Did we feel the $2K difference? CSR vs Poly

[chocovrdmicears]

So to me, it seems as your issues are more because of your sons special needs and would be the same at any resort.

Some of the issues we had were related to my son, which is why I prefaced my review with that. Some issues, like the size of the resort and the 100% dependence on the bus system had nothing to do with him but did impact our family. Those issues could be relevant to anyone who has little ones or are traveling with someone who needs to get in and out of parks quickly. We had 3 very successful stays at the Poly because that resort works well for our family and its needs. Clearly some of my issues may not apply to everyone...but I thought it would be helpful to review the resort from MY families point of view. I am glad you enjoyed your stay there.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

WHAT?!?!?!? No hot water in the shower!!! Did you complain and what happened!! This would have been a big deal for me.

Yes, we called them the second day it happened which was our check out day. They asked when could maintence come and look at it and I said anytime because we were checking out in 20 minutes. They said "Thank you for calling to report the problem." I hope for the sake of the next guests they addressed the problem.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I do have a question, and I don't mean to be snide, I'm just curious. When you stay at the Poly (or any monorail resort, for that matter), what do you do for transportation to MGM and AK? Everyone says the monorail resorts are better because of the monorail, but on the several occasions we've had dinner at a monorail resort, we've found the bus service TERRIBLE.

I hope your 2008 trip is better!

I don't think your question is snide at all!
Our family spends the majority of our vacation at the MK or Epcot. Of our 8 days we spent 6 of them at those 2 parks. We only spend 1 day at MGM & 1 at AK. We use the buses for those 2 days when staying at the Poly. 2 days we could handle...it was the 100% dependency on the bus system all 8 days that became a struggle for us.

 

[Sammie]

It is all about perception. There is nothing wrong about preferring one resort over another, but there is truly no resort at Disney without the Disney feel to it. If it was every single guest that stayed there would feel the same way.

The Disney feel is determined by an individual as to what they perceive it to be. To some it is and always will be the Polynesian; but for just as many it will be Coronado Springs.

As long as I am at a Disney owned and managed resort they all feel Disney to me, they just offer different amenities.

As to the long lines at the food court, friends just returned during free dining and had the same comment about Captain Cook's, that it was packed.

The very reason Disney offers so many different types of resort experiences is so that guests can determine what best fits them.

For the OP, obviously the Polynesian fits best. Does that make it a better resort than CSR, absolutely not, only better for her and her family.

 

[Doc631]

Sorry that your stay at CSR wasn't so great. I've stayed at Movies 2x and loved it too. DH wants to upgrade to a moderate resort next time but I don't think we would be any more happy than if we went back to All Stars. It seems like many people don't find the Disney feeling at CSR.

 

[Kanga1]

We, too, thought that CSR had a less than magical feel for us. We were there for 12 nights this past June and, although the resort is indeed gorgeous (and has one of the best bus systems IMO,) it just didn't feel "Disney" to us. I think the hugeness of the resort, coupled with the fact that it is a convention resort, really turned us off. In fact, this "convention" thing really caught me off guard! Prior to the trip I was actually looking forward to seeing conventioneers (I think I even have a post about it somewhere) because it would remind me that I'm NOT at work! However, when we got there, the tone of the guests was quite different from any of the other resorts we've stayed at. The guests in the PM, the lobby, the walkways were, lets just say they seemed "cranky." They were snippy at the cash registers and rarely had smiles on their faces. I missed seeing the happy families just glad to be on vacation. We also didn't feel like we could enjoy the beauty of the resort. Everytime we'd take a leisurely walk, we'd practically get run over from those speeding carts! I felt like I was walking on a major highway sometimes!

Don't get me wrong, we had a great time and we're glad we tried CSR. We loved the pool, the food at the PM (not the set up of it) and definitely the buses. It just wasn't our cup of tea either. We much preferred our stay at POFQ.

Booked the Poly for summer 2008!

 

[Amy&Dan]

OP: I agree your report was very good in that you posted your honest experiences without some of the pettiness other reports take!

I might suggest you post this over on Disney for Families and the disAbilities boards too. There are other people with similar circumstances who might find your report really helpful.

Congratulations on booking the Poly for next year! And if you ever want to save money again, a studio stay at SSR either cash or renting points would be cheaper than the Poly. It has a wonderful zero entry pool your son would love. But get a car, its huge too!

 

[MeLaNie9]

It is all about perception. There is nothing wrong about preferring one resort over another, but there is truly no resort at Disney without the Disney feel to it. If it was every single guest that stayed there would feel the same way.

