Beach Club vs. Caribbean $$

Bunch0rz5 · Feb 12, 2016

We are kind of wanting to be on a tighter budget this year. It has been 6 years the last time we went to WDW. Would you pay $1,000 more to upgrade to Beach Club from Caribbean resort for a 6 night 7 day trip?

Extra note: 2 adults and 3 kids. Ages 15,12 and 2.

CJMickeyMouse · Feb 12, 2016

I have not stayed at either resort, but for the location and the extra room, yes... given your situation... I would upgrade to Beach Club.

Adam6952 · Feb 13, 2016

I would absolutely pay it. I was at Caribbean for the first time in August last year and I'm never going back... I can't reiterate this enough. Lol

Bunch0rz5 · Feb 13, 2016

What did you not like about the Caribbean?

patty57 · Feb 13, 2016

I would upgrade if the extra $1000 wasn't an issue for me. If it was, and I felt it would be better used on tickets, food etc., I would stay at the Caribbean. Full disclosure...I've never stayed at the Caribbean Beach before, but have stayed at the Epcot resorts (including the Swan & Dolphin) many times, so I can't personally vouch for the Caribbean Beach Resort.
You should do what makes sense for you and your family.

Minniesgal · Feb 13, 2016

For a party of 5 i'd absolutely upgrade to Beach Club.

Aurora0427 · Feb 13, 2016

If it's within your budget, yes. CB can't compare to the BC on all levels of amenities and aesthetics. But if you'd have to charge the difference and really can't afford it, do CB.

Disneylover99 · Feb 13, 2016

No. If you want to be on a tighter budget, I wouldn't spend an extra $166 per night on a room to stay at the BC.

Dis703 · Feb 13, 2016

Bunch0rz5 said:
We are kind of wanting to be on a tighter budget this year. It has been 6 years the last time we went to WDW. Would you pay $1,000 more to upgrade to Beach Club from Caribbean resort for a 6 night 7 day trip?

Extra note: 2 adults and 3 kids. Ages 15,12 and 2.

If the $1,000 meant absolutely nothing to me I would likely choose BC. But from our personal experience of needing to bring our budget down we went from staying BC CL and then BWI down to CBR last year and we were perfectly happy with the change. I have to say I was so nervous about going mod after doing Deluxe but we loved CBR and had one of our best trips yet.

BC of course has the location aspect as being the biggest draw for me. But I couldn't justify the additional $1,000 for that alone. Yes, it's very convenient, but our bus time to Epcot from CBR (wait plus travel time) was generally no more than 16-19 minutes. So, really that's only 10 minutes added to travel time over walking into Epcot from BC. We also loved the walk to HS from BC, but that took about 20 minutes and our bus ride from CBR was only 14. So it would seem almost a wash between what we gained and lost in transportation time.

CBR rooms didn't feel any smaller to us really and we are a family of 5. Plenty of space and storage room. The resort itself is beautiful and actually was much quieter than BC. Yes, it's a large spread out resort but that's part of the appeal to me. It never feels crowded and the rooms are so quiet only once in an entire 9 night stay did I hear someone in the room next door to us (when a door slammed). It's just very relaxing overall.

The pool is great, the CMs were awesome, mousekeeping was very good, food court was good and while I never got to dine at Shutters other guests raved about it. They have little beaches with hammocks at each of the villages too while at BC there is only the one beach which had some chairs but only one or two swings that were never empty. And you can see and hear Illuminations from OPR or the bridge at night.

We are very much looking forward to our next stay at CBR and while someday it would be nice to stay at BC again we are perfectly happy with CBR.

_auroraborealis_ · Feb 13, 2016

People online will always be happy to spend your money for you. If the $1000 is considered significant relative to the budget, you will still have a marvelous trip at CBR.

mickeynut1 · Feb 13, 2016

Bunch0rz5 said:
We are kind of wanting to be on a tighter budget this year. It has been 6 years the last time we went to WDW. Would you pay $1,000 more to upgrade to Beach Club from Caribbean resort for a 6 night 7 day trip?

