Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2012

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We are California Annual Passholders, but visiting WDW, CSR and the Fantasy for the first time on March 15 - 29 (cruise starts 3/22). I have two daughters (11 and 13). We land on Saturday, 3/15. We are planning to go to Universal Islands on our first Sunday, 3/16 (we have a Harry Potter nut), MGM on Monday, Water park on Tuesday, MK on Wednesday, Epcot & AK on Thursday, and Water park on Friday. I have the tickets already.

Three questions:

We won't be spending much time at CSR, and we don't worry abount the available amenities except the water slide. Any recommendations on what area we should request at CSR?

What is the best way to get to Universal on Sunday from CSR?

Is there a good reason to rent a car for part of the week?

Any and all suggestions are gratefully welcomed.

Wow! That is quite a trip!

You said you have tickets already - do you have three day tickets with water parks added? If so, you might consider adding days to your tickets once you arrive and see how big WDW is. You can upgrade to a four day ticket for about $20 per ticket, and each day after that is an additional $10 (approximately). You can upgrade after you get there. I am guessing you also have park hoppers since you are planning to go to Epcot and AK the same day?

Many people schedule two full days for Magic Kingdom and two days for Epcot. If you are planning to skip the rides that are the same/similar at DLR and WDW, you could do each park in one day. But I think trying to do Animal Kingdom and Epcot in one day would result in you missing a lot - I don't think DLR has anything similar to AK or the World Showcase.

We have been to Blizzard Beach, but not Typhoon Lagoon. We did not spend all day there. I would suggest either going to AK during the morning one day and one of the water parks in the afternoon, and/or going to a water park in the morning and going to World Showcase in the afternoon. You can skip Soarin' at Epcot since you have probably been at DLR, and even Test Track is similar to but probably not as good as Radiator Springs Racers. (I have not been to DLR but had hoped to go this summer, so I did a little research about the park differences).

My daughters are 11 and 14, and they love Hollywood Studios the best. They both LOVE Islands of Adventure at Universal. Plan for that to be a full day if you have a Harry Potter nut - I could spend days looking at all the details from the books and movies. If someone does not want to ride HP and the Forbidden Journey, at least walk through the queue (with the riders, or in the castle tour line if you have no riders). Forbidden Journey also has a single rider line. The Dragon Challenge queue is fun to walk through to see the Ford Anglia and the Goblet of Fire props.

As far as getting to Universal, check out this link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494908

Renting a car would probably be your cheapest option if you have four in your family.

Check out this free site for the best days to visit each park to make the most of your time (you may be set based on dining reservations, but just in case):

http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/03-march-2014/

The CSR pool and slide is awesome, so I would definitely plan some down time there. Cabanas and ranchos would be close, particularly cabanas 8A and ranchos 7B. You can make a request for "close to Dig Site" instead of a particular building if you want.

I would strongly encourage five park days at WDW with water parks done in the afternoon after a park or in the morning before World Showcase (since World Showcase doesn't open until 11). But if you plan to ride the rides in Future World, I would encourage the water parks in the afternoons and the parks when they open.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[mmouse37]

I just stayed at CSR a couple weeks ago when the Pop Century Cheer competition was going on and then the Kids National Scholastic Chess convention began. I would see the kids and their families around but I would not say it was super crowded to the point it bothered me. The Pepper's Market would get busy around dinner time but since it sounds like a business convention will be there when your there I doubt it should interfere with your stay. Enjoy your trip!

It depends on the convention. Some conventions are spread throughout the resort due to size, while other attendees are concentrated in the casitas area for easy access to the convention center.

A convention would specifically have to block business class rooms to affect the lounge. It is probably more likely for them to block standard rooms and maybe a suite or two. Also, some conventions supply a light breakfast and/or afternoon snacks for its attendees, so conventioneers would be less likely to book business class.

Thank you both for your insight. I booked 3 rooms in business class and am getting excited!!! We are going to a wedding in St. Augustine and then heading over to WDW for 3 days.

The only thing I did not enjoy was Pepper Market for Breakfast (did not try it any other time). I did not like having to wait on line to get in (we were there early too) and did not like waiting for the waitress to come take our drink order and then wait for the check at the end. Our waitress never returned with the check for 30 minutes after we finished eating. We finally just got up and paid at the exit (which they didn't really want us to do). Did not like the whole food court set up. I loved the resort itself but prefer the other moderates' food courts.

Thanks again!!!

MJ

 

[CaliSoccer]

Originally Posted by StitchandPooh'sMom
Wow! That is quite a trip!

You said you have tickets already - do you have three day tickets with water parks added? If so, you might consider adding days to your tickets once you arrive and see how big WDW is. You can upgrade to a four day ticket for about $20 per ticket, and each day after that is an additional $10 (approximately). You can upgrade after you get there. I am guessing you also have park hoppers since you are planning to go to Epcot and AK the same day?