The Disney feel is determined by an individual as to what they perceive it to be. To some it is and always will be the Polynesian; but for just as many it will be Coronado Springs.

As long as I am at a Disney owned and managed resort they all feel Disney to me, they just offer different amenities.

As to the long lines at the food court, friends just returned during free dining and had the same comment about Captain Cook's, that it was packed.

The very reason Disney offers so many different types of resort experiences is so that guests can determine what best fits them.

For the OP, obviously the Polynesian fits best. Does that make it a better resort than CSR, absolutely not, only better for her and her family.

I totally agree.
Overall, we loved our first family stay at Poly - it is beautiful and being at a monorail resort was great, but it is very true that the bus service to MGM, AK, and DTD was horrible.
Our second trip with kids was to YC and we just didn't like it - the theming/decor, the rooms, the CMs. It just wasn't for us. However, we did really enjoy the ability to walk over to Epcot via the International Gateway and then walk to the front of the park to catch the monorail.
It really is a matter of personal preference and needs - and each resort probably has something that will be a negative for someone and something else that will be a positive.
We are trying CSR this time around. We are hoping that a convention resort will be quiet and that it will indeed have good bus service.
Thanks for your well-thought-out review...I really found your comments about Maya Grill interesting. We just added 2 days to our stay and were considering making an ADR there - we are looking for a place that is good but not super popular so that we can get a reasonably timed ADR at this late date. There are very few reviews of this place on the DIS, however most have been good.

 

[dclfun]

Thanks for posting this report! I had wondered about Pepper Market, esp. for breakfast. We just returned from a stay at Pop with the free dining offer and the food court was a madhouse- sounds though now like all the food courts are mobbed no matter whether it's value, mod, or deluxe ( since someone also mentioned the crowds at Captain Cook's at the Poly ). I too, travel with special needs which are a power wheelchair ( and some attached medical equipment) and a service dog. It's tough to be dependent on the busses and sometimes the boats to the resorts are not accessible if the water level isn't just right. Finding the perfect resort, within a specific budget, isn't an easy task. I'm glad you've found what works best for your family- that's a really important part of planning.---Kathy

 

[binky]

Sorry about your stay.

Your report will help others make an informed decision.

Glad you were able to book the Poly for next year!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Thanks for your honest review. Although we have never stayed their my ds is going for his senior class trip in may and I am wondering about the former smoking rooms too since he has very bad asthma. Also they are a group of 40 plus who will have food vouchers so this waiting in line thing does not sound too goo either for the pepper market.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks for the well written review. Hope your next travels are magical and easy.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We were very close to booking CSR for our upcoming December trip - we were trying to save some $ and like you, we were looking at it as a new adventure, not a "step down" from AKL where we had previously stayed.
In the end we decided to go back to our tried and true AKL, and your review has made me feel better about the decision.
I don't know how much swimming we'll be doing in Dec, but if there is no option between 3 inches and 4 feet of water, that would be a problem for us too...we love the zero-entry at AKL. And as beautiful as the grounds are at CSR, I don't think I'd want to spend 20-30 minutes walking them to get coffee.

 

[Caren]

I've stayed at Coronado Springs probably at least half a dozen times. In my opinion, it's the most unpredictable of the resorts. The level of service, the cleanliness of the rooms, food quality, and the frequency of buses all seem to vary a lot.

Some of this variation is due to it being a convention hotel--if you're there with a large, noisy, drunken convention, the hotel can be a nightmare. Also, convention goers seem to be more likely to smoke in non-smoking rooms, leaving the next guest with that ashtray effect. But if you stay at the hotel when no large conventions are going on, it can feel like you have the hotel to yourself and it's lovely.

But you can't lay all the blame on conventions--the food quality, for instance, is sometimes pretty good and sometimes just awful. The pool is sometimes great and sometimes ice cold. The rooms are sometimes clean and sometimes not. You can't blame these things on the most recent convention.

Personally, I've enjoyed the Coronado a lot in the past, but don't stay there unless I'm attached to a convention or get a particularly good deal.

 

[Guzzi]

It is very interesting to read your report and the various responses which have been posted. Ive always wondered if the 1500$ difference btwn the mods we stayed at and the Poly would be worth it, but unfortunately for us, the Poly is just out of our price range and for our return trip I think we are going to stay at the CSR again. We stayed there in 06 and really loved it

We found the transportation to be great, and as was stated by lots of folks this is a really big resort. When we went we requested Casitas 1 or Cabana 9 which flank the pepper market and convention center on either side. We got Casitas 1 and it worked out really great for us I thought that the handiest feature of that stay was the ability to walk from our room to the main bus stop completely covered from the rain with the exception of about 60 feet or so of the walk. We are forced to travel in the summer so thunder storms are an important consideration for us.

