CARRIBEAN BEACH RESORT ~Tips please~

[RCMommy]

Hi, I posted this thread yesterday but now I cannot find it on here to see if I got any responses! LOL

We are leaving in one week for WDW, traveling with two sets of 4 year old twins. First time staying at Carribean beach. Any advice, tips on whhich part of the resort is best for kids. Area's to avoid, are the bus waits really that bad?

Suggestions please!

 

[WInurse]

My 4 year old daughter and I stayed at the Caribbean last April and had a blast! I have to tell you I was very nervous to be staying there as I read some pretty negative reviews, and I must add I am a little picky when it comes to resorts. Everything was fabulous! I came back with not one negative thing to say. We stayed in the Jamaica building and for us it was perfect, very centrally located. There was a small pool outside of our room and only a short "scenic" walk (which was one of my daughters favorite parts of the resort) to the building with the food courts and main pool. We did avoid the main pool but mainly because my daughter in a "nervous" swimmer and all the big kids where there. There is a nice kiddie pool behind the main pool. As far as buses- we never waited for more then 10 minutes for a bus- going to the parks and coming back.
I don't think there is a bad part of the resort, but just my opinion! I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Elmo888]

Try posting on the resorts board...

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

Have a great trip!

 

[kltruck]

We had fun there last year! We brought pool toys, but it may be too cold for that now. Also sand toys were fun. Staying close to the food/pool was key for us.

The rooms were a little musty, so this next time I am bringing one of those portable sharper image airfreshiners.

Bus waits were fine. But bring easily foldable & storable strollers. And definately a sound machine with 4 boys! Have a great time! and let us know what to pack for the winter travel time when you get back...

 

[RCMommy]

I appreciate the advice! I have read negative and positive reviews, but for all the resorts not just the Carribean. My main concern was the reviews about the bus waits. I heard up to 30 minutes for that resort. Can you imagine with 4, 4yr olds?

We are going Christmas 2008 as well and staying at the Contemporary (although it is not booked yet)
Wouldn't mind some feedback for that resort either please!
Never been at Christmas before, excited but nervous about the crazy crowds.

 

[JAM3]

We also stayed at Jamaica and loved it! We requested a room there but were given a room in the area farthest away from the main area, the name is leaving me now, but I mentioned that we had asked for Jamaica and asked if they could check if there were any available. They came back with a room in Jamaica for us!

As for the buses, we did not think they were bad. Depending on the park you are going to depends on where the bus stops first. Sometimes the buses were full so we tried to get on at the first stop for that park.

We were at Boardwalk, but we just came back from a stay in December. We did not find the crowds bad at all. The weather was great and the decorations were fabulous! I am sure you will have a great time!

 

[Dad_Z]

We just got back from CBR (myself, DW, DS2 and DS4), and I would honestly have to say that I hope your stay is better than ours. I would say that we averaged 15-20 minute waits for the buses. That is much longer than our stays at POR and Pop. Also, the buses make 7 stops around the resort before leaving for the parks. If you are staying in Jamaica, for example, yours will be the first stop and you will need to wait through 6 more stops before heading to any park. If you are in Trinidad South, you will be the last stop before exiting the resort and you may need a little luck finding a seat. You will also be the last to be dropped off in the evening.

We also felt that the resort was too spread out. This becomes more of an issue if you encounter cold weather or rain. There is an internal bus that does a continual loop, but this too is quite a bit slower than just walking with our stroller and backpacks.

The food court was also kind of tight, and not as diverse as we had hoped. The feature pool was fine, but on the small side (for a Dsiney resort).

We would never return to CBR, or Coronado Springs, which I have read is nearly identical. It is not that it was terrible - it was ok, it's just that POR was much better in our opinion, and Pop Century was much, much better for families (young kids).

If you can rent a car, I would recommend it.

On the positive side, CBR had a nice playground (more than one, actually), the arcade was having technical difficulties and they made all the games free the evening that we went. The rooms were decent, as were the beds. Some people like the sandy beach for sunning themselves, but for us it was a negative because our boys love to swim and swimming is not allowed at the beaches.

 

[luvdisney77]

We also stayed at Jamaica and loved it! We requested a room there but were given a room in the area farthest away from the main area, the name is leaving me now, but I mentioned that we had asked for Jamaica and asked if they could check if there were any available. They came back with a room in Jamaica for us!

As for the buses, we did not think they were bad. Depending on the park you are going to depends on where the bus stops first. Sometimes the buses were full so we tried to get on at the first stop for that park.

We were at Boardwalk, but we just came back from a stay in December. We did not find the crowds bad at all. The weather was great and the decorations were fabulous! I am sure you will have a great time!

Was it Trinidad?? UGH! That is where we stayed and it felt like a football field away from everything. I can't remember if it was North or South, I just remember it was the last stop. BTW - One of my kids got head lice off of one of the beds. We took care of the situation and Disney accomodated, but still NASTY!

 

[fairestoneofall]

When DH and I went in August, we stayed in Jamaica. We loved it. It was quiet. The longest we waited for a bus was to MK, but we just barely missed one and had to wait for the next one. When we were there, the bus only made three stops before going on to the park. We did not drive all the way around the resort on our way anywhere.

 

[JAM3]

Yes, it was Trinidad. I heard that people without children really like it because it is so quiet and secluded. However, since that was not us, it was not for us! I would highly recommend staying as close to the food court area as you can! The nice thing about Jamaica is you are close but yet do not have to pay the extra money for a preferred room!

The buses frequently went all the way around before going to or dropping off. We often got off at one of the other stops and walked to Jamaica from there or the food court. We thought the food was ok. There was not a ton of variety, especially for kids. We often shared our food with DD instead of buying her, her own meal. We were also surprised that there were not many Caribbean inspired food. We did eat at Shutters, the sit down restaurant at Caribbean, and really liked it. We made reservations ahead of time but it was not busy at all.

I also have to add that DD loved the kiddie pool and the playgrounds!

 

[RCMommy]

Seems the buses can be a problem here and there....we arrive on Monday and we are going to call Wed. and ask for rooms either in Trinidad north or Martinique. I have heard both of these buildings are in a good location and close to the food court and buses. Is this a good plan ?????

We stayed a few years ago at the All Stars Sports and I thought the room was very blah. However I don't recall waiting much at all, if any for buses and I thought the food court was pretty decent.

Goes to show you just never know.......

 

[JAM3]

We tried to call and get a room in Trinidad north or Martnique before we left but they were all booked (as you pay extra for a room in these two locations). I would still do Jamaica. The walk across the bridge is nice and you don't pay anything extra!

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[pooh4evr]

We stayed thee in December and it was fine- the waits for buses were minimal - you do have to drive around to pick people up form other "countries" but it isn't that bad! I would rather do that than spend the $$ on a rental car. The rooms were quite we didn't hear anyone around us however the fireworks from Epcot!! are LOUDD you can't see them too much but you can feel them!! - We stayed in Barbados right by the custom house.