Coronado Springs Resort...did you like it?

[TwMuise]

Hi Everyone:

We just got back from a great trip. First night at Grand Villa at Kidani Village and 7 nights at Port Orleans Riverside. This was our second visit to PO and we love it but now I want to try Coronado Springs. Tell me what you like and/or dislike about it and where you should request your room. Looking forward to hear from everyone.

Wendy

 

[cottontail]

Hi: I would like to hear replies also as we always stay at port orleans. But I am curious how did you like kidani? Did you see alot of animals?

Deb.

 

[wdw-ocd]

We stayed at the Coronado a few years ago and my kids really enjoyed the pool. They even liked Coronado's pool better than the pool at Kidani and much better than the pool at Jambo house (I tried to explain to my youngest dd, who was 7 at the time, that the water was supposed to look murky because it was a "watering hole", but she still thought it was just too dirty to swim in!)

We stayed in cabanas 9b, which was a great spot- close to the Dig Site, a quiet pool, and the restaurants. The rooms (we needed 2 connecting to fit all 6 of us) were bright and spacious enough. Parking was also convenient. There wasn't the conventioneers' feeling that I've read about in other posts and the walk from our room to the restaurants was probably shorter than the maze we had to navigate when we stayed at AKL!

There aren't the scheduled kids' activities like AKL, but my kids still had fun in the pool. Dh also preferred Coronado to AKL, but I think that had to do with the cost!

 

[candielips]

I am also curious to hear about Kidani Village as we are considering renting some points for our upcoming trip and doing a split stay w/ POP.

 

[highland3]

We found the pool to be the best part of CSR.

As for the rest, we really preferred the atmosphere at POR.

CSR had too many "business types" running around for conferences. It just didn't have the same family feel I like in a WDW resort.

 

[wdw-ocd]

I am also curious to hear about Kidani Village as we are considering renting some points for our upcoming trip and doing a split stay w/ POP.

The kids' activities and theme at kidani are wonderful! It rained our first 2 days and my kids had fun in the craft/activity room playing pool, making crafts, playing on the Wii, and watching the animals from the balcony. My 2 younger ones also liked the scheduled activities at kidani and jambo house as well as the storytelling at Arusha rock. Watching the animals is fun too, especially with the night vision goggles!

We stayed in a 2 bedroom lock-off which was beautiful and spacious, but dark. I didn't care for the location of our room. Our hallway was really, really, really long and it took us the first few days before we found out how to get to the front lobby in less than 10 minutes! Parking is underground, which is great for keeping your vehicle out of the hot sun, though it was fairly confusing finding the right elevator that lead us to where we parked our van.

All in all, it's a beautiful resort and a great place to go especially if you have kids and you like animals!

 

[OntFamily]

We stayed at CSR about 4 years ago.

The best part of the resort, was the main pool (Dig Site).

The food situation was a little weird. If you aren't on the dining plan, the quick service restaurant on site is more expensive than other Disney resorts (but it does offer far more variety). Also, the restaurants, as they are not operated by Disney, but a 3rd party operator, offered different items (ie no mickey head rice krispies...).

 

[TwMuise]

Thanks everyone I just love to hear what everyone thinks. As for Kidani we love it, it is quieter than Jambo House and more intimate. we have no small children so everyday is a romantic one for hubby and I. The next trip we go on will be me and DH all alone. Our first trip ever alone, we've been going since 1991 and always with our children and our recent trip was a party of nine. We do not like the convvention feeling hense we don't care for the Contempary so if Coronado Springs has that vibe I guess its not for us. We sure do love Port Orleans and don't even mind Pop Century. Our fav place has to be Saratoga though, we just love it there but the eating has alot to be desired, not much variety. Having said all that I guess I'd stay in a closet just to go to Disney, we just love it that much. Keep the comments coming on Coronado Springs we love to hear all perspectives.

Wendy

 

[SaskDisNut]

We've stayed at CSR twice. We really enjoy the resort. All the rooms have been refurbished in the last year and it also has queen beds. The Dig site pool is wonderful and the quiet pools are just that - nice and quiet. We find the bus service very good to and from the parks. The Pepper Market is probably the only blip for us. The food is good but the setup is different than other counter service places at other resorts. They charge a 10% gratuity if you eat in but not if you get it "To Go". Conventioners have never bothered us much either. You see them around at El Centro and around the pool but overall they didn't interfere with us in our vacation mode. I did a review of our last stay in October - complete with pictures. The link is at the bottom of my signature. Feel free to ask me questions.

There is also a very good CSR FAQ thread that has tons of information and pictures of the resort.

