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

[nathanyell]

This is the time we've gone the last two years and will be doing so this year (we'll be at the CSR September 25 - 28...leaving the morning of the 29th). We plan to go to the MNSSHP on that Tuesday (the 27th). We love the crowds at this time of the year...very manageable.

Late September is an awesome time to go (except for the lovebugs!). Though we never get to stay at Disney because the MIL has a timeshare off site. :-(

I'm not looking forward to the crowds next week, but it's a free trip because of the conference, so I guess I can't complain!

Brian

 

[lovethattink]

I saw in your trip report that you got a microwave delivered to the room...how much extra did this end up costing you? I would love to do so, seeing as I ALWAYS have left overs, but I don't want to end up paying a ridiculous amount of money!

Additional refrigerators and microwaves are free.

That makes me so excited! Now I'm just hoping there will still be one available when we arrive!

I hope so too! Fingers crossed for you!

Late September is an awesome time to go (except for the lovebugs!). Though we never get to stay at Disney because the MIL has a timeshare off site. :-(

I'm not looking forward to the crowds next week, but it's a free trip because of the conference, so I guess I can't complain!

Brian

We noticed some love bugs starting this week. But they were solo. Isn't the 2nd love bug time usually in May? I live here in central Fl, you would think I'd remember.

 

[SkcMom]

KatMark!! We will be there September 24th-Oct.1st!! Cool!!! Also, going to MNSSHP on Tuesday the 27th! Woohoo!! I hope to meet you!!

 

[CyberFey]

I was pretty sure I read somewhere that it takes 2 days for purchases to be "delivered" to the resort... is this true? Of course I can't find where I read it now.

So if I made purchases at World of Disney in DTD on Tuesday, it wouldn't be available to pick up at Ponchito's until Friday evening? Or would it be Thursday evening?

I mostly ask because we're checking out on a Saturday, and going to Epcot Thursday and Friday. I'd like to do some shopping!

Has anyone used the service?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I was pretty sure I read somewhere that it takes 2 days for purchases to be "delivered" to the resort... is this true? Of course I can't find where I read it now.

So if I made purchases at World of Disney in DTD on Tuesday, it wouldn't be available to pick up at Ponchito's until Friday evening? Or would it be Thursday evening?

I mostly ask because we're checking out on a Saturday, and going to Epcot Thursday and Friday. I'd like to do some shopping!

Has anyone used the service?

It depends on what time you make purchases, when they are available at the gift shop. The CMs are good about asking you when you are checking out to be sure the delivery will make it before you leave.

If you purchase early in the day (before about 2:00 or 3:00), the items can be picked up the following day at your resort after 4:00 (I think that's the time - it's late afternoon). If you purchase later in the day, it would be the 2nd day after. So, if you shop on Thursday morning, you can pick up Friday afternoon. Beyond that, you'll have to carry your purchases or have them sent to the front of the park. (I haven't done that, I know it's an available service, but not sure about the specific times.) Your Tuesday DTD purchases will be available Wednesday or Thursday, depending on when you plan to be there.

Hope this helps!

 

[kaffinito]

I have a question for y'all.

How is the bus transportation from CSR to the parks? I've read on a few threads now that you can be waiting for a long time (like over an hour) at times to get from CSR to one of the parks due to buses being full and passing by the stops. How bad is it over Spring Break?

I'm thinking about ditching my Poly ressie this April in favor of CSR since I haven't stayed there yet, and am a little concerned over the buses.

TIA!

 

[KatMark]

I have a question for y'all.

How is the bus transportation from CSR to the parks? I've read on a few threads now that you can be waiting for a long time (like over an hour) at times to get from CSR to one of the parks due to buses being full and passing by the stops. How bad is it over Spring Break?

I'm thinking about ditching my Poly ressie this April in favor of CSR since I haven't stayed there yet, and am a little concerned over the buses.

TIA!

