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

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Thank you KatMark and everyone who had contributed to making this resort thread to be friendly. I just finished reading this thread and now thinking of switching my reservation from Pop for Feb 6-12. My DS 4 had been asking when is he going back to Disney. We have cancelled 2 previous trips. So for his 5th birthday (Feb 14th) he wants to celebrate it at Disney his fifth trip. Anyway, this will be a budget trip that's why I chose Pop was not sure about it and my first time traveling w/o my husband so I'm taking my mom. It will be her first Disney trip (she has been to Disneyland a few times over 20 yrs ago). So my husband said to look at a Mod resort since I never stayed at a value. I saw the CSR has been had a rehab and has room service.

Questions: Which location whould you guys recommend? Key for me is the bus stop. We will not spend time at the pool. Want to be near the main building.
I did read that Casita 4-5 has the first bus stop. Do you think this is better than Cabana 9B. There will be a convention the week we are there?
Is the bus stop near Cabana 9B the last stop?

Are there often taxis in front of the main building in the morning and evening?

For anyone who has ordered room service, how was it? and how long does deliver take? When we were at GF...room service usually take 45 mins. at AKL was 20-30 mins. My son eats slow so I like to order his breakfast and have him eat while I get ready.

Thank you in advance. I'm hoping to switch the reservation this afternoon.

 

[laura428]

Stay confirmed at the CSR, February 6th through the 13th! (Pooh, maybe we'll see you there!)

Question... I've read about kids' clubs at the resorts. Is there one at CSR? And babysitting services... are these available there, too? Has anyone used them? My husband and I only ever leave the kids (4 and 6) with family or our very trusted neighbor, so I'm a wee bit nervous about leaving them with strangers. I'd love to get your thoughts...

Thanks... SO excited!!!!

 

[ogreenlee]

There are kid's clubs at the Deluxe resorts, but they accept anyone. I'd opt for that over a babysitter in my hotel room.

 

[Denise40]

That sunrise photo was taken around 6:45 or so. We wanted to get an early start to the day. I would love the following photos if you don't mind:The pic of resort reflection in the lake (either one); The hallway pic by Rix lounge; the pic of the pool and then the water fountain with the Christmas tree behind it at registration. Thanks so much. I am trying to get pics together so that I can make a photo book.

 

[aubriee]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Castia 1 is close to the eating place but not to the bus stop?

Casitas 1 is basically "attached" to the main building (El Centro--registration, food, gift shop, etc). It is closest to Bus Stop 1 which is the LAST stop picked u and dropped off.

True, but it's a great location. The first time we ever stayed here, we were in Casitas 1. Because it's covered, you can walk all the way to and from your room under cover, if it's raining. We were in Casitas 1 our first trip and in Cabanas 9B just a couple of weeks ago, so we used that main bus stop both trips. Now we are early risers, so that may have had something to do with it, but there was never a morning that we had to stand. Bus service at CSR is the greatest! Now if you are trying to get on the bus at that stop during peak traveling time, the situation might be different.

 

[aubriee]

The only building NOT to have an elevator at the CSR is Casitas 2. I'm not sure why but Aubriee, a friend here on the DIS, discovered this when she was there in September (luckily, she only had one night in that room before she was moved to another room the next night).

Kat and Daisy: Thanks so much for the quick and helpful answers! That is what I LOVE about DISboards!!!!

I think I am going to fax a room request for either Casitas or Cabanas and leave it up to the powers that be. Both look nice and I can't decide! Must have an elevator, though...can't imagine lugging all that stuff up the stairs!

Kathy, are you saying you don't know why Casitas 2 doesn't have an elevator or are you saying that considering my first trip to CSR (was bad) you don't understand why I had to be the one to discover it on my second trip.

