Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ Part 3

[who me?]

I read here that you can see the fireworks at Epcot from CBR, do you have to get lucky with your room location or is there a central location at the resort that anyone can just hang out and enjoy the show?

Also, anyone know how close Boardwalk and Downtown Disney are to eachother ? wondering if they are within walking distance of eachother and/or of Epcot ?

Thank you!

 

[katienaps]

We've never stayed at the CBR and I'm seeing a lot of disappointing reviews about distance of rooms. So, we were only able to book a standard room. Where should I request? We have two little ones, so would like to be close to food, bus, and pool. We'll be walking all day, but these are things we'd like to get to a little quickly. Did I book the wrong resort? Was excited about the new pirate pool. Also, what is this about nemo rooms? The CSR I spoke with said she knew nothing about them, except that someone else asked. Do they exist?

 

[who me?]

We've never stayed at the CBR and I'm seeing a lot of disappointing reviews about distance of rooms. So, we were only able to book a standard room. Where should I request? We have two little ones, so would like to be close to food, bus, and pool. We'll be walking all day, but these are things we'd like to get to a little quickly. Did I book the wrong resort? Was excited about the new pirate pool. Also, what is this about nemo rooms? The CSR I spoke with said she knew nothing about them, except that someone else asked. Do they exist?

Our first CBR visit will be in October so I can't answer your distance questions however, I have had to make a few changes to our reservation since making it in April. If you call back from time to time you may find that a preferred room opens up, I have had some luck with changes I was originally told were not possilbe.

It depends on the rep you get too ... I have had some questionable 'help' ... pictures of the new Nemo rooms have been posted here and the pirate rooms they say don't exist are now listed on the website as options when you book your stay on line ... they list out 'water view' 'preferred room' 'pirate room' I saw it myself today.

Don't get down, keep trying ...

 

[mrFDNY]

Hi gang,

I posted way back many,many pages ago. So i leave in just under 2 days!! I was wondering since there have been so many who were kind enough to post updates and really make this thread as great as it is. Is there any thing i can do to help this thread out while i'm there?? Maybe a poster has a question or would like pics of any place in the parks. So pm me for park updates or just reply to this thread for Cbr updates,i will do my best for pics. I also will take some pics of the pool refurb and if i'm luckly to get one of the new nemo rooms. I will post to let you all know if the pool is open yet. I do not have internet access other than home, so you guys will have to wait a little for my updates.

See you all there!!
I will be back late sept 3rd.

 

[CleveRocks]

I read here that you can see the fireworks at Epcot from CBR, do you have to get lucky with your room location or is there a central location at the resort that anyone can just hang out and enjoy the show?

Also, anyone know how close Boardwalk and Downtown Disney are to eachother ? wondering if they are within walking distance of eachother and/or of Epcot ?

Thank you!

You can see the higher fireworks of IllumiNations by facing roughly north (north-northwest) without any obstructions such as buildings and trees. There are numerous good spots.

Boardwalk and DTD are no where near each other. WDW and its roads weren't built for pedestrians ... so even if you are willing to walk several miles, there are no consistent sidewalks and, like I said, the roads weren't built to accommodate pedestrians. You can't walk from DTD or CBR to Epcot, either.

You CAN walk from Boardwalk to the back entrance of Epcot (the International Gateway), and this was designed to be this way ... you won't have to walk on any streets to do so.

 

[tinkerrn]

I booked a prefered room for Oct.; where are the buildings? Will the prefered buildings be renovated by then????

 

[JohnH]

Just got home last night. I have a few pix to share, and wanted to start with the pool. There was VERY little work done on the pool while I was there this week. Thhere was a lot of blame laid on someone named FAY, and how she was all wet. I did not understand.

One contractor said the pool was going to open in OCTOBER! I think HE was all wet. Matter of fact, he was standing in the rain at the time.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks for the info! Well if I really do go thru with my plan, go at the end of October, stay at CBR, I would love to have a newly remodeled Nemo room! So did you just have to pay extra for the prefered room and got lucky with the Nemo room, or did you request it?

I did have to pay extra for the room in Martinque as that building is a preferred location. But, when I booked, there were only preferred locations available. I read on this thread (post by Safetymom who provides the best information around) that Building 24 had been completed so I faxed a request to the CBR asking for a new Nemo room in Building 24. When we checked in, I was very pleased to learn that I had gotten just what I requested.

 

[Lilolvr]

Just got home last night. I have a few pix to share, and wanted to start with the pool. There was VERY little work done on the pool while I was there this week. Thhere was a lot of blame laid on someone named FAY, and how she was all wet. I did not understand.

One contractor said the pool was going to open in OCTOBER! I think HE was all wet. Matter of fact, he was standing in the rain at the time.

Nice pics John! The pool looks to be the same minus the bridge and the addition of the ship. I read the delay on another thread too.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I booked a prefered room for Oct.; where are the buildings? Will the prefered buildings be renovated by then????

Preferred locations are Trinidad North and Martinique. They are located very near Old Port Royale and the main pool. I know that Martinique Building 24 was completely redone when we were there 8/9/08 through 8/16/08 because we got one of the new Nemo rooms in that building.

Other posters have said that Building 25 was being worked on. When we were there, I saw no construction going on (other than the pool) and we walked all around the resort.

 

[kaysmommie]

Those pool pics look great!!

