Coronado Springs Resort - New Unofficial FAQ Thread - November 2012

[ColonelHathi]

Hi All, We wIll be syating for one week in Septermber of 2014. We are considering renting a car for our entire trip. How helpful would a rental car be in getting around the reosrt and the to the parks? Would you say it's worth and extra $250 or should we just stick with the bus system?

We are renting a car for a portion of our upcoming trip, mainly to get us to some resort meals, the GF spa, Walmart or Publix for some extra breakfast items/snacks, and toodling around town a bit. We'll also probably drive to AK and make a quick escape to get to our TRex dinner ADR a bit more easily. We also ended up with a split stay, and will have the car for our resort switch day which should make that easier. We went with Alamo through the Disney Car Care Center which saves a bit (on top of other discounts) because there are no airport fees tacked on. I was in the DCP years ago, so I don't mind driving around a bit, including to a couple of parks, but can see why others wouldn't want to bother. We are planning on taking the bus for MK and MNSSHP though.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Hey everyone! I'm new to this tread. We moved to this resort from riverside to be close to friends. Can anyone tell me the best location for a standard room? We want to be close to the food court.

Also, is there anything special that's a must see or do at this resort? Anything especially good at the food court? I would love any and all tips.

 

[buzz25]

Hey everyone! I'm new to this tread. We moved to this resort from riverside to be close to friends. Can anyone tell me the best location for a standard room? We want to be close to the food court.

Also, is there anything special that's a must see or do at this resort? Anything especially good at the food court? I would love any and all tips.

you can now watch classic disney movies under the stars at night near the dig site it looked pretty cool to me

 

[vikster1]

Hey everyone! I'm new to this tread. We moved to this resort from riverside to be close to friends. Can anyone tell me the best location for a standard room? We want to be close to the food court.

Also, is there anything special that's a must see or do at this resort? Anything especially good at the food court? I would love any and all tips.

The pool slide is awesome. Ping pong and arcade are entertaining. The hot tub is large and was warm. Everyday there were numerous poolside activities. Movies and marshmallow roasting at night. There are many hammocks around surrounding the lakes. I was able to see fireworks over the Rancho rooms. Saw turtles, frogs and thankfully no snakes. I read somewhere on here there were armadillos roaming. We did not see any and boy my son looked hard. CSR is a beautiful resort. All CM's we encountered were awesome.

 

[GeocacherDad]

I read somewhere on here there were armadillos roaming. We did not see any and boy my son looked hard.

We saw one duck in to a bush as we got off the bus, kids were quite impressed. Lots of lizards around but they are fast!

 

[Nigel Channing]

Lizards were everywhere at CSR when we were there. There were also some pretty large snails moving along the walkways. My brother saw an alligator in the lake a few times as well.

 

[vikster1]

look at post 1802.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2107062

It is some kind of frog I passed while heading to my room.

 

[EpcotBill]

look at post 1802.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2107062

It is some kind of frog I passed while heading to my room.

Just a helpful hint, if you click on the #1802 you can copy and paste that URL and it will take your readers directly to that post instead of to page 1.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49635415&postcount=1802

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

I so hope I don't see any little creatures when I'm walking around the resort.
I'm so not into wild life unless it's on TV.

You are making me nervous.

 

[amfie928]

I so hope I don't see any little creatures when I'm walking around the resort.
I'm so not into wild life unless it's on TV.

You are making me nervous.

Its Florida...if you don't see a lizard (gecko) or a frog at some point I'd be surprised! Although gators...not something I would want to see! The lizards are tiny...like the size of your index finger. They zip across walkways. CSR was beautiful. I wish I had more time to explore it!

 

[shburks]

We like Cabanas 8A - close to pool and bus stop.

cassie58
11/08-ASMo & Timeshare
8/09-CSR
11/11-CSR
11/13-CSR & AKL

Thanks!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

you can now watch classic disney movies under the stars at night near the dig site it looked pretty cool to me

Sounds neat!!

The pool slide is awesome. Ping pong and arcade are entertaining. The hot tub is large and was warm. Everyday there were numerous poolside activities. Movies and marshmallow roasting at night. There are many hammocks around surrounding the lakes. I was able to see fireworks over the Rancho rooms. Saw turtles, frogs and thankfully no snakes. I read somewhere on here there were armadillos roaming. We did not see any and boy my son looked hard. CSR is a beautiful resort. All CM's we encountered were awesome.

Awesome!! I am so excited now because I watched a full review of CS that the people from the DIS had on YouTube today. They seemed to love it and gave it a very good review.

I do have a question though. I was reading about the food court, The Pepper Market, and they were saying that they have a different way of ordering there now. Something about each person getting a card and you select and then you are seated. They will bring your drinks to you and there is a 10% tip required unless you get the meal to go.

