CBR or AKL?

[bioprof]

Over the years, we have stayed at a few different WDW resorts (Pop, Sports, AKL, Contemporary, POFQ, and Coronado). We are planning a short 5 day trip to WDW this August with my almost 13 year old. Pop has been my son's favorite, mostly because of the Skyliner. However, we haven't stayed on-site since before COVID....and he's grown up a bit since then. For this trip, I think I have it narrowed down to AKL or CBR. The thing is, there is only a $23 difference per night (CRB preferred and AKL resort view) between the two resorts. On one hand, CBR has the Skyliner, and we have never stayed there. I also hear it has a fun pool - which we WILL use on this August trip. AKL is well, beautiful, and has great food options and a fun pool. I do remember the longer bus trips to some parks when we stayed at AKL in 2015, which was the only negative for me. Would you choose CBR preferred or AKL resort view?

 

[AmyMac1109]

My teens preferred CBR to AKL both because of the pool and the Skyliner. (I will say though, we don't stay in preferred rooms at CBR because standard rooms are closer to the Skyliner and that is the most important to us. But, if proximity to the pool is the most important, then preferred is the way to go. But anticipate walking 10 minutes from front of resort to either Skyliner stop.)

I think AKL has better dining options as a resort, but CBR has Sebastian's Bistro which is quite possibly my favorite meal on property (and an absolute bargain by Disney standards). But, it's only open for dinner and I think it is outright closed one or two nights per week. And if you have a picky eater, they might struggle. However, CBR's connection to the Skyliner makes trips to Rivieria, AoA/Pop, and the EPCOT resorts super easy for even more dining options. Speaking of Skyliner- when we last stayed there, door to door from our room (standard room directly across the street from the Hub) to DHS gate was 8 minutes and like 10-12 minutes to EPCOT International Gate. Buses to MK and AK were not overly crowded and were plentiful at rope drop times (we always found seats) and the rides were not too long.

I know some people take issue with the rooms at CBR because they are starting to show their age (refreshed rooms are the old Pirate rooms which are in the farthest section and not where you will find preferred), but they never bothered us. They were clean and well maintained, even if a bit tired. But, it's definitely a moderate whereas AKL is a deluxe. So, expect CBR to be not quite as nice in that regard.

The only thing that would absolutely get me to choose AKL over CBR would be extended evening hours. If that's something you would use, then go for AKL. Otherwise, save a few bucks and go CBR (and personally, I'd save even more and get a standard view room and request building 41-43 for proximity to the Skyliner Hub).

 

[RoseGold]

Deluxe (and Swolphin) get the late hours, which might matter a whole lot for a teenagers. Check to see if this is in play for your dates.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I would have to agree with you on AKL being a bus ride to all the parks and a little bit longer than the other resorts but as long as you're ok with that, then it's not a deal breaker for all. The nice think about AKL is that getting to the bus stop is all covered so it's very convenient in the florida rain storms/heat.

I've stayed at both and for us, the skyliner is really nice and being next door to RIV is great too for extra food choices....and I love that benefit at CBR, but beyond that, I just don't care for this resort mostly due to the buses. Disney buses are sort of their own thing but for us, it's just too many bus stops. I know that there are a ton of people that love it but the large footprint and large amount of bus stops are a negative for us. FYI-- they're doing a soft goods refurb on various buildings, so depending on where you stay at CBR, you may get an older room or a refreshed room. For me, we last stayed over the summer at CBR and when the skyliner goes down, the transition from skyliner to bus service to Epcot/DHS can be slow. If you're timing is bad, like ours apparently always was lol, we ended up sometimes waiting 20 min or 45 min+ for bus service to start when the skyliner went down. Even if a bus was at the skyliner stop, it wasn't for Ep/DHS, it was so crazy. Definitely bus management, but it's still a part of being at CBR in the summer with constant T storms. We bailed on waiting another time at the 35 min mark and grabbed an uber instead. We stayed for 5 nights and by the 3rd night, we were totally over the 8 total bus stops to/from the parks......it's not horrible, just not enjoyable. But when the skyliner is running, it's really nice and very, very convenient. Lobby is very nice and was redone in the last 5 years and the pool is also nice.

AKL overall is a great resort and has good dining options, a fun pool, fun activities and of course the animals. If you have the option of extended hours for deluxe resort guests when you're there, you'd get this staying at AKL so that could be of benefit and you won't have that option at CBR. I know the price difference for resort view vs savanna can be steep but what helps is all the nice look outs around the resort. If your child likes animals a lot, this is a really nice property. Yes, it's a bus ride to all the parks so you just have to take that into account when planning your park days.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Deluxe (and Swolphin) get the late hours, which might matter a whole lot for a teenagers. Check to see if this is in play for your dates.

