Caribbean Beach FAQ Part IV

[weswife]

Just joining in! I think we will stay here instead of CR. We have stayed at ASmo, and the price comparison (especially in Canadian dollars!!) is enough to not stay at CR...and Im falling in love with CBR. It's beautiful!!! I recently started thinking that CR just wasn't very 'south' feeling. We aren't used to palm trees here in Atlantic Canada, so anywhere that feels like the Carribean has major thumbs up from me!! I think My parents will love it too.

SO!!! Im going to need to learn preferred vs standard rooms. What the different sections are like. I dont want my parents to have to walk too far to get to a bus stop neither. They aren't OLD! BUT! They aren't young neither lol I think I have a lot of reading to do.

2 dbl bed or 2 queens in the rooms?

Hi, I live in NS!!! I agree I like the look of the CBR! I have not styed there but on May 6 We will be there!!!! We have alot of snow here still the idea of a beach and palm trees sounds good to us!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

We just got back from a wonderful stay at CBR. We actually spent our first two nights AKL CL just so we could go on the Sunrise Safari and then moved over to CBR for 7 nights. I'm sure many people will think we're nuts, but my family actually preferred CBR over AKL!

I was worried that we were staying at AKL first and everyone would be disappointed when we had to go over to CBR, but luckily that didn't happen. We just got home a few hours ago and I'm still working on my 10 loads of laundry , but I will get back on later and post a full review!

Just wanted to post a quickie to let everyone know that my family thought CBR was just beautiful! We had no real complaints at all.

Congrats on having a great stay at the CBR. I look forward to reading your full review.

 

[DisJase]

I'm not arguing with you, I just want to put your comment into perspective for other people.

Aruba 56 is about one-third of a mile from Old Port Royale (in the past, I'd mapped it out on my favorite running website). Walking a third of a mile in 20 minutes is a pace of 1 mile per hour. Unless the walker has a mobility impairment due to illness or injury or age, the typical walking pace is about 2 miles per hour. That would mean that, for the vast majority of unimpaired people, that walk would be about 10 minutes.

Again, DisJase, I'm not arguing with you or doubting you, but I'd hate for everyone who's never been there to believe that they will have to walk 20 minutes to get to OPR if they get a room in Aruba 56.

And by the way, again for everyone's edification, it's the same exact distance from OPR as Jamaica 41 and Trinidad North 34.

And for anyone familiar with the Polynesian, it's the exact same distance from the Tahiti longhouse to Capt. Cook's.

To be fair, I said 15-20 minutes, and it depends on what side of the building you are on. Also, it was pretty crowded when we went, there was always a line of people to follow behind. So putting things back into perspective, it is quite the walk. Also we had really really bad bus service that time. I know people rant and rave about the bus service, but there were several times our group had to wait 20 minutes or more for a bus. Several times someone would call to find out why there was no bus. Perhaps it was just a fluke that week, but our group decided not to come back based on that. One of the bus drivers was also quite rude to one of the people trying to get on (brought her to tears), so all around it was a negative experience for us.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Love this thread. We will be having our first stay ever at CBR in just over 3 weeks

We have always stayed at the All Stars and wanted to try something different. We drive, so we have our own car. So being far isn't a big deal for us and we've never had luck with the buses anyway. We're just looking forward to something different. The kids are looking forward to checking out the pool. We'll see how it goes

 

[dannysmommyval]

Hello everyone!
I am arriving on April 19th (I cannot wait!!) with my family and I have a question regarding connecting rooms. My Mom and Mom-Mom have a bit of trouble walking and I was wondering what is the trick to requesting (& getting) a connecting room close to the common areas of the resort?
I have never been there so I am unsure of how to go about this.

Any info you can provide would be awesome!
Thanks!!

 

[DisJase]

Love this thread. We will be having our first stay ever at CBR in just over 3 weeks

We have always stayed at the All Stars and wanted to try something different. We drive, so we have our own car. So being far isn't a big deal for us and we've never had luck with the buses anyway. We're just looking forward to something different. The kids are looking forward to checking out the pool. We'll see how it goes

I'm sure you will ! I'm quite certain our bad experience was just a fluke. I hope my review doesn't scare anyone from staying, it really is a nice place to stay, but when a bad review is earned a bad review is earned. It really did seem our experience was more bad luck than anything. The pools at Aruba are fantastic, def a huge plus to other resorts. The Aruba pool is close to the lake and was usually pretty quiet. I'm a tropical kind of guy, so the views are absolutely breath taking. The atmosphere is great, like I said we ran into some bad luck; which left a sour taste in mouths. (I think it was more the bus driver then anything.) Hope everyone has a great time!

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

Just got caught up. Keep the reviews and pics coming.

