Caribbean Beach

[disfan0705]

Hello!

We have a trip booked for the end of June 2004. We are staying at the Caribbean Beach. I had heard you can fax 4 days ahead to 'request' a building and that Martinique and Trinidad North are the closest to the main pool and food court. I also heard that Disney is now charging an extra $15 a night to request those buildings. Therefore, I am thinking of requesting a building in either Jamaica or Aruba. Is there a big difference (distance wise) between say Jamaica 45 and 44 as far as distance to walk to the food court? It's hard to tell on the map.

What time does the food court open in the morning? We plan on eating breakfast in our room, but will probably send an adult to the food court for milk and juice while the rest of us are getting ready. I just didn't know if the food court opened up early enough for us to do this and still be at the bus stop by say 7:00am. If not, do they sell quarts of milk and juice anywhere that we might be able to keep in a cooler or rent a refrigerator for? I know that Wilderness Lodge had quite a variety of food items in their gift shop in the lobby when we went there.

Thanks!

 

[emilymad]

I don't know the answers to your questions but I am staying at CBR at the end of June too! I requested Jamacia since it looks like it just over the bridge from the main area. I have heard it is about a 5 minute walk. I would also like to know about the hours of the food court. With crowds in June I want to out and about early! Check out safetymom's FAQ thread. There is a ton of information listed there.

 

[stinkerbelle]

FYI - the two Trinidads (north and south) are 2 of the furthest from the main pool/food court.

don't know where you heard otherwise - but I just wanted to save you from a long walk!

 

[disfan0705]

Emilymad --

[I don't know the answers to your questions but I am staying at CBR at the end of June too! I requested Jamacia since it looks like it just over the bridge from the main area. ]

Did you request Jamacia when you booked? I didn't know if you were able to do so. I booked through AAA. Maybe I'll see what they can do.

Have you ever been there the end of June? We have to go that time due to school schedules and I am kind of nervous about it being way to hot.

Thanks for the input!

 

[whozit]

I don't what time the food court opens, but you can buy milk and juice in quart or maybe half gallon containers in the resort gift shop. You could also purchase single serving size milk or juice cartons the night before at the food court. There are people on these threads that know which is more economical (I think I've seen that at least one of the resorts has milk priced higher in the gift shop than at the food court). Another option, at least for the juice, is to keep juice boxes in your room....no refrigeration needed. You could bring them with you from home, stop at the grocery store or ship a box of goodies to your resort.

 

[disfan0705]

They sell small cartons of milk at the food court --- that's great to know. I can just get them the night before and keep them in the ice bucket or a small cooler.

The juice boxes are a great idea, too. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

We were in Barbados 15 last week, it was about a 5 minute walk to the food court, not bad.

 

[mom2of2]

FYI - the two Trinidads (north and south) are 2 of the furthest from the main pool/food court.

Sorry but it's Trinidad SOUTH that is farthest away. Trinidad NORTH is now perferred and closest to OPR.

You all will love CBR. We stayed there in March and loved it. When we were in WDW in August we went over to CBR just because it felt like home and we realy like OPR.

 

[magsmom]

We stayed in Aruba in August and it was roughly a 10 minute walk to OPR. Aruba was great in that it was not too close to the pool.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by mom2of2

Sorry but it's Trinidad SOUTH that is farthest away. Trinidad NORTH is now perferred and closest to OPR.

I'm sorry - I stand corrected!

I thought for some reason that the two trinidads were the last 2 bus stops on that side of the resort, making it a long walk!

I apologize for my mis-information!

 

[Dalpal]

Just a suggestion....
You can buy "parmalat" its milk that you dont need to keep in the fridge.... It is real milk and doesnt taste any different then the kind you have to refridgerate.
We did this the last time we went. Also when we go camping. If you want it to be cold just keep it in the sink or cooler with ice.
We get a few of the the pint sized ones, because you do have to refridgerate it after its open.
It comes in whole, 2% and 1%.