To be fair, there is an elevator in building 3 and building 3 has a little bridge thingy you can walk across to building 2. The problem was, my room was on the very back side of building 2, way toward the back and facing the parking lot, as far as you could possibly get from those building 3 elevators. To get to it from buildling 3's elevator you had to cross the bridged walkway, go across the width of the building, turn right, then go across that section of building 2, then turn right again and go almost the entire length of building 2 to get to my room. To make it worse, the stairs weren't much better. My room was on the fourth floor. I was coming back from DTD early that first night to get dressed for my Calif Grill ADR, when I decided it would be faster to use the stairs. I made the mistake of using the stairs closest to the parking lot. I went up three flights of stairs just to find that that was as high as they went. I then walked almost all the way around building 2 on the third floor trying to find a way up to the fourth floor. Because the building is a long U shape on that side, I could see my room up on the next floor, but couldn't find a way to get up there. It was pouring down rain, so I had gotten soaked coming from the bus stop and was also coming down sick. I was almost in tears before I found a very nice CM coming out of a room. When I pointed to my room and asked how the heck to get up on the fourth floor to it from where I was at, the CM laughed and informed me, I was in what the CMs call 'no man's land' because there is no easy way to get to those rooms on the top floor of that particular section. He said he had no idea why they designed that particular building the way they did with no elevators and only one stairwell that went all the way to the fourth floor. He walked me the rest of the way around building 2 and showed me the stairs that led down to the quiet pool and said they were the only stairs that led all the way up to the fourth level and were the quickest way to get to and from the bus stop, so yeah my choices for that first day/night was to either go all the way around and down the length of both sections of building 2 to catch the elevator, then once I got on the ground, walk all the way back around building 2 and building 4, then across the parking lot to get to the bus stop, or else cut through by the health club and quiet pool at the end of building 4, walk by the quiet pool to building 2, then walk up four flights of stairs, which the CM assured me was the easiest and quickest way. What was bad, was that I paid extra for a King room for that one night (due to no standard rooms being available under the AP discount). I still can't believe they put a King room way up there in that terrible location, facing the parking lot yet. Thankfully the next day I was moved to a fantastic first floor, corner room facing shrubbery and the back of a Ranchos building in Cabanas 8A. I loved that location and was only a few minutes from the bus stop, Dig site, and main building. It was a wonderful location.

I was back at CSR just a couple of weeks ago and had an absolutely perfect trip in another great location facing the smaller lake on the first floor in building 9B. I really love the Cabanas. Despite my rocky start (bad first trip and bad first day on my second trip), I've really come to love CSR and now have two trips booked there for 2010, hoping for a first floor room in the Cabanas each time.

 

[andychris14]

Thank you so much for all of this info. We are planning on staying there in august. I took out a piece of paper and wrote down all of this useful information.
Thanks again

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Hello,

quick question?
we have a ressie at O'Hana's for Breakfast at 7:30. What is the best way to get there? It is an EMH morning for MK, so I think that the buses will start running at 6:00am. (2 hours before opening) If this is true, we will take a bus to MK and then the monorail to Poly. We do not have our own car. Does this sound about right? We've never done a breakfast reservation before.

Thanks for any help.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Hi there,

I am putting together a 3 night trip for my 3 kids and me next Nov. I want to make the ressies now since I got a code. I am decideing between CSR and CBR, but I am leaning toward this one because of the queen beds and the pool for my kids.

I want to be near the main pool for my 13, 10 and 8 year old. This resort is so big. What building do I request to be nearest the pool and a bus stop that you think would be the best for us?

Thanks!

 

[Toadi]

There are kid's clubs at the Deluxe resorts, but they accept anyone. I'd opt for that over a babysitter in my hotel room.

Agree! The kids clubs are awesome! Our son stayed at Neverland several times; Dolphin & the old Disney Institute ... he loved it every time! No worries for the parents!

 

[LuvTheMagic985]

A few questions also.....
like the above poster, I too have ressies @ the Poly (Ohana).
-IYO, what is the best way to get there from CSR?
-Also some of the parks and resorts are in walking distance of each other. Is this the case with AK and CSR?

 

[kamikazecat]

We just switched our reservation from CBR to CSR today.

We have booked a waterview and I am wondering where to request. We would like to be close to the main pool/food court. We will have a car so bus stop location is not an issue. Thanks!

 

[aubriee]

Hi there,

I am putting together a 3 night trip for my 3 kids and me next Nov. I want to make the ressies now since I got a code. I am decideing between CSR and CBR, but I am leaning toward this one because of the queen beds and the pool for my kids.

