Worried....CS too spread out??

[pandapants]

Thinking about staying at CS (rather than AKL) to save some money, plus we'd like to be more centrally located to the parks. My kids (6 and 10) love to swim and I hear they have a great pool and slide at CS. I've heard reports that the resort is very spread out and that everything is quite a hike (in some cases 15 minutes to the pool area?!!!) Not sure my kids would like that! I suppose I'm in the same boat as a lot of people struggling between CS/CBR and AKL.

My question is, is the CS pool/slide really that great? Meaning.....worth the distance to walk to it? Is it better than at AKL? I'm all for saving money, but don't want it to be a downer being so far away from stuff. Any help? TIA!

 

[RyMickey]

We have stayed at AKL and it is a longer bus ride to the parks than other hotels. That being said, the experience of staying at AKL is great. Seeing the animals right out of your window. Wow. We have never stayed at either CS or CBR because of the fact that it is so spread out. Plus, AKL has its own bus stop at each park and since it's a smaller hotel, you're more likely not be have to wait through two or three busses before you can actually get on one to come home.

RyMickey

 

[jeepgirl30]

I have stayed at CS several times and do not get how it takes 15 min to walk to the pool. I love taking a stroll around the lake in the morning and evening. I have never found it to be too long or cumbersome to get around.

It is a beautiful resort and very peaceful. I used the quiet pools a lot for myself. I did check out the Dig Site pool and it looks fun.

 

[Buzz2001]

Theme park buses go:
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas
1 - El Centro

Downtown Disney buses, as well as Park Exit buses go:
1 - El Centro
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas

CSR buses go in this order so that guests can hop on board a theme park bus and take it to the main building. They can then hop on a DTD bus to get back to their rooms.

 

[Buzz2001]

cabana 9b is close to bus stop 1 and the main building with a short walk to the Dig Site over the wooden bridge

cabana 8a is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a short walk to the main building.

cabana 8b and 9a are inbetween the 2 above.

Cabana rooms are mostly waterview rooms or non parking lot views.

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.

The casitas are close to the gym, spa and have great fountains and courtyards. casita 5 is close to the Dig Site with a good walk to the main building. The lower the casita number the closer towards the main building.

 

[Buzz2001]

This may help.

Walking Distances
From El Centro moving clockwise around the lake path to:
Casitas 3 = .16 miles
Casitas 4 = .24 miles
Casitas 5 = .27 miles
Ranchos = .46 miles

From El Centro to the Dig Site, via the bridge near the Cabanas
= .35 miles

From El Centro moving counterclockwise around the lake to:
Cabanas 9B = .16 miles
Cabanas 9A/8B = .22 miles
Cabanas 8A = .31 miles

OR

Take the bus instead of walking
Theme park buses go:
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas
1 - El Centro

Downtown Disney buses, as well as Park Exit buses go:
1 - El Centro
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas

CSR buses go in this order so that guests can hop on board a theme park bus and take it to the main building. They can then hop on a DTD bus to get back to their rooms.
__________________
CHECK OUT MY CSR WEBSITE BELOW!

 

[fun & fancy free]

Our family too is not infavor of the very spread out resorts. We stayed at CBR last May. We loved the room,however, we did not like the walk w/toddlers. Thsi made for a bad experience at CBR. We would probavle stay here again when the kids are older. We now splurge for a Delux. Everyone has to determine what is most important to make the best of your vacation.

 

[SuzEm]

I've stayed at AKL, CSR and CBR. CSR is no more spread out than CBR, and to me it seems less so, not entirely sure why, but it just seemed a more pleasant walk to El Centro at CSR (even from Ranchos) than it was for me from Jamaica to the Food Court at CBR. I preferred the transportation at CSR over CBR. And the pool at CSR is great fun - very large and better than CBR's theme pool. Worth the walk! There is a bar there where you can get food and drinks, too.

AKL is wonderful - we had a Savannah view room, the transportation is wonderful and the pool is wonderful. But keep in mind when considering distances that you could be in a room at the far other end of the hotel from the pool and bus stops and actually have a longer walk to either than you might end up with at CSR depending upon your location. I wouldn't hesitate to stay at CSR to save money over AKL. You see where I'm staying again! And I could have chosen AKL, but chose CSR instead so I could move over to the Poly for our last days. I don't think you'll regret choosing CSR to save money. Hope this helps!