 

[SaskDisNut]

(ie no mickey head rice krispies...).

But they do have them in Panchito's!

 

[TwMuise]

Love the pictures Sask, looks like a great place for us.

 

[tigercat]

We stayed there and don't think we will again. The room was okay and the pool was really nice but we were so far away from everything. The biggest problem was the convention. We had the dining plan so it was fine to eat there but everything took so long to get as you had to go to different stations. The food was good once you got it though. We also had the Pepper Market closed to us a couple of times because of all the conventioners. They seem to have priority. We probably not stay at the All stars again either because of the Brazilian cheerleaders that we had the last time. I would love to try CB.
tigercat

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

It's definitely in my top 5! Have stayed at all the mods & it's the mod that I'll choose for next time, having visited twice already.

The beds are excellent, the rooms are gorgeous & in the Cabanas you have the beachy vibe like CSR...of course it's all personal preference. Whatever you choose, have fun!

 

[iluvwesties]

Just my 2cent's worth.......

I was SOOO looking forward to staying at CSR as we had always enjoyed visiting the resort while staying on site elsewhere.

We were put in a room a LONG way from the pool or food court

We were surrounded by conventioners, so the family atmosphere wasn't there.

When we went to the pool, again conventioners who were loud talking business..... we just didn't feel comfortable.

I agree with a previous poster also in that the dining choices (other than Pepper Market ) were limited.

We DID enjoy Pepper Market, the quietness of the room, the comfortable beds, the pretty grounds around the resort.

I would now say for myself "Been there, Done that.......NOT going back to CSR!"

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

We did a split stay at the CSR and Kidani last August.

CSR was great. A pleasant surprise. I read all the information on the "Official CSR" thread at the Resorts section. If you don't think you'd like it when there is a convention, they have a list of who is there when.

We were there during a convention, and aside from a few people who had official convention badges, I didn't notice a difference. We stayed (my choice and I loved it) in the Rancho's section which seemed to be the furthest out. We had a car, so the distances weren't really an issue, but I'd say the walk to the main building was no more than 10 minutes, tops. The main pool was 5 minutes or less walk and the Rancho's pool was outside our doorstep. Also the bus stop was very near by but we didn't use it. The recently renovated rooms were great and the beds were very comfortable and they are Queen beds as opposed to doubles in all other Mods. CSR is the only Mod to have the "deluxe" Disney shampoos.

We ate twice a Pepper market and it was fine. I really liked this resort and go back in a minute.

Kidani was wonderful too.

 

[Csaks]

We love POR but were not getting that vibe from CSR last time we went. The bar, table service restaurant ( starts with an M, someone help!) and Pepper Market were great. All round it was a beautiful place with great CM's but not our cup of tea.
So I can't put a finger on what was different or why we didn't love it or even have the desire to go back. We are going back to POR this fall and I can't wait.

 

[SaskDisNut]

table service restaurant ( starts with an M, someone help!)

Maya Grill!

 

[TwMuise]

So, is the Pepper Quick Counter Service o sit down dining I'm confused?

Wendy

 

[Jareds_mommy]

Hi Everyone:

We just got back from a great trip. First night at Grand Villa at Kidani Village and 7 nights at Port Orleans Riverside. This was our second visit to PO and we love it but now I want to try Coronado Springs. Tell me what you like and/or dislike about it and where you should request your room. Looking forward to hear from everyone.

Wendy

We were there last Oct and liked it so much we are going back the end of April for 15 nights, I really liked the bed size we just can't do double beds
and I know people have said it feels spread out but even my 5 year old had no trouble walking from one place to another,
We have also stayed at teh AKL the Dec before and I like CSR better

 

[SaskDisNut]

So, is the Pepper Quick Counter Service o sit down dining I'm confused?

Wendy

Pepper Market is a counter service restaurant but with a twist. When you enter you are greeted at a podium. If you want to eat in, they will take you to a table where a server will take you drink orders. You are also given a card that you then take to the various stations where you order your food. The person at the station will stamp your card with what you've ordered. After you have gone to the various stations and got your food you then eat at the table where you were seated. The server will refill your drinks and deal with the dishes. When you leave you take your card and pay at the registers at the exit of the PM. You will be charged a 10% service charge if you eat in.

If you want your food "To Go" you tell the person at the podium. They will give you the same card but it will be stamped "To Go". You then go directly to the stations to order your food. When you have everything you go to the registers and pay but you are not charged the extra 10%.

Once you've done it a couple of times it isn't so confusing but why they have it setup this way in the first place is a bit strange.

I hope this helps.