Thats for all the details!
For the annual pass, did you upgrade or buy it flat out?
after my family trip is sept. I am going back in feb to do a rundisney race.
Don't know if I should upgrade or not
I was on a room only reservation since I was there for work so I bought the AP outright and got the TIW card at the same time.
maybe you got one of our comforters from last month. DS woke up in the middle of the night with a MASSIVE nosebleed. It looked like a homicide had taken place. I hope they didn't try to clean that comforter and just tossed it, lol.
What's odd is that the day before I checked out, they left a new comforter in the room next to the tv - but they left the old comforter on the bed
I'm back home now. After reflecting on the resort and how it compares to others, I have some personal feedback:
- Resort location - It really is a central location. It's really close to DTD and Typhoon Lagoon. It is fairly close to HS. It took a bit longer to get to Epcot and MK and I didn't go to AK or BB. Since I had a car and drove off property to get to my conference (but I used the buses to go to the parks), the resort was really close to I-4 and that was convenient for me. But the drive around the resort takes time. I was in Jamaica which was one of the farther locations from the exit.
- Buses - I rarely waited more than 4 minutes for a bus. Only once did I have a 10 minute wait (from MK to CBR). Depending on where the bus was going, depends on the order they pick up. Jamaica was usually the first pick up so it took awhile to get around the resort but it was great on the way back because I was the first one to get dropped off.
- Resort layout - I'm a runner so I run 5 miles a day plus all the walking I do so I'm really REALLY fine with all the walking at WDW. Given that, I felt that the distances between things were exceptionally long. I could really see kids melting or folks who have more trouble walking having issues. And I personally didn't like that it took so long to get everywhere. My room location was also on the edge and the furthest from the bus stop and OPR.
- Custom House - Check in was fine but I actually like when check in is near the central location of the resort. It felt detached and not like I was part of the resort. Although as someone with a car, you can park right near the custom house to check in - that was a bonus. Never went there after that.
- OPR - I ate here a few times and enjoyed it. LOVED the mickey waffle
The variety is great. The shopping is good too - large enough selection to be able to go in several times and feel like I saw something I didn't see before. I loved the outdoor seating too and I could ALWAYS find a table - even with an umbrella - fabulous!
- Pool - This pool is geared toward the younger set. The pirate play area is great and the pool can be seen from sitting in one spot so you can keep an eye on your kids. There are 2 pool slides - 1 smaller for the smaller kids and 1 enclosed bigger one that I enjoyed
There are 2 spas too. Lots of seating, lots of activities - great pool area.
- Mousekeeping - take it or leave it. I saw the gal who cleaned my room everyday. She was nice but after the first day, I wasn't getting as clean of a room. I was alone, so I didn't care and didn't need a lot done. But there were a lack of towels or she'd leave something in the room (a mop one time, dirty towels in a corner another time, the extra comforter, etc). It wasn't going to make or break my stay though. If you are wondering I tipped her all at once at the end of my trip (what I would have tipped TOTAL for the whole stay). I usually leave money everyday but I wanted to see what it would be like if I waited. I think tipping everyday helps so I'll continue to do that.
- Room - you saw my comments in my last post and I'm not going to go further into it. The room was adequate but I would not be happy with that size of room with my family.
- Maintenance - On my departure day, I had come back to the hotel at 3:30 am the night before (Van Halen concert) so I wanted to sleep until 10:15, shower and take off. Starting at 8 am, they were pounding - POUNDING - on my door. I kept screaming that I was trying to sleep and I finally told them to go away. They came back - again, and again, and again (yes, 4 times total). I would say GO AWAY, and they would - then they would come back. So I finally got up and took my shower. I pulled the curtain closed because I didn't know what they were going to do. Sure enough, they tried to force the door open to my room but I had the extra lock on. So I'm naked, and luckily they couldn't see anything and they left the door alone because they could only open it an inch or so. But no, that wasn't enough, a resort staff person came with the special key they have for the deadbolt (I worked at a hotel once and had to use this as well). I dressed so quick and told them I would leave in 5 minutes but could they leave me alone??? I ended up talking to the housekeeper about it and she said they just wanted to change the battery on my lock. So...I'm checking out THAT day and they can't wait until I've done so??? Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've had issues with maintenance pounding on my door at a Disney resort. They should have CALLED the room rather than trying to break in. I do NOT open my door to strangers when I stay in a hotel by myself.
Ok - very long I know!!! But how does CBR compare to other resorts? Every deluxe I've stayed at is better than CBR. I like the one bus stop and additional transportation (Poly, BC, VWL, AKL). I don't think I like Dolphin better than CBR - but I wouldn't say CBR is better - they both have their own pros and cons. I definitely liked CBR better than All Stars. But I enjoyed Riverside more than CBR. I have also stayed at Hilton Bonnet Creek and while I like that better than CBR, I do like Disney's bus system at any of their resorts.
So in the scheme of things, I probably will not go back to CBR although the resort itself is perfectly fine. I am trying CSR and BWV this summer so I'll have two more resorts to compare to as well.
Thanks again for everyone's advice and information on this thread - it really helped me plan everything!!!
But I didn't have a single complaint about CBR.
