Caribbean Beach vs. Port Orleans (Arrival Times)

[potterpixieprincess]

Hi, everybody--I've been lurking for awhile now, but I finally got brave enough to post! Anyway, my husband and I are doing the Land and Sea vacation (4 night cruise) for our 3rd anniversary April 28-May 6. Right now we're booked at the Caribbean Beach Resort (we heard good things about it since it was remodeled) and were really excited UNTIL I saw that, at least according to the pick-up schedule that was posted here a few days ago (can't seem to find it now) that CBR guests are some of the last to get picked up!! Has anyone stayed at CBR and had a hard time getting reservations at the spa and at Palo's? How do you guys feel about Port Orleans vs. CBR?

Thanks!

Kate

 

[patches-4]

I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THE SCHEDULE BUT AS FAR AS THE TWO COMPARE I THINK I CAN HELP THERE. WE HAVE STAYED AT BOTH, THE CBR BEING THE LAST PLACE AND WE MUCH PREFER PORT ORLEANS TO IT. CBR IS SPREAD OUT AND THERE SEEMED TO BE ALOT OF WALKING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PLACES AND THE FOOD COURT. NO MATTER WHERE WE WERE IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE THE FARTHEST SPOT FROM WHEREVER WE WERE. PORT ORLEANS TO ME WAS A MUCH PRETTIER RESORT AND WE WILL PROBABLE STAY THERE WHEN WE GO AGAIN. HOPE THIS HELPED SOME.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We stayed at the CBR Feb. of 2000 and liked it. Yes, tye food court was a bit of a walk from our room but.......we were on vacation, so I didn't mind. I believe that at the Animal Kingdom Lodge there is a chatacter breakfast in the morning and the bus will take you right from there. I really don't remember the bus being late from CBR.

 

[gswfan]

We just got back 3 weeks ago from our land/sea vacation and we stayed at CBR. I don't know if we we're the last one's to be picked up because they gave us an option to be picked up at either Shutter (at the Old Port at CBR) or at Animal Kingdom. We chose to be picked up at AK and did the park before we head out around noon. We did arrive around 2 at the ship, It's about an hour drive from the park to the ship. If you're planning to do Palo, I'd suggest that as soon as you get on board head out and make a reservation, Palo does get book pretty quickly.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We left from The Dolphin for our Dec 2002 cruise and I think it left the hotel at about 11:30.

 

[hawkrn]

We love POR! Did the land/sea from POR 12/02 and the only disappointment was that we didn't leave the hotel till 1230, then there was a huge line to get thru security at the port. You don't have to check-in at the port, but I still felt rushed to go eat at Beach Blanket before they closed, unpack and then hit the safety drill.

 

[BeanoC]

The only part of your question I can answer is in regards to the resorts. We much prefer CBR - it is by far our favorite moderate in WDW. Yes, it is spread out and there will be some walking - but that's one of the things we love about it! It's a big, tropical paradise; biggest rooms of any of the moderates, great food court, great pool...great resort.

We have always had private transportation to the port, so I really have no idea as to when you'd arrive at the ship - but if you determine it will be late, consider that in your decision. You DON'T want to be boarding the ship at 2:00 P.M., or it's "Bye-bye Palo"!


'Beano'

 

[jvas]

Hi...we have stayed at both resorts.....the CBR when our children
were 10 and 7 yrs old and the Port Orleans when they were 18 and 15. In my opinion..the CBR is better when the kids are younger and the Port Orleans when they are older. CBR seemed more "kid oriented" but the Port Orleans had much nicer grounds
and was the best resort for the price ,plus it seemed quieter.

We are staying at the Port Orleans on our next L/S trip in June-July 2004.