Coronado Springs Resort -- New Unofficial FAQ Thread -- October 2010

[TinyDancer]

My husband and I have decided on CSR for our trip next September! I am SO excited!!
Which building is closest to the Dig Site and a bus stop?

 

[KatMark]

Just back. Having stayed here many times before, I was very disappointed with our visit. The resort is beautiful, which has not changed. There are more of those cushy outside loungers which add to the atmosphere, but we had problem after problem, it seemed.

We had booked adjoining waterview rooms ages ago, only to be given rooms in Ranchos 6B, which were third floor, across the way from the pool, behind a tree, and right next to a huge HVAC system that sounded like a jet taking off. This was an awful, dark location that I would not recommend to anyone. I complained and complained, even asked to be sent to a different resort. Initially, the male desk manager said the resort was full (a lie according to the bell man) and we would have to stay one night in this room. A female manger moved us to a small suite, 3121-- excellent room, and said we would only be charged for one room. We were very happy about that resolution. When we checked out, they had charged us for two rooms each night. In all, we probably spent four hours getting a decent room. They did eventually fix our bill after trying to talk us into a different rate than the one they had given us.

With the exception of the morning cereal, the food at the Pepper Market was awful. Friends joined us for dinner one night, and no one came close to finishing their meal. From the pasta to the Mexican steak to the hot dogs to the burrito, it was all bad, and we are not picky eaters. We heard many people complaining about the food while staying there. On the last night of our stay, I heard one of the girls from the Pepper Market tell the bartender that the whole resort was out of salsa. How is that possible at a Southwestern themed resort?

The place was pretty clean, except for the sidewalks, which were littered with gum.

I enjoy walking the resort but noticed the golf cart guys actively avoided giving rides to guests, except for our nice bellman. He knew we were good tippers.

We didn't spend a ton of time at the resort, and it was beautiful at night and when the wind brushed across the lake, but it is disappointing to see such a lovely place in decline.

For all going soon, hope your experiences are different. For the best vacation, I would recommend that you request a specific room or rooms and not plan on eating at the resort.

I'm sorry your stay was not as good in the past. As for the golf cart guys, they are NOT supposed to give rides anymore. They are strictly there for luggage transfer and for convention guests who have paid a fee. However, you usually find one that will stop anyway but they aren't supposed to.

When we were there in September, the resort grounds were extremely clean. I'm not doubting what you said (as I've seen it myself in the past), but I blame a lot of that on the careless guests who throw their garbage just anywhere...and you would not believe how many times I saw it in our four day stay.

I hope the rest of your trip was good.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'm sorry your stay was not as good in the past. As for the golf cart guys, they are NOT supposed to give rides anymore. They are strictly there for luggage transfer and for convention guests who have paid a fee. However, you usually find one that will stop anyway but they aren't supposed to.

When we were there in September, the resort grounds were extremely clean. I'm not doubting what you said (as I've seen it myself in the past), but I blame a lot of that on the careless guests who throw their garbage just anywhere...and you would not believe how many times I saw it in our four day stay.

I hope the rest of your trip was good.

The policy of not giving rides on the golf carts is a mistake IMO. It will discourage people from staying there. Plus, it's a great opportunity for those guys to make tips.

I've always seen workers scraping crud off the sidewalks in the past but not this time.

The trip was tons of fun. I certainly don't dwell on the negatives, but the people with upcoming visits deserve to know the good and the bad. The Y.E.S. program was wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone at twice the price.

 

[KatMark]

The policy of not giving rides on the golf carts is a mistake IMO. It will discourage people from staying there. Plus, it's a great opportunity for those guys to make tips.

I've always seen workers scraping crud off the sidewalks in the past but not this time.

The trip was tons of fun. I certainly don't dwell on the negatives, but the people with upcoming visits deserve to know the good and the bad. The Y.E.S. program was wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone at twice the price.

I agree; they stopped this policy about three years ago. I guess it just never effected us because we don't mind the walk (I had a longer walk at the CR than any of my walks at the CSR.

I agree...people show know the negatives and the positives. We had our first issue at CSR this year and I posted it in my TR.

What is the Y.E.S. program?

 

[PoeticMoe]

I just booked CSR today for our trip to WDW next September. Very excited! I was originally going to book the Pop Century, and had a really hard time justifying the additional cost to stay at CSR. But after reading this thread and viewing the many reviews and pics posted (thanks to all!), I decided to stay at a Moderate resort and chose CSR - woot woot!!

It will me me and my DS (11) at the time we travel. This will be our first time staying on Disney property, and we were able to take advantage of the free dining offered for next Fall too.

Can't wait!

 

[sparklynails23]

What is the Y.E.S. program?

It's the Youth in Education Series. They have special classes for kids to take.

