Coronado Springs question

[Betsyp]

Hi all!

So I just booked my first trip to Disney in years (11/6-11/10, leaving on 11/11), and I’m insanely excited. My nephew works for Disney, and he was nice enough to get me free passes for the 3 days he took off. I’ll buy the 4th pass myself.

I was initially hoping to stay at Beach Club due to the awesome pool AND it being an Epcot resort. But, not only did my dates not quite work, the price was too high. I looked at the POFQ as my nephew recommended it, and I’d stayed there years ago, and it’s close to DS...but no luck.

As the cast member who I spoke with said, it’s a very busy time as it’s near the end of the Epcot Food and Wine fest, and Mickey’s Christmas Party starts on 11/7. He said I was lucky that they had any rooms available ...as it turns out, at CSR.

My nephew raved about CSR Tower (which I booked, a water view), and I see it’s gotten some very good reviews here. I‘m grateful to have gotten ANY room, so I feel silly being concerned that it’s pretty far from most of the parks, especially Epcot, where I‘ll likely spend most of my evenings. For those who have stayed, was the bus an issue ? I’ve been to WDA several times, never had an issue with the bus except occasional long waits. The Minnie Van is an option - its adorable, lol. I know it’s $30 - for those who have used it, when did you do so? When getting between parks via Dis transportation wasn‘t efficient? To dinner !

I’m sure I’ll love CSR - I’m just so giddy to be going back to WDW

Thank you!

 

[Marthasor]

CSR Tower is gorgeous! I stayed there last December and it felt very "deluxe" to me. The buses really didn't bother me - there is a stop just outside the tower and, though sometimes you do drive around the resort before getting to a park or getting back to the tower after a park day, I didn't find it terribly bothersome. CSR, geographically, really isn't that far from EP. We use lyft a lot in WDW and have always had good experiences - I typically use them in lieu of Minnie Vans as they seem to be easier to get, but Minnie Vans are great too! I think Minnie Vans, lyft, etc. are most useful when you need to go resort-to-resort for a dining reservation as Disney does not provide direct transport between resorts. For resort to park, the buses work great unless you really want to get to a park a little more quickly. However, if you want to get from CSR to MK using private transportation, I would definitely book a Minnie Van as lyft/uber can only go to TTC and not to the MK bus area.

 

[Betsyp]

CSR Tower is gorgeous! I stayed there last December and it felt very "deluxe" to me. The buses really didn't bother me - there is a stop just outside the tower and, though sometimes you do drive around the resort before getting to a park or getting back to the tower after a park day, I didn't find it terribly bothersome. CSR, geographically, really isn't that far from EP. We use lyft a lot in WDW and have always had good experiences - I typically use them in lieu of Minnie Vans as they seem to be easier to get, but Minnie Vans are great too! I think Minnie Vans, lyft, etc. are most useful when you need to go resort-to-resort for a dining reservation as Disney does not provide direct transport between resorts. For resort to park, the buses work great unless you really want to get to a park a little more quickly. However, if you want to get from CSR to MK using private transportation, I would definitely book a Minnie Van as lyft/uber can only go to TTC and not to the MK bus area.

Martha, thank you so much - I feel better !

Actually, sometimes I like just cooling down on the bus, relaxing, having a chance to decompress...I forgot that until just now, lol. I do now remember going to resort for dinner from my hotel and having to deal with multiple modes of transportation ..Minnie Van, etc.. will be worth the cost not to have to deal with that.

I’ve read CSR has a cool pool - hopefully it will be warm enough to take advantage,

Thank you again !!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I tend to agree. GDT is a beautiful place - one of the more underrated/overlooked additions to WDW in the last few years. It takes staying there to appreciate CSR's central location - most trips to/from the parks are rather quick/efficient routes. I don't always love the resorts with multi-bus stop setups like CSR, but I find it very manageable here. Supplemented with rideshare when you encounter unfavorable conditions, I personally wouldn't over-think the transportation part - even when you read "the buses were horrible" reviews (which can frankly happen at any resort in certain situations).

CSR itself is beautiful, very walkable, and IMHO has interesting food/beverage options.

 

[stampdame]

You will love it! Buses have never really bothered me. Great dining and lounge options! We wish some of those tower rooms were DVC. LOL

 

[Betsyp]

deleted

 

[Betsyp]

I tend to agree. GDT is a beautiful place - one of the more underrated/overlooked additions to WDW in the last few years. It takes staying there to appreciate CSR's central location - most trips to/from the parks are rather quick/efficient routes. I don't always love the resorts with multi-bus stop setups like CSR, but I find it very manageable here. Supplemented with rideshare when you encounter unfavorable conditions, I personally wouldn't over-think the transportation part - even when you read "the buses were horrible" reviews (which can frankly happen at any resort in certain situations).

