Caribbean Beach FAQ part V

[dotcomdiva]

I just registered for these message boards and already I want to say a giant THANK YOU to everyone here for all of the wonderful information!!

I am in the process of booking a trip to WDW for my family (me and my husband and our 3 yr old son, and my parents). We are wanting to stay at the CBR and have found the best prices via FunJet vacations. Here is a question that I have -- the hotel/air package that we've found includes a pirate room. But, from everything I've read here, those aren't that great of a location and with a 3 year old, I don't want a 10+ minute walk to the food court. I can upgrade to a "preferred location" for ~$300 (for 6 nights). My understanding is that the preferred location would be closer to the OPR (maybe in Martinique?). But -- would I be better off just booking the pirate room and then requesting a room in Aruba 51 or Jamaica 45?

Thanks everyone for all of your help -- I will be checking in here often!!

Brea
ME - 32, DH - 34, DS - 3
Taking our son to WDW for the first time Feb 26-Mar 3, 2012, staying at CBR!

 

[catbertdave99]

I just registered for these message boards and already I want to say a giant THANK YOU to everyone here for all of the wonderful information!!

I am in the process of booking a trip to WDW for my family (me and my husband and our 3 yr old son, and my parents). We are wanting to stay at the CBR and have found the best prices via FunJet vacations. Here is a question that I have -- the hotel/air package that we've found includes a pirate room. But, from everything I've read here, those aren't that great of a location and with a 3 year old, I don't want a 10+ minute walk to the food court. I can upgrade to a "preferred location" for ~$300 (for 6 nights). My understanding is that the preferred location would be closer to the OPR (maybe in Martinique?). But -- would I be better off just booking the pirate room and then requesting a room in Aruba 51 or Jamaica 45?

Thanks everyone for all of your help -- I will be checking in here often!!

Brea

The Pirate Rooms are only located in Trinidad South. Personally, if being close to the food court is important to you, book the preferred location and pay the additional cost. If you're willing to take your chances on location, all of the standard rooms are closer to the food court than Trinidad South where the Pirate Rooms are located. No matter where you are, though, CBR is a wonderful resort! Have a great trip, and welcome to the DIS!

 

[dotcomdiva]

Thanks for the info, catbertdave99! We are booking with our travel agent today!!

 

[Malo]

This thread has been so informative! I can't wait to go this year now...shame we gotta wait til September though lol!

Hope everyone who goes before me has a good time!

 

[LuvsTinker]

I just registered for these message boards and already I want to say a giant THANK YOU to everyone here for all of the wonderful information!!

I am in the process of booking a trip to WDW for my family (me and my husband and our 3 yr old son, and my parents). We are wanting to stay at the CBR and have found the best prices via FunJet vacations. Here is a question that I have -- the hotel/air package that we've found includes a pirate room. But, from everything I've read here, those aren't that great of a location and with a 3 year old, I don't want a 10+ minute walk to the food court. I can upgrade to a "preferred location" for ~$300 (for 6 nights). My understanding is that the preferred location would be closer to the OPR (maybe in Martinique?). But -- would I be better off just booking the pirate room and then requesting a room in Aruba 51 or Jamaica 45?

Thanks everyone for all of your help -- I will be checking in here often!!

Brea
ME - 32, DH - 34, DS - 3
Taking our son to WDW for the first time Feb 26-Mar 3, 2012, staying at CBR!

Barbados is just as far a walk to food court than Trinidad South. You may not get exact bldg. you request but usually asking for Aruba or Jamaica is not a problem. Then you just walk across a bridge to the food court.

If you book non-preferred, then your cost should decrease because the Pirate rooms cost more than the other non-preferred sections.

Actually not sure why your cost would increase $300.00 for preferred because the Pirate rooms cost just as much or more according the the 2012 rates.

 

[mgdisney]

Woohoo just booked Caribbean beach for May 2 - 20th !!!! This will be are first time staying at this resort! 113 days to go!!!

 

[vacation_junkie]

We arrive on the 21! Can't wait! It's been 10 years since we did this resort. We had Jamaica last stay. Loved it! We'll see where we land this time. Plan on arriving by 1pm. Wonder if we should hang at the resort till our 8pm ohana dinner or hit DTD. I know the boys will do the pool if the weather jumps back up, but I still can't see them staying in the pool long. We could always do DTD on the day we leave. This would just be our only day to really "hang out" at the resort, but to do what? What do you do on your resort day at CBR?

We did our Online Resort check-in today....did you do yours?

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

10 more days until our first visit to CBR!! YAY

 

[vacation_junkie]

10 more days until our first visit to CBR!! YAY

US TOO ...I did our Online check-in as soon as i got up this morning before work..just couldn't take it anymore We fly into orlando on the 20th but don't check into CBR til the 21st

 

[dredick]

We did our Online Resort check-in today....did you do yours?

No, were old school! LOL!

 

[vacation_junkie]

No, were old school! LOL!

We love the on-line check-in. Speeds up the check-in process when we get there. No waiting in the long normal check in line !!

 

[carebee21]

We fly into MCO tomorrow and then check into CBR tomorrow evening!!! We're so excited. It'll be our first time so much as setting foot at CBR, but the beautiful pictures, recommendations and advice given on this thread have eased the few concerns I had about the resort. Thanks to all those who have taken the time to post pictures and give advice. I hope to have lots of pictures to add once we get back!

