A few CSR questions

[Gagebre]

I was able to change my spring break trip from PC to CSR today . Can you tell I'm excited!! I had been trying every day for about a month to do this and was finally able to today . My son is really excited about the slide and pool. Anyway, I've never been there but have looked at pictures. My family likes to be in the middle of things so I wanted suggestions on the best area to request. Would it be better to be close to the pool? Can you actually see the pool from any areas? Or would it be better to be close to lobby, food court, etc.? I also wanted to know a little about the food court. If you have a refillable mug are you able to fill it yourself or do the servers do this? For some reason I'd rather do this myself. Is the food court the only place to refill mugs? Any other helpful info would be appreciated.

 

[ciera321]

We stayed in cabanas 9B and it was a quick walk to the main pool and the main building. We really liked the location. You can refill the mugs yourself at Pepper Market, but at the pool, a server fills it behind the counter. We loved the Pepper Market. It has a huge variety of foods, Chinese, Mexican, bakery, grill for steaks and burgers, soup, sandwiches lots to choose from and real genious portions. If you eat the food there they add a 10% gratuity to your bill, never really bothered us...Be sure and take a walk at night and see all the lights refelcting off the lake. It is a beautiful place!!! Have a great trip!!!

 

[loribell]

I have stayed in Cabanas 9B & 8B, also in Casitas 3 & 5. Loved both Cabanas locations, hated both Casitas locations.

9B is closer to the food court and not to far from the main pool. 8B is close to the pool and not to far fromt he food court. I think I actually enjoyed 8B more, we spent much more time at the pool than the food court.

I guess you can see the pool from a distance at the Cabana locations, don't really remember for sure but they are a very long walk to the pool. The Cabanas and Rancheros (or whatever they are called) are on the back side of the pool and there is a lot of folliage keeping you from actually seeing the pool.

My family really likes the setup of the Pepper Market. I like that we can all go choose whatever we feel like eating. If the service charge was more than 10% it would probably really annoy me since they don't do much. I really don't like tipping for filling my own glass which I frequently have to do.

Also try not to eat at the busiest times. Last summer we had some terrible waits just for them to seat us . They were just taking there sweet time. There were lots of people complaining. I saw lots of comment cards being filled out and a couple of days later there was extra managment in the resaurant keeping things moving.

Have fun! We love CSR!
Lori

 

[Buzz2001]

cabana 9b is close to bus stop 1 and the main building with a short walk to the Dig Site over the wooden bridge

cabana 8a is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a short walk to the main building.

cabana 8b and 9a are inbetween the 2 above.

Cabana rooms are mostly waterview rooms or non parking lot views.

ranchos 7b has a quiet pool, is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a bit longer walk to the main building. 7b is behind cabana 8a.

The casitas are close to the gym, spa and have great fountains and courtyards. casita 5 is close to the Dig Site with a good walk to the main building. The lower the casita number the closer towards the main building.

 

[Gagebre]

I guess I'll call and request Cabanas 9B or 8A. I do have a standard view booked and from the map 9B seems to have only waterviews. Will this be a problem?

 

[Sharon Esch]

We liked the Cabana section (9B), but at Easter time bus stop 4 is not good. It would go pass us because the bus would fill up at bus stops 2 & 3. Loved the pool, especially my kids loved the slide. I liked the food court, one reasib us how you pay. The food was also great. At this food court, you were given a food order tab that you would take to the different stations to get your food and they would stamp it. I liked this because the 4 would get something at a different station and we didn't have to pay at each station. When you are done eating you pay at the register on your way out. I can't answer the question about the refillable mugs, my husband did that.

 

[yecats]

I think you and your son will enjoy the resort. I love the resort. I stayed in Ranchos 6B and was only about 30 feet away from the quiet pool and maybe 150 feet away from the main pool area. There is a cute playground area for kids behind the pool area (you will need to walk around the pool, past the food/bar area to get to the kids play area but it looks cute. There is a large hot tub also in this area (I saw no fewer than 15 people in there at one time but it holds a # of people without feeling overly cramped and the spa is HOT. The slide area is fun and everyone enjoyed it.

The rooms are a nice size with privacy curtain in bathroom and a refrigerator next to the tv. I have to admit that the beds were great to sleep in. I don't know if maybe I had a newer mattress or maybe it was the type of mattress (or the fact that I was tired) but that bed felt great. The bed does sit up higher than most beds (maybe 4 or 6 inches) so I felt that the mattress was one of those thicker mattress as I had to jump up or sort of lift my leg to wedge myself up (I am 5'6" and usually don't have to crawl up a bed).

As for the walk, We were plumb in the middle of the resort as Ranchos are basically the furthest away from El Centro. However, I don't think the walk is bad (maybe 10 minutes from Ranchos 6B if walking a slower more leisurely pace). Now what I tell people is that if you are somewhat organized and don't require running the distance between the room and the main bldg but once a day, you'll enjoy it. However, if your not that organized and forget things that you meant to get for others and find yourself making the walk several times per day, you may not be so happy unless you stay closer to the main bldg. The second advice is people get lost easily here (my mother was one of them). There were a few others who came up to both of us asking for directions. Now if you keep the resort map with you, you'll be fine. Just remember, the lake is in the middle, the parking lot is furthest out from the lake. If you end up in the parking lot, turn around and head inward, find the lake and the trail around it takes you all around the resort. My mother got lost in the wrong parking lot and accused me of moving my car on her (she has always been bad at direction, then she couldn't locate the room). Please don't be like my mother, I really don't find it hard to navigate the resort, I just think most people don't take the required minute to check there surroundings, take a look at the map and head where they need to go.

As for the foodcourt, frankly, I liked it. There were more choices for food here than anywhere else. Yes they do add on the 10% gratuity but your drinks are refilled for you the entire time your eating. The food was a bit higher but it was good, fresh and variety may cost a bit more.

No matter what section you decide to stay in, please walk around the resort as each section is beatifully landscaped. Sit in a hammock or have fun renting a boat or bike for an hour or two one day. It is very peaceful and IMO made me feel I was in the Southwest for a bit while I was there.

 

[Pokprincess]

I have a silly question about the food court ... do any of the restaurants/counter.. have chicken fingers for kids.. that's all my kids eat.

Thanks for the quick info

 

[tmeyer]

Yes, They serve chicken fingers at the kids station. It had pizza, chicken fingers, and spaghetti. I believe it came with chips and a cookie.

 

[Buzz2001]

Yes, They serve chicken fingers at the kids station. It had pizza, chicken fingers, and spaghetti. I believe it came with chips and a cookie.

You can get plain pasta too because my nephew won't eat it with sauce on it. Just ask, they'll give it to you.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

We stayed Cabanas 9B also. Very nice location facing the lake.