CBR or POR *UPDATE* Page 2

[cybrkitn]

We're going in December (11/29-12/8) and will be booking within the next month or two. My family and I (DH, myself and DS9) will be staying in a themed room. My mom and brother who are also going are fine with a standard room.

Here's our dilemma. How far are the themed rooms from the rest of the resort rooms in both CBR and POR? Are they closer together in POR compared to CBR or about the same? I'm trying to figure out which has the least distance between the themed and standard rooms so we are not so far apart from each other.

We're also trying to figure out whether DH and I can deal with a double bed in CBR (we all like the POTC themed room) for 9 nights. We fit better in a queen bed, which is what POR has in the Royale themed room. I would of liked it if CBR had queen beds for the themed rooms, but no such luck

Decisions, decisions.

 

[CamoMama]

We stayed at CBR in a pirate themed room a couple of weeks ago and the room next door was not themed. I don't think that they make the entire building themed, just a certain number of rooms in the building. I also don't know if it's going to be the same at POR for the royal rooms, though.

 

[cybrkitn]

I thought there was a section of themed rooms and assumed that it would be an entire building. Since you mentioned that there was a standard room next to your room, then it might work out for us.

Now the only decision we will need to make is whether or not DH and I can deal with a double bed for our stay since DH is Pooh sized.

 

[mb187143]

I don't know about the themed rooms at CBR, but the ones at POR will be in entire buildings: Oak Manor and Parterre Place.

The walk from Trinidad Sout at CBR (where the pirate themed rooms are located) to the food court is probably comparable to the walk from Parterre Place to the food court at POR (if you ended up in that section, Oak Manor is closer to the food court by a couple minutes). CBR has a bus stop in each villiage around the resort, so the walk to the bus from the room is short there. We were in a to-be-refurbed room in Parterre place in September, and walked to the bus stop by the food food court (about 10-12 minutes depending on the day) because the only other option was equally far, but also frequently full when the bus arrived to that stop.

The double bed issue though is an important consideration. I don't think i could do WDW well if I wasn't getting a good night's sleep. And i had heard that the pirate rooms weren't like a typical bed with a mattress and boxspring. I heard that due to the shape of the bed, there's a box spring with a very thick pillow top over it, and i've heard from a couple people that those beds are VERY uncomfortable.

My fiance is a 27 year old wanna-be-pirate, but we're hesitant to stay in the pirate rooms at CBR for that reason.

 

[cybrkitn]

I don't know about the themed rooms at CBR, but the ones at POR will be in entire buildings: Oak Manor and Parterre Place.

The walk from Trinidad Sout at CBR (where the pirate themed rooms are located) to the food court is probably comparable to the walk from Parterre Place to the food court at POR (if you ended up in that section, Oak Manor is closer to the food court by a couple minutes). CBR has a bus stop in each villiage around the resort, so the walk to the bus from the room is short there. We were in a to-be-refurbed room in Parterre place in September, and walked to the bus stop by the food food court (about 10-12 minutes depending on the day) because the only other option was equally far, but also frequently full when the bus arrived to that stop.

Looks like it's about the same distance regardless.

The double bed issue though is an important consideration. I don't think i could do WDW well if I wasn't getting a good night's sleep. And i had heard that the pirate rooms weren't like a typical bed with a mattress and boxspring. I heard that due to the shape of the bed, there's a box spring with a very thick pillow top over it, and i've heard from a couple people that those beds are VERY uncomfortable.

My fiance is a 27 year old wanna-be-pirate, but we're hesitant to stay in the pirate rooms at CBR for that reason.

Hmm, looks like that's something we will have to look into and get feedback from DISers that have stayed there.

CamoMama, how were the beds for you? We're they comfortable? Hard or soft mattresses?

 

[queendisney]

all the rooms at POR will have queen beds and depending where abouts in oak manor or Parterre place you are, its only a very short walk across the little bridge to the food court if you carry on straight and go back through the main entrance, it only takes us 7 mins (yes we timed it) and thats at a slow pace!! The bus stop at the main entrance is only a couple of mins more.

 

[cybrkitn]

all the rooms at POR will have queen beds and depending where abouts in oak manor or Parterre place you are, its only a very short walk across the little bridge to the food court if you carry on straight and go back through the main entrance, it only takes us 7 mins (yes we timed it) and thats at a slow pace!! The bus stop at the main entrance is only a couple of mins more.

Thanks. The food court isn't the problem for us. It's the distance between rooms for us and my mom and brother should they be in a room that is farther away.

