Caribbean Beach FAQ Part IV

[ebaymommy2two]

Our WDW trip is getting close (we leave March 13) and I'm starting to feel a little panicky over all the details left to nail down. Am working on my We Go Shop order right now. Picked up some rain ponchos at Target and starting to lay out clothes for some pre-packing (we live in Iowa so no chance we'll be needing those t-shirts, sandals or capris before our trip!).

I have seen from other photos that the safes in the rooms are not very large. I'm bringing my Canon Rebel DSLR camera with me and wasn't plan on toting it around to every park, every day. It won't fit in the safe in the room. Are there any other options for storing it away safely on the days we don't want to take it to the parks with us?

 

[KELLY]

We are staying at CBR we booked the bounce back FD before we left in Ocotober. The promo is over but do you still think I can get a perfered room? I would like to be close to the food court and the main pool. We will probably spend a day at the resort to enjoy it. We are going for 8 nights so we may even try shutters. Any shutters fans?

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We are staying at CBR we booked the bounce back FD before we left in Ocotober. The promo is over but do you still think I can get a perfered room? I would like to be close to the food court and the main pool. We will probably spend a day at the resort to enjoy it. We are going for 8 nights so we may even try shutters. Any shutters fans?

I think so, as long as there are rooms available. I booked my upcoming trip as a bounceback, and we wanted to try POFQ, well we stayed there in Dec. and did not like it, so I called and asked if I could switch back to CBR and they told me yes, and I booked Preferred. So call them and give it a try. It worked for me.

 

[connorsmom911]

We are DVC members bit I have to say I may like CBR better than some of the DVC resorts. The CM's were great, the room was great, the beach was great, the main & quiet pools were great, and you could come back before the parks closed to watch the Epcot higher up fireworks. FABULOUS!

This is one of the big reasons I just can't justify buying into DVC right now...I love CBR too much!!

 

[KimRaye]

We see that Green Grocer or Garden Grocer is the way to go-can you get beer delivered from them or do I have to head into town ?

I know Garden Grocer delivers beer.

 

[pktbMouse]

Has anyone tried the Shutters restaurant? What kind of food is it? Would it be nice for a mothers day lunch? I just want to lay about the resort on mothers day at the pool sipping a nice little cocktail by the pool but fancied something better than the food court for lunch. Do we need to make reservations? Thanks. oh fyi we managed to get the Hoop dee doo booked for mothers day night...I'm so excited!!! I cant think of a better place to spend Mothers day with my two babies (7yrs & 22 months)

 

[webcreatrix]

Anyone love CBR after staying at the Poly?

I'm really wanting to stay at the Poly in June, but CBR is $1000 cheaper even with my 40% PIN. We have only ever stayed Value and said never again. Is CBR a decent step up from the Values?

DH hated the buses and has asked to be on the monorail, but I'm not sure that will solve his bus issues. If we stay at CBR, we'll rent a car.

Also, we want a resort we can relax at and hang around on off days. Will we get that at CBR?

We have two kids - 4 and 7. Will they love CBR as much as they might love the Poly?

Please help me decide!

 

[justplaingoofy]

Anyone love CBR after staying at the Poly?

I'm really wanting to stay at the Poly in June, but CBR is $1000 cheaper even with my 40% PIN. We have only ever stayed Value and said never again. Is CBR a decent step up from the Values?

DH hated the buses and has asked to be on the monorail, but I'm not sure that will solve his bus issues. If we stay at CBR, we'll rent a car.

Also, we want a resort we can relax at and hang around on off days. Will we get that at CBR?

We have two kids - 4 and 7. Will they love CBR as much as they might love the Poly?

Please help me decide!

Not sure that you would love it as much as the poly...but it is a nice resort. I find it to be a more relaxed, quieter resort than the values. You can certainly hang around the resort on your off days. One thing I really do like about the moderates is the food court... This resort has quite a few bus stops (When I stay here & rent a car I still take the bus to MK).
My thoughts with the Poly..you'd still have to take a bus to get to 1/2 of the other parks.

For us $1000 is alot of money if I'm not 100% this is where I have to stay.

