Trip Report HELLO DORIAN pluses by two more visits to the Coronado, we should have stock in United Airlines

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Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
No spoilers but the live characters were a hoot at Pirates like last year. Different but a bonus

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For my fiend @Cesar R M our thing about big pesky birds we share.
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Small World too keep cool
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Columbia House for DSto eat. Great table.

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Monsters laugh was excellent Halloween layover. Boxes and boxes of candy
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thats a lot of birds!!!
 

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
Onward.

Under the Sea. I am a fan of this attraction. Well done.

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Onto Small World. I've seen the rumors of adding some IPs. Wonder if it will happen. View attachment 410751


There were very enthusiastic poster waving diners above us. View attachment 410753
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We broke for lunch at Harbor House. It was strangely very crowded. Everyone wanting some A/C. We all opted out of fries for green beans and swapped items.

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Harbor House was one of the only places that did not offer lids and paper straws with fountain beverages. I could see them though....hidden and mounted behind the counter.

While we were eating my DD swapped our Splash FP for a Peter Pan. Can't use an anytime FP on Mine nor Peter Pan but can on Splash.

We bypassed Frontierland and went onto Jungle Cruise and Pirates. One of the worst skippers we have ever had. Nobody was laughing and we all just kinda stared in disbelief. He had a Don Rickles approach to stand up comedy. He was insulting people right and left, openly chastised parents of a small kid. Didn't appear they spoke English so were missing the remain seated. It was just awful.

Onto Pirates. I was waiting in the FP queue for my family to catch up avoiding the afternoon sun and it was cool in the open area.

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Love the Pirate Tiki
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And when I find who has the photos, we went onward back to Splash, Thunder and Haunted Mansion. They were stopping for Starbucks on the way out I plugged outward to try and reach Bay Lake as it was starting to drizzle and my carriage might turn into a pumpkin. I made it half was back to the Tower before I had to put up my umbrella.
speaking of seafood, have they reintroduced the shrimp?
I remember they had cut down the breaded shrimp last time I was there.
 

Rista1313

Well-Known Member
Said good byes to my son and we hung around. We added this day to the end and our stay at BLT which was our original booking long ago had come to an end. We were heading for one sleep at Pop and I was in no particular hurry to get there and we had privileges at BLT for the day. We started at the Coronado for 3 days before 11 days at BLT so Pop was anticlimactic however happily booked to have another day in WDW and in a park.

We arrive at Pop long after dark and my DD goes to check us in and I took the luggage, she sped ahead of me as a full Magical Express was arriving and the line to check in at Pop get long. I get a text from DD that says meet me out front. They are sending a Disney SUV to drive us over now to the Coronado. Huh. The woman was very sweet and now a Concierge at Pop. Previously a Dancer at The Lion King. She had the skills to be a good Concierge and I doubt she will be at Pop for long.

So now we are at check in at the Coronado.View attachment 410764

Our CM assigns us to the very last build, the farthest back branch of the Rancho's. This resort is anything but near capacity. I no longer have my carriage and there was no freak'n way I was walking back there. I stayed there once. Not happening. She was snarky checking us in before this. My DD shows her where we had been at the beginning of our trip for 3 days. That was pushing my abilities then as I didn't have my carriage yet, not until BLT. She makes a phone call and it was quick and was told to put us in the closest building to the new tower. She wasn't happy and I don't get it. We were moved to this resort. The resort is far from capacity. Well whoever she talked to gave a nice room with a pool view only steps from the Tower. Went to our room and off to the Store and Grab and Go before it closed.

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And oh my goodness, more Magic Bands. Riverside, Coronado, BLT and again Coronado 'cause they are were all different reservations. My DD is going to make a Christmas Wire Wreath with all we have collected. We all have many special MBs. These were lime green and baby pink. No idea which one belong to who.

Think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
What did I miss.. why were you moved from POP to Coronado?
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
*time out* for post Disney illness. Hope to complete soon. A day left and observations to come soon. Well I hope. 🤗
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
speaking of seafood, have they reintroduced the shrimp?
I remember they had cut down the breaded shrimp last time I was there.
Me I’m a big fan of shrimp. Shrimp
Seasoned or prepared in almost any manner I am in.

Disney at their quick service has maintained fried shrimp offerings abound. Likely cause they cook so dang quickly. Me I just have a physical problem with fried food when the heat index is 103 degrees so I avoided many times over the 2 weeks. Places though like the Canteen in Pandora go For broiled shrimp. My issue is with the canteen is while I love the taste and offerings of their choices all are heavy on oil in all aspects of their food prep. Given the heat and my age while it tastes awesome it doesn’t necessarily set well going back out into the heat.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
What did I miss.. why were you moved from POP to Coronado?
Yes. It has been a common practice of Disney for decades. My first was over selling POR and moved to the Grand opening of Animal Kingdom Lodge. And a poolside balcony. I have been fortunate to have this happen multiple times. They oversell cheaper hotels and upgrade others. They are able to to draw more customers that way. Most prevalent is AoA. Mermaid rooms are beyond popular. Upgrades to suites because of overselling frequent.