I will be completely honest with you: we don't use the buses, we always rent a car and drive to the parks. The one time we used a bus (two years ago since I wanted a firsthand experience with them since I was asked to overtake this thread), we waited less than 5 minutes (this was around 5:30 at night) for an MK bus and it took exactly ten minutes to get to the MK (same for the return trip). Normally, the CSR gets GREAT reviews for bus service. I am wondering (as I've read of poor service at other resorts as well and of more and more people driving cars), if Disney is cutting back on bus service?

Hopefully someone who has better experience with the buses will give you info that will help you make your choice.

 

[rrbar]

Does anyone know if the refillable mug station at the Coronado has hot chocolate or iced tea or hot tea? I heard that other resorts have those choices but I didn't know if the Coronado did.

 

[kaffinito]

I will be completely honest with you: we don't use the buses, we always rent a car and drive to the parks. The one time we used a bus (two years ago since I wanted a firsthand experience with them since I was asked to overtake this thread), we waited less than 5 minutes (this was around 5:30 at night) for an MK bus and it took exactly ten minutes to get to the MK (same for the return trip). Normally, the CSR gets GREAT reviews for bus service. I am wondering (as I've read of poor service at other resorts as well and of more and more people driving cars), if Disney is cutting back on bus service?

Hopefully someone who has better experience with the buses will give you info that will help you make your choice.

You know, come to think of it, the bus service at BWI and GF wasn't all that great last August either. And I've been seeing a lot of the same threads and posts as you have - I think you might be right. That would certainly explain a lot.

Well, while I have you here - - what is it you like about CSR - given that you also like Poly? Is there some one thing about CSR that makes you like it so much?

 

[cjsm&d]

You know, come to think of it, the bus service at BWI and GF wasn't all that great last August either. And I've been seeing a lot of the same threads and posts as you have - I think you might be right. That would certainly explain a lot.

Well, while I have you here - - what is it you like about CSR - given that you also like Poly? Is there some one thing about CSR that makes you like it so much?

Honestly, the bus service when were there a few weeks ago wasn't as good as some past trips, but it was WDW-wide. There seemed to be less buses and boats running from everywhere this visit.

It was a heck of alot better than the BC/YC, BW, S/D buses from the EPCOT resorts though.

 

[KatMark]

Does anyone know if the refillable mug station at the Coronado has hot chocolate or iced tea or hot tea? I heard that other resorts have those choices but I didn't know if the Coronado did.

Yes on Iced Tea and Hot Tea; no on the hot chocolate (unless they've changed it recently).

You know, come to think of it, the bus service at BWI and GF wasn't all that great last August either. And I've been seeing a lot of the same threads and posts as you have - I think you might be right. That would certainly explain a lot.

Well, while I have you here - - what is it you like about CSR - given that you also like Poly? Is there some one thing about CSR that makes you like it so much?

The cost!!!! Seriously, as much as we love the Poly, we always found it a little "too busy"--especially around the GCH and the pool. We just find the CSR a lot more "peaceful and serene". Mark and I love just sitting in one of the courtyards and just relaxing and taking and just being thankful for all that we have.

 

[CalRhyne]

First time staying at CSR, been to Disney many times...

How much time should we allow to get from CSR to the Contemporary? Our flight arrives about 215pm and our dinner reservation is at 6:20pm at Chef Mickeys. How early should we head to Chef Mickeys? "Drop our bags and run"?

Also, how early do buses and the resort monorail begin for the day? The only other res. we have is at O'hana as breakfast on our last day at 9:05.

Thank you,
Cal Rhyne

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I have a question for y'all.

How is the bus transportation from CSR to the parks? I've read on a few threads now that you can be waiting for a long time (like over an hour) at times to get from CSR to one of the parks due to buses being full and passing by the stops. How bad is it over Spring Break?

I'm thinking about ditching my Poly ressie this April in favor of CSR since I haven't stayed there yet, and am a little concerned over the buses.

