Just back from CSR ( won't be returning )

[DJ Disney Kid]

Just got back this afternoon. We had a good time, nice weather and low crowds, but we were all put off by the price increase in food at the Pepper Market compared to the other resorts.

Cheeseburger and fries = $9.75

Plus add a 10% gratuity if you want to sit down and eat inside. In my opinion it really was a sit down fee. I got up and refilled my own mug and didn't need them to bring me silverware for pizza or cheeseburgers.

Also, as many have mentioned, we didn't like the conventioners all around, either. Too many people with dress clothes, cell phones and laptops. It was like a 90/10 ratio of business people to vacationers. Also, at night, the outdoor bar was packed with these conventioners who were loud and rowdy. So I either have to pay 10% more to sit in the Pepper Market and eat in quiet or sit outside with the rowdies, or walk back to my room with my food and not be able to refill my mug. Just a side note, I understand 10% doesn't sound like alot, but when you factor in the prices are already higher to begin with, plus tax, your at almost $12 for a cheeseburger with fries, and thats only one meal out of your day.

The resort itself is very nice and if they did away with the high prices at Pepper Market and had a whole seperate section for conventioners that wouldn't come in contact with the vacationers, I would return. I am glad I tried it though, atleast now I know for the future.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[SGMCO]

I see that you've stayed at POR, CBR and now CSR
can you tell me how the other MODs compaired to CSR?
Which was your favorite MOD? thanks

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I have to say as nice as the grounds are at CSR we will not stay there if other options are available either.Just for the factors you mentioned. I try to escape the real world when at Disney and it's hard to do there.

I think the Slower Disney times are worse as they Sell the Conventions at that time to fill rooms.

I also know other places have Convention centers attached but CSR just seems like it's in your face all the time more then the others.

POFQ is our Mod of choice when not staying on our DVC points.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since the Contemporary is one of the Resorts with a convention center that is adjacent to it, I have seen my fair share of guests who are there for a convention. Personally I have no problems with them because I find they are minding their own business and not bothering anyone else. However I am sorry you had a bad experience with them, although I do hope they did not ruin you're whole time at CSR and WDW?

 

[klofan]

I have to agree about the Pepper Market. I hated it. 22 bucks for pasta, soup, and a coke when I went!

 

[reid_man]

What is csr??? c=something s= swan r= resort???

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

I see that you've stayed at POR, CBR and now CSR
can you tell me how the other MODs compaired to CSR?
Which was your favorite MOD? thanks

I'd say my favorite MOD is POR, but I haven't tried POFQ yet. That is going to be my stay next year. CBR is nice, but felt a little too spread out and just didn't give me that "WOW" feeling. It didn't seem as clean as I am used too with Disney resorts either. I would stay there again though. POR has very nice grounds, a nice main pool and what I think is the best eatery on WDW property as far as food choices and atmosphere. It also has a boat to DTD which is a nice option to get away from the buses for an evening. The river is also nice if you want to rent a boat or sea raycer, cause theres actually somewhere to go, unlike CSR which is just an enclosed circle.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

What is csr??? c=something s= swan r= resort???

Coronado Springs Resort

 

[frdeb1999]

I am really happy that we did'nt choose this for the mod resort we were going to try. I have'nt heard a whole lot of good about it. And when we go on vacation we really enjoy our down, quiet times. The prices are high everywhere in Disney so that does'nt suprise me a bit. But I do agree with you that you should'nt have to pay an automatic 10% if your the one doing everything for yourself. Thanks for the info!

 

[bab31]

I personnally loved this resort and have found more positive reviews than negative. I myself was not bothered at all with the convention aspect. The OP obviously didnt like it.

And each person has their own taste, likes and dislikes. I agree that I expected to pay more at WDW for everything.

I do hear alot of complaints about the tip added on to the bill. I wonder how many people leave a tip at counter service restaurants. I did find the waite staff to clean up after you and something I just had not thought of until now.

 

[GovieMom]

I totally agree about the conventioneers at CSR taking away from the atmosphere. It was also about a 90/10 ratio in their favor when we visited. They were everywhere, and just about filled up our Cabanas building. The Pepper Market (and especially the lounge area) was full of them, and they were very loud. They also filled up the main pool every evening. It was just too weird seeing people with nametags and cell phones walking around everywhere; for that reason CSR lacked the "Disney" feel for us. Too bad, as it's a gorgeous resort. As far as the Pepper Market, the prices are very high. But if you're on the Dining Plan, you get a great bang for your buck.

