Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2011

[danceteachermom]

For those of you who have done online check-in....can you request a specific area or is it luck of the draw if you check in online? also, can you request first floor?

What are the advantages to checking in online? Less wait?

To the PP...I believe you can call anywhere on WDW property with no charge. Your friends can give you their number or you can call the front desk to be transferred to their room.


We leave in 33 days for stay 8 at CSR....I can't wait.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

For those of you who have done online check-in....can you request a specific area or is it luck of the draw if you check in online? also, can you request first floor?

What are the advantages to checking in online? Less wait?

To the PP...I believe you can call anywhere on WDW property with no charge. Your friends can give you their number or you can call the front desk to be transferred to their room.


We leave in 33 days for stay 8 at CSR....I can't wait.

If you would like to request a specific area, you should call and have it added to your reservation. You can't request an area during online check-in (I think you can request close to transportation online, maybe, but that doesn't help since there is a bus stop in each section). You can call Reservations and request a section and first floor.

Benefits to online check-in - sometimes a shorter wait to check-in since there is a dedicated line, and if you are arriving early in the day, you can put your arrival time and they will try to have a room ready for you. Your packet will already be prepared, so you will spend less time actually checking in once you reach the front of the line.

Drawbacks - the CMs won't go into as much detail about the amenities of the resort, but you will still get the same maps and flyers as you do with regular check-in.

Neutral - if you don't like your room location, you can asked to be switched from either line. If you have done online check-in, your packet will be completed, but they can still search for a different room and give you new keys. We have successfully switched locations after doing online check-in. The CMs will try to accommodate requests at either line - if there is a room that fits your needs, they will try to give it to you.

 

[lovethattink]

For those of you who have done online check-in....can you request a specific area or is it luck of the draw if you check in online? also, can you request first floor?

What are the advantages to checking in online? Less wait?

To the PP...I believe you can call anywhere on WDW property with no charge. Your friends can give you their number or you can call the front desk to be transferred to their room.


We leave in 33 days for stay 8 at CSR....I can't wait.

If you would like to request a specific area, you should call and have it added to your reservation. You can't request an area during online check-in (I think you can request close to transportation online, maybe, but that doesn't help since there is a bus stop in each section). You can call Reservations and request a section and first floor.

Benefits to online check-in - sometimes a shorter wait to check-in since there is a dedicated line, and if you are arriving early in the day, you can put your arrival time and they will try to have a room ready for you. Your packet will already be prepared, so you will spend less time actually checking in once you reach the front of the line.

Drawbacks - the CMs won't go into as much detail about the amenities of the resort, but you will still get the same maps and flyers as you do with regular check-in.

Neutral - if you don't like your room location, you can asked to be switched from either line. If you have done online check-in, your packet will be completed, but they can still search for a different room and give you new keys. We have successfully switched locations after doing online check-in. The CMs will try to accommodate requests at either line - if there is a room that fits your needs, they will try to give it to you.

Online check in has changed. You can now request certain areas. I don't have any pictures of the choices for CSR, but when we stayed at POP at the beginning of this month this was our choice. You could only pick two.

I am assuming that CSR now has similar choices. I'd sure love to see a screen shot if someone can make one.

For our POP stay, I had asked for the 70's big wheel building when I made the reservation. Then on the online check in you can see the two choices I made. We did get placed in the 70's Big Wheel Building, first floor!

 

[Drscholls]

On buzz's site someone posted that there was no change to CSR's on-line check in. Does anyone have a screen shot of the new on line check in for CSR?

 

[L-Harper]

On buzz's site someone posted that there was no change to CSR's on-line check in. Does anyone have a screen shot of the new on line check in for CSR?

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks for posting! Now I'll know for May!

 

[Drscholls]

Thanks!

 

[joannalh]

I must be missing something: how do I do online check-in? Is there a link somewhere?

 

[lovethattink]

I must be missing something: how do I do online check-in? Is there a link somewhere?

