Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ Part 3

[amyj1024]

Welcome back Kaysmommie! I'm so glad you enjoyed CBR! Did you by chance notice which Aruba buildings they were working on?

We just got back from Aruba yesterday, we were in Bldg. 52, but I didn't really notice any of the Aruba buildings being work on. Unless it was the ones closer to Barbados.

Here is my newest question:

I keep reading all these dire warnings in the guidebooks (Unofficial Guide and the Complete Guide) about the bus situation.

What's the real deal? Are the buses near as bad as what I have read? We always drive down, but I like to put the car in the parking lot and not think about it again until it is time to leave (or we want to go to another resort for a meal). We travel in June and take a midday break -- would I be pulling my hair out waiting for a bus?

I have also read about the food court having a hard time dealing with all the people that stay? What has been everyone's experience?

Thanks!

We just got back, I don't think that the buses were all that bad. We had to wait twice (once in the AM, once going home) for a while. Buses seem to come more frequently for MK and Epcot. If you are headed to AK, DTD, or HS it seemed like more of a wait. We always got on the first bus that came, an most times they were full going home from the park. To me, I think it is either you deal with the head ache of the tram/parking lot/traffic and having to know where you are going and not getting lost--or waiting for buses, possibly standing, and walking to the bus stops... We didn't mind the bus system--and were traveling with 2 small kids. One thing I will say is that the bus drivers are kind of wild, we had a few that seemed to be zipping around--I had to hold on to my 1 year old, so he wouldn't fly off my lap.
Oh--one other thing. We did not head back to take afternoon breaks. My one year old slept in the stroller, and we opted for a little bit of a later start (as my kids will sleep in and are not early risers) and didn't come back to the hotel...just FYI. It is time consuming to use the buses, plan on every bit of an hour to get anywhere.

 

[amyj1024]

I'm not really complaining, but kind of disappointed we didn't get any towel animals when we were there---and yes, we tipped mousekeeping every day? So what gives? It would have been a cute surpise for my DD. Like I said it's fine, it didn't ruin my trip or anything, just curious. Any thoughts?

 

[catbertdave99]

You know the bus situation is going to be the same at every resort. Some days its wonderful and others it going to be awful. It is sooo subjective. We go in Dec. and last year we only waited about 15 minutes the longest for a bus. Once on a bus, the longest ride we had was about 15-20 minutes. For me that was ok, but to some that might seem like eternity. Just go and enjoy it and take your mid day break, we do too. My DDs like to swim.

As far as the food court, I've never had a problem at CBR. The food court is great, good selection and the food was tasty. We there at least once for each meal, meaning we ate a breakfast lunch and dinner, and we found the food court to be fine.

I agree totally!!

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

We leave in 6 days .
When should I fax my room request??

 

[safetymom]

If you have your requests in your room reservation there is no need to fax them.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

If you have your requests in your room reservation there is no need to fax them.

AAA actually put in a request for Aruba or Jamaica, but, I wanted to add the request for a new Nemo room first, away from smoking area & if that wasn't available Aruba or Jamaica for the 2nd & 3rd request, so, I thought I would fax the request.

 

[safetymom]

Aruba and Jamaica do not have the Nemo rooms yet.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Aruba and Jamaica do not have the Nemo rooms yet.

I will fax the request stating I would like a Nemo room first (if at all possible), if thats not available, then Aruba or Jamaica area next. When should I fax it?

 

[kaysmommie]

Welcome back Kaysmommie! I'm so glad you enjoyed CBR! Did you by chance notice which Aruba buildings they were working on?

Not positive which building number it was. I would think it was buidling 55 since it is waterview. We were on the surrey bike and went around twice. Seemed like it was the first building after barbados. It didn't look like guests were staying in the building either.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm not really complaining, but kind of disappointed we didn't get any towel animals when we were there---and yes, we tipped mousekeeping every day? So what gives? It would have been a cute surpise for my DD. Like I said it's fine, it didn't ruin my trip or anything, just curious. Any thoughts?

I've left mousekeeping notes asking for a towel animal and after that one time, we got four more during our stay.

 

[kaysmommie]

I will fax the request stating I would like a Nemo room first (if at all possible), if thats not available, then Aruba or Jamaica area next. When should I fax it?

I would try to fax like 5 days before since that is when they assign rooms. I didn't send a fax and just made my request on my reservation and my request was met .

 

[mickeystoontown]

Here is my newest question:

I keep reading all these dire warnings in the guidebooks (Unofficial Guide and the Complete Guide) about the bus situation.

What's the real deal? Are the buses near as bad as what I have read? We always drive down, but I like to put the car in the parking lot and not think about it again until it is time to leave (or we want to go to another resort for a meal). We travel in June and take a midday break -- would I be pulling my hair out waiting for a bus?

I have also read about the food court having a hard time dealing with all the people that stay? What has been everyone's experience?

Thanks!

I love reading guidebooks but I take much of what they say with a grain of salt.

We normally travel in June and stay at the CBR and we drive too. Year before last, we drove our car once during our 10 day stay and last year we drove it twice during a 10 day stay. This August, we drove it once. We relied solely on Disney transportation and had no problems at all.

Only once did we have a lengthy wait for a bus. My husband decided he would sleep in while my son and I went to Animal Kingdom. Around 12:30 or so, he decided to meet us. He waited 30 minutes for the AK bus. But, other than that, our waits for the buses weren't bad at all. Sometimes, there would be two buses at the stop at once.

Because the CBR is centrally located, it won't take you long to reach any Disney destination. Our ride to Hollywood Studios (from the time we got on the bus in Martinique, made our way around the resort and then to the park) was just over 10 minutes. The trip to Epcot was just a wee bit more. Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom were longer but not long at all.

