Staying at Coronado Springs instead of Wilderness Lodge, Please tell me I'll be HAPPY

[Jasminetigger]

We just booked a last minute trip for 12/14/05 - 12/17/2005 at Coronado Springs. We always stay at Wilderness Lodge but they were totally booked, except for concierge and I am not willing to shell out $400.00/night, especially when I got Coronado Springs for $99.00/night. I went on the Disney website and Coronado Springs looks very nice. Can anyone who has stayed there give me a little insight. Is there a sit down restaurant there? What about a food court? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[safetymom]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=324638

You may want to visit this thread. It is always at the top of the Resorts board in a sticky.

 

[wld]

Well, since we didn't care much for wl and love csr, we think you will be very happy. And after all you are at WDW. There is a sit down restaurant but we haven't eaten here. We eat at the food court the Pepper Market which is definately better than the fast food at wl. There are many different types of things to choose from. Some people don't like the automatic gratuity that is added but we never thought that much about it. My DD's love this food court. Also the pool is very nice and this resort is gorgeous to walk around at night. Very romantic. There are many secluded little areas over by the casitas I think it is that are very pretty. Have a wonderful time

 

[Buzz2001]

Photo by Ducky4Disney

Photo by buzz2001

Photo by buzz2001

Visit my website below and/or read this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=324638

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We just booked a last minute trip for 12/14/05 - 12/17/2005 at Coronado Springs. We always stay at Wilderness Lodge but they were totally booked, except for concierge and I am not willing to shell out $400.00/night, especially when I got Coronado Springs for $99.00/night. I went on the Disney website and Coronado Springs looks very nice. Can anyone who has stayed there give me a little insight. Is there a sit down restaurant there? What about a food court? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have never stayed at CS, but I would like to some time. Those pictures are great, Buzz!! Beautiful. And that wasn't even at Christmastime, was it? So it will be even better!

I have stayed twice at WL, and although I really love it (especially at Christmas) I think you will enjoy CS. I have heard good things about the Pepper Market's food, and the sit down place........Mara??

Just go over to WL to see the lobby and all of the decorations, get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and sit in the lobby enjoying it for 15 minutes and you can have your "WL fix". That is what I am planning to do. Well,.......I have to show my DSis WL at Christmas, don't I? She's never seen it!

 

[Hugpug]

If you like South Western Style you should be OK Personaly it dos'nt appeal to me.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Hope you have a Great Trip, I stayed over at CSR a few weeks ago, due to WL being booked and budget restraints. It didn't compare to WL (I know I'm bias) but it is a nice resort, "Yeh, you'll be at DisneyWorld."

 

[Forever a Princess]

Hi there,

I just looked on the disney website. Courtyard view is available for the WL for the nights of the 14th and 15th. Total is $568.66

Looks like no availability for the night of the 16th. I also checked on expedia and nothing available for the WL on the night of the 16th.

We love the WL at Christmas.

Perhaps you could split your stay. 2 nights at WL and one at CSR. Might be a real pain to move though.

Now that I've said the above, we've roamed over to the CSR resort during the Christmas season to eat at the Pepper Market. The resort and decorations are Beautiful.

Wherever you stay on your trip, you will have a great time.

 

[Sammie]

ok first thing is put Wilderness Lodge out of your mind, it's a great resort but you are not staying there this trip and therefore no need to even mention it.

Now CSR, it's our favorite moderate resort. I love the fact they do not have those window air conditioners, there system is quieter and better for my sinuses.

They have a unique food court and very good sit down restaurant. The themeing is beautiful especially at nights.

One of the nicest pools at Disney and largest hot tub and great playground area.

The Cabanas area has a nice beach with hammocks.

Great Margaritas, reason enough to stay here.

Buzz had posted some beautiful Christmas photos earlier in a different thread, and they are beautiful, here is a link to that discussion

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=10400507#post10400507

I would never move for less than 4 nights at each location, you just never get settled.

 

[MandaPerry]

Well, since we didn't care much for wl and love csr, we think you will be very happy. And after all you are at WDW. There is a sit down restaurant but we haven't eaten here. We eat at the food court the Pepper Market which is definately better than the fast food at wl. There are many different types of things to choose from. Some people don't like the automatic gratuity that is added but we never thought that much about it. My DD's love this food court. Also the pool is very nice and this resort is gorgeous to walk around at night. Very romantic. There are many secluded little areas over by the casitas I think it is that are very pretty. Have a wonderful time

We felt the same way about the WL and we love the CSR. After staying at the Poly, CR, WL, AKL and POFQ, CSR has become our hotel of choice. Just had two wonderful dinners at the Maya Grill in October, but hotel preference is a matter of personal taste and no matter where you stay your in Disney and I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[CheshireMelanie]

Hi There!

We stayed at CSR last December and just loved it check out the my trip report to see some pics of the lobby with the Christmas decorations.

I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

We are going again 12/9 - 12/16 and checking out POFQ. The only reason we didn't book CSR was just to check out some different scenery.

Have a great time!

 

[LoriZH]

I have never been to WL and the pictures that I have seen don't really impress me, I'm not into the rustic cabin look, so I'm not sure if my opinion will be much help to you.

