Caribbean Beach FAQ part VI

[Wishes2you]

I'm heading to the Caribbean Beach Resort this weekend and I have some quick questions (It's my first trip to Disney, so bear with me!):

1. I didn't request a specific village. Is it too late to do that? If not, how should I do it?

2. The Banana Cabana does not serve food, correct? Can you get food "to-go" from the food
court and bring it to the bar?

3. How much seating is there at the Banana Cabana? I'd like to watch the AFC Championship game there on Sunday night if possible.

Thanks!

I just returned from CBR with my family last night. About a week before my trip I requested Jamaica 45 or 44 second floor. Our room was in 44 on the second floor. I hope your weather is as beautiful as ours. It was simply perfect.

As for the Banana Cabana...I believe there were about 10 chairs at the bar and a tv. There are also tables close enough to see the TV. They had the game on but we chose to go get our food and bring it to our room and watch Sunday's Patriots game. They had a movie over there right near the Banana Cabana during part of the game.

Wishes for a wonderful trip.

 

[creamypuffs]

Has anyone recently done online check in for CBR and noticed that it wipes out your room requests and it only limits to two requests now?

I previously called in and requested specific village/building due to the proximity to playground area but when I went to check in, it stated I had no room requests and only can select up to two. I can only select villages but not specify buildings.

Been waiting on hold for a CM to pick up the phone for over 20+ mins already, might hang up soon and call back another day.

Just wondering if anyone recently was still able to actually making specific building requests or not anymore with this new Disney website?!?!

 

[dansdad]

Has anyone recently done online check in for CBR and noticed that it wipes out your room requests and it only limits to two requests now?

I previously called in and requested specific village/building due to the proximity to playground area but when I went to check in, it stated I had no room requests and only can select up to two. I can only select villages but not specify buildings.

Been waiting on hold for a CM to pick up the phone for over 20+ mins already, might hang up soon and call back another day.

Just wondering if anyone recently was still able to actually making specific building requests or not anymore with this new Disney website?!?!

It has always been best to call and have your requests added to your reservation. Whether or not you do online check-in has zero affect on whether you get your requests granted.

Doing online check-in does not erase any requests you have added to your reservation by calling. You are unable to see any requests online that you have made. If you want to ease your mind, call and ask the CM to read to you any room requests on your reservation.

 

[Lisa555]

I read somewhere that the pirate pool area is for kids 48 inches and under. My son is 49 inches. Are they strict about that one?

Also -- if someone has the most recent Mousesavers newsletter, could they please email it to lisaonhold at hotmail dot com?
Thanks

 

[dansdad]

I read somewhere that the pirate pool area is for kids 48 inches and under. My son is 49 inches. Are they strict about that one?

In 4 trips to CBR, I have only seen them measure and remove one kid from the splash area. But, and I hate to say this, the kid deserved it. He was basically making it hard for the younger/smaller kids to have fun.

 

[Lisa555]

Good to hear. My 49 incher wouldn't do that! He's more polite than I am!

 

[Sigtau1312]

Thanks for the info! Looking to possibly stay here next time we go!

 

[creamypuffs]

It has always been best to call and have your requests added to your reservation. Whether or not you do online check-in has zero affect on whether you get your requests granted.

Doing online check-in does not erase any requests you have added to your reservation by calling. You are unable to see any requests online that you have made. If you want to ease your mind, call and ask the CM to read to you any room requests on your reservation.

I already had called in my room requests, was just thrown off when now the new online check in also allows you to choose requests and it stated I had no requests. I knew I needed to talk to a CM to confirm but was on hold for 35 min when I typed my question last night and finally hung up. I am still 40+ days out so I will try to call them again another day.

The new site really makes things more complicated.... I needed to pay off my balance and nowhere could I find a link to pay it off. You would think they want to have a link on main reservation screen reminding people to pay. Needless to say, to pay on phone, it is a fully automated process that took over 10 minutes to go thru all the prompts! Just frustrating on top of the 35 min I was on hold for any CM to answer.

Oh well.

 

[dansdad]

I already had called in my room requests, was just thrown off when now the new online check in also allows you to choose requests and it stated I had no requests.

Yep, that's normal.

The new site really makes things more complicated.... I needed to pay off my balance and nowhere could I find a link to pay it off. You would think they want to have a link on main reservation screen reminding people to pay. Needless to say, to pay on phone, it is a fully automated process that took over 10 minutes to go thru all the prompts! Just frustrating on top of the 35 min I was on hold for any CM to answer.

Oh well.

That is a very common complaint ever since they decided to "enhance" their website.

 

[dmiller64152]

I'll be there in June with my DS (7) and my mom (67). She's not technically handicapped, but she has artificial knees and doesn't move too well. I'm going to request a first floor room, and we're more interested in being close to the bus stop than OPR. I know we'll be walking a lot in the parks so I'd like to save whatever energy she has.

