The *NEW* Coronado Springs FAQ Thread

[Buzz2001]

Only one building non-smoking? How many of the convention folks smoke? (More or less than the general population?)

There are 126 smoking optional rooms at CSR. As far as I am aware, they are all located in cabana 9a. All other building are smoke free.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is one of the six Walt Disney World Resorts to get a green thumbs up.

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge has been certified for the Florida "green lodging" program, the sixth Disney hotel to earn that distinction for environmentally friendly practices. Among the hotel's green features: a towel and linen reuse program to conserve energy and water, an advanced computerized energy management system and a recycling program for visitors and staff.

Started in March 2004, the program is a voluntary initiative from the state Department of Environmental Protection. It establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.

As reward for the designation, Florida recommends Green Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of the Animal Kingdom property, the program has 13 hotels certified, with 14 in the process of becoming certified.

Others at Walt Disney World are: the Coronado Springs Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Port Orleans Resort, Pop Century Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort.

 

[Buzz2001]

VOTE CSR

 

[PortieOwner]

We will be staying at CSR (mostly because of this site and Buzz!) during April. Are there any parks that you would drive to instead of taking the bus? We will have a rental car. Thanks

We always took park transportation to the MK. That does seem to be more efficient although we had plenty of bad luck with buses--waiting too long, and not just for CSR buses. We drove to all the other parks but it might be more efficient to take the buses to Animal Kingdom (and Blizzard Beach). Parking at AK is pretty far from the gate even if you are there early, and one day coming back from AK there was a torrential downpour which I got stuck in trying to find my car (which was way beyond the employee lot at AK). We drove to Epcot and MGM but we were also always hitting those places later in the afternoon, when nice parking was coming available near the park entrances.

Portie

 

[PortieOwner]

Does anyone know what time CSR will let us check in? We are arriving the night before and are staying in a hotel by the airport. I would love to arrive as early as I can the next day to pick up my tickets and check in (I know the room may not be ready). Then it would be off to fun fun fun!!! By the way what do most people like to do on their first day? This site has been great especially since it is our first family vacation at Disney --thanks to all!!! (DD is 12)

I think you can get your tickets, parking permit, and room keys as early as 7am. I think I arrived there last Sept. at around 8:30am and they said I was the first check in of the day. They did not have the room ready but gave me a WDW phone number to call which should have given me my room # when it was ready (the room lock is already encoded on the key). Unfortunately that system didn't work for me that day and I needed help from guest services, which took a surprising amount of time since the lines were sort of long by then.

Portie

 

[gigi1313]

i've scrolled thru pages and pages and did not find a MAP of the property... any chance someone can post one to me?

we're considering CSR for our next trip and would like to request a section... any suggestions on which to suggest? we would like to be near the main pool and the food court, but it seems that those two things are half a mile apart (from what i've read) so we'd need to decide which is most important and choose that?

 

[Buzz2001]

i've scrolled thru pages and pages and did not find a MAP of the property... any chance someone can post one to me?

we're considering CSR for our next trip and would like to request a section... any suggestions on which to suggest? we would like to be near the main pool and the food court, but it seems that those two things are half a mile apart (from what i've read) so we'd need to decide which is most important and choose that?

Visit my website below for a property map.

There isn't one simple answer to your question. It depends on which section you end up liking better. Here are some good choice for each.

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

Cabana 8a is close to the Dig Site (and playground) and bus stop 4 with a short walk to the main building. (Closest to the Pool)

Cabana 8b and 9a are in between 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.

Casita 3 has great courtyard and fountain views but you will have to walk or ride the internal shuttle to get to the pool.

Casita 5 has some nice fountain and lake views and is close to the Dig Site but farther from the main building.

CSR's new internal shuttle system can also assist you in getting to and from the main building to your village.

 

[gigi1313]

great website! (i have to admit, i was never even remotely tempted by CSR 'til i started seeing your posts here and there and well, now i'm thinking that's where we'll stay! LOL!)

can cabana 9b be "guaranteed" as a preferred section (like the 60s section at pop or the preferred section at CBR) if you are willing to pay more?

also, can you get a rollaway at CSR (still only having four people in the room)?

 

[BlueFairy1]

We had four in our room in July and yes...we got a roll away bed. We also have stayed in the Cabanas 8A and loved it!!

 

[tlynk]

We had four in our room in July and yes...we got a roll away bed. We also have stayed in the Cabanas 8A and loved it!!

How much did you pay for the rollaway bed? Is CSR the only resort that will let people request them?

 

[BlueFairy1]

How much did you pay for the rollaway bed? Is CSR the only resort that will let people request them?

I was surprised we were able to get one at all. There are not many hotels @ Disney that have them! I believe we paid 15.00 per night extra for it.

 

[tinkerbeth]

great website! (i have to admit, i was never even remotely tempted by CSR 'til i started seeing your posts here and there and well, now i'm thinking that's where we'll stay! LOL!)

