TOO MANY groups at CSR -- we had to move.

[montessori]

We decided last week to go to DW for 4th of July weekend.
We LOVE The Boardwalk Inn the most of all DW resorts but we also love CSR. We've stayed at the BW the last few trips so we went for CSR this time.
This visit wasn't a pleasant experience.
There were 3 different groups there....a kick-boxing competition, a dance competition, and a large group called The Venezuelan Festival (or something like that).
After getting up at 3:30 am, driving to DW, strolling around Epcot and having a good lunch in Mexico, we were in need of a nice cool nap!
It wasn't happening that day. There were so many people running and yelling in the walkways...doors slamming etc...
We went back out at night and got back to the room around 11:00. I had a feeling we were in for a long night when I saw so many people still running around and a group of people from the room next to us all outside talking on their cell phones.
Those people partied until after 3:00 am! They continued to call people on their cell phones, from right outside our room.
I called security at around 1:00 and it got quiet for a few minutes. Then I had to call again at 3:00.

I guess the people (it seems like there were about 6 or 8 people in there) tried to get their BABY to simply settle down at that time. Well, the baby didn't understand and cried for more than half an hour. The poor baby.
I was in the lobby at 4:30 am trying to switch to The Boardwalk.
While I was dealing with the CM at the front desk, another guest came up to file a report that his antennae had been broken off his truck during the night.
That just seemed like the type of thing that would happen there this weekend.
It was chaotic and there were many unsupervised young teens running around. Too many of the "grown-ups" were just as bad as the young people.

We were in our room at The Boardwalk a little before 7:00 am. Aaaaah, it was nice and quiet.
We went out for the day and had a GREAT nap that afternoon. We had been awake for 35 hours.


Our good friend at The Boardwalk says he believes that they should not have booked that many groups at the same time, or they should have at least beefed up security big time.
I have to agree.

As is always the case, I am sure there are other guests who were there (at CSR) at the same time we were, who did not experience what we did.
I'm not sure HOW that could be but it does happen!
I don't know how far in advance the different groups are booked, but I won't reserve a room at CSR again unless I know it won't be a weekend like this one.
We have always enjoyed CSR more than the other moderates and we hope to stay there again someday.
Right now, I'm glad we have reservations at The Boardwalk for our next 3 visits.

 

[RickinNYC]

Boardwalk is definitely an A+++ in my book! We enjoyed CSR but do prefer BWI.

 

[Buzz2001]

Sorry to hear about your inconsiderate neighbors. We were there from 6/24 to 7/2. Didn't want anything to do with WDW during the July 4th weekend. On our last night we experienced some noise out in the walkways but it was kids running up and down. It ended early.

We took naps everyday between 2-4pm. Nice and cool and quiet. We were in rancho 6b

 

[palmtreegirl]

The same thing happened to us last August except we only lasted about 3 hours. There were over 1000 kids from teen youth groups there at the time and it was nuts, we ended up transferring over to the CR.

Beautiful resort, our timing was just really bad.

 

[Tinkrbell]

Thats great thet you were ABLE to switch. When we wanted to switch, they were all booked up. Did you at least get a good rate on the room? Or did they give you a discount for your trouble? Hope so.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

palmtreegirl: what week in August were you there? We'll be there the first week in August, I hope it's not crowded with groups!

 

[montessori]

The Boardwalk was at less than 60% capacity for the weekend. Very surprising, but true!
We were ready to head back home if we couldn't switch resorts.
We got a good rate. More than CSR of course.
CSR did credit us with half the cost of the night's stay but then there was a $55 charge on our bill that I couldn't figure out.
I went back to the front desk and the CM said that I had made an appointment for some kind of treatment at the Spa but never showed up. This wasn't true and the CM said (a little reluctantly), "Well, I guess I have to take your word for that".
I was very friendly and the CM sort of took my lead...after a while.
When my husband came up to the counter (after I had been going back and forth many times) he commented to me that you could tell she could turn ugly at any moment.
When I first went to the lobby at 4:30, she told me I would have to wait until 7:30 to accomplish anything.
I went back to the room for a few minutes but then I went back to the CM and told her we weren't going to wait around for 3 hours.
We were really ready to start driving home.

CSR is a beautiful resort and we've always thoroughly enjoyed our stays there.

I do believe there should be a limit to the number of groups staying at any one resort at any one particular time.

I will continue to recommend CSR as the best moderate Disney Resort but always with the warning about something like this happening.

 

[colleen costello]

Oh, I hate to hear this! A dear woman who I met thought these Boards is down there with her family right now. They haven't been to WDW in AGES and this is the first time with the kids. They booked a package and were staying at Coronado -- I can only hope this chaos doesn't ruin their trip!