Any recommendations as to building?

 

[Mrs Eeyore]

OK, I'm wee a bit baffled about the references I've seen to movie nights and activites in the pool area. We've spent two longish vacations at CBR (9 nights in May '09 and 11 nights in May '10) and never saw or heard about any of this. Is it new? Or is it only certain times of year? Or were we in a complete daze the whole time? I'm quite prepared to believe it's the latter.

 

[slabau]

February will be our first stay at CBR...EXCITING!!! I booked preferred and requested Martinque building # 26, does anyone know if this is the first or last stop on the bus on the park route? I really don't want to be at the last stop in fear of the buses filling up before they get to our stop.

 

[caa1277]

February will be our first stay at CBR...EXCITING!!! I booked preferred and requested Martinque building # 26, does anyone know if this is the first or last stop on the bus on the park route? I really don't want to be at the last stop in fear of the buses filling up before they get to our stop.

When we stayed there in 2011, we were in Jamaica and were the first stop for the buses. Looking at the resort map, Martinique would be the 4th stop out of 7.

 

[slabau]

When we stayed there in 2011, we were in Jamaica and were the first stop for the buses. Looking at the resort map, Martinique would be the 4th stop out of 7.

Thanks caa1227! That isn't too bad, at least it's not last.

 

[dansdad]

OK, I'm wee a bit baffled about the references I've seen to movie nights and activites in the pool area. We've spent two longish vacations at CBR (9 nights in May '09 and 11 nights in May '10) and never saw or heard about any of this. Is it new? Or is it only certain times of year? Or were we in a complete daze the whole time? I'm quite prepared to believe it's the latter.

As far as I know, it's not new. I know we watched the outdoor movie and the pool activities during our last 3 trips.

They do it every day, year round, weather permitting.

The haze scenario is looking more likely.

 

[dansdad]

I'll be there in June with my DS (7) and my mom (67). She's not technically handicapped, but she has artificial knees and doesn't move too well. I'm going to request a first floor room, and we're more interested in being close to the bus stop than OPR. I know we'll be walking a lot in the parks so I'd like to save whatever energy she has.

Any recommendations as to building?

Every village has it's own bus stop. In order to be close to that village's bus stop, I would make a room request of "close to bus stop". This way the room assigner knows whatever village you are in, you want to be close to that bus stop.

 

[Lisa555]

As far as I know, it's not new. I know we watched the outdoor movie and the pool activities during our last 3 trips.

They do it every day, year round, weather permitting.

The haze scenario is looking more likely.

What are some examples of the movies they show? What activities take place at the pool? We saw on a Youtube video a hula hoop contest. Is that a regular occurence?

 

[Lisa555]

I think I read somewhere that the villages were all renovated to add the nemo theme in 2009 or 2010. Does anyone know which nemo village was most recently renovated? We've read a couple of the mold/mildrew comments and would like to try to avoid that.

If anyone has stayed at CBR multiple times, which village (that's close to OPR) is nicest?

 

[dansdad]

What are some examples of the movies they show? What activities take place at the pool? We saw on a Youtube video a hula hoop contest. Is that a regular occurence?

Here's the January movie schedule. It changes every month.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Movie Schedule

7:00PM - By the Feature Pool
Sunday - Brave (See our Princess Page)
Monday - A Bug's Life
Tuesday - Toy Story
Wednesday - Tarzan
Thursday - Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings
Friday - Phinneas & Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension
Saturday - Hercules

Plus there is a nightly campfire on the beach where you can roast marshmallows. The sticks and marshmallows are complimentary and you can purchase graham crackers and hershey bars in the store for smores. The CMs that are in charge of the campfire are always very informative with awesome WDW info and trivia. It's one of our favorite things. If the movie starts at 7, the campfire usually starts around 5-5:30.

At the pool they will have hula hoop contests, trivia contests, dance contests, relay races in the pool, play music with sing alongs, etc. It's great!

When you check-in you will be given the schedule for all of the above.

 

[dansdad]

I think I read somewhere that the villages were all renovated to add the nemo theme in 2009 or 2010. Does anyone know which nemo village was most recently renovated? We've read a couple of the mold/mildrew comments and would like to try to avoid that.

That's correct. All the rooms, except for the ones in Trinidad South, have the Nemo theme. They were all done around the same time. The last time we were there, a CM told me that Jamaica was the last village completed. We have been 3 times since the reno and have never seen any mold issues, it's not a common theme for CBR. I have run across individual rooms in WDW, even at deluxes, that have had issues. It can happen anywhere.

If anyone has stayed at CBR multiple times, which village (that's close to OPR) is nicest?

Jamaica 45, Aruba 51 and Martinique 22 are the closest non-preferred buildings.

CBR is our favorite moderate by far. I hope you have a great trip!