Caribbean Beach FAQ part V

[kbeth0310]

2 questions for our 1st stay (booked a standard room):

1) DS will be turning 3 when we go in Sept. for the pools, should I pack his lifejacket or will he be able to play in a shallow part/be able to stand independently anywhere?

2) since we didn't book preferred, where is a decent area to request to be near pool kids play area and playground?

 

[CamoMama]

The pool has a zero entry area, but you still may want to take his lifejacket just in case.

I don't know which building is closest, but we were in Trinidad South and the walk was no more than 7-10 minutes to the pool and food court. Caribbean Cay, the island is just steps from the pool area.

 

[lamb616]

I'm so bummed reading about how horrible the busses are here. I chose CBR b/c I love the Caribbean theme, but we only have 4.5 days so i already feel like we're going to be rushed trying to get everything in and I know I will be a wreck if I have to waste precious time standing at the bus stop, lol. we'll be at rope drop every day so hopefully they're not too crowded first thing in the morning.

 

[jdd]

I'm so bummed reading about how horrible the busses are here. I chose CBR b/c I love the Caribbean theme, but we only have 4.5 days so i already feel like we're going to be rushed trying to get everything in and I know I will be a wreck if I have to waste precious time standing at the bus stop, lol. we'll be at rope drop every day so hopefully they're not too crowded first thing in the morning.

We didn't have any more trouble here with buses than at any other resort, but that was a few years ago. If you're really concerned, you might want to rent a car. We've driven to DW our last few trips, and I really did like the convenience of having our own transportation - it's very easy to find your way around (lots of signs) and it was nice knowing we would never have to stand on a bus

 

[mcd2745]

I'm so bummed reading about how horrible the busses are here. I chose CBR b/c I love the Caribbean theme, but we only have 4.5 days so i already feel like we're going to be rushed trying to get everything in and I know I will be a wreck if I have to waste precious time standing at the bus stop, lol. we'll be at rope drop every day so hopefully they're not too crowded first thing in the morning.

Don't worry too much about what you have read. The buses are no better/worse at CBR than any other resort.

I always say it's a subjective, hit or miss thing and give the same example: Two families going to MK...family A just misses the MK bus by a minute. They wait 20 minutes for the next one. Seconds before that next MK bus pulled up, family B arrives at the bus stop. Both families are on the exact same bus, but if you asked them how the bus service was, one will say it was terrible and the other will say it was great.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

Agh! Bumming on this news of the cheerleaders! Nothing against cheerleaders.. it just sounds like everything at the resort will be SUPER crowded and I am sure this will affect the parks in the evenings (when I can leave my 2yo w/hubby and actually go ride RIDES!). We are 27 days out... anyone know what it would cost to change at this point?

 

[mgdisney]

I received Mickey Mail today!! Wooohooo can't wait to check in, in 36 days at CBR!

 

[jdd]

I received Mickey Mail today!! Wooohooo can't wait to check in, in 36 days at CBR!

Got mine yesterday 38 days to go for us - see you around the pool

 

[CamoMama]

I'm so bummed reading about how horrible the busses are here. I chose CBR b/c I love the Caribbean theme, but we only have 4.5 days so i already feel like we're going to be rushed trying to get everything in and I know I will be a wreck if I have to waste precious time standing at the bus stop, lol. we'll be at rope drop every day so hopefully they're not too crowded first thing in the morning.

This issue drives me crazy. People invariably complain about buses and blame it on the resort. The resort has NOTHING to do with the bus system. The resorts do not each have a fleet of dedicated buses. The system is run WDW resort-wide and each bus gets a new route when it completes one, they don't go to the same resort twice in a row and they add buses to a route as demand increases, still keeping them within 20 minutes of each other. There are occasionally issues with the buses, and people assume that it's just their resort that's having trouble that day, simply because they are there and not at any of the other resorts, so they don't know that there may be problems other places as well. Then they post on here and discourage new people from certain resorts by claiming that every other resort they've ever stayed at had amazing bus service. I guarantee that every resort at WDW has had bus issues, it is certainly not a reason not to stay at any of them. I was at CBR in February and we never waited more than a few minutes, we did have standing room only a few times, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Nothing better than MMail. My mother at 83 would get so excited when MMail arrived. After that dads memory got bad and the trip from Illinois was to much and she could never experience that again.

What a feeling Mickey Mail! Enjoy!!!

