Coronado Springs Resort -- New Unofficial FAQ Thread -- November 2009

[KatMark]

Thanks so much for your "mini" review of CSR and your dining. Seriously, you did an awesome job and I'm glad that for the most part you enjoyed your stay at CSR and that you had mostly great meals.

 

[WDisneyMom]

As I said in opening, CSR is a beautiful resort. That being said, we now realize what a learning trip this was...so many things we would do again never do again and plan to do next time because of this trip. We *will* stay at a monorail resort next time. I want to be in a one building hotel. Too much time was wasted walking back and forth, back and forth at CSR and then the wait for the buses mostly after the parks closed was insane. My dream is to stay at the Contemporary...we fell in love with this place. However, my DH's jaw dropped when we walked into the Animal Kingdom Lodge...this place is just stunning. If we could be in the main building, I would also consider staying here...I just never want to be somewhere ever again that isn't contained in one building. My thought is... you walk enough at the parks and wait long enough to get on rides that at my hotel, I want to do neither...or pretty close to it!

We loved the Dining Plan and would never consider returning to WDW without it...not only was it a great value for our family but we ate at places we would never have considered otherwise due to some of the high prices...i.e, Chef Mickey's...experience was GREAT with the charatcers but we would NEVER pay $30 plus per person for that food OOP.

A few comments on some other Disney/Vacation Happenings:

The weather was beautiful!! Perfect! Hot enough during the day for the pool and cooled off enough at night to enjoy the parks in comfort.

We really lucked out with wait times for the rides...for the most part! there were a few of the really popular ones that we waited an hour for but for the most part, wait times were great!

MVMCP: Not impressed. Very crowded and not as Christmas Magical as I expected it to be...kinda sad over this since I was really looking forward to it. I told my DH we would never do it again...however, he did have a good point. We walked onto almost every ride because we timed it during some of the parades/shows. He feels this is totally worth buying tickets for again...I'm not so sure.

I was quite disappointed that the Osbourne lights in HS were not displayed the night we were there...that was something else high on our list.

We had the opportunity to visit some of the other resorts to see their Christmas decorations and they were amazing! My favorite decorations were at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian!

Overall, we had a fantastic, fun, magical time at Disney World! This was our first family vaction to WDW and it was awesome! There were some ups and downs but I am using these experiences to learn from and plan our next disney vacation...can't wait!

Thank you to everyone on the Dis and especially this thread for all of the information, thoughts, pictures, reviews shared to help plan our trip!

 

[WDisneyMom]

Thank you for everything Kat! I have pictures but no idea how to post them!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you for everything Kat! I have pictures but no idea how to post them!

You are welcome. I agree with you--the AKL is stunning. Just an FYI--all of the monorail resorts have separate buildings too -- CR has the tower and garden view, Poly has all of the separate buildings away from the main building and I know that GF has separate buildings as well. Of the three, we've stayed at the CR and the Poly. The Poly is by far our favorite! But we are doing AKL next trip with a split stay with our CSR.

 

[WDisneyMom]

Thank you Kat! Question...the Tower is in the one building, correct? I know it costs a bit more but for us, well worth it. We might also do a split...CR and AKL. Next trip is looking like Nov/Dec 2010.

 

[princessmom29]

We just got back, and CSR was beautiful!!! We were in Cabanas 8A room 8223. Great second floor location! We were like 50 yards from bus stop 4. Rennoed rooms were great!! Totally relaxing after a long day in the parks. We only ate at the PM for breakfast. It was your typical counter service breakfast, but I really enjoyed the hash browns. We had great mousekeeping, and a towel animal when we arrived. We had a great stay. Ate at Mama Melrose, Les Chefs, Princesses in Norway, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey, Brown Derby, Crystal Palace, and Ohana. The food was pretty good everywhere, but I don't think CP is pne we will do again. We felt like the characters were very rushed, and it takes FOREVER to get seated, and FOREVER again for the characters to make it around. We were lucky wit the table we got, but were told by our server that it was routine for it to take 1 1/2 hours for every character to make it around. MVMCP was wonderful. Total christmas magic as usual and we rode all of fantasy land in like 45 min. We just felt like there was Disney magic everywhere this trip. We got lots of pixe dust type extras like extra fastpasses and special tables at resutrants (castle view at Ohana!)and some really special moments for our 6 year old with the characters that were just out and about in the parks.

 

[princessmom29]

Thank you Kat! Question...the Tower is in the one building, correct? I know it costs a bit more but for us, well worth it. We might also do a split...CR and AKL. Next trip is looking like Nov/Dec 2010.

hate to tell you this, but there will most likely be walking involved wherever you stay, although not quite as much as CSR in soem cases. All of the resorts are fairly large, and unless you are very lucky or shell out major coinage you will be walking a fair distance to monorails and buses. It is just part of being at disney. The monorail stations are in the main buildings and that means everyone else has to hoof it there to catch them. The contemporary may be a little better than most, but it still has hundreds of rooms many of which are pretty far from the monorail. Not to mention that the monorail only gets you to 2 out of 4 parks. You will still be bussing to the other 2.

