We are heading to this resort in November...We up-graded from All-Star Movies. So excited...cost us $156 to up-grade. Expedia has a good sale on right now. Has anyone been to this resort? I have read its really big and the food is expensive. What are some of the things we should know about this resort? Thanx.

I recommend looking at a map and requesting a building close to the Pepper Market (the food court) unless you don't mind quite a hike. The resort property is huge and somewhat confusing (and it's at it's worst when you're tired from just having stepped of a plane and disoriented from the bellman driving you along the scenic route to your room!) It's also not very romantic as it's one of the major conference hotels--we were upgraded to a suite and we were stoked until we realized we didn't have our laptops or any need or use for all the business-oriented appointments of the rooms. The normal rooms are quite pretty though and the pool is huge and cool-looking. For the most part, though, I'd say your biggest concern should be the size of the property: there are 3 bus stops, so you won't be far from one wherever you are, so what's more important to you, the pool? the pepper market? the quiet of being farther from both of those things? Answer those questions with a map of the resort in front of you and then put in your building number request with reservations...

Good luck and have a great time!

I guess it depends on what you like! :) My DH and I thought CS was so romantic that we chose it for our honeymoon. We loved that it was large, and the sunset vistas across the lake to the main buildings were so beautiful. Not a good resort if you don't mind walking. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll all the way around the resort (about 1 mile) every night after returning from the parks.

I guess it depends on what you like! :) My DH and I thought CS was so romantic that we chose it for our honeymoon.

Well, maybe the ability to create romance says more about the people involved in the romance than it does about the environment romance is pursued within... Anyway, I didn't mean to offend or turn everyone off of that hotel. I was just saying it isn't my idea of romantic... (Of course, this *is* a message board, so mostly all you'll find are opinions, not statements of fact...) Otherwise, we found it to be quite comfortable except for the size (that walk you took has to be more than a mile! I'm not getting *that* old and my knees aren't *that* bad!) :rolleyes:

The CSR is by far my favorite of the moderates - I like it even more than most of the premiums! The rooms are laid out surrounding the 15 acre Lago Dorado Lagoon. For comparison, the World Showcase Lagoon in Epcot is 45 acres. It can be a 10 to 15 minute hike from the farthest rooms to the central area, but it's really a beautiful walk with wonderful southwestern landscaping and theming (definitely romantic, IMO!). I've never thought of the food court as expensive. They have a terrific sausage bacon egg potato and cheese skillet for breakfast that's excellent (and HUGE!). Yes, it's a convention hotel, but the convention area is on the far side of the central building, and I've never felt any undue impact from them. As others have said, just check out a map of the hotel and request a room close to the food court, and you'll be all set.

I'll be staying there for a week this December - can't wait!

Coronado Springs is our second favorite moderate resort (French Quarter is first). It's just my husband and I and we've been married over 25 years so romance is not the first thing we look for (although it helps!).

When we go to Coronado Springs, we request the Ranchos section which is all the way in the back. It gets us away from the conventioneers and there's a small nature trail back there. We thought the walk to anything would be a chore but it's not that bad. In a stroll, we can be at the Pepper Market in about eight minutes. There's a quiet pool right there and the themed pool is about a five minute walk.

The Maya Grill is the table service restaurant and we did think the prices were a bit high but it was on par with any other Disney table service place. The Pepper Market is the "counter service" with a twist. You get a card when you enter and then you go to the different counters and get your food. The card is stamped with your food choices Drinks are brought to you at your table and also noted on the card. You pay for everything on your way out. A 10% tip is automatically added to the card. Pros to this is that a family can get whatever they want, eat all together and pay once. Cons is the 10% automatic tip. Even with just the two of us, the Pepper Market worked quite well since we both wanted something different and we could pay for it at one time.

Even with the convention center being there, we weren't really bothered by the attendees. In fact, we had a good time laughing at all the name tags that people seem to wear proudly when they aren't attending a session. And how many cell phones pop open just inches from the convention center. We take perverse pleasure in knowing that we are on vacation and those people are working.

When we go to Coronado Springs, we request the Ranchos section which is all the way in the back. It gets us away from the conventioneers and there's a small nature trail back there.

I didn't know about the trail. I'll have to check it out in December - thanks!