TIA!

Even though we drive to WDW, we use the bus system almost exclusively. We figure why should we spend money on gas when we can let Disney do the driving? Now, our experiences at CSR have been in Aug/Sept when it's less busy than Spring Break, but we've never waited more than about 20 min for a bus to or from a park and that would be when we just missed a bus as we were walking up to the stop. We have waited a bit for a bus to or from DTD, so we typically drive when we want to go there. The only time we've had full buses was going back to the resort after the nighttime spectaculars.

On the other hand, we stayed at WL in Nov 2009 and our bus to Epcot took FOREVER because it stopped at Fort Wilderness after WL, before going to Epcot. It took over a half-hour from the time we were picked up to being dropped off at Epcot. It's like 8 min from CSR. Another time we had taken the boat from MK to WL to have lunch, and then took a bus to DTD. That bus went from WL to GF, then to DTD -- at least a 45 min trip. Insane. The best thing about the CSR buses is that they do not share with any other resort and CSR is fairly centrally located, so it's really not a long trip to get anywhere.

Our next trip is with some family who are flying in and using ME, so I opted for us to stay at CSR rather than a deluxe resort, simply because I think the transportation is better.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

First time staying at CSR, been to Disney many times...

How much time should we allow to get from CSR to the Contemporary? Our flight arrives about 215pm and our dinner reservation is at 6:20pm at Chef Mickeys. How early should we head to Chef Mickeys? "Drop our bags and run"?

Also, how early do buses and the resort monorail begin for the day? The only other res. we have is at O'hana as breakfast on our last day at 9:05.

Thank you,
Cal Rhyne

I'd aim to be getting on a CSR bus going to MK at about 5:15. It's about a 10 minute ride to MK, then I would walk to CR. It's about a 10 minute walk. (Get off the bus and instead of following everyone to the MK, go the opposite way. Follow the path that's almost under the monorail line.) Then you'll have to walk in, find the elevators and get to the counter to check in.

 

[pigletto]

Between my stay at CSR, POR and the Poly I did not notice any major bus service problems at any resort. Every once in awhile you may end up waiting longer than you planned but it's not the norm by any means. In fact I would give CSR the edge on buses because it never shares.

 

[lovethattink]

Yes on Iced Tea and Hot Tea; no on the hot chocolate (unless they've changed it recently).

Still no on the hot chocolate. I did not see Iced Tea, will have to re-check my pictures.

 

[lovethattink]

I have a question for y'all.

How is the bus transportation from CSR to the parks? I've read on a few threads now that you can be waiting for a long time (like over an hour) at times to get from CSR to one of the parks due to buses being full and passing by the stops. How bad is it over Spring Break?

I'm thinking about ditching my Poly ressie this April in favor of CSR since I haven't stayed there yet, and am a little concerned over the buses.

TIA!

As you saw on my trip report, we ran into problems with the bus the only time we decided to use it. We waited about 20 minutes, when we finally saw the MK bus, it drove right by us at bus stop #4 because it was full. This was March 13, 2011. It was an MK EMH day. It happened around 11am, and EHM wasn't until midnight. As I mentioned in my trip report we ended up driving. Ran into someone we had seen at the bus stop and it had taken them 2 hours to get to MK by bus from CSR. It took us 45 minutes to get inside the MK once we got in our car.

 

[grahamsgirl]

What a great thread....Subscribing

 

[kaffinito]

Thanks all for your replies

It's sounding like it will be OK as long as I stick to my original plan of going only during evening EMH hours.

Now I have another quick question for you:

Is there more than one hot tub at CSR? And is there a sauna type deal in the spa like there is at AKL? Both spas are about the same I'm thinking so....

 

[kaffinito]

And now I have a quick (I hope ) convention schedule question.

I know that some conventions are very large, is this one of them?

"April 18 - 21, International Transport Packaging Forum"

Thanks again!