Caribbean Beach FAQ part VI

[weetot]

For our first trip to WDW we want to stay at CBR. I was advised to book my room reservation 499 days in advance to get what we need (More than one room, one with accessible shower), and then book the rest of the package later. Is it truly that hard to get what you need? Now I'm worried. We aren't going until May of 2015, but that would mean starting January 2014.

I am taking my granddaughter and want this to be a magical time, not a foul up. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[smiths02]

For our first trip to WDW we want to stay at CBR. I was advised to book my room reservation 499 days in advance to get what we need (More than one room, one with accessible shower), and then book the rest of the package later. Is it truly that hard to get what you need? Now I'm worried. We aren't going until May of 2015, but that would mean starting January 2014.

I am taking my granddaughter and want this to be a magical time, not a foul up. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think it is unlikely that CBR will run out of rooms for May of 2015 that early. Unless you are traveling with some group that needs 50 rooms or something.

If you are booked 180 days out, then you can start making dining reservations (there is a slight edge to staying on property in that you can start making the reservations for your whole trip at 180 days from arrival rather than 180 days from each day of your trip). Also, you can lock in a price, but discounts will probably come out after that anyhow.

Connecting/adjoining rooms are not guaranteed no matter how far in advance you book.

Someone else may know if booking that far ahead helps with accessible rooms...I don't think they are a booking category, I *think* they are just a request.

Rooms are assigned only maybe a few weeks ahead of time (although they don't tell you which rooms until you arrive), so I don't think you need to reserve in January 2014 for May 2015.

 

[Pooh2]

For our first trip to WDW we want to stay at CBR. I was advised to book my room reservation 499 days in advance to get what we need (More than one room, one with accessible shower), and then book the rest of the package later. Is it truly that hard to get what you need? Now I'm worried. We aren't going until May of 2015, but that would mean starting January 2014.

I am taking my granddaughter and want this to be a magical time, not a foul up. Any advice would be appreciated.

I would not stress about booking that early. We just got back from a trip that we booked just one week in advance. We got a great room in a preferred section. It was a room that connected to the one next to us if need be.

 

[mickeystoontown]

For our first trip to WDW we want to stay at CBR. I was advised to book my room reservation 499 days in advance to get what we need (More than one room, one with accessible shower), and then book the rest of the package later. Is it truly that hard to get what you need? Now I'm worried. We aren't going until May of 2015, but that would mean starting January 2014.

I am taking my granddaughter and want this to be a magical time, not a foul up. Any advice would be appreciated.

If you book a room only reservation 499 days in advance but really need a package, you'll have to cancel the room only reservation and rebook the package. The two use different booking systems. So, if I were you, I'd wait until the May, 2015 package prices come out and book then. The rates used to be published in August of each year but they have started coming out a bit earlier. The 2014 packages were available for booking mid July, 2013.

When you do make your reservation, I'd suggest that you call and make sure that a notation is made on your reservation that you need an accessible room. You said that you are booking two rooms. If they are in different names, also ask that they "link" the two reservations. This will increase the likelihood that the rooms will be near one another.

 

[weetot]

Thanks so much for clearing up this for me. I was worried about the accessible room. If they arbitrarily assign rooms, how do you get one if you absolutely need a roll in shower? Without it I wouldn't get a shower all week. (I'm in a wheel chair)

Also, the three rooms (my daughter has decided to come with us) are on the same booking, so how can we stay together? By asking for adjoining rooms?

Sorry if I'm slow, this is all new to me. Can I get a room in the Martinique area so I'm close to the court. Or is it luck of the draw?

 

[dansdad]

If they arbitrarily assign rooms, how do you get one if you absolutely need a roll in shower?:

By requesting one. If it's noted on your reservation, they will do everything they can to make sure you get one. My MIL needs one too and has never not gotten one at CBR, after 14 stays.

Also, the three rooms (my daughter has decided to come with us) are on the same booking, so how can we stay together? By asking for adjoining rooms?:

Yes, request that the three rooms be adjoining.

Sorry if I'm slow, this is all new to me. Can I get a room in the Martinique area so I'm close to the court. Or is it luck of the draw?

In order to get in the closest section of Martinique you will have to book preferred rooms and then request Martinique. The preferred locations are Martinique 24, 25, 26 and all of Trinidad North. If you book standard and request Martinique, you would be in 21, 22 or 23 if your request was granted.

Since the accessible room is the most important request for you, I would list that one first. Then adjoining rooms, then whatever location you would like. And understand that the more requests you have, they harder it is for them to grant them all. That is why it's important to list them in order of importance.

I hope you have a magical stay at our favorite moderate, CBR!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks so much for clearing up this for me. I was worried about the accessible room. If they arbitrarily assign rooms, how do you get one if you absolutely need a roll in shower? Without it I wouldn't get a shower all week. (I'm in a wheel chair)

Also, the three rooms (my daughter has decided to come with us) are on the same booking, so how can we stay together? By asking for adjoining rooms?

