Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[blue_eyes5212]

I'm thinking about staying at CBR next December. My perfect room would be in a preferred location-king bed! I know, picky, picky, picky! How hard would it be to get that??? I haven't booked yet, but when you do it on the official disney site it makes you choose either preferred or king bed.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I'm thinking about staying at CBR next December. My perfect room would be in a preferred location-king bed! I know, picky, picky, picky! How hard would it be to get that??? I haven't booked yet, but when you do it on the official disney site it makes you choose either preferred or king bed.

You could always pay for preferred and request a King Bed. You might get lucky!!!

 

[CPer'sMom]

You could always pay for preferred and request a King Bed. You might get lucky!!!

If a king bed is important to you, I think you'd be better off booking (and paying for) the King bed and then putting in a request for one of the preferred areas.

 

[safetymom]

You will need to decide which one is more important and book that category and request the other.

 

[blue_eyes5212]

How do I go about requesting an area?? I would rather book with a king bed and request a certain village.

 

[safetymom]

You would need to call reservations and have your request added to your reservation.

 

[catbertdave99]

You would need to call reservations and have your request added to your reservation.

We've done just what Safetymom said -- and the CM's work hard to try and grant your requests as much as they can -- everyone at CBR is so friendly and so nice -- you will LOVE your stay there!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

This is such a beautiful resort!

Looking forward to returning in Feb for a long weekend...nice thing about CBR (and Polynesian) is that it is so relaxing, a 3 night getaway feels more like we've been away 5

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I've got another question. I think I read somewhere (another site maybe ) that the refillable mugs at CBR are waiting in your room when you get there and if you use them then the charge shows up on a bill??? I'm used to the values where you buy them in the food court. Is this true or did I imagine reading it???

Also, since there are so many bus stops at CBR, if we are at the first bus stop picked up, does that mean that we are going to have to stop at every other bus stop before heading to the park (as long as the bus is not full before then, of course). I'm just used to the bus service at the values where there is a central location where everyone loads the buses.

Thanks so much!! I love this thread!!

 

[safetymom]

The mugs are just in the food court. Yes you will stop at every bus stop.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I've got another question. I think I read somewhere (another site maybe ) that the refillable mugs at CBR are waiting in your room when you get there and if you use them then the charge shows up on a bill??? I'm used to the values where you buy them in the food court. Is this true or did I imagine reading it???

Also, since there are so many bus stops at CBR, if we are at the first bus stop picked up, does that mean that we are going to have to stop at every other bus stop before heading to the park (as long as the bus is not full before then, of course). I'm just used to the bus service at the values where there is a central location where everyone loads the buses.

Thanks so much!! I love this thread!!

Years ago the refillable mugs were on the fridge upon arrival at CBR - this was when the mugs first came out. Then CBR removed the fridges and the mugs around the same time... so mugs could be purchased in the food court.

Now the fridges are back, but the mugs are still purchased in the food court

Yes, the bus does make multiple stops, but it is not bad - the resort is so pretty we enjoy seeing the different villages.

Sometimes, in busy seasons, CBR will have more than one bus going at a time, splitting up the resort, so one does one half and the other does the other half.

It is a great resort - food court is different than a value, but prettier too!
We had to adjust to CBR after many Poly stays - there was only the Poly and CR (well, Golf Resort, renamed The Disney Inn, now SOG. The GF opened but was waay too expensive!)

When CBR opened in '88 it was a great reason to try a new resort and save some money (deluxes at that point were getting out of our price range anyway). It took a few days to adjust to the differnece between a deluxe and moderate, but to this day I feel CBR is more mini deluxe than the other mods: rooms are larger, theme is incredible! Makes me smile every time we turn into the resort...and if not staying there, my heart skips a beat when the bus drives by CBR entrance.

Way more than you needed (or wanted) to know!! LOL

 

[blue_eyes5212]

Years ago the refillable mugs were on the fridge upon arrival at CBR - this was when the mugs first came out. Then CBR removed the fridges and the mugs around the same time... so mugs could be purchased in the food court.

Now the fridges are back, but the mugs are still purchased in the food court

Yes, the bus does make multiple stops, but it is not bad - the resort is so pretty we enjoy seeing the different villages.

Sometimes, in busy seasons, CBR will have more than one bus going at a time, splitting up the resort, so one does one half and the other does the other half.

It is a great resort - food court is different than a value, but prettier too!
We had to adjust to CBR after many Poly stays - there was only the Poly and CR (well, Golf Resort, renamed The Disney Inn, now SOG. The GF opened but was waay too expensive!)

