BRAND NEW CORONADO SPRINGS FAQ THREAD w/ PHOTOS (PART IV)

[mom2taylorandemily]

Now i'm torn where to request Cabanas (my original) or Casitas...seems so many love this as well...

it will be me, dH and our 2 sons whom are 7 & 9! we'll probably swim a few times during our stay, eat at the Pepper market a few mornings - do laundry 1x and take the buses all the time - what do you think would be the best location for us? want our room to open up to a balcony of some sort...no elevators

We requested Cabanas! But added on our request that Casitas would be ok as well.

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

katiejo I am so sorry about your loss.

 

[cpayne1997]

Thanks. You're right. He would want me to take my son and celebrate life. He was 92. Not in good health, but not on his deathbed either. My dad said that he wanted to spend Mother's Day with my grandmother who passed 10 years ago last month. He had remarried and I am positive he wouldn't have wanted to go in her home. He was at the hospital being treated for dehydration when he passed. I will find a way to honor him while in Disney. Reconsider letting a balloon go. I have heard that they can sometimes float into bodies of water and marine life eats them and can kill them. Perhaps you can give it to a child. That is what I will do. I will buy a balloon and give it to a small child. That is something my grandfather would have done. He was one of the most generous people I knew. Thanks for the idea.

I am so sorry for the loss of your Grandfather. I agree that you should go, I am sure that he would want you to go and have a wonderful time with your son. You and your family will be in my prayers.

 

[KatMark]

As the CSR fans are super supportive, I felt like I could share that I got a call a few hours ago that my grandfather passed away tonight. We have a trip planned in less than two weeks. It was peaceful and he had been sick for a while. We took out trip insurance because his health was poor. I believe the funeral will be this weekend or early next week. Would it be insensitive to keep our plans and go? I have been really looking forward to this trip, but sort of feel like happiness and excitement are not the right things to feel right now. Would anyone cancel?

Sorry if this is rambling and ridiculous - it has been a rough night.

First, I am so sorry to hear the loss of your grandfather. It is so hard when someone we love leaves us.

I do not think it would be insensitive at all for you to keep your plans and go. I am sure that your grandfather would want you to go on your trip and to enjoy yourselves. As you can tell from earlier posts, my dad passed away last year. He had been in the hospital/nursing home for seven months. I knew his time was nearing an end and I kept wondering if I should cancel the trip as he slipped further and further away. But the week before my dad died, during his last time to talk to us, he told me he had one last request of me and that was that my DH and I go on our trip no matter what and celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. He told me that not everyone reaches that milestone and my DH and I deserved to celebrate what we have together. Dad died on August 22; our trip was scheduled for September 1. I seriously thought of canceling it thinking I would not be able to enjoy myself. But dad's last words kept coming back to me so we went in HONOR of my dad. My dad only was able to go to Disney World twice with the boys because of bad circulation in his legs and other medical issues over the years. But those two years he was in Disney with his grandsons were some of the happiest times of his life. So we went to Disney as my dad asked. I won't lie and say it was all laughs and fun. There were some very bittersweet moments. The first day we walked into Epcot, I sobbed as it was my dad's favorite park. The first time I went on Spaceship Earth I couldn't tell you what any of the new stuff was because I cried through the entire ride because it was dad's favorite. It got a little easier the second and third time we rode it. But there were also a lot of laughs and smiles remembering the things we did with dad at Disney and throughout our lives. I thought of releasing a balloon at one of the parks for my dad. But this voice kept ringing in my head: "Kathy, you just paid $12 for that balloon and you're going to just let it go? Didn't I teach you better than that?" (this from a man who refused to let us buy him cards...he said Hallmark had enough money without me helping them out). So instead, I bought the balloon and found a young child with her parents and with tears in my eyes, I explained to the parents that I wanted to give the balloon to their daughter in memory of my dad who always bought his grandsons balloons at Disney (at the zoo, at the park, etc.). I know this made my dad smile down from up above.

