SWAN vs Colorado Springs Resort

[MDMOM]

We currently have a reservation for the Swan hotel in June but I have been thinking about switching to CSR? It will be my husband, three kids and myself which means I will be doing two rooms at CSR. Any suggestions to help us decide. Thanks

 

[Aurora63]

We currently have a reservation for the Swan hotel in June but I have been thinking about switching to CSR? It will be my husband, three kids and myself which means I will be doing two rooms at CSR. Any suggestions to help us decide. Thanks

I have not stayed at CSR but I have stayed at the Swan. I thought the Swan was beautiful with a very convenient location as well. You have the boat to Epcot and MGM, a short walk to the Boardwalk, and bus transport to the MK was good. The only negative to me was the bus transport to AK, seemed like it took forever as it picked us up first and then picked up from all the other Epcot hotels, then stopped at Blizzard Beach! Anyway, aside from that, it was perfect. Oh and the beds were, well, heavenly! I also liked that it was all one building, no long hikes to a food court or bus stop...you just take the elevator down and you're there.

I'd stay at the Swan if it were my choice.

 

[jwfla422]

We currently have a reservation for the Swan hotel in June but I have been thinking about switching to CSR? It will be my husband, three kids and myself which means I will be doing two rooms at CSR. Any suggestions to help us decide. Thanks

Have you looked into staying in a Swan king executive suite?? It might cost you about the same, but you and your dh could have your own room & the kids could stay in the palor where there is a queen bed and a pull out sleeper. It is a VERY roomy suite.

Plus the Swan is a great resort, newly renovated (those beds...those awesome beds ...), great CMs and very convenient to everything. Yes, sometimes the buses may take a bit to places like AK or DTD, but that's about it. You pretty much have to bus EVERYWHERE from a moderate. We spend most of our time at Epcot and MGM so we love the convenience of being able to boat or even walk to the parks (or from the parks at the end of the night when the transportation gets a bit crowded)...you don't have that option at most of the WDW resorts.

I have heard great things about CSR but have never stayed there. We have visited the resort and one thing that didn't excite me was the transportation of having to bus everywhere, but if you're ok with it, then you should be fine. Some day when we get that major urge to stay at a WDW resort again, we'd probably look into staying at CSR. But, for now the Swan is our home away from home.

 

[Blondie]

I've stayed at both. CSR is our favorite out of all the moderates, better pool, newer resort, etc.

But the Swan is a deluxe in every sense of the word IMHO. If you can swing the Swan, go for it! I don't think you'll be disappointed. The location is prime since it's an Epcot resort. There's just something special about being able to enter and leave Epcot through the International Gateway. Before we stayed at the S/D, I use to be envious of those who were close enough to be able to walk back to their room from Epcot! MGM is walkable as well. A good portion of the views from the S/D are outstanding! We've been able to watch the fireworks from Illuminations on numerous stays from our room.

Go for the Swan!

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a large resort that does not share services with other resorts and offers some deluxe amenities because it is a convention resort.

CSR has a salon, spa, and a gym that other moderates do not offer. CSR has full menu room service and offers an internal shuttle system provided by golf carts to assist in getting to and from the main building to the villages.

It is also the only mod to offer suites.

CSR is situated around a 15 acre lake and CBR is situated around a 45 acre lake.

CSR has terrific transportation. It does not share with any other resort (like POR / POFQ) and it only has 4 bus stops within the resort (vs 7 at CBR). And since CSR is centrally located, you'll have a quick ride to all the parks.

And being a convention resort, the buses seem less crowded because guests are busy with their conventions.

CSR is the most central to the 3 parks you mentioned. See the map below.

Photo by Ducky4Disney

CSR has the best pool of the mods and probably the second best on WDW property. Best mod pool. It offers a great slide (123 ft long), an arcade, a sand volleyball court, and a playground at the main pool area.

Review from mousesavers.com!!

Coronado Springs is my Best Value choice in the Moderate category. It has several advantages compared with the other Moderate resorts. It is newer, so there has been less wear-and-tear on everything. Also, Coronado Springs is a convention hotel, so it has a few extra amenities not offered at the other Moderates, including a salon, a health club and a more upscale food court.

The theming is radically different in the three areas of Coronado Springs. You can request a specific area when booking but there is no guarantee you'll get your request.

• The Spanish-style Casitas at Coronado Springs are very peaceful, with courtyards featuring tiled fountains. Casitas Buildings 1, 3 and 2 (in that order) are the closest to the restaurants and services. Casitas Building 4 contains the salon and health club, if those are important to you.
  
• The Cabanas at Coronado Springs have a beachy Caribbean feeling. Cabanas Building 8A is very close to the feature pool, which may be a blessing (convenience) or a curse (noise, light). Cabanas Building 9B is closest to the marina and relatively convenient to the restaurants and services.
  
• The Ranchos at Coronado Springs feel quiet and secluded -- some would say isolated -- and feature desert landscaping and pueblo-style architecture. They look closest to the main pool on a map, but in actuality they are separated from the rest of the property by a swamp, so it can be a fairly long walk from these buildings to the pool, and a very long walk to the restaurants.

 

[disneycrazy730]

definatly take the swan

 

[jeepgirl30]

Go with CSR!

Okay I know the majority will say Swan. I've stayed at the Dolphin and CSR. I attended several conventions at Swan/Dolphin and planned 2 of my companies own events at CSR. Some of the conventions I attended I opted to stay at CSR instead. I CSR.

The themeing is so relaxing. I love the lake. I love strolling around the lake late at night and early in the morning. I have had amazing luck with the bus system. You truly feel in the heart of Disney.

The Dolphin was okay. But I did not feel like I was in Disney. The staff was more staff than CMs. The boardwalk location is a plus but the bus service was horrid.

I've also stayed at GF and CBR. My favorite is still CSR. I'd rate them as CSR, GF, Dolphin then CBR. If I was only considering sleeping rooms then I'd have to be honest and re-rate it as GF, Dolphin, CSR and CBR. But overall CSR takes it.

And lets be honest, you really can't beat the margarittas at the bar at CSR!

 

[jwfla422]

The Dolphin was okay. But I did not feel like I was in Disney. The staff was more staff than CMs. The boardwalk location is a plus but the bus service was horrid.

What made the bus service so horrid?? That's pretty extreme?? We do usually stay at the Swan (rather than the Dolphin), but they almost always share buses with the Dolphin--maybe we've had to wait a few times a little longer than usual (which has happened at ANY resort at WDW), but can't ever say the bus service was horrid??? Since you've had "amazing" luck with the bus service at CSR, then maybe you had a little bad luck at the Dolphin (however that could happen )...

Don't agree with it "not feeling" like being in Disney. Look out the window of your room

I don't know, if I looked out my window and saw Epcot all of the time...well that's enough for me to feel like I was in WDW!! I can just sit on my balcony and look at Spaceship Earth, and that's enough for me to feel relaxed

 

[Marilyn Mc]

The pictures of Buzz2001 make me want to book a trip to CSR.

 

[MDMOM]

Thanks for all your advice and the pictures. I think I am going to stay at the Swan. I am going to check the prices of the executive suite that was mentioned.