CSR or CBR??? What would you do???

[cmbonneville]

I am on the fence ...what would you do?

I have booked (11/30 -12/7) CSR - two rooms - 6 people total
water view rooms - 6 day MYW base tickets - NO dining plan for 3100.00 through CRO

Dreams Unlimited has found CBR available - same dates - two rooms - and same 6 day tickets - but WITH the Dining Plan for 3700.00

I would save $400.00 compared to adding the dining plan to the CSR package through CRO

We have been on the fence about adding dining - on one hand it would be nice to have the meals paid and not worry - but on the other, we want felxibility and not to have to spend hours a day for food...

Which resort would the kids (12, 8, 6, 3) like better?

They don't seem to have an opinion as long as they get the swim in a pool and go to DTD for souv's...

Thanks for any advice....

~Crystal

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a large resort that doesn't share services with other resorts and offers some deluxe amenities because it's a convention resort.

CSR offers a salon, spa, workout facility, full menu room service, a courtesy coach to assist in getting to and from the main building, and is the only moderate to offer suites. Many of these amenities are available because CSR is a convention resort.

If you're on the dining plan, you won't find a better CS spot than the Pepper Market. Huge portions, great choices and tasty food. The PM can be crowded on occasion because CSR is a convention resort, especially during the lunch hour. Lunch/Dinner Menu

CSR is situated around a 15 acre lake. For comparison, CBR is situated around a 45 acre lake. Great place for a romantic walk romantic walk around the Lago Dorado, across the lighted bridge to the hammocks on the white sandy beach. This is best experienced at night. See pics on my website.

CSR has terrific transportation. It doesn't share with any other resort (like POR / POFQ) and it only has 4 bus stops within the resort (vs 7 at CBR). And since CSR is centrally located, you'll have a quick ride to all the parks. And being a convention resort, the buses seem less crowded because convention guests are busy with their convention activities.

CSR is the most central to the 3 parks. See the map below.

Photo by Ducky4Disney

CSR has the best pool of the mods and is right up there among the best on WDW property.

Best mod pool. It offers a great slide (123 ft long), an arcade, a sand volleyball court, and a playground at the main pool area. And being a convention resort, the pool seems less crowded because convention guests are busy with their convention activities.

Review from mousesavers.com!!

Coronado Springs is my Best Value choice in the Moderate category. It has several advantages compared with the other Moderate resorts. It is newer, so there has been less wear-and-tear on everything. Also, Coronado Springs is a convention hotel, so it has a few extra amenities not offered at the other Moderates, including a salon, a health club and a more upscale food court.

The theming is radically different in the three areas of Coronado Springs. You can request a specific area when booking but there is no guarantee you'll get your request.

• The Spanish-style Casitas at Coronado Springs are very peaceful, with courtyards featuring tiled fountains. Casitas Buildings 1, 3 and 2 (in that order) are the closest to the restaurants and services. Casitas Building 4 contains the salon and health club, if those are important to you.
  
• The Cabanas at Coronado Springs have a beachy Caribbean feeling. Cabanas Building 8A is very close to the feature pool, which may be a blessing (convenience) or a curse (noise, light). Cabanas Building 9B is closest to the marina and relatively convenient to the restaurants and services.
  
• The Ranchos at Coronado Springs feel quiet and secluded -- some would say isolated -- and feature desert landscaping and pueblo-style architecture. They look closest to the main pool on a map, but in actuality they are separated from the rest of the property by a swamp, so it can be a fairly long walk from these buildings to the pool, and a very long walk to the restaurants.

 

[hezreck]

I would switch. You would spend at least $600 to eat without the plan, and with it you will get a much better selection of food. I originally priced the dining plan for our trip of just 2 adults and 1 child at $600. So you are getting 3 people free. Do it!! It's a great deal!

 

[BlindTyldak]

You really don't spend all that much more time dining on the plan than without. Considering that many of the best CS restaurants are quite popular - even in slower seasons - we found that between waiting in line, finding a table, and eating, we were often within about 10 or 15 minutes of the amount of time we would have spent eating at a TS restaurant. On a few occasions we spent MORE time at the CS restaurants than in the average TS!