 

[dcg0317]

My vote is for CSR, I don't think or it felt like a long walk at all, even haveing spent a good part of the day in the parks, bus service is great and at times I've seen golf carts at CSR that will give you a ride if you want one. Make sure you stop over at Buzz2001 site, it has alot of good info and great pictures too, very good site.

 

[epcotfan]

I've stayed at AKL, CSR and CBR. CSR is no more spread out than CBR, and to me it seems less so, not entirely sure why, but it just seemed a more pleasant walk to El Centro at CSR (even from Ranchos) than it was for me from Jamaica to the Food Court at CBR. I preferred the transportation at CSR over CBR. And the pool at CSR is great fun - very large and better than CBR's theme pool. Worth the walk! There is a bar there where you can get food and drinks, too.

I agree. I've stayed at all the mods and all of them require some walking to their pools or restaurants.

If you do go to AKL don't be surprised if you have a fair walk from your room to the lobby or pool. I stayed there a couple of years ago and I was amazed at how long a walk it was to the laundry room from the Lobby.

 

[ncbyrne]

I have stayed at POR and CBR and liked both. We were in Antigua at CBR. Can the walk to the pool at CS be longer than our walk at CBR? We are considering CS for our next trip, and want to request just the right area.

 

[F1Julie]

I've stayed at CSR and AKL and thought both of them were great. CSR is not as spread out as many people seem to think. We were in Ranchos and it never took us more than 5-10 minutes to walk anywhere we needed to go. The bus service is great at both resorts. I like the pool better at CSR since it has more theming with the pyramid. The AKL pool is nice, but more of a typical pool. The best thing about AKL is obviously the animals. If you don't really care about that, stay at CSR to save some money.

 

[jjsmom]

We stayed at CSR last July. I've never stayed at AKL so I can't make an honest comparison. However, your concerns are legitimate about the resort being spread out (It seems all the mods are spread out). IT IS! First of all, CSR is gorgeous! Our room (Casitas) was perfect. The pool is wonderful. We had a great rate. We loved the Pepper MKt. & Maya Grill. But, my husband has some health concerns and the walk to the lobby and restaurants was a bit much for him in the summer heat. That was the only drawback, however, it was enough of an issue for us that we probably would not stay there again. DH says we will save our $$ for the next stop... BEACH CLUB!! It is our goal to stay at every WDW resort.

 

[Rpsemont]

Have not stayed at AKL but did stay at CSR. I really liked it, but Dh will not go back because it is so spread out. If I remember right, we were in Cabanas. We had a lovely view, sort walk to dig site, but it was about 10-12 minute walk to the main buidling.
Another item to consider - does AKL have private balconies? If you like to sit on a private balcony I'm not sure any rooms at the moderates have them.

 

[MinnieM3]

We have stayed at CBR,but not CSR. We were fine with the rooms at CB, but hated that it was all spread out. It just was not our thing.
We have stayed at AKL and didn't think walking anywhere was a big deal at all. We like the "all under one roof" concept...... it could well be we travelled the same distance, but once I'm inside a building I pretty much feel like I'm there!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We enjoyed our stay at CS, very much. The resort is big though.

We were in 6b, (Ranchos) and had a very quick walk to the bus, and pool.

You can refill your mugs at the pool snack bar, which was nice.My older daughter culd run up, and refill our mugs.

It was a hike to the main bldg, but didn't really need to go there much. If we did, we would just get off the bus at the main bldg, on our way back from the parks. I think one time, my DH even hopped back on a bus, after picking up packages, and rode around the resort to our bus stop.

With kids, I enjoyed the CS pool more, than CBR. THe slide is much larger, and so is the hot tub. The CBR is broken up, and it is harder to keep an eye on the kids. At CSR, you can see the whole pool, and the kiddie pool too. You prob. don't need the kiddie pool, with your children's ages, but I just thought I would mention it.

One thing to keep in mind though, if you are adding dining to your package. The CS food court, and the sit down rest. arenot on the list of locations. This could be a problem, if you like to eat at the resort.

Both CS, and CBR, would be a drag, if you get a crappy location far away from things. We have been lucky, and have gotten great locations at both resorts. We were in Martinique #26 at CBR. It is now a preferred location. I think it's 10 or 15 more a night to be there.

Between the 2, I would stay a CS again, before CBR.

To throw more confusion your way, everyone says that PO is more compact, with less walking. I've not stayed there.

Good luck deciding Have a great trip