 

[ajpa]

We were in Cabanas 8A room 8223. Great second floor location! We were like 50 yards from bus stop 4.

princessmom, did you go to The Dig -- how far was that?
I have a bldg request for 9B and I keep second-guessing myself that I should change it to 8A.
And My TA is out until Dec 8 and we leave on Dec 12, so probably it would be too late to change it anyway even if I wanted to!!!
Ahhh!!!!!

 

[WDisneyMom]

PMom29...obviously there is walking in all resorts...it's just a matter of how much we want to do in addition to all the walking you do in parks. For us, CR Tower or AKL Jambo house will be closer to main areas and less walk than at CSR. It's expensive but I now realize why people pay money for certain locations.

 

[DPaddock66]

Could someone look at my room request and tell me what you think:

December 3, 2009
1000 West Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407.939.1000 Phone
407.939.1001 Fax

ATTENTION: CSR Room Assigner

Dear Cast Member:

We will be visiting with you Sunday December 13th through Sunday December 20th. Our reservation number is xxxxxxxx. Our flight will have us arriving at MCO at 9:15 AM. I will be accompanied by my wife and 2 sons. This will be our first stay with your resort and I have a few requests. Since we are traveling with two children, we would like to receive a first floor room. Also, if Cabanas 9B or 9A are available, we would like to stay here for the convenience. However if these buildings are in use for the conventioneers, could we be assigned to Casitas 4 or 5.

If our requests may not be met I understand, since you probably get quite a few requests everyday and meeting all guest requests must be impossible. In any event, I am sure we will have a great stay at your beautiful resort.

Thank you for your time and we will see you soon,


Dan Paddock

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[KatMark]

Thank you Kat! Question...the Tower is in the one building, correct? I know it costs a bit more but for us, well worth it. We might also do a split...CR and AKL. Next trip is looking like Nov/Dec 2010.

Yes, the tower is in one building.

PMom29...obviously there is walking in all resorts...it's just a matter of how much we want to do in addition to all the walking you do in parks. For us, CR Tower or AKL Jambo house will be closer to main areas and less walk than at CSR. It's expensive but I now realize why people pay money for certain locations.

This is true. However, the room we had in the Tower took as long to walk to the pool as it did from any room we've had at CSR to the pool and at AKL, my best friend had a room at the end of the building which was longer to the food court/pool than it was from the Convention Center to the furthest room room in the Ranchos at the CSR. The biggest difference is you will be inside. We prefer the outside walk, but many prefer the inside...especially with little ones.

 

[KatMark]

We just got back, and CSR was beautiful!!! We were in Cabanas 8A room 8223. Great second floor location! We were like 50 yards from bus stop 4. Rennoed rooms were great!! Totally relaxing after a long day in the parks. We only ate at the PM for breakfast. It was your typical counter service breakfast, but I really enjoyed the hash browns. We had great mousekeeping, and a towel animal when we arrived. We had a great stay. Ate at Mama Melrose, Les Chefs, Princesses in Norway, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey, Brown Derby, Crystal Palace, and Ohana. The food was pretty good everywhere, but I don't think CP is pne we will do again. We felt like the characters were very rushed, and it takes FOREVER to get seated, and FOREVER again for the characters to make it around. We were lucky wit the table we got, but were told by our server that it was routine for it to take 1 1/2 hours for every character to make it around. MVMCP was wonderful. Total christmas magic as usual and we rode all of fantasy land in like 45 min. We just felt like there was Disney magic everywhere this trip. We got lots of pixe dust type extras like extra fastpasses and special tables at resutrants (castle view at Ohana!)and some really special moments for our 6 year old with the characters that were just out and about in the parks.

Princessmom, I'm so glad that you enjoyed the CSR and had a magical trip to DW. I love hearing of people having "Disney magic and pixie dust."

Could someone look at my room request and tell me what you think:

December 3, 2009
1000 West Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407.939.1000 Phone
407.939.1001 Fax

ATTENTION: CSR Room Assigner

Dear Cast Member:

We will be visiting with you Sunday December 13th through Sunday December 20th. Our reservation number is xxxxxxxx. Our flight will have us arriving at MCO at 9:15 AM. I will be accompanied by my wife and 2 sons. This will be our first stay with your resort and I have a few requests. Since we are traveling with two children, we would like to receive a first floor room. Also, if Cabanas 9B or 9A are available, we would like to stay here for the convenience. However if these buildings are in use for the conventioneers, could we be assigned to Casitas 4 or 5.

If our requests may not be met I understand, since you probably get quite a few requests everyday and meeting all guest requests must be impossible. In any event, I am sure we will have a great stay at your beautiful resort.