 

[Micca]

We love CSR too. I guess it depends which is more important, the resort, or the dining budget. It sure isn't difficult to spend money on food at WDW.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

We are staying at CBR in December. We have 2 rooms too. I have never stayed at either CBR or CSR. We chose CBR because of the bigger rooms and my mom and dad did not want to be mixed in with the convention people (it would not have made a difference to me). So far, I have read some really awesome replies to CBR. We will have our own cars so I am not worried about the bus system. You are looking at $600, basically, to have the dining plan for all of you. Now we really really like the dining plan! As a mom, I lovvvvvvvvvvvvve, not having to worry about food for 1 week! I have 4 kids so it such a wonderful break. You will have to decide if your family will get $600 of food out of your stay and/or if it would be nice to have your food already paid for. We are the type that would rather spend money on other things so we take the savings.

I think either resort would be fine! And the dining plan does allow some really nice TS that normally we would not spend the money on. As a mom...I would say CBR and dining plan! ha!

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

Personally I would switch due to the savings with the dining plan. You can still have flexibility even with the dining plan. Sure, you have to make ADR's for your TS, but you could switch them around...some mornings do breakfast, some lunch and some for dinner. I find this leaves you wide open for different dining experiences and you won't have to wait in long lines for CS for each meal. You also won't have the stress of having to pay out of pocket for each meal. Also, if you really want to, you could trade in TS for CS at any time. The dining plan is really convenient!

 

[Quinn222]

It's going to cost you $600 to add the dining plan and you are iffy about it. I'd upgrade one of your tickets to an annual pass and buy the DDE. With the DDE card you can save 20% on almost all TS meals, some CS meals and even acoholic drinks.

 

[safetymom]

CBR is a beautiful resort. You truly feel like you have escaped the world when you stay at CBR. It is fun for the entire family with the boat and bike rentals. You can stroll around the beautifully landscaped island and enjoy the secluded tables and hammocks. One of the best things to do at CBR is to lay in a hammock on Martinique Beach and watch the high fireworks from Illuminations at Epcot. CBR is great for families since the Main pool is next to the Food court.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We stayed at CSR a few years ago and loved it. I thought the room size was great. I also loved the Pepper Market - lots of choices. The pools were great, and my husband got a massage at the spa.

That being said, we always do the dining plan when we go now. We have tried so many new places, and we always save at least $250 on food.

If you don't want to use the spa, I say make the switch to CBR. My brother and his family just stayed there and loved it.

 

[latexscooter]

I'd make the switch and go with the dining plan. Sure each of the resorts has their own unique attributes but whichever you decide to stay at this time you can promise yourself to stay at the other next time. The deal-breaker for me is the dining plan - why pay extra right now if you don't have to. The dining plan is a convenience that we will never go without again. With a group as large as yours it'll be nice to not have to worry about economics when planning your meals.

 

[vanyel]

Much as I love CSR, I'd change. $600 additional to add dining for 6 for 6 nights. You would certainly spend more money on food than that! And CBR is a beautiful resort with great amenities.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

We have done both and really like CSR a lot more!

 

[Tiffer]

I would switch. You would spend at least $600 to eat without the plan, and with it you will get a much better selection of food. I originally priced the dining plan for our trip of just 2 adults and 1 child at $600. So you are getting 3 people free. Do it!! It's a great deal!

I totally agree. I have stayed at CBR twice and really liked it. Just look at resort map and request a building close to the main bildg and main pool.

Although the slide is not as big as CSR, it is really nice. Besides, the time of year you are going, it's not like you are going to be spending a tremendous amount of time in the pool...well, Iwouldn't be.

I really work my park hoppers and don't spend tons of time at the resort.

 

[cmbonneville]

Thanks for all the advice

You all are great!

I think (not in stone yet) we will end up switching because we would be saving so much with getting the dining plan at CBR.

Next trip (hopefully next year) we can always go to CSR


Thanks again everyone...

~Crystal

 

[Armandocme]

I would switch to CBR with the dining plan. Without the dining plan, the Pepper Market (counter service) at CSR automatically charges an extra 10% gratuity. They are the only counter service that does this. They do offer more of a selection than most other counter service restaurants but their prices are also more expensive than most.

As far as spending hours a day on food - you can get ADRs for TS near the park you will be visiting that day. This will save you some time travelling to and from the restaurant. You can also choose buffet style restaurants to avoid having to wait for your food to arrive. As far as flexibility you can call the dining ph# the day of or the day before to see what's available (in all likelyhood there will be a restaurant available but it may not be near the park you're at). I would recommend making your ADRs in advance.

 

[Hanover]

We are staying at CSR for the first time this December. We've stayed at CBR a few times and loved it...just wanted to try something new. I would highly recommend the dining plan.