Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ Part 3

[mickeystoontown]

mickeystoontown, thanks for you wonderful review of CBR. It makes feel good about the decision to stay there again this year. I'm so sorry about your pictures, I would be devastated too.

Did you get a feel for how many buildings were already converted to Nemo? Did you see any buildings closed for the refurb?

We walked all around the resort and didn't see any of the buildings actually closed and the only workers we saw were those at the pool. There were a couple of temporary type walled in storage areas in the parking lots and it looked like they had some construction materials in them. I don't know if they were for the buildings or the pools.

I haven't given up on finding my photos yet. I am just sick at my stomach over it. I am hoping that they are on my computer somewhere!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Welcome back Mickeystoontown! Glad you had a great trip to CBR!!

Good luck recovering your pictures!!

 

[BellAbbeys Mom]

Quick question please for all who have stayed...

Was it a bad choice to stay here at CBR with little ones?? I have read that there are so many areas that if you do not have a preferred room, to get to the convenience area is quite a hike?? Is this true or should I switch back to my ASMo???

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Quick question please for all who have stayed...

Was it a bad choice to stay here at CBR with little ones?? I have read that there are so many areas that if you do not have a preferred room, to get to the convenience area is quite a hike?? Is this true or should I switch back to my ASMo???

We stayed at CBR on our first trip when our kids were 3 (turned 4 on the trip) and just 6. We had no problems at all! And we did not get a preferred room. As a matter of fact to this day the kids say that CBR is their favorite of all the Disney resorts we have stayed at! I can't wait for them to see the new pool when we surprise them with our upcoming January trip!!

 

[kat_balou]

I faxed a request for a room in Martinique 24 two days before we left. When we checked in, I was told that my request had been granted. We were assigned to Martinique room 2425 which is a downstairs corner room.

Do you think there is an advantage (or things you like better about) Martinique 24 over 25 or 26?

 

[declansdad]

Quick question please for all who have stayed...

Was it a bad choice to stay here at CBR with little ones?? I have read that there are so many areas that if you do not have a preferred room, to get to the convenience area is quite a hike?? Is this true or should I switch back to my ASMo???

We have stayed at ASMo (Toy Story section), Pop (50s), Poly (Hawaii) and now CBR (Aruba). CBR has the most walking of any resort we have stayed at, and we don't mind walking. I also don't see it as a resort for little ones not compard to the values, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I think that the new Nemo and Pirate themes are great for kids!

Plus the new pool! They also offer a Pirate Cruise for kids!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Do you think there is an advantage (or things you like better about) Martinique 24 over 25 or 26?

I really couldn't see too much of an advantage between the three buildings. As I said, our room was right next to the pool so I guess that would be an advantage. We had easy access to the Martinique quiet pool, beach and bus stop. If you are a smoker, you might like 25 or 26 better as the smoking benches were nearer those buildings than 24.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Quick question please for all who have stayed...

Was it a bad choice to stay here at CBR with little ones?? I have read that there are so many areas that if you do not have a preferred room, to get to the convenience area is quite a hike?? Is this true or should I switch back to my ASMo???

I have never stayed at ASMo but we did walk around Pop Century last week just to check it out. If ASMo is anything like Pop, then I think the walking at ASMo and the walking at the CBR are about the same.

The promenade that goes around the CBR is 1.4 miles. Old Port Royale where the food court, main pool (when it opens again), store and marina are located approximately in the middle of the promenade. So, even if you are at the furthest point of the resort, you are never more than approximately half that far to Old Port Royale.

Don't forget that the rooms at the CBR are larger than the values, a refrigerator is complimentary at the CBR as is a coffee pot. This will probably come in handy with little ones.

 

[kat_balou]

I really couldn't see too much of an advantage between the three buildings. As I said, our room was right next to the pool so I guess that would be an advantage. We had easy access to the Martinique quiet pool, beach and bus stop. If you are a smoker, you might like 25 or 26 better as the smoking benches were nearer those buildings than 24.

Thank you. Which of the 3 bldgs. would be closer to the food court?

 

[CleveRocks]

Do you think there is an advantage (or things you like better about) Martinique 24 over 25 or 26?

Depends what you consider an advantage or disadvantage.

24 is closest to the Martinique bus stop and the quiet pool.