 

[KatMark]

My husband and I have decided on CSR for our trip next September! I am SO excited!!
Which building is closest to the Dig Site and a bus stop?

We were in Cabanas 8A and it was very close to the main pool and a very short walk to the bus stop. It is probably our third favorite location (we are big Casitas 4 and 5 fans).

I just booked CSR today for our trip to WDW next September. Very excited! I was originally going to book the Pop Century, and had a really hard time justifying the additional cost to stay at CSR. But after reading this thread and viewing the many reviews and pics posted (thanks to all!), I decided to stay at a Moderate resort and chose CSR - woot woot!!

It will me me and my DS (11) at the time we travel. This will be our first time staying on Disney property, and we were able to take advantage of the free dining offered for next Fall too.

Can't wait!

Congratulations on your first stay at a Disney resort. You are going to love it. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions...someone here is always willing to help.

It's the Youth in Education Series. They have special classes for kids to take.

Thanks; I guess since my kids aren't kids anymore (they are almost 25 and 22) that I don't pay enough attention to those things. Sounds like a great thing for kids.

 

[stevea20]

Just completed Online Check-in. A question though. I've gotten the impression from reading other posts that you could request which building you prefer. All I got was a choice of prefered being on the ground floor, near a bus stop, or having a fridge in the room. Did I miss something?

5 days away!

 

[wtccheermom]

We just switched our reservation from POR to Coronado!! Please tell me I will LOVE it!! My only concern is we lived in West Texas right near the Mexico border for a while and I hated the desert and I am so afraid that CSR will have that same blah desert feel.

 

[KatMark]

Just completed Online Check-in. A question though. I've gotten the impression from reading other posts that you could request which building you prefer. All I got was a choice of prefered being on the ground floor, near a bus stop, or having a fridge in the room. Did I miss something?

5 days away!

You need to have the request noted on your reservation. There is no place on the online check-in to do it. Call Central Reservations and have them note it immediately.

We just switched our reservation from POR to Coronado!! Please tell me I will LOVE it!! My only concern is we lived in West Texas right near the Mexico border for a while and I hated the desert and I am so afraid that CSR will have that same blah desert feel.

I would ask for the Cabanas or the Casitas as I don't think they have much of a "desert" feel. The Ranchos do (you can tell from the pictures on the first page of this thread). Our favorite is the casitas.

 

[snykymom]

The policy of not giving rides on the golf carts is a mistake IMO. It will discourage people from staying there. Plus, it's a great opportunity for those guys to make tips.

I agree; they stopped this policy about three years ago. I guess it just never effected us because we don't mind the walk (I had a longer walk at the CR than any of my walks at the CSR.

I can almost guarantee that the policy is as a result of insurance requirements. (No, I don't work for Disney and have no "inside information.") I'd be willing to bet that a guest was injured on a golf cart while hitching a ride, and sued.

 

[Glenn&Sharon]

We just switched our reservation from POR to Coronado!! Please tell me I will LOVE it!! My only concern is we lived in West Texas right near the Mexico border for a while and I hated the desert and I am so afraid that CSR will have that same blah desert feel.

We have the opposite problem! Living in the woods in the the northeast, the desert is wonderful and exotic. We've always stayed in the Casitas (and loved it), but this trip we are considering asking for Ranchos.

 

[marie8461]

I am staying at the CSR for the first time in December and have 2 questions:

1.) What would be a good building to request that is close to the Pepper Market and/or the bus stop that has the first guest pick-up;

2.) Can you use refillable mugs at the Pepper Market and, if so, how does that work since I have read that beverages are served.

Thanks,
Marie

 

[weber1188]

Do all the resort room windows have individual panes or do some buildings have windows that are just one big pane?

 

[snykymom]

I am staying at the CSR for the first time in December and have 2 questions:

1.) What would be a good building to request that is close to the Pepper Market and/or the bus stop that has the first guest pick-up;

2.) Can you use refillable mugs at the Pepper Market and, if so, how does that work since I have read that beverages are served.

Thanks,
Marie

1) Casitas 1 is closest to Pepper Market; Casitas 4 is closest to the first bus stop to the parks.

2) Yes. If you're eating in, you just hand your mug to your server and he/she fills it. If it's take out, you can go over to the Cafe Rix and use the machines or get coffee at the stand on the way out of Pepper Market.

 

[Teacher510]

Just completed Online Check-in. A question though. I've gotten the impression from reading other posts that you could request which building you prefer. All I got was a choice of prefered being on the ground floor, near a bus stop, or having a fridge in the room. Did I miss something?

5 days away!

Aren't there fridges in all of the rooms?

 

[KatMark]

Do all the resort room windows have individual panes or do some buildings have windows that are just one big pane?

Good question...I don't remember. I'll try to find out.

Aren't there fridges in all of the rooms?

