Nory Report III: In the Third Person! After 3 Years, the Final Update! NEW 2/6

[rachel09985]

Im enjoying your trip report!! I am headed to NYC in September to visit friends and I am super excited. I have never been to NYC!

Can I ask what kind of dog you have?? He/she looks like my cockapoo!

 

[norybell]

Im enjoying your trip report!! I am headed to NYC in September to visit friends and I am super excited. I have never been to NYC!

Can I ask what kind of dog you have?? He/she looks like my cockapoo!

Our dog is a Havanese...cockapoos can look a lot like them!

 

[norybell]

Nory slept, not like a baby, but like a rock. Or she was out like a light. Or some other clichéd metaphor implying deep, deep sleep. Between the thick exterior doors, the hum of the window air conditioner, and the breeze from the ceiling fan, shes learned that she sleeps better in Moderate rooms than in Deluxe ones.

Unfortunately, when her alarm went off at 8:00, she simply could not force herself to get out of bed. A terrible sinus headache gripped her faceshe suffers from sinus problems all the time, and flying usually leads to a flare-upso she swallowed two Advil Sinuses and allowed herself thirty minutes of snoozing.

The headache was still there at 8:30, but it was at least more manageable. So Nory dragged herself out of bed to get ready and pack up. She realized right away that she had forgotten to bring her toothpaste, and was forced to make do with some of that super-strong Dentyne Ice gum. Good thing Im here alone! she thought. Itll be easier to avoid breathing on anyone! The packing up, like always, seemed to take far longer than it should (though she had never even really unpacked, this time), and it was around 9:30 by the time she left the room. They hadnt left an Express Check-Out envelope on her door, so she needed to swing by the lobby and make sure they hadnt charged her for anything they shouldnt.

Anything other than her waterless view, that is.

View straight ahead.

View to the right.

View to the left.

Not Norys rooms view, but lovely nonetheless.

Because it was a lovely morning, Nory took the long way back to the lobby, rolling her suitcase behind her, the placid river slowly flowing alongside.

It only took a few minutes at the check-in desk in the lobby to look over her bill. Then Nory headed out to the front of the building, where she asked Bell Services to flag her a taxi.

After the taxi pulled up and the Riverside valet safely deposited her suitcase in the trunk, she tried to hand him a one dollar bill.

Thats okay, no need! he said, cheerily.

Oh no, have I been wrong all my life about tipping for valet service? Nory wondered, in a bit of an internal panic. He was now the second CM to turn down her tip. I was raised to believe in one bag equals one dollar. I hope I havent been offending valets everywhere I go!

Her taxi driver was very nice, and very chatty, and told her all about how he comes to Disney World for special occasions, his sons birthday and stuff like that. Apparently, CMs sell their free tickets to locals for fifty percent off.

***

Nory entered El Centro, Coronado Springs Resorts main building, and paused in front of the lobbys soothing fountain, arrested by the colorful mosaic above her, white doves flying among native Mexican patterns and a bright blue sky.

Then she turned right toward the online check-in desk. The entire area was deserted.

Can I help you, miss? said the friendly, dark-haired CM, in a heavy Spanish accent.

Yes, Im checking in, Nory replied, handing him her ID. As he was collecting her welcome packet and key, she continued, Its my first time staying here. She was trying to make small talk.

Oh, really! said the CM, delighted. Well, then, youll need one of these! He handed her a My First Visit button.

Oops! Nory thought. I meant it was my first time staying at Coronado Springs! He thought I meant it was my first time at Disney! But she just smiled and thanked him for the pin. Calling attention to the misunderstanding seemed like it could cause embarrassment on both of their parts. He took out her welcome packet and pointed to her room in Casitas 5.

Your room is ready now, he explained.

Hooray!

Nory handed the CM her room key from Riverside. Would you mind getting rid of this for me? I know you guys have a safe way to dispose of them& she knew her credit card info was still on the key, and she didnt want it going astray.

Dont you want to keep it, as a souvenir?

Um, no, Ive already got lots of them, and Im staying at another resort tomorrow&I just dont want to get them confused!

Oh, if youve been here lots of times, then you need to bring home a really big souvenir, this time!

