Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2011

[lzkirchner]

Hi Everyone, joining the board. We decided last week to take a trip in May to take advantage of spring offer. Had originally booked CBR but when they extended offer more rooms at CSR opened so we switched. So excited!! Couple of questions:

We won't spend very much time at pool so being close to it is not as important as closeness to bus stop and being able to sit if possible (small children.) We are early to rise early to sleep folks so also want to be in a quieter section if that's possible at Disney. We'd also like to be close to El Centro for dining and filling mugs. So, I'm thinking of Calistas. Would you pay for preferred if available or request Calista 4 or 5? Not sure how far they are from El Centro.

Also, if we dine at Pepper Market can we take our refillable mugs in with us? I know we get a beverage with our CS meal on dining plan. Thinking we could take our mugs and then use our beverage credit to get milks or juice for kids to have on days we eat breakfast in the room.

TIA and thanks for a wonderful thread!!

Lisa

 

[serene56]

Depends on where you want to be. I love the Cabanas and would be willing to pay more if I could be guaranteed that area, but since those are all standard rooms, there is no way I'd pay for a preferred room at CSR. All the preferred rooms are in Casitas 1, 2, and 3. The worst room I ever had was a King room on the top floor of Casitas 2, facing the parking lot. No elevator to get to it and lousy view. I couldn't believe they'd put a King room up there in what the CM's call 'No Man's Land'.

no elevator? that would kill my knees for sure. do the other buildings not have elevators too?

It would be my luck to get that room too.

 

[serene56]

We have never asked for an upgrade but rather ask the CM what the best room would be to fit our needs. We have received upgrades a couple of times. Just show your excitement to be at WDW but do not expect anything. It's a magical extra!

Not sure why, but we almost always ask for any free upgrades at other off site hotels (chains like Hilton etc), we get them about half the time and some other times at a minimal extra charge.

what kinds of upgrades does this resort have?

 

[KatMark]

no elevator? that would kill my knees for sure. do the other buildings not have elevators too?

It would be my luck to get that room too.

All the buildings but the one have elevators.

what kinds of upgrades does this resort have?

We've been upgraded seven out of our nine stays at the CSR. We've been upgraded from a standard view to a water view room six times (four of those were corner rooms with the extra windows with a view of the lake, the other two were a view of the quiet pools), and we were also upgraded to a junior suite for our 25th wedding anniversary.

 

[lovethattink]

We've been upgraded seven out of our nine stays at the CSR. We've been upgraded from a standard view to a water view room six times (four of those were corner rooms with the extra windows with a view of the lake, the other two were a view of the quiet pools), and we were also upgraded to a junior suite for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Wow, Kathy, that's amazing. In all our stays at WDW, we have been upgraded once. That was a CSR this past August for our 20th Anniversary, from standard to water view!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

no elevator? that would kill my knees for sure. do the other buildings not have elevators too?

It would be my luck to get that room too.

There is an elevator in between casitas 1 and 2, but it only goes to the third floor. To get to the fourth floor, you either have to take the stairs from there or use the casita 3 elevator, which goes to the fourth floor. Very strange design.

 

[lindap1]

So now that I've decided on CSR for my next trip, which building ..ie...bus stop gets picked up first?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

So now that I've decided on CSR for my next trip, which building ..ie...bus stop gets picked up first?

Casitas, if you are going to and from the parks. El Centro, if you are going to DTD.

Park buses - casitas, ranchos, cabanas, then El Centro.
DTD - El Centro, casitas, ranchos, cabanas.

We usually stay in the cabanas and get on at that stop. The only time we have stood on a CSR bus was leaving MK after Wishes. We drive to DTD, though. We haven't stayed at CSR Christmas, Easter or Fourth of July.

There are five casitas buildings - 1, 2 and 3 are preferred (separate booking category). 4 and 5 are by request. Each building has some king rooms and some with two queens, some standard and some water view.

