First time staying at CSR

[Fiona35]

Hi

We're visiting Disney World for the first time and are staying at the CSR.

We've only booked a standard room and wondered if it was worth paying for any room upgrades as looking at a map we don't think we want to be in rancheros area as it seems a very long way from the food court, el centro, bus stop & pool. Also we would prefer not to look at a car park!

It seems like to get the free drinks you are going to have to walk miles, and never mind to the bus stop!!

Can anyone suggest a room location that might suit us or should we upgrade the room? Also would it be better to ask for a second floor room as I've heard that snakes can visit ground floor rooms?

I don't meant to be picky but the travel agent sorted it all out for us, and its only now that we are getting excited about the holiday and checking out maps etc!!

Thank you

 

[nkereina]

You can ask your travel agent to call and add a request for Casitas or Cabanas. It won't be guaranteed, but it's an option without paying more.

If you're willing to pay, your TA can check on availability for a preferred room which will guarantee you a room in Casitas 1, 2, or 3. You'll be close to El Centro where the food court is, but still a bit of a walk to the main pool.

There's also business class rooms in Cabanas 9B, which would guarantee you that location. It's a little further of a walk to El Centro (not by much), closer to the main pool, and probably the closest area to a bus stop. It's closest to bus stop 1 which is outside the front entrance of the resort, whereas the other bus stops are all across the parking lot I believe.

The snake thing with a ground floor room is a myth. Sure it could happen but it's unlikely. I wouldn't worry about that. If you're going to request anything, ask for a specific area like Cabanas or Casitas for your best shot at staying out of ranchos.

 

[loves to dive]

I was in Cabanas this September and it was about a 5 min. walk to the pool, where you can refill your drinks. It was about a 7 or 8 min. walk to El Centro where all the food was. I walked around the entire resort every morning and frankly, even Ranchos isn't that far.

 

[tinka-belle]

We stay at CSR often. No matter where you are, if going to El Centro you can hop on any park bus (not a DS bus) as the El Centro stop is the last stop before the buses leave for the parks. DH did this often on his morning walk for coffee (wanted to get outside, so did not make coffee in the room). He would jump onto any park bus if he saw one coming (the bus arrival time board at the bus stops makes this easier), get off at El Centro, get his mug filled with coffee, and walk back to the room.

Ranchos are closer to the main pool, but the Casitas or Cabanas are closer to El Centro than the Ranchos are. "Standard" rooms are scattered around the resort, except for buildings #1, 2, 3 and 9B. King rooms and water view rooms are scattered among all the other buildings too. Even in preferred building 3 you are not right at El Centro, can be a short walk depending on where your room is.

As far as view, most of the standard rooms face foliage or a walkway or a courtyard even if technically facing the parking lots or near them. There ARE some rooms with a real parking lot view, but not a big number of them. Besides, we rarely open our curtains when in the room to look at the view, it's the building and location that mean more to us. We most often get a ground floor room and have never had snakes in over a dozen stays, but you can certainly request higher floors.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

We've stayed in Ranchos twice. It's "far" from El Centro, but close to the Dig Site and Ranchos bus stop. It's very easy to hop on any THEME PARK bus and ride to the front of the resort. We did that whenever the kids were tired and didn't want to walk.

 

[jolene63]

We also stayed in Ranchos and loved it.

 

[GPC0321]

Hi

We're visiting Disney World for the first time and are staying at the CSR.

We've only booked a standard room and wondered if it was worth paying for any room upgrades as looking at a map we don't think we want to be in rancheros area as it seems a very long way from the food court, el centro, bus stop & pool. Also we would prefer not to look at a car park!

It seems like to get the free drinks you are going to have to walk miles, and never mind to the bus stop!!

Can anyone suggest a room location that might suit us or should we upgrade the room? Also would it be better to ask for a second floor room as I've heard that snakes can visit ground floor rooms?

I don't meant to be picky but the travel agent sorted it all out for us, and its only now that we are getting excited about the holiday and checking out maps etc!!

Thank you

I highly recommend the business class upgrade at CSR. The rooms are in Cabanas 9B which is smack dab in between the Dig Site main pool, the bus stop, and El Centro. Plus, you have access to the Coconino Cove lounge which offers continental breakfast every morning and afternoon/evening snacks and drinks (including beer, wine, sangria).

If upgrading to business class isn't an option, I'd opt for a preferred room in Casitas, so at least you're close to El Centro. Casitas is also the bus stop that gets picked up first, so that's a plus during days/times that the buses might be crowded. (For the record, the bus stop closest to business class is the last to get picked up to head to the parks).

CSR is a really nice resort. Enjoy!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We just got back on Friday! Casitas #1 is the place to be, it was not even a 'walk' to El Centro and the main pool and arcade were about a 7 minute walk. We did bring our car, so we parked very close to where our room was and all in all never walked more than the 7 minutes to anything. We happened to be there during the hurricane and we never got wet walking to el centro as our walk was all covered, but when the arcade was in free play mode and the kids wanted to head over there, we jogged and made it in less than 5 minutes

 

[HopperFan]

Hi

We're visiting Disney World for the first time and are staying at the CSR.

