CSR room recommendations

[JustGoofy]

We were able to upgrade our resort form the POP Century to CSR (THANKS KAREN & MJ!!!). This will our first time at CSR and we are looking for room recommendations. Anything we should avoid? If it helps, we are going Nov 22-29, with kids (10, 7, 5).
Thanks in advance!

[WriteDisney]

It really depends on what you enjoy doing at the hotel..

We really liked the Casista's.. they were very close to the main building (but a long walk to the pool.. which we didn't mind since CSR was so beautiful!)... they were also close enough to walk to the last bus stop picked up.. so you didn't have to wait through the other stops.. and u could get off at the first stop dropped off and walk back! It was excellent! :mickey:

Have a great time!! :cloud9:

[KatMark]

We have stayed six times (soon to be seven) and have always stayed in the Casitas sections. The last four visits we have been in Casitas 4 or 5. We love these buildings as they are close to the quiet pool, the fitness center/spa and laundry (also close to the bus stop although we never use the buses). It takes me five minutes to walk to the Pepper Market in the morning for my coffee and about eight to ten minutes to walk to the Main Pool.

[caryrae]

We were able to upgrade our resort form the POP Century to CSR (THANKS KAREN & MJ!!!). This will our first time at CSR and we are looking for room recommendations. Anything we should avoid? If it helps, we are going Nov 22-29, with kids (10, 7, 5).
Thanks in advance!


Look here at buzz2001's post. He as great info on what area's are good for who. http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=140014

Also check out his homepage he has a great one all about CRS.

[buzz2001]

Many guests read or hear about cabana 9b or low numbered casita buildings but not all guests will be able to get a room in those buildings or may need a room in those buildings. These are not necessarily the best locations for every guest, in fact not best for most.

For conventioneers the Casitas 1 or 3 are often the best. These are close to the convention center; but quite a distance from pools and bus stops.

For adult couples, especially honeymooners or those celebrating anniversaries Casitas 4 or 5 with a water view is exceptional. Casita 4 has the quiet pool, fitness center, spa, salon, and both are close to bus stop #2.

For “leisure guests with children” here are some great locations; Cabana 8a, 7b, 8b, 9b, Rancho 6b, cabana 9a, and rancho 6a...in that order. Nearness to El Centro is usually of no importance to many guests. It's much more important to be close to the park bus stops and the “Dig Site”. Leisure guests may come to El Centro once or twice; but they will be at the buses twice a day (at least) and the pool often when they are at the resort.

For adults or large families who wish to be close to a park bus stop and to a “quieter pool” but are not interested in the theme pool, building 7a is great and has close proximity to parking.

Building 2 also is close to parking and usually one of the quietest buildings, especially from the 4th floor. The fourth floor of building actually includes part of the upper floors of building 3 and has easy access to the convention center by way of the elevator courtyard of building 1 (especially in a rainstorm).

In other words, there is no “best location for everyone”. Each building has its own plusses and minuses. The cast members will be happy to guide you into the building that fits your needs best……..if you let them know what those needs and expectations may be.

Also, for a reality check…….when there is a large convention……not everyone is going to get a room next to the convention center. In fact, most of the rooming blocks are set up by the group having the convention long before any of the convention guests arrive…… Sometimes, there is little cast member latitude on changing those assignments.

As always, if there are special needs that must be addressed, fax the resort a week before arrival. Be sure you are faxing to the resort and not to Walt Disney Travel Company, their booking agency. The resort cast is best able to accommodate special needs. Often guests call the reservation desk with these requests and do not understand that this is not the resort; but a central reservation desk for ALL of Walt Disney World. The fax number is available by calling Walt Disney World information and asking for the front desk operations fax number.

Cabana 9b is close to bus stop 1 and the main building with a short walk to the Dig Site (main pool) over the wooden bridge (most convenient location and most preferred).

Cabana 8a is close to the Dig Site (and playground) and bus stop 4 with a short walk to the main building (closest to the pool).

Cabana 8b and 9a are in between the 2 above (9a has a quiet pool).

Ranchos 7b has a quiet pool, is close to the Dig Site and bus stop 4 with a bit longer walk to the main building. 7b is behind cabana 8a.

Casita 1 is attached to the main building and is very close to the restaurants.

Casita 3 has great courtyard and fountain views.

Casita 5 has some nice fountain and lake views and is close to the Dig Site but farther from the main building. Close to bus stop #2.

[kathiep]

We stayed in Ranchos 6B last September with DS 4 1/2 and DD 3.

We loved it. It was a beautiful setting. The walk to the quiet pool as well as the Dig site was probably 5-8 minutes.

The walk to El Centro was a bit longer but not too long that the little ones couldn't make it. The walk provided a great chance to see the beautiful grounds and it became an adventure for our kids.

We would definately stay here again.

[JustGoofy]

Thanks for all of your collective advise. It is great having a community to turn to the has 'been there, done that'.

[kakn7294]

We're just back from CSR and we didn't like it all that much. It's definately on the bottom of the list for a return visit. It felt much too business-like and not enough Disney-like for us and while staff was nice, they just weren't as friendly as other resorts we've stayed in.

On the down-side:
- our room was in Ranchos 7B (not our requested location of Casitas) and was the furthest possible location from everything in the main building and the health club (which DH used). Our building was close to the Dig Site but never used the pool. Our room was the furthest possible location from the elevators as well and we never could figure out the walkways from the stairs. The signs didn't seem accurate.
- our room was somewhat dirty. There was hair behind the bathroom door that wasn't ours, several spills and hardened areas on the carpet near the bathroom, dust on the top of the tv cabinet/dresser, and just didn't feel clean. we were so tired when we arrived that we didn't complain and after that just didn't feel like packing up to move.
- the landscaping looked to be in need of some work and paint was chipping from the buildings but overall, the resort is still beautiful but not as nicely landscaped as POFQ and POR
- the walkways outside the rooms were very dirty (the same trash was there our entire stay)
- there were a lot of spiders (outside, not inside, but I don't do spiders)
- 3 nights in a row, we returned from the resorts to discover that we had no coffee for the coffeemaker. We let it go the first night and ate breakfast at Maya Grill the next morning, we let it go and ate breakfast at 1900 PF the second morning but left a note, but finally had to call and they brought me towels when they finally showed up over an hour later (but at least they also brought the coffee). Our mousekeeper was German and didn't understand much English so leaving a note didn't work.
- no bench like at the Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach resorts. I love the bench for the kids stuff - keeps it out of our way.

On the up-side:
- queen size beds in our room but the blankets were still too small
- nice gift shop although we didn't go there until our last morning
- food court seems nice but we never used it as our room was much too far away
- breakfast at Maya Grill was decent
- we were close to bus stop 4. Once we made it out of the building, it was a short walk away.
- has a health club which DH liked. BTW, it's now open 24 hrs a day with room-key access.
- bus trips to parks were fairly short (the exception was the return from MK) and bus stop locations at the parks were great.