Nory laughed. So much for him thinking this is my first visit! she thought. He took her old room key, and she thanked him and headed outside.

***

NEXT CHAPTER: Discovering Deluxe-Lite

 

[KatMark]

I am so sorry that Nory woke up with a sinus headache. But happy to hear after popping some pills and a little more snoozing, that the headache was bearable.

I guess we've never had to deal with tipping valet or Bell Services as we always park our own car and take our own luggage.

Nory's photo of the mosaic on the ceiling of the CSR is absolutely breathtaking (I may have to ask her if I can use her photo the next time I have to uupdate the "unofficial CSR Faq" thread).

And how lucky is Nory???? She got a room in our favorite building.

 

[norybell]

I am so sorry that Nory woke up with a sinus headache. But happy to hear after popping some pills and a little more snoozing, that the headache was bearable.

I guess we've never had to deal with tipping valet or Bell Services as we always park our own car and take our own luggage.

Nory's photo of the mosaic on the ceiling of the CSR is absolutely breathtaking (I may have to ask her if I can use her photo the next time I have to uupdate the "unofficial CSR Faq" thread).

And how lucky is Nory???? She got a room in our favorite building.

Hi Kat! You have my blanket permission to use any of my CSR photos you feel like...I'd be honored! I think your CSR thread is one of the best resort threads going (I was so disappointed when I learned that not all resort threads are created equal)!

Not to give too much away, but I seriously fell in love with CSR and Casitas 5. What a great resort!

 

[KatMark]

Hi Kat! You have my blanket permission to use any of my CSR photos you feel like...I'd be honored! I think your CSR thread is one of the best resort threads going (I was so disappointed when I learned that not all resort threads are created equal)!

Not to give too much away, but I seriously fell in love with CSR and Casitas 5. What a great resort!

Thank you, Norybell. It is "my" honor to use your great pictures (let me know if you want me to give you credit).

I can't wait to read more.

And thank you for the very nice compliment.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I definitely would have tried to backtrack when the CM thought it was my first visit...and then made it a million times more awkward, and would have been standing there rambling for at least twice as long as I would have been there anyways, and then would have regretted not taking the pin after that was all over.

I'm pretty much a walking awkward situation

CSR looks really pretty (the ceiling of the lobby, at least!)

 

[onelilspark]

I've always heard $1-2 per bag (so if you have like 3 bags, a $5 is good.) I think some employees at Disney can't take tips.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Sorry you had to deal with a headache that morning. They are never fun Then, you didn't have any toothpaste. Not a very good morning there, but you got through the headache so that's good

I love the pictures of the river and the walkway from your room you took. Riverside looks like such a quaint and pretty resort. Too bad you didn't you didn't have that view of the water from your room

That's so cool about the CMs selling off their discounted tickets to locals. I'm going to be moving to Florida now LOL Hahaha Always nice to hear about little CM secrets...

CSR looks gorgeous as always. The fountain is so pretty. LOL at the CM thinking it was your first visit to Disney. He seemed nice enough though. And your room was actually ready! Something that rarely ever happens when checking in. Can't wait to see it!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[norybell]

I definitely would have tried to backtrack when the CM thought it was my first visit...and then made it a million times more awkward, and would have been standing there rambling for at least twice as long as I would have been there anyways, and then would have regretted not taking the pin after that was all over.

I'm pretty much a walking awkward situation

CSR looks really pretty (the ceiling of the lobby, at least!)

It was pretty funny to me, to have a "My First Visit" pin after so many visits!

I've always heard $1-2 per bag (so if you have like 3 bags, a $5 is good.) I think some employees at Disney can't take tips.

That's what I've always thought, too. It just seemed weird to me that the bell services CMs wouldn't be allowed to take tips...though I realized afterwards that it was only at the Mods they wouldn't take them -- they took them at the Deluxes, every time!

Sorry you had to deal with a headache that morning. They are never fun Then, you didn't have any toothpaste. Not a very good morning there, but you got through the headache so that's good

I love the pictures of the river and the walkway from your room you took. Riverside looks like such a quaint and pretty resort. Too bad you didn't you didn't have that view of the water from your room

That's so cool about the CMs selling off their discounted tickets to locals. I'm going to be moving to Florida now LOL Hahaha Always nice to hear about little CM secrets...

