Do You Avoid Convention Resorts?

[Disneylover99]

Yes. We avoid convention resorts. Only because my husband loves to order packages. He hates being charged a fee to pick up his packages. Non convention resorts don't charge a fee.

 

[Nancyg56]

I actually prefer CSR during a big convention. The lobby, restaurants, and lounges are busier but bus transportation is generally emptier and the pool isn't busy until night.

WE stayed at CSR in December and I doubt I will ever stay there again. The resort was sold out to a convention on the day we were leaving, but none of us were told. We go to the pool in the morning for coffee.....the line was crazy, and no coffee pot! Oh no...the CM was doling one cup at a time and you needed to be in the breakfast line to "order". Peppermarket was closed to resort guests. The place was overlaid in the company logo.

Okay, we get coffee in Epcot, and come back for lunch before we go. Still we are not able to eat in Peppermarket. I was not upset that the resort food court was off limits, to us, but that none of us were told so we could make alternate plans. The resort was lovely, and the CM's very friendly. The General manager was everywhere at once....she was amazing, but.....Anyway, the GM made it right, but I doubt I will return.

 

[Oswin]

WE stayed at CSR in December and I doubt I will ever stay there again. The resort was sold out to a convention on the day we were leaving, but none of us were told. We go to the pool in the morning for coffee.....the line was crazy, and no coffee pot! Oh no...the CM was doling one cup at a time and you needed to be in the breakfast line to "order". Peppermarket was closed to resort guests. The place was overlaid in the company logo.

Okay, we get coffee in Epcot, and come back for lunch before we go. Still we are not able to eat in Peppermarket. I was not upset that the resort food court was off limits, to us, but that none of us were told so we could make alternate plans. The resort was lovely, and the CM's very friendly. The General manager was everywhere at once....she was amazing, but.....Anyway, the GM made it right, but I doubt I will return.

That sounds really frustrating! Even with a great GM and hard working CMs that would be a chaotic last day. Hopefully the next trip there isn't a crowd of that size at whichever resort you choose.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Several CS stays and never had an issue with the conventions personally (though our checkout day last week we were smack in the middle of a huge group at Pepper Market) I imagine an occasional one is out of control as people noted preciously but thank heavens we have not had that issue. We love business class rooms at CS and have only seen families/couples in the lounge. We see conventioneers in business clothes walking to main building but that is all we have experienced. We like the fact that they don't take up park busses at least in the morning. CS is our favorite hotel and I wouldn't hesitate staying there again. (Except it is sold out our next trip )

 

[AshleeH]

I prefer them. They're quieter because you don't have as many people coming in late at night and slamming doors.

 

[elsak]

The only negative thing I have heard from CSR is that their quick service food court is among the most expensive on property since people who are there for conventions often aren't paying for their own food, and therefore aren't concerned with the price.

 

[dansdad]

Short answer, no.

Long answer, no.

 

[nkereina]

The only negative thing I have heard from CSR is that their quick service food court is among the most expensive on property since people who are there for conventions often aren't paying for their own food, and therefore aren't concerned with the price.

Could be the reason, but CSR's quick service is (I believe) the only QS resort location operated by a third party. As such, their menu offerings and food type/quality is different than standard WDW operated QS fare. I would think this might contribute to the pricing as well.

 

[Micca]

They don't bother me. What's not to like about complimentary coffee and croissants?

 

[Tiggr924]

We stayed at CSR a few years ago and would never go back. We were located in an area with a bunch (100+) college interns at a convention. They were up all night partying, screaming and slamming doors. It was awful. Luckily it wasn't for our whole trip, prior to them arriving it was quiet and pleasant. But it was disruptive enough that we decided it wouldn't be worth risking it in the future.

 

[DWillowBay]

I don't let conventions keep me from any particular Resort. However, there are certain groups that I avoid ....Pop Warner...Cheerleaders. Neither of these are negative, but they are young people with lots of energy. That's exactly what I am escaping when I go for a solo trip, so I prefer not to share living space.

 

[Lucys dad]

Stayed at the Beach club on a few occassions and its never been an issue however the same cannot be said of the Swan the one and only time I stayed there. I never had a problem with the actual guests themselves it was the attitude of the hotel staff that really annoyed me. I was there with my daughter and the majority of the other guests were there at a huge dental convention. It was very noticeable that the guests at the convention were treated as you would expect but the service we received from the staff was pretty awful. It was obvious the staff were diverting all their energies looking after the corporate guests. Our treatment ranged from indifference to down right rudeness. I dont realy look for much from staff, a bit of civlity and thats it but I was amazed how poor they were. As I say, its more of a staffing issue than a problem withe the actual convention guests.