We thought the walk to anything would be a chore but it's not that bad. In a stroll, we can be at the Pepper Market in about eight minutes. There's a quiet pool right there and the themed pool is about a five minute walk.

The walk has always seemed much more daunting than it is. I've stayed in the CSR many times, and sometimes I get a room a bit farther away than I wanted. But the walk in the morning, with the mists over the mirror still lagoon, is actually quite nice, and a great loosener-upper to all the walking I'll be doing later in the day!

Cons is the 10% automatic tip.

I have a real hard time with this as well. Usually my "service" involves a waiter bringing a drink, and then that's it. I just don't see that being worth 10%. But I don't feel strongly enough to not eat there - I really love that breakfast scramble skillet!

I'm with disnut - I prefer the Ranchos or Cabanas section to the Casitas. Casitas is VERY close to the lobby and food - but the decor I find rather bland and generic, and it's the first to be filled with conventionEars.

The food prices are no worse than any other moderate, so don't let that bother you.

Our friends are there right now! They were there in April and went back so it must be a great stay...ps my friend is a picky person so I know it must be clean and nice!

We are heading to this resort in November...We up-graded from All-Star Movies. So excited...cost us $156 to up-grade. Expedia has a good sale on right now. Has anyone been to this resort? I have read its really big and the food is expensive. What are some of the things we should know about this resort?Check out the MousePlanet Guide Page for Coronado Springs (http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=BLK000).

I stayed at Coronado Springs for a conference back in January 2006 (http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=7096). It was actually my first time staying at a Disney resort hotel (typically, we camp at Fort Wilderness). It's obviously a convention hotel, but that's not a bad thing.

I really did like the layout of the place, especially the fact that buildings were spread apart and you had the lake to walk around. That was a nice way to really feel the theme.

I shot a couple panorama photos at the time which you are welcome to view: 1 (http://steveandamysly.tannerworld.com/databank/2006/image_livefromorlando_36_10.jpg) , 2 (http://steveandamysly.tannerworld.com/databank/2006/image_livefromorlando_36_20.jpg), and 3 (http://steveandamysly.tannerworld.com/databank/2006/image_livefromorlando_36_29.jpg)

Thanks tannerman...excellent pictures...We are so excited to be staying at a moderate resort, and more excited about the deal we got...Now we just have to wait for the date to come! Thanks again.

And as for the food court... some people give it a bad rap but we love it. It's the best food court (in terms of quality and choices). The unconventional payment method is actually a plus for us. They remove the row of annoying registers that usually separates the food from the tables and instead the chefs will stamp your card and you pay at the end. I guess the part most people found annoying was the "surprise" of the bill and the obligatory tip added to your bill for a "waiter" that simply brings you drinks. Still, we like it.

Have a trip planned in December this year (yay!) been several times but never for Christmas and never stayed at the Coronado Springs
I was just wondering..can you purchase the refillable drinking mugs at the Pepper Market? I have done so on prior visits and really loved the convenience
Thanks in advance!

Have a trip planned in December this year (yay!) been several times but never for Christmas and never stayed at the Coronado Springs
I was just wondering..can you purchase the refillable drinking mugs at the Pepper Market? I have done so on prior visits and really loved the convenience
Thanks in advance!

Yes they have Pepper Market refillable mugs.

It should be noted that if you order your food from the Pepper Market "to go", the 10% charge is not added.

I like Ranchos building 7.

Close to the bus stop, two pools, and the lake.
Not too far from the parking lot or the laundry.

Watch the ponds on the grounds carefully and you may see a large reptile.

Also, if you want to go to the lobby area, you can ride on the bus or call for a golf cart to pick you up.

The nature trail is nice and you may want to save a few(not many)bread crumbs(just crumbs...a few tiny pieces, not chunks) to feed the fish.

We stayed at CS last November, and enjoyed it. It was too cold to swim, but there is a neat, themed pool and play area. We are getting used to walking around a larger resort, having stayed at OKW and SS, and it was not overwhelming to me. We ate at the Pepper Market several times, and really liked it. It's not the typical food court, with basically prepared foods of the fast food variety. There was a lot of variety, and it was actually a good deal for things like a steak dinner. I also liked the room layout, with a curtain to create a changing area.

I loved the resort-but the food was way overpriced!!:eek: