Booked CSR.....now wondering!

[Roan'sMom]

I JUST booked CSR on Friday for May 2008. I thought I had done all my homework and was happy with my choice, until - - - I read D J Disneykid's post today. Now I'm not so sure! I know that not everyone loves every resort, but golly, the complaints from D J and several others sound pretty major. I'm not worried about the "Disney feel" thing, but I don't want to have to deal with crazies! As for the Pepper Market, is it more than the other food courts, not counting the 10% tip? If you take it "to go" is it in styrofoam containers? Can you take it back to your room?

I think I will probably keep my ressie, but I will look for advice from anyone who has it to offer! I want this trip to be special since my DH and I will be celebrating our anniversary while we're there. It will be our first trip to WDW as parents and our DS's first trip ever!

Thank you!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Read my last post in that thread for a different perspective.

Knox

 

[bavaria]

Everyone has different tastes, and I wouldn't base my vacation on the taste of strangers on the internet.

If the theming and cost meet your needs, then I suggest that you try it. Many of us enjoy CSR due to the low number of vacationers, which means less congestion on the busses.

You chose CSR for a reason - most likely because something there appealed to you. I suggest that you try it for yourself - you may find that your opinion varies from that poster (as does mine)

If we all had the same taste, we would all be staying at the same resort and things would get very crowded!

 

[bavaria]

Here is Knox's post to which he is referring - I tend to be in agreement with him

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1640715&page=4

I had a very different reaction to CSR from the OP.

I stayed there for 5 days in May/June of this year .. and other than some very minor housekeeping issues with my room, I had a fantastic experience. All those 'badge-and-suit-wearing' types were never on the buses to the parks or DTD which made for super zippy and easy bus travel.

I did NOT eat at Pepper Market. I kept meaning to but then something would always come up. I took a rather extensive and detailed walk around the resort and thought grounds and different areas were quite lovely. In fact, other than check-in, check-out and purchasing some Advil.. I don't think I was in the main building too much that trip. This probably explains why the badge-and-suit types weren't bothersome to me.

My room was very close to the main pool and I ate CS at the pool location (Siesta's) on several occasions and thought it was fine. The prices at Siesta's were much more comparable to other WDW counter service locations... much to my surprise & delight.. (I expected it to be pricier)

If I remember right, I paid about $7 for a burger & fries. Much less than the 9.75 at PM.

I don't mind eating out of doors. It's a novelty.

And altho I don't recall being nearly run over by any golf carts, I was offered a lift on several occasions by the same carts and once or twice I took advantage of that.

 

[DisneyYahoo]

We stayed at CSR in Sept of 2007. We absolutely loved it. There were no problems with convention-goers. Walking around on the grounds I felt like we were all alone most of the time. I think it is quite beautiful and was bummed that we weren't staying there this last time we went to WDW. The Pepper Market.....well you probably either love it or hate it. But I don't go to WDW expecting to love the hotel food. It is just regular food. It isn't fine dining...but that is what other restaurants are for, right? I was on the dining plan so the prices didn't effect me.

I do have to say that before my trip to CSR I read a ton of negative posts. I considered changing my reservations and worried that we would be miserable if we stayed. Then my husband reassured me that more people naturally share negative info (and rightly so if they are upset) vs people who share their postive experience. So here is my 2 cents...we loved it, the staff was wonderful, the food was as to be expected, the grounds are gorgeous, the pool is fun (gigantic hot tub), the buses were never a problem, the convention goers did their own thing AND we had a great time. Here's one vote for CSR!!

 

[Buzz2001]

I JUST booked CSR on Friday for May 2008. I thought I had done all my homework and was happy with my choice, until - - - I read D J Disneykid's post today. Now I'm not so sure! I know that not everyone loves every resort, but golly, the complaints from D J and several others sound pretty major. I'm not worried about the "Disney feel" thing, but I don't want to have to deal with crazies! As for the Pepper Market, is it more than the other food courts, not counting the 10% tip? If you take it "to go" is it in styrofoam containers? Can you take it back to your room?

I think I will probably keep my ressie, but I will look for advice from anyone who has it to offer! I want this trip to be special since my DH and I will be celebrating our anniversary while we're there. It will be our first trip to WDW as parents and our DS's first trip ever!

Thank you!

You'll love CSR!! For every bad review, you'll find many good ones. That will happen at every resort. Most guests who post are the ones that didn't like a resort.

Here are 160 reviews from past DIS'ers.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=14636077&postcount=392

If you want to eat out of the Pepper Market, just make sure you get a "TO GO" ticket.

I don't think you'll find these types of items at other WDW food courts.

Few Items from the menu

More pics...

Choose a steak

Infamous Wet Burrito

Italian Dishes

Mexican

Chinese

Misc

 

[highland3]

Buzz... thanks for the food pics!

Things look good... can't wait to get there!!!

 

[Lilolvr]

I JUST booked CSR on Friday for May 2008. I thought I had done all my homework and was happy with my choice, until - - - I read D J Disneykid's post today. Now I'm not so sure! I know that not everyone loves every resort, but golly, the complaints from D J and several others sound pretty major. I'm not worried about the "Disney feel" thing, but I don't want to have to deal with crazies! As for the Pepper Market, is it more than the other food courts, not counting the 10% tip? If you take it "to go" is it in styrofoam containers? Can you take it back to your room?