When CBR opened in '88 it was a great reason to try a new resort and save some money (deluxes at that point were getting out of our price range anyway). It took a few days to adjust to the differnece between a deluxe and moderate, but to this day I feel CBR is more mini deluxe than the other mods: rooms are larger, theme is incredible! Makes me smile every time we turn into the resort...and if not staying there, my heart skips a beat when the bus drives by CBR entrance.

Way more than you needed (or wanted) to know!! LOL

I appreciate everything you had to say in your post! I want to know everything you can tell me about CBR! Since I'm only used to values, I should be blown away by it!! Can you really tell that the rooms are bigger than the value rooms?? I think I'm going to book with a king room and request a village that is not the farthest away from the food court. Sounds like a little bit of a walk to the food court will let us see the beauty of the resort. (Just not too long of a walk )

What is the shopping area like??? Does anyone have a picture of it???

 

[safetymom]

I have pictures of the entire resort on my website listed below.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I appreciate everything you had to say in your post! I want to know everything you can tell me about CBR! Since I'm only used to values, I should be blown away by it!! Can you really tell that the rooms are bigger than the value rooms?? I think I'm going to book with a king room and request a village that is not the farthest away from the food court. Sounds like a little bit of a walk to the food court will let us see the beauty of the resort. (Just not too long of a walk )

What is the shopping area like??? Does anyone have a picture of it???

You are very welcome! Happy to be of any help possible!

The value rooms are 216 sq ft, CBR rooms are 340 sq ft!! And believe it or not, std rooms at WL and AKL are 344sq ft, so CBR was done very well.

It has not been refurbished in awhile, so the TV's seem small as compared to POP (POP has 25 in, CBR 19 in), but the rooms have been painted and have new beds.

Areas are always a topic of concern for guests! We have only stayed in Martinique since 1988! LOL Long before it was preferred and now only stay preferred.

There are Martinique rooms that are not preferred and really not more than a 5 min walk to Old Port Royale ~ I think guests forget about non-preferred Martinque and request Jamaica or Aruba.

Every time we have stayed there the 1st bus stop at Martinique has been the first pick up and drop off, but have read many guests says another village is 1st, so CBR may alternate bus routes.

Many guests love walking across the bridge from Jamiaca and Aruba to OPR, but I'm not one of them!

Have you looked at the CBR map to find an area you might like?
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/CBMapFront.pdf

Enjoy the planning!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I originally requested preferred and King big. We are at CBR as we speak and we were given a preferred room but two queen beds. I would totally agree with Safetymom...choose your highest priority request and don't expect more than that. DH and I are in Trinidad North and love it here. We have not gone to the main pool at all and enjoy our quiet pool. DH tosses and turns so the two beds are awesome. Our mousekeeper has been wonderful and we have not had any towel animals which is okay with us. The busses have been running like clockwork and we have not had any long waits. If you have any questions, I will try and answer while we are here.

 

[npmommie]

I have a question about magical express. We are using it, but we are only bringing carry on luggage on the plane, so when we get on the magical express bus we will have our bags, do we have to part with them at the ME bus and wait for them to be delivered to our room later? or can we keep them with us and bring them to the room ourselves? And is it possible after checking in at custom house to walk to our village? we will be in a preferred room. or is that way too far of a walk?

 

[npmommie]

bumping this up........

 

[brenda1966]

For carry on luggage, I've always carried it! I've never had anyone take my carryon luggage from me nor have I had bell service deliver it to my room (so I don't know if that's even a possibility).

You'll load your luggage under the bus if it's large, or carry it on the bus if it's small. When you get to the hotel they will set your luggage on the sidewalk and it's your job to get it and either take it to bell service (if your room is not ready) or take it to your room.

 

[npmommie]

Thank you!

 

[CleveRocks]

I have a question about magical express. We are using it, but we are only bringing carry on luggage on the plane, so when we get on the magical express bus we will have our bags, do we have to part with them at the ME bus and wait for them to be delivered to our room later? or can we keep them with us and bring them to the room ourselves? And is it possible after checking in at custom house to walk to our village? we will be in a preferred room. or is that way too far of a walk?

There's not even the option of having Disney's Magical Express deliver your carry-ons to you. If they are small enough to fit on the overhead shelf or under your own seat, you may take them onto the bus with you. If they're larger thatn that (or just if you want to), the driver will load them under the bus, and then you'll get them back immediately upon arrival at your resort.

As far as walking to your room, it's a matter of what you consider to be a pleasant walk and an obnoxiously long walk ... opinions will vary. Preferred location rooms are NOT near the Custom House. Unless I was in the mood for a decent walk, I'd ride the internal shuttle to Trinidad North, but if my room was in Martinique I'd probably just walk.

If your room isn't ready, Bell Services can store your bags for you, and then you can go out and play.