Coronado springs - a bit disappointed...

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by blusteryday

Disney don't go out of their way to tell holiday planners that CSR is *also* a convention centre (it's not even part of the name on the website, so to say it's outside the resort would be too late).

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This is true. It's not obvious on the holiday planner's website because... well, marketing. Holidaymakers are more interested in access to the parks, what the pools are like, things like that. They aren't bothered about what convention facilities are available. Disney is unlikely to make it more obvious that CSR is also a convention centre on it's UK holiday website - these websites tend to want to highlight things that will be attractive to their audience, not things that may put them off.

As you say, it's also not obvious for many other holiday hotels - even though they may also have convention, conferencing or business facilities. Most large hotels do have some sort of business facilities, like meeting rooms and the like.

Of course, this doesn't change the fact that CSR does have a convention centre and that Disney markets it to business and convention people as having a convention centre. If nothing else, this thread has perhaps helped make some people aware of this.

[lam]

Thank you all so much for being so frank about CSR.

We were thinking of changing our booking from POR to either CBR or CSR, because it was cheaper to do so and to try something different.

However, upon reading this thread, i am happy to stay put as my mobility isn't the best at the moment and i've managed to secure a preferred room at POR.

The idea of conventions and suits when i'm trying to remain cool in white cotton just doesn't bode well and will make me very self conscious!

CBR sounds lovely but my DS has declared he won't go on the gondolas for all the money in china! I do like the idea that the food area and pool area are near the preferred rooms but none available for my dates.
SO it is still a possibility!

thanks again

[Gingerlife]

Originally Posted by amandathepanda

I also enjoyed my holiday there but wouldn’t go back, there was lots of dance kids and there moms there when we were there in May. We were at the supposedly quieter pool, but you couldn’t relax for all the screaming. I know kids want to have fun but it was totally over the top.

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We were also there in May and also in a room overlooking the "quiet" pool. It felt like it was just used for cheerleading practice with lots of chanting, screaming and kids running along the corridors. It's a lovely resort bit we wouldn't stay there again.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by lorr05

I’m just back from 2 weeks staying at Disney in the Coronado Springs and I was a bit disappointed. Don’t get me wrong the hotel was lovely. The newly refurbished rooms are very nicely decorated with USB ports for charging, huge tv’s, comfy beds. The Gran Destino tower is beautiful inside and the views from the top are truly spectacular. However despite all of that I felt a bit disappointed in the hotel to the point where I don’t think I would go back.
There wasn’t anything major, just little things that added up.
Firstly the convention centre and the number of conventions is a bit of an issue. In the two weeks we were there, there were 2 big conventions lasting 2 days each, a martial arts tournament for kids and something to do with kids football. On these days the food court became incredible busy. The last day in particular with the football kids was so busy to the point you could barely move or find a table at breakfast time. Not to mention when people from conventions are all around on laptops, talking business, wearing suits, etc when you are dressed for a pool day with shiny sun tan cream, bikinis and hair piled up just makes you feel a little self conscious. Almost like you are the one out of place. Then on buses from Disney springs people from the convention are moaning loudly about the buses, having to stand, having to wear the magic band and all the tourists takes some of the holiday and Disney magic away too.
The tower opening meant the hotel pretty much doubled in capacity (and although of course not full it definitely felt busier after it opened) with the same number of buses and quick service eating places so just not enough facilities for the number of people (I know it’s summer and busy but waiting 35 minutes for a bus from Disney springs and still not get in cause it’s full or waiting 25 minutes for the 8am magic kingdom bus for it to be full after the first two stops and then drive past the last 2 because it’s full isn’t good enough)
Finally we had issues with house keeping. In the first week they came at 5pm when we were back in the room and trying to get ready to go out so we just took fresh towels. Later in the week the room wasn’t cleaned at all, but we figured maybe they missed us, maybe they came before we left in the morning so let it go. In the second week by 6pm they still hadn’t came and we had to phone for them to send more towels over and the housekeeping manager was very apologetic ensuring that it wouldn’t happen again. On the final day we left the room at 7:30am and came back at 7pm for the room once again to have not been touched. Phoned reception again really not happy as this was 4 times across the two weeks. Yes we could have used the same towels twice but the bin was over flowing and after full days in the park you just want to feel clean with a fresh towel. Also when some people turn down housekeeping and get $10 a day back and yet we wanted it and weren’t getting it. The housekeeping manager was great and once again very apologetic and refunded us the cost of a night which was $200 which was very generous of them. Wasn’t really expecting anything or at the most the $40 for the four days.
Like I said it’s all little things that add up, but for me they are pushing Coronado springs towards conventions with the new bars and restaurants to appeal to couples or business people at conventions rather than families looking for Disney magic. Despite it being a beautiful hotel I think I would definitely look into staying elsewhere next time.

