Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT Information & Questions-Old Thread-New Thread Link in Post 1

[mickeystoontown]

The new Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Information & Questions Thread is open! Come on over and join in on the fun! http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...nformation-questions-thread-now-open.3461094/

Welcome to the latest edition of the Caribbean Beach Resort information thread! In the past, safetymom did an excellent job of providing us with information regarding the resort and, recently, dansdad picked up where she left off and was great at keeping it updated. It’s now time to start yet another CBR FAQ thread since the other grew quite rapidly and is now reaching the page limit and many of the pictures in the other thread have either been moved or removed. The pictures that I posted here are either my own or credit is given to the photographer.

I will try my best to keep the information updated and will rely heavily on information posted on the Disboards to do so but, with the way that Disney is constantly growing and updating things, I may miss “new” information. Please feel free to let me know if you hear of changes or see that I need to make changes and/or additions. I am leaving several posts as “reserved” so that additional information and pictures can be added. I am also keeping some of the posts short in order to add additional pictures as they are posted or come to my attention.

The CBR began a major refurbishment in May, 2014 and all standard and preferred rooms were done. With the refurb, families of five are now able to book a room at the CBR!

The pirate rooms were also recently refurbished! Thanks to www.**************.net for the pictures and review!

**The main bridge going from Aruba and Jamaica to Old Port Royale will be closed. Guests may take a shuttle, internal van, or boat from Aruba to Bike Works. Additional shuttles have been added to help Guests get to and from Old Port Royale during their stay.

Aug. 3 - Nov. 26, 2015


The Caribbean Beach Resort is a tropical paradise located near Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney and is considered an "Epcot Area Resort". Because of the resort’s central location, your ride, whether by taxi, your own vehicle or by Disney bus, to any of the four parks, two water parks or Downtown Disney won’t be a long one.

picture by phoenixstrength

The CBR, a moderate resort, has 2,112 rooms and consists of thirty-three two story buildings surrounding a 42 acre lake. The resort has six villages: Martinique, Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Jamaica, Aruba and Barbados. Each of the villages has it’s own quiet pool, laundry facilities and bus stop. If you are driving, you won’t have a problem finding parking as each village also has a parking area. I’ll post more specifics and lots of pictures of the resort buildings, rooms, pools, etc. in another post.

Let’s start out by talking about the first place you’ll visit when you arrive on the resort grounds, then, I’ll move on to the villages, rooms, food court, amenities, etc.

The Custom House is where you will check-in for your reservation. If arriving by Magical Express, you’ll be dropped off under the portico at the Custom House entrance.

picture courtesy of jensieb

If you are driving, you will need to stop at the guard station, give them your name and show an I.D. after which time they will direct you to The Custom House. Parking is plentiful, shaded and right outside of The Custom House itself.

Located within The Custom House are the check-in/out desks, lobby concierge, restrooms and airline check-in. There are separate lines and windows for standard check-in, online check-in and concierge and a separate area for airline check-in.

picture courtesy of jensieb

Large valuables can be left at the Custom House if they will not fit in the room safes. Ask for more information upon check-in.

Just outside and to the left of The Custom House entrance, you’ll find Bell Services. If you need assistance in getting your bags to your room, stop there after checking in and they’ll be glad to help you. Large luggage is not allowed on the resort buses. If you arrive via Magical Express and have nothing but your carry-on, you have three choices: 1) use Bell Services to take you to your room; 2) you can catch an Internal Shuttle bus to your village. The bus picks up just to the side of The Custom House; or 3) walk to your village. How long it takes you to walk to your room from the Custom House depends on your room/building location.

Keep in mind that most guests will not need to go to the Custom House except at check-in, airline check-in and Magical Express pickup. Should you need assistance while at the resort, you can either take an Internal Shuttle Bus to The Custom House or go to the concierge desk located in Old Port Royale. The internal shuttle bus, which is clearly marked, stops at each village bus stop and loops around the resort.

Check-in and check-out

Check-in is at 3 pm, at the Custom House. There is a possibility that your room will be available to you prior to the official check-in time of 3 p.m. If your room is not available, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services and use any of the resort amenities. Once you are in your room, you can call Bell Services and they will deliver your luggage to you. If you arrive via Magical Express and you let them handle your luggage for you, your luggage will be delivered to your room.

If your room is not ready, you can leave a mobile number with the castmember who checks you in and you will receive a text when your room is ready. Having said that, some report that they never received the text message. If you are on the resort grounds and do not receive a room ready notification, you can go to the concierge desk in the Custom House or in Old Port Royale.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Online check in, options and requests:

Once you are 60 days out from your arrival date, you will get notification in your MDE account that you are able to do Online Check In. You are not really checking in when you go through the Online Check In process. They really should call it Online Preregistration as that is what you are actually doing. You are verifying your personal information, adding a Credit Card for charging back to your room and you can also add 2 room requests. Below are the first 2 screens you come to. The first one allows you to inform them of your estimated arrival time and departure times.