Did you book through Disney or a travel agent? If you booked it yourself or through Disney go to Disney's website. There should be a little bell right above the picture of the resort you are staying at. That bell should be a little ticker telling you when you can do online check in. A link will appear at the 10 day period.

 

[joannalh]

Ah, I see it now. Thanks! I can check in in two more days!

 

[LJSquishy]

For my Feb 11-18th trip I did online check in and got that screenshot but when I checked 'Cabanas', it said I needed to call reservations so it actually does not let you make room requests using that method afterall. I tried again requesting 'Casitas' that time, and it still didn't work.

 

[L-Harper]

Did you book through Disney or a travel agent? If you booked it yourself or through Disney go to Disney's website. There should be a little bell right above the picture of the resort you are staying at. That bell should be a little ticker telling you when you can do online check in. A link will appear at the 10 day period.

You can still do online check-in that same way even if you booked through a Disney travel agent. I booked our's through a TA and was able to.

For my Feb 11-18th trip I did online check in and got that screenshot but when I checked 'Cabanas', it said I needed to call reservations so it actually does not let you make room requests using that method afterall. I tried again requesting 'Casitas' that time, and it still didn't work.

You cannot do a room request through the online check-in if you want through a Disney TA. The only way you can do any sort of requests if you did is have your TA call Disney themselves. They have a special number to call only for TA's. The regular Disney line doesn't have access to most of the information.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Online check in has changed. You can now request certain areas. I don't have any pictures of the choices for CSR, but when we stayed at POP at the beginning of this month this was our choice. You could only pick two.

I am assuming that CSR now has similar choices. I'd sure love to see a screen shot if someone can make one.

For our POP stay, I had asked for the 70's big wheel building when I made the reservation. Then on the online check in you can see the two choices I made. We did get placed in the 70's Big Wheel Building, first floor!

Excellent! Thanks for the update!

Thanks very much for posting this!

 

[LJSquishy]

I didn't use a TA, I booked it myself and it wouldn't go through if I had any of the request boxes checked when I did online check in. Maybe it was just broken like the rest of Disney's website.

 

[L-Harper]

I didn't use a TA, I booked it myself and it wouldn't go through if I had any of the request boxes checked when I did online check in. Maybe it was just broken like the rest of Disney's website.

Interesting. I agree about Disney's website. I really don't like it at all. You can always call Disney and get requests added to your reservation.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

We did online check-in yesterday and it went through with us having checked the request box for Cabanas. It's probably glitchy like the rest of the Disney site. If only getting our ME info correctly into the system was as easy as our online check-in.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

I am preparing for our FIRST ever trip to WDW

I've read through this entire thread , but have a couple of questions:

1. DH is attending a conference at the Swan/Dolphin and we are staying at the CSR. I'll be with the kids (twin boys, almost 8) flying solo with them virtually the whole time. I'd like to make a room request, to make the most of this trip... if you were staying with 2 8-year olds, where would you request your room? Should I just say "close to dig site" or do you have another suggestion?

2. We have a rental car - Would you suggest the kids and I take the bus, or driving to the parks? Also, I've heard that you need to pay to park at the Swan/Dolphin -- if DH drives himself there, can you suggest a way he could avoid paying for parking?

Thanks so much -- I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the reading and planning that I've been doing... I really want to make the most of this trip!

 

[melissafox18]

DH and I booked a preferred room - are those JUST Casitas 1, 2, and 3 or are any of the Cabanas in that as well?

I've stared at the map for along time and I think Cabanas 8B or 9A are somewhat ideal. Not super close to El Centro, but I can still fill our mugs at one of the QS places by the Dig Site, right?

I've read so much, I can't keep track of what I read anymore!

So my question in less words...preferred room worth the extra money? And Casitas or Cabanas? I'm most concerned with refilling our mugs and getting to buses. While it would be nice to be close to Pepper Market, I only see us eating there once (and probably doing so on the way to or back from a park, so I'd just take the El Centro bus).

