The Good, the Bad, and I hope NOT UGLY

[Pig Pen]

THE GOOD:

We unexpectedly need to extend our WDW vacation in September for 2 extra nights (what a sacrifice)! Now I will be able to see Fantasy in the Sky which is scheduled for Saturday night only - previously we would be checking Sun, checking out following Sat morning.

THE BAD:

We were booked for 6 nights at the Dolphin at gov't rate. I called to see if we could add nights at $129 and they had nothing available at that rate for those 2 extra nights.

The old codes just expired for September, so I didn't think I could get good rates on-site.

DH said he would just as soon stay off-site to save money. That certainly didn't appeal to me.

Since we will be driving down and plan to buy APs, I figured I would see what kind of rates I could get at WL since that was nearest to MK and I knew I couldn't afford a monorail resort.

Well, WL had nothing available. So, after checking several other resorts......

NOT TOO UGLY I hope...

....I booked Coronado Springs at $104 per night at AP rate.



Someone tell me this is okay!!!!!

 

[Micca]

CSR isn't ugly at all I stayed there on a business trip. I didn't find the Disney "magic" as prevalent as I did at GF, Poly, AKL, etc. but it is a very nice hotel with all the benefits of staying on site. I'd stay there before selecting something off site.

 

[Disney Doll]

DH and I stayed at CS several years ago and we loved it! It is a moderate, so it doesn't have quite as many of the amenities as the deluxes, but I found no problem with what it did have.

 

[Pig Pen]

I found some pics of CSR on this board and it looks FANTASTIC!

Since we will be there only 2 days and plan to eat at the parks most of the time, I don't really care about fancy amenities.

I was more worried that I paid too much! I see some folks are getting moderates at $75 to $90 per night, but of course this is with newest codes.

Micca and Disney Doll - thanks for the good words. Now I need to break the news to DH who thinks we're going to stay off site for $40.

Yeah, right.

 

[Luv2Roam]

With CSR, like any resort, meal, attraction, etc, there are some who LOVE it and some who give it the thumbs down.
I certainly wouldn't mind sacrificng a few nights at CSR.
You'll enjoy it.
$40 a night off-site. That sounds scary.

 

[Buzz2001]

check out my website below.

 

[Pig Pen]

Mario,

Thanks for the link to your CSR site. I never really considered staying there before so didn't know much about it.

It looks great and definitely worth the $108 per night. Have you stayed at other WDW resorts? Why does your family consider CSR their favorite? Just curious.

Luv2Roam,

I've stayed at $40 per night roach motels and you are correct - THEY ARE SCARY!

I'm feeling much, much, much better now.

 

[Tnkrbl2199]

We stayed at CSr in June 2002 and absolutely loved it!! The service we received from CSR was incredible with special treatment and services for my birthday and our engagement (a complete surprise to me!!)
We didn't care for the food at the Pepper market but to each his own-note that the 10% was easily taken off the bill for "to go" or if we didn't feel it was warranted. The resort at CSR is so nice and each section is differently themed. The pools at CSR are very nice as well. The room and grounds were always wonderful. A beautiful resort.
We also used the spa for massages and the gym like 3 times out of the week. My thoughts are this resort is the answer if a deluxe just isn't feesible.
There seemed to be conventions going on during our trip but we didn't notice. I think it was better b/c the food court is less crowded, pools are comfortable and buses were empty!! We rarely waited more than 5 minutes at CSR this June and we always had a seat.
I guess because we just had such a magical trip, and CSR helped us with that magic with complimentary upgrades to a king bed/water view and birthday cards and so much more, we are now CSR fans. Good luck!

 

[Luv2Roam]

After staying at POR, I could see why others call CSR the Deluxe of the moderates.
I really think with ANY resort, guests should go with the theming they like best. I think with that guests are naturally going to enjoy a stay more.
I really liked CSR, and even the Pepper Market. But it seems half like the PM. half don't. We never had bad food, it was always fresh, hot and made to order. It was pricier than say the All Stars food court. But I would expect that. And I wouldn't say the pricing was outrageous. I think the counter service in the parks cost more, if not the same and the food isn't as good. The staff at PM acted pretty like I'm here cus' I have to be, esp the cashiers. But what the hey---
At our ASMo stay, I understood why others complain CSR is *spread out. It is in comparison.
The laundry facilities are very handy too, in case you want to use those during your stay.
Very peaceful, quiet resort when we were there. But in January, most likely most of them are.

 

[Pig Pen]

I considered POR, but selected Coronado because the Mexican theming appealed to me more.

We are not big eaters...generally we eat light at breakfast (fruit, yogurt, DH will eat a donut) and we will probably pack this and keep in our room.

We like to eat our big meal late in the afternoon at a nice sit-down restaurant right before the lunch prices go up.

Then we head for the resort for some R&R before returning to the parks to catch the evening firework shows.

Is there a place to pick up late evening snacks at Coronado and take them back to your room?

 

[cindala]

Pig Pen,
CSR is a very nice resort, and you won't be disappointed, however don't give up on trying to get those last two days at the gov't rate at the Dolphin! Rooms do open up as you get closer to your dates. Once, I got the last night I needed for our vacation at the discount rate, two days before we left.

 

[TDC Nala]

More CS photos at:

http://photos.yahoo.com/cathlam

Plan on spending some time at the pool! I love that pool.

You can buy snacks at the La Tienda convenience store next to the Pepper Market...I don't know how long it's open, and it seemed expensive to me, but what else is new at Disney? Panchito's might sell things like cookies and chips, too.

 

[Buzz2001]

PigPen, CSR was our first resort and we loved it so much we are afraid to try any others. My DD loves the pool area and slide. She is already upset that we won't be staying there on this trip. The PM is great. I love the wet burrito. It's my favorite item of all the different choices they have. My DD also love it because she feels like a big girl being able to order her own food and getting her card stamp. She is 9.

This Oct will be our first time at WDW that we won't be staying at CSR. We are trying the Cont because CSR wasn't offereing any codes or AP rates.

TDC Nala - nice photos. The bus stop you show as # 2 is acutally #1 though

 

[erikthewise]

A long shot: ask Dolphin what their Entertainment rate for those nights. It may be better than you could get otherwise. Even if you have to cough up $25-$30 for an Entertainment book.

 

[George]

$104 is a great rate, considering regular rate that time of year runs on average $154 per room (suites excluded).

You'll have a great time