That's us too. Dh and I were both convinced. If Disney people are reading this, you should really be sending Buzz commission cheques!

Beth

 

[tlynk]

I was surprised we were able to get one at all. There are not many hotels @ Disney that have them! I believe we paid 15.00 per night extra for it.

That's good to know! DH usually ends up requesting one after the first night of us sharing a double.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Thanks so much for this, I love CSR!!!

 

[Buzz2001]

can cabana 9b be "guaranteed" as a preferred section (like the 60s section at pop or the preferred section at CBR) if you are willing to pay more?

also, can you get a rollaway at CSR (still only having four people in the room)?

No, cabana 9b can not be guaranteed. CSR only has waterview and standard.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[hockeybabe]

i've scrolled thru pages and pages and did not find a MAP of the property... any chance someone can post one to me?

we're considering CSR for our next trip and would like to request a section... any suggestions on which to suggest? we would like to be near the main pool and the food court, but it seems that those two things are half a mile apart (from what i've read) so we'd need to decide which is most important and choose that?

Although 9B is a great location, you might try 8B. We loved it. It was less than 5 min. to either El Centro or the Dig Site pool. It was closest to bus stop 4, but not much farther to bus stop 1, so depending on when you want to get on or off, you can decide where you want to catch your bus. It was right next to a quiet pool and laundry, which was very convenient. IMO, it was not a very long walk to any of the Cabanas to any of the places we needed to get to. 9B would be ideal, but 8B was a great second. Enjoy!

 

[MinnieSummer]

We've stayed in all the sections and they are all great for different reasons -- landscaping, location, solitude, the fountains, ... Obviously if walking is a problem then the bldgs suggested are a good choice but with the internal transportation any of the buildings are accessible to everything. However, I really enjoy the morning walk to the Pepper Market to get milk and breakfast items. It's peaceful and beautiful and a great way to start the day. The only time I don't like it is when it's raining but then I just don that little Mickey poncho and jump in puddles -- yes I do and I'm an adult.

 

[*love*2*shop]

I am going to read back throough the Posts about CSR BUt heres the scoop....We go to "Disney" 1-2x a year...Most recently we did our 11 day Honeymoon there at POFQ and LOVED it in 1997 , then last March 2005 we did WDW Off site, Oct 2005 Disney Eastern Cruise, and then This past Jan 2006 Stayed 5 days again at POFQ-loved it! We are Now booked to go again THIS Oct to WDW ALONE (NO KIDS< whoo hoo) and I want to try a new resort, BUT am Scared..LOL..YOu know If it aint broke-dont fix it....BUT I just wnat to try someplace new..Hubby is scared that we may hate it and hes not switching from CSR and have to pack and switch to POFQ..After reading comments /asking around, We have STILL stuck to CSR for our vacation ( we are going Friday Oct 27-Wed nov 1 2006) I Just need reasurrence...Its DISNEY for petes Sake, How Bad can it be? Why AM i so worried? HUbbys concerns_ its a LONG Bus ride to the parks..HELP*

 

[Buzz2001]

I am going to read back through the Posts about CSR BUt heres the scoop....We go to "Disney" 1-2x a year...Most recently we did our 11 day Honeymoon there at POFQ and LOVED it in 1997 , then last March 2005 we did WDW Off site, Oct 2005 Disney Eastern Cruise, and then This past Jan 2006 Stayed 5 days again at POFQ-loved it! We are Now booked to go again THIS Oct to WDW ALONE (NO KIDS< whoo hoo) and I want to try a new resort, BUT am Scared..LOL..YOu know If it aint broke-dont fix it....BUT I just wnat to try someplace new..Hubby is scared that we may hate it and hes not switching from CSR and have to pack and switch to POFQ..After reading comments /asking around, We have STILL stuck to CSR for our vacation ( we are going Friday Oct 27-Wed nov 1 2006) I Just need reasurrence...Its DISNEY for petes Sake, How Bad can it be? Why AM i so worried? HUbbys concerns_ its a LONG Bus ride to the parks..HELP*

Just remember that POFQ is the smallest Disney resort and CSR is a large resort. Expect that you may have to do some walking. That said, CSR offers much more than POFQ.

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 8 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.

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.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks for your most recent post... i did not realize that the lake at CSR was so much smaller than the lake at CBR... which makes CSR a significantly "smaller" resort than CBR... which makes me think it might be a good choice for us! (we did not like CBR because it was toooo huge, we were newbies and did not know to request a specific section and were miles--or so it seemed--away from everything! we were recently in the 80s section of Pop and did not find it nearly as far from the main bldg as when we stayed at CBR)

tell me about the internal transportation system...
tell me more about room service (assuming that you cannot use the DDP to "pay" for room service?)...
tell me more about the salon (is there a salon "menu of services" anywhere, are app'ts necessary, do they do french braids?)...

buzz, you're doing a great job of swaying me from my other choices (currently undecided between OKW, which is a HUGE resort, and pop century)!