We just got back from a 5 night stay at CSR 3/14-3/18. Overall it was a very good trip!
My parents met us (me, DH, DS age 8.5) there, as we were flying in from different states. My mom had made the reservations for 2 rooms and we had had a few issues with central reservations messing things up (such as having DS on the ressie as 2 different people and sending my DME tickets the wrong address...one I hadn't lived at in 3 years and never gave them as a valid address). My mother had called soon after making the reservation and requested connecting or at least nearby rooms, and Cabanas 9B or 9A or Casitas 4 or 5. We had done online check-in about 5 days prior to arrival and I confirmed that day on the phone that we wanted connecting or nearby rooms. When we arrived it was obvious something wasn't right...the CM for online check-in immediately got on the phone and told someone that it was clearly marked we were "travelling together". I think they had put us no where near each other. The CM told us it would be about 10 minutes. She did confirm we were supposed to get a waterview. I figured it wouldn't hurt to throw out our room requests again, so I told her we wanted Cabanas and she said they were full. So I said "Casitas 4 or 5, preferably 4". She reminded us those are just requests and can't be guaranteed and we said we understood. She implied we could update to preferred but we said that was ok. We went to Pepper Market for a late lunch. We came back about 30-40 minutes later and our rooms were ready. We got connecting rooms in Casitas 4.
The rooms (4231 and 4232) were a great location. They had a waterview of Lago Dorado (sort of - plenty of trees in the way). But even better they were just around the corner (literally) from the quiet pool and at the end of the hall and across the parking lot from Bus Stop 2. It was about a 5-7 minute walk to El Centro and about a 10-12 minute walk to the Dig Site (we only went once, I actually liked the quiet pool just as much and my son wasn't overly impressed with the slide anyway...luckily he kind of forgot about the arcade). We checked for bed bugs on the mattresses and in the furniture (yes, really) with a flashlight right away, no signs of anything so we were good to go. My parents luggage arrived a few minutes later.
We ate at Pepper Market quite a bit, almost every day for breakfast and a couple times for dinner. The breakfast was good, and for dinner the Mexcian items (especially the chicken fajitas and chicken quesadillas) were very good. The burgers and ribs were just ok. We didn't really try the salad or pasta areas. We had grab and go breakfast at Cafe Rix one day. I preferred Pepper Market but it was nice to have an option at 6:30 am for the day MK opened at 8 am (Pepper Market doesn't open until 7 am). We didn't mind paying the 10% gratuity at Pepper Market, I think it was well worth it for the service received.
Panchitos gift shop was very nice, and large, lots of Disney merchandise there and some food items as well. We didn't try the Maya Grill or the lounges/bars.
Bus service was great. We usually waited 0-10 minutes at either bus stop 2 or 1 (if we went to the parks right from Pepper Market). The service back from the parks was excellent as well, and they seemed to run extra busses when they knew heavy crowds would be exiting the parks (e.g., after Fantasmic and after Wishes).
This resort was beautiful and I certainly would recommend it! We probably would try someplace different next time for variety, but I certainly wouldn't hestiate to come back again sometime.
Exactly what I am looking for. We do not find any of the Poly walks long but many people think it is so speadout--just like people say about CSR. The longest walk we have had at Poly was from Aotearoa to the TTC. We stayed at YC last time and the walk from YC to Epcot FutureWorld in the morning was too much for DD9 who has some special needs. it led to early morning magical meltdowns which is no fun for anybody
The distances you speak of sound very reasonable. I think we would be fine as long as we are not in Ranchos. They do not appeal to me due to theme and location.