Many people schedule two full days for Magic Kingdom and two days for Epcot. If you are planning to skip the rides that are the same/similar at DLR and WDW, you could do each park in one day. But I think trying to do Animal Kingdom and Epcot in one day would result in you missing a lot - I don't think DLR has anything similar to AK or the World Showcase.

We have been to Blizzard Beach, but not Typhoon Lagoon. We did not spend all day there. I would suggest either going to AK during the morning one day and one of the water parks in the afternoon, and/or going to a water park in the morning and going to World Showcase in the afternoon. You can skip Soarin' at Epcot since you have probably been at DLR, and even Test Track is similar to but probably not as good as Radiator Springs Racers. (I have not been to DLR but had hoped to go this summer, so I did a little research about the park differences).

My daughters are 11 and 14, and they love Hollywood Studios the best. They both LOVE Islands of Adventure at Universal. Plan for that to be a full day if you have a Harry Potter nut - I could spend days looking at all the details from the books and movies. If someone does not want to ride HP and the Forbidden Journey, at least walk through the queue (with the riders, or in the castle tour line if you have no riders). Forbidden Journey also has a single rider line. The Dragon Challenge queue is fun to walk through to see the Ford Anglia and the Goblet of Fire props.

As far as getting to Universal, check out this link:

***

Renting a car would probably be your cheapest option if you have four in your family.

Check out this free site for the best days to visit each park to make the most of your time (you may be set based on dining reservations, but just in case):

***

The CSR pool and slide is awesome, so I would definitely plan some down time there. Cabanas and ranchos would be close, particularly cabanas 8A and ranchos 7B. You can make a request for "close to Dig Site" instead of a particular building if you want.

I would strongly encourage five park days at WDW with water parks done in the afternoon after a park or in the morning before World Showcase (since World Showcase doesn't open until 11). But if you plan to ride the rides in Future World, I would encourage the water parks in the afternoons and the parks when they open.

Enjoy your trip!

** Forgot to include original quote **

Thank you so much! My daughters go to CA and DL almost monthly, so they are concerned only with the big ticket rides.

We currently have 4 day park hoppers with the 4 fun visits and one day tickets to Universal. I'll take your advice and plan on hitting AK on Tuesday morning (with a water park option for the afternoon if we run out of activities) and then Epcot on Thursday morning. We'll still have two fun visits to play with.

I had found a different site that gave advice on crowds, but I will definitely check your site for figuring out where to go each day. My order may get rearranged. Could we add a fifth park hopper day for Friday if we find the need on Thursday?

(BTW - My girls LOVE Radiator Springs. We usually use the single rider line, but sometimes splurge and wait in the long line for a family ride.)

Last -- what day would you go to Universal? The website you listed does not discuss universal?

We have already spent a fortune, so cost is not a huge consideration by now. Would you rent a car for the week or just for the Universal day? We plan on going to Nouba on Thursday night.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you so much! My daughters go to CA and DL almost monthly, so they are concerned only with the big ticket rides.

We currently have 4 day park hoppers with the 4 fun visits and one day tickets to Universal. I'll take your advice and plan on hitting AK on Tuesday morning (with a water park option for the afternoon if we run out of activities) and then Epcot on Thursday morning. We'll still have two fun visits to play with.

I had found a different site that gave advice on crowds, but I will definitely check your site for figuring out where to go each day. My order may get rearranged. Could we add a fifth park hopper day for Friday if we find the need on Thursday?

(BTW - My girls LOVE Radiator Springs. We usually use the single rider line, but sometimes splurge and wait in the long line for a family ride.)

Last -- what day would you go to Universal? The website you listed does not discuss universal?

We have already spent a fortune, so cost is not a huge consideration by now. Would you rent a car for the week or just for the Universal day? We plan on going to Nouba on Thursday night.

You can add a fifth day on Thursday, but I think it has to be before you leave the park (you can't add it on Friday). You used to be able to add days anytime within the first 14 days, but Disney had trouble with people adding days as they were leaving and then selling the tickets (it's much cheaper to go from five days to ten days than to buy the first five days). I think you will have to add before you leave the park Thursday, but you should know by then if you want another day.

Historically, Islands of Adventure has been quietest on Sunday mornings, so your day should be fine. I would plan to get there before park opening. Onsite Universal guests (which I am thinking you are not since you didn't mention it) get one hour early access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so there will be people there when you arrive, but you can't avoid that. If you want to do Ollivander's, the general consensus is to do that first - they bring about 25 people in for each show, so the line moves slowly and is in direct sun later in the day. We have always skipped Ollivander's and started with Forbidden Journey. If the morning is crowded, you can do the rest of IOA and come back to WWOHP in the evening - Hogsmeade looks great at night.