 

[mm6mm6]

We were at the CBR in June '02. You're going to just love it. We really enjoy the size of the moderates. The guests are spread out and the open resort style is wonderful. We stayed in a water view room in Jamaica. Loved it! The double sinks are a treat! One great thing about Jamaica is it's the first bus stop. That means when you go to the bus stop in the morning, the bus that comes to take you to a park is EMPTY! You will always get a seat. And when you are coming back tired from a park at night, Jamaica is the first (of seven) stops so you are the first ones OFF the bus! This is great when you have a crowded bus coming back and you have been standing! I would request Jamaica in a heartbeat again! The walk to the main pool and dining isn't bad at all. Just take in the attention to landscaping and theming. You'll enjoy the bridge walk over to Parrot Cay island everytime. Look for turtles and bass and stop to feed them along with the ducks. Our DD5 loved having a quarter for food from the gumball type machines! We stayed at the Coronado this past August and we liked it a lot...but...the CBR takes the cake for us personally. I think we just liked the colors and style a bit more than the CSR. And those double sinks are nice! We had a 50 gallon cooler on wheels and during our 7 day stay, I brought half gallons of milk back from the convenience store part of the dining area about 5 times. I should have saved myself the trips and just bought them 2 or 3 at a time, we drank it so fast! We also ate in our rooms (resealable donuts bags and cereal in plastic bowls. Enjoy!

 

[disfan0705]

Thanks so much for the input! Now I really can't wait to go! Which building did you stay in in Jamaica or doesn't it really matter? Did you request it when you booked or fax your request a few days ahead of time?

What time of the day did the food court and convenience store part of it open?

How was the weather? I just didn't know if the parks got way too hot to be in. We'll most likely go back to the resort during the afternoon and then head back to the park.

Sorry for so many questions! Just nice to get tips from someone that went the same time of year I'm going and stayed in the same village of CBR that I plan on staying in.

Thanks again!

 

[mm6mm6]

When we were at WDW in June '02, it rained every day for 5-8 hours, starting around noon or 1pm. Everyone said it was unusual to rain that long every day. The Gulf front and the Atlantic fronts come together each day and collide and build and then dump rain. But usually it's only for 15 minutes.

We did get sick of wet socks and shoes.

The temperature was around 85 every day though. Since it was our first trip, we didn't let it ruin anything and we just got used to the ponchos.

When we went this year, we decided on August to avoid rain even if it was going to be hot. We had hardly any rain, just two days of the 15 minute rain. It was hot, around 105 on one day and upper 90's the rest. We didn't have a problem though, just kept drinking water and sprinkling ourselves from the drinking fountains.

We stayed in room 4251 in Jamaica at the CBR. It is a water view room. I think the small amount of money it costs for the room is well worth guaranteeing you don't get a view of a parking lot. We didn't fax any special requests. When we checked in, they were very nice and picked the best room available for us. We were very happy both at the CBR and at the CSR this year without faxing any special requests.

I would suggest reserving a half day at the CBR to just take it all in. We checked in on a tuesday (we drove from Chicago) and there was no one checking in but us. On a sunday, I went to pick up Hoop De Doo tickets and the check in was a complete madhouse. Most people arrive fri, sat or sun. If you can, check in on mon-thur. When you check in, be sure to ask for printouts of ALL of your priority seatings. They can do it for you and then you have all of your PS numbers. Some require you to bring the printout (Hoop De Doo, Poly Luau) and some don't but they're nice to have.

The watermice at the CBR have 3hp engines and cost the same as the 9hp ones on the big lakes (by MK) so I'd spend my money on ones that actually move fast!

But the surrey bikes are a great family way to get to know the sprawling resort. The quiet pools are great. The food court is open as early as I ever went and as late as I ever went. Not quite sure what the hours are.

We spent the day until around 3pm at the resort on our fifth day and then went to MK late to see the parades and fireworks. Otherwise, we were at the parks when they opened.

Be sure to take advantage of the early entry. They didn't have it in 2002 but it returned in 2003 and we really enjoyed it. Remember that MK only has Fantasyland open but there's plenty to do there during that magic hour!

For pics of the CBR, go to:
http://community.webtv.net/sktracy
And for the CSR:
http://community.webtv.net/rtteacher

You'll have a blast and Jamaica is the way to go!

 

[Poohbear123]

I will be arriving in about 27 days! I requested Martinique # 26! However, I have a King room, and are hoping I get this building with a King room in it!

 

[disfan0705]

Thanks mm6mm6 for all your good info! Along with everyone else! I want to go now!