Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2011

[RobertLC]

Our first time staying on site.

What's advantages of checking in online vs checking in when we get there? Does it really matter?

 

[danceteachermom]

I think if you online chec k-in it is supposed to be faster when you arrive. Your room is already assigned and your welcome/information folder is ready. There is a separate line. I have never done it but I will try it this time since we are arriving at a busy time of the day during a busy time of the year.

I think there may be an advantage because if you have ever tried to check in when A big group for a convention arrives...the lines can be long. One time the lines were so long and the computers were down. They actually brought drinks and snacks to people in line and balloons and stickers for the kids.

 

[Alsobrook]

Online check in was very fast for us. In and out in 3 minutes.

 

[Gibbygirl]

Am here now...the refillable mug is a cartoon photo scene at a swimming pool with Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Mickie. You can choose the color of your lid/handle...either hot pink, aqua blue or black. In the bottom it says Disney Parks Let the Memories Begin. I don't see any chip or anything. I don't think they Are resort specific because I have seen folks out and about with the same mug...hanging from strollers and backpacks, etc.

THANK YOU!!! Appreciate you taking time out of your vacation to get back to me! Have a great time!

 

[summy32]

I am so excited! We just booked free dining for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 at Coronado Springs!! We have always stayed at Pop Century except for our second trip during free dining when we were upgraded to Saratoga Springs because of overbooking at Pop. I was planning on booking Pop again, but when I looked at the cost to upgrade to DDP it would only cost $83 more for the whole trip to stay at CSR. I have read this entire thread and am falling in love with CSR. It is such a beautiful resort, and I am sure the kids will love the pool. The buffet at Pepper Market sounds like something we will enjoy too. I am sure I will have many questions before September, but for now I will just keep reading all I can and looking at all the beautiful pictures.

 

[LDCruiser]

WOOO RAA!

Just booked free dining for September 23rd to 28th, second trip to CSR. Was there in September of 2011 and requested Ranchos 7-B.

We love the southwestern theme and because of the distance to El Centro most do not request the Ranchos. We love the location because it is so quite and relaxing with the quite pool just out the doors and a short walk to the dig site.
I see that more and more are finding the secret of 7-B location This location has many many advantages especially if you have you own car.
The only disadvantage is the distance to the health center located in Casitas 3.
With the dining plan we experience dining at many of the other Resort and the buffets.
Very Excited and looking forward to the the World of Excitement and Memories.
Just a Note: Thank you so much to Katmark for her excitement in Disney and especially this thread she initiated, along with the years of answering question about CSR, and not to forget those that have taken over. Thank you! Thank you!

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

I'm in! CSR for Free Dining! 9/29 - 10/7!

I've never stayed here, so tell me all about it!

We are standard view, my DH is a lap swimmer, and my DD is a waterslide junky! Where is a good place for us to stay? Where can we refill our mugs?

 

[Rienchen]

Has anyone ever shipped to CSR before? I'm thinking of ordering some clothes from Carters and have them send to CSR but was wondering if I will be charged $5 when picking the parcel up

 

[PolyAddict]

We are at 76 days left today!

After looking and looking at Buzz's site and reading this thread, i think i'm going to request Rancho's 7B.

We really love the look of these and we hardly ever eat in the food courts so not concerned about being close. We also bring our own drinks and don't do the dining plan.

The quiet pool looks nice right next to it!

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of helping us make this decision both the resort and the request (even though i'll be ok with wherever they put us)

 

[gobraves39560]

This will be our first time at Coronado. We love POR b/c of the boat ride to Downtown Disney, but I need free wifi b/c I am taking some online classes. We can't wait.

 

[heidia]

Does anyone know offhand what they offer at the refillable mug stations at CSR? Does this vary from resort to resort? I know we had Powerade at POFQ, but my friend is at Pop right now and says they don't have it there...

 

[Pixiedust34]

This will be our first time at Coronado. We love POR b/c of the boat ride to Downtown Disney, but I need free wifi b/c I am taking some online classes. We can't wait.

I think all moderate resorts have wi-fi now, but it is nice to give CSR a try. We like POR, but we like CSR just a much.

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

What are the prefered buildings? Thanks!

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

Was so disappointed that we had to cancel our free dining stay at CSR during spring break, but was able to rebook it for free dining in august and at about $700 cheaper!! The boys will miss a week of school, again, but Disney is always worth it!
We have never stayed at this resort, and the boys are so excited about it...and returning to Disney!! Looking forward to learning the ins and outs of this resort while getting dining ressies ready.....

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

yes, there is free wi-fi and it worked great when we were there last week.

I think, correct me if I am wrong, that the preferred buildings are Casitas 1,2 and 3. We paid for standard room/view and were assigned a water view room in casitas 3, which was VERY convenient to run over to fill up our mugs with coffee every morning! I only remember seeing soda and coffee for the mugs...there was powerade for sale in bottles at Cafe Rics, but I dont remember seeing it at the mug refill area.

 

[Ktharee]

I think taking the evening to rest is good so you'll be able to hit the ground running the next day.

We did some pool games at Pepper Market a couple of years ago and enjoyed it.