Only you can decide if you will be comfortable going on your trip. But I will tell you although bittersweet and with tears and laughter, it was truly a healing time for me.

Again, my deepest condolences to you and your family.

 

[disneynuts777]

As the CSR fans are super supportive, I felt like I could share that I got a call a few hours ago that my grandfather passed away tonight. We have a trip planned in less than two weeks. It was peaceful and he had been sick for a while. We took out trip insurance because his health was poor. I believe the funeral will be this weekend or early next week. Would it be insensitive to keep our plans and go? I have been really looking forward to this trip, but sort of feel like happiness and excitement are not the right things to feel right now. Would anyone cancel?

Sorry if this is rambling and ridiculous - it has been a rough night.

Go...and have a wonderful time.
My DH's Grandmom passed 2 years ago while we were at WDW. It was sudden and unexpected. We were all prepared to just pack and leave when we got the call. DH's Mom would not hear of it. It was wierd but she was more upset that we would come home than with her Mom. Instead she told us Grams had never been and had always wanted to go and she wanted us to finish the trip "with her". It was hard the first couple of days (it was tough explaining to CM's why our oldest DD had to have the seat beside her empty...Grams was sitting there!!)Then we started celebrating her life and in a way it was kind of fun.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[GMWGoDisney]

My fiance (soon to be husband!) and I have a honeymoon planned for July 2009 and this will be our first trip to the CSR! Neither of us have been to Disney in the last 5 years and we're so excited!

I do have a question and am hoping y'all can help me out!

How/when do we request a specific room/area?

Any other helpful hints for new visitors to the CSR?

 

[mousemagicfan]

Reminds me of our experience a year or so back at the Hilton in Phoenix, we requested a newly rennovated suite with 2 queen beds. Well the room was newly rennovated but they were the smallest queen beds I've seen! My two teens were protesting having to share that size bed. I walked back to the front desk and the sympathetic clerk explained that they were "hotel queens slightly more compact than a regular queen" HUH??

Anyway "hotel queens" are now a family joke for us. And the reason we will book two rooms at CSR rather than one!

If the queens are really smaller than a standard queen, I have a feeling my teen (16) DS won't want to share a bed with his teen (16) friend. Is there enough floor space for us to use an air mattress for one of them to sleep on? thanks

 

[KatMark]

My fiance (soon to be husband!) and I have a honeymoon planned for July 2009 and this will be our first trip to the CSR! Neither of us have been to Disney in the last 5 years and we're so excited!

I do have a question and am hoping y'all can help me out!

How/when do we request a specific room/area?

Any other helpful hints for new visitors to the CSR?

Welcome!

You should put your request in with your reservation (you can still call and do this). Also, although many resorts will throw out your faxes, the CSR has encouraged us to send faxes about three or four days before our trip to indicate once again what our preference is for room location.

All I can say is ENJOY! The CSR is truly a beautiful resort (in case you've not read this entire thread...and I wouldn't blame you if you had not, we've stayed seven times and celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary there). We just love everything about the resort and truly believe it is as close to a deluxe as you can get without the deluxe prices. Be sure to splurge and have a massage at some point during your trip...it really helps with all the walking around the parks. Enjoy the hot tub; enjoy lying in one of the hammocks first thing in the morning or late at night and look up at the stars. Take a hand held walk with your honey around the resort after the sun has set. It is simply breathtaking...especially in the Casitas area in the courtyards with the fountains.

And most of all...relax and enjoy your honeymoon at the happiest place on earth. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

 

[gardengirl628]

Sorry for the loss of your grandfather. My dad passed away May 6, 2007 from esophageal cancer. We had our trip booked for June 2007 from before he was diagnosed. We went back and forth about whether we should go or not, and in the end, we did end up going. For the reasons that previous posters have stated-my dad would have wanted me to go.
Anyway, Disney ended up being the best place to let go of some grief. Even when I didn't feel like smiling, one would creep up on me.
Go, enjoy yourself. He'd want it that way.

