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

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Hi all: Excited for our 5th stay at CSR in September. We check in the 14th (just a long weekend) and will be at MNSSHP on the 16th. It is so nice to have something to look forward to now that summer is winding down and school starts again soon (I am a teacher)! Not so easy to take my personal days so early in the year, but well worth it!

 

[jcondrad]

Casitas 1, 2 and 3 are preferred rooms, so if you booked preferred, you should be in the casitas (assuming no overbooking issues). Casitas 4 and 5 are not preferred, so if you didn't book preferred, request casitas if you haven't already. If you are in a different section at check-in, you can ask to be moved. I've found the front desk CMs to be very accommodating if they have an empty room in the section I wanted.



All buses circle the resort. Theme park buses stop first at casitas (stop #2), then ranchos, then cabanas, then El Centro. The bus will say which park it is going to. Downtown Disney buses stop first at El Centro (stop #1), then casitas, ranchos, then cabanas. There is no internal bus system, so no transfers needed.

Thanks so much!

 

[aubriee]

I'll be there the same time, Nov 26th-Dec 4th. (Actually I haven't booked the 26th at CSR yet as I'm currently using a bounceback deal I booked when I was at WDW this past May and the 26th wasn't included in the Bounceback's dates, so I'm hoping for an AP rate to cover that one night.)

Well the AP discounts came out today, so I just called and got the Nov 26th date I needed at CSR. The bounceback deal I already had for Nov 27th-Dec 4th beat the AP discount, so I stuck with that for the last seven nights. Both are for a standard room, so even though I'll have to run over and recheck in for the second ressie, hopefully they won't make me change rooms. I requested first floor Cabanas (preferably 8A) on both ressies and the CM said she linked them.

In order to book my ADRS at the 180 day mark, I had originally booked AS Movies at rack rate for just Nov 26th, planning on switching to CSR when the AP discount came out. Switching from AS Movies to the AP rate at CSR for that one night cost me a grand total of $23.46.

 

[marivaid]

Anyone know if the quiet pools still close at 9PM ? That is our one (and only?) issue with CSR. We're night people!!

 

[G8r4evr]

Casitas 1, 2 and 3 are preferred rooms, so if you booked preferred, you should be in the casitas (assuming no overbooking issues). Casitas 4 and 5 are not preferred, so if you didn't book preferred, request casitas if you haven't already. If you are in a different section at check-in, you can ask to be moved. I've found the front desk CMs to be very accommodating if they have an empty room in the section I wanted.

I booked waterview and requested the Casitas. Worked last time, but Im worried I wont be so lucky again. Casitas 5 has my favorite onsite room, ever =)

 

[Susan595]

I'm pretty bummed out I may have to switch to POFQ We were in the blackout date for our Oct 15-22 for FD we're not AP holders, so if there is no room discount which is "rumored" to happen middle of this month I may have to move the resort AND date, which will mess up all my stuff, but to save over 1500 dollars, I have no choice. It makes me so so sad to have to even think of this, but alas my hubby says we'd be fools to not switch over.

 

[Belle5]

We are pretty excited! We booked two rooms today at CSR (favorite moderate resort) during spring break. I can't wait for breakfast at the Pepper Market! We might even give Maya Grill a try for dinner (haven't done that since the year it first opened)! I am looking forward to the hammocks, sand, beautiful walk the the Dig Site pool and the pool itself! We are planning a lot of relaxation time during this vacation and I can't think of a better place to do it!

This will be our third time to be at CSR. We tried POFQ this past February and it was nice, too (loved having sister pools to choose from)...just not CSR!

 

[Minnie&Tink]

So we just got back from CSR and I was telling someone about eating at Pepper Market. We ate there three times during our stay and were told each time that gratuities were not included. We left a tip each time for our server. We were on the dining plan.

The person I was telling about Pepper Market says that she asked on the Disney's Mom Panel on disneyworld.com and was told that if you are on the dining plan the gratuities were included.

So who's right? Does anyone have experience with tipping at the Pepper Market?

 

[Belle5]

So we just got back from CSR and I was telling someone about eating at Pepper Market. We ate there three times during our stay and were told each time that gratuities were not included. We left a tip each time for our server. We were on the dining plan.

The person I was telling about Pepper Market says that she asked on the Disney's Mom Panel on disneyworld.com and was told that if you are on the dining plan the gratuities were included.

So who's right? Does anyone have experience with tipping at the Pepper Market?

Interesting...I just went to the Mom's Panel and did a search. The one response I found actually says that NO tipping is not covered there by your DDP.

 

[Minnie&Tink]

Interesting...I just went to the Mom's Panel and did a search. The one response I found actually says that NO tipping is not covered there by your DDP.

I tried to search the Mom's Panel and couldn't find anything. How did you search?

 

[Belle5]

I tried to search the Mom's Panel and couldn't find anything. How did you search?

I think the best way is to search for the word "pepper" and then sort by most recent. I actually just found this response to a question posed four days ago :

"The Pepper Market is set up a bit differently than other quick service dining spots. You're shown to a table, and a cast member will take your drink order and serve you your beverage and refills. Tipping is up to the guest, and the cashier will give you the option of adding a tip to your room charge."