CSR itself is beautiful, very walkable, and IMHO has interesting food/beverage options.

Now I’m really excited....I’m kind of glad to try a place I frankly wouldn’t have considered. I’ll post about my stay after I return !

You will love it! Buses have never really bothered me. Great dining and lounge options! We wish some of those tower rooms were DVC. LOL

Thank you ! I made reservations at Toledo for my last night, and I’m looking forward to that !

 

[stinkpickle]

For the amount of money you'll be saving by not staying at Beach Club, you'll be able to hop around in Minnie Vans with cash left over.

 

[HopperFan]

Other than the AKL and WL ~ CSR is our favorite resort and I'd be happy to stay there every trip. I don't know around 10+ stays and never had a bus issue. It is very centrally located so no ride is long. ENJOY!

 

[cjlong88]

Hi all!

So I just booked my first trip to Disney in years (11/6-11/10, leaving on 11/11), and I’m insanely excited. My nephew works for Disney, and he was nice enough to get me free passes for the 3 days he took off. I’ll buy the 4th pass myself.

I was initially hoping to stay at Beach Club due to the awesome pool AND it being an Epcot resort. But, not only did my dates not quite work, the price was too high. I looked at the POFQ as my nephew recommended it, and I’d stayed there years ago, and it’s close to DS...but no luck.

As the cast member who I spoke with said, it’s a very busy time as it’s near the end of the Epcot Food and Wine fest, and Mickey’s Christmas Party starts on 11/7. He said I was lucky that they had any rooms available ...as it turns out, at CSR.

My nephew raved about CSR Tower (which I booked, a water view), and I see it’s gotten some very good reviews here. I‘m grateful to have gotten ANY room, so I feel silly being concerned that it’s pretty far from most of the parks, especially Epcot, where I‘ll likely spend most of my evenings. For those who have stayed, was the bus an issue ? I’ve been to WDA several times, never had an issue with the bus except occasional long waits. The Minnie Van is an option - its adorable, lol. I know it’s $30 - for those who have used it, when did you do so? When getting between parks via Dis transportation wasn‘t efficient? To dinner !

I’m sure I’ll love CSR - I’m just so giddy to be going back to WDW

Thank you!

You will LOVE Gran Destino Tower! Have fun!!!

 

[VicarJT]

As others have said, we love GDT. First night’s “dinner” is always the cheese and/or charcuterie board(s) at the Dahlia Lounge. So many places just to hang out and rest - outside and inside. Enjoy - I look forward to hearing about your trip.

 

[emilyann704]

I stayed at Coronado in May (not in the Tower) and loved the resort. I had no problems with busses at all. I rope dropped Magic Kingdom one morning and while the early bus was full I still was able to get on easily. Arriving at Epcot another morning around 10am was absolutely fine too. I never waited more than 10 minutes going to a park.

Coming back to the hotel at night there was always a bus waiting already. I was actually concerned I'd need to call a Lyft one evening since I had an after hours Oga's reservation and didn't realize buses stopped running. The very last Coronado Springs bus for the night was still waiting and I was able to jump on and avoid the extra cost.

I loved having dinner at Three Bridges and then walking up to Dahlia Lounge for a cocktail. I happened to time it perfectly for the 9pm fireworks you can view on the balcony!

 

[Mtraynom]

I stayed here last October and really liked it, the Tower is beautiful! I never had a problem with the buses, never waited more than 10 minutes for one to show. The pool is awesome, but if its too cold for that, they do have the largest hot tub on property, it is huge! I definitely enjoyed it after a long day in the park.

 

[rangerxenos]

Getting excited reading all these good things about the Tower, staying there for the first time in December!

 

[stampdame]

Now I’m really excited....I’m kind of glad to try a place I frankly wouldn’t have considered. I’ll post about my stay after I return !


Thank you ! I made reservations at Toledo for my last night, and I’m looking forward to that !

We enjoyed Toledo! Be sure to go to the Dahlia Lounge across from Toledo. We also enjoy Three Bridges in the evening.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I love the Gran Destino Tower! I find the rooms to be nicer than deluxe rooms actually with those huge windows The bar up top has a lovely evening view fwiw.

My ideal trip would be GDT + Minnie Vans, I felt like a VIP once getting MK MV to GDT. It pulls right up to the hotel and the elevators whisk you up to your floor and even if you’re at the end of the floor it isn’t a long walk from the elevators. Alas MVs all the time are too expensive for my blood so I end up with a mix of Mv/rideshares/buses. The buses are the downside to CSR, they can be full in the morning then on the way back from the parks you have to wait through all the other stops. FYI MVs are running closer to $40 these days

I can’t believe you got GDT during those dates! I’m jealous!