 

[brooke789]

No one's mentioned the fee for receiving packages! That turns us off as we'd like to send things from Amazon Prime etc, but the convention resorts charge $10 (last I read) per package received.

 

[Disneylover99]

No one's mentioned the fee for receiving packages! That turns us off as we'd like to send things from Amazon Prime etc, but the convention resorts charge $10 (last I read) per package received.

See post at the top of this page.

We probably order between 6-12 packages per trip. The fee does add up.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

No reason to!

AKK

 

[Awnry]

I thought a convention resort would be a plus as well, but my most recent experience has me thinking otherwise.

I think it REALLY depends on the type of convention that will be in town. During my most recent stay at CSR (early February this year), the two conventions that were there during that week made my resort experience rather unfavorable. The first convention was a very obnoxious group (Paul Mitchell schools--hair stylists/cosmetologists) and the second was for an online college. The convention-goers at the first convention were very rude and often filled up the buses (I felt like they were barely actually attending their convention) and while the second group was much less obnoxious, they also filled up the resort buses. Buses to Disney Springs (since it's free) were ESPECIALLY crowded. It was always awful trying to get a bus there during a convention, no matter the time of day. Park buses were not as crowded as Disney Springs, but you could definitely feel the effects of the conventions.

So while you may think that convention-goers stick to their convention and don't leave the hotel, that's not always the case. I know that if I were going to be in Disney for something work-related, I would find some time to hit up the parks. So, again, I'm sure it depends on the type of convention being hosted at the resort. For me, my most recent experience has me wanting to stay away from "convention resorts" for a while.

You may want to just check the calendar for CSR before planning so that you know what sort of convention-goers you'll be dealing with.

 

[gwynne]

As mentioned above, it depends on the type of convention/conference. Our negative CSR experience was during a very large vocal musical conference. I had no idea CSR uses resort rooms as rehearsal rooms. The multiple vocal warm ups started at 7:30am sharp every morning accompanied by what sounded like digital pianos. When I asked at the desk, they just shrugged and said they need rehearsal rooms so they use the resort rooms.
I love music, but this was over the top.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Convention goers may find some time to hit up the parks, but it's not usually the same time as those who stay for the reason of visting the parks. So emptier buses for most park-goers. Unless you're on the late bus back from Disney Springs.

 

[Sandi]

I love Coronado Springs and have stayed there many times. We did have a bad convention experience once when a tire company convention took over most of the grounds around the lake in the center of the resort. Chairs, podiums for musicians, tables of food, electrical cables running everywhere. It was a mess. Many of the conventioneers were drunk and loud. We took a bus to Downtown Disney one night with a group of the conventioneers and I was actually intimidated by the obnoxious behavior of the men.

Not our favorite Disney trip.

That was the convention when we stayed there! It was several years ago and was our only stay there. It was just me and my DD and it was very uncomfortable.

 

[PlainJane]

I love Coronado Springs and have stayed there many times. We did have a bad convention experience once when a tire company convention took over most of the grounds around the lake in the center of the resort. Chairs, podiums for musicians, tables of food, electrical cables running everywhere. It was a mess. Many of the conventioneers were drunk and loud. We took a bus to Downtown Disney one night with a group of the conventioneers and I was actually intimidated by the obnoxious behavior of the men.

Not our favorite Disney trip.

That's too bad. The only big outdoor convention party I've ever seen was at the beach club and the party goers were behaving themselves.

Yes. We avoid convention resorts. Only because my husband loves to order packages. He hates being charged a fee to pick up his packages. Non convention resorts don't charge a fee.

We've never ordered packages to be sent to the resort, but I can see where that would add up if we did!

WE stayed at CSR in December and I doubt I will ever stay there again. The resort was sold out to a convention on the day we were leaving, but none of us were told. We go to the pool in the morning for coffee.....the line was crazy, and no coffee pot! Oh no...the CM was doling one cup at a time and you needed to be in the breakfast line to "order". Peppermarket was closed to resort guests. The place was overlaid in the company logo.