Information and pictures obtained from the most recent CBR thread


Please keep in mind that requests are just that, requests, and are not guaranteed by Disney. I usually have my requests noted on my reservation at the time that I make the initial reservation. I then call approximately two weeks prior to our arrival to make sure that they are still noted. When making requests, it is best to place them in the order of importance to you.



Reserved

 

[mickeystoontown]

Caribbean Beach Resort is made up of six villages that are almost mirror images of the other. The exceptions are the colors of the buildings and their booking category.

All of the buildings in Trinidad North and Martinique buildings 26, 25 and 24 are preferred locations. All of the rooms in Trinidad South are pirate themed.

Bookable room categories at the CBR are:

Standard view: Your room view would overlook a parking lot, courtyard or other landscaping.

Water view: Your room view would overlook either a swimming pool or the lake.

Preferred: Your room will be in one of the Trinidad North buildings or Martinique building 24, 25 or 26. Views will vary.

King bed: Your room could be in any of the villages with the exception of Trinidad South. Views will vary.

Pirate standard room: Your pirate themed room would overlook a parking lot, courtyard or other landscaping.

Pirate water view room: Your pirate themed room would overlook either a swimming pool or the lake.

Martinique:

Trinidad North:

Trinidad South:

Jamaica:

Aruba:

Barbados:

The following are just a few pictures representative of the views from the rooms:

Parking lot view:

Water view room:

Standard view room:

picture by phoenixstrength

 

[mickeystoontown]

Courtyards:

The buildings do not have elevators and those who can not use stairs should put in a request for a downstairs room for medical reasons. Please be aware that all requests are just that, requests, and are not guaranteed.

Soda vending machines are in every village. Ice machines are in every guest room building.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Saved

 

[mickeystoontown]

Rooms:

While the other moderate resort rooms are 314 square feet, the rooms at the CBR are a little larger at 340 square feet. Provided in the room are a wall safe, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, coffee maker (coffee, sugar and creamer packets supplied), shampoo, soap, ice bucket and refrigerator. Bed rails, extra blankets, pack-n-play cribs and extra pillows are available upon request. The window size in a non-corner room is 37 3/4" x 59".


Newly refurbished room without the pull down bed:

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

 

[mickeystoontown]

Newly refurbished room with the pull down bed:

All of the above pictures were taken by Bama_C

I am in the process of making a list of the rooms with a pull down bed. So far, the following rooms have been reported as havnig them.

Trinidad North:
3161
3247
3253

Aruba:
5243
5515
5537

Jamaica
4113
4121
4123
4355
4356

Martinique
2359

 

[mickeystoontown]

Pirate themed rooms:

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

 

[mickeystoontown]

As previously stated, each of the villages have their own quiet pool, beach, laundry facility and bus stop.

The beaches are swept clean each evening and have plenty of beach chairs and hammocks for the guests to enjoy.

picture by phoenixstrength

Quiet pools (You can see the pool depth posted in some of the pictures):

Restrooms are located near the quiet pools:

 

[mickeystoontown]

4/7/15: New Laundry Machines Are Coming to Walt Disney World: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ne...ey-world-resorts.3396347/page-2#post-53382252

I have not received any information that the machines have been changed out at the Caribbean Beach Resort and until someone comes back and posts differently, the following is still accurate:

Laundry facilities are located near each of the village quiet pools. To gain access to the laundry room, you’ll need to scan your Magic Band. At this time, it costs $2.00 a load to wash and $2.00 a load to dry. If you do not overload the dryers, your clothes should get dry with just one cycle. Heavier clothes or large loads may require two drying cycles.

Change machines are in each laundry room but there is talk that they will be changed to the type of machines that take credit cards. Some of the resorts have already started making the change-over.

The pricing on the detergent, fabric softener, etc. is in the pictures.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Bus service to all four theme parks, the water parks and Downtown Disney runs approximately one hour prior to park opening and one hour prior to park closing. At least that’s the official word. I’ve seen them run earlier and later than those times. Buses run approximately every twenty minutes but are generally more frequent. Depending on your destination, you should budget between 45 minutes to an hour total travel time. This includes waiting on the bus, riding to the destination and walking to your destination after arriving.

The buses at the CBR take two different routes. If the buses arrive at the resort via the main entrance near The Custom House, the first stop would be Martinique, followed by Old Port Royale, Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Jamaica, Aruba and, lastly, Barbados. If they arrive via the side entrance, Jamaica will be the first stop followed by Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, Old Port Royale, Trinidad North and, lastly, Trinidad South.

Each resort village has their own bus stop. There are a few benches in each stop along with a drink vending machine, trash and recycling cans, signage, a phone and an emergency defibrillator.

Bus stops:

 

[mickeystoontown]

Let’s move on to talk about the resort itself.

Surrounding the 45 acre lake is a 1.4 mile promenade which is great for jogging, bicycling or just a quiet stroll. The majority of the promenade is made of concrete but there are a couple of sections which are made of wood which fits in with the scenery it takes you through.

