Caribbean Beach FAQ Part IV

[Chelley00]

DD7 finally decided on her resort for her birthday trip and wants to stay at CBR (at first it was CSR until she saw the Nemo rooms, she said she liked them because they look "Disneyish"!) It's our first trip onsite, and we're leaving all the boys behind! We'll be there 11/27 - 12/5

 

[mickeystoontown]

Just returned from our 4th fabulous stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We were given a free upgrade to a preferred location which was wonderful. I'll be doing a full review and posting lots of pictures as soon as I get them all uploaded to photobucket.

If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Welcome back Lisa! Can't wait to hear all about your stay at CBR! Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Welcome back Lisa! Can't wait to hear all about your stay at CBR! Congrats on the upgrade!

Thanks! We have a great stay and actually spent some down time at the resort which we usually don't do too much of. The one thing that we didn't do that we said we were going to do is....swim in the new main pool.

I was very pleasantly surprised to receive the upgrade. We booked a standard room but when we checked in, they put us in Martinique 26 which is the closest building to Old Port Royale. Sweet!

 

[I_believe]

Welcome Back Lisa! I have been impatiently waiting your return. I enjoyed your last trip report and it sounds like there may have been a bit more this time! Look forward to seeing your pictures!

Erin

 

[mddisneyfamily]

I am getting ready to book my reservation online, but I want to make sure I get the right room. I want to book a "preferred location" so I can be close to the main pool and restaurants ...but all I see online is a "preferred room" with no mention of it being closer to the main buildings. Is a preferred room the same thing? Thanks so much!!

 

[CleveRocks]

I am getting ready to book my reservation online, but I want to make sure I get the right room. I want to book a "preferred location" so I can be close to the main pool and restaurants ...but all I see online is a "preferred room" with no mention of it being closer to the main buildings. Is a preferred room the same thing? Thanks so much!!

I agree with you that "preferred location" has always been the nomenclature I've seen Disney use for those rooms in CBR, but if the Disney website sells "preferred rooms" for CBR, then it's the same thing. There's nothing "preferred" about it except location relative to Old Port Royale, the complex that has the restaurant, food court, main pool, shops, etc.

 

[safetymom]

Preferred room is how it is referred to on the Disney website.

 

[catbertdave99]

Thanks! We have a great stay and actually spent some down time at the resort which we usually don't do too much of. The one thing that we didn't do that we said we were going to do is....swim in the new main pool.

I was very pleasantly surprised to receive the upgrade. We booked a standard room but when we checked in, they put us in Martinique 26 which is the closest building to Old Port Royale. Sweet!

Welcome back Lisa -- can't wait to hear all about it! We also stayed in Martinique 26 when we were there in June - great spot!

 

[mddisneyfamily]

Preferred room is how it is referred to on the Disney website.

Seems weird that they would not better describe the preferred category online. Those who do not get info. from another source would not even know that the biggest (only?) benefit to a preferred room is the location.....on the Disney web site it says:

"All rooms have 2 double-size beds, table and chairs, vanity area with 2 sinks, a ceiling fan and a bathroom. All rooms are non-smoking. Amenities include in-room wall safe, voice mail, data port, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, mini-fridge and coffee maker. A crib is available upon request. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available. These rooms offer views of the courtyard, woodlands or Resort hotel."

No real reference to the biggest advantage...a location close to the action.

Anyway, thanks for the info!!

 

[BenA81]

We'll be headed to CBR in December. I told my wife that the pools are heated so we'll still be able to go swimming but she is still skeptical as to whether it will still be enjoyable. Anybody have some experiences they would like to share? TIA

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Just wanted to thank all you CBR'ers for all your assistance in answering questions and providing information. We are headed to CBR next Wednesday and really looking forward to our trip.

It will be my daughter's first trip to WDW, and my first trip since 1988, and I've never stayed onsite (I think I stayed at the Radisson Inn-Maingate back in '88), so it will be fun for both of us!

When you first start planning a WDW trip, there's just SO MUCH to figure out and it's all so overwhelming. Now that we are only a few days out, I realize just how much information I've gotten from the DIS boards. Thanks so much for answering my "stupid" questions about CBR and giving me all sort of details about the resort. I really appreciate it!