 

[C&G'sMama]

I'm sure you will ! I'm quite certain our bad experience was just a fluke. I hope my review doesn't scare anyone from staying, it really is a nice place to stay, but when a bad review is earned a bad review is earned. It really did seem our experience was more bad luck than anything. The pools at Aruba are fantastic, def a huge plus to other resorts. The Aruba pool is close to the lake and was usually pretty quiet. I'm a tropical kind of guy, so the views are absolutely breath taking. The atmosphere is great, like I said we ran into some bad luck; which left a sour taste in mouths. (I think it was more the bus driver then anything.) Hope everyone has a great time!

No worries. It seems like one of the recurring themes for some people is the distance. Since we have the car, it's a non-issue for us. We've just never had good luck with the buses. We usually travel with my in-laws and we swear buses would appear out of nowhere for them. When we waited for a bus, they all would magically disappear So, since we have our car anyway, we drive everywhere.

Like I said, we're All Star veterans. We love the All Stars but we wanted to try something different. Our kids love the pools. While there is the on-site restaurant, all of our ADR's are for the parks. (we're on DDP). We'll see if we feel it was worth the jump in price. But we're excited. We're going to Disney, how could we not be?

 

[DisJase]

We're going to Disney, how could we not be?

Exactly. We stayed in 06 before the rooms were updated so the newly refurbished rooms should rock your socks

 

[igetamnesia]

When should my family request a certain area of the resort to stay in (like Trinidad North, etc)? At check-in? Before? And if before, how soon before?

Thanks!

Also: where is your favorite little area to stay here?

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Hey all! I'm a deluxe snob who's stayed at CSR once and liked it. I am going with a friend for a quick weekend trip even though I just got back. She's never been to WDW before so I need to show her a good time. I've never stayed at CBR so I'm wondering if you think it's a good place for a first timer? I just don't have the money right now to do a deluxe.

I see that "Water View" is available - what exactly does that mean? Are these the new refurbished rooms? Any advice will be appreciated!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

When should my family request a certain area of the resort to stay in (like Trinidad North, etc)? At check-in? Before? And if before, how soon before?

Thanks!

Also: where is your favorite little area to stay here?

To get a room in Trinidad North, you would need to book a Preferred room, however, they cost more per night, as is Bldg. 24, 25, 26 Martinique. But if you wish to request anything other than those, you can call and have your request added to your ressie at anytime after you make your ressie.

 

[igetamnesia]

How do you book a preferred room exactly? On the website, there is a water view room or a standard view room. Are water view rooms considered preferred rooms?

 

[Honeystar120608]

Hi, I live in NS!!! I agree I like the look of the CBR! I have not styed there but on May 6 We will be there!!!! We have alot of snow here still the idea of a beach and palm trees sounds good to us!!!

Hello neighbour!!! Im so excited for you! Are you flying out of Hali? We drive to Portland to fly out. I REALLy wish we could get down now. Those winter blues...the last few weeks of winter seem SO LONG! SNow has finally melted here, granted my back yard still has lots of snow, the driveway is once again it's full width This weekend was awesome weather wise!

I can't wait to stay at CBR. I have so much to read and pictures to look at to see what kind of room we want. Im more apt to go with water view room, but I would really rather not be by the pool...I want a beachy view. I wonder what my chances are in getting one. Again, need to see some pictures of the views and such.

It's 2am, have to get up early for ds's pre kindergarten classes. Every Monday 9am for 6 mondays. Im a wimp, Mondays are our relaxing pj days. Class is only 1.5 hrs, but still. He is growing up too fast I like pj day. Better get to sleep, however all I REALLY want to do is look at CBR pics!!!!

 

[Honeystar120608]

I just read through all 28 pages and I'm so excited to stay at CBR! We just booked today for 11/4-11/11 I was just commenting to DH that we planned to book a moderate with the plan to upgrade to a deluxe if codes came out but now I am so excited about CBR that if we got a code for our dates, we would likely just take the discount!

The resort looks so beautiful and relaxing and the pool seems better than some of the deluxe ones -- the girls are so excited about it! I can't wait for November to get here

We are going a coupe weeks after you! We were going to do CR, but Im in love with CBR, and it's worth the buses!! Plus the difference without a code is $1000 Canadian between here and CR. . But I would have chosen CBR regardless, Im SO excited, it looks so vacationy to us very fair skinned eastern Canadians right now! OMG I can't wait until December! 4 full days just wont be long enough!!! (we have 7 hr drive just to get our 3 hour flight...so all in all it's a lengthy vacation)

Yay for CBR!!

 

[CleveRocks]

How do you book a preferred room exactly? On the website, there is a water view room or a standard view room. Are water view rooms considered preferred rooms?

Whenever s certain room type (or even an entire resort) doesn't show up on the website, it means that it isn't available for the dates you selected ... it's sold out.

Ignoring the pirate-theme rooms for a moment, CBR has 4 bookable room categories: preferred location, water view, king-size bed, and standard.