We stayed at CSR and LOVED this resort! It's beautiful, the pool is great, the rooms are nice, staff is incredibly nice, the food court (Pepper Market) is awesome and the pools are great. The only drawback I found was the bus service from the MK, that's it. The bus service from everywhere else was fine and bus service out was GREAT, never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. We stayed in Cabana's btw, it was close to PM, Pool & Bus and had a great view.

 

[Jasminetigger]

WOW! Thanks everyone for the great responses. Buzz your pics are great. This was a last minute trip so I haven't put as much planning into it as I usually do. But your responses have made me feel good about my decision. It will be fun to try something different. And besides we'll be at WDW.

 

[hockeybabe]

We felt the same way about staying at CSR after our first trip to WDW at WL. Loved, loved, loved WL! But price put us in a moderate, and thanks to Buzz's website, CSR was our choice. Loved, loved, loved CSR! Would be hard for us to decide next trip which to stay at, maybe a split. But if money doesn't allow, CSR will be an easy choice and not necessarily a compromise. You'll love it! Enjoy the hammoks on the white sand "beachfront", the beautiful fountains during the day and at night, the pool and slide, and not sharing the bus service with any other resort. If you are on the dining plan, enjoy Pepper Market...even the smoothies are included as a drink option. If not on the dining plan, it is a little pricey there depending on what you order. But the food is good to be considered counter service.

Have a great time!

 

[Pig Pen]

We love CSR and WL both. DH always insists on either CSR or WL (we have stayed at BW, AKL, BC, and Dolphin...he would rather stay at CSR than any of those deluxes). The grounds are the most beautiful I have seen at WDW. For $99 per night, you are getting a bargain.

 

[Jasminetigger]

hockeybabe,

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the hammocks. I thought I read there were three different areas of rooms. Any opinion on what section to possibly request?

 

[Sammie]

hockeybabe,

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the hammocks. I thought I read there were three different areas of rooms. Any opinion on what section to possibly request?

All 3 areas are very unique and different. I like the Cabanas due to central location, beach area, hammocks and the view across the lake of the main building and Casitas.

Next would be Ranchos, then Casitas.

 

[Buzz2001]

hockeybabe,

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the hammocks. I thought I read there were three different areas of rooms. Any opinion on what section to possibly request?

Cabana 9b is close to bus stop 1 and the main building with a short walk to the Dig Site over the wooden bridge. Most convenient, most preferred.

Cabana 8a is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a short walk to the main building.

cabana 8b and 9a are inbetween the 2 above. 9a has a quiet pool and is also a smoking optional building.

Ranchos 7b has a quiet pool, is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a bit longer walk to the main building. 7b is behind cabana 8a.

The casita 4 has the gym, spa and quiet pool. Close to the main building with a bit longer walk to the main pool. Casita 2 & 3 have great fountains and courtyards and are closer to the main building and further from the main pool. Casita 5 is close to the Dig Site with a good walk to the main building. The lower the casita number the closer towards the main building.

CSR now offers an internal shuttle system so there is no walking if you don't want to walk. Just wait at the designated stops and a shuttle cart will bring you to and from the main building to your room.

 

[hockeybabe]

hockeybabe,

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the hammocks. I thought I read there were three different areas of rooms. Any opinion on what section to possibly request?

We stayed at the Cabanas, but we wouldn't hesitate to stay in either themed area. The Casitas has taller buildings, and beautiful fountains. The ranchos are landscaped wonderfully, and if you ever wanted to visit the southwest, this is a great area that gives you that feel. We live in Texas, so it was our last choice, but we wouldn't have been sad about it. I wanted to stay in the Cabanas, as our honeymoon was in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and this looked just like that I liked the white sand "beach" by the lake, and the hammoks and the palms. We were in 8B, which was about a 5 minute walk to El Centro and the Dig site. You'll love the dig site pool, it may spoil you from other resort pools from here on in. You have to try it during the day (the slide is fun...the kids spent the whole time on the slide) and at night, as it is quite stunning at night. It is 3 feet or 3.5 feet deep everywhere, so even though it is a big pool, you feel safe with your kids in it (deep ends scare me with kids). The hot tub is the biggest on Disney property, and although in the dig site area, it is secluded from the pool by bushes. The toddler pool is right next to the big pool, which is great for adults "talking turns".

Although I believe there is a hammock in the Casitas area, they are primarily located in the Cabanas area. They are double sized, perfect for two adults, and a great place to bring your coffee that you make in your room for a quiet time before you head to the parks, or at night, on your way back to your room or after a swim to look at the stars. Cabanas 9B is the ideal location for closeness to the Main bus stop and El Centro and the dig site pool bridge, but 8B wans't that much farther, and right beside a laundry and a quiet pool, which we could have had for ourselves anytime we wanted it.

Keep your eyes open for bunny rabbits, and tiny lizards...the kids thought that was so cool.

Visit Buzz's website often, and get ready to enjoy!

 

[Jasminetigger]

Sammie, Buzz2001 and hockeybabe,

Thanks so much for your wonderful insight. Although I was hesitant about this trip and our resort choice at first, I am now getting really excited and know we made the right choice. Thanks for taking the time to give me your helpful opinions.