Thanks again! 52 more days of research to cloud my head

 

[danceteachermom]

I am preparing for our FIRST ever trip to WDW

I've read through this entire thread , but have a couple of questions:

1. DH is attending a conference at the Swan/Dolphin and we are staying at the CSR. I'll be with the kids (twin boys, almost 8) flying solo with them virtually the whole time. I'd like to make a room request, to make the most of this trip... if you were staying with 2 8-year olds, where would you request your room? Should I just say "close to dig site" or do you have another suggestion?

2. We have a rental car - Would you suggest the kids and I take the bus, or driving to the parks? Also, I've heard that you need to pay to park at the Swan/Dolphin -- if DH drives himself there, can you suggest a way he could avoid paying for parking?

Thanks so much -- I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the reading and planning that I've been doing... I really want to make the most of this trip!

I would request the Cabanas...not as close to the Dig Site as some Ranchos Bldgs. but close enough and closer to El Centro.

The bus service from CSR is great to all the parks so I would keep the car parked and just ride. But I think the service to DTD is not as good...so I would drive there. At least that has been my experience. YOu can also use the car to visit other resorts for meals.

I am not sure about the Swan/Dolphin parking situation...perhaps he can contact the convention and ask for some sort of pass to avoid a fee. He could take a bus to a park then a bus from the park to the Swan/Dolphin but that seems like it would be very time consuming.

You will have a great time...8 is a great age for Disney. Well any age is great but my DD loved it at 8 and especially loved the CSR and the Dig Site.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I am preparing for our FIRST ever trip to WDW

I've read through this entire thread , but have a couple of questions:

1. DH is attending a conference at the Swan/Dolphin and we are staying at the CSR. I'll be with the kids (twin boys, almost 8) flying solo with them virtually the whole time. I'd like to make a room request, to make the most of this trip... if you were staying with 2 8-year olds, where would you request your room? Should I just say "close to dig site" or do you have another suggestion?

2. We have a rental car - Would you suggest the kids and I take the bus, or driving to the parks? Also, I've heard that you need to pay to park at the Swan/Dolphin -- if DH drives himself there, can you suggest a way he could avoid paying for parking?

Thanks so much -- I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the reading and planning that I've been doing... I really want to make the most of this trip!

I went solo with my kids when they were 6 and 9. We were originally assigned casitas 2, but I asked to be moved to the cabanas and got 9A. It was a great location with kids - close to El Centro and the Dig Site.

Your DH might be able to park free as part of the conference. It wouldn't be easy to get from CSR to the Swan/Dolphin using Disney transportation - he should definitely drive even if he has to pay to park. You would probably find the buses easier with the kids. CSR has great bus service.

DH and I booked a preferred room - are those JUST Casitas 1, 2, and 3 or are any of the Cabanas in that as well?

I've stared at the map for along time and I think Cabanas 8B or 9A are somewhat ideal. Not super close to El Centro, but I can still fill our mugs at one of the QS places by the Dig Site, right?

I've read so much, I can't keep track of what I read anymore!

So my question in less words...preferred room worth the extra money? And Casitas or Cabanas? I'm most concerned with refilling our mugs and getting to buses. While it would be nice to be close to Pepper Market, I only see us eating there once (and probably doing so on the way to or back from a park, so I'd just take the El Centro bus).

Thanks again! 52 more days of research to cloud my head

Preferred rooms are only casitas 1, 2 and 3. The first stop picked up and dropped off when going to and from the parks is the casitas stop, so you would always have a seat when leaving CSR. The casitas are close to El Centro to fill your mugs. You can also fill them at the pool when Siesta's is open.

We prefer the cabanas since we go to the pool every afternoon but don't necessarily go to El Centro every day. If you want easy access to mug refills and the first bus stop, I think you did the right thing by booking a preferred room.