I won't have access to the 'net while we're at WDW, but I'll be taking notes and plan to give a resort when we get back. Thanks again!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

We'll be headed to CBR in December. I told my wife that the pools are heated so we'll still be able to go swimming but she is still skeptical as to whether it will still be enjoyable. Anybody have some experiences they would like to share? TIA

Can't speak for December, but we were there the middle of January a few years back. It was cold (mid to upper 40's at night). DD wanted to swim, so I let her. Her and DH went in one night. They said it was beautiful while they were in the pool, but it was when they got out. They didn't seem to mind that much though. I just made sure I had a super sized beach towel for DD and one of my big sweatshirts to throw over her. DH ran upstairs first and got in the shower. DD stayed in the pool. About 15 minutes after DH went up, DH went running up. The bathroom was already nice and toasty for her from DH.

 

[lustergirl]

Seems weird that they would not better describe the preferred category online. Those who do not get info. from another source would not even know that the biggest (only?) benefit to a preferred room is the location.....on the Disney web site it says:

"All rooms have 2 double-size beds, table and chairs, vanity area with 2 sinks, a ceiling fan and a bathroom. All rooms are non-smoking. Amenities include in-room wall safe, voice mail, data port, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, mini-fridge and coffee maker. A crib is available upon request. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available. These rooms offer views of the courtyard, woodlands or Resort hotel."

No real reference to the biggest advantage...a location close to the action.

Anyway, thanks for the info!!

Disney probably assumes that their guest would know what "preferred" means- closest to the main facilities.

 

[BenA81]

Can't speak for December, but we were there the middle of January a few years back. It was cold (mid to upper 40's at night). DD wanted to swim, so I let her. Her and DH went in one night. They said it was beautiful while they were in the pool, but it was when they got out. They didn't seem to mind that much though. I just made sure I had a super sized beach towel for DD and one of my big sweatshirts to throw over her. DH ran upstairs first and got in the shower. DD stayed in the pool. About 15 minutes after DH went up, DH went running up. The bathroom was already nice and toasty for her from DH.

ok thanks. I think we'll go prepared to swim and just be spontaneous about it. Maybe I'll entice her with youtube videos of the main pool slides

 

[MtnRose23]

Hi! A long time ago, I thought I read somewhere about kids' lunches at OPR being served in a pail with a shovel, which then served as a great sand toy. Does anyone know anything about this (still offered, cost), or perhaps I dreamed it?

Thanks!

 

[sherabby]

We got one with my son's burger back in June. I think it is only certain meals that are served in the bucket.

 

[breymickey]

I am very impressed with the photos of the pirate rooms. I have a son who will be four when we take him to WDW for the first time. I am sure he would love those rooms. However, are the pirate rooms worth the extra money? (I have to give Disney credit for coming up with a way to make people want to stay in the rooms that are the located the farthest from the main pool and food court...And pay extra for them!)

By the way, this thread rocks. Everyone is so helpful on here. I have read through all of it and found it very informative.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[DJFan88]

Hi! A long time ago, I thought I read somewhere about kids' lunches at OPR being served in a pail with a shovel, which then served as a great sand toy. Does anyone know anything about this (still offered, cost), or perhaps I dreamed it?

Thanks!

It's a regular kids meal at the hamburger/hotdog/chicken nugget joint in the ol port royale. My son informs me that you could get either hamburger (like 2 mini or something) or the small order of chicken nuggets (maybe 5or 6). Then you get a milk and choose between a carrot baggie, grape baggie or cookie. The cost was probably in the 6-8 dollar range, if memory serves me. It is just a little pail and shovel, and frankly, we sometimes found ourselves better off with other options, though we did have a couple of those floating around and they did come in handy in the sandy beach area.
All ears has menus for all the places, so you may want to check there for actual pricing. Oh and by the way it should be still offered as we were just there in June.

 

[nmanning19]

I am getting ready to contact the hotel and request one of these areas, which one should I choose, I have a 3.5 year old son but walking isn't a problem (it will help get rid of some energy)!