25 has no rooms that overlook the parking lot (the other 2 have at least some).

26 is closest to Old Port Royale.

 

[kat_balou]

Depends what you consider an advantage or disadvantage.

24 is closest to the Martinique bus stop and the quiet pool.

25 has no rooms that overlook the parking lot (the other 2 have at least some).

26 is closest to Old Port Royale.

This is helpful to know. Thanks!

 

[gardengirlco]

Also, if you are bothered by cigarette smoke, I suggest that you ask for a room that is not nearby a DSA. Our room opened out to a DSA courtyard and it was always smokey there. The smell did not enter our room, but there was no way to avoid the scent on our way to our room. We would just hold our breath and speedwalk around the courtyard. This wasn't enough for us to go to the effort of moving rooms, but might be for someone else (and I'm sure they'd have accommodated this request).

Thanks for the suggestion. I wouldn't have even thougth about DSA's since the last time we stayed at WDW the resorts still had smoking rooms. I'll be sure to add this reqest.

Are the DSA's on the resort map? Or does anyone know where they are/how many of them there are?

 

[who me?]

When i checked to see if I could apply it to my package, CBR was still available! Try it online first then speak to the agent. HTH.

I am glad that you got the discount ... but no such luck for me, we are going in October, they said it is sold out and that all moderates are sold out that week. I am going to keep trying in case something opens up, it would be a huge help to cut a few $$ off the total. ouch.

 

[catbertdave99]

Mickeystoontown, thanks for the great review -- you always do such great write-ups! I really hope for you that you can get your photos back... you take such great pictures! Thanks again for the review!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Quick question please for all who have stayed...

Was it a bad choice to stay here at CBR with little ones?? I have read that there are so many areas that if you do not have a preferred room, to get to the convenience area is quite a hike?? Is this true or should I switch back to my ASMo???

CBR is great with kids--I took my DD as early as 6 mo,and my DS as early as six weeks and we've been back several times--just request a room on the 1st floor. It is nice to have with the stroller!

The walking is fine. Nothing is TOO far away and the walkways are so pretty and pleasant. Enjoy!

And Mikeystoontown, great review. Thanks for sharing! I'm going to miss CBR this trip! But it is time to try something new...

 

[wpxc]

Just thought I'd post another update on the pool. It appears the pool reopen date has been pushed back unfortunately, according to some CMs this is because of training that needs to be done for the new pool to be opened safely. They are now looking at the first week of September sometime, no definitive date has been set.

As far as construction it appears the pool is pretty much up and running and most of the remaining construction is on the pool deck and nearby buildings. Officially there are two large hot tubs, two slides (one longer enclosed tube slide and the old slide, slightly refurbished), a zero-depth entry, kid's play area (as pictured before), and the old cannons on the pool will be working again! There is also a fence encircling the entire pool deck and I believe there are three entrances (two near the OPR building and one near the bridge from Aruba/Jamaica).

If anyone has any questions regarding the pool please let me know and I will do my best to answer them or find out the answer.

I will also try to get some more up to date pictures ASAP (aka..when Fay passes)

 

[BellAbbeys Mom]

Thank you one and all who have anwered my ?? about CBR. I think I am going to thank the TGM for giving me the code and be happy with the upgrade, and just GO WITH THE FLOW!!

 

[Sandi]

Thanks for the suggestion. I wouldn't have even thougth about DSA's since the last time we stayed at WDW the resorts still had smoking rooms. I'll be sure to add this reqest.

Are the DSA's on the resort map? Or does anyone know where they are/how many of them there are?

The DSAs are listed on the map. There are a lot of DSAs at CBR. As I noted, we were in Aruba #55 and the courtyard right outside our room was a DSA. I'm not sure we would have known that based on the room # alone. Were I to ever go back to CBR, I would put in a request to not be near a DSA and then, when checking in, ask exactly where my room was relative to the DSAs. All of the buildings seem to have a DSA associated with them, but the DSA might be on one side of the building, so the other side would be more smoke free.

Here is a link to the CBR map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

and the old cannons on the pool will be working again!

Hi, What do the cannons do - shoot out water? We're staying here one night and this sounds like something DGS would love!

I bet it has to be killing the folks staying at CBR right now to see this awesome new pool and be unable to use it. I sure it is open by early Oct.