We like the frozen butterbeer better than the regular or the pumpkin juice. You can get it at Hog's Head if the line at the cart is too long.

Getting to and from Downtown Disney is a pain using Disney Transportation, but there are buses that go from CSR to DTD for La Nouba, shopping, etc. Just allow plenty of time - the buses to DTD are not as frequent as the park buses. If you stumble on a great deal for a rental, it might be worth the convenience to have a car for the week you are at WDW and Universal. How are you getting to the port? If you are planning to use Disney transfers, you can drop the car off at the Car Care Center before you get picked up at CSR, or you could return it to the airport and get transfers from the airport (depending where you rent the car from). To further complicate things, you could compare prices for driving to the port and paying for parking ($15 per night the last time I went), but that would mean a two-week rental and you wouldn't even drive it for a week (and would have to pay for parking it). I wouldn't think a two-week rental would be cost effective, but if you are paying for Disney transfers to the port, it might be. If you have a private car booked for transfers, it might be cheaper to rent for a week and drop off the car before going on the cruise. You could also drive to the port, drop the car off (I think Alamo and maybe National have offices nearby). take a shuttle to the ship, and only pay for transfers on the way home.

Cabs are also an option around WDW if you need to get somewhere fast, early or late. If you have a breakfast ADR at another resort, sometimes it is best to have a rental car or take a cab. I would just compare the costs of any transfers (to/from Universal and to/from port) along with parking fees to see if it is worth it.

I rambled a lot there, but I would look at the price for a weekly rental compared to a day and see if the convenience factor is worth it. I probably wouldn't rent for two weeks unless you stumble on a super deal and you can avoid paying a lot for transfers - you would have to pay $105 just to park it for the week on the Fantasy plus the cost of the second week. It seems like Disney transfers to/from the port were about $70 per person, so it could be cheaper to park a rental car if you were planning to transfer four people with Disney.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you both for your insight. I booked 3 rooms in business class and am getting excited!!! We are going to a wedding in St. Augustine and then heading over to WDW for 3 days.

The only thing I did not enjoy was Pepper Market for Breakfast (did not try it any other time). I did not like having to wait on line to get in (we were there early too) and did not like waiting for the waitress to come take our drink order and then wait for the check at the end. Our waitress never returned with the check for 30 minutes after we finished eating. We finally just got up and paid at the exit (which they didn't really want us to do). Did not like the whole food court set up. I loved the resort itself but prefer the other moderates' food courts.

Thanks again!!!

MJ

Enjoy your trip!

They are no longer charging a service charge at Pepper Market. At least once person has posted that there are no servers, but I haven't been there to confirm. I think you still get the card to stamp and pay at the end.

 

[v.t.]

Enjoy your trip!

They are no longer charging a service charge at Pepper Market. At least once person has posted that there are no servers, but I haven't been there to confirm. I think you still get the card to stamp and pay at the end.

That is correct, they no longer have servers but you do have to get a card stamped when you order and pay when you leave. There is a drink island in the middle for refills.

 

[jkthorstad]

We will be arriving to CSR in 2 weeks. Wondering if anyone has been recently that can tell me if the pools are open, and what the hours are? IN addition, do you know what time the busses start running in the morning?

SOOOOOOOOOO excited!!

 

[ciera321]

That is correct, they no longer have servers but you do have to get a card stamped when you order and pay when you leave. There is a drink island in the middle for refills.

So now that PM is not a buffet, can we get pastries and other small items as snack credits?

 

[blackmamba10000]

We're going to be at Coronado Springs next week!! I am beyond excited and can't wait to try Pepper Market. Is there anything I must try?

 

[CaliSoccer]

You can add a fifth day on Thursday, but I think it has to be before you leave the park (you can't add it on Friday). You used to be able to add days anytime within the first 14 days, but Disney had trouble with people adding days as they were leaving and then selling the tickets (it's much cheaper to go from five days to ten days than to buy the first five days). I think you will have to add before you leave the park Thursday, but you should know by then if you want another day.

...

I rambled a lot there, but I would look at the price for a weekly rental compared to a day and see if the convenience factor is worth it. I probably wouldn't rent for two weeks unless you stumble on a super deal and you can avoid paying a lot for transfers - you would have to pay $105 just to park it for the week on the Fantasy plus the cost of the second week. It seems like Disney transfers to/from the port were about $70 per person, so it could be cheaper to park a rental car if you were planning to transfer four people with Disney.

Thank you so very much! You have been incredibly helpful.

