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

[KatMark]

So, am I crazy for not requesting a specific section @ CSR? I know that it's just that... a request and that there are no guarantees. Since we've never stayed here, we're not sure which section we'd prefer. After looking at all the pictures (a million times it seems) and studying the map, I'm not sure I have a section that stands out to me more than others. Ideally, I'd like to be close to a quiet pool/laundry room and a bus stop. I don't mind having to take the girls to walk to the main pool or building, so I'm thinking that just about any section they put us in would be okay. The Ranchos do seem pretty far away, but again, I'm not sure it's a "bad" section.

When we stayed @ POR in 2008, we simply requested the Magnolia Bend area (I think that's what it's called), and ended up in a great location. When we stayed @ CBR last year, we requested Jamaica (my parents had stayed in this section before and found it very convenient), but ended up in Martinique. Actually, I loved staying in Martinique, as we were close to the main house, a quiet pool, and a bus stop.

So, I'm thinking of just playing the waiting game, and seeing where we get put. It seems that everyone has a different opinion on their favorite section. We did not book preferred... just a standard room. I don't mind having a parking lot view, since we literally sleep and take short breaks (sometimes) in the room.

~Kelly

Kelly, if you should decide to request a section, Casitas 4 would be PERFECt. It is right by the quiet pool, laundry, fitness center and Bus Stop 2 (the first stop picked up and dropped off); it is also a five minute walk to the main building and about a seven or eight minute walk to the main pool (and this is a 53 year old woman and 58 year old man walking from this building).

 

[Monkeyfish]

A winter storm advisory was issued yesterday for our flight time tomorrow (Friday). So rather than sit and worry that we wouldn't get off the ground I rebooked our flights to leave this evening ahead of the potential storm. I was able to add a night to our CSR reservation (tonight). So we leave today!!!
The first 2 days of our trip we don't have tickets as it is a room only reservation. We'll be at Universal on Sunday. We'll have plenty of time to relax at the resort so if anyone has any questions while we are there I will check in to the thread.

Awesome move! Have fun!!!

 

[Monkeyfish]

Okay, I'm ridiculously excited and had to squeal to someone, and figured if y'all didn't get it, no one would...

I JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON OUR APRIL TRIP! Woo hoo! We leave in 49 days!!!!!

Sorry, I've regained my composure now. Sorta. I'm just so excited, and seeing that $0 balance due is thrilling. It's real!!

 

[KatMark]

Okay, I'm ridiculously excited and had to squeal to someone, and figured if y'all didn't get it, no one would...

I JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON OUR APRIL TRIP! Woo hoo! We leave in 49 days!!!!!

Sorry, I've regained my composure now. Sorta. I'm just so excited, and seeing that $0 balance due is thrilling. It's real!!

You can lose your composure as much as you want! This is exciting news and worth lots of this:

 

[Ariellie]

Okay, I'm ridiculously excited and had to squeal to someone, and figured if y'all didn't get it, no one would...

I JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON OUR APRIL TRIP! Woo hoo! We leave in 49 days!!!!!

Sorry, I've regained my composure now. Sorta. I'm just so excited, and seeing that $0 balance due is thrilling. It's real!!

I'm so jealous! This week I tried to talk my husband into paying ours off. He does not understand "the rush " since we still have another month left to pay it off. I tried to explain that it's just something to make the vacation seem closer and more real. Anyway, I completely understand your excitement, have a ton of fun!

 

[LDCruiser]

monkeyfish,

We agree completely!
When booking there is this warm feeling of coming home.
Then there's the waiting period so to keep updated, you go to sites and dis-boards for the fix.
Then comes the greatest excitement, other than arriving through the archway to the land of magic, making that final payment. Now it's for sure, YOUR AS GOOD AS BEING THERE, The excitement is overwhelming, almost.

Ariellie-
A little PIXIE dust to you DH.

Have a great vacation, we be waiting for you report.

