Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[PrincessPatty]

How is the bus transportation at CBR? We stayed there back in 2002 and found it to be good-no long waits at the bus stops. We are staying there this summer and I have been reading a lot of threads with negative comments about the CBR bus system. Any info or thoughts?
Thanks!

I've never had a problem with long waits at the bus stops, now leaving the parks thats a different story (although not nearly as bad as the values!) I see that you are going in the summer, we are always there Sept/Oct so Im not sure if that makes a difference.

In fact, I think that we had longer waits at the Poly!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Thank you! Thank you! You have done a wonderful job with this thread! I'm subbing so I can get all of the up to the minute info. We had a ressie at POP (free dining and all - couldn't resist!) We stayed at POFQ last time and I started thinking that I might be a moderate snob - so... based on the info on this thread - we are now staying at CBR! I'm really excited!

Thanks again for all of the pictures and information!

DisneyMissy

 

[cinderella_mom]

I can't believe it's only four more days until DH, DD and I are "Pirates of the Caribbean Beach!"

Thank you all for the wonderful info. I will post a little review when I return.

 

[cheesehead7]

3 days for us Cinderella Mom!!

 

[pamouselover]

61 days for us! But Am I am not counting or anything!

 

[valleygirl]

PAmouselover we'll be there the same time as you. Checking into CBR 8/25 through 8/30. Spending the week before at a private pool home in Windsor Hills. I'm trying not to wish the summer away while I count down the days until our vacation.

 

[Heluvsme]

Posted by Heluvsme 06/26/07



Spent 7 nights at Caribbean Beach Resort!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And we loved every minute of it!!!

For our first 6 nights we were in Jamaica 41. The grounds were so gorgeous. Very relaxing, very lush and private almost. The room was so quiet, we truly didn't hear anyone around us at all. The room was clean. The only problem we had was the refrigerator. When it was determined that it couldn't be fixed, they brought us a second one, it did take several phone calls to get, but it did finally come. On our last night there we were in Trinidad South, again, a very nice location. We had to change rooms on our last night because about a month ago we decided we needed one more night than we had planned....CBR had a Magical Gatherings already booked in the block of rooms we were in at Jamaica, so we had to move, but that was OK, it was our last minute request.

The quiet pools were very nice! We didn't care too much for the main pool just because of the crowding, but the quiet pools were just that---quiet! And the Old Port Royale and Shutters were very handy and had good food!! My daughter got her hair wrapped on the first night there and still has it in! She loves it! Me? Not so crazy about it and I want to take it out, but....she likes it so fine...for now I guess.

It was such a pretty resort. The beaches were quiet and relaxing, the hammocks were TOO relaxing (I almost nodded off one evening), and the rooms were very comfortable!

 

[gigi1313]

valleygirl and pamouselover... we, too, will be there the same time as you... we're checking in on 8/27 (and staying 'til 9/3)... see ya there! TWO MONTHS & COUNTING!

 

[Tikitoi]

Posted by Heluvsme 06/26/07



Spent 7 nights at Caribbean Beach Resort!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And we loved every minute of it!!!

For our first 6 nights we were in Jamaica 41. The grounds were so gorgeous. Very relaxing, very lush and private almost. The room was so quiet, we truly didn't hear anyone around us at all. The room was clean. The only problem we had was the refrigerator. When it was determined that it couldn't be fixed, they brought us a second one, it did take several phone calls to get, but it did finally come. On our last night there we were in Trinidad South, again, a very nice location. We had to change rooms on our last night because about a month ago we decided we needed one more night than we had planned....CBR had a Magical Gatherings already booked in the block of rooms we were in at Jamaica, so we had to move, but that was OK, it was our last minute request.

The quiet pools were very nice! We didn't care too much for the main pool just because of the crowding, but the quiet pools were just that---quiet! And the Old Port Royale and Shutters were very handy and had good food!! My daughter got her hair wrapped on the first night there and still has it in! She loves it! Me? Not so crazy about it and I want to take it out, but....she likes it so fine...for now I guess.

It was such a pretty resort. The beaches were quiet and relaxing, the hammocks were TOO relaxing (I almost nodded off one evening), and the rooms were very comfortable!

