The *NEW* Coronado Springs FAQ Thread

[Buzz2001]

Stupid question probably, but how fast do the shuttles go. I'd be walking, but my mom will be in an ECV. If I caught a shuttle would she be able to keep up in her ECV? I don't mind walking normally, but am afraid we might be stuck out in the Ranchos, which looks like a long walk back to the main buildings. I want to run over to the dig site one day just to get some pictures, but my mom doesn't swim, so we'd probably never use the pool. I'm more interested in being close to a bus stop and the main buildings.

I don't think her ECV could keep up with the golf carts . They move quickly. cabana 9b, casita 1 and 3 are close to both the main building and a bus stop.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think her ECV could keep up with the golf carts . They move quickly. cabana 9b, casita 1 and 3 are close to both the main building and a bus stop.

We go to a camp area where my BIL owns a camper. It seems like most everyone has golf carts there. My DD's power wheelchair (which has a top speed set of about 5 miles per hour) can't keep up with them. ECVs often have a slower top speed than my DD's wheelchair.

 

[robinb]

I want to thank everyone here who helped my stay at CSR be a special one! I returned on Saturday from a 6-night stay at CSR, my first (but not last!) stay at this lovely resort.

I checked in at about 9:00 AM and even though I requested a non-smoking Cabanas room, I was placed in Casitas 5. I had sprained my ankle the week before and the swelling was down to only twice the normal size. I asked if they could put me someplace closer and a room in Cabanas 9B magically appeared. The CM warned me: "It will be a parking lot view!" at which point I said, "That's OK. I only paid for a standard view anyway." I expected just that: a parking lot view, but received a nice view of the pond with the road to the front gate on the other side. The road was so far away I didn't even notice it the first couple of days! The room was on the second floor, but I could hobble up the stairs or take the elevator easily. I was only a few minutes from El Centro and the Dig Site. The parking lot and Bus Stop #1 were even closer. It was a very nice location ... but I know now that the golf-cart shuttles are soooo frequent (no more than 10 minutes along the inside path) that Casitas 5 would have been better for my ankle! I would have taken the cart everywhere and ridden in comfort instead of walking. A cart usually passed me on any walk to El Centro or the Dig Site and the drivers were always very friendly. They frequently stopped to ask if we (or others) needed a ride.

I loved the scenery of the resort, especially the beach and hammocks of the Cabanas section. I am still not wild about the Ranchos, but I think I will ask for the Casitas next time. My DH says he likes the theming of POFQ better because he likes the little New Orleans streets between the buildings. I think he would like the citified theme of the Casitas over the laid back Cabanas.

My DH and her cousin loved the Dig Site pool. They loved the slide and the squirting Mayan god and there were plenty of long steps that my niece liked to play near. She was afraid of the deep water (even with a yellow PFD vest) but there was enough "shallow" water for her. My DD is a fish and shallow or deep doesn't make a difference. I liked the hot tub which was quite large, but with smaller congregational areas for a more private feeling. I also liked sitting in the waterfall . The volleyball pit was cool ... I wish my ankle felt better so I could start a pick-up game of sand volleyball. Oh well.

We ate at the Pepper Market quite a bit. I guess I am one of those people who likes it, although I thought the prices were a bit high even at Disney standards and the service just so-so. We were on the free dining plan, so it really didn't matter! We were hungry, so we ate. We had the grilled tuna more than once and it was excellent each time. Really just as good as a comparable meal at a Table Service restaurant. I loved the cilantro/lime/garlic sauce. My DH also had the steak (very good) and I had the pizza (big enough for 2 people). The only minus is they were stingy about the meal plan and the "desserts", but that has been addressed here before. We would pick up a muffin at lunch or dinner for our dessert and bring it back to the room for the next morning's breakfast. Speaking of breakfast ... I found it to be disappointing. The scrambled eggs were rubbery and the bacon/sausage was greasy. The breakfast skillet (with yesterday's bacon/sausage mixed into the yucky eggs) was the worst. I should have returned it for something edible, but we were in a hurry to hit the road. And the Pepper Market is no where to be if you're in a hurry. The good news is that the CMs make all your food to order. The bad news is that it can take a loonnnnngggg time. The beverage service, in the meantime, was just OK. I had to get my own refills and trays were cleared from our table only half the time. I can understand where people object to tipping 10% for such inattentive and lax service.

The bus service was exceptional. We rarely waited for the bus (even though the bus stop at MGM is so far away!) and once we were on, it whisked us away without sitting forever. The resort was also centrally located to all the parks, with no park more than 10 minutes away by car. The key-card system for entering the resort by car was a total PITA. It never worked for me the first time and I even had to ask for the gate to be opened once by a sarcastic CM.

