Day 2 (part 2) - Friday, November 12, 2004:
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
We had been driving most of the night and stopped briefly for a rest at a rest stop area. Needless to say, both of us were tired. Mom and I switched up driving in the Turnpike area so that I could film us entering WDW. Mom was really moody at this point due to neck and lack of sleep and I was much improved either. We arrived at CS about 10 minutes ahead of 11:00 a.m. All of a sudden we both had a burst of energy.
CORONADO SPRINGS:
Wow. In Dec. 2002, both mom and I decided to tour the resort. We walked a bit of the grounds, had a drink at the lounge and left because we were tired. I booked one night here as this was the only moderate left open for my travel day up (PORS and FQ were booked up and stayed briefly sometime ago at CBR). As my mother hates the various festive colors that they use in some of the rooms (actually, both of us would've gotten a migraine if we would've been assigned a room that had those ugly green headboards), I requested a room in the Ranchos section (colors are a bit more sedate) and its closer to the main pool.
Well we walked in and forgot how beautiful the front entrance lobby is and the lake area behind it. Took several pictures as no one was in line at checkin at this time. Then went to go checkin. CM was great. She noted that I requested Ranchos section and stated that my room wasn't ready and that I would have to call back. Now it is 11ish, about 80 degrees outside and 4 hours until checkin - no more sleeping in the car. I very nicely began to inform her that we had been driving up all night and that I was willing to take anyroom available. The CM was fabulous and looked to see what was available, a room was just cleaned in Ranchos, so she gave us our room key cards, maps and park hours guide and off we went.
The room assigned to us was #6557 in Ranchos 6B (woods view) on the first floor. We drove around and parked in the lot closest to Ranchos 6b, gathered the bags needed for the one night stay and set out to our room. 6B is very close to a quiet pool and short walk (about 100 feet) to the main pool. There were plenty of people here. Our room was on the backside of 6b (about 300 ft from the parking lot) and our room was directly across the way from the elevators and ice vending area. When the CM stated it was just cleaned, it was. The maid was in the very next room and working her way down the line of rooms on that side the rest of the day. The grounds keepers had just moved to that area to begin cutting trees, shrubs and such so there was a lot of noise.
We opened the door to room #6557 and the room was in immaculate shape. Very clean, no dust anywhere - I have to admit this is my new favorite moderate resort. They had already placed a refrigerator in the room so we moved our cold foods into that. The beds have those big fluffy mattresses on them (I'm 5'6" and had fun jumping up on top of the bed). We placed our stuff down, jumped on the bed and went to sleep. Now I'll admit this, the room does have bright colors (but not those ugly green bedpost or armoire that other rooms have) but these colors really work well together and weren't overly hidious (please remember this is just my opinion - no flaming). We woke up around 3ish and the grounds CM were still working outside.
I have to admit, this is moms favorite resort (even over BW). She absolutely loved it and asked that the next time we come we spend more time here (this actually shocked me as she doesn't like the Mexican theming of homes, colors, anything). I was blown away. She loved the privacy curtain and the beds and loved the grounds as well. The only thing we didn't love here was the fact that the walls are very thin. You can here everything, the maid cleaning next door, the kids running past your door, the grounds keepers cutting everything. The noise is very evident (but when your tired you do sleep). We woke up an hour earlier than we wanted to as a lot of younger children were screaming down the hallway from us and it could be heard clearly in our room. Additionally, this moderate's bathroom noise sounds just like a plane landing (this is a different sound in other moderates). Mom kept insisting that planes were passing low overhead and I kept telling her that if she listened close enough, she would hear the water rushing through the pipes (which she did eventually agree she was hearing). The sound is different and as the hotel was at 95 occupancy, we would be hearing this whooshing noise all night.
We got up and were very hungry. I had bought 2 Q&C vouchers to use at the Pepper Market. We headed over to El Centro walking past the pools, over the bridge and taking plenty of pictures along the way (the resort is really beautiful, serene and big but what a great walk).
