Coronado Springs Resort - Bell Services VERY Lacking! Beware!

[kverdon]

After a fantastic 12 night stay split between AKL and BCV we spent the last night at Coronado Springs Resort. Our good friends had flown out that morn and we just needed a place to crash for the night before our 7am flight home. We decided to give CSR a try. BIG mistake. We checked in about 2pm and let the desk know that we had a 4:20 am DME call for the next day and wanted to know how to handle the luggage. They said that it was no problem as they had 24 hour Bell Services and to just call down when we needed them.

Well at 3:35am I called the bell desk to arrange pickup of our luggage. Now remember that CSR is HUGE and we were 2/3rd the way around the back of the resort. It was a shorter walk to EPCOT from our room at BCV than it was to the front desk from our room at CSR. The Bell Desk answered and wanted to know if we had made a prior reservation. I asked them what they were talking about and they informed me that all Bell services were booked until 5:30 am and we were out of luck! I was rather livid with them. I wanted to know why, when we asked about bell services for our DME pickup we were not told to book them in advance! I further explained that there was no way that my wife and I could get our 6 pieces of luggage from our room to the DME pickup in time. I then remembered the golf carts I had seen running guests to the various buildings and asked if they could send one of those. She reluctantly agreed and sent a cashier with a golf cart for us and our luggage. We made it to the DME pickup just in time. I was rather upset that this had happened AFTER we had taken the time to inquire about Bell Services when we checked in. When we got to the DME pickup we met a number of other guests that had been in the same boat. Unfortunately for them they had to haul their luggage from half way around the resort. This is nuts :fork: Ok, granted we are spoiled by the deluxes but WHY when we ask on check in could they not inform us that we needed a reservation for Bell Services. So be warned, if you stay at CSR, make SURE you reserve a pickup of your baggage with Bell services before you spend your last night!
You might be in for a rude surprise otherwise!

Kevin and Mona

 

[GrimGrinninAnna]

Sorry, but I just came back from Coronado and even though I was hours early, requested a very specific room, and got my bags in and out of luggage hold multiple times, they were always pleasant, professional, and quick.

I ended up with a fantastic room with lagoon views and a great view of Tower of Terror (quite ironic if you read my previous posts...), and nearby to a bus stop. They offered golf carts and bell services for us, as well, so I can't speak for your experiences, but I admit being a royal pain in the a** and they just kept flashing the smiles.

Also, between the open, clean pool area, the quiet atmosphere (sorry, LOVE kids but can't take 'em when they're cranky and tired from long park days!), and late room service I would def. stay there again. I highly recommend it.

 

[DDuckFan130]

Except for the Pepper Market, I found the CSR staff very helpful. They gave me a great room...I asked for either building 9a or 9b, and I got 9a, overlooking the lagoon, steps away from the quiet pool, minutes away from the bus stop and El Centro.

We never use bell services, but I'm sorry that didn't work out for you.

 

[Ringo8n24]

CSR was lacking to me all the way around in providing good service. It is the only time I have stayed on property that I regretted my hotel choice. The Pepper Market staff was the absolute rudest people around. I am not surprised to see it in other areas there, too.

 

[raven]

We just got back from a week at CSR and loved the resort but didn't care too much for the staff. The CM who checked us in didn't seem to know much about basic things when we asked him about things at the resort. When we came back later that night we asked a manager and he seemed clueless as well. We didn't go into the Pepper's Market area and didn't need to. The store was very nice and the CMs who ran the transportation for guests to their rooms were very pleasant also. They forgot to put our ME check-out envelope on our door so we had to make a new reservation but it wasn't a problem.

 

[Rob562]

Not that I'm defending them because it does seem rather un-professional on Disney's end with how it was handled, but it sounds more like an un-informed Front Desk CM. Perhaps they're only used to the afternoon shift (you said you were checking in at 2PM) and don't know how things run at 4AM (when I'm sure Bell Services is only running with a skeleton crew).

-Rob

 

[Craig & Lisa]

Thanks guys, we will be there in 51 days and so far from what I've read here I've got to pay attention. :lookaroun But from other sources one of which is KK rep Marie, there won't be any problems, at least she didn't have a problem when she was there in the past. But it's always good to be prepared, and coming here is the best way to do that. Thanks

 

[kverdon]

Yep, Forewarned is forearmed as the saying goes. Outside of a little need to vent, one of the reasons I posted this was so that other guests staying at CSR would have this information so they would not get caught like we did.

Kevin and Mona

 

[mikey]

I have to weigh in on the CSR luggage services myself here...last year, my brother and his wife joined us for a few days, and chose CSR as their hotel. We pulled up and were told we had to carry our own luggage from the car up to bell services.

Excuse me?! I thought you wanted me out of the parking lot and into a park as soon as possible!

No other resort I've been to does that, including Pop Century...the staff has always been quick to get it out of the car and up to the room, and lets me get on my merry way.

Granted, when checking out, there may be problems with time, since I know they gather all luggage from all rooms on a single trip...but I've never seen this at a check-in. Left a bad taste in my mouth for the place...

mike

 

[Craig & Lisa]

I have to weigh in on the CSR luggage services myself here...last year, my brother and his wife joined us for a few days, and chose CSR as their hotel. We pulled up and were told we had to carry our own luggage from the car up to bell services.

Excuse me?! I thought you wanted me out of the parking lot and into a park as soon as possible!

No other resort I've been to does that, including Pop Century...the staff has always been quick to get it out of the car and up to the room, and lets me get on my merry way.

Granted, when checking out, there may be problems with time, since I know they gather all luggage from all rooms on a single trip...but I've never seen this at a check-in. Left a bad taste in my mouth for the place...

mike

Same here, never had a CM tell us the bags go there. I think that when I get there they are in for a really magical time with me. :goodnevil :fork:

 

[RiversideBunny]

Why do so many people comment that they did not particularly like the Pepper Market food court at CSR?

Is it really different from the food court at other moderate resorts?

Tks.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Why do so many people comment that they did not particularly like the Pepper Market food court at CSR?

Is it really different from the food court at other moderate resorts?

Tks.

Absolutely!!! Both good and bad. The Pepper Market has a 10% limited service gratuity that is automatically put on your bill as the staff there does assign your table, get your drinks ( Including refillable mugs which are available there if you ask) and give you real flatware as opposed to plastic stuff. The selection and the ability to order bits and pieces of stuff you like is better here than other places and the charges are all placed on a card that you present to the cashier on your way out of the Pepper Market, you dont pay for each item individually at the time you get it.
As far as Bell Services, I havent had a problem, but that could just be when I caught them. Actually the last time I came in it was a VERY late arrival. I asked that the main bags be kept and when I called for them the following morning, they came right around within a few minutes, no problem. I agree though Kevin, Forwarned is forarmed!!!!! Belle

 

[CleveRocks]

It seems the OP's complaint should be with a clueless front desk CM rather than bad service from Bell Services.

Imagine at your job if you are swamped and are told by a customer that someone in a different department gave them bad advice, and as a result the custromer is mad at YOU! And then you bust your butt to help the person, then that person gets home and bad-mouths YOUR department.

Seriously! Think about it ....

 

[Ringo8n24]

Why do so many people comment that they did not particularly like the Pepper Market food court at CSR?

Is it really different from the food court at other moderate resorts?

Tks.

It seemed like with the automatic gratuity, the staff had a "whatever " attitude everyday. They just were not friendly. I love all the other on-property food courts, though.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Note to all!!

ALWAYS MAKE A RESERVATION WITH BELL SERVICES NO MATTER WHAT RESORT YOU ARE IN.