 

[KatMark]

If the queens are really smaller than a standard queen, I have a feeling my teen (16) DS won't want to share a bed with his teen (16) friend. Is there enough floor space for us to use an air mattress for one of them to sleep on? thanks

Yes, there is room for an air mattress.

 

[onelilspark]

Hi all! I just booked Coronado Springs for a short stay in August.

I really want a renovated room. I've read a few pages back on the thread, so please let me know if this would be correct... If I requested the Cabanas section, that would mean all the rooms in those buildings are renovated? I think my brother might be joining me and if he does, we'd have a car. If he doesn't I'm on my own and using buses. It doesn't look like that section is too far from a bus stop. Am I looking at this right??

I know it's a ways off, but I just booked this morning, and I'm just so excited!!!

 

[mousemagicfan]

Yes, there is room for an air mattress.

Thanks! I was so focused on my question I forgot to also say thank you to the many posters, and particularly to you, KatMark, for your generosity of time in sharing your knowledge about CSR. I'm a complete newbie and can't say how much I appreciate everyone's sharing - reading this board is what led to our reservation at CSR in late August! thanks again

 

[KatMark]

Hi all! I just booked Coronado Springs for a short stay in August.

I really want a renovated room. I've read a few pages back on the thread, so please let me know if this would be correct... If I requested the Cabanas section, that would mean all the rooms in those buildings are renovated? I think my brother might be joining me and if he does, we'd have a car. If he doesn't I'm on my own and using buses. It doesn't look like that section is too far from a bus stop. Am I looking at this right??

I know it's a ways off, but I just booked this morning, and I'm just so excited!!!

Yes, all of the Cabanas are completed. As of now Ranchos 6A and 6B and Casitas 4 are fully completed. They are currently working on Casitas 5. They've also done the fourth floor of Casitas 1, 2 and 3. So, once they finish Casitas 5, they have the remaining floors of Casitas 1, 2 and 3 as well as Ranchos 7A and 7B to complete.

The Cabanas are close to bus stops. Cabana 8B and9A are in between Bus Stop 4 and Bus Stop 1 (Bus Stop 1 is the last stop to be picked up from and dropped off at); Cabana 9B is close to Bus Stop 1 and Cabana 8A is close to Bus Stop 4.

 

[onelilspark]

Yes, all of the Cabanas are completed. As of now Ranchos 6A and 6B and Casitas 4 are fully completed. They are currently working on Casitas 5. They've also done the fourth floor of Casitas 1, 2 and 3. So, once they finish Casitas 5, they have the remaining floors of Casitas 1, 2 and 3 as well as Ranchos 7A and 7B to complete.

The Cabanas are close to bus stops. Cabana 8B and9A are in between Bus Stop 4 and Bus Stop 1 (Bus Stop 1 is the last stop to be picked up from and dropped off at); Cabana 9B is close to Bus Stop 1 and Cabana 8A is close to Bus Stop 4.

Thanks! I'm not overly concerned with the order of the bus stops. I'm young and healthy, so I'll wind up standing anyway! I wouldn't have any problems getting on the bus if it's the last bus stop, would I?

 

[KatMark]

Thanks! I'm not overly concerned with the order of the bus stops. I'm young and healthy, so I'll wind up standing anyway! I wouldn't have any problems getting on the bus if it's the last bus stop, would I?

Personally, DH and I never use the buses (we rent a car and drive everywhere). However, most people state that they've never had a problem getting on a bus because it is overcrowded. You might have to stand, but as you indicated, that is not a bother to you. I think perhaps after closing at one of the parks you mkight have to wait for a second bus, but not going to the parks from the CSR.

 

[onelilspark]

Personally, DH and I never use the buses (we rent a car and drive everywhere). However, most people state that they've never had a problem getting on a bus because it is overcrowded. You might have to stand, but as you indicated, that is not a bother to you. I think perhaps after closing at one of the parks you mkight have to wait for a second bus, but not going to the parks from the CSR.