We walked into the Pepper Market about 3:45 and were seated by the hostess who explained how everything worked. I paid $11.50 each for the 2 vouchers. We decided to go for the best deal there. We ordered the 2 ribeye steaks (they had smashed pot. and gravy today with it) which were listed at $18.00 each and took about 10/15 minutes to cook fresh. The steaks were a good size and the smash. pot. were the exact same size (huge meal that we could've shared if we wanted to). Our drinks were served and refilled for us several times. I also went up to get a piece of french bread that mom and I shared (I realized that I would have to pay for it as it wasn't included in the Q&C vouchers). 10 minutes later our meal was ready and it was very good (meat was tender). We each then grabbed a dessert (I had the carrot cake and mom had a strawberry cake) and both were excellent as well. As our server was very nice, I did leave an additional tip even though they are given a tip with Q&C voucher. Upon checkout I thought the CM would charge me for the french bread but she didn't so the Q&C voucher became an even better meal deal. You figure that I paid $23 for meal voucher when meal would've cost $48 (so that was a savings of $25. GREAT DEAL.
We walked to Panchito's and did a bit of shopping and then decided to walk back through the courtyard areas to take pictures (believe this is the Casistas areas) and this area is so beautiful with its fountains and plants. We stopped briefly to try out the hammacks along the way and just enjoyed the view. As it was about 6ish, most of the conventioneers and tourist were all walking around so the resort had plenty of people but was still relatively quiet at the same time.
We got back to our room and I decided I wanted to go swimming and mom had to make a few calls. So I changed and headed over to the main swimming pool. What fun. The pool was warm and everyone was sliding down the slide including myself (went down it at least 10 times). In case you didn't know it has a spitting jaguar about half way down so your hair will get wet. I swam around for about an hour and a half. A lady at the table next to my chair dropped her glass drink and a CM picked up all the pieces immediately. I was having so much fun that I forgot all about having roscea and sat in the hottub for 5 minutes before going back to the room. Needless to say when I remembered that I had roscea my face was purple. I went back to the room and it was the first thing my mom saw - my purple face. That hot tub was hot (and it was hotter than the one at BW). Well went back for a bath and to change and begin our night fun which will be included in part 3.
RECAP:
Hurricane damage on way to Orlando -
Arriving at Coronado Springs resort:
Room #6557, Ranchos 6B (woods view) -
Noise heard in room -
Pepper Market -
Q&C voucher savings at Pepper Market -
Pyramid pool -
Hot tub and purple face -
I hope that I'll have enough time to type up Part 3 tonight as we went to DTD and PORS for Bob Jackson's show and had a wonderful time.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
We had been driving most of the night and stopped briefly for a rest at a rest stop area. Needless to say, both of us were tired. Mom and I switched up driving in the Turnpike area so that I could film us entering WDW. Mom was really moody at this point due to neck and lack of sleep and I was much improved either. We arrived at CS about 10 minutes ahead of 11:00 a.m. All of a sudden we both had a burst of energy.
CORONADO SPRINGS:
Wow. In Dec. 2002, both mom and I decided to tour the resort. We walked a bit of the grounds, had a drink at the lounge and left because we were tired. I booked one night here as this was the only moderate left open for my travel day up (PORS and FQ were booked up and stayed briefly sometime ago at CBR). As my mother hates the various festive colors that they use in some of the rooms (actually, both of us would've gotten a migraine if we would've been assigned a room that had those ugly green headboards), I requested a room in the Ranchos section (colors are a bit more sedate) and its closer to the main pool.
Well we walked in and forgot how beautiful the front entrance lobby is and the lake area behind it. Took several pictures as no one was in line at checkin at this time. Then went to go checkin. CM was great. She noted that I requested Ranchos section and stated that my room wasn't ready and that I would have to call back. Now it is 11ish, about 80 degrees outside and 4 hours until checkin - no more sleeping in the car. I very nicely began to inform her that we had been driving up all night and that I was willing to take anyroom available. The CM was fabulous and looked to see what was available, a room was just cleaned in Ranchos, so she gave us our room key cards, maps and park hours guide and off we went.
The room assigned to us was #6557 in Ranchos 6B (woods view) on the first floor. We drove around and parked in the lot closest to Ranchos 6b, gathered the bags needed for the one night stay and set out to our room. 6B is very close to a quiet pool and short walk (about 100 feet) to the main pool. There were plenty of people here. Our room was on the backside of 6b (about 300 ft from the parking lot) and our room was directly across the way from the elevators and ice vending area. When the CM stated it was just cleaned, it was. The maid was in the very next room and working her way down the line of rooms on that side the rest of the day. The grounds keepers had just moved to that area to begin cutting trees, shrubs and such so there was a lot of noise.