 

[minnie mum]

If it was me, I'd rule out the Pirate Rooms at CBR for 2 reasons: they're a LONG walk to the dining facilities and main pool, and they only offer a double bed.

At POR you already know that you will be in separate buildings. The best you could do is have the other family request being in Magnolia Terrace, the closest building to the RR buildings. Of course this couldn't be guaranteed, but might help.

 

[goofyintoronto]

If it was me, I'd rule out the Pirate Rooms at CBR for 2 reasons: they're a LONG walk to the dining facilities and main pool, and they only offer a double bed.

At POR you already know that you will be in separate buildings. The best you could do is have the other family request being in Magnolia Terrace, the closest building to the RR buildings. Of course this couldn't be guaranteed, but might help.

The themed rooms your referring to at CB are in fact the pirate rooms. And for the reasons indicated above, i'd also avoid CB.

POR is a WONDERFUL resort. Absolutely gorgeous. I personally didnt find this resort to be too big, we were in acadian and found the walk to the main building & pools to be fairly quick. The boat to DTD is a nice bonus. The food court is amazing. I could go on and on. The building closest to the royal rooms isnt too far, so i think you will be fine.

 

[cybrkitn]

The long walk to the food court isn't an issue for us. It's just an issue if my family and I are in the pirate themed room in Trinidad South and my mom and brother are in a standard room in the Barbados section for example. Same goes for POR. We would like to have rooms close to each other. DS9 is pretty close to his grandmother and uncle.

 

[minnie mum]

I understand your concern perfectly, however, as I noted in my previous post, because you are booked into different category rooms there is no guarantee that you would be near one another or even in adjoining buildings. All you can do is make a request and hope for the best. Or have someone agree to change their room category.

 

[DizDaD7]

The updated rooms at the POR are great & the queensize beds are definetely a huge plus..

Just my opinion, but honestly, I don't Think it's that close at all.

POR, has soo much more to offer, Theming, Food @ PM, Restaurant,( Huge POOL...Uhm Can ya tell I like POR better. No disrepect to all the CBR lovers. I don't want to bash. It's just I think POR Just is a step up, that's all. CBR to me , is waayyy to spread out, buses were just ok, theming, is basically like I was somewhere in a tropical destination, which to me doesn't scream out Disney...It's Nice but just not Dis, to me. Food court ...Eh. & Buses were no that great..

Not sure if you looked into CSR, If you haven't , as an alternative I would research that one. CSR is My fav. amonst the Mods, & values..

But either way you choose, You'll have agreat time No matter what, because once again, This is DISNEY...(They just no how to do it right)
__________________

 

[mb187143]

OP... I think you need to determine whether the beds (double or queen) or the proximity of the rooms are your priority. If your intention is to be able to let your son go back and forth between rooms, it sounds like from pp's experience, this could be possible at CBR, if the entire trinidad south villiage is not comprised of pirate rooms. Then your mom and brother could do a standard room, and you could do a pirate room.

No matter what you do, when you book, make sure your reservations are linked. This will alert the CMs at check in that you're traveling together, and they can try to get you two rooms as close as possible to each other, even if you're in different categories.

 

[buzznina]

Worst case scenario the difference would probably only be a few minutes, but Disney will try and keep you close. I really would not worry much about that.

 

[cybrkitn]

The updated rooms at the POR are great & the queensize beds are definetely a huge plus..

Just my opinion, but honestly, I don't Think it's that close at all.

POR, has soo much more to offer, Theming, Food @ PM, Restaurant,( Huge POOL...Uhm Can ya tell I like POR better. No disrepect to all the CBR lovers. I don't want to bash. It's just I think POR Just is a step up, that's all. CBR to me , is waayyy to spread out, buses were just ok, theming, is basically like I was somewhere in a tropical destination, which to me doesn't scream out Disney...It's Nice but just not Dis, to me. Food court ...Eh. & Buses were no that great..

Not sure if you looked into CSR, If you haven't , as an alternative I would research that one. CSR is My fav. amonst the Mods, & values..

But either way you choose, You'll have agreat time No matter what, because once again, This is DISNEY...(They just no how to do it right)
__________________

I have the opposite feeling about POR's themed rooms. It just doesn't scream Disney for me. It's lacking something and looks more like a standard room. The queen size beds are a plus, but that's it for me. DH has been to New Orleans and likes the theme. I'm "eh" on it.

We have looked into CSR and DH loves it. Of course that is b/c his family is Spaniard and Italian. I showed it to my mom and brother and they didn't like the theme at all. So that's out.

My mom loves the theme at CBR b/c she has been to the Carribean on cruises with my father back in the 90's. DH has also stayed at CBR back in 2006 for a business trip and loved it.