 

[webcreatrix]

Not sure that you would love it as much as the poly...but it is a nice resort. I find it to be a more relaxed, quieter resort than the values. You can certainly hang around the resort on your off days. One thing I really do like about the moderates is the food court... This resort has quite a few bus stops (When I stay here & rent a car I still take the bus to MK).
My thoughts with the Poly..you'd still have to take a bus to get to 1/2 of the other parks.

For us $1000 is alot of money if I'm not 100% this is where I have to stay.

$1000 is a lot for us too, right now. I wouldn't have to go into debt to stay at the Poly, but I can do smarter things with that money, so I'm really leaning towards CBR as much as I'd love to stay at the Poly.

 

[jenseib]

Hi Everyone, I have to say I'm amazed at all the info on the last 176 pages and thanks to everyone that has provided the info.

We ended up booking our trip to CBR before finding this forum but based on discussions with the CM and friends referrals I think we did pretty good. Trying to get Jamiaca or Aruba for March 5th.

I do have a couple of questions though that maybe someone can help with:


Someone suggested taking coat hangers as there is not enough-beacuase we have two rooms I would assume we will be ok ?

We see that Green Grocer or Garden Grocer is the way to go-can you get beer delivered from them or do I have to head into town ?

Internet Access- is it $9.95 per 24 hours (by the clock) or a total of 24 hours total ususage as I only need to check emails for about 10 min per day over the 10 day period ?

Is the internet cable just sitting on the table and looks short-am I better off bringing a longer cable to connect to it so I can have the laptop on the bed ?

I saw mention of the HESS gas station/store at the front of the property-can I get beer from there to keep in the fridge ?

We have friends in south Florida-are they allowed to visit us at CBR ?

Can you rent an ECV at CBR ?

Am i better off using online check in before we fly down to CBR ?
Any thoughts ?

Our trip was booked thru disney on their %40 off deal and the code was NQL-any idea what that code is ?

I see tips mentioned at roughly %6.5 ?

We were last at WDW in 2003 just as the Iraq war started and they were stopping people from taking bottled water into the park and confiscated it at the entrance-is this still the case ?

Funny story here too-when we arrived at WDW and because of the war, a paid charter from Asia had cancelled and the tour lady was going thru the ticket lines handing out 3 day park hopper passes to families with kids for free-that worked out well !

Once again thanks to everyone that posted over the last 176 pages as it helped quite a bit.

tipping is suggested at 18% tax is 6.5% for most of the WDW property. Internet is for a 24 hour period, so if you start at 6PM on one day it will expire 6 PM the next day.
Yes you can take bottled water in. The water on property (tap) isn't the greatest. Some people find it disgusting, while others will tolerate it.

Codes like that are for individuals, most likely, so you might want to delete it from your post. We are not allowed to post personal codes on Dis boards.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

I'm sure that most people will love the CBR - it's relaxing, quiet but yet lots to do and see - even if you take a day off from the parks.
My husband absolutely HATES, HATES, HATES to travel but last year I talked him into a Disney trip (our previous one had been in 1991) and we stayed at CBR. The grounds and hotel were enough to have him admitting before we even left that he would like to go back as he really enjoyed the resort and the trips to the quiet pool (we were in Trinidad North)....
I'm not letting a chance like that slip through my fingers, so we are looking at going back this year - but will travel maybe the first or second week of December as we found it WAY too hot last year over Labour Day weeked...- that is as long as we can still get flights from Bangor, ME (we can't seem to find any at the moment)
I'd sooner drive to Bangor and pay for the gas and hotels than to pay the prices the Canadian airlines want for a round trip to Orlando (plus if we fly with a US airline, we can use the yellow luggage tags as we won't have to clear customs in Orlando). (In Sep 2009, between the 3 of us, we spent$1500 less in airfare just by hopping in the car and driving for 3 hours - although I only live a 5 minute drive from my local airport and actually live on the flight path).

 

[Leafs Fan]

I can only answer a couple of your questions. I will answer them in blue below.

Thanks for the info JPG. Are there any restrictions to guests such as charges or times they have to leave etc ?

Thanks

 

[Leafs Fan]

I know Garden Grocer delivers beer.

I figured they should deliver Beer etc but could not find it on their webpage. Willl have to look again.