 

[BetsyinFL]

Wow, this is good info! I often recommend this hotel, as it's the newest mod. resort and has a great pool - but if the atmosphere feels like you're at work - well, not exactly a relaxing Disney experience!

 

[buffalogirl]

I'm sure it depends on which convention groups are there.

During our last trip, there were conventions going on, but we had no problems with noise or bad behavior. We were always able to get a seat on the bus and the pools weren't crowded.

I didn't mind the lack of Disney theming. It is a beautiful, relaxing resort. We enjoyed being so close to the parks and having a peaceful place to go back to at night.

We were on the dining plan, so we enjoyed The Pepper Market.

I'm sorry the OP had a bad experience at CSR, but I'm glad they enjoyed their trip any way.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your stay at CSR, but glad you had a good trip otherwise!

We've never had a problem with conventioners, but we don't visit the bars/lounges either, so we only see them if we're at the Pepper Market (usually once per trip) or possibly Panchito's store. I always think, "ha ha! I'm on vacation and you're not!" when I see them!

 

[kapoof]

food is always was more pricey at theme parks in general even at disney. that should be no surprise. as for the conventioners i know they bother some but i don't have a problem with them at all. plus since they are in the conventions during the day the buses aren't very crowded!

other that that, glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[pixistix]

I didn't care for CSR either. The Pepper Market was very frustrating. It was like trying to combine restaurant-type service in a food court setting.
Getting tickets stamped with what you order and having to tell host/hostess I didn't want to be "seated" everytime I went in for coffee or soda.
Nice pool but was so far away from everything else (20 min. to walk there!) we only swam in that pool once. Golf carts driven by cast members always offering to take you here or there, but these golf carts are so loud they ruin the beauty of this resort.

 

[FigNewton]

Hmm, all these negative things about CSR that I hadn't seen before, and only a week before our first stay there. We were scared off from AKL because of the possible construction noise during the day (my wife is a night shift nurse so it takes her a few days to start waking up earlier our first couple days there she probably will need to sleep till noon). Not liking the sound of the rowdy vacationers, though that might not affect us much, as we rarely eat at the resort anyway.

 

[wee-haggis]

I personnally loved this resort and have found more positive reviews than negative. I myself was not bothered at all with the convention aspect. The OP obviously didnt like it.

And each person has their own taste, likes and dislikes. I agree that I expected to pay more at WDW for everything.

I do hear alot of complaints about the tip added on to the bill. I wonder how many people leave a tip at counter service restaurants. I did find the waite staff to clean up after you and something I just had not thought of until now.

I don't know about other people but we always clean up after ourselves at counter service restaurants. We clear and wipe the table, drop our garbage in the bins provided and leave the tray on top of the garbage just like at McDonalds or other fast food places. We thought that was the norm and expected.

 

[michelle1]

Hmm, all these negative things about CSR that I hadn't seen before, and only a week before our first stay there. We were scared off from AKL because of the possible construction noise during the day (my wife is a night shift nurse so it takes her a few days to start waking up earlier our first couple days there she probably will need to sleep till noon). Not liking the sound of the rowdy vacationers, though that might not affect us much, as we rarely eat at the resort anyway.

Don't worry...each person will have their own experiences. We loved CSR and found nothing but positives. We stayed in Cabanas which is very quiet and close to everything. (I think Casistas is used mostly for guests attending conventions) Because most of the people for the conventions were 'working' in the day, the buses were practically empty and the pool was never busy. We didn't each much at the Pepper Market but we were on the dining plan so I didn't really notice prices although the portions were huge so we shared a lot. Have a great time!

 

[CTDis4]

Hmm, all these negative things about CSR that I hadn't seen before, and only a week before our first stay there. We were scared off from AKL because of the possible construction noise during the day (my wife is a night shift nurse so it takes her a few days to start waking up earlier our first couple days there she probably will need to sleep till noon). Not liking the sound of the rowdy vacationers, though that might not affect us much, as we rarely eat at the resort anyway.

We have stayed at the Poly, CR, WL, AKL, POR, POFQ, OKW and the CSR and after mutiple trips to Disney CSR is our resort of choice. Have stayed there when there has been more than one convention going on and were never bothered. As far as lacking the Disney feel or theming...well it's supposed to be Southwest (which is nicely done), like the CBR is Caribbean, WL is the great Northwest, POFQ is the French Quarter and so on, so I have never understood either of those statements. There are many threads stating what a great resort it is. Not everyone enjoys or likes the same thing. Go figure (and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this one) just about everyone sings the praises of the WL...we really, really disliked it. Felt it should not have been rated a deluxe and was way over rated. Go, enjoy yourself and let us know what you tink when you get back!