Now back to finishing laundry and packing the carry on

 

[amandaw]

Hi! I have a few questions about the pirate rooms at CBR. I looked at pics on the front page of this thread but have not gone through the whole thread. What I need to know is:

1. Are the beds really uncomfortable?

2. How far/long of a walk is it from Trinidad South to the food court?

3. Tell me about the bus situation at CBR. Is it really bad? Do you have to get on 1 bus to go to the main stop & then wait for a Disney bus? If it helps we are looking to be in WDW from 12/8 - 12/15, so crowds should be low to medium.

4. Which is better - standard view or water view?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[mickeystoontown]

We fly into MCO tomorrow and then check into CBR tomorrow evening!!! We're so excited. It'll be our first time so much as setting foot at CBR, but the beautiful pictures, recommendations and advice given on this thread have eased the few concerns I had about the resort. Thanks to all those who have taken the time to post pictures and give advice. I hope to have lots of pictures to add once we get back!

Now back to finishing laundry and packing the carry on

I hope that you have a great time at the CBR. I'm betting you're going to fall instantly in love with it. Take lots of pictures to come back and share with us all.

Hi! I have a few questions about the pirate rooms at CBR. I looked at pics on the front page of this thread but have not gone through the whole thread. What I need to know is:

1. Are the beds really uncomfortable?

2. How far/long of a walk is it from Trinidad South to the food court?

3. Tell me about the bus situation at CBR. Is it really bad? Do you have to get on 1 bus to go to the main stop & then wait for a Disney bus? If it helps we are looking to be in WDW from 12/8 - 12/15, so crowds should be low to medium.

4. Which is better - standard view or water view?

Thank you so much in advance!

While we have never stayed in a pirate room, we have stayed at the CBR multiple times. As far as the walk from Trinidad South to the food court goes, I walked over to the village a couple of times to have a look around and take pictures and my walk back to Old Port Royale (food court, main pool, marina, etc.) took me 6 1/2 minutes at a leisurely pace.

We have never had a bad experience with the CBR buses. There are covered bus stops in each resort village. You'll go to that bus stop to catch the bus. The bus will make it's way to the other bus stops within the resort and then head out to the parks. It won't take long at all to make the resort loop unless the bus driver has to help load someone in a wheelchair or scooter. (That happens at every resort.)

I personally wouldn't book a water view at any Disney resort. Disney's definition of a water view could be a little sliver of a lake, a full blown view of a lake or even a view of a pool. I'd save the extra money and book a standard view.

 

[amandaw]

While we have never stayed in a pirate room, we have stayed at the CBR multiple times. As far as the walk from Trinidad South to the food court goes, I walked over to the village a couple of times to have a look around and take pictures and my walk back to Old Port Royale (food court, main pool, marina, etc.) took me 6 1/2 minutes at a leisurely pace.

We have never had a bad experience with the CBR buses. There are covered bus stops in each resort village. You'll go to that bus stop to catch the bus. The bus will make it's way to the other bus stops within the resort and then head out to the parks. It won't take long at all to make the resort loop unless the bus driver has to help load someone in a wheelchair or scooter. (That happens at every resort.)

I personally wouldn't book a water view at any Disney resort. Disney's definition of a water view could be a little sliver of a lake, a full blown view of a lake or even a view of a pool. I'd save the extra money and book a standard view.

Thank you very much for your input!

The walk from Trinidad South doesn't seem too bad from what you've said. As far as the buses go, since there are multiple bus stops, is there a certain order that the buses always go in for the stops?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thank you very much for your input!

The walk from Trinidad South doesn't seem too bad from what you've said. As far as the buses go, since there are multiple bus stops, is there a certain order that the buses always go in for the stops?

You are welcome. There are two entrances that the buses can use. If they use the side entrance, the buses will stop at Jamaica first, followed by Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, Old Port Royale, Trinidad North and then Trinidad South. If they use the front entrance, the first stop will be Martinique, followed by Old Port Royale, Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Jamaica, Aruba and then Barbados.

 

[amandaw]

You are welcome. There are two entrances that the buses can use. If they use the side entrance, the buses will stop at Jamaica first, followed by Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, Old Port Royale, Trinidad North and then Trinidad South. If they use the front entrance, the first stop will be Martinique, followed by Old Port Royale, Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Jamaica, Aruba and then Barbados.

Thank you for that info. It really helps me to understand how the buses work there.

And I see you are in Louisiana....me too! "Hi, neighbor!"

 

[jaman12]

Amanda - are you gathering this information to help with my trip planning?

Oh wait...it looks like you may be chaning resorts...AGAIN!

 

[amandaw]

Amanda - are you gathering this information to help with my trip planning?

Oh wait...it looks like you may be chaning resorts...AGAIN!

I told you buddy....I'm terrible about deciding on a resort!

I'm between a pirate room at CBR & Courtyard view at Wilderness Lodge.

I was going to tell you this on Sunday....I'm cutting back on our trip because we're building a house!!! Just went & met with the builder today (the house is framed & they are putting on the roof) & we're signing the papers tonight. Momma needs some funds to buy some stuff she wants for the new house!

 

[RHMH]

Hello Everyone - to all arriving or already at CBR, you Disney Maniac's have a safe trip and all of you deserve a Great Time !! Hope the weather is super and the lines are short.

Eat a turkey leg for us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!