As for the Disney Feel, I have to say I have always been a little confused by this. , What is the disney feel Now we have only made two trips, the first was the the CBR and then to CSR. We didnt feel that there was any great difference bwtween the resorts or the service. The cast members at both hotels were great, our rooms were great, the housekeeping folks were great the themes of the hotels were very pretty. When we were at CSR in 06 one morning at the bus stop, a women guest was chatting with my wife and mentioned that she didnt really like the resort because it lacked that Disney Feel Im still confused as to what she ment. I know that there were a couple of small conventions when we were staying there but they had no impact on our stay except improving the quality of the food that was offered in CS meals in the Pepper market they were much better than CBR.

I need someone to explain to me what the disney feel is and how it differs between the CBR and CSR. Was it just the conventioners, I guess that changes the resort a little, but we really didnt pay attention to those folks or anyone else at the resort for that matter. we just kinda did our own thing and spent 95% of our time at the parks. We did spend one evening at the pool instead of the parks and my kids 7 & 13 loved the pool and slide (thats why we chose to try CSR rather than return to CBR)

So tell me, what is that disney feel thats missing from CSR maybe I didnt realize that I didnt like the resort LOL

 

[Grendalynn]

We stayed at WL last month, and while it is a lovely resort we found the transportation to be HORRIBLE...

Yes, the boat goes directly to MK from WL. Between 8:30 AM and 3 PM. Not good if you have an 8 AM ADR. The bus to Epcot went to Ft. Wilderness first. The bus coming back from AK went to GF first. It took us 55 minutes to get to DTD. NOTHING was direct, and you never knew where all you would stop before you got where you needed to go. Figuring transport time was impossible because it was a complete crap shoot! Based exclusively on how frustrated we were with the bus/boat situation we won't go back to WL.

What!!? I just booked our April 08 stay at WL and was not aware that the boats didnt start until 8:30... I wanted the location, luxury and feel of a deluxe, but not the full price tag of Poly, GF or CR. We will have an 18mo when we go in 4/08 and wanted the convenience of being close to MK and being closer than and outter laying resport. Buses are OK, but not my first pick! Just being on the WDW Monorail is thrilling - it brings back great memories of being a kid and that no-cares in the world feeling!! I will have to look into the transportation thing this evening - I wonder if its too late to switch resorts...??? Thanks for the note and too bad to hear about your not so great stay... Live and learn, at leat you were able to expience Disney with your kiddos!! Better luck next time!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

So tell me, what is that disney feel thats missing from CSR maybe I didnt realize that I didnt like the resort LOL

Hmmm..not sure if I can explain the Disney Feel for you? ..I guess The Disney Feel is sort of like resort preferences, favorite ride or favorite dining experiences...it's different & personal for everyone.

The Disney Feel of a resort for me is a combination of things...Yes, it's about the cleanliness, the kindness of the CM's, the transportation , pools etc...But it goes beyond that..It is about the sights and the smells...the feelings you have while staying there..the memories you family shares there...For the rest of my life I will remember sitting on the beach of the Poly at night after a wonderful day at the parks with our kids, staring out at the beautiful view, sipping a Ohana Colada, listening to the tropical music in the background, holding my husbands hand, wondering if he was going to get his dream job that he was waiting to hear about.

Everyone seems to have one special resort that feels like 'home' to them...The Disney Feel from a resort, for many, completes the vacation experience while at the World. Some folks are all about the wonderful total Disney theming or the many options at the food courts and the fun pools at the Value (and each Value has it's loyal following)..Some prefer the specific themes, pools and transportation options at the moderates....and some love the amenities, dining options and theming difference of the Deluxe resorts like the animals at the AKL, the fun energy at the Boardwalk, the tropical feeling of the Poly or the peaceful feeling of the WL. The Disney Feel seems to be inspired by a persons tastes, expectations and experiences.

Every resort in every price range with every type of theme has the Disney Feel for someone. It's just finding the one that fits you. When you do find the Disney Feel in the perfect resort for you...you will find yourself missing the actual resort as much as your favorite attraction or dining experience. You will find yourself dreaming about the resort and your Disney vacations may never feel the same staying somewhere else.

 

[binky]

Hmmm..not sure if I can explain the Disney Feel for you? ..I guess The Disney Feel is sort of like resort preferences, favorite ride or favorite dining experiences...it's different & personal for everyone.