At CBR, "preferred location" has a very specific meaning: a room in one of the 6 buildings closest to Old Port Royale, the complex that has the main pool, food court, etc. These buildings are Trinidad North 31-32-33 and Martinique 24-25-26.

Water view is not the same as preferred location. Water view means a room with a view of the lake or of your village's quiet pool. There are water view rooms in each village. Water view has nothing to do with preferred location ... remember, preferred location has to do with proximity to OPR, and there are water view rooms scattered to all corners of the resort.

King-size bed is self-explanatory. They are not segregated in one area, they are sprinkled throughout the resort (except in Trinidad South ... Trinidad South is made up 100% of pirate-theme rooms, and no pirate-theme rooms have king-size beds).

So like I said, if the website doesn't have the option of booking a preferred location room, it means they are sold out for your dates.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Whenever s certain room type (or even an entire resort) doesn't show up on the website, it means that it isn't available for the dates you selected ... it's sold out.

Ignoring the pirate-theme rooms for a moment, CBR has 4 bookable room categories: preferred location, water view, king-size bed, and standard.

At CBR, "preferred location" has a very specific meaning: a room in one of the 6 buildings closest to Old Port Royale, the complex that has the main pool, food court, etc. These buildings are Trinidad North 31-32-33 and Martinique 24-25-26.

Water view is not the same as preferred location. Water view means a room with a view of the lake or of your village's quiet pool. There are water view rooms in each village. Water view has nothing to do with preferred location ... remember, preferred location has to do with proximity to OPR, and there are water view rooms scattered to all corners of the resort.

King-size bed is self-explanatory. They are not segregated in one area, they are sprinkled throughout the resort (except in Trinidad South ... Trinidad South is made up 100% of pirate-theme rooms, and no pirate-theme rooms have king-size beds).

So like I said, if the website doesn't have the option of booking a preferred location room, it means they are sold out for your dates.

Great explanation! I think we will go with preferred. Thank you!

 

[septbaby]

We stayed at CBR in Aug 2007 and are returning this year. I have looked at the pool photos and just can't make out a few things:

1. The slide appears to be pretty much the same as before.

2. They have removed the bridge over the pool that connected the two "pillars".

3. One "pillar" still holds the slide, what is in or at the second?

4. Is the new hot tub larger than the old. The old was fairly small and in a very awkward location. Looks like the new hot tub is where the old kiddie pool was located.

5. The ship looks fun with lots of spouting water. Are there any toys for the kids to spin, press shoot, etc or just the simple slide and auto shooting water?

I am a little disappointed in the flatscreen TVs. I expected a wall mounted unit, would have given us even more space in the room. Guess flat screen does not mean plasma.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We stayed at CBR in Aug 2007 and are returning this year. I have looked at the pool photos and just can't make out a few things:

1. The slide appears to be pretty much the same as before. There is a new slide and structure built now, it is a bigger and longer slide. The new structure is located over where the old locker room / restrooms were located.

2. They have removed the bridge over the pool that connected the two "pillars". Yes.

3. One "pillar" still holds the slide, what is in or at the second? There are cannons on them that shoot water, I'm not sure if you can aim them or not, my kids weren't interested in this.

4. Is the new hot tub larger than the old. The old was fairly small and in a very awkward location. Looks like the new hot tub is where the old kiddie pool was located.Yes it is, and it is not connected to the pool now, actually there are two now.

5. The ship looks fun with lots of spouting water. Are there any toys for the kids to spin, press shoot, etc or just the simple slide and auto shooting water? I can't answer this, my kids are a little too big for this, but they did go over and let the bucket dump on them.

I am a little disappointed in the flatscreen TVs. I expected a wall mounted unit, would have given us even more space in the room. Guess flat screen does not mean plasma.

There are some of the plasma flat screens in the some of the Pirate rooms, but they are still nice TV's but we don't spend much time in the room watching TV, only at night as we are getting ready for bed.

I hope I answered all of your questions, if you have anymore, just post them, someone will answer. CBR is our family favorite, we're getting ready for our 3rd trip there and we are no where near the expert some on this thread are. Have a great trip.

 

[septbaby]

I hope I answered all of your questions, if you have anymore, just post them, someone will answer. CBR is our family favorite, we're getting ready for our 3rd trip there and we are no where near the expert some on this thread are. Have a great trip.

As mentioned this is our second stay at CBR and I expect that we will enjoy it even more this time. Two hot tubs will make mom and I quite giddy. Our 7yo will love the cannons and the dumping. I was wondering if there was something like the cannons on the pirate ship. He'll be delighted either way. He was just gaining confidence as a swimmer last trip and gained quite a bit at CBR so I know he'll love it once again.

I had my first stay at Pop in Feb and liked that too, but I did keep comparing it to CBR. I'm really glad to be returning there this summer. Looking forward to making that final payment.