Anbody read CSR reviews over at Fodors?

[GeoffM24]

I have read that some here believe the CSR to be the best Moderate hotel at Disney but many of the reviews over at Fodors.com are very poor.

Has anybody read these reviews?

I have only stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and loved that.

 

[ducklite]

Each moderate has it's supporters. The pool area at CSR seems to be the biggest draw for that resort. Personally I find it HUGE and intimidating. Also with the transient convention traffic it just feels busy and congested and not a relaxing vacation destination. People also have complained about teh restaurant/food court there. But those that love it, love it. It is the newest, and probably ahs the least wear and tear of the moderates...although with the ongoing rehabs at some of teh others that could soon change.

Personally I don't give much credence to the reviews that Fodors does. Their guides seem to be always out of date, and missing key properties. CAA/AAA and Mobil seem to be the most accurate and generally most impartial.

Anne

 

[CarolA]

I have spent a lot of time on the Fodors boards and read a lot of reviews. The overall feeling over there is if you aren't staying at the Ritz it is a dump. Some of those people I just laugh at. They post things like I booked a hotel for $50 in London , and it was old and small and it did not have wash clothes so my whole trip was ruined. Had they done a little reseach they would have discovered that (A) London hotels are expensive so you get what you pay for and (B) European hotels normally don't provide wash clothes.

I guess what that long review is trying to say is I take their reader reviews with a grain of salt.

 

[ducklite]

CarolA--I agree sooo much! I stayed at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, and had an OK room (quite a few stains on the carpet and upholstered chair if I recall) with a terrible bathroom. During the middle of the night something woke me and my room mate up-we saw a large RAT in the room by the radiator! It was NOT a mouse! I called the operator who hung up on me, then I called security who told me to call housekeeping--there I got VM. I called the operator back and she put me through to security, who told me in a nasty tone to call housekeeping and hung up on me! All the while we are standing on the beds screaming!!! You'd think that some of the neighbors would have called security with the screaming at 3:00am!! But security never came. We never got back to sleep...the rat disappeared into a hole where the carpet covered the floor and the hole in it--needless to say I didn't go looking to far into that situation! We checked out at about 5:00am...it was a TERRIBLE experience. Anyhow, this hotel that they rate so highly was horrid in my opinion!

Anne

 

[susy]

I am on of the newest CSR fans here and some of the reasons that most on here don't like it were some of the reasons I DID!!

Most of the convention peopel were in the convention hall most of the time (which I did not even see). To read here, you would think that all you see are business suits walking up and down with briefcases in one hand and cell phones in the other. I didn't see one person like that ! I did see a girl of about 12 with a large trophy. Her mom was taking her picture by the Casitas. She had won a poetry contest. To my knowledge there were no business conventions goign at the time.

The other areas of the resort (especially the pool) were not at all conjested -probably because of the fact that the resort is not all vacationing families. Our building in Cabanas was sooo quiet- never got a good night's sleep like that in WDW!!!

The Pepper market is so nice. Non of that paper/plastic stuff and people running back and forth. They also clean up after you. All of this is worth the 10% to me.

 

[Misti]

Anne:

I know this is off-topic but I had to tell you how much I enjoyed your trip report of the Magic. I just got the chance to read it.

 

[madthemouse]

In addition to what Susy said. Another great reason, because it is a convention resort, the buses are not crowded. Think about how many times you have to waite for another bus or stand going to and from your resort.

 

[Momto8]

We stayed at CSR once and did not like this resort. I did not care for the theming and the room decor as well as some of the other resorts we've stayed at. We did not like Pepper Market either. We ate there a couple of times and always had trouble getting drinks. The first time we ate there, we had to get up and get our own drinks. We never got refills either and had to get our own. I also thought the prices were too high for a food court. If I want to eat in a restaurant where they serve you and you have to tip, I would choose to eat in a table service restaurant, not a food court. But I like having the option of a food court where the food is relatively inexpensive. At CSR you don't have that option, you have to pay a 10% gratuity. But a lot of people prefer Pepper Market over other food courts for this reason.

Also the first day we checked in, there was a convention going on and the line just to get a table at Pepper Market was almost to the lobby. After waiting in line for 10-15 minutes and not moving up in the line too much, we gave up.