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I always like to read a hotel review so thank you for that OP.

We have booked CSR for the first time for December 2020, I am not sure if I realised it was also a convention centre beforehand although I knew before this thread as I have obviously been paying more attention to news / articles about it since booking. As someone that has spent a lot of time in hotels on business, I am not particularly bothered if there happens to be business people sharing my hotel. The large parties of cheerleaders / teenagers is something that would be more of a concern for me though.

It was worrying about the buses, I would not like waits like that, but hopefully this is teething troubles following the tower opening and will sort itself out. Not bothered about food courts, not really where we would eat very often and we would just go somewhere else if it is busy.

I know it wasn't the main part of you post, but I was perturbed by your comment right at the end about "couples or business people". Are you of the opinion that holidaying couples should not be sharing hotels with families as well as business people? Or that there should be warnings for families that "couples" have been known to book rooms here?

Edited to add: When we were at Universal's RPR in January there were quite a lot of convention guests at the hotel. They were all well behaved and didn't spoil my holiday, in fact I felt sorry for them as they had to go to business meetings whilst I went to the park.

[Jimsdadhalifax]

We stayed there in August last year - there were some groups who appeared to be sports teams (all wearing same shirt) but it didn't bother me in the slightest

The bus service was excellent and relatively empty. The rooms were great. The resort was beautiful. The main pool was not too busy.

We didn't see any suits or convention looking folk.

Great resort - would gladly stay there again

[Lozzi]

We have booked to stay here August next year due to another party joining us and we therefore had to adjust our budget. We normally stay at SSR and have also done OKW.

As we needed 3 rooms this was the only option for the dates we wanted, and we were considering moving to OKW once availability was released as the prices didn’t seem to different once the upgrade to DDP was added in.

However, after reading the reviews, looking at the facilities we are quite looking forward to staying at somewhere new. We knew it was a convention centre, however SSR and OKW didn’t really have a Disney feel to them and we loved both resorts.

Both of the other resorts also had the odd problem with buses but we would just ring front desk and on the occasions where we had to be somewhere they sent private transportation to get us there.

I suppose it depends on what you are looking for, we tend to live in our own bubble so hopefully this will be the same when we go next year.

[Redsnapper]

Interesting thread.

never stay onsite - but conventions are big business for Orlando in general. Many of the larger offsite hotels cater for conventions.

Having been to a number myself all I can say is its a holiday destination so no one in a suit is going to care about you in your shorts (if anything they will just wish they were there for leisure not business)

[Jimsdadhalifax]

Originally Posted by Lozzi

We have booked to stay here August next year due to another party joining us and we therefore had to adjust our budget. We normally stay at SSR and have also done OKW.

As we needed 3 rooms this was the only option for the dates we wanted, and we were considering moving to OKW once availability was released as the prices didn’t seem to different once the upgrade to DDP was added in.

However, after reading the reviews, looking at the facilities we are quite looking forward to staying at somewhere new. We knew it was a convention centre, however SSR and OKW didn’t really have a Disney feel to them and we loved both resorts.

Both of the other resorts also had the odd problem with buses but we would just ring front desk and on the occasions where we had to be somewhere they sent private transportation to get us there.

I suppose it depends on what you are looking for, we tend to live in our own bubble so hopefully this will be the same when we go next year.

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You will be fine. We have stayed at Saratoga and Old Key West. Coronado was not far behind apart from the room being slightly smaller. It is a great resort.

[scoobydooby]

I’ve stayed at all the moderate resorts but never chosen Coronado Springs specifically because it is a convention hotel. Your review has confirmed that has probably been a wise choice. I’m with you. Don’t want to be mixing with the suits while wearing no makeup and my cossie! Also interesting to hear the impact of the new resort on the facilities. Me and the hubby were discussing that when we watched the opening day vlogs. I think overall Disney are overly increasing foot fall without increasing facilities in line with that. They need a fifth gate. Also a second QS at Coronado Springs.

[Joshie1]

Just to point out, the hotel didn’t double capacity with the new tower. It increased by approx 500 rooms to approx 2400 rooms in total.