YES, all rooms have fridges.

 

[norybell]

I just got back this past Saturday from a too-short solo trip. I spent one night at POR, one night at CSR (for the first time), and two nights at the Poly. And I had to pop in here to say: I LOVED CSR! It may have ruined my plan to stay at least once at each Deluxe and Moderate resort, because next time I'm staying at a Mod, I don't know why I'll be even slightly tempted to stay anywhere else. The only thing that kept me from loving it as much as a Deluxe was the lack of a balcony, and the wonderful hammocks almost made up for that.

Since I was staying for just one night, my only room requests were for a quiet room on an upper floor. I was thrilled, when I checked in around 10:00 AM, to learn that my room -- in Casitas 5 -- was ready. I'd been secretly hoping for a room in the Casitas! It was one floor away from the top floor (making it 3rd floor? or 4th? I already can't remember), and had a nice view of the lake inlet. It was an adjoining room and relatively near the elevators, so I worried it'd be noisy, but it was perfectly quiet at night. They were doing some exterior painting of Casitas 4, which probably would have been annoying if I were trying to nap in the afternoon, but they had moved on by the next day.

I thought the room was very nice, definitely a step up from the other Mods. It was dark, but I was expecting that (it wasn't helped by a burned-out lightbulb in the sink area; if I'd been staying longer, I would've asked them to replace it). Perfectly clean. And I loved the decor -- very relaxing.

I took a long walk around the grounds, which are so beautiful! The Casitas section was definitely my favorite, architecturally, followed by Ranchos, then Cabanas There was a conference of some sort going on, and I regularly saw someone in business casual walking by, but I actually appreciated the more adult vibe of the place. I might feel differently if I were traveling with kids, though.

The quiet pools were all actually pretty quiet in the afternoons, which I appreciated to no end. And I even liked the Pepper Market: the guy who cooked my quesadilla was perfectly friendly, the food was yummy if basic, and the system -- while a bit odd, I'll admit -- was clear enough. I can see how it might be annoying if it was really busy, though...it was very quiet when I was there.

So, to sum up my review that was meant to be short and is turning into a novel: CSR rocks! Thanks to you all for all your advice, which really helped me decide to stay there. I'll definitely be back, ASAP!

I'll leave you with a photo of my favorite CSR spot:

 

[tatorswife]

That pic is awesome..3 wks from tomorrow i'll be on my way to CSR!!!! Cant wait!!!

 

[KatMark]

I just got back this past Saturday from a too-short solo trip. I spent one night at POR, one night at CSR (for the first time), and two nights at the Poly. And I had to pop in here to say: I LOVED CSR! It may have ruined my plan to stay at least once at each Deluxe and Moderate resort, because next time I'm staying at a Mod, I don't know why I'll be even slightly tempted to stay anywhere else. The only thing that kept me from loving it as much as a Deluxe was the lack of a balcony, and the wonderful hammocks almost made up for that.

Since I was staying for just one night, my only room requests were for a quiet room on an upper floor. I was thrilled, when I checked in around 10:00 AM, to learn that my room -- in Casitas 5 -- was ready. I'd been secretly hoping for a room in the Casitas! It was one floor away from the top floor (making it 3rd floor? or 4th? I already can't remember), and had a nice view of the lake inlet. It was an adjoining room and relatively near the elevators, so I worried it'd be noisy, but it was perfectly quiet at night. They were doing some exterior painting of Casitas 4, which probably would have been annoying if I were trying to nap in the afternoon, but they had moved on by the next day.

I thought the room was very nice, definitely a step up from the other Mods. It was dark, but I was expecting that (it wasn't helped by a burned-out lightbulb in the sink area; if I'd been staying longer, I would've asked them to replace it). Perfectly clean. And I loved the decor -- very relaxing.

I took a long walk around the grounds, which are so beautiful! The Casitas section was definitely my favorite, architecturally, followed by Ranchos, then Cabanas There was a conference of some sort going on, and I regularly saw someone in business casual walking by, but I actually appreciated the more adult vibe of the place. I might feel differently if I were traveling with kids, though.

The quiet pools were all actually pretty quiet in the afternoons, which I appreciated to no end. And I even liked the Pepper Market: the guy who cooked my quesadilla was perfectly friendly, the food was yummy if basic, and the system -- while a bit odd, I'll admit -- was clear enough. I can see how it might be annoying if it was really busy, though...it was very quiet when I was there.

So, to sum up my review that was meant to be short and is turning into a novel: CSR rocks! Thanks to you all for all your advice, which really helped me decide to stay there. I'll definitely be back, ASAP!

I'll leave you with a photo of my favorite CSR spot:

You found MY hammock.

Thank you so much for coming back and writing your review. I am so very happy that you fell in love with the CSR.