deltadisney
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 248
We just got back from a 3 night/4 day stay at CSR. It was our first time to stay at CSR (2 children 4 and 10 and my spouse). The resort came highly recommended as an excellent and economical resort. On the front end, I would like to add that after booking the resort, I came across several negative reviews and strongly considered booking another resort. I am so glad that I did not. In reading another person's review of a disney resort, on this and other forums, I think it is really critical to know what their expectations were going in and whether they had some sort of experience that may have negatively (or positively) influenced their opinion of the resort. For example, I think having too much of an expectation, or down grading from a deluxe, or having a bad experience in the hotel can influence one's opinion on the resort. With that said, our expectations going in were to have a nice (but not over the top) resort where we could sleep and briefly enjoy our downtime from the parks, with some ammenities. Also, I did not have a bad experience at the resort that should influence my opinion either way.
We will certainly stay here again (however, we do want to try WL one time). The resort is amazing, and I think the best way to describe it is, a deluxe caliber resort with a moderate price. The rooms were very nice and very clean and we really enjoyed having the 2 queen beds. Mousekeeping did a great job cleaning our room and we never had any issues whatsoever with appearance or cleanliness (both were amazing). I came across several negative reviews that referenced that the resort did not have a lot of disney appeal to it. I can see this issue, but to be honest, it was the opposite for us because once you got done in the parks, it was really nice to come back to the Southwestern themed resort and get away. (yes - there is disney appeal to it, but maybe not like some of the other resorts). You feel like you are at disney, but at the same time, feel like you are not - if that makes sense.
Another negative I read about the resort, was that it was too spread out. We stayed in a preferred room (Casitas 1), which I would highly recommend with younger children if you would like to be close to the lobby, bus stop, and food court. We could literally be at the lobby, food court, or bus stop in a matter of minutes. The resort is actually spread out, and if you end up in one of the rooms on the back-side of the resport, it is a fairly long walk to the lobby and food court, but on the flip-side, you are closer to the pool. As for the pool area, it is amazing and blew our kids away. The pool area is large, and has a water slide, arcade, dig-site, and playground. This is truly amazing for young kids. If you actually want to enjoy the pool area, and do not feel the need to be close to the lobby or fod court, then I would recommend staying in a non-preferred room and requesting to be on the back side of the resort close to the pool. Again, it is not that long of a walk to the lobby/food court, but it is not just right around the corner either. It also has a spa and fitness room (which we did not actually visit, but it is nice to have, if those things make a difference for you.
As for the bus stops and buses - they were amazing. I read a lot of negative reviews about the bus service at CSR. We never had a bad experience whatsoever. There are 4 bus stops around the resort, so no matter which room you stay, there is a bus stop in your area. They are exclusive to CSR also. I am not sure if we were just lucky, but at the resport and at the parks, we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus during our 4 days, except at AK which was like a 10 minute wait at the park (which I think is a little more common for this park). The rides to the park were also very quick - we always heard, to give yourselves close to an hour to get a bus and get to the park. I, however, don't remember ever waiting more than 20 minutes to catch our bus and arrive at any of the parks.
The Pepper Market - was amazing. It was quick and had a lot of different menu selections, which should please just about anyone. One negative I read, was that Pepper Market is crowded and the food takes a while. We did not experience this. However, with most anything at disney, I think it is a matter of trying to avoid the crowds and eating a little before or after the typical lunch/dinner times to avoid having this experience.
I would highly recommend this resort - in my opinion, the difference in price from a value resort is well worth it. This is just me, but I would certainly rather stay at CSR than a deluxe. I just think the difference in overall comparison to a deluxe verses the difference in price, is not worth it. I certainly don't want this to be take the wrong way, but for us, we would rather save the money and stay at CSR.
If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to help if I can.
We will certainly stay here again (however, we do want to try WL one time). The resort is amazing, and I think the best way to describe it is, a deluxe caliber resort with a moderate price. The rooms were very nice and very clean and we really enjoyed having the 2 queen beds. Mousekeeping did a great job cleaning our room and we never had any issues whatsoever with appearance or cleanliness (both were amazing). I came across several negative reviews that referenced that the resort did not have a lot of disney appeal to it. I can see this issue, but to be honest, it was the opposite for us because once you got done in the parks, it was really nice to come back to the Southwestern themed resort and get away. (yes - there is disney appeal to it, but maybe not like some of the other resorts). You feel like you are at disney, but at the same time, feel like you are not - if that makes sense.
Another negative I read about the resort, was that it was too spread out. We stayed in a preferred room (Casitas 1), which I would highly recommend with younger children if you would like to be close to the lobby, bus stop, and food court. We could literally be at the lobby, food court, or bus stop in a matter of minutes. The resort is actually spread out, and if you end up in one of the rooms on the back-side of the resport, it is a fairly long walk to the lobby and food court, but on the flip-side, you are closer to the pool. As for the pool area, it is amazing and blew our kids away. The pool area is large, and has a water slide, arcade, dig-site, and playground. This is truly amazing for young kids. If you actually want to enjoy the pool area, and do not feel the need to be close to the lobby or fod court, then I would recommend staying in a non-preferred room and requesting to be on the back side of the resort close to the pool. Again, it is not that long of a walk to the lobby/food court, but it is not just right around the corner either. It also has a spa and fitness room (which we did not actually visit, but it is nice to have, if those things make a difference for you.
As for the bus stops and buses - they were amazing. I read a lot of negative reviews about the bus service at CSR. We never had a bad experience whatsoever. There are 4 bus stops around the resort, so no matter which room you stay, there is a bus stop in your area. They are exclusive to CSR also. I am not sure if we were just lucky, but at the resport and at the parks, we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus during our 4 days, except at AK which was like a 10 minute wait at the park (which I think is a little more common for this park). The rides to the park were also very quick - we always heard, to give yourselves close to an hour to get a bus and get to the park. I, however, don't remember ever waiting more than 20 minutes to catch our bus and arrive at any of the parks.
The Pepper Market - was amazing. It was quick and had a lot of different menu selections, which should please just about anyone. One negative I read, was that Pepper Market is crowded and the food takes a while. We did not experience this. However, with most anything at disney, I think it is a matter of trying to avoid the crowds and eating a little before or after the typical lunch/dinner times to avoid having this experience.
I would highly recommend this resort - in my opinion, the difference in price from a value resort is well worth it. This is just me, but I would certainly rather stay at CSR than a deluxe. I just think the difference in overall comparison to a deluxe verses the difference in price, is not worth it. I certainly don't want this to be take the wrong way, but for us, we would rather save the money and stay at CSR.
If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to help if I can.