There are times when you will have to stand on the bus but that happens at any resort.

As far as the food court goes, we had no problems there either. I like being able to go to the different stations and get what we want and then meet up at a central cashier. We aren't big breakfast eaters but I do get breakfast about every other day. I would get up early, go to the food court and get it to go. The cashier will give you a large handled bag so you can take it back to your room or eat it outside.

We've eaten lunch and dinner inside the food court and it would get busy sometimes but not overly so. We visited Pop Century during our last trip to WDW and the food court there seemed about as crowded as the CBR so it's all a matter of timing I guess.

I hope this helps to calm your fears.

 

[mickeystoontown]

i have question when we go down to disney in december! Our family and my sister's family will be stay in CBR! I am planning to take my niece on boat maybe one those sea raycer boats for fun! My question do have to do any special to rent one like to call ahead or can u rent it same day?

No need to call ahead. Unless there are a whole lot of people renting boats that day, you should be able to just walk to the marina and rent one. The only time we waited on a rental from the marina was when we wanted to rent a surrey bike. We waited about 15 minutes for somebody to turn one back in.

 

[mickeystoontown]

What are the Nemo rooms?

I posted pictures of our Nemo room several pages back. If you can't find them, post again and I'll post the pictures for you.

 

[winkers]

I posted pictures of our Nemo room several pages back. If you can't find them, post again and I'll post the pictures for you.

I didn't find them.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2008/10/01/nemo-comes-to-caribbean-beach/

Pictures of the Nemo rooms.

 

[winkers]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2008/10/01/nemo-comes-to-caribbean-beach/

Pictures of the Nemo rooms.

thanks!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You know the bus situation is going to be the same at every resort. Some days its wonderful and others it going to be awful. It is sooo subjective. We go in Dec. and last year we only waited about 15 minutes the longest for a bus. Once on a bus, the longest ride we had was about 15-20 minutes. For me that was ok, but to some that might seem like eternity. Just go and enjoy it and take your mid day break, we do too. My DDs like to swim.

As far as the food court, I've never had a problem at CBR. The food court is great, good selection and the food was tasty. We there at least once for each meal, meaning we ate a breakfast lunch and dinner, and we found the food court to be fine.

We just got back from Aruba yesterday, we were in Bldg. 52, but I didn't really notice any of the Aruba buildings being work on. Unless it was the ones closer to Barbados.



We just got back, I don't think that the buses were all that bad. We had to wait twice (once in the AM, once going home) for a while. Buses seem to come more frequently for MK and Epcot. If you are headed to AK, DTD, or HS it seemed like more of a wait. We always got on the first bus that came, an most times they were full going home from the park. To me, I think it is either you deal with the head ache of the tram/parking lot/traffic and having to know where you are going and not getting lost--or waiting for buses, possibly standing, and walking to the bus stops... We didn't mind the bus system--and were traveling with 2 small kids. One thing I will say is that the bus drivers are kind of wild, we had a few that seemed to be zipping around--I had to hold on to my 1 year old, so he wouldn't fly off my lap.
Oh--one other thing. We did not head back to take afternoon breaks. My one year old slept in the stroller, and we opted for a little bit of a later start (as my kids will sleep in and are not early risers) and didn't come back to the hotel...just FYI. It is time consuming to use the buses, plan on every bit of an hour to get anywhere.

I agree totally!!

I love reading guidebooks but I take much of what they say with a grain of salt.

We normally travel in June and stay at the CBR and we drive too. Year before last, we drove our car once during our 10 day stay and last year we drove it twice during a 10 day stay. This August, we drove it once. We relied solely on Disney transportation and had no problems at all.

Only once did we have a lengthy wait for a bus. My husband decided he would sleep in while my son and I went to Animal Kingdom. Around 12:30 or so, he decided to meet us. He waited 30 minutes for the AK bus. But, other than that, our waits for the buses weren't bad at all. Sometimes, there would be two buses at the stop at once.

Because the CBR is centrally located, it won't take you long to reach any Disney destination. Our ride to Hollywood Studios (from the time we got on the bus in Martinique, made our way around the resort and then to the park) was just over 10 minutes. The trip to Epcot was just a wee bit more. Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom were longer but not long at all.

There are times when you will have to stand on the bus but that happens at any resort.

As far as the food court goes, we had no problems there either. I like being able to go to the different stations and get what we want and then meet up at a central cashier. We aren't big breakfast eaters but I do get breakfast about every other day. I would get up early, go to the food court and get it to go. The cashier will give you a large handled bag so you can take it back to your room or eat it outside.

We've eaten lunch and dinner inside the food court and it would get busy sometimes but not overly so. We visited Pop Century during our last trip to WDW and the food court there seemed about as crowded as the CBR so it's all a matter of timing I guess.

I hope this helps to calm your fears.

Thank you, everyone! I really appreciate everyone's detailed responses! It has definitely set my mind at ease regarding buses and food court -- the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards CBR for our next stay!

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

At what rate are they renovating the rooms? I already put in a request for Martinique for our December trip, but out of curiosity, does anyone think all the rooms will be Nemo rooms by the end of the year? Just in case all of Martinique is booked.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I didn't find them.

Here are some that I took in August. The rooms were still fresh and new!!!! I apologize that they aren't in any sort of order.

Dresser with refrigerator cabinet (door open). New televisions too.

The new bedspreads with Hidden Mickeys.

Beds (looking from sink area towards door)

Nighstand between the two beds:

Beds (from door)

Bathroom:

Sink/closet area:

Privacy curtain separating bedroom from sink/closet area:

New Nemo border:

Bench:

Dresser/television/refrigerator cabinet:

Table:

New drapery:

If you'd like to see more pictures of the resort itself, just let me know and I'll post those for you as well.