Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[safetymom]

http://www.idhal.com/photogallery/photo2058/real_p.htm Scroll to the bottom of the page for a look at a fridge at CBR.

 

[Lorikr65]

Purpose of my post was to advise what I discovered: car rental rates at Orlando airport are SIGNIFICANTLY less than I expected. I got a 5 day car rental (econo) with car seat for under $100!!!

What company has rentals for $100!!! I checked online and was getting a price of $240 for 10 days.

I have a question for anyone who would like to answer!! If you are staying at a Disney resort do you have to pay to park in the parks? Also, is it a pain to get to the parking lot at Magic Kingdom and Epcot? I think the other parks have the lots not too far but it seems like MK and Epcot you have to take a boat/trolley to the parking lots.

thanks - Lori

 

[safetymom]

I would suggest visiting the transportation board for info on MCO rentals.

Resort guests park free at the parks. You can walk to the entrance at Epcot or take a tram. MK is the one that you need to take a monorail or boat to the entrance. MK is sometimes easier if you take the Disney bus to the park since it drops you near the entrance.

 

[cindy17]

OK, this is what happened. I've had my heart set on French Quarter for some time now, but would not make the ressies until I knew for certain that I'd have the money to go this year.
good news is I've got enough money to make the ressies now, but I found out today that there are no AAA rooms available at FQ at the time I'm scheduled to go. However there are rooms at Riverside and Caribbean Beach. Between these two, Caribeean sounds more fun. However, we have two autistic sons who can't deal well with line lines or overly crowded buses.
We stayed at All Stars Music once and only reason why we won't stay there again is the bus service!
Is the bus service relatively decent at Caribbean, or is it usually a test of patience? At least it sounds like the bus drivers have better personalities than some who service All Stars.

I have an autistic son and have stayed at Riverside. Very nice and peaceful. As far as the busses, our last 2 trips we rented a car and we really liked the flexibility with our son. Some times we really had to have a quick "getaway" and we were very glad not to have to wait on a bus line. By the way, are you aware of the Guest Assistance Card (GAC). If not, check out the disabilities board. It truly is a lifesaver for us. Have a good trip!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I know that this is the resort thread, but I have a question about Old Port Royale. Do they have deserts or ice-cream snacks? My DDs love a snack at night after a long day at the parks. We always get the refillable mugs for hot chocolate and other drinks, but we really need to know about the deserts and such. Thank you!!!

 

[Sabre2th]

I have an autistic son and have stayed at Riverside. Very nice and peaceful. As far as the busses, our last 2 trips we rented a car and we really liked the flexibility with our son. Some times we really had to have a quick "getaway" and we were very glad not to have to wait on a bus line. By the way, are you aware of the Guest Assistance Card (GAC). If not, check out the disabilities board. It truly is a lifesaver for us. Have a good trip!

We've decided to go ahead and rent a car while we're there. It does seem like the best choice for us in the end. Which means if I really had to save money we could just stay at one of the value resorts, but now I've got my heart on CRB!

 

[CleveRocks]

I know that this is the resort thread, but I have a question about Old Port Royale. Do they have deserts or ice-cream snacks? My DDs love a snack at night after a long day at the parks. We always get the refillable mugs for hot chocolate and other drinks, but we really need to know about the deserts and such. Thank you!!!

The Grab-N-Go Market, in the food court, has all kinds of single-serve dessert-type stuff, such as ice cream novelties, slices of cake/pie, donuts, fruit, Rice Krispie treat Mickey Bars, and so on.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I saw on an earlier thread (I found it on search) about the Food Court at CBR that there is a soft serve ice cream for self serve available, can anyone tell me if that is true. DDs are very excited about this.

Thanks if you have the answer.

 

[safetymom]

Yes there is one.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Yes there is one.

Thank you, I have come to learn watching this thread that I can count on your quick and accurate response. May I PM you if I come up with some more questions about this resort? We are staying here for the first time, we stayed at WL last year and found it to be very dark, its ok if you like that, but we like very lively and bright places.

