Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2011

[Butterflygirl35]

Unsure about Ice tea but I need a refillable mug for daiquiris!!! Lol

We were not far from the quiet pool so we would take our breakfast out o the tables in the morning... It was very nice and peaceful

 

[andieb0602]

I have confirmation now that I am weird - I liked Ranchos!!!

It won't stop DH and I from paying preferred so we can stay in Casitas next time, though.

 

[Celidh]

Unsure about Ice tea but I need a refillable mug for daiquiris!!! Lol

We were not far from the quiet pool so we would take our breakfast out o the tables in the morning... It was very nice and peaceful

I am so with you on the refillable daiquiri mugs!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I have confirmation now that I am weird - I liked Ranchos!!!

It won't stop DH and I from paying preferred so we can stay in Casitas next time, though.

I'm weird, too. I requested Cabanas or Ranchos. I'd prefer Cabanas, but we stayed there last time and if we get Ranchos it'll be trying something new which is OK.

 

[tjmw2727]

Boy, this was a biggie! My 2 DD's had several spills and "crummy" incidents while eating and drinking on the beds. Maybe Disney will notice the increase in stains on the bedding in the rooms without tables.

Agree- we didn't miss the double sinks but we definately missed the table and chairs.

 

[lovethattink]

The only Iced tea they have at the PM is unsweetened. I am a tea drinker and asked last time we ate there.

OMG! I'm so undecided now! Last year we stayed at CBR and totally loved it, decided that we would stay at CSR on our next trip (2013), BUT now that AOA has opened....I don't know what to do.....lol

Why not stay at CSR and plan on eating a meal at the food court at AoA or just walk around AoA. Easy to get to from any park, just hop on the AoA bus!

Our next stay is at POP, but I'm sure we'll be walking or driving over to AoA for a surf and turf burger!! They are goooooood!!!

 

[Julie521]

Hey everyone! So my honeymoon is about two months away so serious planning has begun. My wedding planning is over since we are doing a delayed honeymoon, so I need something to occupy my free time!

I was beginning to think about whether or not I should put in a room request, or just see what happens. I am 24 and my husband is 30. I don't really have my heart set on anything in particular. We do know we will probably use the quiet pool more than the dig site. We have a couple breakfasts planned for pepper market, but we don't mind walking and we have our own car even if we are feeling lazy

Is there any area that is more "romantic" than another? I know kids are going to be everywhere and we are okay with that! LOL Any advice would be helpful. I have never stayed on site and this is my husband's first time visiting.

 

[cjsm&d]

Hey everyone! So my honeymoon is about two months away so serious planning has begun. My wedding planning is over since we are doing a delayed honeymoon, so I need something to occupy my free time!

I was beginning to think about whether or not I should put in a room request, or just see what happens. I am 24 and my husband is 30. I don't really have my heart set on anything in particular. We do know we will probably use the quiet pool more than the dig site. We have a couple breakfasts planned for pepper market, but we don't mind walking and we have our own car even if we are feeling lazy

Is there any area that is more "romantic" than another? I know kids are going to be everywhere and we are okay with that! LOL Any advice would be helpful. I have never stayed on site and this is my husband's first time visiting.

We always request 8A for the kids because of it's closeness to both the bus stop and big pool...

If my wife and I were going alone, we would like Casitas 8B and 9A. Just far enough from the action, close to a quiet pool, and right on the lake with plenty of hammocks.

Though I haven't stayed in there, the Casita's area, especially building 2, 3 or 4 might be nice. There is a beautiful courtyard between 2 and 3 with a fountain that I always make sure I take an evening stroll by after dinner. There is a quiet pool between building 4 and the back side of 2 and 3.

I don't find the Ranchos area particularly romantic or even very attractive, of course that is just my opinion, though 7B seems like a nice location close to the buses and a quiet pool, yet not too far from the main pool and main building.

 

[Julie521]

We always request 8A for the kids because of it's closeness to both the bus stop and big pool...

If my wife and I were going alone, we would like Casitas 8B and 9A. Just far enough from the action, close to a quiet pool, and right on the lake with plenty of hammocks.

Though I haven't stayed in there, the Casita's area, especially building 2, 3 or 4 might be nice. There is a beautiful courtyard between 2 and 3 with a fountain that I always make sure I take an evening stroll by after dinner. There is a quiet pool between building 4 and the back side of 2 and 3.

I don't find the Ranchos area particularly romantic or even very attractive, of course that is just my opinion, though 7B seems like a nice location close to the buses and a quiet pool, yet not too far from the main pool and main building.