Extra note: 2 adults and 3 kids. Ages 15,12 and 2.

If the extra cost is doable without taking away from anything else, I'd upgrade. However, if the extra $1,000 would really stretch the budget, I'd stick with CBR. We've stayed at both and while we do love the deluxe resorts, we also loved CBR and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again as it's a great resort (IMO). I think you would have just as good of a time at CBR. Good luck.

loves to dive · Feb 13, 2016

YC/BC are my go to resorts, if possible I always stay there. Having said that, I have a split stay coming up in March with two nights at CBR and 4 nights at Dolphin. I'm attempting to stay at every resort and go twice a year so I'm trying to cut down on the expenses a little. I've yet to stay at CBR but I've looked at videos and read the board about it so I'm going for it. If budget is an issue, I'd say go for it or may consider a split stay or switch over to S/D. You do have to factor in the silly resort fee at S/D and if you are driving there is a parking fee but you can save money there.

Mousemommy1 · Feb 13, 2016

Yes, I would upgrade. But we just really don't care for CBR.
BC location is awesome!

DisneyWishes14 · Feb 13, 2016

If you can afford it, yes. Perhaps consider pricing out the Swan and Dolphin as well? It might be a more affordable option

Kevin355 · Feb 13, 2016

CBR has the largest rooms of any moderate. Quiet resort, good eating area, quiet pools at each resort, and the main pool is excellent.

HopperFan · Feb 13, 2016

Only you know what that $1000 means to you and your budget.
Just some thoughts...
- How important is the themed pool to you?
- Stormalong Bay will be great for your older kids and you could find a good spot to enjoy with youngest.
- CBR pool will be great for your youngest, especially with the play area but really offers nothing for tw/teens.
- What parks will you be going to? Will the BC location be a huge plus, especially if youngest needs breaks.
- Will you be on Dining Plan? Therefore an Epcot location with Boardwalk and DHS close be a real asset.
- Both rooms will handle your group, BC will give you about 67 square feet more.
- Daybed vs bunk, won't matter if for 3 year old.
- $1000 can provide you special meals or entertainment with less reliance on your resort for the perks.
- Always for me, how often do you travel there? If this is a regular every year or every other year trip than save the money. If this is a special trip, once in a very long time, then I would stay at BC.

Deb & Bill · Feb 14, 2016

What would you be able to do with that $1K if you didn't spend it on your hotel? We stayed at CBR and thought it was pretty nice. The room was large. We didn't have a room with the Murphy bed, so we just had two queen beds. But the resort was rather nice. We'd go back.

And we had a standard view room in Bldg 23 at Martinique.

Micca · Feb 14, 2016

If you spend the $1000 to upgrade are you still under the budget you had planned? If a value resort was in the mix I'd upgrade without a second thought, but the mods at WDW are good, just not as good as the deluxes. Maybe a compromise is to stash away the $1000 toward the next trip to WDW so you don't have to wait six years?

gluestickgirl · Feb 14, 2016

We've never been able to justify the expense for a Deluxe for a whole trip, since we spend so much time in the parks. On our next trip, we're doing a split stay - CBR for most of it, and Yacht Club at the end. We're planning to take it slow and do a lot of swimming while we're at Yacht, to make that time worth it. If you're not averse to moving, that may be something to think about as well!

maxiesmom · Feb 14, 2016

I would only upgrade to the Beach Club if you spend a lot of time at Epcot and plan on spending a lot of time at the pool. I would also suggest upgrading to a preferred room at CBR. If you do that, that will eat up another $60 a night, compared to a standard room.

I've stayed at both resorts, and both are fine. But if you love Epcot, the Beach Club is the place for you. Otherwise CBR is fine, but only in a preferred room location. If you are booking standard I wouldn't book CBR. It is just too large.

Beach Club vs. Caribbean $$

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