Great! Thanks so much! I would rent a car, but I'm only 24 (wah wahhhhh) so I get charged all the ridiculous fees. Just not worth it. (I can own a house, but not rent a car ) Since I'm only going for a few days, I'll put up with the buses if my brother can't join me. If he can, I'll be the one in the convertible

I'm so excited POFQ has always been my favorite, but the grounds & renovated rooms look gorgeous!!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Kathy, my friend always rents a car and drives to the parks too. The first time I traveled with her I thought I'd enjoy having a car, but guess what? I missed WDW transportation!! Maybe it's because all of our trips for several years were at monorail resorts, so we felt completely immersed in the magic & enchantment. When more resorts opened and buses became the "other" form of Disney transportation, we hated the buses - b/c we had to see real roads and we felt we lost some of the magic (which was the same for us when EPCOT opened and the monorail went over Disney roads.

I know you're not a fan of the monorail, but it's part of the enchantment for me. GF would always be my first choice of resort when it's a mostly MK/EPCOT trip, but since we can rarely afford GF these days, it's CSR or FQ - we enjoy the buses the most from CSR. HATE the buses from any deluxe - never had such a long waits.

Sorry..OT and babbling...

I just love this thread.

P.S. Today noticing how countdowns that seemed so far off (7,8,9 mos) are now not so long away!

 

[Slartibartfast]

I have a question for all CSR experts (especially JamesLynn):

We booked the 4/3 deal for June 6-13. We wanted to stay one more night, so we booked a room only reservation on the 13th.

Needless to say, although we know we have to check out and back in on the 13th, we'd really prefer to stay in the same room on our extra night.

When do we mention the second reservation: when we send our room request, during online check in, or during face-to-face check in?

It would really be nice to not have to haul all our luggage to another room, and instead just hit the aprks that day after checking out/in .

Thanks, everyone, for this wonderfully informative thread!

 

[KatMark]

I have a question for all CSR experts (especially JamesLynn):

We booked the 4/3 deal for June 6-13. We wanted to stay one more night, so we booked a room only reservation on the 13th.

Needless to say, although we know we have to check out and back in on the 13th, we'd really prefer to stay in the same room on our extra night.

When do we mention the second reservation: when we send our room request, during online check in, or during face-to-face check in?

It would really be nice to not have to haul all our luggage to another room, and instead just hit the aprks that day after checking out/in .

Thanks, everyone, for this wonderfully informative thread!

Hi, Slartibartfast. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to this because I've never done it. But I did want to let you know that JamesLynn is on vacation for two weeks (her family came to Disney) and I don't think she'll be on here very much if at all until she is back at work. Hopefully, someone else might have an answer for you.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I have a question for all CSR experts (especially JamesLynn):

We booked the 4/3 deal for June 6-13. We wanted to stay one more night, so we booked a room only reservation on the 13th.

Needless to say, although we know we have to check out and back in on the 13th, we'd really prefer to stay in the same room on our extra night.

When do we mention the second reservation: when we send our room request, during online check in, or during face-to-face check in?

It would really be nice to not have to haul all our luggage to another room, and instead just hit the aprks that day after checking out/in .

Thanks, everyone, for this wonderfully informative thread!

We've done this a few times at different resorts, although not at CSR, but it would probably be the same.

I'd suggest to be sure your reservations are linked so the CM can see you will staying another night and include both reservation numbers on your fax. At check-in, let the CM know and ask how it is handled at the resort - they know guests would want to stay in the same room.

We have never had to move and did not even have to check in again. One time we had 3 separate reservations at CR for a total of 7 ngts - at check the CM arranged for us to stay in the same room and not have to check-in again.

We've not done it with a package, so you might need to stop by the front desk - but I'd be very surprised if you had to change rooms.

Hope this helps and have a great trip!

p.s. When we stayed at the Dolphin with 2 reservations a few times (special rate with a 3 ngt limit so we had 2 res) we did have to check-in again, but we were able to do it the evening prior - there was no issue staying in the same room. Not a Disney resort, but just another similar experience.