Just Back...CSR was wonderful during Hurricane Charley

[epcotfan]

Hi Everyone,
Just got back yesterday from CSR. I took my mother and two cousins (age 11 and 12) to CSR from the 9th - 17th. The resort staff were wonderful during the hurricane. As always everyone was really nice and helpful during our stay. Couldn't have asked to have been at a better hotel during the hurricane.
The staff was terrific in keeping us updated with information regarding the storm. They were churning out boxed lunches for resort guests. They had children's activities in the ballrooms on the 13th after the parks closed early. They sent runners to each room with an information sheet on what to do during the hurricane. Basically advised us to stay away from the window and to keep the double lock off the door for an emergency rescue. They also advised people in the outer buildings (i.e. Ranchos and Cabanas) to stay away from El Centro. People raided Panchitos and bought candles, batteries and food items. A large palm was hit during the storm and had collapsed onto our roof in Casita 3. The grounds keepers ended up cutting it down two days later. After the hurricane the entire walkway around our room was littered with palm foliage and other debris. I was amazed that they were able to quickly clean up the mess. Lago Dorado looked like it was boiling the way the winds were hitting it.
Anyhow, I'm exhausted so I will try to write more later. If you have any questions just ask

 

[motaei]

epcotfan - glad to hear you made it through OK & that the CSR CMs handled everything so well.

 

[Buzz2001]

Welcome back Epcotfan! Glad to see you made it safe and sound.

 

[Rhonda922]

We're staying at CSR in October and DH keeps wondering what kind of shape the hotel is in. I told him they have 2 months before we get there and I'm sure we won't even notice anything is out of place.

I would've flipped with that tree hitting the roof.

Did you request a specific building before you got there? I put in my request already and I'm wondering what the chances are that I'll actually get it.

How was mousekeeping?

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

Wow glad they made it fun for the kids....

Do they have coffeemakers in every room? or do we need to ask housekeeping!!
thanks!

 

[Kimickey]

I tip my hat off to the staff at the Coronado Springs. The staff there is the reason why my family continues to come back to the resort. We were there during the hurricane and the staff literally bent over backwards to help us in any way they could. The information regarding the storm and updates about the theme parks as well and MCO was awesome. This resort was the pillar of Disney professionalism. We stayed in Casitas 3, on the bottom floor right in from of the lake and to see the palm trees and bushes being whipped around and the lake take a rain and wind beating was amazing. We've never experinced anything like that before. The CSR never broke a sweat. The CSR Rocks!!!!!! I would not want to be anywhere else.

 

[Rhonda922]

Does CSR require a credit card or cash for a deposit at check-in? Some hotels that I've been to want a credit card on file for 'incidentals' like movies, long-distance calls, etc.

 

[epcotfan]

Hey Kimickey,
I too was in Casita 3 near the lake on the second floor. Rooms 3233 and 3234. You are right about the staff. They were awesome. I felt bad they were working so hard to please guests when I'm sure they were concerned about their own homes and families during the hurricane.

To answer some other questions:
Yes there are coffee makers in the room.

I requested connecting non-smoking rooms and was granted them. The girl that checked us in knew we wanted Cabanas but unfortunately they didn't have any connecting rooms available at that time. So CRO did have all our requests noted. I was happy with our location as it was only a two minute walk to El Centro.
I think it is better to ask to be in a certain area, ie close to a bus stop, El Centro or a pool. Gives the room controller more to work with.

I think our rooms had brand new beds. I saw a man carrying out old mattresses from Casita 3 when we were brought to our room. The mattresses in our room had new tags sticking out of them. Very comfortable. The rugs also look like they had just been replaced. Housekeeping was terrific as always.

On one occasion my cousin got his toilet backed up. (Thank goodness it didn't overflow) I called housekeeping and they sent two people right away. They were so nice and very professional. I told the kids not to use so much toilet paper the next time.

Housekeeping left us a nice message the day we kept our "do not disturb" signs on the door. They told us to give them a call if we needed service. We also decided upon checking in we needed a fridge. When we got to our room we called housekeeping. After our stay at AKL I figured we would have to wait hours to get one. Our fridge was delivered within a half hour of calling. Awesome service! The room was immaculate. Although the dresser drawers need to be cleaned out. Obviously the people there before us had put something in there that created crumbs.

I love the privacy curtain they have added to the rooms. Makes getting dressed much easier.

The staff in the Pepper Market were awesome. Everytime we went there someone got us drinks and made sure we were comfortable. One of the women at the PM was great with the kids.

The only complaint (which has nothing to do with CSR) was the two families that were next door to us. The first one left their clock radio on high volume the day they checked out at 6am. I could hear it through the wall. The family that replaced them had one brat of a kid who kept going in and out of the room and slamming the door. One day he walked up to our window and rubbed the fog away from the glass and peered in. Very rude.

The resort was packed with people coming in to get away from the Hurricane. We avoided the Pepper Market and got sandwiches from La Tienda (which were very good btw) and hung out in the room. Disney TV put on animated features to entertain the kids during the storm. They also had Goofy, Mary Poppins and her penguin, and Belle entertaining the kids in El Centro.

My vitual hat goes off to all the staff who work at CSR. Thanks for a great stay during a chaotic situation.

 

[Kimickey]

epcotfan


That's too funny we had Rooms 3233 and 3234 last year. They are connecting rooms right? Dh and I were in 3234 and DBIL and wife were in 3233. If these are the same rooms???

You know what, I may have saw you. I ran into a couple of people from Canada while there. I'm african american tall, slender and had my hair pushed back into a pony tail. You also may have see me pushing my son in his stroller, it was black and gray stoller that we call the "limo" because it looks very comfortable and roomy. You also may have seen me with my DD who is six years old skipping around the CSR (because she absolutely loves the CSR). We were in room 3167 (I'm requesting this room each and every time we go back) Excellent room and view.

The CSR has been renovating the Casitas ever since last year. The rooms are gorgeous. I love this resort, it just gives me warm fuzzies everytime me visit!

 

[epcotfan]

Yup, those are the same connecting rooms. Very weird
I don't think I saw you as I only chatted with a British family in La Tienda. Although I'm sure we probably crossed paths at some point Too bad we didn't get to chat.

 

[Kimickey]

I did see someone standing in front of the rooms you stayed in as I was trying to remember where we stayed last year, so I stared at the rooms for a moment. It was the 16th. DH and I were checking out. Yeah it is too bad we did not get to chat, that would have been great.

 

[Liz]

Welcome home!!! Sounds like CSR was great, as usual!!!

 

[Mercy]

Hey epcotfan, I was there also during Charley, we were in Cabana 9B. I also thought CSR did an excellent job. We did eat at the Pepper Market that night, later we heard about the buffet they opened up in the convention center. And you were right it was packed with people. My DH and some "neighbors" had sort of a hurricane party outside our rooms during the hurricane.

 

[drp4video]

I was at POP Century for Charley, and they also kept us informed as well. Phone messages, hand out's, they were awesome! Disney really had it together.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We were at the Poly in the Hawaii building during Hurricane Charlie, and they too were wonderful throughout the storm! They kept us well informed, well fed and did it all with smiles on their faces even though many of the CMs had been at work for 12+ hours!

 

[dcg0317]

Hi Epcotfan
Glad to hear you had a wonderfull time, I'm now in the planning stage of going back to CSR next Aug (2005) with DS and can't wait. Just reading your post makes me wish we were going sooner. How where the crowds in the parks? Thanks for sharing and welcome back.
Don