Thank you for your time and we will see you soon,


Dan Paddock

Thank you for your assistance.

Dan, I think the letter sounds absolutely perfect! Hope you get some pixie dust on the trip.

 

[DPaddock66]

Dan, I think the letter sounds absolutely perfect! Hope you get some pixie dust on the trip.

Thank you for your help. I will post lots of pics when we get back. Your help has been incredible.

 

[micheletenor]

Kat - I requested Cabanas 9A over the phone and they did note it on my reservation...do you think I should also still fax my request in as my trip date approaches? If so, when do you recommend doing that? Thanks!!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you for your help. I will post lots of pics when we get back. Your help has been incredible.

Thanks, Dan.

Kat - I requested Cabanas 9A over the phone and they did note it on my reservation...do you think I should also still fax my request in as my trip date approaches? If so, when do you recommend doing that? Thanks!!

I would request it three or four days prior to arrival...it can't hurt to have it noted again.

 

[princessmom29]

PMom29...obviously there is walking in all resorts...it's just a matter of how much we want to do in addition to all the walking you do in parks. For us, CR Tower or AKL Jambo house will be closer to main areas and less walk than at CSR. It's expensive but I now realize why people pay money for certain locations.

the walks are a little shorter, but not that much. Especially if you get a good room location at CSR. It took us no more than 5 min to get to anything, bus, pool, or main building. I just don't think that it is that much more convinient in reality, unless you arein one of the few truly prime room locations in the deluxes.

 

[TigerLilly28]

Well, its official! My DS8 and I are staying at CSR April 25-May 2 2010! We always stay off property, at the Marriott World Center, but with the awesome pin code I recieved via e-mail, we decided to finally stay on property! I have been agonizing for weeks over where to stay.... my son would give no input! He rolled his eyes at the dragon slide at POFQ (lame, mom.....), and thought CBRs Nemo rooms were too 'babyish'...... (he's 8, going on 30....). He just kept saying, I dont care mom.... you pick! I just want to go to Disney! UNTIL..... he saw your pics of the Dig Site Pool! Yay! Victory! We have our resort!
Thank goodness! And, after looking at pics of the rooms, they look more up my alley than most of the other on property hotels. The decor is more subdued and relaxing, and the beds just look more comfortable. (if that makes any sense....) Now I just need to decide which building to request! We want to be close to the Dig Site and the food court, and not too far from a bus stop.... any suggestions? We dont mind a little walking, after all, we're going to DISNEY, but when were at the resort, we just wanna chill out and give our feet a break!

Thanks for any input!

 

[KatMark]

Well, its official! My DS8 and I are staying at CSR April 25-May 2 2010! We always stay off property, at the Marriott World Center, but with the awesome pin code I recieved via e-mail, we decided to finally stay on property! I have been agonizing for weeks over where to stay.... my son would give no input! He rolled his eyes at the dragon slide at POFQ (lame, mom.....), and thought CBRs Nemo rooms were too 'babyish'...... (he's 8, going on 30....). He just kept saying, I dont care mom.... you pick! I just want to go to Disney! UNTIL..... he saw your pics of the Dig Site Pool! Yay! Victory! We have our resort!
Thank goodness! And, after looking at pics of the rooms, they look more up my alley than most of the other on property hotels. The decor is more subdued and relaxing, and the beds just look more comfortable. (if that makes any sense....) Now I just need to decide which building to request! We want to be close to the Dig Site and the food court, and not too far from a bus stop.... any suggestions? We dont mind a little walking, after all, we're going to DISNEY, but when were at the resort, we just wanna chill out and give our feet a break!

Thanks for any input!

Thrilled to hear it!

We always stay in Casitas 4 or 5 -- close to the quiet pool, about a five minutes or so of a walk to the main building and about eight to ten minutes to the main pool; Bus Stop 2 is close to this and it is the first stop picked up and dropped off. For the first time in eight stays, we were in the Cabanas this past September -- Cabana 9A. I would say it was about the same walk to the main building and about the same walk to the main pool.

 

[robynmark]

We stayed here two weeks ago and loved it. I had requested Cabanas 9b but when we checked in we were told we would be in Casitas area. I did not want to stay that far away so luckily they moved us to the Cabanas 9B. It was the best location. Close to the main building and the dig pool. The weather was fantastic all week so we spent alot of time at the dig site. We only at the food court once for breakfast on our last day and the waitress only charged us for 2 counter service meals instead of 3. The food was okay but I agree there are much better places out there.

Robyn

 

[IandGsmom]

We shall be there 12/16-12/23. originally staying at the BC we went to a mod to add in dining and MVMCP without breaking the bank I picked this one mainly for the beds. Queen beds trump doubles any day. The pool looked cool also. I am looking forward to trying somewhere new