Nice report. Glad to read you had a nice stay. I love CBR so much that the last time we were at WDW staying at POP we went over to CBR to visit and relax on the beach and have dinner at Shutters. We just couldn't get in to stay on that trip but it will be soon.

 

[ThinkTink75]

Okay... so we will be at CBR two weeks from Sunday- and I noticed online that part of the 2007 MYW plus Dining package inclusions
(Magic Your Way Package

Disney's PhotoPass Certificate for one 5 X 7 photo
Guests who book a Magic Your Way vacation package online receive a certificate valid for one 5 X 7 print from Disney's PhotoPass. With Disney's PhotoPass service, your family's magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation memories are captured by a professional photographer. We then make them available to view and share online! (Certificate for 5 X 7 print must be redeemed at Walt Disney World Resort. One certificate per room. Available upon check-in.)
We booked threw a TA so we don't get this

Magic Your Way Base Ticket
All Magic Your Way packages include a Magic Your Way Base Ticket for entry into one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks for each day of your ticket. Customize your ticket by adding days, the Park Hopper® Option, the Water Park Fun & More** Option, or the No Expiration Option in any combination that meets your needs.
Here we added the Park Hopper option and saved money not going for Water Park Fun & More since we have pools at the resort and didn't love Disney Quest last trip

Magic Your Way Package Special Benefits
Planet Hollywood® Certificate - Enjoy a $15 certificate valid for food and non-alcoholic beverages at the Downtown Disney® West Side location of Planet Hollywood®.
Didn't use this last time either

Disney's Miniature Golf - One certificate valid for one round of miniature golf at either Disney's Fantasia Gardens or Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf courses.
Maybe?

Sea Raycers Offer - Guests receive a certificate valid for 90 minutes of watercraft fun when they buy 60 minutes.


Commemorative luggage tag
Receive one commemorative luggage tag for every person in your party.
Yay!

My questions is about the Sea Raycers- this is something that I would like to do and we have set aside time for... however... doesn't 90 minutes seem like a lot? We thought maybe 30-45 minutes depending on how much it cost and how the time was split up... is there a price list? Long ago when I first joined this thread I remember someone had a price list or like a picture of the sign? Safety Mom was it yours? Help!

 

[kelleigh1]

I was looking at the map of the resort layout and I know that the buses can enter the resort either by the main entrance (Custom House) or near Jamaica. We're going to have a car and won't be using the bus system. Will we be able to use the entrance near Jamaica to get on and off the resort?

We've requested Trinidad South and the entrance near Jamaica is a lot closer than driving all the way around the resort from the main entrance, so I'm hoping we can use it also.

 

[pamouselover]

Great, hope to see you there!

valleygirl and pamouselover... we, too, will be there the same time as you... we're checking in on 8/27 (and staying 'til 9/3)... see ya there! TWO MONTHS & COUNTING!

 

[pamouselover]

We just paid in full, and when I looked I had the same thing. I was hoping that I could get two sea racyers, one for 60 min, and the other for the 90 mins.free.
I also did not get the free 5x7 because, I called disney direct.
I think I should call then and ask for it, because I was not able to book my trip online at the time. My confirm. letter does not state luggage tags, I will be so upset if I dont get them!

Okay... so we will be at CBR two weeks from Sunday- and I noticed online that part of the 2007 MYW plus Dining package inclusions
(Magic Your Way Package

Disney's PhotoPass Certificate for one 5 X 7 photo
Guests who book a Magic Your Way vacation package online receive a certificate valid for one 5 X 7 print from Disney's PhotoPass. With Disney's PhotoPass service, your family's magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation memories are captured by a professional photographer. We then make them available to view and share online! (Certificate for 5 X 7 print must be redeemed at Walt Disney World Resort. One certificate per room. Available upon check-in.)
We booked threw a TA so we don't get this

Magic Your Way Base Ticket
All Magic Your Way packages include a Magic Your Way Base Ticket for entry into one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks for each day of your ticket. Customize your ticket by adding days, the Park Hopper® Option, the Water Park Fun & More** Option, or the No Expiration Option in any combination that meets your needs.
Here we added the Park Hopper option and saved money not going for Water Park Fun & More since we have pools at the resort and didn't love Disney Quest last trip

Magic Your Way Package Special Benefits
Planet Hollywood® Certificate - Enjoy a $15 certificate valid for food and non-alcoholic beverages at the Downtown Disney® West Side location of Planet Hollywood®.
Didn't use this last time either

Disney's Miniature Golf - One certificate valid for one round of miniature golf at either Disney's Fantasia Gardens or Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf courses.
Maybe?

