I need your help please!!

[CaptainShortty]

Hi everyone!!

As some of you may or may not know, I'm set to start my job as a Coronado Springs Front Desk Manager in 2 weeks. I'm beyond excited but I have one problem, of all the resorts I know the least about Coronado. That's why I'm looking for your help. I know some of you LOVE Coronado so, what do you love about it? Anything you don't like? I'm trying to learn from the guests' perspective what Coronado is like to hopefully make me a better manager. Thanks in advance for all of your help! I really appreciate it! And if you're going to be down there soon, let me know so I can look for you! =)

 

[harveyt0206]

Congratulations on your new position. :wave:

We stayed there in 2010 and we loved the queen size beds. So much more comfortable than the old full size beds. We also really enjoyed the fact that there were bus stops located throughout the resort. Made it easy to catch a bus whether we were leaving from our room or the front of the resort. Also, the resort grounds were beautiful. It was such a pretty walk around the waterfront.

Our only complaint was that we were all the way back in the Ranchos section, which made getting to the main building a bit of a hike.

It's a great resort. We really enjoyed our stay there and would absolutely stay there again.

 

[Freshee61]

Congrats!
Coranodao is my favorite moderate. The rooms decor and space are very nice. the Queen beds are definitely a plus. I love the food courts great food and good pizza.the restaurants look amazing also. They are at top of places I'd like to eat. I really enjoyed the couple of times we Stayed there and it beat out cbr and por for me IMO.

 

[Master Yoda]

Coronado is one of my favorite resorts. My only real gripe would be the prices at the food courts. On average it is around 20%-30% higher than the other moderate food courts for similar items.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Congratulations, it sounds you are on the right course for management. Running something you have no clue about. :lol: Good luck! I hope you have a great experience.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Congratulations, it sounds you are on the right course for management. Running something you have no clue about. :lol: Good luck! I hope you have a great experience.

haha Thanks! I'm pretty proud of my knowledge of WDW in general and I've been studying Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management for the past four years so I guess it's time to see if I've learned anything. Only time will tell I guess! Thanks for the well wishes!


Thanks everyone for the input!! It's really appreciated! Keep it coming!!

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Remember, it is not polite to do a face palm in front of a guest. No matter how silly the question. If you hear some epic ones let us know.

If I was in your situation I would not be able to stop smiling.

 

[pixiesteno]

Congrats!!! Best wishes to you.
We have not stayed at CS, but we used to love going to the Maya Grill but that changed when they started playing with the menu. We had wonderful meals there in 2004, 2005, 2008, and early 2009. However, when we returned in the fall of 2009 the menu had been changed and in our opinion not for the better. The service also seemed to be lacking. Maybe we just caught a tough night, but I don't think so. The quality of our meal was seriously lacking, enough so that we have not been back and don't plan on it. I don't mind paying a decent price for a good steak, but I really dislike paying preimum pricing for a substandard steak and isn't cooked well to-boot. It also quelled any desire to stay at the resort.

 

[RachelP6877]

congrats!! We Honeymooned at CS and Love how big it is!! we always stay at a mod. this is our fav and we will be down in September for my Daughters First visit and first Birthday:sohappy::sohappy: and my 3 yr old sons first CS stay! one thing we never got at any resort.......free upgrade:lookaroun:animwink:

 

[crispy]

We have stayed at CSR twice and enjoyed it. It's not our favorite moderate because I don't think it really caters as much to young children as some of the others, but it is a very nice place to stay.

We have been there for a family vacation and for a conference/vacation so here are my feelings:

Pros
- Great main pool, large hot tub, and fun playground. This is definitely a big plus for families, adults only travelers, and business travelers.

- The recreational activities offered were great and the staff was fun to interact with.

- The grounds are beautiful! The way the resort is set-up surround the lake is gorgeous (although it can require a lot of walking) and makes for a nice leisurely stroll around the resort.

- The rooms are really well appointed with nice linens and decor. This resort definitely feels more luxurious than the other moderate resorts. Also, the doors separating the bathroom from rest of the room is a nice touch.

- The quiet pools and the exercise room are very nice. Since CSR is the only moderate with an exercise room, this is a very nice amenity.

- Conference facilities are very nice and getting around them was very easy.


Cons

- For our family vacation, we felt that this resort didn't seem as family friendly as the other resorts and there really weren't a lot of children there.

- The rooms themselves can be confusing to get to. We have stayed in the Casitas section during both stays, and I still can't figure out exactly how it's laid out.

- I did find the Pepper Market to be somewhat confusing to use since it switches from buffet to food court. Not a big deal, but I am sure you will get many questions about it.

- We had issues with the Wi-Fi at first, but it was quickly resolved for us. Since many people stay there for work, you will also probably get many questions about this.





All in all, it's a beautiful resort and provides a very different experience than the other Disney resorts.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Thank you all for the help! I really appreciate it!!

 

[mets7]

I have stayed at CSR 2 times and will be back for a 3rd this Halloween. I really don't have a bad thing to say about it. Love the Pool, Pepper Market, Cast Members, Rooms, transportation. I have to echo an earlier comment though. The only thing I haven't experienced at CSR is a free upgrade:animwink:....did I mention I will be there this Halloween??? Congrats on the new job!!!

