Keep trying for POR or stay at CS?

[ToodlesTime]

We are a family of three taking our daughter (3.5) on her first WDW trip in mid November (her Christmas present and our last hurrah as a family of 3!). We had originally booked POFQ based on reviews and recommendations, but moved to POR when we learned the FD wouldn't extend to POFQ. We booked through a TA and, after she sat on hold for 6+ hours on 8/1, we ended up in Coronado Springs in order to get FD.

I am torn as to whether to ask her to keep trying to get us back into POR or to stay where we are in CS. I have read not-so-great reviews about CS and am anxious. Plus, I'll be 29w pregnant and the enormity of the resort makes me anxious, too. Theming is not very important to us, but a clean, nice room and great customer service is very important. (If I had my druthers we'd stay at the Poly or another deluxe, but it just isn't worth the $1000 extra.) We will be spending one day at Epcot (for the adults) and 3 days in MK. We will have a car but plan (at least for now) to use the buses.

What say you, DISboard-ers? Thanks!

 

[shanejoseph]

Stay with Coronado!!! It's a great resort. If anything, PO Riverside is much larger, and not as nice as Riverside. Our next stay, if not at a deluxe (finally), will be back at Coronado! It's so peacefull! Just our two-cents!

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

CSR is a lovely resort. I have only ever stayed delux or CSR. It is large, but not difficult to navigate. You can book a preferred bldg. to minimize your walking. Rooms are very nice and the pool area can not be best for kids: water slide, sand dig site, playground and arcade. They even have a splash area for really little kids. There are pool games and marshmallow roastings, plus poolside movies. The Pepper Market is a really nice counter service (expensive but great with free dining). I would avoid Ranchos section-that is the only one I have seen that seemed worn in common areas, elevators. Otherwise we love it and chose to stay there in sept. with free dining!

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I just read that you will have a car. You can, if walking is an issue, drive to El Centro (shops, food, lobby) and park right out front. We also drive to all parks except MK. Since we get to Epcot for rope drop, we always get an amazing parking spot there!

 

[daizieduck]

POR and CS are my two favorite resorts. DH prefers POR so we usually try to stay there but last year and this year we could only get free dining at CS. I think the service at CS is even better than POR. Everyone is very friendly and very helpful, including bell services and the cast members in the gift shop. And I love not having to share the bus with POFQ. When I get on the bus I am eager to get to the parks or back to my room after a long day so I find it annoying to have to stop at another resort along the way.

 

[dminnie]

If you don't want to pay extra for preferred, I would suggest Casitas 4 or 5. They are right near bus stop #2, which is the first one that is picked up and dropped off...so, no standing on a crowded bus.

We really liked CSR. It really has a more deluxe feel than the other mods.: fitness center(free), spa services(for a fee), sauna in the fitness center/spa(free), large hot tub, hammocks, largest slide on the main pool, quiet pools are really nice. The quiet pool by Casitas 4 is really big and right by the fitness center. The beds have duvet covers, which is also nice.

The only thing about it is that the main pool is kind of far from el Centro where the food is, but there is some food at the pool also. Since you'll have your car, you may want use it if you're really tired out. Casitas 4 and 5 are about 1/2 way between the main building and the main pool. It is a really pretty resort though, so we didn't mind the walking at all. It's also very pretty at night.

Have a great time!

 

[ToodlesTime]

Thanks, everyone, for the great replies and advice! We'll stick with CSR and see how we like it. I'm sure we'll appreciate the slightly upgraded amenities, etc. We probably won't use the pool or other resort amenities (spa, fitness room, etc.) much, if at all (I have been at the pool at least twice a week since May and am ready to hang my suit up for a long while!), but the other perks are good to hear about. Wherever we are, I'm sure we'll have a great time!