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

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

A couple of things while on my mind:

First and most important: THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT on this thread; it means the world to me.

Second, I must really time this poorly as we are on Page 216 and they close threads when they reach 250 pages. I am hoping that my friend, StitchandPooh'sMom, will start a "temporary" thread if need be while I am gone.

I leave September 22 and don't return home until October 5. I probably won't get to start working on the new thread until at least over that weekend after we are home. IF anyone is going soon and wants to take pictures and does not mind me using them in the "new and updated" thread I would be most grateful since we are not staying at CSR this trip.

Gotcha covered - no worries! We'll all make sure we answer questions as best we can while you're gone, and I'll start a temporary thread if we get to 250. Didn't this happen last year?

 

[KatMark]

Gotcha covered - no worries! We'll all make sure we answer questions as best we can while you're gone, and I'll start a temporary thread if we get to 250. Didn't this happen last year?

Yes it did! I'm either going to have to change the dates of my trip since this thread has become more popular, or start the "new thread" before I leave and have it ready to go.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Essentially allowing your other device (in my case a laptop) to connect to the internet via the data connection on a smart phone. For me, under Verizon with an unlimited data plan (now grandfathered in, but it's still unlimited for me) with an Andriod phone, it's free.

I have a Verizon iPhone (unlimited). Do I need to do something special to set this up to connect my MacBook to the 3G service on my phone?
Since I don't have a preferred view reservation, I doubt I'll get a room with free wireless.

 

[aubriee]

Just wanted to say I am FINALLY in single digits! Only nine more days until I'm at CSR. Crossing my fingers to be in the Cabanas section.

 

[Disney Bunny]

Just wanted to say I am FINALLY in single digits! Only nine more days until I'm at CSR. Crossing my fingers to be in the Cabanas section.

Lucky you!!! We still have 37 days to go. Cant wait!!!

 

[lovethattink]

Gotcha covered - no worries! We'll all make sure we answer questions as best we can while you're gone, and I'll start a temporary thread if we get to 250. Didn't this happen last year?

Yes it did! I'm either going to have to change the dates of my trip since this thread has become more popular, or start the "new thread" before I leave and have it ready to go.

Thanks for such a great thread and all your time and effort put into it! You are greatly appreciated!! Now you just have to start picking a different time of year to vacation, lol.

Just wanted to say I am FINALLY in single digits! Only nine more days until I'm at CSR. Crossing my fingers to be in the Cabanas section.

Hurray for the single digits!!

 

[Cafeen]

I have a Verizon iPhone (unlimited). Do I need to do something special to set this up to connect my MacBook to the 3G service on my phone?
Since I don't have a preferred view reservation, I doubt I'll get a room with free wireless.

I know next to nothing about iPhones, but from a quick Google search, it looks like Verizon is also charging for this service on the iPhone if you get it officially (though, the same sources also say they're charging for Andriod users, which is not the case for me.)

Through the software I used last year (PDANet), Andriod works just fine, iPhone requires jailbreaking though, which I know nothing about sorry.

Looks like iPhone users may be out of luck without going to more extreme measures. (One more reason I embrace Google and non-Apple stuff )

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Just wanted to say I am FINALLY in single digits! Only nine more days until I'm at CSR. Crossing my fingers to be in the Cabanas section.

Yay! Still well into triple digits for me, although I think I am now in the 200's instead of the 300's!

 

[KatMark]

Just wanted to say I am FINALLY in single digits! Only nine more days until I'm at CSR. Crossing my fingers to be in the Cabanas section.

I hope you get Cabanas 8A, Aubriee.

Thanks for such a great thread and all your time and effort put into it! You are greatly appreciated!! Now you just have to start picking a different time of year to vacation, lol.

Thanks, Tink. Next year I'm not sure there will be one at all, but if there is, it will probably be in October.