This will be the first time at a moderate for myself and DS9 and a first resort stay for my mom and brother.

OP... I think you need to determine whether the beds (double or queen) or the proximity of the rooms are your priority. If your intention is to be able to let your son go back and forth between rooms, it sounds like from pp's experience, this could be possible at CBR, if the entire trinidad south villiage is not comprised of pirate rooms. Then your mom and brother could do a standard room, and you could do a pirate room.

No matter what you do, when you book, make sure your reservations are linked. This will alert the CMs at check in that you're traveling together, and they can try to get you two rooms as close as possible to each other, even if you're in different categories.

I hear you. I've come to the same conclusion myself. Which is the priority for us - the beds or the theme? We're willing to deal with double beds in CBR if they are comfortable b/c we like the theme better. We also have a better chance of having rooms closer to each other.

DS9 said something to me right before going to bed one night. He told me that he doesn't mind staying in the Royal themed room so that his father and I could be comfortable . When I told DH that, he looked at me and said, "Oh great. Now I feel guilty!" LOL

I think I'm leaning more toward CBR and I believe DH is also.

As far as the reservations go, we're actually going with a travel agent this time and all of us will be on the same ressie. DH, my brother and I are part of a vacation bowling league and we have credits/money that have rolled over from last year into this year's league. We have to go through them to book our Disney vacation, but we can do the flight arrangements ourselves. Once we get the ball rolling and any discounts become available (after we have booked the package), we just call the agent and they will apply it to our package (still holding out for free dining again for November/December).

 

[CamoMama]

Don't get my comments from the other thread wrong, I loved CBR. The pirate theme in the room was great the kids and I all loved it. The resort was beautiful, the pool was awesome and the bonfire on the beach roasting marshmallows was super fun. I also prefer the CBR movies at the pool in chairs to what I've heard about POR movies sitting on the grass.

While I found the beds to be uncomfortable, it didn't really detract from the overall Disney experience. My neck was sore for a couple of days, but I just rode more rollercoasters and that definitely helped.

We're staying at POR for our next trip because my daughter is turning 16 and that trip will be totally princess themed. I'd stay at CBR again, but probably not in a pirate room just because we've experienced it already, and probably not until we've stayed at all the other mods.

Enjoy your trip, as has been said before, you may not be completely in love with the resort that you choose once you get there, but you're still going to be at Disney. And a bad day at Disney is better than a good day almost anywhere else, in my opinion.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

All of the pirate themed rooms are in Trinidad South. As far as I know, every room in Trinidad South has a pirate theme. Is your family willing to pay for preferred rooms or do they just want to book standard rooms? Trinidad North is the village next to Trinidad South, but they are considered preferred rooms. Unless your family is willing to book preferred rooms, you are not likely to be near to each other.

 

[cybrkitn]

All of the pirate themed rooms are in Trinidad South. As far as I know, every room in Trinidad South has a pirate theme. Is your family willing to pay for preferred rooms or do they just want to book standard rooms? Trinidad North is the village next to Trinidad South, but they are considered preferred rooms. Unless your family is willing to book preferred rooms, you are not likely to be near to each other.

CamoMamo mentioned in my other thread that she just came back a few weeks ago and had a pirate themed room. She said there was a standard room right next door to her room. What I can do is call Disney and double check with a CM about that before we actually book with our travel agent.

 

[cybrkitn]

I called Disney to confirm about CBR and Trinidad South. Yes, there are a mix of pirate themed and standard rooms in Trinidad South (Trinidad South being the only area where the themed rooms are). Which is what I was hoping for. I'm going to talk to DH tonight about it.

So based on the above and feedback from other DISers about the beds, we will most likely go with CBR Thank you everyone for your help

 

[CamoMama]

Yay for making decisions! I think you'll enjoy CBR, I really did. The girls loved the theming, and they're teenagers, so imagine how much your son is going to love it.

I don't know if I've mentioned this to you before, but have you considered the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage? It is really awesome. The view of the fireworks from the lake is just gorgeous. We arrived at the Contemporary and had dinner at Wave at about 5 (which I don't recommend, but there were no openings at Chef Mickey's), then upstairs to the ballroom where they were waiting for us with pirate bandannas and a boat assignment. After some snacks and pictures with Hook and Smee we followed the flag to our boat and went out on the lake with our pirate "Patch" (the pirate for the other boat was his twin brother, Patch). There was singing, jokes, more singing and the kids took pictures with Patch. Each kid got something from the treasure chest at the end. Like I said, the fireworks were just amazing, and I would definitely do it again.