Sea Raycers Offer - Guests receive a certificate valid for 90 minutes of watercraft fun when they buy 60 minutes.


Commemorative luggage tag
Receive one commemorative luggage tag for every person in your party.
Yay!

My questions is about the Sea Raycers- this is something that I would like to do and we have set aside time for... however... doesn't 90 minutes seem like a lot? We thought maybe 30-45 minutes depending on how much it cost and how the time was split up... is there a price list? Long ago when I first joined this thread I remember someone had a price list or like a picture of the sign? Safety Mom was it yours? Help!

 

[ThinkTink75]

We just paid in ful, and when I looked I had the same thing. I was hoping that I could get two sea racyers, one for 60 min, and the other for the 90 mins.free.
I also did not get the free 5x7 becasue I called disney direct.
I think I should call then though becasue I was not able to book my trip online at the time. My confirm. letter does not stae luggage tags, I will be so upset if I dont get them!

I don't think the luggage tags showed up on our confirmation our last trip but we got these adorable Happiest Celebration on Earth ones anyhow- its a sweet surprise! I def think you should call about the free 5x7- its a decent amount of money to buy park pics! My DBF and I both have Disney Visa's and we get a free cert for 1 5x7 each from that so I was okay not getting the book online ones! I was too nervous to yet do it myself anyway! lol! I think the Sea Raycer deal is that you purchase 60 minuts but get 90- like a free 1/2 hour. If they split it up maybe in that case the DBF and I can convince them to let us each do like a half hour on separate boats?

 

[pamouselover]

THINKTINK- Yes, I think I will call them.
Also, are you a Melody or Melaine? I am a Melody!

 

[gigi1313]

Disney's PhotoPass Certificate for one 5 X 7 photo

We booked threw a TA so we don't get this

Magic Your Way Package Special Benefits
Planet Hollywood® Certificate - Enjoy a $15 certificate valid for food and non-alcoholic beverages at the Downtown Disney® West Side location of Planet Hollywood®.


Sea Raycers Offer - Guests receive a certificate valid for 90 minutes of watercraft fun when they buy 60 minutes.

My questions is about the Sea Raycers- this is something that I would like to do and we have set aside time for... however... doesn't 90 minutes seem like a lot? We thought maybe 30-45 minutes depending on how much it cost and how the time was split up... is there a price list? Long ago when I first joined this thread I remember someone had a price list or like a picture of the sign? Safety Mom was it yours? Help!

a few things...
#1, just because you booked thru a TA does not mean you are not eligible to get the photopass certificate... we've always gotten all the perks even when using a TA

#2, the PH voucher does not expire 'til 12/31/07 (i think) so if you don't use it, you can pass it along to a friend who is going to be there... at least it's worked that way in the past

#3, the buy 60, get 90, is really just a free 30... like get 90 for the price of 60... not buy 60 get an additional 90 free... and yes, they can be split up... 45 mins on two boats, 30 mins on 3 boats, 90 mins on one boat, etc... we plan to split ours up

#4, i don't know the prices but i checked allears and it said $24/30 mins...

 

[latrischler]

I booked through TA since this is our first trip and I wasn't sure WHAT to do - but now I'm bummed because I can't see my reservations online at Disney even though we're staying at a Disney resort, etc. Looks like if I had booked through Disney I could look everything up online? So should I have booked directly with D? Is there ANY advantage to going with a TA? I certiainly didn't get any discount or anything "extra" by going with a TA that I can tell....

 

[pamouselover]

This was the first time I DID NOT book through a TA.
I only did it because my TA was away.
I think if someone else can benfit, (though it is not much)from the money I am spending. Why not?
TA's can sometimes get the package cheaper then we can from Disney. In 2005, my TA was on the phone and I was on disney.com and Disney was quoting me over $200 more then my TA.

When you go to pick up everything from your TA, you will most likley get everyting with your other things.