Seating along the promenade:

As you can see from the map posted in post #1 (and posted again below), Martinique, Old Port Royale, Trinidad North and Trinidad South are on one side of the lake, Barefoot Bay, and Jamaica, Aruba and Barbados are on the other.

In the center of the lake is Caribbean Cay, an island complete with a play ground, picnic area, hammocks and other seating. There is a footbridge that connects one side of the resort to the other and you will walk through Caribbean Cay where, if you listen closely, you can hear steel drum music playing.

Footbridge:

picture courtesy of jensieb

Playground on Caribbean Cay:

 

[mickeystoontown]

Old Port Royale

Old Port Royale is the main resort activities area. Old Port Royale features the food court which is typically open from 6 am to midnight, with more limited hours for some of the counters. Breakfast selections include bagels, fresh fruit, Mickey waffles, eggs, and breakfast meats. Lunch and dinner selections include burgers, pizza, pasta, deli sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Blue Runner Pizza delivery is also available.

Pizza delivery cart:

Menu:

Full dinners are available at the food court and at Shutters at Old Port Royale (a table service restaurant, adjacent to the food court) from 5 to 10 pm.

Within the Centertown building , you’ll find the food court, the resort’s table service restaurant, Shutters (which can also be accessed from outside), the two store shops, an arcade, the DVC sales desk, public telephones, restrooms, an ATM machine, a penny press machine and a concierge desk.

Shutters:

Arcade:

 

[mickeystoontown]

Some of the food court seating, menus, etc.:

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

 

[mickeystoontown]

Food court continued:

Items available on the long counter near the drink station in the food court:

One of the microwaves available to guests. Also on the long counter near the drink station in the food court:

One of several mustard, mayo, ketchup dispensers on the long counter near the drink station in the food court:

Toasters and another condiment dispenser on the long counter near the drink station in the food court. At the very end of the counter just past the dispenser is a mug wash sink/station.

Drinks available in the food court drink station.

Hot cocoa:

Gold Peak teas:

Coffee:

Decaffeinated coffee dispensers:

Other drinks:

 

[mickeystoontown]

Some of the items available in the grab-n-go section of the food court:

Just a sample of some of the items that are available as a snack plan credit. You can see some of the DP symbols near some of the items in the pictures above and below:

 

[mickeystoontown]

The following pictures will give you an idea of some of the items for sale in the store:

picture by jensieb

The store also sells milk, wine, beer, sodas, etc. Of course, the items are higher than you would pay for the same items at home but that’s to be expected.















Another option for groceries would be to place an order with Garden Grocer. I’ve ordered from them many times before and their services have always been great. There is a minimum $40 order and I believe a $15 delivery charge. If you are not at the resort when they deliver your order, it will be left with Bell Services who will hold it for you. If there are any items that need to be refrigerated, Bell Services will take care of that too. You can either pick up our order from Bell Services or call them and have them deliver it to your room.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Outside of Old Port Royale, is the main pool which is zero entry and has not one but two slides, a children’s splash/play area, a pool bar, a marina and in the evenings (weather permitting) they show movies just outside of OPR and have marshmallow roasts on the Martinique beach.

Seating area outside OPR:

picture by phoenixstrength

Movie night:

When the pool was redone a few years ago, the children’s splash/play area was redone as well and has a slide and tipping/dumping bucket. There is a height limit of 48". Depending on how busy the area is, the lifeguards will sometimes let children slightly over 48" play in the area with their siblings but it all depends on the crowds and is at the lifeguards’s discretion.

There is a hair wrap station located just outside of OPR and near the entrance to the main pool:

Banana Cabana is the pool bar:

picture by jensieb

The marina which no longer rents watercraft is on the resort lake and is to the right of the OPR courtyard. Bicycle and surrey bike rentals are still available at the marina.

I know that this sign shows watercraft availability which we know is no longer available. But, I believe that the bicycle and surrey bike rental prices are the same:

 

[mickeystoontown]

All of the Disney resorts have started closing the main feature pools and hot tubs once the lifeguards go off duty. The CBR has a gate around the main pool and it’s locked once the lifeguards are gone. Towels are provided and there is a towel return bin located near the pool.

Pools are heated to approximately 82 degrees at all Walt Disney World Resorts.

Lifejackets are available for use at the main pool and can be found in the bins near the pool.

For safety, diaper-age children must wear plastic pants or swim diapers.


Poolside activities take place at the main pool area. Schedules may vary seasonally, but there are usually planned events every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Dance Parties, “What’s in Your Beach Bag,” “Mickey Who?,” Notable Quotes, and others.

Main pool:

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

picture by jensieb

 

[mickeystoontown]

Seating on the backside of the main pool:

Seating on the side of the pool and lifejacket bins:

There are two hot tubs with one being near the front of the main pool and the other being around back of the pool.

picture by jensieb