Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[MichDISer]

You might want to think about bringing an air mattress.

Good idea. We might just do that. Thanks again

 

[momto2dkids]

safetymom-

We are planning a trip to WDW next Jan(2006) so my DH can run the Disney marathon. We are trying to decide between staying at Beach Club Shorther stay)or the Caribbean Beach(longer stay).

I have read all your excellent info and thank you so very much for it.

If we stay at the CBR, I am looking at staying in the village of Martinique based on the shorter trip to OPR, the main pool and bus stops.

I've seen several times that you mentioned being able to see the fireworks from the beach at Martinique, but could clarify which beach because from the map you so generously posted it looks like there are 2 beaches by Martinique;
1 by bldg 22 and another between bldg 25 and OPR. Which beach is best for viewing the fireworks from?

Also do you know if Bldg 25 has any connecting rooms? We are a family of 5 with 3 kids (will be 11, 6 and 2). I know the the rooms only hold 4 people so we will probably have our oldest DD be listed and stay in the room with her grandmother (they both love that), so being able to have connecting rooms would be a big +.

Thanks so much

 

[safetymom]

We sit on the beach closest to OPR. You can see the top of EPCOT. Look for the lights at the top, when they turn them out they are about to begin. I am pretty sure they have connecting rooms in all the buildings.

 

[ms.ojo]

I posted this on the main resort pg and it was suggested I post here too. Thanks in advance for your help!!!!
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Relatively new to these boards. I LOVE THEM!!! What a great community. You're all so helpful. Just finalizing our hotel. Next wk it's 90days and PS ressies to be made!!! I'm so excited!!!!!! A few questions on CBR if you don't mind....

• Can you see Illuminations? If so, from which bldgs/beaches? Can you see from 1st floor rooms, or only out on the beach or upper rooms?
• Can you see Wishes? If so, from which bldgs/beaches?
• 7 bus stops? Which is stop #1vs #7? I think I read somewher there are sometimes 2 bus routes that split the resort. What happens then?
• Aruba bldgs 51-53...anything to avoid? something good to request?
• Considering req. pref bldgs of Martinique or std in Aruba. We have 2 young childre sow ant to be close tot hings, but not on top of the main theme pool (don't want too much noise if we come back for afternoon naps). Suggestions?
• Have read most of the 2 CBR FAQs and am psyched on the hotel!!! Anything else you'd like to add I'm all ears!!!!

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Jennie in TO]

We are being supplied with a coffee maker at CBR and I had some questions about it. Does it have a permanent filter or do we bring our own filters? Is it supplied with coffee regularly, or do we bring our own? Or is the coffee so yucky, is it better to bring your own?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

They give you coffee that is in a filter packet. If you want to use something else then you will need to bring filters and coffee.

 

[Jennie in TO]

Whew! You're quick! Do you know which kind of filters to bring? Cone or basket and possibly the size approximately?

 

[Jennie in TO]

And by the way, what is a TF believer...under your avatar?

 

[jaysmom4285]

ms.ojo, I may have answered this when you posted in the other thread, but I can't remember, and I can't find the thread! So at the risk of duplicating - We stayed in Jamaica 45 and could view both Wishes and Illuminations from our second floor walkway. I imagine you could from any first floor walkway as long as it faced the road on that side of the resort, it just helps to be up a bit higher. The trees block the lower pyrotechnics, but you can see anything that has any height. I understand the view from the beach in front of Martinique is good as well, we just never watched from there.
There are seven bus stops. I had heard that Jamaica was usually the first and last bus stop, but that wasn't always the case during our stay. When we were returning to the resort at the end of the day, we entered the park by the Custom House and went counterclockwise. Sometimes the buses seemed to enter the resort from the side road just above Jamaica, making it the first stop. Other times, the buses seemed to have come from the Custom House entrance, as they had other passengers already. We found that the buses came very frequently and we rarely waited as much as ten minutes. There is also an internal bus that just makes laps around the resort, if you don't want to walk.
We've never stayed in Aruba, but if you want to be close to Old Port Royale without paying for a preferred room, request the Aruba Building that is closest to Jamaica (consult the map - I think there's a link on safetymom's FAQ site). That will put you almost directly across from the end of the walkway across the lagoon to OPR. If you look at the map, that's just about as close to OPR as some of the outer buildings in Martinique. We found our Jamaica location to be very quiet and peaceful, and I'm sure Aruba would be the same.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I just got back from a 7 night stay at CBR last night and it was great ! I checked in on Wed 1/19 around 12:30pmish and there were a few other families that checked in at the same time (we were all on the same mears bus) and I can't remember the name of the guy that checked me in, but I asked him if I could get a room in Jamaica and he said he would check. Well I got Jamaica Building 44 room 4402. It was a lower level room facing the circle drive that fronts buildings 44,45,46. The location was great I could easily get to the bus stop in just a couple minutes and I had about a 6 minute walk to OPR.

