Captain H00k's Caribbean Beach Resort Review

[becka]

Thanks for the review and pictures. If I can't get a code for POFQ on Thursday we are going to try to switch to another moderate. We might end up at CBR after all.

 

[Eclpz314]

Wow! Great review, Captain H00k! DH and I aren't going until mid December, but I had requested Jamaica and was hoping to find a great beach area like the picture you posted. The pics of the birds and other animals just makes something else for us to enjoy while we're there!

 

[DVD CM]

Great review & pictures Captain H00k!

Not too much longer and we're on our way to CBR , , , ,

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yay! Thanks for the review! I can't wait until our trip and I was a little concerned about the size of the resort. Thank you for addressing this and now I don't feel concerned at all!



Is it September yet?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Excellent review. DFi and I just got back from CBR too! We were there from 7/30-8/3 (then switched to WL) and we absolutely LOVED it! I don't like change and I am used to staying at POR, in terms of a moderate, and I think my mod of choice from now on will be CBR!! We paid for a preferred room and were in Trinidad North. It was very close to everything, such a difference from last year at POR! We spent two night just hanging by the pool bar and even got to see Illuminations from the beach one night, and our balcony another! From the pic of the playground, it looks like Jamaica was right across the water from our beach, which wouldn't be too bad of a walk either, without the extra fee.

I highly recommend CBR and can't wait to stay there again!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Thanks for the great review and pics. A king room in Jamaica at CBR was our first-ever onsite resort experience - even though we're still running the gauntlet of Disney resorts (want to try just about all of them!), CBR will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Your pics are really making me want to return soon!

 

[Keyana]

Thank you for your report and pics It really helped to make my decision to switch from POP to CBR...with the disney visa code it comes out to only $168 more for our 9 night stay Nov 30-Dec 9th.
Thanks again,
K

 

[alldiz]

Thanks for the awesome review......love your pics...

Is CBR bigger than POP?

Or SSR?
Thanks
Kerri

 

[Stefy]

Thanx for the report me and mine are staying there end of September. We are still undecided of which area we want to stay in, which would you say is the most busy area?

 

[G&J's Mom]

Awesome review!!! We will be there for our first time next month. Can't wait!!!

Looks like a few of us will be there at the same time!

Denise

 

[kathy387]

Thank you! We'll be there in 3 weeks for our first stay at CBR and reports like yours really make us feel better! We were stressing out because it seemed so big but now I really think we'll like it! By the way, do you remember who you shared MYW with and if you were also picked up first for the return trip too?

 

[CaptainH00k]

Wow - there's three of us in a row staying at Jamaica - I hope it doesn't become that popular!!!

Of course, I only REQUESTED to stay there - no guarantee. I will be very disappointed though if it doesn't work out.

In my mind, Jamaica is hands down the most classy of the buildings. I love the yellow!

Your TR with all the great pics really reminded me of the importance of posting a nice TR after you return. I LIVE for reading recent TRs on CBR now that I am so close to leaving. So reassuring and it is great for building the excitement!

And of course, like you, I will be sure to link it on SafetyMom's thread!

Thanks a bunch for the kind words. Jamaica is definitely a great spot if you don't want to pop for the Preferred Room fee (or would definitely want a King Bed over a Preferred Room.)

TRs and other reviews are definitely great for all members here as there are so many people always planning and trying to make the most educated decision in how to spend their vacation dollar!!

Thanks again!

Thanks for the great review! It sounds like a great resort!

Thanks - we loved it!

Thanks for the review and pictures. If I can't get a code for POFQ on Thursday we are going to try to switch to another moderate. We might end up at CBR after all.

Thanks (and you're welcome!) If you do end up at CBR, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Wow! Great review, Captain H00k! DH and I aren't going until mid December, but I had requested Jamaica and was hoping to find a great beach area like the picture you posted. The pics of the birds and other animals just makes something else for us to enjoy while we're there!

Thank you. Jamaica building 43 (I think or maybe 41 - need to refer to property map) would be a bit closer to the beach. Building 42 is in a great spot too though! There are certainly lots of fuzzy and feathery animals about at CBR.

Great review & pictures Captain H00k!

Not too much longer and we're on our way to CBR , , , ,

That's my jealous face (again.) Thanks for the compliment. I hope you guys have a great time!

Yay! Thanks for the review! I can't wait until our trip and I was a little concerned about the size of the resort. Thank you for addressing this and now I don't feel concerned at all!



Is it September yet?

You're welcome and thank you. CBR is a bit spread out, but as I said, I think this claim is a tad exaggerated in general. If you don't plan on walking (or need to walk) a lot around CBR, then you will probably appreciate the "spread out" nature of it as it does insulate you from crowds, noise, and others while relaxing in and around your room.

Have fun in September!

Excellent review. DFi and I just got back from CBR too! We were there from 7/30-8/3 (then switched to WL) and we absolutely LOVED it! I don't like change and I am used to staying at POR, in terms of a moderate, and I think my mod of choice from now on will be CBR!! We paid for a preferred room and were in Trinidad North. It was very close to everything, such a difference from last year at POR! We spent two night just hanging by the pool bar and even got to see Illuminations from the beach one night, and our balcony another! From the pic of the playground, it looks like Jamaica was right across the water from our beach, which wouldn't be too bad of a walk either, without the extra fee.

I highly recommend CBR and can't wait to stay there again!

Thanks Nikki. I hope you guys had a great trip. I love considering myself a Pirate of the Caribbean Beach! I agree with you, Jamaica is a very good choice if you don't want to go "Preferred Room" and still desire pretty close access to everything at Old Port Royale.

I really enjoyed your "Lunch/Dinner With An Imagineer" thread. Cool name tags and gift.

