Coronado Springs Resort/Pepper Market - DON'T STAY THERE WITH KIDS

[dejr_8]

We just returned from a 5 day stay at CSR and HATED, yes HATED the Pepper Market. We stayed at CSR 6 years ago and HATED the Pepper Market then and the intervening years did nothing to change our opinion.

Now for reference, our comments are based on having two kids 5 and 8. For such a situation, it has been our experience that the Pepper Market could not be a worse place to eat.

Here is why we feel this way.

The food selection area is crowded (to very crowded) and the wait time in some lines can be more than 10 mins (easily). My wife waited 15 mins to find out that it would be another 40 mins until rotisserie chicken was available.

So you are left with a dilemma of how to get food for the kids.

A) Do you get food for the kids and have one parent stay with them at the table while they eat and the other parents waits in line for their selection.

B) Do you have the kids wait in line with you while you get your selection. The problem with this is that there isn't sufficient area in the food selection lines to have two kids tagging alone (forget about it if they are in a stroller). Then you have to wait in the kids food area to get their selection while yours cools down.

C) Do you get the kids their food and leave them alone at the table while you the parents get your food.

What even complicates the issue more is that the wait time for each food area can be much different. Thus there is a good possibility that one parent's order could be done much sooner than the other parent's selection.

It all comes down to that it is very unlikely that everyone will be at the table together eating their food at the same time. Most likely, someone will be finished before that last person even gets to the table with their meal!! Not a very family orientated experience.

While I was waiting in line one night I heard another man say to his wife "I hate this place already - Let's get out of here"

On top of this experience you still have to pay a 10% service charge because someone gets your drinks for you.

Another downside to CSR are the conventioneers who flood the Pepper Market and RIX express. On our last morning there, the line to RIX express was out the door, across the lobby and was almost into the check-in area. The Pepper Market was packed. Not a great experience when you are trying to make early entry at a park.

Now so as to not be completely negative... The food selection in the Pepper Market is BY FAR the best selection of any Moderate. So for a family of adults, CSR is a great choice. This is especially true since the amenities of the resort are nearly Deluxe level.

I'm sure that within a few posts, a Disney apologist will post that their experience was completely different and they never experienced any waits. Don't Believe them.

I will never stay at CSR as long as my kids are young. The only reason we stayed there this time was because it was the only moderate available on the bounce back rate. In the future, if CSR is our only modertae choice we would go with a value or stay offsite.

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

I am sorry you had long waits while at CSR. I have been there and have not had long waits. To tell people not to believe me is not fair as you were there for a short time. There are slower and busier times. I believe you when you said you had long waits, but I also had long waits at the values ( which order the same way, different stations). Other mods I had waits at too. Had short or no waits too at other resorts. It is all in the time you go and events that can change things.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Do you think it would be the same if we all had the same type of food?

 

[dejr_8]

Do you think it would be the same if we all had the same type of food?

No - Most of the issues we bring up assume that each person wants to eat something different. That is the main selling point of the Pepper Market - a huge selection of entres.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Wow I have to disagree. We took our kids 5 and 7 at the time and we loved it. They loved being able to get their own food. What we did was dad took 1 and mom took one. We all ended up getting done at about the same time and we all ate together. One one occasion the kids and I sat down and dad went to get the food. (Yes I know people hate it when this is done, but it wasnt busy so I didnt think twice about it) We did wait a little for the yummy wet burritos, but it was well worth the wait lol. Im sorry that it doesnt work out for your family and I can see how frustrating it could be. Oh and we were there in June if that makes a difference.

 

[Buzz2001]

I disagree as well. My DD has loved the PM since she was five. As she got older (14 now), she felt independent getting her own food and having the card stamp. It's all a personal perference. I do agree with you on the food selection though. I can't wait! 23 more days till CSR!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Almost all Disney World food courts are set up that way. That is not something you run in to just at Coronado Springs. So I find your comment about it not being kid friendly a little confusing.

I have found that by and large the Disney food courts have a great selection. They can be a little inconvenient if you expect that everyone will get their food at the exact same time, but it has never been that big a problem for me. If we have kids along and are not comfortable leaving them alone at a table, we simply take turns getting our food. No biggie. If we want something more structured we go to a sit down restaurant.

Not sure what you are expecting from what is really a glamorized food court.

 

[dejr_8]

Almost all Disney World food courts are set up that way. That is not something you run in to just at Coronado Springs. So I find your comment about it not being kid friendly a little confusing.