 

[lindap1]

Thank you for the quick reply. I want to be close to main pool, play area for dd and close enough to dining, so I' m assuming the casitas?

 

[TheMorgans]

How is the wifi service in the rooms? What is the cost? Is it reliable in all areas of the resort?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Well, now I am second guessing our decision to stay in the preferred room location!!! So my mom likes to get up early and fill her mug and get some breakfast items in the morning (like fruit and milk). BUT this time I am ordering groceries for the rooms so we shouldn't need that. She's very mobile, just not as quick as she was (she can't keep up with my insane walking pace anymore - I'm a runner so I walk very quickly as well). She may be 68, but you would NEVER guess it. So being farther away from El Centro is not a big deal (just not TOO far away). We will also have a child in our party in a stroller.

Anyway, we will have 4 rooms for 6 nights this July for me, my kids (8 & 9), my mom, my 2 adult nieces, my brother & his wife & their children (2,5,8), another one of my brothers and his boyfriend, my 1st cousin once removed (tween), and there is a possibility my sister & her husband will come with his daughter (teen), and also possibly my cousin & her boyfriend (for another 2 rooms). WHEW! (oh, I have more siblings too but they aren't coming ) So I thought the preferred room would be great because then we would be near each other but I'm not sure THAT will even happen!

Should I ditch the preferred and just request rooms near each other??? I just don't want to get stuck far away from El Centro OR the Dig Site. And we really need to be near each other (we'll be playing musical rooms depending on the night and who wants to bunk with whom).

OH MY! What would you do????

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you for the quick reply. I want to be close to main pool, play area for dd and close enough to dining, so I' m assuming the casitas?

We like the cabanas the best. They are located in between the Dig Site and El Centro. Casitas 4 and 5 are also good choices.

How is the wifi service in the rooms? What is the cost? Is it reliable in all areas of the resort?

Wifi is free at CSR. The reports I have read have said that it is pretty reliable.

Well, now I am second guessing our decision to stay in the preferred room location!!! So my mom likes to get up early and fill her mug and get some breakfast items in the morning (like fruit and milk). BUT this time I am ordering groceries for the rooms so we shouldn't need that. She's very mobile, just not as quick as she was (she can't keep up with my insane walking pace anymore - I'm a runner so I walk very quickly as well). She may be 68, but you would NEVER guess it. So being farther away from El Centro is not a big deal (just not TOO far away). We will also have a child in our party in a stroller.

Anyway, we will have 4 rooms for 6 nights this July for me, my kids (8 & 9), my mom, my 2 adult nieces, my brother & his wife & their children (2,5,8), another one of my brothers and his boyfriend, my 1st cousin once removed (tween), and there is a possibility my sister & her husband will come with his daughter (teen), and also possibly my cousin & her boyfriend (for another 2 rooms). WHEW! (oh, I have more siblings too but they aren't coming ) So I thought the preferred room would be great because then we would be near each other but I'm not sure THAT will even happen!

Should I ditch the preferred and just request rooms near each other??? I just don't want to get stuck far away from El Centro OR the Dig Site. And we really need to be near each other (we'll be playing musical rooms depending on the night and who wants to bunk with whom).

OH MY! What would you do????

Booking preferred rooms guarantees that you will be in one of three buildings, so you won't be terribly far apart from each other. But it doesn't mean you would all be in the same building. If you have all the reservation numbers, you can call and have them linked together to improve your chances, but it will just depend how full the resort is on your check-in day.

Booking preferred means you will be close to the main building, but it does not mean you will be close to the Dig Site. Casita 1 is about a ten minute walk to the Dig Site. Casita 3 is about 7 minutes.

Booking non-preferred means that you may be in any of ten buildings. While there is the potential to be more spread out, it also gives the room assigners more to work with. Ranchos is the least-requested section, so you might get put in Ranchos but all be together. You could be a 10-15 minute walk to the main building.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We like the cabanas the best. They are located in between the Dig Site and El Centro. Casitas 4 and 5 are also good choices.