Thx all
Lee

 

[peachydreamyxx]

We went to CSR in September 2010 so I am familiar with the set up of the resort. On our last trip we were placed in the ranchos. We had a great room in front of one of the quiet pools and right next to an elevator, but other than that I HATED our location. I loved the resort, the food court, just everything it was beautiful. However I vowed that I would never stay here again unless I could guareentee I would be close to the main buildings / food area because when youre hungry or thirtsy at 10pm, neither DH or myself wanted to go on a 10 minute walk alone to grab a refill or a snack. I know some people love the walk, but we hated it. Well as luck would have it they now offer preferred rooms

Ive read that the preferred rooms are the casitas only and one of the casitas doesnt have an elevator? Is that correct? My parents will be traveling with us this time and my dad recently had knee surgery and a whole round of issues so he likes to avoid stairs as much as possible. Should I just put in a request for a ground floor? Or should I send a letter from a doctor stating that we need to be near an elevator? I usually dont mind placing requests and knowing they can/cant be made but I really want to assure that my dad doesnt get stuck on a 3rd floor without elevators.. because my family doesnt have the best of lucky Also which of the preferred rooms would be closest to a bus stop?

 

[KatMark]

We went to CSR in September 2010 so I am familiar with the set up of the resort. On our last trip we were placed in the ranchos. We had a great room in front of one of the quiet pools and right next to an elevator, but other than that I HATED our location. I loved the resort, the food court, just everything it was beautiful. However I vowed that I would never stay here again unless I could guareentee I would be close to the main buildings / food area because when youre hungry or thirtsy at 10pm, neither DH or myself wanted to go on a 10 minute walk alone to grab a refill or a snack. I know some people love the walk, but we hated it. Well as luck would have it they now offer preferred rooms

Ive read that the preferred rooms are the casitas only and one of the casitas doesnt have an elevator? Is that correct? My parents will be traveling with us this time and my dad recently had knee surgery and a whole round of issues so he likes to avoid stairs as much as possible. Should I just put in a request for a ground floor? Or should I send a letter from a doctor stating that we need to be near an elevator? I usually dont mind placing requests and knowing they can/cant be made but I really want to assure that my dad doesnt get stuck on a 3rd floor without elevators.. because my family doesnt have the best of lucky Also which of the preferred rooms would be closest to a bus stop?

Casitas 1 is closest to the main building and close to the last Bus Stop (Bus Stop 1). Castias 3 would be closer to Bus Stop 2 (the first bus stop). Casitas 2 is the building without an elevator. There is a disabilities phone number that you might want to call and explain that your dad can't handle stairs and they will assist you.

 

[peachydreamyxx]

Casitas 1 is closest to the main building and close to the last Bus Stop (Bus Stop 1). Castias 3 would be closer to Bus Stop 2 (the first bus stop). Casitas 2 is the building without an elevator. There is a disabilities phone number that you might want to call and explain that your dad can't handle stairs and they will assist you.

Thank you so much for the quick response! I had no idea about the disabilities phone number. I will have to investigate that and give them a call. That is really my primary concern when it comes to room requests.

 

[MiraDawl]

Yeah Monkeyfish!! Do a little Disney shake! I just mailed our Disney box to CSR & am otherwise getting excited for our arrival next week!



We are only *slightly* excited!

 

[stinkerbell2]

Mira, what day do you get in? We have 4more sleeps! We get to CSR on Wed.SO EXCITED!!

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you so much for the quick response! I had no idea about the disabilities phone number. I will have to investigate that and give them a call. That is really my primary concern when it comes to room requests.

I called the disability number last week. They said it was no problem to make the request, however, the cm on the phone suggested I call the resort 5 days prior at night to speak to someone at the front desk to make sure the request was seen.

 

[Disney before Sally]

monkeyfish,

We agree completely!
When booking there is this warm feeling of coming home.
Then there's the waiting period so to keep updated, you go to sites and dis-boards for the fix.
Then comes the greatest excitement, other than arriving through the archway to the land of magic, making that final payment. Now it's for sure, YOUR AS GOOD AS BEING THERE, The excitement is overwhelming, almost.

Ariellie-
A little PIXIE dust to you DH.

Have a great vacation, we be waiting for you report.

Thx all
Lee

This 6 step program might sell more books than the famous 12 step program.

 

[kellzkidz]

I bought a couple of 2011 WDW books and Birnbaum's is listing CSR as double beds? Can anyone re-confrim that they are indeed queens?
I feel better when I hear it from my fellow dis-ers

Thanks!

