Caribbean Beach FAQ part V

[chrissyb2411]

We are leaving in 10 days I never put in a room request, and my only real request is a room close to one of the bus stops, and ground floor so we don't have to lug the stroller up the stairs. Should I call, or add my request if I do online check in or just request at check in at the hotel?

 

[splashmtnfan]

I haven't stayed in one, but I know it's the farthest area from everything!

Does it basically do the same thing as Fort Wilderness Campground? We stayed in the cabins and there were maps posted at the bus stops that showed which bus traveled in each direction and after the first day messing up and riding around the whole campground before realizing we should have taken the bus going in the opposite direction... I am a planner... THE planner for our Grand Gatherings and two of our friends have bad knees and will probably not be able to walk to the Food Court & Gift shop...

 

[mickeystoontown]

Does it basically do the same thing as Fort Wilderness Campground? We stayed in the cabins and there were maps posted at the bus stops that showed which bus traveled in each direction and after the first day messing up and riding around the whole campground before realizing we should have taken the bus going in the opposite direction... I am a planner... THE planner for our Grand Gatherings and two of our friends have bad knees and will probably not be able to walk to the Food Court & Gift shop...

The internal bus goes around the entire resort and stops at each village bus stop. The bus is clearly marked with INTERNAL SHUTTLE so you can't miss it.

 

[safetymom]

We'll be heading to the World in 34 days and will be staying at CBR for the first time. I'm a little worried about the food court court though. I was looking at the menu at allears.net and I was little surpised by the lack of options there. I wasn't expecting it to have as many options as Pop Century, but I was hoping for a few more choices. Is the menu on allears correct? Should I plan on eating most of our meals in the parks?

Here are updated menus for CBR.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=63

 

[tallen429]

I recently switched my res for our upcoming trip from Pop to CBR and now I'm afraid I will regret it....ugh. I have always shyed away from both CSR and CBR for several reasons, the biggest being the size. Now after reading review after review on Allears and comment after comment here about how awful the busses are, I'm worried. I'm taking my 75 year old mother and I don't want her having to stand waiting for a bus for 45 minutes. We've always had excellent, prompt bus service at other resorts.

We're staying in a Pirate room as a surprise for my 8 year old because this is his Mommy and Me trip. I know they're in Trinidad South but the CM put in requests for me that we have a ground floor closest to Trinidad North because of my Mom. We won't be using the food court much because we have ADRs but the lack of options there is a bummer too. We'll probably only get quick breakfast though.

At this late date it's hard to swith to anywhere else. I would have liked to try POFQ because normally we are a family of 5 and can't stay there. We love POR. Unfortunately both are booked.

I hope I don't regret this!!

 

[safetymom]

I think you need to decide for yourself when you get there what you think. There are many, many people that think CBR is a great resort.

I have never found the selections lacking at the food court.

 

[mcd2745]

I recently switched my res for our upcoming trip from Pop to CBR and now I'm afraid I will regret it....ugh. I have always shyed away from both CSR and CBR for several reasons, the biggest being the size. Now after reading review after review on Allears and comment after comment here about how awful the busses are, I'm worried. I'm taking my 75 year old mother and I don't want her having to stand waiting for a bus for 45 minutes. We've always had excellent, prompt bus service at other resorts.

We're staying in a Pirate room as a surprise for my 8 year old because this is his Mommy and Me trip. I know they're in Trinidad South but the CM put in requests for me that we have a ground floor closest to Trinidad North because of my Mom. We won't be using the food court much because we have ADRs but the lack of options there is a bummer too. We'll probably only get quick breakfast though.

At this late date it's hard to swith to anywhere else. I would have liked to try POFQ because normally we are a family of 5 and can't stay there. We love POR. Unfortunately both are booked.

I hope I don't regret this!!

I hope you are not defeating yourself before you even get there.

Don't worry about the size of the resort. If you're in Trinidad South...you do not even need to cocern yourself with the Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados and Martinique areas (outside of bus stops). It's not as if you'll have to walk through all those areas. And as for the buses, I have no idea why there are so many bad stories. So much of it comes down to how lucky you are with your timing. And it usually only takes 5 minutes to loop the resort.

I too didn't feel there was a lack of choices in the food court - especially if you're not eating dinner there every night.

 

[Moneypenny]

For what it's worth, we have been very happy with the bus service on both our trips to CBR. Most of the time we waited less than 5 minutes.

We also found there to be plenty of variety at the food court. Our last trip we ate there 5 nights and had something different every night.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I agree with the others. Go in with a positive attitude and hope for the best. That's about all you can do!

The CBR buses have been the best of all the resorts we have stayed at -- CBR, POFQ, POR, OKW, BWI, CSR. And we LOVE the food court and have always found it to have plenty of options for everyone, even my picky eaters!

Have a great trip!

 

[nessz79]

I agree with the others. Go in with a positive attitude and hope for the best. That's about all you can do!