I agree with the assessment that too many groups equals misery for other guests!

Glad you got moved.

 

[twinkles0819]

My dance studio is participating in that Dance Competition.......we are favored to win the "broadway Cup" or "best studio of the year"

Sorry you had to move....I know dancers can get really LOUD

 

[motaei]

We were there last week - 06/26/04 - 07/03/04. I guess we were one of the lucky ones. We were in Casita 3, 4th floor & had no trouble. There were a lot of Martial Arts kids at El Centro, but they did not bother us - my kids thought it was cool to see the weapons (they are both low belts in Tae-Kwon-Do). The only thing that woke me up at night was the testing of the fireworks at midnight on (I think it was Thursday night). The resort did not notify us of the testing & there was a bunch of us in our PJs out on the balcony trying to figure out which park it was coming from.

I am so sorry that you had a bad experience with the conference attendees. Maybe if they were to limit the number of conferences with kids attending, that would help - since both the dance and martial arts competitions were heavy on the younger crowd.

I am glad you were able to make it to BW though. Better luck next time at CSR.

 

[JohnnyTarHeel]

I always got the impression from visiting the Boardwalk area that it might be kind of a loud resort itself, especially if you had a room overlooking the restaurants. Is that not a problem? Looks like a cool place, but it strikes me as anything but quiet!

I would have changed resorts too...nothing like rude, loud "guests" keeping you up all night when you're already exhausted, and that part about the baby is disturbing.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by KIRSTIN'S MOMMY
palmtreegirl: what week in August were you there? We'll be there the first week in August, I hope it's not crowded with groups!

We were down there the last week of July/ into the first week of August.

I bet if you call down to the resort they can tell you if they'll be there again.

Here's the number-(407) 939-1000

 

[montessori]

Colleen,
I don't think ALL of the groups were staying past the weekend.
Also, not everyone is directly affected by them.
Hopefully, your Dis friend and her family are enjoying their vacation at CSR. I'll be interested in hearing about it when they get home.


Twinkles,
When we stayed at AKL in February, there was a dance group staying there. They didn't bother us at all, we enjoyed their exuberance and energy!
Once again, the problem with this past weekend, was having 3 different large groups at the same place.
I'm sure the girls in your studio are having a blast and I wish them luck in the competitions!

Motaei,
I'm glad you had a good Disney vacation at CSR! It is a lovely resort and we do hope to give it another try someday.

KIRSTIN'S MOMMY,
I would suggest you do call the resort and ask about the groups that will be there during your visit.
Maybe there wouldn't even be a problem while you are there, but I know it's a chance I'll never take again. Good luck!

JohnnyTarHeel,
Aaaah...The Boardwalk. It is the BEST Disney resort!
We have stayed in Boardwalk view rooms before and were never bothered by the noise from the boardwalk.
But, we really love the garden view rooms on the Inn side.
You feel like you are miles away from anywhere. It's so peaceful and lovely. The quiet pool area is pretty and usually really quiet too!
I hope you give The Boardwalk Inn a try someday, you'll love it!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by montessori
...We have always enjoyed CSR more than the other moderates and we hope to stay there again someday.
Right now, I'm glad we have reservations at The Boardwalk for our next 3 visits...

I agree with you about the theming at CSR, and I have always liked iot there, but for Disney's propensity to put groups there, what with the conference center and all. How disappointing.

As for your love of the Boardwalk, you sound like a good candidate to own DVC there, like we do. There seem to be a few more contracts available these days on the resale market, and we keep thinking we should get more points there. As it stands, we've got four stays at BWV and another at VB planned (plus a weekend at AKL, our fav') in the 12 months starting in November (oh happy day!).

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy
....
As for your love of the Boardwalk, you sound like a good candidate to own DVC there, like we do. There seem to be a few more contracts available these days on the resale market, and we keep thinking we should get more points there. As it stands, we've got four stays at BWV and another at VB planned (plus a weekend at AKL, our fav') in the 12 months starting in November (oh happy day!).

We came close to joining DVC years ago but we didn't do it for one reason...I can usually only travel on weekends.
We take weekend trips to DW every couple of months, sometimes every month if we're lucky!
For the last two years I have closed my preschool for Christmas week and rented points from a wonderful DVC member for that week.
Now, my husband has a new job and it looks like he won't be getting that week off this year or next.
I think DVC is fantastic but I don't think it's a good deal for someone who can only go to DW on weekends.
Your vacation plans sound terrific! So much to look forward to!
My mother-in-law lives right down the street from Vero's Disney Resort. We love that resort too and Vero Beach is very nice.
We like AKL a lot too.
Thanks for the advise and enjoy all your vacations!