Thanks KimRaye

 

[Leafs Fan]

tipping is suggested at 18% tax is 6.5% for most of the WDW property. Internet is for a 24 hour period, so if you start at 6PM on one day it will expire 6 PM the next day.
Yes you can take bottled water in. The water on property (tap) isn't the greatest. Some people find it disgusting, while others will tolerate it.

Codes like that are for individuals, most likely, so you might want to delete it from your post. We are not allowed to post personal codes on Dis boards.

I hear you Jen-code deleted. Figured they would allow water in now and yes after all the years of going to WDW, the tap water is crap ! I can either time my internet use just right for emails or was thinking of using my blackberry as a modem but it would probably cost more.

Looks like the short internet cable at the table is male end so I will probably take an extension cable so I can use it on the bed

Thanks again

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hi Everyone, I have to say I'm amazed at all the info on the last 176 pages and thanks to everyone that has provided the info.

We ended up booking our trip to CBR before finding this forum but based on discussions with the CM and friends referrals I think we did pretty good. Trying to get Jamiaca or Aruba for March 5th.

I do have a couple of questions though that maybe someone can help with:


Someone suggested taking coat hangers as there is not enough-beacuase we have two rooms I would assume we will be ok ?

We see that Green Grocer or Garden Grocer is the way to go-can you get beer delivered from them or do I have to head into town ?

Internet Access- is it $9.95 per 24 hours (by the clock) or a total of 24 hours total ususage as I only need to check emails for about 10 min per day over the 10 day period ?

Is the internet cable just sitting on the table and looks short-am I better off bringing a longer cable to connect to it so I can have the laptop on the bed ?

I saw mention of the HESS gas station/store at the front of the property-can I get beer from there to keep in the fridge ?

We have friends in south Florida-are they allowed to visit us at CBR ?

Can you rent an ECV at CBR ?

Am i better off using online check in before we fly down to CBR ?
Any thoughts ?

I see tips mentioned at roughly %6.5 ?

We were last at WDW in 2003 just as the Iraq war started and they were stopping people from taking bottled water into the park and confiscated it at the entrance-is this still the case ?

Funny story here too-when we arrived at WDW and because of the war, a paid charter from Asia had cancelled and the tour lady was going thru the ticket lines handing out 3 day park hopper passes to families with kids for free-that worked out well !

Once again thanks to everyone that posted over the last 176 pages as it helped quite a bit.

I see that others have answered your questions already. But, I found pictures of the internet connection in my photobucket account and thought you might want to see them:

 

[Leafs Fan]

I'm sure that most people will love the CBR - it's relaxing, quiet but yet lots to do and see - even if you take a day off from the parks.
My husband absolutely HATES, HATES, HATES to travel but last year I talked him into a Disney trip (our previous one had been in 1991) and we stayed at CBR. The grounds and hotel were enough to have him admitting before we even left that he would like to go back as he really enjoyed the resort and the trips to the quiet pool (we were in Trinidad North)....
I'm not letting a chance like that slip through my fingers, so we are looking at going back this year - but will travel maybe the first or second week of December as we found it WAY too hot last year over Labour Day weeked...- that is as long as we can still get flights from Bangor, ME (we can't seem to find any at the moment)
I'd sooner drive to Bangor and pay for the gas and hotels than to pay the prices the Canadian airlines want for a round trip to Orlando (plus if we fly with a US airline, we can use the yellow luggage tags as we won't have to clear customs in Orlando). (In Sep 2009, between the 3 of us, we spent$1500 less in airfare just by hopping in the car and driving for 3 hours - although I only live a 5 minute drive from my local airport and actually live on the flight path).

Funny you mention that, we saved over $1300.00 flying out of Buffalo which is about 1 hour 10 min from us as !

 

[Leafs Fan]

Thanks MTT-saw in other posts complaints that the cable was too short so will just take an extension cable so I can move it around the room.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks MTT-saw in other posts complaints that the cable was too short so will just take an extension cable so I can move it around the room.

You're quite welcome!

 

[Leafs Fan]

I know Garden Grocer delivers beer.

Kim are you sure about beer and Garden Grocer ? Just went thru the entire website and cannot find any ?

Thanks

 

[Leafs Fan]

You're quite welcome!

Just updated the countdown list