Hi, I was wondering if someone could tell me what the draw is for them to CBR? I was able to book a standard room here with free dining, but this resort has never really appealed to me. I'm really hoping, if it becomes available, that I will be able to switch to Port Orleans Riverside. My family keeps telling me to stop obsessing and just leave it as is. But I love Riverside! I have read several pages on this thread hoping to find something that will excite me. I see many people stating their preference in buildings, but I haven't read much of why people love this resort.
For example, my favorite resort is Riverside because of the sprawling grounds, the laid-back bayou feel, and all of the lush greenery.
I keep telling myself to just let go and enjoy the opportunity to try someplace new, but I'm very worried I am going to regret it! That's why I am looking here for something to excite me about it. So what do you love about it!?
I also LOVE Riverside and especially French Quarter and have stayed at both. I was not thrilled to stay at CBR but stayed(just got back actually) because my family wanted to try something new. At first I was homesick for Port Orleans resorts but I ended up liking CBR in the end and I would stay there again.
This is what I liked that was different than Riverside:
-lots of outdoor tables near the food court to eat outside!
-hammocks on the beaches and the beaches!
-great island to explore with big playground, pathways, hammocks, hidden seating areas with pretty views etc
-we saw turtles and a mother duck and babies in the lake walking over the footbridge
-watching the Epcot and Hollywood Studios fireworks from the resort(awesome view of the Star Wars fireworks!)
-the rooms have recently been redone and are very nice. The beds are very comfy! Sliding door between bathroom sinks and room for more privacy. The murphy bed is a better set up than Riverside with drawers on either end and underneath.
I did not notice any caribbean music playing at the resort-some buses had it but never heard it on the resort grounds.
What I didn't like in comparison to POR:
-overall set up with the front desk, magical express and luggage check-in so far away from everything else. This was a real pain when we had to get an issue resolved at the desk and also on check-out day when we had to haul our luggage to check in for the airport, then trek to the foodcourt to get breakfast and then back to the lobby to get the bus to the airport.
-the main pool....just felt blah to me....not enough green! and very very crowded midday when we were there
-quiet pools also didn't wow me....just weren't as pretty as Riverside-seemed to have lots of concrete and they are in process of making the concrete walls at the quiet pools even higher and adding locked gates
-so many bus stops and seemed to be a longer ride time after picking up guests to get to the Magic Kingdom (20min) many times buses were packed with standing room only no matter what time of day
---food court was just as good as Riverside. Riverside's gift shop and arcade were slightly better I thought.
---Caribbean was quiet for sleeping at night-the area where the rooms are did not feel busy even though the resort was at capacity. The pool and buses are where we noticed the crowds
I should add....the kids LOVED the pool at Caribbean and didn't mind the crowds and noise! They Loved the pool slide( 2 slides in the big pool and a very cool water play area for the under 48inch kids with their own slides!) and loved the resort overall! They have tons of kids there and so many activities. In fact if you compare the recreation schedule to Riverside, Caribbean Beach offers more. CBR has movies EVERY night (oh and they set up low to the ground chairs for the movies which is awesome rather than towels on grass!) They had mickey tie dye shirt activity 3 nights while we were there. Just very kid friendly and worth a try!!!
It did take me a few days to adjust and stop missing Port Orleans but the family was happy and in the end we'd stay there again!