Wifi is free at CSR. The reports I have read have said that it is pretty reliable.



Booking preferred rooms guarantees that you will be in one of three buildings, so you won't be terribly far apart from each other. But it doesn't mean you would all be in the same building. If you have all the reservation numbers, you can call and have them linked together to improve your chances, but it will just depend how full the resort is on your check-in day.

Booking preferred means you will be close to the main building, but it does not mean you will be close to the Dig Site. Casita 1 is about a ten minute walk to the Dig Site. Casita 3 is about 7 minutes.

Booking non-preferred means that you may be in any of ten buildings. While there is the potential to be more spread out, it also gives the room assigners more to work with. Ranchos is the least-requested section, so you might get put in Ranchos but all be together. You could be a 10-15 minute walk to the main building.

If you do end up in Ranchos, you can take any park bus to El Centro. That'll save time on your resort walking.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Booking preferred rooms guarantees that you will be in one of three buildings, so you won't be terribly far apart from each other. But it doesn't mean you would all be in the same building. If you have all the reservation numbers, you can call and have them linked together to improve your chances, but it will just depend how full the resort is on your check-in day.

Booking preferred means you will be close to the main building, but it does not mean you will be close to the Dig Site. Casita 1 is about a ten minute walk to the Dig Site. Casita 3 is about 7 minutes.

Booking non-preferred means that you may be in any of ten buildings. While there is the potential to be more spread out, it also gives the room assigners more to work with. Ranchos is the least-requested section, so you might get put in Ranchos but all be together. You could be a 10-15 minute walk to the main building.

If you do end up in Ranchos, you can take any park bus to El Centro. That'll save time on your resort walking.

I don't know what to do. Ugh. I'll blame it all on my baby brother if it doesn't end up well He may be in his 30s but he's still the baby so he can get all the perks. We still have him ask Mom for money if we are all at home. So silly because we can all afford a movie or dinner but it's fun to see Mom give anything to her baby

 

[tinacaplan]

Hello, fellow CSR lovers! I have been playing on the Disney website again and cannot get a room at CSR for July 19-27.

Anyone know why? Could it be a glitch? Are rooms being held for some reason that might be released later? Is there a GIANT convention that week?

Thanks for any info! Its the only mod I really want to stay at.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hello, fellow CSR lovers! I have been playing on the Disney website again and cannot get a room at CSR for July 19-27.

Anyone know why? Could it be a glitch? Are rooms being held for some reason that might be released later? Is there a GIANT convention that week?

Thanks for any info! Its the only mod I really want to stay at.

There are a couple of things going on that week, but I'm not sure how large they are - they might just have overlapping room blocks. There is an education symposium from July 21-25, with some additional training available the 26th through the 28th. There is a reduced rate if booked by July 6, but I don't know if that is the date that rooms get released.

There is a gymnastics meet July 19-22. Early Bird registration is by April 14th, but I'm not sure what the regular registration date is.

There is a Celtic Dance Festival July 27-29th. CSR is one of the group hotels, along with All Star Music, Yacht Club, and some offsite hotels. It looks like participants need to register by June 15. They might have blocked a large numbers of rooms since they don't know who will choose which resort.

It's very likely that standard rooms will become available closer to summer - I'd keep checking the Disney website.

How many are in your group? I just put in those dates for two adults and found king bed availability. Queen rooms aren't coming up.

Edited:

Standard rooms with queen beds come up from July 20-27. The first night is the problem.

 

[danceteachermom]

We just told our son yesterday and now have a Disney countdown calendar on the wall...24 days until we will be at the Coronado. Family vote last night at dinner that the entire first day needs to be at the Dig Site.

I was just looking around the All Ears site for fun this weekend when I checked out the resort reviews there. It has been about a year since I last looked and I was really disappointed to see so many negative reviews for CSR.

I have stayed at CSR for every Disney trip the last 10 years and while I know everyone's experience is different, I just can't believe how poorly some rate the CSR. I have stayed at Contemporary and WL and liked both but for the price CSR is a much better choice and the grounds and pool are nicer.