All-in-all ... it was a great stay and I will definitely return to CSR sometime. I love POFQ, but I also liked CSR for the hustle and bustle of a large resort. I have stayed at all Deluxes except the YC and the GF. In many ways is really did remind me of a Deluxe resort. Except for the exterior hallways and the double beds, everything else felt very "Deluxe" to me. Great resort!

Thanks again for everyone who posted on this thread!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

This may be a stupid question but does the CSR have elevators at all of its buildings? The reason I ask is that we stayed at CBR in May 2004 and if I am not mistaken I don't recall it having any elevators! We will be travelling next year with our 1 year old dd and I don't want to have to climb stairs with her if I don't have to! Does it have easy-to-locate elevators or should I request a ground-floor room? I will be making my ressies tomorrow so any info. I can get ASAP will be greatly appreciated!

Oh, one more thing...is there an age requirement to use the hottub? Dh and I would both like to use it but will we be able to take dd in it at 1 year old or will we have to use it separately? I know some resorts and hotels have rules about this and I am not sure how strict CS is about it.

 

[fizz13]

Just wanted to thank Robinb for her great review of CSR, very helpful and interesting to those of us who haven't been to CSR ...yet . My counter is so slow,

Claire xx

 

[Buzz2001]

This may be a stupid question but does the CSR have elevators at all of its buildings? The reason I ask is that we stayed at CBR in May 2004 and if I am not mistaken I don't recall it having any elevators! We will be travelling next year with our 1 year old dd and I don't want to have to climb stairs with her if I don't have to! Does it have easy-to-locate elevators or should I request a ground-floor room? I will be making my ressies tomorrow so any info. I can get ASAP will be greatly appreciated!

Oh, one more thing...is there an age requirement to use the hottub? Dh and I would both like to use it but will we be able to take dd in it at 1 year old or will we have to use it separately? I know some resorts and hotels have rules about this and I am not sure how strict CS is about it.

Yes, all buildings have elevators and are in the middle of the buildings. The are next to the soda and ice machines

Any kids can go in the hot tub. The only rules are under 12 needs supervision and diaper aged children need to wear plastic pants or swim diapers.

 

[Buzz2001]

I want to thank everyone here who helped my stay at CSR be a special one! I returned on Saturday from a 6-night stay at CSR, my first (but not last!) stay at this lovely resort.

I checked in at about 9:00 AM and even though I requested a non-smoking Cabanas room, I was placed in Casitas 5. I had sprained my ankle the week before and the swelling was down to only twice the normal size. I asked if they could put me someplace closer and a room in Cabanas 9B magically appeared. The CM warned me: "It will be a parking lot view!" at which point I said, "That's OK. I only paid for a standard view anyway." I expected just that: a parking lot view, but received a nice view of the pond with the road to the front gate on the other side. The road was so far away I didn't even notice it the first couple of days! The room was on the second floor, but I could hobble up the stairs or take the elevator easily. I was only a few minutes from El Centro and the Dig Site. The parking lot and Bus Stop #1 were even closer. It was a very nice location ... but I know now that the golf-cart shuttles are soooo frequent (no more than 10 minutes along the inside path) that Casitas 5 would have been better for my ankle! I would have taken the cart everywhere and ridden in comfort instead of walking. A cart usually passed me on any walk to El Centro or the Dig Site and the drivers were always very friendly. They frequently stopped to ask if we (or others) needed a ride.

I loved the scenery of the resort, especially the beach and hammocks of the Cabanas section. I am still not wild about the Ranchos, but I think I will ask for the Casitas next time. My DH says he likes the theming of POFQ better because he likes the little New Orleans streets between the buildings. I think he would like the citified theme of the Casitas over the laid back Cabanas.

My DH and her cousin loved the Dig Site pool. They loved the slide and the squirting Mayan god and there were plenty of long steps that my niece liked to play near. She was afraid of the deep water (even with a yellow PFD vest) but there was enough "shallow" water for her. My DD is a fish and shallow or deep doesn't make a difference. I liked the hot tub which was quite large, but with smaller congregational areas for a more private feeling. I also liked sitting in the waterfall . The volleyball pit was cool ... I wish my ankle felt better so I could start a pick-up game of sand volleyball. Oh well.

We ate at the Pepper Market quite a bit. I guess I am one of those people who likes it, although I thought the prices were a bit high even at Disney standards and the service just so-so. We were on the free dining plan, so it really didn't matter! We were hungry, so we ate. We had the grilled tuna more than once and it was excellent each time. Really just as good as a comparable meal at a Table Service restaurant. I loved the cilantro/lime/garlic sauce. My DH also had the steak (very good) and I had the pizza (big enough for 2 people). The only minus is they were stingy about the meal plan and the "desserts", but that has been addressed here before. We would pick up a muffin at lunch or dinner for our dessert and bring it back to the room for the next morning's breakfast. Speaking of breakfast ... I found it to be disappointing. The scrambled eggs were rubbery and the bacon/sausage was greasy. The breakfast skillet (with yesterday's bacon/sausage mixed into the yucky eggs) was the worst. I should have returned it for something edible, but we were in a hurry to hit the road. And the Pepper Market is no where to be if you're in a hurry. The good news is that the CMs make all your food to order. The bad news is that it can take a loonnnnngggg time. The beverage service, in the meantime, was just OK. I had to get my own refills and trays were cleared from our table only half the time. I can understand where people object to tipping 10% for such inattentive and lax service.

