Caribbean Beach Resort

[hedge333]

We are traveling with DDs 8 and 5 in October. We are thinking of trying some place new. Several people have recommended CBR. However, I have also heard it is in need of a major update.
1. Does anyone know if an update/refurb/rehab is going to happen there by Oct.?
2.Would you recommend CBR even if there is no refurb?
3. How is the pool area? Outside of getting autographs, my girls' main objective is to get to play in the pool.

Thanks.

 

[dansdad]

1. A refurb is starting in April.

2. I would recommend CBR even without the upcoming refurb. It is our favorite moderate.

3. The main feature pool is fantastic. We have a hard time getting our DS out to go to the parks.

 

[calves]

We have tried all of the moderate resorts and CBR was our least favorite. We also felt needed major update! We love POR riverside first then CSR next. My daughter cried when we left POR and we were transferring to Beach Club!

 

[pieface]

C.B.R. is a nice resort but it needs a real update. It has full size beds instead of queen size. It is a huge resort which has an internal bus transport system for the resort due to its size. The food court is excellent one of the best of the moderate resorts. I agree P.O. is a better bet I love French Quarter it's a quiet small resort with access to riverside.

 

[mblondie0509]

Here is the thread for CBR if you have not read through it yet...this is what got me excited about booking there. Taking my DS9 in October as well. Be sure to read the Trip Report by MickeysToonTown. She did a fantastic job of documenting the resort.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3032047

 

[mickeynut1]

2. I would recommend CBR even without the upcoming refurb.

3. The main feature pool is fantastic.

I agree. We've only stayed at CBR so I can't compare it to the other mods, but we had a great stay and loved everything about the resort and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

 

[HopperFan]

Can someone post a link to an official announcement or link to a reliable source that a refurbishment is happening this year?

 

[dansdad]

Can someone post a link to an official announcement or link to a reliable source that a refurbishment is happening this year?

I have not seen an official announcement posted anywhere. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen anything officially from WDW about a room refurb. There's one happening right now at GF, with DIS member's pictures to prove it, and I don't remember seeing anything official on that. Mickeystoontown, a long time DIS member, has spoken directly with someone in management at CBR who confirmed it. I think she had an issue during her family's yearly stay at CBR last year. Because of that, she was given the contact information for CBR management when she was ready to book this years stay. In the process of speaking with them, it was confirmed that it was starting in April.

Mickeystoontown has been around the DIS long enough and knows how rumors can take on a life of their own. Now anything can happen, but I believe that as of now it will happen starting in April.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would only stay at CBR in a preferred room. It is such a huge resort that it has 7 bus stops. Not being in a preferred room means a bit of a walk to the food court and to get your refillable mug filled. Plus being in a preferred room will put you near the main pool.

 

[policycobb]

It is a very pretty resort which does need an update. I would stay there again without an update especially if the pool is important to your children. My daughter LOVED the pool.

 

[hedge333]

I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing. We stayed at POR and really liked it but from the pictures of the pool and grounds, I think my girls would really like CBR. I'm hoping there will be a refurb, just because I like the idea of staying in recently updated rooms. We're not too concerned with the size or having to walk too far. What about the Food Court? How is it?

BTW, Policycobb, we are practically neighbors, I live in western KY, too.

 

[dansdad]

What about the Food Court? How is it?

It's great. Good quality, plenty of choices, and it's laid out very well. We prefer it over the other moderates.

 

[HopperFan]

I have not seen an official announcement posted anywhere. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen anything officially from WDW about a room refurb. There's one happening right now at GF, with DIS member's pictures to prove it, and I don't remember seeing anything official on that. Mickeystoontown, a long time DIS member, has spoken directly with someone in management at CBR who confirmed it. I think she had an issue during her family's yearly stay at CBR last year. Because of that, she was given the contact information for CBR management when she was ready to book this years stay. In the process of speaking with them, it was confirmed that it was starting in April.

Mickeystoontown has been around the DIS long enough and knows how rumors can take on a life of their own. Now anything can happen, but I believe that as of now it will happen starting in April.

Thank you for the background source. While I appreciate that and am a huge fan of Disney, many of us have had many conversations with management in which we were given inaccurate information. The "new design" of the CBR rooms along with pictures of "rooms started" was released a couple years ago, talked up big and obviously turned out to not be true. Usually when something this big is happening in less than two months we would have seen it listed by many reliable sources. Especially a resort that has rooms that needed a rehab for many years and still lacks the moderate queen beds. Leaking it would be a great way to generate interest and bookings. Not saying it's not in the planning stages at some point but I absolutely would not book there if it was important that I would get a rehabbed room based on rumor.

 

[kellyjeanie]

CBR was the resort we stayed at last year on our first trip. We enjoyed it thoroughly, even pre-refurb. Pool was really fun, kids loved it. Food court was fine, nothing amazing but everything was hot, fast, tasty, fresh, plenty of choices. I found the bus system fine for our needs, we never waited long. I was a little disappointed at how far away we were, if we ever stayed there again I hope we're closer, but the walk wasn't really bad, such a pretty resort and the walk over the island was nice.

 

[Steve690]

We have stayed at CBR over 15 times, your kids will find the main pool amazing. Although many say the resort is too big, it is peaceful, relaxing, beautiful and never feels crowed. We think the food court is great, good selections and good quality, the brownies and cookies at the grab and go are sooo good. There is nothing like having marshmallows over the fire on the beach! We will be back there in 14 days, I'll check in if I see anything new happening.

 

[chari273]

I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing. We stayed at POR and really liked it but from the pictures of the pool and grounds, I think my girls would really like CBR. I'm hoping there will be a refurb, just because I like the idea of staying in recently updated rooms. We're not too concerned with the size or having to walk too far. What about the Food Court? How is it? BTW, Policycobb, we are practically neighbors, I live in western KY, too.

I am also from Western KY and will be staying at CBR in the latter part of June for our first moderate resort stay! I am encouraged by the posts refurb or no refurb (smiles)! Of course I am holding a little hope for a queen bed, but we would have been in full beds at POP if we weren't here anyway. I have requested a preferred room in Martinique 25 or 26 or Trinidad North 31. I am really excited to experience a moderate! I have read a lot about the bus stops, we will have a rental car anyway, is it in the best interest of time to drive ourselves to the parks or stick with the buses?

 

[DisneyAnytime]

CBR is awesome! Since the Royal Rooms debuted at POR, I have wanted to stay there but cannot bring myself to leave CBR; like actually almost became ill at the thought! So, this trip will be the best of both for me: room only for one night (arrival day) at POR - Royal Room with our package stay at CBR.

As to the OPs specific questions:

1. There is a rumored refurb coming in April. However, since there hasn't been an official announcement, this may be more like a "refresh" than a refurb. The biggest part of that rumor is upgrading the beds to queens.

2. Given my angst at the thought of changing resorts, ABSOLUTELY recommend even without refurb. (most recent stay in 2011)

3. Believe it or not, we've never spent much time at the main pool. It looks awesome but the times we have been at Disney the weather didn't really cooperate for swimming or the kids were more interested in napping than swimming (or were happy in the quiet pool).

The food court has a great selection as does the gift shop. I typically do most of my shopping at the resort while the family is having their down time. (I'm very much type A and don't do "down time" well )

It is a very large resort but your max walk at a normal pace would be around 15 minutes, depending on if your DDs like to find treasures along the way. regardless of which island village you are in, you will be close to a bus stop and a quiet pool.

Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we always do!!