The CBR buses have been the best of all the resorts we have stayed at -- CBR, POFQ, POR, OKW, BWI, CSR. And we LOVE the food court and have always found it to have plenty of options for everyone, even my picky eaters!

Have a great trip!

I just saw your video and just wanted to let you know I thought it was great! You guys look like you had so much fun. Makes me super excited for our next trip- it will be the first vacation in 2 years with just the 4 of us- DH, me, and our 2 boys!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I just saw your video and just wanted to let you know I thought it was great! You guys look like you had so much fun. Makes me super excited for our next trip- it will be the first vacation in 2 years with just the 4 of us- DH, me, and our 2 boys!

Thank you! That was last year's vacation (Nov 2009) video, it was a great trip! I need to get working on one for this year.

Have a great time at WDW and CBR!!

 

[garrsmom]

My DH and I spent our 25th anniv at CBR on Nov 5th-13th. We too were worried about everything the people on the boards have complained about. Not to worry unless you are someone who looks for things to complain about. We have stayed at many other Dis resorts and found the buses no different. At the All Stars the buses would stop at other resorts and at Fort Wilderness they went around the whole resort. There is no reason to worry about the size of the resort, unless you want to take a walking tour. We only had to worry about our building, OPR and the buses.
Go enjoy yourselves and look for the positive.
I love Disney and CBR and would go back tomorrow if my DH would allow.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I just read through all 60 pages of this thread and am looking forward to booking a room at CBR for Oct 5-9. 2011. I really wanted to stay at The Boardwalk, but the cost is going to push us to a moderate. I think we will really like CBR. My mom, sis and I are taking a girls trip. Mom and sis have never stayed onsite before, so I'm sure wherever we stay will be great after having stayed at dumpy hotels in Kissimee for previous trips.

 

[onescgirl]

We had a great vacation at CBR this past Sept.
For the food court, we only ate 3 meals there. I remember having a hard time choosing what I wanted to order because of the variety of choices.
The buses were not bad at all. The bus stop is shaded with benches so you're not having to stand to wait which is really great.
I just posted a few CBR pics on my TR.

Makes me super excited for our next trip- it will be the first vacation in 2 years with just the 4 of us- DH, me, and our 2 boys!

I can't believe you are leaving in just a couple of weeks. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[zima-cheryl]

I've seen mention of the pool bar, but how late is that open?

And is there a lobby bar? Or does Shutters have a bar you can go in & sit at if you aren't eating? We often like to enjoy a glass of wine before turning in at the end of the evening & I'm just wondering if that is available? Or will I need to bring a couple bottles w/us?

 

[safetymom]

The only bar is Banana Cabana outside by the pool. No bar in Shutters.

 

[Missy Mousie]

I've seen mention of the pool bar, but how late is that open?

And is there a lobby bar? Or does Shutters have a bar you can go in & sit at if you aren't eating? We often like to enjoy a glass of wine before turning in at the end of the evening & I'm just wondering if that is available? Or will I need to bring a couple bottles w/us?

Banana Cabana was open at least until Midnight. We were just there last week. The pool is open 24 hours, but lifeguards are not, and the slides were open to 8.

We ate at Shutters one night. The food was very good, service was prompt, our waiter was pretty good, and most tables were filled. The only complaint we had was that my daughter didn't get the right meal, but that was the waiters fault. She eventually got her salmon and was happy.

As for the food court, we ate there a few times for lunch and once for dinner, and there was a pretty good selection.

Busses: I hate busses. But, since we drive down, we have a car and don't have to rely on them too much. On one evening of our trip my husband took the car back to CBR so he could hang at the Banana Cabanna and my kids and I went over to the MK for extra magic hours. We got into the bus line at 1:00. There was a bus filling but we didn't fit. It took 25 minutes for the next bus to show. They had at least 2 busses running, but there were quite a few people waiting. The lady behind me said that the busses always were taking 30 minutes between them going back to the resort. I can tell you this, there were a LOT of busses in the mornings, and everyone was getting on them. They were coming by quite frequently to get to the parks and around the resort.

 

[rblucy]

We're staying at CBR in a week. I was just wondering how the hair dryers are. Are they the small portable ones that take forever to dry or are they regular size and would dry your hair quicker? DH doesn't want me to bring my dryer but I also don't want to waste an extra 10 min in the morning bc the dryer isn't strong

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I am just so excited, last night I booked out Disneymoon, we'll be @ CBR (again!) Aug 19-26th w/ some free dining! Woohoo!!!! I just cannot wait! I think I am more excited about the honeymoon than the wedding, is something wrong with me? LoL

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We're staying at CBR in a week. I was just wondering how the hair dryers are. Are they the small portable ones that take forever to dry or are they regular size and would dry your hair quicker? DH doesn't want me to bring my dryer but I also don't want to waste an extra 10 min in the morning bc the dryer isn't strong

They are the portable type, so if you like a more powerful dryer, I suggest you bring your own.