Sorry if I'm slow, this is all new to me. Can I get a room in the Martinique area so I'm close to the court. Or is it luck of the draw?

You are welcome! If I were you, I'd make my reservations over the phone so that you can make sure that all of your requests are notated. It's best to list your requests in the order of importance to you. Because you are in a wheelchair, your first priority would, of course, to be in an accessible room. Make sure that they know that you are in a wheelchair.

We often travel with other family members and have booked up to three rooms but each room was in a different name (for payment and charge purposes). We each booked our room and then I called Disney Travel with all of the information relative to each room and had the reservations "linked". Although it's not been guaranteed, our rooms were three in a row.

If you absolutely need a room that's closer to the food court, then you may want to pay a little extra and book a preferred room location. Those are all located in Trinidad North and in Martinique buildings 24, 25 and 26. If you want to book standard, you can request one of the non-preferred Martinique buildings.

There's absolutely no need to apologize for the questions! The Disboards is a wonderful place to find information. I have lots of resort pictures in my trip report. Just click on the link in my signature below. I have handy dandy links to each chapter in the second post.

 

[dansdad]

Hi Lisa! Looks like we're replying at the same time.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hi Lisa! Looks like we're replying at the same time.

Hey! I didn't even realize that we were until this a.m. Hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[smiths02]

Thanks so much for clearing up this for me. I was worried about the accessible room. If they arbitrarily assign rooms, how do you get one if you absolutely need a roll in shower? Without it I wouldn't get a shower all week. (I'm in a wheel chair)

Also, the three rooms (my daughter has decided to come with us) are on the same booking, so how can we stay together? By asking for adjoining rooms?

Sorry if I'm slow, this is all new to me. Can I get a room in the Martinique area so I'm close to the court. Or is it luck of the draw?

I would book preferred rooms in your case...also make sure all three rooms are the same bookable category. Bookable categories include preferred (which it sounds like you would want), water views, and pirate rooms. In other words, don't book one preferred room and one pirate room as those are in totally different buildings and they won't be able to grant your connecting/adjoining room request. Or don't book only one room preferred and the other standard and expect that the other rooms will be "upgraded" so they are all close together.

 

[weetot]

Thanks to everyone for the excellent information! I now know it's worth it to book the preferred rooms for us. And I will make sure to tell them, over the phone, about my needs.

Is there bus service from CBR to the Polynesian Resort directly? We want to go to the dinner show, but are not sure of the logistics.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks to everyone for the excellent information! I now know it's worth it to book the preferred rooms for us. And I will make sure to tell them, over the phone, about my needs.

Is there bus service from CBR to the Polynesian Resort directly? We want to go to the dinner show, but are not sure of the logistics.

There are no direct resort to resort buses. You'll need to take the bus to the Magic Kingdom and then take either the monorail or boat over to the Polynesian. Your other option would be to take a cab.

 

[kellyjeanie]

There are no direct resort to resort buses. You'll need to take the bus to the Magic Kingdom and then take either the monorail or boat over to the Polynesian. Your other option would be to take a cab.

This - it's very simple to get to the Poly from CBR, the monorail is an easy walk from the bus stop at MK. We were first-timers and had no problem. Have fun at the dinner show! We enjoyed our Ohana breakfast and if we go again my DH definitely wants to do dinner there.

 

[weetot]

I'm not sure how to add the quote boxes, so I'll just say thanks to you both. We'll make a trip to MK and hop the monorail. It should be a fun excursion before the dinner show.

There sure is a lot of pre-planning...dinner reservations and how it matches with what park you are in that day.

 

[dansdad]

There sure is a lot of pre-planning...dinner reservations and how it matches with what park you are in that day.

Yup. IMHO, planning is half the fun.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm not sure how to add the quote boxes, so I'll just say thanks to you both. We'll make a trip to MK and hop the monorail. It should be a fun excursion before the dinner show.

There sure is a lot of pre-planning...dinner reservations and how it matches with what park you are in that day.

There's definitely a lot of pre-planning but, like dansdad said, that's part of the fun. We go to Disney annually and I start planning our next trip while still in Disney. It's an obsession!

I believe that the dinner show that you are referring to is the luau. We've been four times and I'll be posting pictures and info very soon in my trip report.

 

[weetot]

Having the dis-board and meeting everyone who has been to WDW has made it so real and exciting. Since I'm not the best of planners, my daughter and I get together and share our ideas.

Yes... it's the luau we want to go to. And I can't wait to see your pictures!

 

[lisam427]

could some please post a link as to what the new refurbed rooms look like. we are planning on going this upcoming fall. i would love to see the new room design as we are in the process of deciding whereto stay.

 

[safetymom]

We are here now at CBR There is a large parade of fridges going into the rooms in Jamaica. The Pop Warner groups are here and the resort is full but so far so good.

 

[dansdad]

We are here now at CBR There is a large parade of fridges going into the rooms in Jamaica. The Pop Warner groups are here and the resort is full but so far so good.

Awesome! Thanks for the update safetymom. Hope you have a magical stay!