Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[safetymom]

GAC guest assistance card

 

[Hoosier Mom]

GAC guest assistance card

What do you use a guest assistance card for?

Is it something you receive when checking in?

 

[safetymom]

Most people do not need guest assistance cards. It is for those with handicaps, disabilities, etc. You can find more information on them on the disabilities board here on the DIS.

 

[tnkrbell]

Swan was VERY disappointing.

What did you find diapointing??

 

[LAS321]

My daughter and I spent one week at the Caribbean Beach from Aug.10 - 17. We had a great time. After reading all the negative reviews, we were a little nervous, but our fears were unfounded. Check-in was quick and easy. We asked for a preferred location and were put in Martinique 25. It was close to everything and after walking the whole resort, were glad we paid the extra for a more convenient location.
The resort itself is absolutely beautiful. It is relaxing, beautifully landscaped and has such a peaceful feeling. So welcome after the crowds and rushing around in the parks.
Our room was fine. Plenty big enough and nicely decorated. A new carpet might be in order, but we were very happy with everything about the resort. The food court is fine, a real convenience if you want to just grab something to eat without going anywhere. The mugs are a must. They paid for themselves many times over. The gift shop is also very nice.
We rented a car so can't comment on the bus service.
The staff was friendly, the room cleaned very well everyday, complete with "towel animals". The quiet pool in our village was very calm and relaxing.
Overall, we loved this place and would love to return soon!

 

[ducknbutch]

My daughter and I spent one week at the Caribbean Beach from Aug.10 - 17. We had a great time. After reading all the negative reviews, we were a little nervous, but our fears were unfounded. Check-in was quick and easy. We asked for a preferred location and were put in Martinique 25. It was close to everything and after walking the whole resort, were glad we paid the extra for a more convenient location.
The resort itself is absolutely beautiful. It is relaxing, beautifully landscaped and has such a peaceful feeling. So welcome after the crowds and rushing around in the parks.
Our room was fine. Plenty big enough and nicely decorated. A new carpet might be in order, but we were very happy with everything about the resort. The food court is fine, a real convenience if you want to just grab something to eat without going anywhere. The mugs are a must. They paid for themselves many times over. The gift shop is also very nice.
We rented a car so can't comment on the bus service.
The staff was friendly, the room cleaned very well everyday, complete with "towel animals". The quiet pool in our village was very calm and relaxing.
Overall, we loved this place and would love to return soon!

I agree, my wife and I had a great time there for our honeymoon

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

OT alert: ducknbutch... the bottom part of your siggie scares me!

 

[ducknbutch]

OT alert: ducknbutch... the bottom part of your siggie scares me!

LOL: the only person that can see the info is you

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Hi. I know this is a dining question, but I figured you experts here would know better.

I'm wondering if you need an ADR for Shutters or are they easy to make the day of?? We're checking-in in the late afternoon and just want to hang out at the resort and have dinner there.

We're driving so I don't know exactly what time we'll be there and finished checking-in. We're on the DP so we'll have to check in before we eat. I was hoping to call on the way down when we have a better idea of when we'll get there. Think this will work or will I have to estimate and make the ADR with all the others?

Thanks for all the info...

 

[CleveRocks]

Hi. I know this is a dining question, but I figured you experts here would know better.

I'm wondering if you need an ADR for Shutters or are they easy to make the day of?? We're checking-in in the late afternoon and just want to hang out at the resort and have dinner there.

We're driving so I don't know exactly what time we'll be there and finished checking-in. We're on the DP so we'll have to check in before we eat. I was hoping to call on the way down when we have a better idea of when we'll get there. Think this will work or will I have to estimate and make the ADR with all the others?

Thanks for all the info...

I can only go on my one experience. It was a Tuesday in early May (last year), not a peak or overcrowded time. In early afternoon, I called the Disney Dining number from a Disney Transport bus, hoping to get an ADR for Shutters for that night, and they had no ADRs available for a party of 6 until very late. We didn't test our luck by going anyway and waiting.

 

[mommapea]

Hi, I'm really way early on this question...as we aren't going to WDW until 6/07. I'm narrowing down our resorts, and I am really wanting a room close to laundry and a quiet pool. Our little ones will be 4 and 7yrs and I would like to be close to a pool for swimming late at night (w/out having to hike very far). Is this a reasonable option at CBR or really not worth the $$ for a waterview? After reading several of these posts, I'm starting to think this may not even be necessary. Thanks.

 

[Armandocme]

Martinique building 22 is close to the quiet pool and laundry.

Barbados building 12 & 13 are close to the quiet pool and laundry.

Aruba building 52 is close to the quiet pool and laundry. Also close to the bridge to Old Port Royale.

Jamaica buildings 44 and 43 are close to the quiet pool and laundry. Also close to the bridge to Old Port Royale.

Trinidad South building 37 and 36 are close to the quiet pool and laundry. Please note that Trinidad South is considered the most isolated of all the other "islands".

 

[KimRaye]

We stayed at Trinidad North 33 and were a short path's walk from the quiet pool and laundry and, even closer to the vending/ice machines.