We've only booked a standard room and wondered if it was worth paying for any room upgrades as looking at a map we don't think we want to be in rancheros area as it seems a very long way from the food court, el centro, bus stop & pool. Also we would prefer not to look at a car park!

It seems like to get the free drinks you are going to have to walk miles, and never mind to the bus stop!!

Can anyone suggest a room location that might suit us or should we upgrade the room? Also would it be better to ask for a second floor room as I've heard that snakes can visit ground floor rooms?

I don't meant to be picky but the travel agent sorted it all out for us, and its only now that we are getting excited about the holiday and checking out maps etc!!

Thank you

We LOVE Ranchos.
- ALL sections have chance to look at "cars and parking"
- Ranchos is one area we can usually box in requests (not guaranteed but I've always gotten) to avoid cars
- Ranchos is steps to the main pool, which is awesome!
- Drink refills are available at the main pool in addition to a small quick service menu
- Even walking to the main hub it's no more than 5-6 minutes unless you stop to enjoy landscape
- Note Casitas has some rooms that are a long walk to main hub since they have no bridge shortcut
- EVERY section has a bus stop and Ranchos are no farther than any other
- Snakes can climb and enter any floor - don't leave your door open

All the assumptions you have made about Ranchos are not correct other than no rooms are next to main hub, but then half of Cabanas and Casitas aren't either. As you can see from PP they were in Casitas but walked 7 minutes to Main Pool, which is longer than our walk from Ranchos to Main Hub due to the bridges on the Cabanas side. I never walked that far to anywhere. (CSR is the third smallest moderate)

I would never waste money on a "preferred" room there, but if price were right I would book Business Class for the lounge offerings.
I have stayed in all three sections -
- Ranchos is the most creative interesting section theme wise.
- Cabanas are very beachy, hammocks, sand and bungalow feeling.
- Casitas feel like high rise Florida condos and many of the convention folks stay there. Not a vacation feel for us.

 

[Fiona35]

Hi All

Thank you for all your relies and tips,

Hmm looks like we have been looking at the wrong maps then! We found one which stated the walk from Ranchos was 20 mins to El Centro, but this appears to not be the case? It looks like 7b might be an option to ask for, as well as cabanas 8a & b?

We won't have a car so will rely on Disney transportation / Taxis to get around.

Thank you for setting us correct, as I said never been before, don't know what to expect and the internet seems to be wrong, but I knew you guys on here would have a better idea!!

 

[Roxyfire]

You can use google maps to better estimate a walk time but 20 minutes is about double what Google Maps shows here. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28....@28.3638088,-81.5735693,18z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e2

Now, I couldn't get the pin directly on the building but that accounts for basically what would be a pretty distant room. You can fill your mugs at Siestas Cantina (at the pool) or as the other previous posters said, use the bus to get around to the front if needed.

 

[hamilkm]

Cabanas 8a and 8b are a great location to me. We enjoyed our stay in that location. Super close to the Dig site where you can refill your mugs, eat breakfast, etc. and also close to a bus stop. It also was not a terrible walk to the main building. Our next stay we stayed in business class and this is now our favorite location if we get a good deal for it!

 

[saskdw]

Hi All

Thank you for all your relies and tips,

Hmm looks like we have been looking at the wrong maps then! We found one which stated the walk from Ranchos was 20 mins to El Centro, but this appears to not be the case? It looks like 7b might be an option to ask for, as well as cabanas 8a & b?

We won't have a car so will rely on Disney transportation / Taxis to get around.

Thank you for setting us correct, as I said never been before, don't know what to expect and the internet seems to be wrong, but I knew you guys on here would have a better idea!!

I have walked a circle around the entire resort in 15 mins. The walk from Ranchos to the front is 7-8 mins for a healthy person with no mobility issues. Add a couple minutes if you are dragging small kids with you or walk really slow. The size of this resort and walking distances are greatly exaggerated by many people.

Here is a video someone took walking from Ranchos 6B (farthest away from the front) to the main building. It took 7 mins and you can clearly see in the video it is a normal walking pace.

I'm not saying I wouldn't rather have a closer room, but worst case scenario is really not that bad.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I loved the Ranchos section too, but it is a walk.

 

[saskdw]

I loved the Ranchos section too, but it is a walk.

7 minutes.

 

[Micca]

CSR is a gorgeous resort, not a bad spot to enjoy the scenery on a 7 minute walk. If you have a car you'll appreciate that you can pretty much drive up next to your door at the end of a long day.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

7 minutes.

Well it took us a little longer, but not by much.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

20 minute walks are a grave exaggeration. It shouldn't take more than 10 unless one is using a snail's pace or roaming all over the walkways.