I want to be near the main pool for my 13, 10 and 8 year old. This resort is so big. What building do I request to be nearest the pool and a bus stop that you think would be the best for us?

Thanks!

Building 8A would be perfect for you. That's where I was at in Sept/Oct. It was less than 2 minutes to bus stop 4 (the 3rd stop actually), less than 2 minutes to the Dig site, and less than five minutes to the main building. I had a ground floor, corner room and am hoping for the same location for my upcoming May and Dec trips.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Building 8A would be perfect for you. That's where I was at in Sept/Oct. It was less than 2 minutes to bus stop 4 (the 3rd stop actually), less than 2 minutes to the Dig site, and less than five minutes to the main building. I had a ground floor, corner room and am hoping for the same location for my upcoming May and Dec trips.

Thank you!!

 

[KatMark]

First, I apologize for being slow in responding. I still don't have my computer back and I have to wait until Andy gets home with his; I hope I get it by Wednesday because Andy is going to Dallas on Thursday through Sunday night and I will go absolutely CRAZY without a computer. Okay...now to responses.

(to the right, is MY hammock)

Yes, I wish I was there right now. And here is MY hammock:

I know there are different sections, but do all the rooms look the same? If not, which section is the room is post #2 located in?

Great thread! I'm really interested in CSR now! Thanks KatMark!

You are so welcome. Yes, all of the rooms have the same furnishings, sliding doors, etc. The only difference might be pictures on the walls.

We are staying here April 7 - 10 before we leave on the Disney TA Cruise and when I orginally booked my room I got the deluxe dining plan I am not being able to get any of the ADR's I want so I am thinking of moving down to the quick service plan - saving us $400 or so - if they will let me downgrade it - not sure. Anyway want to ask/verify some things:

Do all the rooms have refridgerators in them or only the suites?

Do they sell fresh fruit in the gift shop? how about cereal? I know they sell milk and juice and donuts. I just thought if the only thing I was going to miss really on the deluxe was breakfast since I have to eat Quick service anyway I might as well save the money, minus $30 or so for some breakfast items.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Krisann

Krisann, yes, all of the rooms have refrigerators in them (they are standard in the moderates); I don't remember about fresh fruit in the gift shop, but I know they had baskets of it in Cafe Rix, as well as cereal, little milks, etc.

Here*now*at*CSR the*pizza*is*very good and*not*frozen*so*it's*fresh dough and*then*they*add the*toppings only*have*to*types sausage*and*sausage*and*both*a*very*good*it is*small*an individual*pizza*or*a*snack*for*two*people. *I will check for cereal this morning. **I did order the pizza Togo no problem and no tip added we ate on the patio. We were on the dining plan and were charged a tip when we dined in at PM. Our meal at Mayan Grill was one of best of this trip. We had the days speical salmon over penna pasta delish

Thanks for checking in again. Can't wait for your full report when you get back.

i tried to resize those few. i'm going to pull those big ones out and post them on a separate post b/c when i add the smaller version back in, it still posts large.

but thanks!

Your pictures are absolutely STUNNING! Would you mind posting them to the CSR photo thread as well (or if you are too busy I could copy and past them--just let me know).

We just got back from CSR on 12/30. The resort was wonderful and quiet. There were 6 of us. We also stayed in the Casitas building 4 room 4365 and 4366. This is what I seen out our door one early morning.

Denise, I absolutley love this picture. I hope you don't mind...but it is now going to be my desktop photo IF I EVER get my computer back.

Thank you KatMark and everyone who had contributed to making this resort thread to be friendly. I just finished reading this thread and now thinking of switching my reservation from Pop for Feb 6-12. My DS 4 had been asking when is he going back to Disney. We have cancelled 2 previous trips. So for his 5th birthday (Feb 14th) he wants to celebrate it at Disney his fifth trip. Anyway, this will be a budget trip that's why I chose Pop was not sure about it and my first time traveling w/o my husband so I'm taking my mom. It will be her first Disney trip (she has been to Disneyland a few times over 20 yrs ago). So my husband said to look at a Mod resort since I never stayed at a value. I saw the CSR has been had a rehab and has room service.