 

[Eclpz314]

Thank you, I have come to learn watching this thread that I can count on your quick and accurate response. May I PM you if I come up with some more questions about this resort? We are staying here for the first time, we stayed at WL last year and found it to be very dark, its ok if you like that, but we like very lively and bright places.

If it's ok, could you post your 'first timer' questions here? We're going Dec 8-14th and this will be our first time at the CBR also! I haven't even been to WDW since '96 or so. Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

There are plenty of people here that would glad to answer your first time questions. Ask away.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Do CBR guests share the DME with other resorts? If so, are they the first dropped off or the last? Is there an internal bus that takes us from the Check-in to our room? Does CBR share Diney buses with other resorts for the parks? And finally, how is the bus service at CBR?

I know lots of questions, but I am trying to assure DH that we chose the right resort!!!

 

[EnnEss]

DME seems to change based on demand. I think every resort shares DME, it depends what is needed at the time though as to which is shared with what. I know when I stayed at WL DME was shared with other resorts, but WL happened to be the first stop. Same thing happened when I was at CBR.

As for the buses to and from the resort, once I took the bus back from MGM to CBR and we stopped at Pop first. This only happened once on a 10 day trip and usually Pop has its own, since there are so many people there. I'm not sure why it happened, possibly because it was a slow time of year (Late April) and both resorts had less than average people?

 

[CaptainH00k]

Do CBR guests share the DME with other resorts? If so, are they the first dropped off or the last? Is there an internal bus that takes us from the Check-in to our room? Does CBR share Diney buses with other resorts for the parks? And finally, how is the bus service at CBR?

I know lots of questions, but I am trying to assure DH that we chose the right resort!!!

DME seems to change based on demand. I think every resort shares DME, it depends what is needed at the time though as to which is shared with what. I know when I stayed at WL DME was shared with other resorts, but WL happened to be the first stop. Same thing happened when I was at CBR.

As for the buses to and from the resort, once I took the bus back from MGM to CBR and we stopped at Pop first. This only happened once on a 10 day trip and usually Pop has its own, since there are so many people there. I'm not sure why it happened, possibly because it was a slow time of year (Late April) and both resorts had less than average people?

The last I heard - CBR does not share transportation to and from parks with other resorts. I don't know how Magical Express to and from the airport works though - great question!

 

[CleveRocks]

Do CBR guests share the DME with other resorts? If so, are they the first dropped off or the last?

Almost always. There's no such thing as a WDW resort that has it's own dedicated DME buses. Everybody shares.

There are no pre-set DME routes, and no pre-set groupings of resorts. It's all based on demand, and therefore it's not the same from one hour to the next. People going to CBR on DME at 10:00 a.m. today might have been the first of 3 drop-offs, and people going to CBR on DME at Noon today might have been the second of only 2 drop-offs. No way to know until you are on the bus.

Is there an internal bus that takes us from the Check-in to our room?

Yes, if you want it. You might not want it or need it, depending on where your room is.

CBR has an internal shuttle, a full-sized Disney Transport bus that stays within CBR. It makes 8 stops, one at each of the 6 villages, one at Old Port Royale (the food court/restaurant/gift shops/etc. hub), and one at the Custom House (the building that has the "front desk"). Since you will be using Disney's Magical Express, you won't have your checked luggage with you, only carry-ons. You can wait for the internal shuttle to bring you to your village, but if you are close enough you might want to walk. For instance, the Barbados village is directly across the street from the Custom House, and taking a bus there would be pretty absurd. Aruba and Martinique are relatively short walks, too. You'll get a map when you check-in, and then you can decide for yourself if you'll ride or walk. If it's not very hot and if you're not in a rush and you're physically able, it's very pleasant walking through CBR's lush and beautiful grounds, and it would be a nice way to orient yourself.

People who arrive with checked luggage usually get a ride to their room in a van driven by a Bell Services CM. At very busy times, though, they are asked to take the bus or walk, and the bags would be delivered a little later.

