Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ's Part II

[kdtwiss]

so if my main requests were -
#1 close proximity to main pool (oldest ds is autistic and loves the pool slides)
#2 close to a bus stop (4 kids and me by myself at the end of the day a long walk will be tough)
#3 close to food (oldest ds also has meltdowns when he is hungry, and WDW does not tickle his fancy food wise so we will be snacking ALOT)

not important -
view - don't care if my view is of the parking lot
could not care less if I hear people walking above, by or under me.

I will pay for pref. room if necessary. We stayed at POR in May and what appeared a good location by looking at the map, was actually a LONG walk to everything. TIA!

 

[safetymom]

cococat, It is because WDW is really not set up for walkers. There aren't any sidewalks, drivers aren't looking for walkers. It also is much easier to take the bus.

 

[safetymom]

kdtwiss, with your desires your best bet is to pay for a preferred location. Trinidad North and Martinique are on either side of Old Port Royale the food court and the main pool.

 

[Hockeymommy]

We stayed for 8 days in July and it was wonderful!!!!!!!! We had a preferred room booked but about 5 days before arrival I had called to request a room with a water view as well. We were in Martinique 24 in room 2456, it could not have gotten any better. We had a double water view with a view of the bay and the pool. Walking distance to POR was only about 3 minutes down a walkway next to white sand beaches with hammocks to lounge in on your way down. The distance to the bus stop was just as convienient, it only took a max of 3 minutes to get to the nearest one. Even with all of this the location really does make you feel like you are in a tropical paradise. Hope this hepls and have a great time.

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

We are going the first week of October, and the only rooms that were left were King rooms, for which we paid extra. Then, I had her note on our reservation that we would like to be as close to Old Port Royale as possible. Is that our best option? Or does anyone have a better recommendation regarding requests? Also, can anyone tell me anything about the location, in general, of King rooms?

Also, my inlaws are both using scooters during our trip, as they are both in their mid-80's. They also have a King room. We requested a special needs 1st floor room, as close to Old Port Royale as possible. Here are my questions:
1) I saw that there aren't many special needs rooms. What are our chances of getting one?
2) Are all of the special needs rooms on the bottom floor, since there are not elevators?
3) Does anyone know if these special needs rooms are close to Old Port Royale? I am really worried about my inlaws being able to get around, and I expect that they will want to spend more time at the resort than the rest of the group...

Thanks for your wisdom!!!!!

 

[jndmommy]

We got back on the 17th after a week's stay at CBR. We loved it! We stayed in Trinidad South 3719 (water view) and in-laws were in connecting 3720. The rooms were clean, smelled good, lots of light, beautiful view of the beach. The beach, playground & pool were just a few steps from our room. It is quite a walk from Old Port Royale (food & shop), but we liked the walk & our "village" was very quiet. On my dd's 4th b'day, they delivered balloons and a card with a signed 5X7 photo of Cinderella. It was cute, she loved it. I must admit, I was skeptical before going, I read some not so great reports about CBR. However, I am glad I stayed open minded. It was a really nice resort. Only thing that was a pain was carriages. We were the last bus stop most of the time. So getting two carriages on was a chore. Next time if we go back there again (first we have to try other resorts) I would pay the extra money for preferred location rather than water view. That too though is only if I am still lugging carriages around. Now after enjoying my mini vacation from my vacation, I am depressed that I'm home, lol!

 

[LandscapePro_318]

Steph,

We just returned from there as well. LOL Checked out on the 17th as well.

We wern't concerned about the view as much as (A) having a smoking room and (B) being close to the main pool and food court.

Aruba building 51 was a Fantastic location for us. It's the last one before the Jamaca complex. A short walk across the island and we were at the main pool and cabana bar. For us it was actually closer to walk down to the Jamaca bus stop. ROFL only a few yards but hey 'Every step counts"..

I too had read some "less that estatic" reviews of CBR and was a little nervous. Those fears were Very Much unfounded!

Being from Louisiana, the Orleans resorts don't interest me. Coronado is a possibility, but I can see CBR being our WDW home away from home.

I hope your stay was as ejnoyable as ours. BTW did you eat at Shutters?...Wow! that was a nice suprise....

Mike

 

[bigbabyblues]

I saw in a pic that someone linked in their sig that there were refillable mugs on the table, and if you opened them, you are charged for them. That pic was a couple years old, but does anyone know if they still do this? We check in on Sunday, just curious!

 

[tam012864]

We were there in June no mugs left in the room--I think you have to purchase them at the Food Court area. Hope this helps...but I can remember our trip there in 1996 and yes, the mugs were in the room at that time as well as a stocked mini fridge that if you opened and took anything out you purchased it--and seems to me it was pretty expensive.

 

[deedeew80]

I saw in a pic that someone linked in their sig that there were refillable mugs on the table, and if you opened them, you are charged for them. That pic was a couple years old, but does anyone know if they still do this? We check in on Sunday, just curious!

