Caribbean Beach Resort. Sell me on it

[Mac4life30]

I am looking to stay at a Moderate however only one available is Caribbean Beach. Is this resort truly old and out dated?

 

[RedsDrew]

Okay this is a tough one. I didn't enjoy my stay at CBR for two reasons: the resort is so big and the music in the resort/on the buses became annoying. I spent so much time waiting for buses on the internal resort transportation just to get to a bus stop where I had to wait for another bus to get to a park. This might not bother some people but for me, I didn't care for it. Also, I disliked waiting to get on the internal bus to get to the hotel lobby (the custom house) or to get food... If you google Caribbean Beach Resort, you will see there are more than enough instances of people complaining about the internal bus wait times for this resort.

Once on the bus, the steel drum music they use is fun at first but then it quickly gets old. One night leaving a park I had a headache and those higher pitched pipes/drums made it worse. In fact, that's the only time I've been unhappy with any Disney World music/background noise selections.

If it weren't for these two factors, I would stay here again. The white beaches with hammocks and the pastel colors made me feel like I was on a seriously tropical vacation. Unfortunately, so did the head pounding and ear piercing sound of steel drums.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

I've always loved the CBR, stayed there several times and has always been my fave moderate resort. But didnt they just update the rooms recently?? Havent been there since they did that. Lovely grounds tho. Very spread out, sections names after islands, 2 bus stops, good food court, hammocks on the beaches, hot tub and nice size pool with waterfall...love the little sanctuary in the middle of the islands.

 

[dansdad]

I spent so much time waiting for buses on the internal resort transportation just to get to a bus stop where I had to wait for another bus to get to a park. This might not bother some people but for me, I didn't care for it.

That would bother me too. However, there's absolutely no need to get on the internal shuttle in order to get to any park. Every village has it's own bus stop that all the park buses stop at and the internal stops at.

Yes the resort is large. Which to us is a plus. Even when it's at capacity it never feels like it. During 3 stays, we've never had to use the internal buses. The farthest out rooms are the Pirate Themed rooms and they are under 10 minute stroll to OPR.

CBR is our favorite moderate. The laid back relaxed feel is such a great change from the craziness of the parks. It feels like a true resort instead of a compact hotel. For those who want everything enclosed under one roof and don't enjoy exploring the beautiful grounds, it's definitely not for them.

 

[MDMickey]

We stayed at CBR in 2010 and really enjoyed. Previously we stayed at Coronado Springs, but the distance to everything seemed much further than CBR. We're going to be staying at CBR again in 1 week. Hope we have the same building

 

[mickeystoontown]

We've stayed at the CBR 8 times in the last 7 years and have another stay booked for May, 2013. Yes, the resort is large and there is an internal shuttle bus that will take you around the resort. Having said that, we haven't used the internal bus even once in all of our stays. To us, there's really no need to. The walk around the entire resort promenade (exclusing Trinidad South where the pirate rooms are) is 1.4 miles. Old Port Royale, where the food court, main pool, marina, store, etc. are located is, roughly, in the middle of the resort promenade. So, even if you were in one of the furthest rooms from OPR, you're walk will never be, again, roughly, more than half of that 1.4 miles.

This past trip, pre-cruise, we were in one of the furthest Barbados Buildings and our walk to OPR was 7 1/2 minutes walking behind a couple with a double stroller. Other times, the walks were about 6 1/2 minutes. When we stayed in Jamaica, the walk was about 5 minutes as were the walks from our buildings in non-preferred Martinique. My mother has gone with us twice when we stayed in Jamaica and, even though she was 76 and 77 at the time, she had no problems with the walks. The landscaping and the colorful buildings at the resort make the walks pleasant.

In the evenings or on our down/resort days, we like to take a swim in the pool(s), relax in a beach chair or in a hammock, maybe rent a bicycle and then the day watching a movie in the courtyard just outside OPR.

The rooms at the CBR are a bit larger than the other moderates and there's plenty of storage space for our family family of four (now three since our daughter has gotten married).

The bus transportation to and from the parks has always run efficiently during each of our eight stays. We've stayed during mid-May, late-May, Memorial Day holiday, early June (During Star Wars Weekends), and early August. The longest wait that we've had was about 20 minutes with most being less than that. There are covered bus stops in each resort village so you're never far from one. Becuase the resort is centrally located, it doesn't take long to get to any of the parks, water parks or Downtown Disney.

The food court has a nice selection of foods to choose from and has several different stations. If your group want to split up, they can get their food and them meet back up at the register to pay. If you want your food to go, tell the castmember when they are fixing your food and they will put a top on it. The castmember at the register can give you a bag with a carry handle.

The store and arcade are also in Old Port Royale as is package-pickup. The store isn't super large but there's quite a bit of merchandise and there are even sundries in case you forget something at home.

I have lots and lots of pictures posted over on the CBR pic thread and will be posting even more soon. I love spending time at the resort! I also have lots of pictures of the resort and my review in my trip report. Just click on the link below to have a look around. There are handy dandy chapter links in the 8th post too.

If you have any specific CBR questions that I haven't answered, please let me know and I'll try to answer them for you.