This is where we usually end up for the deluxe beni's without disney pricing.....and our kids are also teenagers so they are really not that enamored with seeing a giraffe anymore The boat/walking access to 2 parks can't be beat.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

My teens preferred CBR to AKL both because of the pool and the Skyliner. (I will say though, we don't stay in preferred rooms at CBR because standard rooms are closer to the Skyliner and that is the most important to us. But, if proximity to the pool is the most important, then preferred is the way to go. But anticipate walking 10 minutes from front of resort to either Skyliner stop.)

I know some people take issue with the rooms at CBR because they are starting to show their age (refurbed rooms are the old Pirate rooms which are in the farthest section and not where you will find preferred), but they never bothered us. They were clean and well maintained, even if a bit tired. But, it's definitely a moderate whereas AKL is a deluxe. So, expect CBR to be not quite as nice in that regard.

We stayed in Jamaica, also not preferred to get closer to the skyliner too. It was 2 min to the skyliner station and was about a 5 min walk over the bridge to the main pool/lobby.

FYI-Disney is also doing soft good refurb of all the other rooms too, not just the old pirate to Little Mermaid, it's been a slow process. But yes, when we stayed our room was AWFUL. It was beat up like an airport convention center room and looked so dated compared to all the other newer rooms. For the OP, I think the CBR resort board thread on here has the update on which buildings have been updated so you can at least try to request a building if it fits your booked room category.

 

[AmyMac1109]

FYI-Disney is also doing soft good refurb of all the other rooms too, not just the old pirate to Little Mermaid, it's been a slow process. But yes, when we stayed our room was AWFUL. It was beat up like an airport convention center room and looked so dated compared to all the other newer rooms. For the OP, I think the CBR resort board thread on here has the update on which buildings have been updated so you can at least try to request a building if it fits your booked room category.

Oooh! I didn't know they were doing the refresh on all of the rooms. That's good to know. We haven't stayed at CBR since April 2022. Our room was definitely on the older side, but it really wasn't bad. But, a lot can change in a year and a half, and plus, once they started putting out photos of the newly refreshed pirate rooms, the difference was certainly glaring. We haven't had occasion to stay at CBR our last few trips, but I'll look into it again now that I know the refresh has spread to more buildings. We're suckers for the pool, Skyliner, and Sebastian's.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Oooh! I didn't know they were doing the refresh on all of the rooms. That's good to know. We haven't stayed at CBR since April 2022. Our room was definitely on the older side, but it really wasn't bad. But, a lot can change in a year and a half, and plus, once they started putting out photos of the newly refreshed pirate rooms, the difference was certainly glaring. We haven't had occasion to stay at CBR our last few trips, but I'll look into it again now that I know the refresh has spread to more buildings. We're suckers for the pool, Skyliner, and Sebastian's.

Yeah, I don't know when it's supposed to be done but I think it only just started in May. I think it's like new mattresses, bedding, flooring/paint but it's been very hush hush, there's been nothing posted on disney's website or any publicity other than the LM room redo. I've also seen zero coverage/photos of what they even look like since the refresh too. So odd. Several posters have commented on sections being worked on on this CBR thread below.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...tion-questions.3461094/page-753#post-64888637

 

[CynBeth]

I would give CBR a chance since you have never stayed there. We enjoyed it for Thanksgiving 2021.

 

[Skippyboo]

Aug means summer thunderstorms so that is going to shut down the Skyliner. Are you going to be there on Monday or Wednesday? Because those are the 2 Extended hours nights so if you’re not there for them that would make AKL less attractive

 

[firstwdw]

Is AKL water view an option? That would give you a pool view room which puts you close to everything but also you won't end up with an ugly roof or parking lot view. We enjoyed pool view and being close to pool, lobby, bus, quick service and refillable mug stations. We loved the balcony and the rooms are much nicer than CBR. The bus rides do get annoying, especially stopping at Kidani first coming back from the parks. Just felt like it took forever. We love CBR for the Skyliner as well. However, in August AC hallways at AKL out of the heat and rain storms might win! Also the Skyliner goes down more often in August because of the FL weather.

 

[sponica]

I love spending other people's money, but honestly a 23 dollar price difference per night to go up to a deluxe and get the extended evening hours seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

FYI for OP and a few other folks here, someone just shared pics of the refreshed soft good updates at CBR -see below- rooms look to have the vinyl "wood look" floors and a few other items like curtains, etc.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...t-information-questions.3461094/post-64949348

Just got back from Caribbean Beach a few days ago. Aruba 51 and Jamaica 45 and 46 were under refurbishment. We were in Jamaica 44 in a renovated room. Loved the location! Close to sky liner and bus stop.