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

[DaniB]

I already put the Mears Taxi Co. phone # in my phone. If there isn't a cab sitting at the front of the resort when I need one, I will call Mears myself.

Ohh, good idea! Another number I need to add to my phone list.

Would you give me the number please? Thanks!

 

[ajkoos]

I made the switch to CSR! I can't wait. The main pool looks amazing, and I like that there are queen beds
How easy/difficult is it to take a cab from CSR to another resort? Should I go to the main building and ask the bell services staff to call one for me, or are there cabs that wait at the entrance of the resort?
We are doing the Pirates and Pals Fireworks voyage and I'd rather take a cab to the CR since I'd like to have a few cocktails there before the fireworks voyage starts

TIA

When we were there last week, we took a cab from CR back to CSR after watching the fireworks at Cali Grill and it cost about $18 (with tip).

We did take a cab a couple of times to make ADRs at other resorts (instead of relying on the buses) and if there wasn't a cab, we just talked to the valet person and they called one for us. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a cab if it was being called.

 

[trennr]

I made the switch to CSR! I can't wait. The main pool looks amazing, and I like that there are queen beds
How easy/difficult is it to take a cab from CSR to another resort? Should I go to the main building and ask the bell services staff to call one for me, or are there cabs that wait at the entrance of the resort?
We are doing the Pirates and Pals Fireworks voyage and I'd rather take a cab to the CR since I'd like to have a few cocktails there before the fireworks voyage starts

TIA

Umm couldn't you just take the MK Bus? then either walk or ride the resort monorail to the CR???

 

[ajkoos]

Umm couldn't you just take the MK Bus? then either walk or ride the resort monorail to the CR???

Yes. You can take the MK Bus and then ride the monorail to CR. We did that on the way to Cali Grill. But when we left we had tired kids and we knew we wanted to make rope drop at MK the next day, so instead of waiting with everyone else at the MK bus stop after fireworks to get back to CSR, we took a cab instead. We took three cabs (all resort-to-resort) while we were there mainly because of the amount of time it would take to transfer at a park, but we had budgeted that in to our vacation.

 

[kyl]

Just got back from a 6 day/5 night stay at CSR. I will give quick review:

Check-in - we got our request for connecting rooms (my mom and 2 brothers were with us) but not our location request - they initially stuck us in Ranchos 7A, which looked like the furthest building out on the map. I asked if we could be moved to Cabanas which was what I had requested and they did find us rooms in Cabanas 8A but on different floors. We took it since we decided that location was more important than connecting rooms were. I was in room 8256 - far side of the building on the second floor near the back entrance to the Dig Site pool.

Room - room was pretty, liked the decor, did not care for housekeeping. When I looked in the shower, there was a large piece of tissue stuck to the wall and hair in the corner of the bathroom. The desk looked like someone had spilled their coffee on it and no one had bothered to wipe it. When we pulled down the sheets to go to bed that night, there was a spider crawling in the bed. I called housekeeping first thing the next morning to complain about the bathroom and requested they change the sheets since I was skeeved out by the spider. They did change out the linens and got the hair out of the corner of the bathroom but the tissue was still on the shower wall and the desk remained dirty the whole time we were there. I really did not feel good about leaving a $5 housekeeping tip everyday since I thought housekeeping kind of sucked. I don't care about towel animals (we did not get any, though) but the room was just not very clean. My mother confirmed that she was in her room when housekeeping came one day and they were in and out in less than 5 minutes - why do so many people tip so much for so little work?

Pepper Market - this was a mixed experience for us. We ate there the first night and it was packed and very slow. My brother ordered a pizza and waited over an hour for it - yes, an hour for a counter service meal. The system with getting your card stamped was easy enough to figure out but we hated that they did not give you a number to come up and claim your food - they would just tell you it would be done in x-number of minutes and come back then. People were totally claiming other people's food and there was no way to prove who was actually next. I had the chicken quesadillas and they were great, best thing I had there. I had pizza on another night and it was pretty good. My third meal there was a hamburger and I thought it was lousy- no taste at all. The strawberry cheesecake was delicious but they only had it the first time we went. We were never charged the gratuity at check-out (we had the free dining plan) but we always left a cash tip at the table since we were waited on for drinks and clearing plates.

Busses - busses were okay. Waits were not terrible but they were pretty crowded and we had to stand a lot. We had to wait quite a while for the Magic Kingdom busses but the rest were not too bad. I do not think there were any conventions going on while we were there.

Pool - pool was awesome, my girls loved it! Huge and fun with a great slide, my girls were in it everyday. I even tried the slide.

Overall impression - the resort itself is beautiful to look at and walk around. Staff, for the most part, were friendly and helpful. Housekeeping sucked. Busses were okay and pool was fabulous. Pepper Market was a mixed bag. Would we stay there again? Maybe. I think it is decent for the price but I can't say I will be calling it my home resort. I think I really want to stay at the Poly next time if we can swing it. HTH!