 

[Disney before Sally]

I bought a couple of 2011 WDW books and Birnbaum's is listing CSR as double beds? Can anyone re-confrim that they are indeed queens?
I feel better when I hear it from my fellow dis-ers

Thanks!

My first stay at Coronado will be in August. I was informed here and during the reservation on-line and by phone, that CSR is the only moderate resort with real queen size beds. Port Orleans Riverside will be the next that is "in the process" of the upgrade and I would not be gauranteed queen there yet.

 

[kellzkidz]

My first stay at Coronado will be in August. I was informed here and during the reservation on-line and by phone, that CSR is the only moderate resort with real queen size beds. Port Orleans Riverside will be the next that is "in the process" of the upgrade and I would not be gauranteed queen there yet.

Thanks a bunch, deep down I knew they were queens, but when you see it in print (and up to date supposedly) it made me wonder!

 

[DaniB]

I bought a couple of 2011 WDW books and Birnbaum's is listing CSR as double beds? Can anyone re-confrim that they are indeed queens?
I feel better when I hear it from my fellow dis-ers

Thanks!

Definately queen beds! We stayed there in Sept. I don't know why most of the books/websites keep saying double. Confused me last year as well.

 

[susanm]

hi Katmark

i have stayed there once...long long ago 1998 not long after they opened and i loved it... took a 6 yr old who loved the pool.. down side, i forget what section we were in, could figure it out when i pull out the pictures, but it was a long walk to the pool, and the main bldg....back then the buses were not to frequent either...BUT they had just opened and have worked out the kinks by now.... beautiful place to stay... would like to stay there again...

 

[tinknme]

My first stay at Coronado will be in August. I was informed here and during the reservation on-line and by phone, that CSR is the only moderate resort with real queen size beds. Port Orleans Riverside will be the next that is "in the process" of the upgrade and I would not be gauranteed queen there yet.

As stated, yes CSR has queen size beds as does POFQ(stayed here in Dec.) Once FQ is complete, POR will be next!

 

[Sherrkel]

My family and I returned yesterday from our 3rd stay at CSR in the last five years. We continue to enjoy staying at the resort so much: the grounds, the Dig site pool, cast member service, and just the total beauty of the whole resort appeals to all of us.
We were assigned rooms in Casitas 4 (I requested 4 or 5 due to proximity to bus stop 2); we had 8 rooms reserved from our grand gathering and were all placed in a row in the back facing the parking lot on the 3rd floor; we didn’t mind the view, there was a nice little courtyard under our balcony. Bus stop 2 was a quick trip down the stairs and across the parking lot: 2 minutes.
The weather was beautiful! We enjoyed the Dig site pool and the Casitas quiet pool during our stay. The Dig site pool was quite crowded but we were always able to find a table and lounge chairs without too much trouble. The slide was fun again for all of us; kids and adults!
Pepper Market was good as always and our servers were friendly and helpful. Café Rix is always convenient for a quick cup of coffee and snacks or to-go sandwiches. Panchitos gift shop had a lot to offer as usual; however my BIL was disappointed that they didn’t have any CSR specific merchandise (T-shirts, coffee cups, etc.).
While we were there (2/16-2/25) there was a Cochlear (hearing implant) Celebration going on for children and adults: it was cute to see the young children making friends with other hearing impaired children. Usually you see business type conventions going on (which still there were there), but seeing families there enjoying their time together and making friends was very nice.
During the week they were constructing a large white tent in the convention parking lot area: I mean LARGE – I wish I took pictures. A CM told us it was for a Grainger convention starting this week that would be bringing in 4000 people this weekend. The tent alone was one million dollars; that’s what he said! They had another tent put up just for their luggage and that took up half the front parking lot across from the magical express pick up area. On Thursday we rec’d a voice mail in our room that Casitas parking lot 4 and 5 would be closed for convention parking (and to park in Ranchos area). If I had a vehicle there that would have been quite inconvenient, IMO. The CM also told us that 200 employees would be working overtime through the weekend/week and that was very unusual.
I miss CSR and look forward to planning another trip soon!