I booked through TA since this is our first trip and I wasn't sure WHAT to do - but now I'm bummed because I can't see my reservations online at Disney even though we're staying at a Disney resort, etc. Looks like if I had booked through Disney I could look everything up online? So should I have booked directly with D? Is there ANY advantage to going with a TA? I certiainly didn't get any discount or anything "extra" by going with a TA that I can tell....

 

[ThinkTink75]

THINKTINK- Yes, I think I will call them.
Also, are you a Melody or Melaine? I am a Melody!

I am Melissa! lol!

a few things...
#1, just because you booked thru a TA does not mean you are not eligible to get the photopass certificate... we've always gotten all the perks even when using a TA

#2, the PH voucher does not expire 'til 12/31/07 (i think) so if you don't use it, you can pass it along to a friend who is going to be there... at least it's worked that way in the past

#3, the buy 60, get 90, is really just a free 30... like get 90 for the price of 60... not buy 60 get an additional 90 free... and yes, they can be split up... 45 mins on two boats, 30 mins on 3 boats, 90 mins on one boat, etc... we plan to split ours up

#4, i don't know the prices but i checked allears and it said $24/30 mins...

The photopass cert specifically says that you have to have booked online. Everything else is just a perk of anyone buying MYW. Also, the Planet Hollywood voucher was non-transferrable during our January 2006 trip... we tried to give it to my cousin but he couldn't use it because it had our names and trip dates on it and he was told that it had to be used during our reservation (they assumed he was one of those named on the voucher) but the person at PH he spoke to said it has to be used while you are on that trip and by you only. If it says an expiration date on it this time I will send it to my cousin again and make him say he is my DBF since he is listed on the paperwork. Thanks for the tip! I am very interested to know prices because my DBF and I would have great fun on the Sea Raycers!

I booked through TA since this is our first trip and I wasn't sure WHAT to do - but now I'm bummed because I can't see my reservations online at Disney even though we're staying at a Disney resort, etc. Looks like if I had booked through Disney I could look everything up online? So should I have booked directly with D? Is there ANY advantage to going with a TA? I certiainly didn't get any discount or anything "extra" by going with a TA that I can tell....

I would say- if you are more comfortable with a TA find one that gets you a deal. I got equal price to free dining during our January 2006 trip and even after upgrading to a mod AND going for a preferred room for our upcoming trip our TA managed to get us a vacation $300 under our budget. I would use her everytime because of the fantastic deals she gets us! Just my two cents but I wouldn't go back if you didn't get anything you could have gotten for yourself. Afterall, TAs get paid!

Anyone out there know where I can find the Sea Raycer prices?

 

[gigi1313]

I booked through TA since this is our first trip and I wasn't sure WHAT to do - but now I'm bummed because I can't see my reservations online at Disney even though we're staying at a Disney resort, etc. Looks like if I had booked through Disney I could look everything up online? So should I have booked directly with D? Is there ANY advantage to going with a TA? I certiainly didn't get any discount or anything "extra" by going with a TA that I can tell....

the main benefit of booking thru a TA is the service you receive... the cost will likely be the same (although some TAs do run specials, oftentimes w/a gift card for booking w/them or a reduced rate due to 'bundling' clients together to obtain a group rate) but the service is what makes a TA stand out... their knowledge, itinerary planning, making ADRs (if you want that castle breakfast, let your TA be the one to get up at 6:45am on your 180th day to make the call at precisely 7am!)... TAs also monitor codes and deals and discounts and will apply them to your ressie w/out you needing to be hassled by those things (or worse yet, paying more 'cause you didn't know about them!)... plus if something goes wrong, you have someone to call who can help to make things right... if you'd like, PM me for more info on why i've used a TA for the last few years ('cause that's not really what this thread is about)...

re: the photopass certificate... it depends on how your TA booked it... according to the TA site, it says "When the package is booked through disneytravelagents.com, receive one certificate valid for one 5x7 print from Disney’s PhotoPass. Certificate must be redeemed at the Theme Park. (One certificate per room)"

now, on to sea raycers... i went to all ears net dot com and they had the sea raycer price that i posted above ($24/30mins) but i am not 100% sure it's the most recent price, although it has to be fairly recent 'cause they used to call those boats "mice boats" and only changed their names in the last two years or so...

hope that helps