I too will be checking into CBR on Sunday!!! Maybe I'll see you there!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I am going to be staying at CBR this Sunday night. We will be checking in around 10:30AM and just relaxing by the pool all day, then going to TL Mon. before heading home. This trip is just myself and my 3 sisters. What are the chances of us being able to get into our room early? Also, where is a good area to stay as far as quiet and the nicest landscaping and buildings, nice pool? Thanks!

 

[ridgewood]

Which island do you request to try to minimize bus hassles to the Parks in the a.m. (i.e. bus too full already from previous CBR stops)? While the distance to OPR is important to me, getting on the first bus (to the Parks) that approaches your stop around 8-9am is probably even more important right? Who wants to wait for a second bus to come 10 - 15 minutes later, when you got your family all geared up to hit the Parks!

Suggestions?

 

[safetymom]

Mommy Poppins, I have pictures of all the villages at CBR up on my website. I think the entire resort is quiet so it would be hard to name the quietest. Landscaping is very lush all over the resort. If you don't want to pay for a preferred location many people prefer Jamaica or Aruba. It is a short walk over the bridge to Old Port Royale.


ridgewood, it depends on which way the bus comes in which stop is first. The CBR busses are dispatched on demand so there are always plenty of busses for CBR.

 

[liquid]

Can anyone tell me about the televisions at CBR? Do they have a VCR or, possibly, a DVD player? Do they get cable?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

No VCR or DVD. They do get cable but most of the channels are Disney.

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

We have paid extra for a king room (not really our choice - all that was left was preferred King Rooms).

It looks like, on a whim, my daughter is going to join us. Here are my questions (some, I realize, are outside the expertise of this thread - thought someone might know anyway...):
1. Can we get a roll-away in a king room (it seems that this is debated in other threads - I've read that king rooms only have an occupancy of two)?
2. Is there an extra charge to add my daughter to our room?
3. Can she still use Magical Express?
4. She is a castmember. If my husband and I have the dining package, do we have to add her?

Thanks for your help!

 

[safetymom]

We have paid extra for a king room (not really our choice - all that was left was preferred King Rooms).

It looks like, on a whim, my daughter is going to join us. Here are my questions (some, I realize, are outside the expertise of this thread - thought someone might know anyway...):
1. Can we get a roll-away in a king room (it seems that this is debated in other threads - I've read that king rooms only have an occupancy of two)?

No you won't be able to get a roll away. I would keep calling and see if a regular room opens up.

2. Is there an extra charge to add my daughter to our room?

Yes there is a charge of $15 additional a day to add her. I would say wait and add her when you get there because sometimes they waive the additional charge but she would need to be listed to use Magical Express.
3. Can she still use Magical Express?

She would need to be on the reservation to use ME.

4. She is a castmember. If my husband and I have the dining package, do we have to add her?

It is my understanding that everyone has to be on the package. If she is a CM have you looked into using her CM discount for your room?

 

[LglBlonde]

Which island do you request to try to minimize bus hassles to the Parks in the a.m. (i.e. bus too full already from previous CBR stops)? While the distance to OPR is important to me, getting on the first bus (to the Parks) that approaches your stop around 8-9am is probably even more important right? Who wants to wait for a second bus to come 10 - 15 minutes later, when you got your family all geared up to hit the Parks!

Suggestions?

(I think this is correct - someone please correct me if I am wrong!)
To elaborate - the buses essentially vary on two routes.
Barbados, Martinique, OPR, Trinidad North, Trindad South, Jamaica and Aruba.

OR the alternate entrance: Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, OPR, Trinidad North and Trinidad South.

Buses run an hour before park opening to resort guests, so just hit the bus stop early! Depending on what time of year you go, will vary greatly in the bus situation! Last week the buses were EMPTY in the mornings.

 

[LglBlonde]

I am going to be staying at CBR this Sunday night. We will be checking in around 10:30AM and just relaxing by the pool all day, then going to TL Mon. before heading home. This trip is just myself and my 3 sisters. What are the chances of us being able to get into our room early? Also, where is a good area to stay as far as quiet and the nicest landscaping and buildings, nice pool? Thanks!

It will depend on how busy they are of course. Just last week, we checked in on 8/29 at 11:45 a.m. or so - had two rooms, but actually did NOT want adjoining. Our "preselected" rooms were adjoining and would not be ready until after 3 p.m. We asked if we could move to any two rooms available that were just near each other in the Trinidad North location - they found two side by side, but not adjoining in building 33 that were ready immediately. So you could tell them that the room being ready immediately is the most important thing to you.

We really liked building 33 - we had a King Bed (room 3352), very SHORT walk to the bus stop, VERY close to the quiet pool, a water view, a corner room w/ two windows, AND only a 5 minute walk to OPR!!

 

[CleveRocks]

(I think this is correct - someone please correct me if I am wrong!)
To elaborate - the buses essentially vary on two routes.
Barbados, Martinique, OPR, Trinidad North, Trindad South, Jamaica and Aruba.

OR the alternate entrance /QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure Barbados is never the first stop. I'm pretty certain I recall that for that run (as opposed to the other, which you've called the alternate entrance) Martinique was the first stop. I know I always liked when it ran that way because I most recently stayed in Trinidad North, which made us the third stop on that route.

-- Eric