 

[lmmantini]

I'm taking DD on a surprise mother/daughter trip 4/20 - 4/26. This will be our first time staying at CBR. I wanted to request Aruba 51, 52, 53 or Jamaica 44, 45 or 46. Do you still fax the request 4 days before arrival or should I call and add the request to my reservation now? If fax, does anyone know the fax number? I've never made a request before, but I do understand that it is a request and not a guarantee.

 

[jdd]

I'm taking DD on a surprise mother/daughter trip 4/20 - 4/26. This will be our first time staying at CBR. I wanted to request Aruba 51, 52, 53 or Jamaica 44, 45 or 46. Do you still fax the request 4 days before arrival or should I call and add the request to my reservation now? If fax, does anyone know the fax number? I've never made a request before, but I do understand that it is a request and not a guarantee.

I don't know if this is the "right" thing to do, but I always call and speak to a CM, who adds my room request on the reservation. I've heard people suggest that you call again a few days before arrival and confirm that it is noted. I've never faxed anything.

 

[Lidian]

2 questions for our 1st stay (booked a standard room):

1) DS will be turning 3 when we go in Sept. for the pools, should I pack his lifejacket or will he be able to play in a shallow part/be able to stand independently anywhere?

2) since we didn't book preferred, where is a decent area to request to be near pool kids play area and playground?

1) They have life jackets available at the themed pool, which is zero-entry (plus the kiddie splash area). If you plan to use the village pool, I recommend asking to borrow a lifejacket from the themed pool or bring your own.

2) I would recommend Aruba 51. It was literally a walk across the bridge to Caribbean Cay (where the playground is) and then a short walk from there to OPR.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

Don't worry too much about what you have read. The buses are no better/worse at CBR than any other resort.

I always say it's a subjective, hit or miss thing and give the same example: Two families going to MK...family A just misses the MK bus by a minute. They wait 20 minutes for the next one. Seconds before that next MK bus pulled up, family B arrives at the bus stop. Both families are on the exact same bus, but if you asked them how the bus service was, one will say it was terrible and the other will say it was great.

No kidding! I've never thought about it that way, but I've never complained about the buses either...however, my DH is likely to complain so i will definitely have to pull this one out on him! You really cant argue with it lol.

 

[kjg5]

My understanding is that they will compete during the days and leave the nights open to tour the parks and such. But, my experience is that they love the pools and hot-tubs but expect to see them everywhere. There will be plenty of them. But, as I have said on other threads, most are very nice and don't deserve the reputation that they get. My own DD is a High School Cheerleader and she is a very nice and respectful girl. So, just take it with a grain of salt, it is still Disney and any day there beats a day at home!!!!

Very good to know, thank you and I couldn't agree more- a day at Disney beats anything!

how long is your trip? can you do a split stay and move somewhere else just the days the cheerleaders are there?

We're only staying 4 nights, 4/29-5/3, so a split stay really wouldn't work. We could switch to CSR for $16 more, avoiding the reservation change fee, but the convention feel ruins the magic. I stayed there once, and while it was a fantastic resort, there were to any real-world intrusions. I think we're going to ride it out and hope for the best.

 

[kjg5]

Agh! Bumming on this news of the cheerleaders! Nothing against cheerleaders.. it just sounds like everything at the resort will be SUPER crowded and I am sure this will affect the parks in the evenings (when I can leave my 2yo w/hubby and actually go ride RIDES!). We are 27 days out... anyone know what it would cost to change at this point?

We're 33 days out and I'm not happy the cheerleaders will be there. If you change to a cheaper reservation WDW adds on a $50 change fee They tend to waive the fee if you change to a more expensive reservation.

I received Mickey Mail today!! Wooohooo can't wait to check in, in 36 days at CBR!

Got mine yesterday 38 days to go for us - see you around the pool

Where's mine? So jealous!

 

[Farmland Fun Family]

Yay... we are moving up from value for our upcoming Honeymoon!
Now, just reading over all the posts... we will get to share every single day of it with Cheerleaders

So no big deal we will have a good time either way and cannot wait for our first stay at CBR!!!

We will have to watch some of the Bring It On movies to catch up on our Cheer Talk ... LOL

PopCentury has always been really fun for all of us, but really looking forward to the new atmosphere at CBR!!!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Congrats FFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing will dampon an event like yours! Enjoy!!!

 

[mgdisney]

Got mine yesterday 38 days to go for us - see you around the pool

Sounds good! See you there!

 

[mgdisney]

Kjg5 - hoping your Mickey mail comes soon!

FFF - Have wonderful vacation!!!