Questions: Which location whould you guys recommend? Key for me is the bus stop. We will not spend time at the pool. Want to be near the main building.
I did read that Casita 4-5 has the first bus stop. Do you think this is better than Cabana 9B. There will be a convention the week we are there?
Is the bus stop near Cabana 9B the last stop?

Are there often taxis in front of the main building in the morning and evening?

For anyone who has ordered room service, how was it? and how long does deliver take? When we were at GF...room service usually take 45 mins. at AKL was 20-30 mins. My son eats slow so I like to order his breakfast and have him eat while I get ready.

Thank you in advance. I'm hoping to switch the reservation this afternoon.

We LOVE Casitas 4 and 5--our favorite buildings. It takes me about five minutes to the main building from here and about eight minutes to the main pool. This is at a normal pace; if I stop to take pictures or just take a slower walk to enjoy the scenery, it would take me a little longer.

We've never done room service, so I can't tell you how long it take sto be delivered. If you are goign to get breakfast, I think you can order it the night before (???) and designate th time you want delivered. Hopefully someone else will chime in who has used room service.

Stay confirmed at the CSR, February 6th through the 13th! (Pooh, maybe we'll see you there!)

Question... I've read about kids' clubs at the resorts. Is there one at CSR? And babysitting services... are these available there, too? Has anyone used them? My husband and I only ever leave the kids (4 and 6) with family or ou
r very trusted neighbor, so I'm a wee bit nervous about leaving them with strangers. I'd love to get your thoughts...

Thanks... SO excited!!!!

I would try the kids club at the Poly (personally, I'd be a little leary about "hiring" a babysitter.

Kathy, are you saying you don't know why Casitas 2 doesn't have an elevator or are you saying that considering my first trip to CSR (was bad) you don't understand why I had to be the one to discover it on my second trip.

Aubriee, when you told me that, I wanted to jump off a bridge. I finally ocnvinced you to try CSR again, and then you get the ONLY building without an elevator. I about died when you told me that.

Thank you so much for all of this info. We are planning on staying there in august. I took out a piece of paper and wrote down all of this useful information.
Thanks again

I hope you have a wonderful time; Come back and visit often before you trp and if you have any questions, fire away.

Hello,

quick question?
we have a ressie at O'Hana's for Breakfast at 7:30. What is the best way to get there? It is an EMH morning for MK, so I think that the buses will start running at 6:00am. (2 hours before opening) If this is true, we will take a bus to MK and then the monorail to Poly. We do not have our own car. Does this sound about right? We've never done a breakfast reservation before.

Thanks for any help.

I think that is your best bet. We always rent a car so we drive everywhere. But I did read where the buses run earlier for EMH. If you are leary of the "time" it will take you, you can always grab a cab in front of the CSR. We took a bus in September (just so I could say I had experienced them) and we waited five minutes for a bus at 6 p.m. to the MK (we were at Bus Stop 1--the last stop picked up) and it took us exactly ten minutes to get to the MK.

Hi there,

I am putting together a 3 night trip for my 3 kids and me next Nov. I want to make the ressies now since I got a code. I am decideing between CSR and CBR, but I am leaning toward this one because of the queen beds and the pool for my kids.

I want to be near the main pool for my 13, 10 and 8 year old. This resort is so big. What building do I request to be nearest the pool and a bus stop that you think would be the best for us?

Thanks!

Like Aubriee said, 8B would be great. And if you read a few posts above this one, I gave the time frame from Casitas 4 and 5.

A few questions also.....
like the above poster, I too have ressies @ the Poly (Ohana).
-IYO, what is the best way to get there from CSR?
-Also some of the parks and resorts are in walking distance of each other. Is this the case with AK and CSR?

No, you cannot walk to any of the parks from the CSR. However, none of the parks take more than 10-12 minutes to get to once you leave the CSR grounds.

We just switched our reservation from CBR to CSR today.

We have booked a waterview and I am wondering where to request. We would like to be close to the main pool/food court. We will have a car so bus stop location is not an issue. Thanks!