Last year, we spent a few evenings at POFQ just relaxing at the resort and watching the outdoor movie. Fun! It's a nice way to spend the evening. Roasting marshmallows was fun, too.

Where do they show the movie at CSR?

According to another website it's all down by the pool. The screen is placed so that you can be in the water and watch the movie if you would like to. Looking forward to it!

 

[avw1295]

We just got back form CSR on Saturday. We had a very nice trip. This was our second stay at CSR. I checked in on-line prior to arrival. Everything was ready for us when we got there. I DID receive my room request! I was very excited because I did not get it last year. I requested the Cabanas. We were in 8A, corner room with a water view. Excellent location!! We really enjoyed the Pepper Market's breakfast buffet. I did not care for lunch. I think lunch was better before the buffet. One of the reasons that we decided to stay at CSR again this year was because of the outstanding bus service that we had last year. NOT the case this time. The bus service was awful. There was a huge mess on Monday (3/5). We waited for almost an hour for a bus to Epcot. I thought there was going to be a riot at bus stop 1 that morning. People were furious. Everyone was complaining. Five Downtown Disney buses came through right in a row. This was followed by 4 DHS buses and 1 Animal Kingdom bus. There were no buses to MK or Epcot. They finally sent a floater bus and the driver surveyed the angry crowd to see how many people were going where. There were more people going to MK, so she went to MK. We waited about 15 more minutes and then an Epcot bus came. We used bus stop 1 again on Thursday to DHS. There was someone from transportation there monitoring the buses. He told us it would be 10 minutes before the DHS bus arrived and he was 100% correct. We waited exactly 10 minutes and the bus showed up. I'm glad that they finally did something about it, but the majority of the week was very bad for buses. I also had some confusion surrounding our departing magical express and check out arrangements. On Thursday, I received a ME notice with a pick time for Friday. We weren't checking out until Saturday. I went to the front desk. The CM told me not to worry about it. They had me in the system as checking out on Saturday. On Friday, I didn't get anything about my ME pick up for Saturday, but I did receive someone else's boarding pass. Again, I went to the front desk. This time I was told that they did not have me booked for ME on Saturday. They had to call and get it fixed. On Saturday (check out day) I never received my boarding passes or my invoice and I had to go back to the front desk. Overall, we still had a great time. We still really like CSR, but I think we are going to try the Poly next year. If it's not in the budget, we might try French Quarter or Riverside.

 

[Alsobrook]

Was in Cabanas last week. Wifi was not sufficient. I called about it several times. It never improved. Wasn't impressed.

 

[Pixiedust34]

According to another website it's all down by the pool. The screen is placed so that you can be in the water and watch the movie if you would like to. Looking forward to it!

That is good to know! Thanks!

We just got back form CSR on Saturday. We had a very nice trip. This was our second stay at CSR. I checked in on-line prior to arrival. Everything was ready for us when we got there. I DID receive my room request! I was very excited because I did not get it last year. I requested the Cabanas. We were in 8A, corner room with a water view. Excellent location!! We really enjoyed the Pepper Market's breakfast buffet. I did not care for lunch. I think lunch was better before the buffet. One of the reasons that we decided to stay at CSR again this year was because of the outstanding bus service that we had last year. NOT the case this time. The bus service was awful. There was a huge mess on Monday (3/5). We waited for almost an hour for a bus to Epcot. I thought there was going to be a riot at bus stop 1 that morning. People were furious. Everyone was complaining. Five Downtown Disney buses came through right in a row. This was followed by 4 DHS buses and 1 Animal Kingdom bus. There were no buses to MK or Epcot. They finally sent a floater bus and the driver surveyed the angry crowd to see how many people were going where. There were more people going to MK, so she went to MK. We waited about 15 more minutes and then an Epcot bus came. We used bus stop 1 again on Thursday to DHS. There was someone from transportation there monitoring the buses. He told us it would be 10 minutes before the DHS bus arrived and he was 100% correct. We waited exactly 10 minutes and the bus showed up. I'm glad that they finally did something about it, but the majority of the week was very bad for buses. I also had some confusion surrounding our departing magical express and check out arrangements. On Thursday, I received a ME notice with a pick time for Friday. We weren't checking out until Saturday. I went to the front desk. The CM told me not to worry about it. They had me in the system as checking out on Saturday. On Friday, I didn't get anything about my ME pick up for Saturday, but I did receive someone else's boarding pass. Again, I went to the front desk. This time I was told that they did not have me booked for ME on Saturday. They had to call and get it fixed. On Saturday (check out day) I never received my boarding passes or my invoice and I had to go back to the front desk. Overall, we still had a great time. We still really like CSR, but I think we are going to try the Poly next year. If it's not in the budget, we might try French Quarter or Riverside.

I'm sorry to hear about the bus and ME glitches. I think bus problems are hit and miss at every resort. I am glad you had your room request met.

Was in Cabanas last week. Wifi was not sufficient. I called about it several times. It never improved. Wasn't impressed.

That's not good. I requested Cabanas or Ranchos and I'm hoping to be able to use the wi-fi. Have you tried the wi-fi in El Centro or at the Dig Site? If so, sis that work OK?

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I was in Casitas 3 last week and wifi worked great...no problems at all...