Whats the deal w/ Coronado dining!!?

[xtina72]

We had decided this year to try every hotel, to have at least one meal in every one.

We went to Coronado for dinner, knowing it was counter service but never expected to have to wait on line to get seated, then wait for a waiter to get us drinks, then get back on another line with our "stamp card" to eat....which was HIGHLY annoying since you have to stand on 10 different lines for different meals and when you have 2 kids, it doesnt work, everyone wanted something diferent and I didnt want them to be on the lines by themselves carrying trays in that cramped little space.

THEN it took FOREVER to get your food....it was a messed up, wacky, crazy way to get a meal....everyone around us was like WTH IS THIS? It takes you from start to finish like an hour just to get your food.

Is this a new set up? Has it always been like this?

May I say....IT DOESNT WORK!

 

[MaxsDad]

Oddly enough, I ate there the first time in Sept of this year. I found it to be the best counter service deal on property (but I was on the DDP QS plan). Notably, my party consisted of four adults though, and we ate at non peak times.

I liked how it felt like you were actually getting a table service (albeit buffet) meal for your CS credit. Food was good. Service was better than CS. Options were plenty. I only had to wait in one line to get my meal, just like any other CS. And it was prepared in front of me, while I watched them. I only had to wait to be seated like 2 minutes, as they seated the people in front of me. I think Pecos Bill's is now seating people too. I think this may be the wave of the future at crowded CS at WDW. Even at Mara @ AKL now, they give you a pager after you order, and you have to wait for your food, then go back and get it when paged. It seems WDW is always willing to try new things to try and improve guest experiences. Some work, some do not.

Don't get me wrong though, what you described would miff me too.

 

[Brommy]

Oddly enough, I ate there the first time in Sept of this year. I found it to be the best counter service deal on property (but I was on the DDP QS plan). Notably, my party consisted of four adults though, and we ate at non peak times.

I liked how it felt like you were actually getting a table service (albeit buffet) meal for your CS credit. Food was good. Service was better than CS. Options were plenty. I only had to wait in one line to get my meal, just like any other CS. And it was prepared in front of me, while I watched them. I only had to wait to be seated like 2 minutes, as they seated the people in front of me. I think Pecos Bill's is now seating people too. I think this may be the wave of the future at crowded CS at WDW. Even at Mara @ AKL now, they give you a pager after you order, and you have to wait for your food, then go back and get it when paged. It seems WDW is always willing to try new things to try and improve guest experiences. Some work, some do not.

Don't get me wrong though, what you described would miff me too.

I agree, found it to be one of the best CS places on property

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

As far as I know, yes it has always been set up that way.
I've eaten at the Pepper Market a few times and have always had good experiences.
With that said, I do not have kids and I can imagine how it can get complicated when you have all those selections and have to be in different lines for each one and it is definitely a unique experience in general.
Sorry you didn't have the best experience.

 

[heartodisney]

Interesting, but sorry ya went thru that, we also ate at Peppers Market and had no problems...just a upset tummy after one bfast!

 

[xtina72]

I have a funny picture of my husband kicking the Coronado when we left because we hated it so much. :lol:

 

[javs4evas1298]

I am in the minority here but I did not like it either. I found the food to be too expensive and not all that good. And I did not like having to pay 18% gratuity just so someone can bring me a soda.

 

[MaxsDad]

I am in the minority here but I did not like it either. I found the food to be too expensive and not all that good. And I did not like having to pay 18% gratuity just so someone can bring me a soda.

That's the great part about using the DDP there, you don't have to pay that tip (I asked). You are getting near-TS for a CS credit. No paper box and plastic forks here.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

My problem with the pepper market was the pricing. It is definitely more expensive than the standard Disney food court. I understand that it is not Disney owned and does offer a different level of food, but sometimes you just want something fast and inexpensive and the Disney owned food courts seem to deliver this better than the pepper market.

 

[Disney Soldier]

We go there and it's one of our favorite CS dining on property. I agree that it can be confusing if not explained properly by a CM. It has great variety and selection. We breakfast is our favorite meal there.

 

[heartodisney]

I have a funny picture of my husband kicking the Coronado when we left because we hated it so much. :lol:

What part did he kick! :lookaroun :lol:

 

[Rob562]

Well, if you were eating at a food court in any of the Disney hotels (most especially the Values), you'd still have to wait in multiple lines if you wanted something from different stations...

And a tip for Pepper Market: If you get your food To-Go, you do not pay the service charge (which I believe is 10%, not 18 as another poster mentioned).
They'll give you a special To-Go card, and you can take your food elsewhere to eat, like the tables outside by the water, in the courtyard over by Casitas building 1, or back in your room if you're staying there. (Last time I ate there they had tables next door by a bar that wasn't open at lunchtime, but I know they've made changes as they built the Rix lounge since then)

-Rob

 

[Goofycanuck]

We stayed at CSR in October and found the procedure for Pepper Market becomes routine after the first visit.
My kids think it has the best made to order pizza in WDW.

 

[lilclerk]

My kids think it has the best made to order pizza in WDW.

I think it does too :lol:
The setup is strange, and I didn't like the required tip if you're staying there to eat, but it IS the best CS value if you're on the dining plan. And it's much better food than the standard Disney CS fare. I liked it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.

 

[dxwwf3]

And a tip for Pepper Market: If you get your food To-Go, you do not pay the service charge (which I believe is 10%, not 18 as another poster mentioned).
They'll give you a special To-Go card, and you can take your food elsewhere to eat, like the tables outside by the water, in the courtyard over by Casitas building 1, or back in your room if you're staying there. (Last time I ate there they had tables next door by a bar that wasn't open at lunchtime, but I know they've made changes as they built the Rix lounge since then)

-Rob

Thanks a lot for the tip there. We're looking at booking our trip for this summer and I was interested in Coronado because it is the only moderate with queen beds (why it is the only one, I'm not sure) and looking at the prices here made us question if we wanted to stay there or not. The food price is about double of what you get at the food court at Animal Kingdom Lodge, for example, and you have to pay 10% extra on top of that. If we stay there we will definitely get our food "to go".

 

[GrannyJill2]

I am in the minority here but I did not like it either. I found the food to be too expensive and not all that good. And I did not like having to pay 18% gratuity just so someone can bring me a soda.

Count me and my family on the side of those who didn't care for the setup at Coronado. By the time we stood in different lines, our food was cold. This was several years ago, and we paid 10% gratuity for someone to bring us a glass of water.

And while the resort is gorgeous, was disappointed that rooms had only one sink, unlike the other moderates.

 

[Mr Toad]

I am in the minority here but I did not like it either. I found the food to be too expensive and not all that good. And I did not like having to pay 18% gratuity just so someone can bring me a soda.

This is done to milk more $$ from the convention crowd. For the vast majority of these people, they book it to an expense account. It doesn't come out of their own pocket.
But I do agree it was an odd experience the first time we went to the Pepper Market. We quickly got use to it.

 

[lebeau]

And a tip for Pepper Market: If you get your food To-Go, you do not pay the service charge (which I believe is 10%, not 18 as another poster mentioned).
They'll give you a special To-Go card, and you can take your food elsewhere to eat, like the tables outside by the water, in the courtyard over by Casitas building 1, or back in your room if you're staying there.

-Rob

Great tip! Wish I'd known that when we stayed there a few years ago.

PM is pricey compared to other food courts. But that's really my only criticism. If the also had a cheaper alternative for times I just want a burger and fries, it would be great.

 

[jeffk410]

I love it... but the extra tipping can become a hassle, but I still love it!