Can someone explain this better to me? I want to see what they have before we order. I like the regular food courts and the way the work. Is this system good or should we skip eating there? I don't see us going much, but my kids do like to get a late night snack or something for breakfast on some mornings. I like the grab and go. Not sure I want to be tied down to being served for a fruit cup and having to tip for it.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Checking into Business Class tomorrow!!! Going early at 7am to check in and grab breakfast before I have to go to work! Hoping the resort will be able to activate our Magic Bands from last month!!

 

[gmi3804]

Checking into Business Class tomorrow!!! Going early at 7am to check in and grab breakfast before I have to go to work! Hoping the resort will be able to activate our Magic Bands from last month!!

They can, but don't hold your breath. The front desk staff at CSR is among the worst I've encountered at WDW. During four front desk transactions last week, I never got out in fewer than 25 minutes. And that's after I got to the CM. The bellhops confirmed that the front desk staff has an alarming rate of turnover, and as a result, most of the CMs at the desks are undertrained. It was maddening.

Once the bands are correctly linked, however, you'll have no problem with charging, room entry, or park entry.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

They can, but don't hold your breath. The front desk staff at CSR is among the worst I've encountered at WDW. During four front desk transactions last week, I never got out in fewer than 25 minutes. And that's after I got to the CM. The bellhops confirmed that the front desk staff has an alarming rate of turnover, and as a result, most of the CMs at the desks are undertrained. It was maddening.

Once the bands are correctly linked, however, you'll have no problem with charging, room entry, or park entry.

Thanks! We actually had the same issue with the bands at Yacht Club (when POP told us they could be linked) and spent almost 2 hours and 3 visits to the front desk for it and then again a few weeks later at Art of Animation where we spent 2.5 hours one night and were told after they "rebooked the room" to link the bands then told us there was a possibility that no bands would work at all. We ended up getting a free night out of it which was nice but you can't tell a guest that it will take 10 mins to rebook the room to reset the bands then tell us no bands will work at all! I'm hoping since CSR is supposed to be in testing soon that they will have the "experts" on hand to help link them and if not we'll use the plastic room keys as usual.

 

[gmi3804]

Thanks! We actually had the same issue with the bands at Yacht Club (when POP told us they could be linked) and spent almost 2 hours and 3 visits to the front desk for it and then again a few weeks later at Art of Animation where we spent 2.5 hours one night and were told after they "rebooked the room" to link the bands then told us there was a possibility that no bands would work at all. We ended up getting a free night out of it which was nice but you can't tell a guest that it will take 10 mins to rebook the room to reset the bands then tell us no bands will work at all! I'm hoping since CSR is supposed to be in testing soon that they will have the "experts" on hand to help link them and if not we'll use the plastic room keys as usual.

Three of my four front desk visits had nothing to do with MBs, for the record.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Three of my four front desk visits had nothing to do with MBs, for the record.

This makes me nervous. I'm used to checking in, and that's it. I can't think of a time that I had to go back to the front desk at other resorts.

 

[gmi3804]

This makes me nervous. I'm used to checking in, and that's it. I can't think of a time that I had to go back to the front desk at other resorts.

I had back-to-back reservations, so I went back to the desk to check out/in, then again at final check-out. I had Gift Cards to pay for my tab, and neither of the CMs at the front desk knew how to apply them to a bill. Then there were lots of "Earning My Ears" people hanging around, training. I'm sure they meant well, but the training of CMs is abysmal. They typically don't know how to do anything beyond the standard hand-out-welcome-packet duties or print out a final bill from a credit card on file. Any deviation from that and chaos ensues. (And this is not a problem that's limited to CSR.)

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

This makes me nervous. I'm used to checking in, and that's it. I can't think of a time that I had to go back to the front desk at other resorts.

I sent you a PM about your concerns! Hopefully it eases your worries!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I had back-to-back reservations, so I went back to the desk to check out/in, then again at final check-out. I had Gift Cards to pay for my tab, and neither of the CMs at the front desk knew how to apply them to a bill. Then there were lots of "Earning My Ears" people hanging around, training. I'm sure they meant well, but the training of CMs is abysmal. They typically don't know how to do anything beyond the standard hand-out-welcome-packet duties or print out a final bill from a credit card on file. Any deviation from that and chaos ensues. (And this is not a problem that's limited to CSR.)

Sorry for all the trouble! Unfortunately when you have a continuing reservation you have to check in/out even if you are in the same room. It's company policy just not CSR. You could have asked to have the new room keys brought to your room if you had a credit card on file for charging/express check-out. If you have gift cards you can always apply them before you check in (saving you a trip to apply them) and then anything not used will go back right onto the gift card(s) you used. I do agree that not knowing how to do a gift card is a problem. I would have asked for a manger who would know how to do it. I have learned in the past few weeks if you are calm and patient with the front desk staff it will pay off and if not, you can always ask to speak to a manager and/or write a letter to the GM..someone from Disney will respond. They did with my complements/ concerns at AOA. Hopefully your next trip will be better!