 

[annieb727]

So...I am going SOLO in March...after braving Disney World with my two boys Dec 14-24, I decided I needed some ME time at the World. I wanted to go to a resort that I would enjoy. I have been to disney many times...and I have stayed onsite at Pop (once for a night or two at CR -- many years ago). So I wanted a resort I would be able to just relax and feel like I was whisked away into another world.

At first I booked POR...with a King bed with an AP discount...it was about $2200 total. Then I called and got the military discount...saved me $200...down to about $2002. Then I started reading about CSR...and the business class. Turns out...I can get 11 nights at CSR standard business class for $2181 with military discount!! I went for it...changed my reservation...I'm SO excited. This place looks amazing.

I will be there March 6-17 (my spring break - in grad school)

Oh...and I have a question...are there elevators? I will have an ECV, so if not, I will need to request a first floor room. Thanks.

 

[EpcotBill]

Oh...and I have a question...are there elevators? I will have an ECV, so if not, I will need to request a first floor room. Thanks.

Yes.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you so very much! You have been incredibly helpful.

Enjoy your trip!

So...I am going SOLO in March...after braving Disney World with my two boys Dec 14-24, I decided I needed some ME time at the World. I wanted to go to a resort that I would enjoy. I have been to disney many times...and I have stayed onsite at Pop (once for a night or two at CR -- many years ago). So I wanted a resort I would be able to just relax and feel like I was whisked away into another world.

At first I booked POR...with a King bed with an AP discount...it was about $2200 total. Then I called and got the military discount...saved me $200...down to about $2002. Then I started reading about CSR...and the business class. Turns out...I can get 11 nights at CSR standard business class for $2181 with military discount!! I went for it...changed my reservation...I'm SO excited. This place looks amazing.

I will be there March 6-17 (my spring break - in grad school)

Oh...and I have a question...are there elevators? I will have an ECV, so if not, I will need to request a first floor room. Thanks.

Business class is in cabana 9B, which has two floors. There are elevators. You can request first floor by calling and noting it on your reservation.

Enjoy your solo trip!

 

[annieb727]

Thanks! And I know I will enjoy it...I can see myself reading a book in the morning in one of those hammocks...

 

[pskelly]

Well we went from a party of 5 to a party of 4 so just changed our Sept. reservation from POR back to Coronado!!! woot woot!!!!

 

[mmtwinmama]

Hi!! Sooooo excited. We just booked a trip for November. Right now we booked rack rate, business class. If and when discounts are released for November, are Business Class rooms usually included?

My Mom wants to surprise my boys with this trip. I tried asking them what they would want if we want again. Both said a pool slide and "that room with "free" snacks." We stayed BC CL two years ago. We stayed AofA last year.... And before that we've done Pop, ASMovies, ASMusic, and Contemporary. I asked if they would want a monorail hotel. Both said no. They like the busses. So, I'm thinking CS is a perfect fit. Can't wait.

 

[Momoftwins+1]

Hi!! Sooooo excited. We just booked a trip for November. Right now we booked rack rate, business class. If and when discounts are released for November, are Business Class rooms usually included?

My Mom wants to surprise my boys with this trip. I tried asking them what they would want if we want again. Both said a pool slide and "that room with "free" snacks." We stayed BC CL two years ago. We stayed AofA last year.... And before that we've done Pop, ASMovies, ASMusic, and Contemporary. I asked if they would want a monorail hotel. Both said no. They like the busses. So, I'm thinking CS is a perfect fit. Can't wait.

I booked BC at CSR with military discount so I would assume other discounts are taken depending on what Disney issues for their allowance of discounts level. The hours are limited at CSR for BC though compared to CL and snacks are limited as well.

 

[mmtwinmama]

Thanks! Yes, I did see the snacks and hours are limited. The breakfast stuff is what we will take most advantage of. Then the snacks they have at night will be perfect for them when we are at the hotel. They never went for the hot apps at BC anyway.

 

[Schminston-Mo]

After bouncing around with dates and resorts, I've booked CSR for 8/2-8/9!

Thank you all for a very informative thread! I look forward to checking back and learning more until my trip!

 

[MinnieMSue]

Hi!! Sooooo excited. We just booked a trip for November. Right now we booked rack rate, business class. If and when discounts are released for November, are Business Class rooms usually included? My Mom wants to surprise my boys with this trip. I tried asking them what they would want if we want again. Both said a pool slide and "that room with "free" snacks." We stayed BC CL two years ago. We stayed AofA last year.... And before that we've done Pop, ASMovies, ASMusic, and Contemporary. I asked if they would want a monorail hotel. Both said no. They like the busses. So, I'm thinking CS is a perfect fit. Can't wait.

We have a trip scheduled in June and just applied the discount Disney has to our trip