Does CBR share Diney buses with other resorts for the parks?

Nope. It's among the few resorts that NEVER share buses with any other resort.

And finally, how is the bus service at CBR?

OPinions vary. I think it's just great ... I've stayed at CBR twice and never had a consistent problem with the buses. I think many of the people who complain about CBR's bus service aren't accustomed to riding buses in general or Disney Transport buses in particular.

CBR is a great place. I hope you love it there as much as I do.

 

[EnnEss]

It's among the few resorts that NEVER share buses with any other resort.

In April I boarded a bus at MGM late at night and it definately stopped at Pop, then it went onto CBR. This is the only time I've ever seen pop. If I went through my pics I can probably even find the date and the time range. I know this is not normal, and I don't know why they did it, but they did. This only happened once out of all the many many times I've taken buses to and from CBR, but it did happen.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

I haven't stayed at CBR since 1997 and am thinking of returning this spring. Has anything changed in the last 10 years?

 

[ThinkTink75]

Do CBR guests share the DME with other resorts? If so, are they the first dropped off or the last? Is there an internal bus that takes us from the Check-in to our room? Does CBR share Diney buses with other resorts for the parks? And finally, how is the bus service at CBR?

I know lots of questions, but I am trying to assure DH that we chose the right resort!!!

DME seems to change based on demand. I think every resort shares DME, it depends what is needed at the time though as to which is shared with what. I know when I stayed at WL DME was shared with other resorts, but WL happened to be the first stop. Same thing happened when I was at CBR.

As for the buses to and from the resort, once I took the bus back from MGM to CBR and we stopped at Pop first. This only happened once on a 10 day trip and usually Pop has its own, since there are so many people there. I'm not sure why it happened, possibly because it was a slow time of year (Late April) and both resorts had less than average people?

In April I boarded a bus at MGM late at night and it definately stopped at Pop, then it went onto CBR. This is the only time I've ever seen pop. If I went through my pics I can probably even find the date and the time range. I know this is not normal, and I don't know why they did it, but they did. This only happened once out of all the many many times I've taken buses to and from CBR, but it did happen.

I haven't stayed at CBR since 1997 and am thinking of returning this spring. Has anything changed in the last 10 years?

We just returned from a weeks stay at CBR and loved it! I will post up some of my pictures for you guys later... but let me just say that we shared our DME bus with the Swan and Dolphin and were last dropped off and its was no biggie at all! And on the way back we shared with Pop- again no big deal! It is very cushy and fun! Also, as far as DT sharing with Pop I think that occasionally CBR has empty buses when Pop has more full ones, this is just my opinion based on the size and lines during our stay. We were supposed to take the return DME bus alone, without stopping but our bus drive told us that there wasn't enough room on the Pop bus and that was why we had to stop there- this may be a similar reason why the other DISer mentioned the resort hop. Transportation was great, never waited more than 15 minutes, never had to wait for the 2nd bus, and our room was so close to OPR we used that main bus stop everytime we got on a bus! Hope that helps and I will report on my trip soon!

 

[pamouselover]

How were the crowds?

We just returned from a weeks stay at CBR and loved it! I will post up some of my pictures for you guys later... but let me just say that we shared our DME bus with the Swan and Dolphin and were last dropped off and its was no biggie at all! And on the way back we shared with Pop- again no big deal! It is very cushy and fun! Also, as far as DT sharing with Pop I think that occasionally CBR has empty buses when Pop has more full ones, this is just my opinion based on the size and lines during our stay. We were supposed to take the return DME bus alone, without stopping but our bus drive told us that there wasn't enough room on the Pop bus and that was why we had to stop there- this may be a similar reason why the other DISer mentioned the resort hop. Transportation was great, never waited more than 15 minutes, never had to wait for the 2nd bus, and our room was so close to OPR we used that main bus stop everytime we got on a bus! Hope that helps and I will report on my trip soon!