Back from Coronado Springs

[jaguar9748]

Spent a short weekend at Disney - had a great time, as usual!!!Here are some observations of our weekend.

Coronado Springs: Arrived Saturday at noon. Check-in was smooth. Had requested 1st floor, Cabana. Received 1st floor, Casita room which was available then. LOVE the Casita section. Having now stayed in all 3 sections, the Casita is definitely my favorite! We had a view of a very pretty courtyard - room 2170. Room was around the corner from the quiet pool and a few minutes, pretty walk to the main building.

Room: Good condition. Bottom drawer was loose, but that didn't bother us. Handles on drawers were loose, but that didn't bother us. Bedding was clean and fresh. Room was clean. Toilet stopped up - maintenance was there in less than 30 minutes. Hair dryer and coffee maker in room.

Food: This was our 3rd stay at Coronado (and our best!) and the first time we ate at The Pepper Market which is the food court area. It is very nice and the food is very good. The food is VERY expensive - a big difference from Riverside. Definitely convention hotel prices!

Resort: Pool temperature was cool. Arcade was in good shape and enjoyed by our family. Shop is very nice and has very pleasant CM's. Didn't rent bikes or boats. Late Sunday night a group was having fun playing volleyball at the Dig Site - could hear them laughing across the lake!

Buses: Excellent! Never waited more than 15 minutes - that was at DD. Buses always seemed to be waiting for us.

Confirmed: Bus to Boardwalk has been stopped.

Confirmed: Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Florida now share buses to MGM, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney. Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge now share buses to Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney.

Crowds at Parks: Parks were busy, but I have seen them much more crowded. No really big waits. Got excellent viewing places for Illuminations and SpectroMagic. Was delighted to see that Disney added 2 showings of SpectroMagic and one show of fireworks Sunday night, so I guess they felt attendance was good. Lots of teenagers in the park as this was a Grad Nite weekend. For the most part, they were well behaved. Lots of foreign visitors which was great to see! No ride closures that I saw.

Riverside: Stopped by for dinner at the food court and rode the boat to Downtown Disney. New boats seat 40 which is nice. Boats were running every 15 minutes from 4:30 PM to 11:45 PM. As we went past French Quarter the boat driver said that crews had gone through and refurbished the outside. Now they would go back through and clean the rooms thoroughly.

Disney Institute: Boat driver said that the treehouses are being refurbished inside and outside and will be reopened. Went past the townhouses which will be demolished for the new Downtown Disney DVC resort. Not only are they building a DVC resort, but also a new shopping area adjacent to the Rainforest Cafe. No building has been started yet.

Beach Club Villas: Villas are still blocked off by construction area. Outside appears to be finished. Models are available at the Boardwalk. The BCV do not appear to have a waterview of the Epcot resort lake. They do back up to Epcot. I find it a strange placement in that these villas don't really have a great view, in my opinion. It's also strange to have a green painted building attached to a blue painted building. Very pretty building though.

Any questions, let me know.

 

[chris1gill]

Thanks for the report!! I also liked the look of the Casitas section when we stayed there... I was going to request them should we stay at CSR again. One thing about the food court, we bought vouchers through Connections & it really cut down on the cost. A voucher covered an entree, side if not included, drink & dessert for 11.50 & that included all tax & their gratuity. Check out the Budget board for more info... We found it a fantastic bargain especially at CSR's Pepper Market....

I agree with you on the BCV views, not the best, but really great location!

 

[Minnie's Guy]

Question: did you notice if the food area at the pool was open.
I also found the food court very expensive (compared to any other
food court) so we used the pool food area and loved it, including
refilling the mugs. I heard it was closed, maybe, hopefully just
for their down time in the winter?

 

[Buzz2001]

Great report jaguar9748! it's too bad that the BW bus has been eliminated. I'll be arriving in 2 days. I can't wait! Thanks again

 

[AF Brenda]

LOVE the Casita section. Having now stayed in all 3 sections, the Casita is definitely my favorite! We had a view of a very pretty courtyard - room 2170. Room was around the corner from the quiet pool and a few minutes, pretty walk to the main building.

You were almost directly under where we were - we were in 2373, and we loved the courtyard! I would gladly trade the proximity of the Cabanas for the atmosphere of the Casitas - we really enjoyed it there! If we wanted to go to the pool, and didn't feel like walking, we just drove down to the Cabanas parking, and walked from there.

 

[jewelray]

Hi and thanks for posting your trip report. It really helps those of us who haven't been there before such as myself. We are staying at CSR for the first time in June and I was wondering if you have children with you? My daughter who just turned 9 is really excited about the water slide and so for that reason I have requested the Cabana's section as it seems closest to the dig site. As far as the food court goes, I didn't realize that any of the food courts prices were any different from another. I was planning on eating at the parks anyway most of the time.

I'd like to ask you one ? though. Is the ambience as much Disney as any other resort. I keep worrrying that because it's a convention hotel it won't be as disney like. I hope I'm wrong.

Thanks.

 

[Patio]

Thanks for sharing your trip report. Sounds like you did a lot in a few days.