CSR looks gorgeous as always. The fountain is so pretty. LOL at the CM thinking it was your first visit to Disney. He seemed nice enough though. And your room was actually ready! Something that rarely ever happens when checking in. Can't wait to see it!

Can't wait to read more!

I think morning is the very best time at POR...it's so pretty and peaceful!

I was so thrilled that my room was ready. It makes your day so much easier, being able to get settled right away!

 

[clearskies]

Hi Nory.

The pictures you took near the river (that was sadly not evident from your water view room) are great. It looks very serene.

Boy I have been in El Centro a couple of times and an embarrassed to say that I never looked up to see that colorful mosaic above. Thank you for being more observant and sharing!

I think my wife would like to stay at Coronodo Springs but one thing that scares me about the resort is it seems so spread out. Your room in Casitas 5 looks like a long ways from the El Centro. I'll be interested to hear how you found navigating around.

 

[norybell]

I think my wife would like to stay at Coronodo Springs but one thing that scares me about the resort is it seems so spread out. Your room in Casitas 5 looks like a long ways from the El Centro. I'll be interested to hear how you found navigating around.

It was spread out, but no more than POR or CBR, I don't think. Besides, I kind of like that these-are-some-grounds-we-got-here thing! But I don't think it was more than a 10-minute walk for me to get to El centro, and probably much closer to 5.

So far, it's my favorite Mod, hands down. And CBR is my least favorite.

 

[Poolrat]

I have really started to like CSR after being there twice or conferences and then once with friends. At that time the only mod to have Queen beds is what started it but of all the mods I have stayed in ( CBR, POFQ and CSR) I like this one the best. Themeing is nice and for me relaxing.
I have been in casitas 5 twice. The first time I asked for a room a bit closer to El Centro because I was a to a conference I knew I would be carrying stuff back and at that time it was raining and well... doing that walk inthe rain is no fun.

Karma came back that Dec when I was assigned it again with friends. We did not move and had a car with us so that time it was perfect.

We had this view one morning.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I totally would have tried to fix the misunderstanding and made it 1000 times worse and left us both really confused.

I'm very interested in your stay at CSR. It is one of those resorts that really intrigues me, and I *might* have an opportunity to stay there for a conference... Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

 

[Millie12591]

I think your CSR thread is one of the best resort threads going (I was so disappointed when I learned that not all resort threads are created equal)!

Not to give too much away, but I seriously fell in love with CSR and Casitas 5. What a great resort!

Ms. Kat's resort thread probably is one of the best one's going. I too was shocked when I found out that not everyone does theirs in the same makes-perfect-sense manner.

I love reading your reports, it's fun to imagine what it would be like to go at it, alone in the "world." Keep up the great job!

 

[clearskies]

It was spread out, but no more than POR or CBR, I don't think. Besides, I kind of like that these-are-some-grounds-we-got-here thing! But I don't think it was more than a 10-minute walk for me to get to El centro, and probably much closer to 5.

So far, it's my favorite Mod, hands down. And CBR is my least favorite.

Good to know Nory. One of the reasons I opted for POFQ this coming trip was that is was not spread out as much. Well, that and the theming. It it is good to know that the walk was not bad for you and 5 min-10 min is not bad considering where you were. This may need to be our next destination since I think my wife would love it. Looking forward to seeing more.


Poorat,
Great picture! Love the colors.

 

[norybell]

I have really started to like CSR after being there twice or conferences and then once with friends. At that time the only mod to have Queen beds is what started it but of all the mods I have stayed in ( CBR, POFQ and CSR) I like this one the best. Themeing is nice and for me relaxing.
I have been in casitas 5 twice. The first time I asked for a room a bit closer to El Centro because I was a to a conference I knew I would be carrying stuff back and at that time it was raining and well... doing that walk inthe rain is no fun.

Karma came back that Dec when I was assigned it again with friends. We did not move and had a car with us so that time it was perfect.

We had this view one morning.

What a gorgeous photo! I agree, something about CSR is so relaxing!

I totally would have tried to fix the misunderstanding and made it 1000 times worse and left us both really confused.