Our room wasn't ready until 5:00 on the day of check in (we were in Cabanas). I've never had to wait that long before but that could be because of the convention going on. We also had a noisy family next to us that sounded like it had a bunch of kids running in and out of their room at 2:00am. I think the parents were out and left the kids alone. You could hear noise through the walls very easily.

One thing I did like was the pool and the kids liked the slide. I also thought the bus service was good.

This is JMHO, but like Susy said, she likes this resort for the same reasons others (myself included) dislike it. Only you can decide what it is you like or dislike.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[GoofysPrincess]

We've stayed at CSR and we love it. Our kids are older, so they can manage the Pepper Market on their own and they like having the grounds to wander around on. The pool is great. We have only ate at the Pepper Market for breakfast, but have always liked the food and the variety. We have barely noticed the conventioners when we've been there. I'm always surprised to hear people complain about them.

I read some of the Fodor's reviews. (Fodor actually gives it a good review -- it's some of the people who have stayed being negative.) We have never experienced dirty rooms or grouchy staff. I can't imagine that any of the bus stops are actually 1/2 a mile from any room -- although we usually have a car. It's true there isn't a lot of shade on the way to the pool -- but there's plenty of shade at the pool. As far as I know, there is luggage assistance available. As to no night-life... I don't think any WDW resorts boast night-life except maybe the boardwalk area. (To me, CSR is very peaceful and romantic.) Mostly sounded to me like people who didn't value being on WDW property enough to enjoy any WDW hotel as price kept coming up as an issue.

I can see, however, how CSR could be a bit of a pain with small kids. The Pepper Market isn't a traditional food court, so if you want eggs and your little one wants pancakes, you have to stand in two different lines. Depending on where you're located, El Centro and/or the Dig Site could be a bit of a walk for little, tired legs. And, while there's a great playground for kids, the actual kiddie pool isn't anything that special.

If your kids are older or your traveling without kids and you want to be on WDW property and you like southwestern theming, I'd give it a try.

 

[Pig Pen]

It's amazing how opinions differ. We found CSR to be a wonderful resort. It was quiet, not crowded, spotless, gorgeous grounds. We did not eat in the Pepper Market, but we did hang around the pool, used the spa, and took advantage of the walking paths.

Bus service was punctual and the buses were practically empty. After Sat night Spectro at MK, we were able to immediately board our bus while the All Stars guests were waiting 2 hours! We had a couple AS guest get on our bus to CSR, then take a bus to DTD, then go to AS from there! They said they were tired of waiting. DH said the bus service made the extra $ for a mod totally worth it!

The "convention" atmosphere (whatever that is) didn't bother us at all. We saw several people in suits with name tags on so I know there WAS a convention going on, but we preferred them to the Pop Warner football kids and the cheerleaders we had encountered at both our All Stars stays!

 

[susy]

I have to say that our room at CBR was much nicer, but I'm sure when it's CSR's turn for refurb, it will be just as nice.

 

[n2mm]

After reading Ducklite's I could've sworn that was my post. It's amazing how some folks feel exactly the same. I also agree with momto8, while some love this resort, I can say been there, done that. But like Ducklite, there are just some things I don't like and find this resort to be last on my list of moderates. I guess it's all in the timing. Also seen huge lines to get into the peppermarket during a convention. Love the pool and hot tub! and it's like being in a city of it's own. Still love Dixie Landing, but that's what makes WDW great, that there's something for everyone. Though there are things I love and don't love about many resorts, I try not to dissuade people too much, because sometimes it's all in the timing.

 

[susy]

I think you are so right about timing. I would NOT have loved the Pepper Market if I would have had to wait in a long line. When we went it was not at all crowded.

I've also heard about the hoards of screaming kids at the pools at the AS .We've been to ASMO and ASSP (2x) and I've never seen it.

I have to admit, though, that I have liked every WDW resort I've stayed at . You get what you pay for and you have to keep that in mind.

I did not expect my stay at the ASSp to be the same as my stay at AKL. I enjoyed each resort for what it had. The AS can be very enjoyable when you've paid $49. The rooms aren't much, but the resorts themselves are such fun-when you allow it to be.

I am looking forward to trying them all!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

But any resort has people who cheer and others who jeer. DH and I stayed at POR and would not stay there again. Some, it's their favorite resort.
It is the same with pin -- One person's Holy Grail is another Rusty Nail.
Luckily we all don't want the same thing.
I never minded the conventioneers either. We didn't see that many and I think that made the resort even more quiet.