I think I will probably keep my ressie, but I will look for advice from anyone who has it to offer! I want this trip to be special since my DH and I will be celebrating our anniversary while we're there. It will be our first trip to WDW as parents and our DS's first trip ever!

Thank you!

You'll have a great time! CSR is the best mod. It has awesome food (not heat lamp stuff), the best transportation and a great pool/slide combo. Just enjoy!!

 

[Roan'sMom]

Thanks for the quick responses! I will most likely do what most of you have advised, try CSR & see for myself if works for my family. I do have one more question: are all of the convention people assigned to the Casitas village? I would probable request at check in for Casitas, but I would ask for one of the other villages if Casitas was where they all are.

I feel a little better now that some more good things are being said about CSR. It's funny that several positive reviews have kind of been resurrected by the CSR fans!

 

[Lilolvr]

Thanks for the quick responses! I will most likely do what most of you have advised, try CSR & see for myself if works for my family. I do have one more question: are all of the convention people assigned to the Casitas village? I would probable request at check in for Casitas, but I would ask for one of the other villages if Casitas was where they all are.

I feel a little better now that some more good things are being said about CSR. It's funny that several positive reviews have kind of been resurrected by the CSR fans!

Convention folks are placed all over the resort. CSR does has its fans!

 

[GovieMom]

I do have one more question: are all of the convention people assigned to the Casitas village?

No ... We stayed in Cabanas 8A, and it was full of business people.

 

[lilyv]

You also might consider a split stay between two mods. We were at CSR for a convention, and then moved to POR for the vacation portion of our stay. That worked well for us.

 

[lilyv]

No ... We stayed in Cabanas 8A, and it was full of business people.

Keep in mind that CSR conventions range from very small (less than 100) to thousands of participants. How spread out the conventioneers are depends mostly on #'s of attendees.

 

[Lilolvr]

Keep in mind that CSR conventions range from very small (less than 100) to thousands of participants. How spread out the conventioneers are depends mostly on #'s of attendees.

But not all stay at CSR. Some will stay off site or at other Disney resorts and shuttle in to CSR.

 

[buffalogirl]

Another for CSR. We stayed in Casitas 1 (closest to the main bldg), last December and had no problems with noise or bad behavior from the convention people. It never bothered me to see convention people, I knew that meant more empty seats on the bus.

The food at the Pepper Market is very good. My favorite was the chicken calzone. The portions are huge and the food is fresh.

The bus service was excellent.

Most of the reviews of CSR are VERY positive.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We stayed in May 2007. We absolutely loved it! We had the dining plan, so I never noticed how expensive the food was, but it was yummy! I loved the feel of the Pepper Market! It was so much fun! The pool was a huge hit, and the grounds gorgeous! I especially liked the looks of the Casitas, although we did have a great room in the cabanas!

You won't be sorry!

 

[Sherrkel]

IMO as well you need to try things for yourself to see if you'll like it. But I do hope you'll be pleasantly surprised by CSR. My family and I celebrated our grand gathering of 21 there back in February and loved the resort. Twenty-one of us probably made more noise than 100 conventioners (sorry to those we may have disturbed in Cabanas 8a area in late February ). Seriously though - you're on vacation and you're at Disney - you'll have a great time!

 

[disneyred]

for those that have been there and love it !!

what is the recommendation for which building to request, if i want
closeness to food court / main building and main pools !!

thanks !

 

[LilGMom]

I would say that if you picked that resort at least give it a try and judge it yourself. While it isn't my absolute favorite moderate, CSR is the first WDW resort that DH & I ever stayed at and it ruined us forever for ever even considering staying off property. Yes it has a convention center in it but we never really had any issue with the "convention types" as they are there to do their own thing. And while some people don't like CSR you'll find that at all the resorts. I personally do not like CR and have absolutely no desire to ever stay there again unless someone hands me a free room and even then I might not stay there. But you'll find some people that swear by the place (and not at it like I do) and won't stay anywhere else.

Hope you have a wonderful time!!

 

[bab31]

Please read my trip review - just click on the link near my signature. I did not have the experience of my eyesight being ruined by folks in suits and polos ( just joking) but when you think about it - if you were to stay almost anywhere - you will possibly see just that. As for the casitas - thats where we were and I absolutely fell in love with the place. Coming back from all the glitz and hype - all I wanted was serenity....Check Buzze' s website - you will find just what I am talking about. As for the Pepper market we ate there 3 times. If my meal if overpriced by $3 or lets for generous sake $4...that just is not a deal breaker for me.and if you have loud obnoxious neighbors ( which you can get at any resort) go to conceirge/frontdesk/management and get moved to a different part of the resort.

A few things for my pros and cons

No shared busses- ( we only had a crowded bus once and that was after Illuminations when everyone staying on grounds (serviced by bus) regardless of where was wainting for a bus.

Central Air- small - but I hate noisy wall units

Pillow top mattress

Loved the theming

Location- centrally located at WDW- takes only minutes to get anywhere on the bus except DTD

-cons- was not a deluxe so no balcony, or jucuzzi near by- I know I have to pay for it - but could not afford deluxe. I serously thought about POR and decided I read too many reviews about the Busses. CBR just did not appeal too me.

I think you made a great choice. I trully have not read very many negative post about CSR until the thread you are talking about....I would not worry about it.