If you want to be close to the Main pool and food court, I would suggest any of the Cabanas...all well within walking distance of the pool and the main building (or, as I mentioned above), look at what I posted about Casitas 4 and 5.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Stay confirmed at the CSR, February 6th through the 13th! (Pooh, maybe we'll see you there!)

Question... I've read about kids' clubs at the resorts. Is there one at CSR? And babysitting services... are these available there, too? Has anyone used them? My husband and I only ever leave the kids (4 and 6) with family or our very trusted neighbor, so I'm a wee bit nervous about leaving them with strangers. I'd love to get your thoughts...

Thanks... SO excited!!!!

Another vote for the Neverland Club @ the Polynesian Resort. It's a big hit w/ kids & much more fun than having someone come to your room. I bet your kids would love it as much as ours did. Enjoy your trip!

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

WOW---CSR sounds perfect (for us)!!!!!!! I've been comparing it to CBR and well, yes, those queen size beds and the new PRETTY FANCY room refurbs are certainly calling me, but CSR has so many other great ammenities to offer! The Dig Site looks wonderful (more up our alley than the CBR one) and the delish pick up yourself pizzas (are these only personal sized?; and also room service? Get out?! Other positives that are catching my eye aside from the drop dead fabulous gorgeous beautiful surroundings (every pic I've seen on the Disboards of this resort makes me wonder if I need a camera upgrade, but I have finally decided it is just THAT beautiful at CS!!!)---my 10 y.o. developed a new pasison for photography at Epcot last July so this is the IDEAL resort for pic taking---IMHO it is the most beautiful!!; HUGE and fun water slide; largest hot tub on Disney property; a real alligator ; the spa and sauna. Really? SAUNA at a mod?! Get out again!! Two (count 'em) arcades (we spent way too much time at PC last July in the arcade, oh well---wait 'til I surprise him that CSR has 2!). "New" golf cart internal resort transportation? (Um, still curious about how this works???)-----a better buis system it sounds than at CBR, though I am still wondering where I want to request a room---sounds like Casitas has the fountains and the Bus Stop 2 (1st to get on and off) advantage---but the Cabanas have those nice hammocks and you can walk right out of your door into a water view... and it is closer to Dig Site and is close to El Centro and Bus Stop #1.... I am also still trying to figure out the Pepper Market food card dealeo and I was hopng to hear more about this process (DO we tip the wait staff who just sits us and brings drinks? How daes this card work again? We will not hav eth DIning Plan b/c of the $500 GC deal). Also wondering if anyone knows the cost of a 6 pack of beer on site? Also, I like the two bldgs, but if I had to stay at the Rocky Ranchos, I think I'd be depressed! I do not want to pay more than for a std., but I wonder if I can SORT OF get a room for sure in the other bldgs??? (we're now thinkng May 27-June 2). Can I 100% avoid Ranchos w/o paying for a room upgrade? Also how long does the bus wait coming FROM the parks take? Is it the same as other resorts? I'd read that CSR does not share w/ other resorts so that's a bonus (though it may pick up and take CS guest to the water park and one other place on the way to the parks place...)---lastoy I can nto decide which to request---can someone send me a link to the quiet pools for Casitas? More soon---so excited---ahv to speak 1st w/ Vice-Principal about SOL tests for my 5th grader and check around a little more before I commit---I ma getting so excited!!!! Helps that we spent our last day of Christmas vacation watching Princess and the Frog. LOVE DISNEY!

 

[aubriee]

Aubriee, when you told me that, I wanted to jump off a bridge. I finally ocnvinced you to try CSR again, and then you get the ONLY building without an elevator. I about died when you told me that.
.

Hey, not only did I find myself in the only building without an elevator, I was also assigned to the very top floor of that building on the back side fartherest from even the stairs and facing the parking lot. I was even in a King room, so got to pay extra for the priviledge of traipsing up those four flights of stairs. Hey, it's funny now and CSR certainly made up for it the next day when I finally got my desired ground floor room in 8A and again during our recent Dec trip when we had that fantastic room in 9B. I've got no complaints about CSR and am very much looking forward to my upcoming May and Dec trips there. I don't expect to get a room as great as we had in Dec, but would be very happy, as long as I'm not in Building 2 or in the Ranchos.

