Caribbean Beach Resort - Don't!

[eeyore45]

I was part of that Magical Gathering at CBR that my mother posted about. Let me start by saying that we are ALL entitled to our opinions, good or bad.

I was sorry to see that my mother had posted about our experience because I knew what would happen, and it did. If it isn't positive about WDW on this board, you shouldn't post it.

I have stayed at all of the resorts on property except for CSR, and GF. It is my opinion that I would never stay at CBR again. I also warn people that this resort is BIG, as many have warned in the past. Too big for us.

Management did try to fix our problem,

So, no, we do not reccommend this resort, just as strongly as some reccommend it.

Just so you know, *I* do appreciate your opinions, and I do hope people will continue to post positive and negative opinions! I do think it is taking a leap posting a negative, but I appreciate it! I agree that it is valuable to get every side, not just positive! I appreciate the positive pictures posted too - it helps me dream of disney!!

I just wonder tho, if Disney turns stone cold to complaints because people try and "get" them! Which when compared to any other place I've stayed in, I get the same reaction! I know others post about getting 'comped' at other cities, states, hotels, but not me ! I tend to hang out at the housekeeping carts and snag extra towels and washcloths, and TP!! But at WDW I imagine that's easier said than done, how hard can it be to have someone bring a roll of TP?! I stayed in a Hyatt and waited 3 HOURS!

Oh, and with your Key problem, same thing happened to me!! AT THE POLY! I just wonder if it has more to do with the problems Disney is having overall - its almost leaving me to wonder if we dont get what we pay for in terms of employees (employees arent paid high salaries by any means! Even tho we are charged high prices - I blame Eisner, look at his salary perks!! )

oh well, off topic...

Just thanks for posting!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Caribbean Beach Resort - Don't!

But I am, next weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[mking624]

As I read through the thread, I don't think anyone here was saying that if you had a negative comment, to not say it. In fact, I know at least for my post specifically I said we should inform others of our experiences...but when it comes to telling people to not stay there, I think that's a line of judgment that a reader should make.

For example, if management goes out of their way to correct a problem, ANY problem, for me, that makes me personally have an interest in returning because I know the management cares enough to try to help out. For others, it may be the exact opposite. So it's good to share experiences both positive and negative. No one on here said you couldn't. But being told "don't" makes me feel like I am not allowed to make the decision for myself. I personally love CBR, but I also wouldn't tell anyone "DO stay there"...I'd tell people of my experiences and let others decide for themselves.

 

[HollisterSweetie]

But I am, next weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

Have Fun! I loved CBR!

 

[Terk-1]

Stayed here for 2 nights in 2003 and will never go back. Tried to transfer resorts not long after arriving, but everything was booked. Found check-in extremely slow, did not care to walk across a dimly lit parking lot at night to return to room, and just did not enjoy this resort at all. The only other resorts that we do not care for are Pop & POR.

Have stayed at the French Quarter and have always had great experiences there. Had great experiences there, as well as at the Movies, Beach Club, Polynesian, and of course, the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[goodferry]

To the OP, I hope that you will write a letter and let the management at Disney know about the problems that you had. We had problems with one of our room keys while staying at the Poly, the CMs at the MK and back at the Poly went out of their way to make sure that everything was straightened out immediately.
CBR IS a large resort. We stayed there once and enjoyed it, however, we did have a pretty hard time getting the problems we had resolved. I think because it is so large and so popular, that the CMs get overwhelmed and don't always follow through to make sure an issue gets taken care of. I am sure there is also a GREAT deal of confusion surrounding the new tickets and packages and that is adding to the problem. There is still no excuse for the problems you had continuing on the way they did! I hope you managed to salvage an enjoyable trip despite the problems.

 

[Lilolvr]

Just got back from my family's first Magical Gathering. We stayed at the CBR and I would not recommend it to anyone. We had numerous problems that the Guest Services Manager tried to rectify but unfortunately he could not. We have stayed at the value resorts several times and they are head and shoulders above this particular moderate. I do believe the size of CBR is the real problem - too many guests and not enough dedicated employees willing to make sure you have a "magical vacation". Just our family's opinion.

sorry to hear about your troubles. We didn't care for this resort either. Way too big.

 

[left210]

We just got back from CBR also. Stayed there 3-23 thru 3-29. I will have to agree that we probably will not go back there. It was not horrible but I was not overly impressed either. I would like to try another resort. It is very big which I did not think would be such a big deal but when you have trouble with something it is quite a distance to the Custom House to resolve it. Our main issue there was check in and accounting. Check in took us way too long especially given there was only one person in front of us and 4-5 CM's behind the counter but no one willing to take us but the real kicker was the accounting side of it. First they did not have our tickets to the parks so rather than one person helping us they then send us over to Guest Services to stand in another line for them to tell me we do not have any tickets so the CM gets it taken care of only to find out he charges our room for the tickets when we prepaid for them with our package. I happen to get a detailed report of our charges about 4 days into our vacation to find out we have a $710 charge for tickets along with some of our snacks on our room charges vs. taken off the dining package. Anyway rather than credit us $710 for the tickets they take a $251 credit first then go back and give us another credit for $542 which then is too much money back to us so they then add a charge back of $83. Crazy. I asked why they would do this and the manager said they were probably in the middle of something and the first time just put in a number and later had to come back and correct it. Well wouldnt it be just as easy to put in the correct number. Also, when they tried to correct the charge for the snacks they gave me a credit and then charged it back to my account three times and when I tried to explain it the CM just couldnt quite understand the whole credit/debit accounting. All in all we had a good time at WDW but I would just like to try another resort. I know this could very well happen anywhere but just didnt feel like the resort was worth an upgrade. To each is own and I hope this info helps. I do plan to write to Disney to explain our problems so that the next person doesnt have to experience the same thing.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I don't think I would go back to CBR either. We stayed there twice and on both times, we were having roaches problems and on our last stay was the roaches and the wet carpet and the smell. The transportation is not the greatest (from our experience).

 

[Hippychickali]

For the record, the CBR would not be one of the places I would choose to stay. Keep in mind that comes from someone who has never even been there.

Ali

 

[safetymom]

The musty smell is part of FL. Almost every hotel room I have ever stayed in across the state smells musty. The humidity is very high most of the time. The roaches are a fact of life in FL also.

 

[Buzz2001]

I don't think I would go back to CBR either. We stayed there twice and on both times, we were having roaches problems and on our last stay was the roaches and the wet carpet and the smell. The transportation is not the greatest (from our experience).

My wife would freak out. palmetto bugs (roaches) may be a part of life in FL but I have yet to see any on all my trips to FL. I've seen many of those lizard things and the little bugs that fly around stuck together but that's it. Never any in my room at FW, Cont or CSR. And as for the musty smell, haven't experienced that either.

 

[Badllamamama]

Sorry to hear about your experience at CBR. I hope you still were able to enjoy the magic at the parks.

 

[cjsmith]

The musty smell is part of FL. Almost every hotel room I have ever stayed in across the state smells musty. The humidity is very high most of the time. The roaches are a fact of life in FL also.

I've only stayed in a very small hand full of resorts/hotels here in Florida that had the musty smell and they were all located directly on a beach. Even though there is humidity, there is not reason for the resort's rooms to have that smell unless the doors are left open all the time.