 

[mickeystoontown]

That would bother me too. However, there's absolutely no need to get on the internal shuttle in order to get to any park. Every village has it's own bus stop that all the park buses stop at and the internal stops at.

Yes the resort is large. Which to us is a plus. Even when it's at capacity it never feels like it. During 3 stays, we've never had to use the internal buses. The farthest out rooms are the Pirate Themed rooms and they are under 10 minute stroll to OPR.

CBR is our favorite moderate. The laid back relaxed feel is such a great change from the craziness of the parks. It feels like a true resort instead of a compact hotel. For those who want everything enclosed under one roof and don't enjoy exploring the beautiful grounds, it's definitely not for them.

This

 

[maxiesmom]

Umm, will you have a car? Can you otherwise get a preferred room location? CBR is massive, and I think either of those will help you not to feel so far from everything. CBR IS beautiful, but massive.

I would stay there again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[Mac4life30]

Thank you so much for your posts.

Yes I will have a car

My concern how huge the resort is. If I get stuck in the back a simple trip for coffee is going to feel like torture. Don't get me wrong I enjoy walking however I also like convenience.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thank you so much for your posts.

Yes I will have a car

My concern how huge the resort is. If I get stuck in the back a simple trip for coffee is going to feel like torture. Don't get me wrong I enjoy walking however I also like convenience.

We drive to Disney every year. Once we park our car after checking in, we never get back in it until we are ready to leave.

 

[Mac4life30]

We drive to Disney every year. Once we park our car after checking in, we never get back in it until we are ready to leave.

I love doing that!!! Only issue not everyone I travel with feels that way. Also sometimes if we go for dinner at a resort is easier to drive.

 

[dansdad]

Thank you so much for your posts.

Yes I will have a car

My concern how huge the resort is. If I get stuck in the back a simple trip for coffee is going to feel like torture. Don't get me wrong I enjoy walking however I also like convenience.

Unless you're booking a Pirate Themed room, a walk for coffee will definitely not be torture. If you're really concerned, you can book preferred. If that's not possible you can book standard and request Jamaica 45, Aruba 51 or Martinique 22. All three of those are under 5 minutes to OPR.

 

[Magalex]

We have always enjoyed our visits to CBR. We never had an issue with the buses.(yes each village has its own bus stop) We always request the Jamaica buildings. Rooms have always been cleaned. CBR has great landscaping & love the tropical flowers especially walking over the bridge to the food court/gift shop area.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thank you so much for your posts.

Yes I will have a car

My concern how huge the resort is. If I get stuck in the back a simple trip for coffee is going to feel like torture. Don't get me wrong I enjoy walking however I also like convenience.

We were in Jamaica 44. And while it is not exactly the resort boonies, if you walk to the food court for a pop, it will be pretty much gone by the time you get back to your room.

I don't mind walking either, but it did feel as if we were away from the main part of the resort.

 

[twinboysmom]

We stayed in CBR last April and I had very low expectations. We loved it! The resort is tranquil and the grounds are so pretty. Like a PP said, even when it is at capacity it doesn't seem full (we stayed during one of the spring break weeks). The size to me is greatly exaggerated. We stayed in the Trinidad south section which is the furthest from the amenities and our building was the farthest building out. 7-10 minute walk maximum to the pool. No need to use an internal bus. The pool area is fantastic. And of course, quiet pools in each village. We found our room to be immaculate, no problems. We woukd happily stay here again. One negative, only full size beds. Hopefully, queen beds will come during the next renovation.

 

[Linda T.]

We love everything about CBR. The grounds and landscaping our beautiful along with the white sandy beaches with hammocks. The main pool is great but we prefer the quiet pools in the villages. The rooms are a very nice size and the double beds don't bother us. We love the two double sinks with the storage for all of our things. We, also, request Jamaica or Aruba. This is a short walk over the bridge to the main pool, food court, and gift shop. We have never had a problem with the buses. We are looking forward to our July trip and we are again staying at CBR.

 

[Mac4life30]

Thanks again

 

[JimGA]

I am looking to stay at a Moderate however only one available is Caribbean Beach. Is this resort truly old and out dated?

We stayed there back in Feb 2012, it is a beautiful resort, we were in the Trinidad section. Short walk to the main center. Our only complaint was the room A/C unit had that old musky smell coming from it.

 

[Tink415]

I am looking to stay at a Moderate however only one available is Caribbean Beach. Is this resort truly old and out dated?

No CBR is certainly not truly old and outdated. We just stayed there in December, had a beautiful room in North Trinidad.

 

[AllyElly]

Hello!

I am also looking to stay at CBR, but was wondering how crowded the buses get at the end of the night. I have only stayed at Pop and you are crammed in that bus without an inch to spare, which usually doesn't bother me, however I am braving a trip with just me and my two kids (3 & 5). I was hoping the buses may not be as crowded as they are with Pop. We don't need a seat, but just some room to maneuver would be nice. I am also hoping to stay in one of the pirate rooms since the kids are big pirate fans, are these too inconviently located to be worth it?

Thanks!