Have a great time!

 

[safetymom]

I wouldn't pay extra for a water view room. Each village has a quiet pool so you won't be that far away from a laundry.

Welcome to the DIS Mommapea.

 

[mommapea]

I appreciate the advice. I will be visiting this board all of the time, as I really think we have a winner...we're staying at CBR!!! After looking at the pictures (thank you very much Safetymom!), I don't think we can go wrong. The only other Disney property we've stayed at was POFQ, about 4 yrs ago. I loved it, but am looking for something different. I wish we could go earlier, but we need to put a deposit on our trip and pay on it, slowly. We're staying 11 nights, so thanks for making me feel better about not getting a quiet pool view room. The extra $$ adds up over the 11 days.

So, until we leave, I'll just check in here, every now and then, and get my fix! Any other advice is appreciated. Thanks so much for this forum!! It sold me!! Candy

Downtown Disney Hotel- 1989
Off Property- 2000
POFQ- 2002 (think we're hooked to staying onsite!)
CBR-2007 (too far away )

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

Well, Justin and I just returned from a wonderful vacation at Disney! We had originally booked CBR with the free dining, but added an additional night since a new code came out with a sweet discount for the Wilderness Lodge...$135 per night. We checked into WL on Sunday, August 27th and was assigned room 6044 which seemed like a hike from the front desk to elevator to room. This room had a view overlooking the service area below and behind trees you could just make out the monorail and the Contemporary. The balcony was iron so you could look through, but again nothing much to look at. This was a non-smoking room so we ended up being moved to a smoking room....room 6010. This room had a solid balcony so you could not sit down and look out, but when standing you could see Seven Seas Lagoon, Contemporary and the monorail through the trees. Both rooms seemed a bit dark and on the small side for a deluxe room. Room 6010 was close to the elevator going down to Roaring Forks and pool area. We really enjoyed walking around the resort and taking everything in. I do love the fact that you can just take the boat over to the Contemporary and hop on the monorail. Transportation wise this is a great location. The next morning we checked into CBR.

I was a bit leery over booking CBR from things I've read, but am so glad that I decided to take a chance staying here. I found my new favorite resort! I absolutely love the bright colors of each of the Islands. We were assigned Aruba 5102 which is a smoking section. I love how close the parking is here compared to the WL. The best rooms to get would have been on the other side of the building...rooms 5123 would have been ideal, but we were very pleased with the room we had. I loved the walk over the bridge and island to Port Royale...5 minute walk. I had actually started to count exactly how many steps I took from the time I stepped onto the bridge until I got off the bridge at the main pool, but forgot to right down the number. LOL It was something like 200 steps...100 with one foot and 100 with the other give or take just a few short steps. I did time it and it only took 8 minutes to go from my room to the main pool and I'm anything but a fast walker. I also absolutely loved the food court here. Much bigger and much better selection here than at WL or most other resorts I've stayed in. The shopping selection is also much larger with a better selection than some of the other resorts. Since we drove down we didn't use the transportation from our resort to any of the parks, but I always saw buses one after the other coming around to pick up and drop off guests. I had read one person's report on how this resort made them feel like they were taking a vacation within a vacation. I definitely felt that same feeling! I really felt like I was on a tropical island even though I could see the top of Spaceship Earth from our resort. Disney could very easily make this into a deluxe resort by just adding a few small things....like the flat screen tv's, having queen size beds, adding a small food/drink stand at each island's private pools and/or shopping carts that are geared towards that island...like items from Aruba being sold in Aruba, etc.... Our room was much larger, or at least it had that feeling with how big and bright our room was compared to our room at WL. I could also see how easy (well, maybe not easy, but doable) to extend the waterway from Epcot to the CBR....the same idea they had with the waterway over top of the road that goes to the Contemporary. It could be done, but it would cause havoc with the roadways that are in place. Out of the two resorts I would give the WL a 7 and the CBR a 9. I also enjoyed the pool at CBR much more than the one at WL. It just seemed larger than the one at WL and I loved the theming at CBR much more. Also with each island having a private pool the main pool didn't seem as crowded. One thing I wish Disney would place is no kids allowed in the hot tubs. One it's really not good for them, two that's more of an adult thing than a kid thing, but that's just my opinion.

So...that's my review of the two resorts we got to experience this vacation.

Resorts I have stayed in the past: Polynesian, Contemporary Tower MK View, Contemporary North Garden Wing, Port Orleans French Quarter, All Star Music, FW Campground for most trips. This was my 47 trip to the Wonderful World of Disney!

 

[smnornes]

MariaEllerºoº....thank you so much for your CBR report! We only have a few weeks to go until our 10 day stay there and simply cannot wait! I'm expecting great and magical things!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Thanks for the great trip report. We'll be staying there for the first time in just 6 weeks

 

[tam012864]

Does anyone know if they Pirate adventure out of the Caribbean Beach is still only on Tuesdays? Any hope of them adding days??? Thanks in advance for any help!!!

 

[safetymom]

It is still only on Tuesdays.