Okay, we get coffee in Epcot, and come back for lunch before we go. Still we are not able to eat in Peppermarket. I was not upset that the resort food court was off limits, to us, but that none of us were told so we could make alternate plans. The resort was lovely, and the CM's very friendly. The General manager was everywhere at once....she was amazing, but.....Anyway, the GM made it right, but I doubt I will return.

Yeah, there really should have been a heads up. A sign by the Pepper Market posted days in advance, a flyer when checking in making guests aware, a voicemail, etc.

They don't bother me. What's not to like about complimentary coffee and croissants?

We stayed at CSR a few years ago and would never go back. We were located in an area with a bunch (100+) college interns at a convention. They were up all night partying, screaming and slamming doors. It was awful. Luckily it wasn't for our whole trip, prior to them arriving it was quiet and pleasant. But it was disruptive enough that we decided it wouldn't be worth risking it in the future.

Yikes! I would have been asked to be moved/called security. I can see not wanting to move in the middle of the night though.

I don't let conventions keep me from any particular Resort. However, there are certain groups that I avoid ....Pop Warner...Cheerleaders. Neither of these are negative, but they are young people with lots of energy. That's exactly what I am escaping when I go for a solo trip, so I prefer not to share living space.

Yeah, that's one of the bigger downsides to some of the values and moderates to me, the teenage groups. I've stayed at ASMu where there was a noticeable high school group, but we weren't staying near them, so I just saw them around the public areas. They were pretty well behaved.

Stayed at the Beach club on a few occassions and its never been an issue however the same cannot be said of the Swan the one and only time I stayed there. I never had a problem with the actual guests themselves it was the attitude of the hotel staff that really annoyed me. I was there with my daughter and the majority of the other guests were there at a huge dental convention. It was very noticeable that the guests at the convention were treated as you would expect but the service we received from the staff was pretty awful. It was obvious the staff were diverting all their energies looking after the corporate guests. Our treatment ranged from indifference to down right rudeness. I dont realy look for much from staff, a bit of civlity and thats it but I was amazed how poor they were. As I say, its more of a staffing issue than a problem withe the actual convention guests.

Yeah, that definitely falls onto the hotel management. I'm sorry for your bad experience.

I thought a convention resort would be a plus as well, but my most recent experience has me thinking otherwise.

I think it REALLY depends on the type of convention that will be in town. During my most recent stay at CSR (early February this year), the two conventions that were there during that week made my resort experience rather unfavorable. The first convention was a very obnoxious group (Paul Mitchell schools--hair stylists/cosmetologists) and the second was for an online college. The convention-goers at the first convention were very rude and often filled up the buses (I felt like they were barely actually attending their convention) and while the second group was much less obnoxious, they also filled up the resort buses. Buses to Disney Springs (since it's free) were ESPECIALLY crowded. It was always awful trying to get a bus there during a convention, no matter the time of day. Park buses were not as crowded as Disney Springs, but you could definitely feel the effects of the conventions.

So while you may think that convention-goers stick to their convention and don't leave the hotel, that's not always the case. I know that if I were going to be in Disney for something work-related, I would find some time to hit up the parks. So, again, I'm sure it depends on the type of convention being hosted at the resort. For me, my most recent experience has me wanting to stay away from "convention resorts" for a while.

You may want to just check the calendar for CSR before planning so that you know what sort of convention-goers you'll be dealing with.

When I think of conventions, I think of the ones my dad used to go to with a bunch of accountants, which makes for a pretty low key group.

One of the events going on during one of our CSR stays was a huge family reunion. You would see them walking around in their matching shirts and they had a banner by the convention center welcoming their family. Whole different dynamic than a convention with a bunch of 20 somethings.

As mentioned above, it depends on the type of convention/conference. Our negative CSR experience was during a very large vocal musical conference. I had no idea CSR uses resort rooms as rehearsal rooms. The multiple vocal warm ups started at 7:30am sharp every morning accompanied by what sounded like digital pianos. When I asked at the desk, they just shrugged and said they need rehearsal rooms so they use the resort rooms.
I love music, but this was over the top.

That sounds like another management issue. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? It sounds like CSR does sometimes struggle to balance the needs of their convention and regular park going guests.


Well, I think I've learned that staying in a convention resort is normally a non-issue (as has always been my experience), but to avoid less than pleasant groups checking which convention is going to be staying at the resort is a good idea. I've also learned that some resorts are better than others at balancing the needs of all of their guests.