 

[AF Brenda]

We found the resort to be very Disney like, and we hardly noticed the conventioneers at all.

 

[Buzz2001]

I agree Brenda

 

[jaguar9748]

Chris1gill - thanks for the info on the food vouchers. I will definitely look into that in the future. On longer trips we do a fridge and eat breakfast and lunch in the room which saves quite a bit.

Minnie's Guy - we did not go to the dig site so I cannot comment on the pool bar. Sorry.

AF Brenda - too cool that we were in the same section! I thought it was just beautifully themed and decorated! If Cozumel, Mexico had only looked like that!! LOL!!

Jewelray - my daughter (17) says the slide is good. The theming of the dig site is excellent. The Cabanas and Ranchos are the most convenient to the dig site. If the dig site is on your list, I would definitely not do the Casitas because you will have to walk around the lake or as AF Brenda said, drive around the resort. Regarding food, I think Disney food is outrageously expensive - resort or theme park. I would definitely research it ahead of time so that you are prepared. There's a great site for restaurants on the DIS Boards main page. Ambiance at the resort is very good. It is a southwestern/Mexican themed resort and appears to be as true to its theme as the Wilderness Lodge is to the northwest or the Poly is to the islands or POR is to the Deep South. As far as conventioneers, they are evident, but they are not an issue at all. In fact, because it is a convention hotel, many of the buses are not crowded at all (except for the buses headed home after the park evening shows). In fact, we have often been the only family on CSR buses!

 

[jeank74]

jaguar9748,

excellent review and I really enjoy reading your report!!!

I will be staying at CSR in October... first time staying on site and it will be my future husband's first visit to WDW. I have been to WDW once (10 years ago) and DL a couple times. Therefore, I am trying to make it a magical trip for both of us. Hence, I was quite nervous about choosing the right place to stay without breaking my piggy bank. Now I feel more at ease about staying at CSR after reading your report and the wonderful websites created by Buzz, Steve and Deb.

One quesiton for you:

How was the service provided by CM at CSR? Were most of them happy campers?

Any suggestion for a first-time CSR visitor is appreciated!!!

 

[jaguar9748]

Jeank74 - We had wonderful CM's this trip with the exception of a few in Magic Kingdom (strange, I know!). We were celebrating my son's 19th birthday and CSR brought him balloons and a card to the room - so sweet! The Yachtsman Steakhouse gave him another card and a cake. Everyone we met seemed cheerful and pleasant. Never saw our mousekeeper, but the room was very clean. CM's in the CSR store were exceptionally friendly. We were very pleased! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Buzz2001]

We too have always encounter good service from the CM's at CSR. Twice at check-in we were given upgraded rooms at no extra cost. Once to a corner room and once to the casita waterview room.

 

[Glenn]

I stayed at CRS last Dec in Cabanas 8A, corner room even. It is
a longer walk from the main building but the bus stop is right in back. At night it was nice and quiet. Didnt notice conventioniers except at the food court that was very crowded.
The CMs there were great and friendly all the time. Liked the theme especially at night it was very pretty.
Sorry to hear the bus to the BW has been discontinued. It was a
very special perk. A number of nights I left Epcot, took the boat to the BW and just sat around relaxing. Great ice cream there and even a store with normal prices for treats. Noodles was great for dinner. Wonder what happened.

 

[Mickey76]

All of this talk about the CSR has got me super-hyped for my trip to WDW with Piglet203. We'll be staying at the CSR and we are getting extremely anxious. I hope we get a room in the Cabanas section, like we requested, but it's not going to matter that much. We're still going to have a great time.

Mickey76

 

[DC7800]

Originally posted by jaguar9748
Disney Institute: Boat driver said that the treehouses are being refurbished inside and outside and will be reopened. Went past the townhouses which will be demolished for the new Downtown Disney DVC resort. Not only are they building a DVC resort, but also a new shopping area adjacent to the Rainforest Cafe. No building has been started yet.

This is a bit off the CSR topic, but did the driver mention anything about a time for the Treehouse work to be completed and reopened? This is great news, but the first I've heard of it.


Thanks.

 

[jaguar9748]

DC7800 - The boat driver did not state when this would happen. The treehouses area was very empty since there were no guests and all of the drapes were closed. There was no activity in any of the Institute areas. In fact the driver said that only a few classes are currently being offered at the Institute. My only concern with the Downtown Disney DVC property is the potential of noise from Pleasure Island??!

 

[jeank74]

Does anyone know what Cabana section can see the sandy beach shown in the picture?

http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/images/csr_caban7.jpg

thanks.

 

[Buzz2001]

jeank74 - I'm pretty sure that's 8a straight ahead and 8 b to the right. The 9's would be behind you if you were taking the picture.

 

[Jaybecky]

Last month we stayed at CS. We needed to get to Boardwalk to take advantage of those free Putt-Putt Golf coupons we had. I nicely asked the Downtown Disney bus driver if he could drop us off there.
No problem. He did.
We came back through Epcot. Took the boat system from the Swan and Dolphin back to the international walkway and entered Epcot by England.
Maybe we got lucky, but it doesn't hurt to ask!