Thank you for the advice! I was thinking cabanas we the main spot families would like to be being so close to dig site. Do you think requesting anything in casitas is going to be a problem first week of September? In reality, it won't make or break the trip where we are, but it would be nice to have something a little romantic for us

 

[cjsm&d]

Thank you for the advice! I was thinking cabanas we the main spot families would like to be being so close to dig site. Do you think requesting anything in casitas is going to be a problem first week of September? In reality, it won't make or break the trip where we are, but it would be nice to have something a little romantic for us

The first week of September, unless there is a large convention, you should have pretty good luck with a request.

The main pool is really nice and because the resort is a convention hotel, it is not normally as crazy as some of the other resorts. There is also a nice large hot tub there, and the bar is good with decent food.

 

[lovethattink]

Hey everyone! So my honeymoon is about two months away so serious planning has begun. My wedding planning is over since we are doing a delayed honeymoon, so I need something to occupy my free time!

I was beginning to think about whether or not I should put in a room request, or just see what happens. I am 24 and my husband is 30. I don't really have my heart set on anything in particular. We do know we will probably use the quiet pool more than the dig site. We have a couple breakfasts planned for pepper market, but we don't mind walking and we have our own car even if we are feeling lazy

Is there any area that is more "romantic" than another? I know kids are going to be everywhere and we are okay with that! LOL Any advice would be helpful. I have never stayed on site and this is my husband's first time visiting.

If it was me, I'd request Casitas 4. That is where the quiet pool, fitness center, and spa is. The courtyards are more romantic at night than during the day, though they are very lovely during the day. We were placed in Casitas 5 for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We were surprised with a free upgrade! The only upgrade we have ever received on any of our Disney stays.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I'm not a tea drinker, but I think there was unsweetened ice tea at Cafe Rix, which will be very convienent for you if you get rooms in Casitas 1. Also there was sweetened ice tea in most of the drink machines. Sweetened ice tea is hard to find in most stores at WDW, but the drink machines at CSR have it if you're interested.

My wife and son live off of sweetened ice tea. Our first trip to WDW in 2008 at CBR it was almost impossible find to sweetened ice tea anywhere, just the unsweetened stuff which they don't like. At CBR we stumbled across a drink machine 4 bulidings over that had sweetened and it saved the vacation....lol. At CSR most of the machines have it.

The only Iced tea they have at the PM is unsweetened. I am a tea drinker and asked last time we ate there.

Thanks for the tea info!

My mother is a non-sweetened iced tea drinker so Cafe Rix should work well. We don't plan on eating at the Pepper Market though.

What about the refillable mugs though - can you use them at Cafe Rix? At Pepper market (even if you don't sit down and eat)?

Thanks!

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks for the tea info!

My mother is a non-sweetened iced tea drinker so Cafe Rix should work well. We don't plan on eating at the Pepper Market though.

What about the refillable mugs though - can you use them at Cafe Rix? At Pepper market (even if you don't sit down and eat)?

Thanks!

You can get your refill yourself at Cafe Rix any time it's opened. (It's easier to walk in past the cash registers if you are just getting a refill). At the Pepper Market, a cm has to get the refill for you as the beverages are not accessible to guests. At the Dig Site a CM will refill your mug on the food side of Siestas.

 

[Sara1Babe]

Can you take your mug into PM? If so, will they fill it for you or should I hit up Rix prior to our meals?


Cant wait to be back at CSR!!! now with wifi

Looks like my question was just answered, yes you can use your mug at PM. SCORE!!! we're going w/out DDP so paying OOP is going to hurt.

 

[lovethattink]

Can you take your mug into PM? If so, will they fill it for you or should I hit up Rix prior to our meals?


Cant wait to be back at CSR!!! now with wifi

Looks like my question was just answered, yes you can use your mug at PM. SCORE!!! we're going w/out DDP so paying OOP is going to hurt.

It's not very convenient to refill your mug at the PM. Cafe Rix is much quicker. If you are eating breakfast or lunch a drink is included in the buffet at the PM, but you can either use your mug or their cups. For dinner, I'd suggest bringing your mug since it's ala carte.

I would not stop into the PM for just a refill and nothing else. It would more than likely be much more time consuming then hopping into Cafe Rix and filling it yourself.

 

[Pixiedust34]

It's not very convenient to refill your mug at the PM. Cafe Rix is much quicker. If you are eating breakfast or lunch a drink is included in the buffet at the PM, but you can either use your mug or their cups. For dinner, I'd suggest bringing your mug since it's ala carte.

I would not stop into the PM for just a refill and nothing else. It would more than likely be much more time consuming then hopping into Cafe Rix and filling it yourself.

I hope to refill myself at Cafe Rix when possible. One reason for this is that I cringe to tip for a "free" refill, and if the cm does my refill for me then I'd feel obligated to tip. Do you tip at Pepper Market if all you do is get a refill with your mug?