The Disney Feel of a resort for me is a combination of things...Yes, it's about the cleanliness, the kindness of the CM's, the transportation , pools etc...But it goes beyond that..It is about the sights and the smells...the feelings you have while staying there..the memories you family shares there...For the rest of my life I will remember sitting on the beach of the Poly at night after a wonderful day at the parks with our kids, staring out at the beautiful view, sipping a Ohana Colada, listening to the tropical music in the background, holding my husbands hand, wondering if he was going to get his dream job that he was waiting to hear about.

Everyone seems to have one special resort that feels like 'home' to them...The Disney Feel from a resort, for many, completes the vacation experience while at the World. Some folks are all about the wonderful total Disney theming or the many options at the food courts and the fun pools at the Value (and each Value has it's loyal following)..Some prefer the specific themes, pools and transportation options at the moderates....and some love the amenities, dining options and theming difference of the Deluxe resorts like the animals at the AKL, the fun energy at the Boardwalk, the tropical feeling of the Poly or the peaceful feeling of the WL. The Disney Feel seems to be inspired by a persons tastes, expectations and experiences.

Every resort in every price range with every type of theme has the Disney Feel for someone. It's just finding the one that fits you. When you do find the Disney Feel in the perfect resort for you...you will find yourself missing the actual resort as much as your favorite attraction or dining experience. You will find yourself dreaming about the resort and your Disney vacations may never feel the same staying somewhere else.

Wow! This is a very thoughtful and well-expressed post. You've hit the nail on the head!

 

[Buzz2001]

Everyone seems to have one special resort that feels like 'home' to them...The Disney Feel from a resort, for many, completes the vacation experience while at the World. Some folks are all about the wonderful total Disney theming or the many options at the food courts and the fun pools at the Value (and each Value has it's loyal following)..Some prefer the specific themes, pools and transportation options at the moderates....and some love the amenities, dining options and theming difference of the Deluxe resorts like the animals at the AKL, the fun energy at the Boardwalk, the tropical feeling of the Poly or the peaceful feeling of the WL. The Disney Feel seems to be inspired by a persons tastes, expectations and experiences.

So true and CSR has all that you mention IMO. Mod prices, deluxe amenities, great CM's, it's perfect! Best transportation, awesome pool and terrific food!! Sorry it wasn't for you.

 

[Grendalynn]

Hmmm..not sure if I can explain the Disney Feel for you? ..I guess The Disney Feel is sort of like resort preferences, favorite ride or favorite dining experiences...it's different & personal for everyone.

The Disney Feel of a resort for me is a combination of things...Yes, it's about the cleanliness, the kindness of the CM's, the transportation , pools etc...But it goes beyond that..It is about the sights and the smells...the feelings you have while staying there..the memories you family shares there...For the rest of my life I will remember sitting on the beach of the Poly at night after a wonderful day at the parks with our kids, staring out at the beautiful view, sipping a Ohana Colada, listening to the tropical music in the background, holding my husbands hand, wondering if he was going to get his dream job that he was waiting to hear about.

Everyone seems to have one special resort that feels like 'home' to them...The Disney Feel from a resort, for many, completes the vacation experience while at the World. Some folks are all about the wonderful total Disney theming or the many options at the food courts and the fun pools at the Value (and each Value has it's loyal following)..Some prefer the specific themes, pools and transportation options at the moderates....and some love the amenities, dining options and theming difference of the Deluxe resorts like the animals at the AKL, the fun energy at the Boardwalk, the tropical feeling of the Poly or the peaceful feeling of the WL. The Disney Feel seems to be inspired by a persons tastes, expectations and experiences.

Every resort in every price range with every type of theme has the Disney Feel for someone. It's just finding the one that fits you. When you do find the Disney Feel in the perfect resort for you...you will find yourself missing the actual resort as much as your favorite attraction or dining experience. You will find yourself dreaming about the resort and your Disney vacations may never feel the same staying somewhere else.

I very much a gree with the PP about hitting the nail on the head about this and describing that feeling! I could not have said it better myself! Especially about the sensory things: sights sounds and smells! To this day I will smell a musty smell and say "Oh! It smells like Disney!" My kids and hubby think I am wacked!! I went through the carwash the other day and the smell of the water smelled like the water rides of River Country long ago!! Or like the water from Pirates or Small world... I took the deepest breaths I could before it was all over and my childhood visits and memories flashed infornt of my eyes!! And teh waterfall in te lobby of Poly smells the same it did in the 70's!! How crazy is that??

And you made me want to save save save all that extra $$ for our upcoming trip that I am always skeptical about... Can we afford this? Will we have it paid off in time?? And all that jazz... Thanks so much for the post, I will be sharing this with my DH tonight as I get our list ready for our DD ressies!!