I plan on writing a review on All Ears after our next trip. Can't wait.

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you for the quick reply. I want to be close to main pool, play area for dd and close enough to dining, so I' m assuming the casitas?

We like the cabanas best to be closest to the digg site. Cabanas 9 are closer to El Centro than casitas 5.

How is the wifi service in the rooms? What is the cost? Is it reliable in all areas of the resort?

The wifi worked great!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Well, now I am second guessing our decision to stay in the preferred room location!!! So my mom likes to get up early and fill her mug and get some breakfast items in the morning (like fruit and milk). BUT this time I am ordering groceries for the rooms so we shouldn't need that. She's very mobile, just not as quick as she was (she can't keep up with my insane walking pace anymore - I'm a runner so I walk very quickly as well). She may be 68, but you would NEVER guess it. So being farther away from El Centro is not a big deal (just not TOO far away). We will also have a child in our party in a stroller.

Anyway, we will have 4 rooms for 6 nights this July for me, my kids (8 & 9), my mom, my 2 adult nieces, my brother & his wife & their children (2,5,8), another one of my brothers and his boyfriend, my 1st cousin once removed (tween), and there is a possibility my sister & her husband will come with his daughter (teen), and also possibly my cousin & her boyfriend (for another 2 rooms). WHEW! (oh, I have more siblings too but they aren't coming ) So I thought the preferred room would be great because then we would be near each other but I'm not sure THAT will even happen!

Should I ditch the preferred and just request rooms near each other??? I just don't want to get stuck far away from El Centro OR the Dig Site. And we really need to be near each other (we'll be playing musical rooms depending on the night and who wants to bunk with whom).

OH MY! What would you do????

I would stick with preferred--all the way! We stayed at CSR in preferred back in October and loved the location. We were in a ground floor corner room in Casitas 3 looking toward the lagoon but in the back of a "u" shaped building area. Loved location for these reasons:

--Easy walk to El Centro for dining and gift shop. We often needed to pick up something at the gift shop like packages sent from the parks.

--Great proximity between El Centro bus stop and Casitas bus stop. Nice, scenic walk to the stop too! Casitas bus stop was wonderful. buses were usually empty when we got on in the morning and buses were very frequent. As luck would have it, one morning we waited about 10 minutes for a bus to AK(longest wait of the trip BTW). My DD10 started to complain about her tummy hurting and of course--hers meds were in the room. I literally saw the bus coming thru the far gate. I left Dh with the girls to get on the bus and I sprang into action. Fast walking and a few jogs back to the room, grabbed her meds, and made it to the bus stop at El Centro about 30 seconds before the AK bus with my family came rolling in. I hopped on the bus and we traveled together to AK--amazing!

--Although it is a hike to the main pool area, we only went there once a day. When you are at the pool, you have everything there you need. Towels, bathrooms, food, and drink. Love the pool here. Also--the Casitas quiet pool is very nice AND adjacent to the spa/fitness center for bathroom breaks. There are also pool towels here because of the spa

--The atmosphere in Casitas is just beautiful. We walked thru Ranchos and Cabanas and they were nice but could not compare to the beautiful architecture(sp?), fountains, and landscaping in Casitas.

--If it rains, you can wind thru the room walkways and get to the covered walkway to El Centro. We did this on a few rainy occasions.

You and your family will be gauranteed to be in one of 3 buildings in very close proximity. Without this, you could be VERY spreadout between Ranchos, Casitas and Cabanas. Have fun

 

[MusicMouse]

I'm so excited - only 20 more days to go!! I have a quick question about online check-in. We are traveling with my folks and have two rooms booked at CSR. Our reservations are linked as traveling together and we have requested connecting rooms. Will doing online check-in improve our chances of actually getting conecting rooms, or should we just wait until we get to the resort? My folks will be checking in first at about 11AM, if that makes a difference. TIA!