 

[MickeyPeace]

I am booked for the first week of October 2012. Should I tell them CaptainShortty sent me when I ask for my upgrade?

Thanks.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Check out Buzz2001's site! It has all the info you could ever need:
http://coronado_springs.tripod.com/

 

[53Herbie]

I will be attending a conference there in August, but have never stayed there previously. Seems to far away from MK, and to spread out from the maps I have seen. Good Luck.

 

[MKCP 1985]

The only thing you need to know is that when MKCP 1985 calls for a room discount or free upgrade, you always have one reserved. :animwink:

Seriously, there's nothing we can tell you that you won't get in orientation. You've got the newest moderate, with a spa, a hot tub, an indoor bar - so many advantages over other moderates.

When people say the resort is spread out, it is no more so than Port Orleans Riverside or Caribbean Beach.

What are the disadvantages? The only thing I hear time and time again is that the food court is more expensive or that the workers there don't offer guests the same courtesy found in other Disney resorts. I have not seen any lack of courtesy, but I don't think the people who told me this made their stories up. Still, with hundreds of guests per day, who knows if these experiences are the norm or the exception. Part of the extra cost for the food court is the gratuity. At Coronado, you are seated and your server will bring you refills, where at other food courts you find your own table and get your own. There are ways to cut out the gratuity if you are getting your food to go, but if you are dining in, you will pay extra. :shrug:

 

[DisneySaint]

Coronado has the excellent advantage of one of the best locations on property, imo. It's centrality puts it practically equidistant to MK, DAK, and Epcot and it's right around the corner from DHS. Bus rides should be short.

The grounds are pretty there, too!

 

[MichWolv]

Things I like about Coronado:

1. Queen beds instead of doubles, although I believe POFQ and POR are getting queens as well.

2. Pepper Market. Many people dislike it because it is so different. I like it for the same reason. And it is amongst the best (dollar-wise) use of a QS dining plan credit anywhere on property.

3. Maya Grill. Good restaurant and I can almost always get a table, because it doesn't book up with ADRs like the more popular resort restaurants.

4. Beautiful grounds. I enjoy walking around the lake at night.

5. Walking path that leads from the lobby of CSR, through the parking lot, across BVD, then along BVD past BB and Winter-Summerland, under Osceola Parkway to the All-Stars. It passes a wetland where I've seen some wildlife, and is one of a very few actual walking paths/sidwalks on property. There should be more.

Things I don't like:

1. Location. Convenient to Blizzard Beach and DAK, but not to much else. Seems to take forever to get to Epcot and MK.

2. Really spread out. Room can be far from the pool, the lobby, etc. Multiple bus stops. Putting the lake in the middle does great thing aesthetically, but terrible things logistically.

3. Conventioners and vacationing families can be an annoying mix.


Good luck in the new job!

 

[msmit002]

CSR is truly "moderate" as far as Disney goes...

I've stayed at CS before for conferences and when it was time to book our first family on-site vacation, I chose it over the other moderates.

The biggest reason might be the least likely for most people: It is a little less "Disney" and a little more "resort." Don't get me wrong, our family loves coming to The World. My son and I love to hang out in the parks, riding rides and scurrying about and generally having a fun, active vacation. My husband on the other hand, while he enjoys the parks, feels that HIS idea of a vacation is catching up on sleep, reading a good book, taking a dip in the pool and riding a few water slides with our son. MUCH more low key. :animwink: Also, my husband appreciates lush settings that inspire relaxation over what he calls, "Disney Kitsch" (His words, not mine) so that's why we never consider a value resort.

With that said, he is really impressed with the new AOA theming, so there is hope. :animwink:

Anyway, the long and short of it is we feel that CSR is a very flexible resort for the vacationing family that has very different ideas about what a vacation is. You are close enough to the parks yet can escape when you've had enough "Disney."

 

[PhilharMagician]

I am always very confused how CSR got the persona that it not a family friendly resort?

• It has one of the better pools on property
• The digsite Explorer's Playground area is great for the kids with the swings, dig erea, slide and other activities.
• Many daily activities for families and children alike
• The Pepper Market is very Kid Friendly with there food offerings with the Kids Kitchen
• The Iguana Arcade at the main pool

Maybe there isn't any large Nemo movie character statues or pirate rooms, but there is plenty for kids to do.

There definately are not as many children running around CSR which can be a plus for many vacationers. Is is definately one of the quieter resorts in WDW.

A couple of pieces of CSR trivia

One thing the CSR has that no other resort on WDW property has is the fact the the quiet pool between Castitas 3 and 4 is lined for swimming laps. I think this would be a great idea for all resorts to have at least on quite pool set up as a lap pool.

If you are staying in the Castitas, there is covered walkway from Castitas 5 all the way back to El Centro. The walkway is a combination of internal building hallways and external covered paths that wind through all sections of the Castitas. This is very helpful on those rainy days.


CaptShortty, Congrats on your new position!