The bus service was exceptional. We rarely waited for the bus (even though the bus stop at MGM is so far away!) and once we were on, it whisked us away without sitting forever. The resort was also centrally located to all the parks, with no park more than 10 minutes away by car. The key-card system for entering the resort by car was a total PITA. It never worked for me the first time and I even had to ask for the gate to be opened once by a sarcastic CM.

All-in-all ... it was a great stay and I will definitely return to CSR sometime. I love POFQ, but I also liked CSR for the hustle and bustle of a large resort. I have stayed at all Deluxes except the YC and the GF. In many ways is really did remind me of a Deluxe resort. Except for the exterior hallways and the double beds, everything else felt very "Deluxe" to me. Great resort!

Thanks again for everyone who posted on this thread!

Awesome! Welcome back and glad you enjoyed your stay.

ps - you should post this as a separate thread for all to see.

 

[tashast]

Hi everyone

I am going to be making my reservation soon for our honeymoon
and I am wondering if there is a more romantic section of CSR. It seems like the lush greens & pretty fountains of the casitas area might be more so but I'm not sure. Can you guys give any advice?

Thanks!!

 

[Buzz2001]

Hi everyone

I am going to be making my reservation soon for our honeymoon
and I am wondering if there is a more romantic section of CSR. It seems like the lush greens & pretty fountains of the casitas area might be more so but I'm not sure. Can you guys give any advice?

Thanks!!

The courtyards at casita 2 and 3 are great. Seen here at night

Photo by Ducky4Disney

Also, make sure you stroll around the lake at night stopping at the hammocks at the beach and wooden bridge over the lake for the ambience.

 

[Suzanne74]

Oh - I can not wait to get there. I am SO SO SO excited. I know we are going to love it there. I can't believe it is less then a month. It seems like we have been waiting forever. I will definately post when we return!!

 

[tashast]

Wow! That picture at night is great! Thanks for posting it.

 

[Buzz2001]

Oh - I can not wait to get there. I am SO SO SO excited. I know we are going to love it there. I can't believe it is less then a month. It seems like we have been waiting forever. I will definately post when we return!!

I hope you have a great time. I see that you mostly stay at the deluxes so I hope you are not disappointed in a moderate.

 

[Buzz2001]

Wow! That picture at night is great! Thanks for posting it.

Check out my website below for many more photos.

 

[dcg0317]

DS and I just returned Sunday night from 12 days at CSR, our 2nd time there and it was excellent. All CM where great, booked a standard room and was given choice of staying in the Castitas with water view or in Cabanas 9b section, we chose the Cabanas and stayed in room 9500. There was even a small alligator in the lake the last few days we where there, but everytime I had my camera he was no were to be found. Had a great time can't wait to get back again. Here are a couple pictures, still have more but haven't had time to download them yet.

 

[robinb]

There was even a small alligator in the lake the last few days we where there, but everytime I had my camera he was no were to be found.

Wow! Great pictures. I also saw the alligator. For a midwesterner such as myself, it was a treat. As long as he stayed in the water!

 

[Buzz2001]

Nice photos!

The CM told me they let the gators hang around until they reach 4 feet. They they will move it. We saw it in April.

 

[kutchyone]

Hi everyone
It seems like the lush greens & pretty fountains of the casitas area might be more so but I'm not sure. Can you guys give any advice?

Thanks!!

You are correct in your thinking. The casitas are the most romantic. We enjoyed building 3, second floor facing the lake. The sunsets and fireworks were beautiful. The courtyards are very pretty too.

 

[dcg0317]

I stiched together some pictures of CSR and thought I would share the beauty of the resort with everyone.

 

[can]

Great idea in starting this thread! This was our daughter's absolutely most favorite resort. She loved everything about it. Pepper Market was a big hit with her, there is something there for everyone, even the most picky of eaters! While she loved the atmosphere of the main pool, she enjoyed the "quiet" pools also.The grounds were just awesome, especialy the sandy white beaches and the huge hammocks to lounge in. We were lucky enough to have a corner ground floor room, seemed a little larger than most. We were also close to El Centro and the bus stop which was a big hit also.

Definitely would be at the top of our list of recommended resorts!

 

[MazdaUK]

Great photos! You obviously had better weather than we did