent a car or drive from NC?

The last 4 times I've been to WDW, I've had no need of a car as Magical Express and the resort busses took care of everything I needed.

Advice?

 

[saskdw]

Thinking of returning to CSR for a 3rd time in October. There is a convention at the Dolphin that will need to be attended by 1/2 our party on most days. Is there a reliable way to get there by bus, or does it make more sense to rent a car or drive from NC?

The last 4 times I've been to WDW, I've had no need of a car as Magical Express and the resort busses took care of everything I needed.

Advice?

Last time we were there (Dec 2011) we took a cab from CSR lobby to Board Walk Resort a couple of evenings. It was only $6-$7. It takes 5 mins. If you have 4 people splitting the bill that's only $2 each. There are always cabs waiting so it's quick and painless.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thinking of returning to CSR for a 3rd time in October. There is a convention at the Dolphin that will need to be attended by 1/2 our party on most days. Is there a reliable way to get there by bus, or does it make more sense to rent a car or drive from NC?

The last 4 times I've been to WDW, I've had no need of a car as Magical Express and the resort busses took care of everything I needed.

Advice?

A cab is probably your best bet. If the attendees have park hoppers and plan to visit a park on those days, they could take a bus to Epcot and walk through, but it is a long walk and assumes the convention starts late enough for Epcot to be open. A slightly easier route would be to take the bus to Hollywood Studios, then walk or take the boat to the Dolphin (which would not require a park ticket). Once again, the convention would need to start late enough to be able to get the bus to DHS and walk. Both options are a lot of trouble to save the cab fare, but they could work depending on the timing. I wouldn't recommend them, but they might be options.

If CSR is one of the convention hotels, it is possible the convention will run a bus from other resorts to the Dolphin. But for the small expense, I would take a cab to avoid the hassle. I would not rent a car if that is your only need for transportation beyond going to/from the parks and airport.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

40 minutes is a little extreme, but DTD is typically the longest ride from any resort that isn't located right next to it. I've taken the bus from CSR to DTD about 4-5 times 15 mins is the quickest and 25 mins was the longest. Typically quicker on the way back for some reason, 10-15 mins on way back. Something to do with traffic I'd guess. It was the same way when we stayed at CBR in 2008, service was great to all parks, but longer to DTD.

I thought we must have been unlucky!

 

[Spacedog1975]

A cab is probably your best bet. If the attendees have park hoppers and plan to visit a park on those days, they could take a bus to Epcot and walk through, but it is a long walk and assumes the convention starts late enough for Epcot to be open. A slightly easier route would be to take the bus to Hollywood Studios, then walk or take the boat to the Dolphin (which would not require a park ticket). Once again, the convention would need to start late enough to be able to get the bus to DHS and walk. Both options are a lot of trouble to save the cab fare, but they could work depending on the timing. I wouldn't recommend them, but they might be options.

If CSR is one of the convention hotels, it is possible the convention will run a bus from other resorts to the Dolphin. But for the small expense, I would take a cab to avoid the hassle. I would not rent a car if that is your only need for transportation beyond going to/from the parks and airport.

Last time we were there (Dec 2011) we took a cab from CSR lobby to Board Walk Resort a couple of evenings. It was only $6-$7. It takes 5 mins. If you have 4 people splitting the bill that's only $2 each. There are always cabs waiting so it's quick and painless.

Thank you. CSR, as far as I know, will not be affiliated with the convention, but I love the resort and would prefer to be there than Dolphin in spite of any inconvenience. Dolphin is pretty spendy and doesn't participate in/offer the dining plan.