I have found that by and large the Disney food courts have a great selection. They can be a little inconvenient if you expect that everyone will get their food at the exact same time, but it has never been that big a problem for me. If we have kids along and are not comfortable leaving them alone at a table, we simply take turns getting our food. No biggie. If we want something more structured we go to a sit down restaurant.

Not sure what you are expecting from what is really a glamorized food court.

Have you been to the Pepper Market? It is a completely different set-up from the typical food court at Disney.

 

[cindyfan]

WOW.... can't believe such different experiences for people.

our most FAVORITE moderate resort is CSR.
It is our 2nd most favorite of all the resorts.

Almost all the food courts are set up kinda the same way..... different stations with different food, then take it up and pay for it. The difference here is that you pay after your eat......

We love CSR.... stayed there 5 times.... at different times of year... and even though we have seen some conventioneers..... it never interfered with our vacation. Actually we have seen more conventioneers at Contemporary!!

Really sorry you had such a bad experience.
But CSR remains our favorite and I am hoping to return there in August!!

 

[akastitch@comcast.ne]

We just returned from a 5 day stay at CSR and HATED, yes HATED the Pepper Market. We stayed at CSR 6 years ago and HATED the Pepper Market then and the intervening years did nothing to change our opinion.

Now for reference, our comments are based on having two kids 5 and 8. For such a situation, it has been our experience that the Pepper Market could not be a worse place to eat.

Here is why we feel this way.

The food selection area is crowded (to very crowded) and the wait time in some lines can be more than 10 mins (easily). My wife waited 15 mins to find out that it would be another 40 mins until rotisserie chicken was available.

So you are left with a dilemma of how to get food for the kids.

A) Do you get food for the kids and have one parent stay with them at the table while they eat and the other parents waits in line for their selection.

B) Do you have the kids wait in line with you while you get your selection. The problem with this is that there isn't sufficient area in the food selection lines to have two kids tagging alone (forget about it if they are in a stroller). Then you have to wait in the kids food area to get their selection while yours cools down.

C) Do you get the kids their food and leave them alone at the table while you the parents get your food.

What even complicates the issue more is that the wait time for each food area can be much different. Thus there is a good possibility that one parent's order could be done much sooner than the other parent's selection.

It all comes down to that it is very unlikely that everyone will be at the table together eating their food at the same time. Most likely, someone will be finished before that last person even gets to the table with their meal!! Not a very family orientated experience.

While I was waiting in line one night I heard another man say to his wife "I hate this place already - Let's get out of here"

On top of this experience you still have to pay a 10% service charge because someone gets your drinks for you.

Another downside to CSR are the conventioneers who flood the Pepper Market and RIX express. On our last morning there, the line to RIX express was out the door, across the lobby and was almost into the check-in area. The Pepper Market was packed. Not a great experience when you are trying to make early entry at a park.

Now so as to not be completely negative... The food selection in the Pepper Market is BY FAR the best selection of any Moderate. So for a family of adults, CSR is a great choice. This is especially true since the amenities of the resort are nearly Deluxe level.

I'm sure that within a few posts, a Disney apologist will post that their experience was completely different and they never experienced any waits. Don't Believe them.

I will never stay at CSR as long as my kids are young. The only reason we stayed there this time was because it was the only moderate available on the bounce back rate. In the future, if CSR is our only modertae choice we would go with a value or stay offsite.

I couldn't agree more! My daughter & usually stay @ POFQ & adore it, but there weren't any rooms available 4 our last trip in Dec so we tried CSR.. I'll never do it again! The resort is pretty but eating was a royal pain somewhere!

 

[LindyN]

I had my 5th stay in three years at CSR with two kids from Dec 28-Jan 5. We love this place. None of the Disney food courts are set up for strollers to be in the food queue areas and at typical meal times lines at all resorts are long. It is virtually impossible to have little kids with you in ANY quick service meal area if they're in a stroller. You really have to do the two adult thing and leave one with the kids while the other gets food. THen you have to figure out what everyone is eating--like is it ready, or does it have to be cooked or prepared? I think this is why I like eating in parks. Virtually no waiting for CS meals.

Cafe Rix had a huge line at 10pm during our stay earlier this month. I think its just a really popular place with good selections and no pesky upcharge.

When my kids were little at CSR I sat them at a table where I could see them, and then I got the food. Maybe they were 4 & 6--not babies. When they were younger we pretty much avoided resort food courts, only because it was tough to decide to get food or neglect the kids for 15 minutes and run back and forth. When they were little I selected quick service dining based upon how easy it was for me to maneuver around with little kids. (DH does not always go on our trips and I have done lots of trips by myself with the kids.)