 

[ConnieB]

Tipping is NOT included for the dining plan. Go to this OFFICIAL DISNEY link: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/ and scroll down to the last bolded paragraph which reads:

Additional Disney Dining Plan Details

Gratuities are not included unless otherwise indicated. An automatic 18% gratuity charge will be added to your bill for parties of 6 or more. An automatic gratuity charge may also be added to your bill for items you order that are not included in the Disney Dining Plan (for example, alcoholic beverages).​

Several years ago (I want to say like 4 years maybe) the tax, tip and appetizer were included, but that went away amongst a lot of very loud complaining by consumers, lol. Anyone saying otherwise is working with very old information.

 

[Belle5]

Tipping is NOT included for the dining plan. Go to this OFFICIAL DISNEY link: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/ and scroll down to the last bolded paragraph which reads:

Additional Disney Dining Plan Details

Gratuities are not included unless otherwise indicated. An automatic 18% gratuity charge will be added to your bill for parties of 6 or more. An automatic gratuity charge may also be added to your bill for items you order that are not included in the Disney Dining Plan (for example, alcoholic beverages).​

Several years ago (I want to say like 4 years maybe) the tax, tip and appetizer were included, but that went away amongst a lot of very loud complaining by consumers, lol. Anyone saying otherwise is working with very old information.

Yes, we used to buy the DDP when tipping was included (and appys) with your TS meal. However, this is a question about a QS option...and Pepper Market is covered as a QS dining option.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I'm pretty bummed out I may have to switch to POFQ We were in the blackout date for our Oct 15-22 for FD we're not AP holders, so if there is no room discount which is "rumored" to happen middle of this month I may have to move the resort AND date, which will mess up all my stuff, but to save over 1500 dollars, I have no choice. It makes me so so sad to have to even think of this, but alas my hubby says we'd be fools to not switch over.

Just curious...what room did you book at CSR that switching to POFQ would save over $1500? They are both moderate resorts. Confused....

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Re: Tipping at Pepper Market

We were there in May and we were told that the 10% gratuity was not covered by the DDP. We left some cash on the table.

 

[Belle5]

Re: Tipping at Pepper Market

We were there in May and we were told that the 10% gratuity was not covered by the DDP. We left some cash on the table.

Yep, a lot of us have been told that while there and have left tips. The problems is (for years now) is the fact that Pepper Market CM's telling us to pay the tip while on DDP is controversial. Different folks have been told (over the years) when contacting in writing or email or whatever, that Pepper Market has their required 10% tip covered by Disney...that the DDP guest doesn't have to pay a tip for any quick service meal. In other words, they may be getting paid twice--once by WDW for each DDP QS meal and then again by the customer they have told must pay. This is my understanding of the problem. Again, we, too, have always paid because we were unsure (erring on the side of caution). I would love to have the issue clarified.

 

[gumbo1009]

Hi. I have a question about use of a "safe" for early arrival at CSR.

(My guess is the answer is somewhere in this thread, but my searching technique just didn't work.)

In theory we will arrive at CSR around 1pm. If the room is not yet ready, does the front desk have a hotel safe where I could place some items? (Not sure I want to carry a lot of cash into the parks, for example.)

TIA.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Yep, a lot of us have been told that while there and have left tips. The problems is (for years now) is the fact that Pepper Market CM's telling us to pay the tip while on DDP is controversial. Different folks have been told (over the years) when contacting in writing or email or whatever, that Pepper Market has their required 10% tip covered by Disney...that the DDP guest doesn't have to pay a tip for any quick service meal. In other words, they may be getting paid twice--once by WDW for each DDP QS meal and then again by the customer they have told must pay. This is my understanding of the problem. Again, we, too, have always paid because we were unsure (erring on the side of caution). I would love to have the issue clarified.

Yeah, I know there's some discrepancy, but the $5 tip I leave on the table at PM isn't going to break me, so I don't worry about it. If I really cared, I'd get my food to go and avoid the issue entirely, but I don't. Just reporting what we were told the last time we ate at PM.

 

[Haileys Nana]

Well the AP discounts came out today, so I just called and got the Nov 26th date I needed at CSR. The bounceback deal I already had for Nov 27th-Dec 4th beat the AP discount, so I stuck with that for the last seven nights. Both are for a standard room, so even though I'll have to run over and recheck in for the second ressie, hopefully they won't make me change rooms. I requested first floor Cabanas (preferably 8A) on both ressies and the CM said she linked them.

In order to book my ADRS at the 180 day mark, I had originally booked AS Movies at rack rate for just Nov 26th, planning on switching to CSR when the AP discount came out. Switching from AS Movies to the AP rate at CSR for that one night cost me a grand total of $23.46.

Aubriee,
Sounds like your vacation plans have worked out great! Lucky you! Thank you for the answers about the weather. Guess I''ll just watch the weather and plan on having enough clothes for whatever it throws at me. Now I have a good excuse to buy more summer clothes and some new fall ones.
Here's hoping for great weather.

 

[Cafeen]

The issue with PM and tipping comes from the fact that up until 2010 (and I think halfway through it or so) that the "service fee" WAS included on the DDP, even after having other tips removed from the plan. This changed relatively recently, so several older answers may now be outdated.

As it stands now, the 10% service charge (tip) is NOT included with the DDP anymore. You can bypass this by getting the food to-go and eating it right outside.