I'm very interested in your stay at CSR. It is one of those resorts that really intrigues me, and I *might* have an opportunity to stay there for a conference... Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

More on CSR to come...I really think the other mods (POR & CBR) I've stayed at have paled in comparison. I even liked CSR more than WL!

Ms. Kat's resort thread probably is one of the best one's going. I too was shocked when I found out that not everyone does theirs in the same makes-perfect-sense manner.

I love reading your reports, it's fun to imagine what it would be like to go at it, alone in the "world." Keep up the great job!

Good to see you, Millie! I agree that Kat's CSR thread rocks.

Good to know Nory. One of the reasons I opted for POFQ this coming trip was that is was not spread out as much. Well, that and the theming. It it is good to know that the walk was not bad for you and 5 min-10 min is not bad considering where you were. This may need to be our next destination since I think my wife would love it. Looking forward to seeing more.


Poorat,
Great picture! Love the colors.

I read that some people don't like CSR at all, but I can't understand why!

 

[norybell]

Nory was very excited to be staying in the Casitas section of the resort. Though shed made no official room resort beyond quiet room & upper floor, in photos the Casitas section had looked the most inviting. And as she walked to her room past the colorful terra cotta buildings that circled this half of the vast, peaceful lake, she grew more and more eager about her location. The grounds were extremely quiet, perhaps because, since Coronado Springs is a conference hotel, most of the guests were locked up in bland, over-air-conditioned conference rooms cleverly hidden from the casual visitor.

Casitas 5 was the farthest Casitas building from El Centro, and it did feel like a bit of a hike as Nory wheeled her suitcase along the lakeside path. But she was happy that her room would be away from any hustle and bustle. She passed some painting cranes in front of Casitas 4, and hoped they wouldnt be too disruptive. Soon she found her buildinga sign informed her that her room was on the third floorand followed the winding first-floor hallway to the elevators.

Now this is what I call a water view! Nory thought when she reached her room.

She walked into a room decorated in soothing browns and pale blues. Coronado is sometimes described as Deluxe-Lite, and she could see why: Between the queen-sized beds and the flat-panel TV, it definitely looked more like a Deluxe room (on a smaller scale) than a Moderate one.

Norys only complaint about the room was that it was very, very darkperhaps even darker than a typical hotel room. Those poor female conferencees! she thought. What if Susie from Accounting wants to look her best for Herb from HR? Then she realized a light bulb was burned out over the sink. No wonder its so dark. She debated calling Maintenance about it, but decided it didnt matter for just one night.

Her headache from the morning still lingered, so she took yet another Advil Sinus, decided the mandatory bedbug check could wait this time, put her suitcase in the bathroom, and struck out for the bus stop.

On her way, she saw a hammock in the most beautiful spot right around the corner from her room, with a perfect view of the Mayan temple at the main swimming pool across the lake. No matter what, Im going to make some time to lie in that hammock while Im here, she determined.

After examining the resort map, Nory thought the Casitas/Ranchos bus stop looked closer than the Casitas one did, though all the signs she saw directed her back to the Casitas stop. Undeterred, she walked through the Ranchos section, confident shed find a bus stop eventually.

As she entered the Ranchos area, she heard a puzzling CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK. Three or four resort workers squatted in an area filled with rocks and cacti, throwing the rocks from one side of the enclosure to another, one at a time. Nory wondered what they were doing: Whatever it was, it looked like a Sisyphean task if ever there was one.

Moments after shed entered the Ranchos section, she saw a sign pointing her to a bus stop. She followed it and felt adrift in the parking lot for a minute before recognizing the telltale bus stop roof.

The second Nory reached the stop, a bus pulled up.

Nope, Downtown Disney.

A few minutes later, another bus appeared.

Nope, Hollywood Studios.

And after that?

Nope, Magic Kingdom.

Finally, after waiting nearly twenty minutes, an Epcot bus drove up, and Nory climbed on, eager for her park day to begin. This was the one day of her trip, in her planning, that shed allowed to be research-free, with no Magic Kingdom time at all. Plus, she had a very important lunch reservation to get to.

***
NEXT CHAPTER: Epcot Cheese

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Great update! I can't wait to check out CSR next month

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

CSR looks gorgeous! Hope you get to enjoy that hammock!