Kids are older now and we still avoid resort food courts. I had a rotten cold going on during our trip earlier this month and we went to the Pepper Market. I told each kid to go and get what they wanted. One got Bourbon Chicken which was ready. The other wanted a Calzone. Calzone took 15 minutes to cook, which means we had to wait. CS in a park is just much easier as things are prepared in advance.

 

[PlainJane]

I didn't like the Pepper Market either. I guess, my problem with it is that it's this weird hybrid between a CS and SD. Sometimes I just want to be able to go refill my drink myself and not wait around for some server to do it for me. The whole meal was just awkward. If I want to have someone wait on me I'll go to a SD if I just want to be self sufficient I'll go to a CS, and CSR just doesn't give me that choice.

 

[cindyfan]

I didn't like the Pepper Market either. I guess, my problem with it is that it's this weird hybrid between a CS and SD. Sometimes I just want to be able to go refill my drink myself and not wait around for some server to do it for me. The whole meal was just awkward. If I want to have someone wait on me I'll go to a SD if I just want to be self sufficient I'll go to a CS, and CSR just doesn't give me that choice.

You don't have to wait to have someone fill your drink...... I've done it myself many times.
And many times we have just told them that we want carry out, don't get charged the 10%, then we sit outside at the tables or take it to the room.

And seriously...... as many people that leave horrible messes at the other food courts..... I think it's a good idea to have the service. They take care of the tables.
We've stayed at other moderates and values and to eat at the food court was gross! People don't clean up after themselves. And there is usually only 1 CM wiping down the tables.

We LOVE the Pepper Market.... great selections.... more than just the chicken fingers and pizza that most of the others have.

 

[Tink415]

I agree with you about the food court at CSR, it is harder than others for families to actually eat at the same time all together. But its a trade off, there are more great choices and some things take longer because they are cooked to order. I wouldn't say don't stay at CSR, just be prepared to juggle or all eat the same things. Any food court where there are more than 2 food stations is going to be a challenge if there are 2 parents, young children, and you want food from more than 2 stations. Somebodys food is going to be cold, or somebody has to get their food once the kids and one adult are setup.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have you been to the Pepper Market? It is a completely different set-up from the typical food court at Disney.

Yes I have. What I am saying is that you get your food at different times, like most food courts. It is not so different.

 

[readytogo]

I'm sure that within a few posts, a Disney apologist will post that their experience was completely different and they never experienced any waits. Don't Believe them.

PM reviews aside, it is quite unreasonable to accuse those that might have had a different experience than you of lying.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion whether they agree with you or not.

 

[cindyfan]

Okay..... don't mean to get anyone upset..... but....
When we eat dinner at home we don't have 8 different choices, then have to wait for each thing to be cooked! We cook one meal and everyone eats the same thing.
I suggest that the parents decide what is for dinner, then get everything all at once from the same station.
If the kids want.... let each one on different nights decide what to have for dinner.... burgers or pizza? Italian or Mexican?
It's a rather simple solution.

 

[hammie59]

Wow I have to disagree. We took our kids 5 and 7 at the time and we loved it. They loved being able to get their own food. What we did was dad took 1 and mom took one. We all ended up getting done at about the same time and we all ate together. One one occasion the kids and I sat down and dad went to get the food. (Yes I know people hate it when this is done, but it wasnt busy so I didnt think twice about it) We did wait a little for the yummy wet burritos, but it was well worth the wait lol. Im sorry that it doesnt work out for your family and I can see how frustrating it could be. Oh and we were there in June if that makes a difference.

I was just wondering what you meant when you said people hate when one person gets the food while the other sits with the kids. We'll be going there in 3 months with 2 small kids and had planned on probably doing that. Why would someone else care? Am I missing something? (we've never been there before)

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

I was just wondering what you meant when you said people hate when one person gets the food while the other sits with the kids. We'll be going there in 3 months with 2 small kids and had planned on probably doing that. Why would someone else care? Am I missing something? (we've never been there before)

I see posts all the time about how rude people think it is to save a table. I got ripped one day because I said that we went and sat while dad went to get the food. Person said it was rude since there were probably people looking for somewhere to sit. I wouldnt worry about it if I were you. Have a great trip.

 

[disnut8]

This was our experience with the food court at All Star Music. Seven adults and one child. Eight people standing in the middle of the food court trying to decide what they wanted for dinner. I knew what I wanted but couldn't get it until the others had made up their mind. And we all had to leave at the same time because my father-in-law was paying for all of it.

I would have taken the Pepper Market over that mess anytime.

You aren't going to get any different from any other Disney food court. What do you do when you eat at Cosmic Ray's? Or the food court inside The Land?