The staff at CBR was also great! I sent a package UPS to myself at the resort and it wasn't there when I checked in, but it did arrive my first day and the front desk brought it to my room at 11:30pm at night. Also housekeeping was wonderful and always left extra soaps! I even had the same bell man who brought me to my room help me when I left and he remembered all of the stuff I told him when I arrived it was fabulous. The cast members in the food court were also very pleasant and nice to talk to.

The busses were great I only had one long wait my frist day for an MGM-Studios bus, but other than that busses ran more frequently then the 20 minutes or so they told me at check-in.

I didn't do any swimming a little chilly for my tastes, but plenty of people were in the main pool at OPR. On Sunday and Monday nights when it was chilly you could see steam coming off of the pools.


I did eat at the food court for a few meals at the end of my trip and it was nice they had a good variety to pick from and they were very efficient. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer them.

 

[ms.ojo]

I'm so excited to get to this resort. Don't have any more resort questions right now.....but I'm sure I will before we leave in April! Welcome home.

 

[mom22girls]

Thanks Scoutsmom. We are leaving for this resort in a week and a half so glad to hear the update. We are staying for 3 nights with a 4 & 6 year old. I was thinking of asking for Jamaica too. We will probably spend a day by the pools do you think Jamaica is a good area or would we want to be closer to the main pool. Also, was there a fridge in your room and did you have to pay for it. Thanks. I am sure I will think of other questions.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Thanks Scoutsmom. We are leaving for this resort in a week and a half so glad to hear the update. We are staying for 3 nights with a 4 & 6 year old. I was thinking of asking for Jamaica too. We will probably spend a day by the pools do you think Jamaica is a good area or would we want to be closer to the main pool.

I'm looking at my map for CBR (they are so pretty now very colorful!) and Jamaica 45 is the closest Jamaica building to the main pool. I think either Jamaica Bulidings 44, 45, or 46 would be great for your family they are close to the playground on the Jamaica Beach and are within 5-7 minutes to the pool.

Also, was there a fridge in your room and did you have to pay for it. Thanks. I am sure I will think of other questions.

Yes there was a fridge in my room and it was free! All of the rooms have a fridge in them for free. Make sure to see what the temp is set at in your fridge mine was on the coldest setting and my water started to freeze! Enjoy your trip

 

[mom22girls]

Thanks Scoutsmom

 

[Peeko]

Are the only smoking rooms in the Aruba section? Is this location to far away from the food court and main swimming pool?

 

[Wenlitz]

Just wondering how the new rooms and beds are at the cbr???
As of right now we are planning to stay at this resort and I was just curious.
Thanks for any info.

 

[simzac]

Just wondering how the new rooms and beds are at the cbr???
As of right now we are planning to stay at this resort and I was just curious.
Thanks for any info.

Just stayed there earlier this month, the room we had was fantastic. Everything is almost new condition, and the entire room was very clean.

 

[safetymom]

Aruba is across the lake from Old Port Royale and the main pool. It isn't a bad walk.

 

[Peeko]

Aruba is across the lake from Old Port Royale and the main pool. It isn't a bad walk.

Thanks! I was looking at the map and it looks like there is a bridge that goes accross the lake by the 5100 building thats listed as the only smoking building is this what I see?

 

[safetymom]

Yes there is a bridge that goes across the lake. Very nice walk.