 

[Julie521]

I have to agree with all the other posters on here. Thank you so much for all the information and knowledge you share with us. Reading this thread made me feel so much better about staying at CSR for our honeymoon next September This will be my fiance's first time to Disney, and only my second. However, I stayed off-site last time I was there so this planning process was a whole new thing for us. Seeing the passion and love for this resort really is what made me want to stay there! And we both absolutely cannot wait for our trip!

 

[mom2princesses2]

Yup, I get it for free though

Under this AT&T ripoff, it would be roughly $45 to add it for the time down there, which is about 4-5 days of paid, wired internet. So depending on length of stay and your ability to get the 2 days for 1 thing I described earlier, it may be better value or not. (Ok, this is slightly biased, but it's all in good fun )

Also beware that making a phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot will suck down the battery. So it's something to certainly turn off at the parks! (Not sure how iPhone is with this, but I know my HTC Thunderbolt is pretty bad, but at least I can buy a spare internal battery (joking little jab at the iPhone))

I'd take a look into it, and if you think you'd use it enough, it's certainly an alternative. (And technically, tethering is slightly different, as it's not using Wi-Fi, but a direct USB/other connection to the phone, but they're both essentially the same). (I think my phone actually does it natively too, but I haven't looked it up, I'm just planning to wifi it and upload a few pics per day).

You may get it free because your grandfathered. Otherwise, Verizon charges $35 on top of the data plan cost. Most people I know through work who have Verizon vs. ATT choose against it because of the cost. Most with ATT go with it (our work reimburses us for the $25 data plan if we have our work email on our phone so the 4GB and personal hotzone costs me only $20 per month).

I haven't noticed any excessive battery issues, even with me using the Wi-Fi on my iPAD and my DD using the Wi-Fi on her iTouch at the same time. I've used it for an hour-plus with no notice of big battery drain. But yes, you will probably have to plug it in at some point in the day.

Also, you do not have to activate it for the full month nor will you be charged a full month if you only activate it for a part of the month with ATT. You will be pro-rated for whatever time you activate it.

I have ATT and I use the personal hotspot so I know of what I write about.

 

[mom2princesses2]

A couple of things while on my mind:

First and most important: THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT on this thread; it means the world to me.

Second, I must really time this poorly as we are on Page 216 and they close threads when they reach 250 pages. I am hoping that my friend, StitchandPooh'sMom, will start a "temporary" thread if need be while I am gone.

I leave September 22 and don't return home until October 5. I probably won't get to start working on the new thread until at least over that weekend after we are home. IF anyone is going soon and wants to take pictures and does not mind me using them in the "new and updated" thread I would be most grateful since we are not staying at CSR this trip.

I can't thank you enough for the great thread and your enthusiastic support of CSR!!!! If not for this thread and the one under resort pictures, I would have NEVER considered CSR for our upcoming trip in Nov. I was between POP, CBR and POR, having booked POP, changed ressie to POR and then looking at CBR before finally inding CSR! I just thought it was a convention hotel and didn't even consider it. But every day I get on here, I find one more thing to look forward to about CSR!

We're taking our longest trip (10 days) and I can't wait to have time to explore the resort. We stayed at WL last Sept and honestly, it was a little of a let-down. It was very nice in some respects but not as nice as we expected (and we loved POP so I don't consider us resort snobs !).

I can't wait to share our experiences and when we get back! Thanks again for your time and energy and guidance!!!

 

[JHarveyTN]

When I planned my Oct trip a couple months back, there were no rooms @ CSR for my dates I was looking forward to staying @ CSR for the first time (this thread convinced me). Just checked and the first 2 nights of my trip are available! Only have waterview rooms; can someone tell me is this the same as preferred? Thanks!

 

[KatMark]

I have to agree with all the other posters on here. Thank you so much for all the information and knowledge you share with us. Reading this thread made me feel so much better about staying at CSR for our honeymoon next September This will be my fiance's first time to Disney, and only my second. However, I stayed off-site last time I was there so this planning process was a whole new thing for us. Seeing the passion and love for this resort really is what made me want to stay there! And we both absolutely cannot wait for our trip!