I hope you didn't tip mousekeeping. I am happy to tip but only for good service. In Australia we hardly tip, so for me to tip I would expect housekeeping to do there job

 

[Pixiedust34]

Ohh, good idea! Another number I need to add to my phone list.

Would you give me the number please? Thanks!

http://www.mearstransportation.com/contact/

 

[clandrum]

This may be a stupid question but I have never done this before. On our last day how do we get our luggage to the airline check in desk at the resort. I know that you call bell serives but when do you do it? Then do they take it there and you walk over and meet your luggage there. How does it all work?

We like to check our luggage early in the morning and spend the day at the parks until our flight leaves.

When we stayed at CBR we had a car, so I am clueless.

TIA

 

[sherabby]

At the Contemporary when we checked out they had an airline check in station and we took our bags there at 6am. They open at 5am at the COntemporary. NOt sure about CBR but I'm sure someone will soon be able to help you. We had a car this trip too but decided not to lug our suitcases to the airport..only our carryon items. It was so nice not to deal with it!

 

[Pixiedust34]

This may be a stupid question but I have never done this before. On our last day how do we get our luggage to the airline check in desk at the resort. I know that you call bell serives but when do you do it? Then do they take it there and you walk over and meet your luggage there. How does it all work?

We like to check our luggage early in the morning and spend the day at the parks until our flight leaves.

When we stayed at CBR we had a car, so I am clueless.

TIA

I've had this work 2 ways. Once, the bell services cm brought a cart to pull our luggage and we walked over to check out with the cm and our cart. Another time, the cm had a golf cart. Dh and one of the kids rode on the cart to bell services with our luggage while the other kid and I walked over to the bus stop.

Call bell services the night before you need the luggage pick up and they should be there on time. If you don't walk along or ride along, I imagine they'd hold your luggage until you do the online check-in.

Your luggage will be checked into your flight. You can leave your carry-ons with bell services. Just pick those up before going on the ME bus.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

So, I was just getting ready to place my order for breakfast items the few times we will be eating in the room with Garden Grocer and it wouldn't let me b/c the SUBTOTAL has to be $40. There's no way we need that much food for 3 breakfasts!

Does anyone know about how much a box of cereal, a half gallon of orange juice, and a little milk chug or two at the gift shop costs? I was thinking about just buying coffee, instant creamer (We LOVE our French Vanilla coffee creamer and I highly doubt they sell that in the gift shop so we'll have to do the powdered stuff for the week), some granola bars, disposable coffee mugs and some plastic bowls/spoons here at home and pack them. I would then pick up a few bananas from Cafe Rix. (They do have fresh fruit for sale, right?)

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

I also think that I am going to bring the individual drink mixes to mix into water when we're at the parks. Do they give free water with ice at the CS places? I really don't want to lug around 2 bottles of water all day but if I have to in order to save $$ by not buying drinks all day long, I'll do it! Thanks!

 

[1tufgt]

Man, I can't wait. We will be visiting CSR for the 1st time here in 3 weeks and it can't come soon enough.

What is everyone's suggestion on time before you arrive to submit your room request? I can't remember when it should be done.

 

[KatMark]

Man, I can't wait. We will be visiting CSR for the 1st time here in 3 weeks and it can't come soon enough.

What is everyone's suggestion on time before you arrive to submit your room request? I can't remember when it should be done.

Submit it now if it is not already linked to your reservation. Call and ask them to add it (they make the room assignments about four days out).

 

[KatMark]

So, I was just getting ready to place my order for breakfast items the few times we will be eating in the room with Garden Grocer and it wouldn't let me b/c the SUBTOTAL has to be $40. There's no way we need that much food for 3 breakfasts!

Does anyone know about how much a box of cereal, a half gallon of orange juice, and a little milk chug or two at the gift shop costs? I was thinking about just buying coffee, instant creamer (We LOVE our French Vanilla coffee creamer and I highly doubt they sell that in the gift shop so we'll have to do the powdered stuff for the week), some granola bars, disposable coffee mugs and some plastic bowls/spoons here at home and pack them. I would then pick up a few bananas from Cafe Rix. (They do have fresh fruit for sale, right?)

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

I also think that I am going to bring the individual drink mixes to mix into water when we're at the parks. Do they give free water with ice at the CS places? I really don't want to lug around 2 bottles of water all day but if I have to in order to save $$ by not buying drinks all day long, I'll do it! Thanks!

I don't recall if they had a regular sized box of cereal at Panchitos or not. I know they have the individual servings at Cafe Rix. Yes, they have fresh fruit at Cafe Rix.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

So, I was just getting ready to place my order for breakfast items the few times we will be eating in the room with Garden Grocer and it wouldn't let me b/c the SUBTOTAL has to be $40. There's no way we need that much food for 3 breakfasts!

Does anyone know about how much a box of cereal, a half gallon of orange juice, and a little milk chug or two at the gift shop costs? I was thinking about just buying coffee, instant creamer (We LOVE our French Vanilla coffee creamer and I highly doubt they sell that in the gift shop so we'll have to do the powdered stuff for the week), some granola bars, disposable coffee mugs and some plastic bowls/spoons here at home and pack them. I would then pick up a few bananas from Cafe Rix. (They do have fresh fruit for sale, right?)