For the PP asking for a good standard location with little ones. A freind of mine just stayed in jamaica 45 and loved that location!! She just walked across the bridge to the foodcourt. She said like a 3 mintues walk with kids.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We've never stayed at the CBR and I'm seeing a lot of disappointing reviews about distance of rooms. So, we were only able to book a standard room. Where should I request? We have two little ones, so would like to be close to food, bus, and pool. We'll be walking all day, but these are things we'd like to get to a little quickly. Did I book the wrong resort? Was excited about the new pirate pool. Also, what is this about nemo rooms? The CSR I spoke with said she knew nothing about them, except that someone else asked. Do they exist?

The CBR is a large resort but that's part of the resort's appeal. The guests are distributed all around the resort so you'll never feel crowded in.

The promenade around the entire resort is 1.4 miles and Old Port Royale (main pool, food court, restaurant, marina, store) are situated approximately in the middle of the promenade. So, even if you were in a room at the furthest point of the resort, your walk won't be more than approximately half of 1.4 miles.

Don't worry about being close to a bus stop. All of the villages have a bus stop so you're never far from one. Each village also has their own quiet pool if you don't want to walk to the main pool.

Also, there is an internal shuttle bus that will take you around the resort if you don't want to walk. But, that being said, the walk around the resort is absolutely gorgeous. The landscaping is so pretty and if you are on the Jamaica/Aruba side, you get to walk through the island in the middle of the lake.

We have stayed at the CBR three times and absolutely love everything about it. The first time, we stayed in Jamaica. Our walk to a bus stop was about 2 minutes and our walk to Old Port Royale was about 5 minutes. We have stayed in Martinique twice and the walk was less than that.

The new Nemo themed rooms are in the village of Martinique (so far). I know that Building 24 was completed while we were there and we were placed in a Nemo themed room. Martinique is a preferred location and you would pay extra for that convenience.

In all honesty though, I, personally, wouldn't pay the extra money for a preferred location. The walks are peaceful and relaxing and a great way to either have a few quiet morning moments or to calm down a bit after a hectic day in the parks.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Hi gang,

I posted way back many,many pages ago. So i leave in just under 2 days!! I was wondering since there have been so many who were kind enough to post updates and really make this thread as great as it is. Is there any thing i can do to help this thread out while i'm there?? Maybe a poster has a question or would like pics of any place in the parks. So pm me for park updates or just reply to this thread for Cbr updates,i will do my best for pics. I also will take some pics of the pool refurb and if i'm luckly to get one of the new nemo rooms. I will post to let you all know if the pool is open yet. I do not have internet access other than home, so you guys will have to wait a little for my updates.

See you all there!!
I will be back late sept 3rd.

Have a WONDERFUL trip!!!! I can't think of anything inparticular, but I always love to look at pictures! Enjoy!!

 

[lilybrooke14]

Does anyone have pictures of the Grab N Go market? I'm really curious about what you can get in there. If not, could anyone that's going soon take some pics?

Please?

 

[lilybrooke14]

Have a WONDERFUL trip!!!! I can't think of anything inparticular, but I always love to look at pictures! Enjoy!!

I love your picture of your cocker. She looks like my cocker! They are so stinkin' cute. Mine's rotten, but cute anyway. Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[Gymbomom]

Nice pics John! The pool looks to be the same minus the bridge and the addition of the ship. I read the delay on another thread too.

Okay, now I am worried. We check in on 9/18....the pool won't be ready???

 

[tink771]

Okay, now I am worried. We check in on 9/18....the pool won't be ready???

I'm worried too! We check in on 9/21. We switched from POP to CBR because we wanted to experience the new pool. We haven't stayed at CBR in quite some time and wanted to give it another go. I've got my fingers crossed!

 

[Tikitoi]

Hi gang,

I posted way back many,many pages ago. So i leave in just under 2 days!! I was wondering since there have been so many who were kind enough to post updates and really make this thread as great as it is. Is there any thing i can do to help this thread out while i'm there?? Maybe a poster has a question or would like pics of any place in the parks. So pm me for park updates or just reply to this thread for Cbr updates,i will do my best for pics. I also will take some pics of the pool refurb and if i'm luckly to get one of the new nemo rooms. I will post to let you all know if the pool is open yet. I do not have internet access other than home, so you guys will have to wait a little for my updates.

See you all there!!
I will be back late sept 3rd.

I'm so grateful for this thread, too. I only wish I had known about it back in 2004 when we stayed at CBR for the first time and due to that resort being so big, we got off at the wrong bus stop. And yes we saw even more the beauty of the resort, due to being loss and finding our way around. So can't wait to stay there again in 2009, but this time we will be definitely more prepared. Have a great trip mrFDNY, looking forward to your pictures and TR.

 

[hmdavid]

Okay, now I am worried. We check in on 9/18....the pool won't be ready???

We check in the same day! Let's cross our fingers that it is done. What a tease to have to look at a brand new pool full of water but not be able to use it!

 

[JohnH]

I requested Martinique 24 and wound up with a corner room in the 25 building. It wasn't 100 yards to the food court, and 200 to the bus stop. (2517)

The 25 building is refurbished, but I must say the housekeeping @Disney has gone WAY downhill. I watched all week to see if they would ever remove the cob webs from the light over the table in my room. Never happened.

There was a lot of litter on the grounds, also. I am speaking of plastic bowls, straws, bottle caps and the like.

I do not know who is in charge of keeping the place clean, but the job is NOT being done as it used to at the resorts or the parks. When we went to Soarin (3 times! It is a GREAT ride) it looked like a ghetto on the long INSIDE ramp to the ride. There is a long distance to que up, and only a couple of trash cans along the way. People just dropped their trash where they stood, and left it. I never saw anyone trying to sweep up the mess.