We opened the door to room #6557 and the room was in immaculate shape. Very clean, no dust anywhere - I have to admit this is my new favorite moderate resort. They had already placed a refrigerator in the room so we moved our cold foods into that. The beds have those big fluffy mattresses on them (I'm 5'6" and had fun jumping up on top of the bed). We placed our stuff down, jumped on the bed and went to sleep. Now I'll admit this, the room does have bright colors (but not those ugly green bedpost or armoire that other rooms have) but these colors really work well together and weren't overly hidious (please remember this is just my opinion - no flaming). We woke up around 3ish and the grounds CM were still working outside.
I have to admit, this is moms favorite resort (even over BW). She absolutely loved it and asked that the next time we come we spend more time here (this actually shocked me as she doesn't like the Mexican theming of homes, colors, anything). I was blown away. She loved the privacy curtain and the beds and loved the grounds as well. The only thing we didn't love here was the fact that the walls are very thin. You can here everything, the maid cleaning next door, the kids running past your door, the grounds keepers cutting everything. The noise is very evident (but when your tired you do sleep). We woke up an hour earlier than we wanted to as a lot of younger children were screaming down the hallway from us and it could be heard clearly in our room. Additionally, this moderate's bathroom noise sounds just like a plane landing (this is a different sound in other moderates). Mom kept insisting that planes were passing low overhead and I kept telling her that if she listened close enough, she would hear the water rushing through the pipes (which she did eventually agree she was hearing). The sound is different and as the hotel was at 95 occupancy, we would be hearing this whooshing noise all night.
We got up and were very hungry. I had bought 2 Q&C vouchers to use at the Pepper Market. We headed over to El Centro walking past the pools, over the bridge and taking plenty of pictures along the way (the resort is really beautiful, serene and big but what a great walk).
We walked into the Pepper Market about 3:45 and were seated by the hostess who explained how everything worked. I paid $11.50 each for the 2 vouchers. We decided to go for the best deal there. We ordered the 2 ribeye steaks (they had smashed pot. and gravy today with it) which were listed at $18.00 each and took about 10/15 minutes to cook fresh. The steaks were a good size and the smash. pot. were the exact same size (huge meal that we could've shared if we wanted to). Our drinks were served and refilled for us several times. I also went up to get a piece of french bread that mom and I shared (I realized that I would have to pay for it as it wasn't included in the Q&C vouchers). 10 minutes later our meal was ready and it was very good (meat was tender). We each then grabbed a dessert (I had the carrot cake and mom had a strawberry cake) and both were excellent as well. As our server was very nice, I did leave an additional tip even though they are given a tip with Q&C voucher. Upon checkout I thought the CM would charge me for the french bread but she didn't so the Q&C voucher became an even better meal deal. You figure that I paid $23 for meal voucher when meal would've cost $48 (so that was a savings of $25. GREAT DEAL.
We walked to Panchito's and did a bit of shopping and then decided to walk back through the courtyard areas to take pictures (believe this is the Casistas areas) and this area is so beautiful with its fountains and plants. We stopped briefly to try out the hammacks along the way and just enjoyed the view. As it was about 6ish, most of the conventioneers and tourist were all walking around so the resort had plenty of people but was still relatively quiet at the same time.
We got back to our room and I decided I wanted to go swimming and mom had to make a few calls. So I changed and headed over to the main swimming pool. What fun. The pool was warm and everyone was sliding down the slide including myself (went down it at least 10 times). In case you didn't know it has a spitting jaguar about half way down so your hair will get wet. I swam around for about an hour and a half. A lady at the table next to my chair dropped her glass drink and a CM picked up all the pieces immediately. I was having so much fun that I forgot all about having roscea and sat in the hottub for 5 minutes before going back to the room. Needless to say when I remembered that I had roscea my face was purple. I went back to the room and it was the first thing my mom saw - my purple face. That hot tub was hot (and it was hotter than the one at BW). Well went back for a bath and to change and begin our night fun which will be included in part 3.
RECAP:
Hurricane damage on way to Orlando -
Arriving at Coronado Springs resort:
Room #6557, Ranchos 6B (woods view) -
Noise heard in room -
Pepper Market -
Q&C voucher savings at Pepper Market -
Pyramid pool -
Hot tub and purple face -
I hope that I'll have enough time to type up Part 3 tonight as we went to DTD and PORS for Bob Jackson's show and had a wonderful time.