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

I also think that I am going to bring the individual drink mixes to mix into water when we're at the parks. Do they give free water with ice at the CS places? I really don't want to lug around 2 bottles of water all day but if I have to in order to save $$ by not buying drinks all day long, I'll do it! Thanks!

I skipped Garden Grocer for this reason. I bought 2 boxes of Entenmans and a half gallon of milk plus 2 smaller bottles of chocolate milk for about $20. This prove to be plenty for breakfast. I had brought along from home a box of pop tarts for my youngest since that is all she wants anyway. Maybe you can pack snack-size boxes of cereal in your luggage and buy milk there?

 

[DisneyKT]

I am going to be staying at CSR in a few days. Is it worth it to do the online check in ,does it make that much of a difference?

Last time I went they didn't have this service. TIA

KT

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Our stay was less than magical -- but it wasn't CSR's fault! We were given a parking lot view room and I should have insisted on a different location, but am not one to rock the boat. Anyway, our problem was a car parked in the front row whose alarm went off day and night, round the clock! We would just start to fall asleep and the obnoxious alarm would sound and the lights would flash...it was horrible.

And the real kicker was we couldn't change rooms because on day two I either got food poisioning or was exposed to a stomach virus and was trapped in the room for a couple of days. I kept having to call security but there wasn't a lot they could do because the owners of the vehicle would not respond. The vehicle finally disappeared on day 5 and I honestly don't know if the people checked out or it was towed away.

Also, for the first time the August heat really affected my family during this visit. I think it's because our summer in the pacific northwest had been milder than usual and the high temps and humidity hit us like a brick.

As far as the resort, I thought it was just beautiful and we experienced great bus service. I'm anxious to give it another try under better circumstances.

 

[KatMark]

I am going to be staying at CSR in a few days. Is it worth it to do the online check in ,does it make that much of a difference?

Last time I went they didn't have this service. TIA

KT

I've done it both ways and saw no difference.

Our stay was less than magical -- but it wasn't CSR's fault! We were given a parking lot view room and I should have insisted on a different location, but am not one to rock the boat. Anyway, our problem was a car parked in the front row whose alarm went off day and night, round the clock! We would just start to fall asleep and the obnoxious alarm would sound and the lights would flash...it was horrible.

And the real kicker was we couldn't change rooms because on day two I either got food poisioning or was exposed to a stomach virus and was trapped in the room for a couple of days. I kept having to call security but there wasn't a lot they could do because the owners of the vehicle would not respond. The vehicle finally disappeared on day 5 and I honestly don't know if the people checked out or it was towed away.

Also, for the first time the August heat really affected my family during this visit. I think it's because our summer in the pacific northwest had been milder than usual and the high temps and humidity hit us like a brick.

As far as the resort, I thought it was just beautiful and we experienced great bus service. I'm anxious to give it another try under better circumstances.

I am so sorry to hear that. First, I am very sorry you got sick...that is no way to spend a vacation. And I'm sorry about the troublesome car alarm; but as you said that is not the CSR's fault.

I hope you will come back and give it another try. And I hope you are feeling 100% by now.

 

[sherabby]

So, I was just getting ready to place my order for breakfast items the few times we will be eating in the room with Garden Grocer and it wouldn't let me b/c the SUBTOTAL has to be $40. There's no way we need that much food for 3 breakfasts!

Does anyone know about how much a box of cereal, a half gallon of orange juice, and a little milk chug or two at the gift shop costs? I was thinking about just buying coffee, instant creamer (We LOVE our French Vanilla coffee creamer and I highly doubt they sell that in the gift shop so we'll have to do the powdered stuff for the week), some granola bars, disposable coffee mugs and some plastic bowls/spoons here at home and pack them. I would then pick up a few bananas from Cafe Rix. (They do have fresh fruit for sale, right?)

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

I also think that I am going to bring the individual drink mixes to mix into water when we're at the parks. Do they give free water with ice at the CS places? I really don't want to lug around 2 bottles of water all day but if I have to in order to save $$ by not buying drinks all day long, I'll do it! Thanks!

What about those individual cereal bowls? Our grocery store sells cereal

like this and we take an extra carry on small suit case for breakfast foods. Then it's empty for the take home treats!

 

[KatMark]

I just had to pop in and say:

We got Mickey Mail today.

​

 

[clandrum]

I've had this work 2 ways. Once, the bell services cm brought a cart to pull our luggage and we walked over to check out with the cm and our cart. Another time, the cm had a golf cart. Dh and one of the kids rode on the cart to bell services with our luggage while the other kid and I walked over to the bus stop.

Call bell services the night before you need the luggage pick up and they should be there on time. If you don't walk along or ride along, I imagine they'd hold your luggage until you do the online check-in.

Your luggage will be checked into your flight. You can leave your carry-ons with bell services. Just pick those up before going on the ME bus.

Thanks for the info. I will make sure to call them the night before.