Thanks for the great review and pics. A king room in Jamaica at CBR was our first-ever onsite resort experience - even though we're still running the gauntlet of Disney resorts (want to try just about all of them!), CBR will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Your pics are really making me want to return soon!

Thanks for your post and sharing your memories. CBR was really fun. I think we're going to do Boardwalk Inn next, but CBR will probably be the "go to" resort when we go moderate!

Thank you for your report and pics It really helped to make my decision to switch from POP to CBR...with the disney visa code it comes out to only $168 more for our 9 night stay Nov 30-Dec 9th.
Thanks again,
K

I don't think you'll regret switching one bit! I hope you have fun and thanks for your reply. $168 more for the amenities that Disney offers at moderates is certainly money well spent in my opinion.

Thanks for the awesome review......love your pics...

Is CBR bigger than POP?

Or SSR?
Thanks
Kerri

I can't help you with that - especially concerning Pop Century. I did see a smidge of SSR and I'd guess that as far as property size, they are very close in size, but I'd have to look into that.

Thank you!

Thanx for the report me and mine are staying there end of September. We are still undecided of which area we want to stay in, which would you say is the most busy area?

I didn't explore every bit of CBR, but I'd venture to guess that there are no truly "busy" areas even when the resort is packed (as it was when we went.) If you want the least busy area, then Trinidad South might be the way to go, but you'd be sacrificing the ability to more easily walk to Old Port Royale. I'd guess that Trinidad North and/or Martinique would be a bit more busy as far as foot traffic since they are the closest to Old Port Royale.

Awesome review!!! We will be there for our first time next month. Can't wait!!!

Looks like a few of us will be there at the same time!

Denise

Thanks! Have fun

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Wow - there's three of us in a row staying at Jamaica - I hope it doesn't become that popular!!!

Of course, I only REQUESTED to stay there - no guarantee. I will be very disappointed though if it doesn't work out.

I also requested Jamaica for my visit in two weeks.

 

[CaptainH00k]

Thank you! We'll be there in 3 weeks for our first stay at CBR and reports like yours really make us feel better! We were stressing out because it seemed so big but now I really think we'll like it! By the way, do you remember who you shared MYW with and if you were also picked up first for the return trip too?

You're welcome and thanks! I know you'll have a great time at CBR. Before our trip, I stressed about the size, the bus service, and the negative comments I read, but afterwards, I knew I had to put out comments to let future visitors go what this resort really has to offer (as of August 2007!)

I think you mean ME (Magical Express.) I think our Magical Express bus to Disney World served most, if not all, of the Epcot area resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk Inn, and CBR - I think.)

I think the return trip Magical Express is not as important as you'll get picked up at the time the Custom House states on your Express Check-Out information. I think we were the last stop on the way out, because once we left CBR, we left Disney property - this is a good thing!

Thanks again.

 

[Tink3Belle]

Thank you for your review of SBR we will be there 2 weeks from today - and US air better not delay my trip!!!

 

[mineeme22]

Thanks for a great trip report, I will be in WDW in less than a month! (insert your jealous face here) Just kiddding! I'm going with my friends who haven't been in years, so I'm excited to be the "tour guide". We are staying at the CBR- I haven't stayed here in years (I'm usually at OKW), so I'm very excited. Question- I tried to get a preferred room, but since I originally booked the trip w/ the free dining, then called back to ask for a preferred location, Disney said if I call to change to a prefered room, it changes my reservation and I may lose the free dining . Since I asked them to make a note about a room closest to OPR or a close as possible, do you think it will be tough for them to fill the request? We are arriving on Sept 12.

 

[safetymom]

If you haven't reserved and paid for a preferred location you may have a hard time getting that location. The resorts will be very crowded for your dates.

 

[CaptainH00k]

Thanks for a great trip report, I will be in WDW in less than a month! (insert your jealous face here) Just kiddding! I'm going with my friends who haven't been in years, so I'm excited to be the "tour guide". We are staying at the CBR- I haven't stayed here in years (I'm usually at OKW), so I'm very excited. Question- I tried to get a preferred room, but since I originally booked the trip w/ the free dining, then called back to ask for a preferred location, Disney said if I call to change to a prefered room, it changes my reservation and I may lose the free dining . Since I asked them to make a note about a room closest to OPR or a close as possible, do you think it will be tough for them to fill the request? We are arriving on Sept 12.

You're very welcome and thanks for the compliment!

I think your request is a good one, although I would've probably requested specific villages (I did Martinique and Jamaica.) How close they can get you will certainly depend on how booked CBR is for the time of your reservation as well as any reservations that would overlap your arrival and departure days and how many requests like this they honor before yours. However, I am sure that they will bend over backwards to try to get you what you requested.

Realistically, I'd say you have a 3 out of 6 chance based on my village preferences at CBR to be pretty close to Old Port Royale.

If you get put in Martinique, Trinidad North, or Jamaica, then you guys will probably be happy with the distance to Old Port Royale. Also, based on the property map and where I remember Aruba, this could be as good (if not better) than Jamaica on the other side of the lake in using Caribbean Cay to get to Old Port Royale without much hassle as well.

At any rate, I'm sure you won't be disappointed at all!

Hope you all have fun.

 

[CaptainH00k]

I just noticed that safteymom beat me. She's certainly the resident expert on all things CBR, so based on that information, Trinidad North and Martinique preferred buildings are probably out of the quesiton.

Just hope, pray, and wish for Jamaica, Aruba, or Trinidad North/Martinique "non-preferred" buildings and you'll be fine.

What am I saying?! You're going to CBR and the Disney Parks - you'll be fine regardless!!

 

[lpandorf]

I did not get to read every post so sorry if this was answered already - we will be at CBR for the first time in November. Where can you see Illuminations from?
Thanks so much!