Art of Animation vs. Caribbean Beach Resort

[Chicago262]

Can you please help me decide between the Art of Animation-Lion King family suite and the Caribbean Beach Resort? We are going 1/6-1/13. It is a surprise for my DD-22 and DS-20 so I don't want to ask them their opinion. We have always stayed at WL. There are no openings there so it's time we branch out and try something new and maybe save a few dollars, too. I know CBR is undergoing construction but I'm not sure if that would really even effect us. Thoughts?? Thank you!!

 

[Capitalangel]

I believe that Art Of Animation has full sized beds while CBR would have queens (in case that matters since you will be traveling with all adults). Art of Animation suite however would give you three beds, so that probably won't matter One thing to consider with CBR is that there is currently very limited food options (it is a buffet in a semi-permanent tent like structure for breakfast and dinner and food trucks with grab-and-go from a market for lunch). We are staying at CBR in Feb so have planned most meals at other locations.

 

[maxiesmom]

I drove by CBR a couple of weeks ago, and no way would I recommend staying there until the work is done. It is a massive construction zone. Buildings have been demolished to be rebuilt.

I'd pick any other moderate or go with AoA. An AoA suite will give you 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette, which are both nice perks.

 

[bhartman]

The AOA suite would be much more comfortable for your group. Having two bathrooms is so helpful, especially since your kids are adults. And I’m sure they’d appreciate having two separate beds, instead of sharing a queen at CBR.

 

[hllb]

Even not counting the construction at CBR, I would vote for AoA. These are the only two resorts I’ve stayed at and I prefer AoA. We stayed in pirate rooms at CBR. The themeing was really cute in the pirate rooms but they were small, especially with a family of 5 (our youngest was 2 at the time). The food was nothing special. The resort is gigantic and the busses took forever. Lots of stops within the resort. We took the bus once and decided driving was easier. The pool and grounds were quite nice though (not sure if they still are w the construction). Would I stay there again? Yes. But it’s not my favorite.

I stayed at AoA with a friend for a race. We were in a little mermaid room. The resort was really cute - great themeing. The buses were much better than at CBR - much quicker to get places. Food was fine but nothing special. I absolutely loved the Cars area and had planned to get a Cars suite for this trip, but got a great deal on Poly instead making it about the same price.

 

[brave321]

We are going during the holidays and had the same choice. We are two parents, one 19 y/o and one 17 y/o. At first we were booked at AoA, but after thinking about it more, we decided that the queen beds at a CBR would be worth the extra money and thought the construction wouldn’t be that big of deal. So we made the switch. About a week later Disney Tourist Blog posted a review about their recent stay at CBR. The pictures and their review were enough to make us regret our decision to stay there. We were lucky that a room at POR was available as AoA was then sold out. I don’t know how much construction will impact you, but I recommend reading that blog post.

 

[MrsDuck]

AoA!

 

[terri33inne]

I agree with PP, even if there was no construction at CBR I would do AofA for 2 bathrooms, and everyone gets their own bed. Also, having the little kitchenette is nice too. We were at CBR in June, and the construction didn't bother us at all. There were just one or two times I missed having food court options.

 

[Chicago262]

Thank you for all of your responses! Leaning toward AOA now. No matter what, we will be at Disney and it is going to be AWESOME!! And 22yo DD could use a bathroom all to herself....haha!

 

[loves to dive]

Personally the construction at CBR wouldn't bother us, we rarely eat at the food court and I've never stayed at a Disney resort when there wasn't some sort of construction going on. We haven't stayed at AoA and most likely never will. I refuse to pay moderate/deluxe rates to stay in a value resort. Now,, having said that I do understand the suites are in buildings with inside corridors (one of the things that bothers me about the moderate and the values) but when it's all said and done AoA is still a value resort, which means crowded and loud public areas, no hot tub at the pool and no quiet pools. All of which are important to us since we come back to the resort mid afternoon some days on a trip and soak in the hot tub and like to go to the quiet pools so there aren't as many young kids running around. Our only problem with the hot tubs at the moderates is they are at the main pools, none at the quiet pools like there are at the deluxe resorts so the kinds do tend to jump in and out of them more.

 

[sbd78]

True that there are no hot tubs at AoA, but I do consider the cars pool and little mermaid pool to be "quiet". (The main big blue pool is definitely not quiet!) We were there in June 2 years ago and really enjoyed the cars pool. Very quiet and the cozy cone cabanas were cute. I haven't stayed at CBR so can't compare the 2.