 

[lovethattink]

I hope to refill myself at Cafe Rix when possible. One reason for this is that I cringe to tip for a "free" refill, and if the cm does my refill for me then I'd feel obligated to tip. Do you tip at Pepper Market if all you do is get a refill with your mug?

In my opinion, it's too much of a pain to get a refill at PM if you aren't eating there, so I wouldn't go there for just a refill.

At dinner a 10% service fee is added to your bill at the register if you are paying cash. Typically when we eat at the PM for lunch we tip 18% unless the service is excellent then we'll tip more. Though I have read that tipping is optional. The bill doesn't seem to reflect that.

Tipping at the PM is strange. When you tip at breakfast or lunch the tip goes directely to your server. But when you tip at dinner time, the tip gets pooled and split between PM employees. You can avoid the dinner time service charge by getting your ticket for food marked as To Go.

I don't think they'd let you enter the pm at breakfast or lunch time for just a refill anyway, since they don't allow any ala carte then.

 

[Julie521]

The first week of September, unless there is a large convention, you should have pretty good luck with a request.

The main pool is really nice and because the resort is a convention hotel, it is not normally as crazy as some of the other resorts. There is also a nice large hot tub there, and the bar is good with decent food.

Checking the least every week or so, and there doesn't appear to be any conventions going on while we are there. That hot tub does look very nice I am sure its very relaxing after a long day out at the parks.

If it was me, I'd request Casitas 4. That is where the quiet pool, fitness center, and spa is. The courtyards are more romantic at night than during the day, though they are very lovely during the day. We were placed in Casitas 5 for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We were surprised with a free upgrade! The only upgrade we have ever received on any of our Disney stays.

Thank you for the advice! Casitas are definitely looking like the place to be for us! Fitness center, well we probably won't use that LOL But the spa does sound nice. A free upgrade would be nice too!! HAHA but I am going in not expecting anything extra, so that if something does happen it is a pleasant surprise.

 

[Buckimion]

Even though I just read the above posts I am hoping for some personal advice.

DW just agreed to upgrade from ASSp to CSR after shooting down my Poly. We are headed there Sept. 14-22 and am considering paying for preferred (Casitas 1, 2, or 3 from what I've read) partially because I am mobility impaired and use a wheelchair/scooter and like to be near the food courts. I am partial to ground floor courtyard rooms. Is this a good idea? If not, what do you recommend? I could live with the Cabanas but dread the idea of going standard and being assigned to Rancheros.


Can anyone confirm there does not appear to be a convention at that time? What effect will this likely have on buses and crowd level at the resort?

More as I think of them...

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Even though I just read the above posts I am hoping for some personal advice.

DW just agreed to upgrade from ASSp to CSR after shooting down my Poly. We are headed there Sept. 14-22 and am considering paying for preferred (Casitas 1, 2, or 3 from what I've read) partially because I am mobility impaired and use a wheelchair/scooter and like to be near the food courts. I am partial to ground floor courtyard rooms. Is this a good idea and does CSR participate in the refillable mug program? (DxDP) If not, what do you recommend? I could live with the Cabanas but dread the idea of going standard and being assigned to Rancheros.

Where is the hot tub located?

Can anyone confirm there does not appear to be a convention at that time? What effect will this likely have on buses and crowd level at the resort?

More as I think of them...

Preferred rooms are casitas 1, 2 and 3, and if your priority is being close to the food court, they are great rooms. Another benefit of the casitas is that you will be reasonably close to bus stop #2, which is the first stop picked up and dropped off going to and from the parks - that would be beneficial since you will need to load the scooter or wheelchair onto the bus. There is a bus stop at El Centro, but it is the last stop picked up on the way to the parks.

Casitas 1 is attached to the main building and closest to the food court, but it is farthest away from the casitas stop. Casita 3 is closer to the bus stop but a bit farther to the food court. The top floor of casita 2 is very hard to access by elevator - you do NOT want that location if you are mobility impaired.

If the cost is not a factor, I would book a preferred room and request a ground floor for medical reasons.

CSR does use refillable mugs. You can fill them yourself at Cafe Rix in the main building or have them filled at Pepper Market (main building) or at Siesta's by the pool. Cafe Rix has the longest operating hours and would be most convenient if you are in the casitas.

The hot tub is near the Dig Site, which is the main pool.

I can't confirm there is no convention during that time, but I haven't found one yet. I checked the Unofficial CSR website and there is not one listed. That list is usually very well updated. I can't post the link here, but you can Google it and it should come up.

Typically, conventions result in uncrowded buses and pools during the day (since the attendees are in meetings), higher crowds at Pepper Market and Cafe Rix at breakfast (because they are going to meetings and have to get there at a certain time), and sometimes larger crowds at the Laguna Bar or Siesta's in the evenings (depending on the type of group).