 

[KatMark]

WOW---CSR sounds perfect (for us)!!!!!!! I've been comparing it to CBR and well, yes, those queen size beds and the new PRETTY FANCY room refurbs are certainly calling me, but CSR has so many other great ammenities to offer! The Dig Site looks wonderful (more up our alley than the CBR one) and the delish pick up yourself pizzas (are these only personal sized?; and also room service? Get out?! Other positives that are catching my eye aside from the drop dead fabulous gorgeous beautiful surroundings (every pic I've seen on the Disboards of this resort makes me wonder if I need a camera upgrade, but I have finally decided it is just THAT beautiful at CS!!!)---my 10 y.o. developed a new pasison for photography at Epcot last July so this is the IDEAL resort for pic taking---IMHO it is the most beautiful!!; HUGE and fun water slide; largest hot tub on Disney property; a real alligator ; the spa and sauna. Really? SAUNA at a mod?! Get out again!! Two (count 'em) arcades (we spent way too much time at PC last July in the arcade, oh well---wait 'til I surprise him that CSR has 2!). "New" golf cart internal resort transportation? (Um, still curious about how this works???)-----a better buis system it sounds than at CBR, though I am still wondering where I want to request a room---sounds like Casitas has the fountains and the Bus Stop 2 (1st to get on and off) advantage---but the Cabanas have those nice hammocks and you can walk right out of your door into a water view... and it is closer to Dig Site and is close to El Centro and Bus Stop #1.... I am also still trying to figure out the Pepper Market food card dealeo and I was hopng to hear more about this process (DO we tip the wait staff who just sits us and brings drinks? How daes this card work again? We will not hav eth DIning Plan b/c of the $500 GC deal). Also wondering if anyone knows the cost of a 6 pack of beer on site? Also, I like the two bldgs, but if I had to stay at the Rocky Ranchos, I think I'd be depressed! I do not want to pay more than for a std., but I wonder if I can SORT OF get a room for sure in the other bldgs??? (we're now thinkng May 27-June 2). Can I 100% avoid Ranchos w/o paying for a room upgrade? Also how long does the bus wait coming FROM the parks take? Is it the same as other resorts? I'd read that CSR does not share w/ other resorts so that's a bonus (though it may pick up and take CS guest to the water park and one other place on the way to the parks place...)---lastoy I can nto decide which to request---can someone send me a link to the quiet pools for Casitas? More soon---so excited---ahv to speak 1st w/ Vice-Principal about SOL tests for my 5th grader and check around a little more before I commit---I ma getting so excited!!!! Helps that we spent our last day of Christmas vacation watching Princess and the Frog. LOVE DISNEY!

There is only one arcade; they closed the one in the main building when they added Cafe Rix and the Rix Lounge. The arcade is located next to the playground and the main pool. As for the itnernal shuttle, they used to have a golf car that went around and would give you rides. In truth, they no longer "do that"; a convention host can pay for it for "convention guests." But we have had plenty of times they have stopped anyway to offer us a ride. You can also catch a "Park" bus at say Bus Stop 2 (the first stop picked up) and ride it to Bus Stop 1 (main building and the last bus stop picked up). I hope this makes sense. If you go to the first couple of pages of this thread, there are pictures of the quiet pool by Casitas 4. There is also a picture thread for the CSR in the pictures section which probably has more pictures of the quiet pool.

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

There is only one arcade; they closed the one in the main building when they added Cafe Rix and the Rix Lounge. The arcade is located next to the playground and the main pool. As for the itnernal shuttle, they used to have a golf car that went around and would give you rides. In truth, they no longer "do that"; a convention host can pay for it for "convention guests." But we have had plenty of times they have stopped anyway to offer us a ride. You can also catch a "Park" bus at say Bus Stop 2 (the first stop picked up) and ride it to Bus Stop 1 (main building and the last bus stop picked up). I hope this makes sense. If you go to the first couple of pages of this thread, there are pictures of the quiet pool by Casitas 4. There is also a picture thread for the CSR in the pictures section which probably has more pictures of the quiet pool.

Good to know---thanks!! Still ready to go to CSR!