Thank you for your kind words. I can't take all of the credit as someone else had started it and then the job fell to me. But it has been a pleasure getting to know so many wonderful people by doing this thread. I look forward to following along as your plans progress for your honeymoon. And perhaps next September we will be "home" at the CSR.

I can't thank you enough for the great thread and your enthusiastic support of CSR!!!! If not for this thread and the one under resort pictures, I would have NEVER considered CSR for our upcoming trip in Nov. I was between POP, CBR and POR, having booked POP, changed ressie to POR and then looking at CBR before finally inding CSR! I just thought it was a convention hotel and didn't even consider it. But every day I get on here, I find one more thing to look forward to about CSR!

We're taking our longest trip (10 days) and I can't wait to have time to explore the resort. We stayed at WL last Sept and honestly, it was a little of a let-down. It was very nice in some respects but not as nice as we expected (and we loved POP so I don't consider us resort snobs !).

I can't wait to share our experiences and when we get back! Thanks again for your time and energy and guidance!!!

Thank you. You have warmed my heart. We've never stayed at POR or CBR, although I would like to one day try POR (CBR doesn't appeal to us because we go to Marco Island every year). I'm glad the thread has been helpful.

When I planned my Oct trip a couple months back, there were no rooms @ CSR for my dates I was looking forward to staying @ CSR for the first time (this thread convinced me). Just checked and the first 2 nights of my trip are available! Only have waterview rooms; can someone tell me is this the same as preferred? Thanks!

No, waterview is NOT the same as preferred. At the CSR you can pay for standard, king, water view, preferred, preferred king or preferred water view.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

When I planned my Oct trip a couple months back, there were no rooms @ CSR for my dates I was looking forward to staying @ CSR for the first time (this thread convinced me). Just checked and the first 2 nights of my trip are available! Only have waterview rooms; can someone tell me is this the same as preferred? Thanks!

Preferred rooms are in casitas 1, 2 or 3. Waterview rooms may be in any buiding and may have a view of a quiet pool, the lake or the fountains in the casitas.

 

[MissMichelle]

Oh CSR My heart I have spent many stays here since 2006 but my most recent stay (March) was at POR due to no availability at CSR.....and I have been dying to get back there----So I am now booked March 3-7 @ CSR. I am itching and 184 days is WAY too long. So I am glad this thread is still alive and I will visit it often

 

[KatMark]

Oh CSR My heart I have spent many stays here since 2006 but my most recent stay (March) was at POR due to no availability at CSR.....and I have been dying to get back there----So I am now booked March 3-7 @ CSR. I am itching and 184 days is WAY too long. So I am glad this thread is still alive and I will visit it often

Where have you been, my friend? We've missed you. Your siggy says "no ticker"--you have to change that. We're missing CSR this trip (got an offer of a free stay at OKW and we couldn't say no). Let me know if you do a TR.

 

[KEPE]

WOW, I'm laughing reading all about the phone thing. I have no idea what you all are talking about, lol. might as well be in another language . I'll stick with the aircard and DH well.... he's just out of luck with his iphone.

Anyone who is leaving in a few days attending MNSSHP? Would love to hear about it when you return.

 

[Robin K]

We are arriving in 4 days!!!!!!!!!
This will be our 2nd stay at CSR...we had Castias 4 last Sept..mom hoping for Ranchos..I'm hoping for Cabanas. But any place at CSR beats being at home/work!!!
We are planning to go to the MNSSHP the 13th and the 16th. I will be posting updates!!

 

[Cafeen]

WOW, I'm laughing reading all about the phone thing. I have no idea what you all are talking about, lol. might as well be in another language . I'll stick with the aircard and DH well.... he's just out of luck with his iphone.

Anyone who is leaving in a few days attending MNSSHP? Would love to hear about it when you return.

I have a bad tendency to do that . AirCards work great though as well, and if you've already gotten that going (I've never used one personally, but would if my beast of a system was a bit more mobile...and I went places other than my chair at work and my chair at home ) then they're probably cheaper than paying $9.95/day for internet from Disney.