My philosophy of don’t pay rack rate. You investigate the true availability and you get more for your dollar. You only go to the official website you loose.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
Today October 6. The flight was on time. Magic Bands play hid and go seek🙄 upgraded to Business class. Woot for legroom. Flight on time. For some reason early morning DisneyMagical Express line is longer than ever EVER encountered. Room is Ready Amen. And a much better room preference than last time. Critical to spending time at this resort.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
First off this week is a Governmental conference so it will be more sporadic.

I also need to return to Dorian trips last day. Someday my energy level will return. The end ofSeptember did wipe me out and still not at full strength. Aging. It is sucidoodles.

So the Coronado. For Dorian only a few days but as I said the resort is not equal. Some areas of resort are fine others need help. This one is Building one in the Preferred rooms. I’d pick this over the tower
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The Coronado is lovely by night. By day not so electrifying. It is all about the night lighting that brings it to life both the buildings and the water but especially the fountains at night. They are awesome every night. Day it blends into visually nutural but even the featured pool is even better by night.

This is the best imagineered cluster of rooms visually. Pretty much the same inside of all the original buildings. Just Ok by daylight but the entire report so pretty at night.


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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
A partial long day had been up at 5am

Quick duck to food court before Parks

Duly noted lovely treats at the grab and go. Do NOTE by evening they are REAL slim pick’ns. Decade later still can’t stock for the day. Food a continual issue of the Coronado they can’t seem to right the ship. I have to state I have not been to the two new restaurants added beyond a drink on the lake during Dorian visit. But the general guest venues are as they were i during my first visits in 2007 and 2008 and a big gap between till 2019. You can paint and by new chairs but the staff is cranky and the food is less pleasant than dorm food.

Still they pastries brought in are lovely. I did question though during my Dorian trip how they can have Cesar Salad at the Grab and go but do not offer Cesar Dressing. This type of basic culinary skills

Still allude the Coronado and I can’t grasp why. It is the cheapest of the moderates and why we booked or extra days here before Bay Lakes for 11 days. This is a convention so predetermined. But if you go back to my August 2018 trip report my DD convention concluded at the Contemporary with a happy announcement that it would be held in 2019 after years at the Contemporary the following August. It was met with loud obvious groans by attendees.

We shall see how this different convention goes through Saturday as being stuck here far longer than our August/September stays. Their staff is stretched and many are less than magical in 2019.

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Coronado’s pizza is the best quick service pizza I’ve had at Disney owned resorts. They actually make it there unlike other resorts with frozen pies from Chicago cooked. Currently the only edible food I will eat at any meal time in the original venues beyond the beautiful pasties brought in each morning.

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Salvation is the BEARS game on TV in the bar across the way. By the way it has been renovated from the gross thing it was to a descent venue. Sports for those who care on TV and many want this.

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
And onto the parks. Forever and a day for bus to Epcot. Downside the main bus stop has been moved over to the bottom of the new tower. Not great for Main Original area of Resort still the hub. Worse for anyone in the tower. It is a long convoluted ramp or a very steep and large staircase down. Neither good for anyone with physical disabilities from the tower. I was in a scooter for our long trip at Bay Lake but didn’t have it at the Coronado cause the days were added on last minute. TORTURE to my ankle injury.

Again keeping in fashion this resort is night and day not appealing visually tan and popping by night. Better though from the backside of the tower as it is more tasteful. Still this construction outside was rushed. It has a great deal of slipshod fake stucco work. The pretty lightening especially in the back waterside views it is VERY apparent. Wobbly walls. It is the most slipshod workmanship of any fake stucco I’ve seen on property. The values and other moderates that use the same type stucco outside were done well. The tower not so much. The spotlights on the tower accent the poor workmanship. It is a forever type oops. The lighting at night accents the oops’
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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
Yuck visit to the land and Soarin.

Good news is they changed out the free chocolate squares at the former Lion King venue from the very dark and bitter choice of August and September. Better choice.

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
Timing could have not been more unfortunate

The skyline accident or incident messed up the plan. Epcot to Studios Pods to Studios. Now a long Walk cause boat transport was beyond ridiculous solution to Skyliner plans of Disney.

Ugh

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Well they departed the crashed pods and cleaned up all the broken glass we all saw in the photos last night. Still now sad to see them at a halt and abandoned station. Disquieting

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
While I have been going to WDW since it opened and Disneyland before in my childhood we have been avoiding Mamma Melrose at the Studios since I believe the 90s on. Several bad meals and never again list.

I’ve read too many good reviews so yes tonight it was a give it a chance moment

It is charming

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The bread service good. Not great but acceptable

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The meal was awful

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This was $22. Yuck. $22 seriously.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
Back to Coronado and Fitness center in tower
The old one by convention center better only because it isn’t a tourist gawk like the tower. What the heck were they thinking this isn’t entertainment the guests are providing for the guests and tourists.

Nice facility if it wasn’t a fishbowl.

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
Due to sessions all afternoon park time very limited. Rain not fun on and off all day

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Hello tree


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Waiting on train for dsrawing class

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
This is not an interesting back stage view. More a personal parking lot showing. Don’t grasp

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And finally to drawing class that is temporarily closed. What?

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The interesting zoo area. 🙃

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Been over a decade since we’ve been back here. Remember why.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
So lunch before FoP and conference intro

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Cute little pen

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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Original Poster
And Epcot Future World is worse a month later. Just a mess even from monorail

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Sorry. Videos still not sticking. Ellen destruction
 

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