CBR Review

[bobnjodi]

My wife and I stayed at CBR from Wed 4/3/02 through Tuesday 4/9/02 in room 1130 in Barbados. Beautiful water view and we originally reserved a standard view room. WDW seemed much less busy than the other years that we stayed their during spring break in '95, '97 and '99. Fewer Europeans apparently fearful of traveling.

We had a great dinner at California Grill and watched the fireworks from our table at 9:00pm. Diedra Hall was their that night with a WDW host. Christie Brinkley and her two daughters were dining their the night before us! We also ate at the Italian restaurant in EPCOT which had excellent food and service.

Saturday night at Pleasure Island didn't seem that busy to us as we expected. We had some great laughs at the Adventurers Club on PI. Glad to answer any questions.

 

[jmarie]

Having stayed at CBR last Feb, I enjoyed it as well and felt it had gotten a bad rap from some of the boards. It has a spread-out, relaxed feel about it, and I'm curious why it seems to get more than it's share of negative comments. The rooms are more spacious that other moderates, and even has a beloved coffee maker. Husband would like to go back there again, but I feel that you must try other resorts.

 

[hellokitty]

My two complaints or negitive thoughts on CBR would be the food court set up is awful!!! I wish you had one central location to purchase food instead of at each indiviual place it got really crowded waiting and it was hard to manuever around the lines.

Second, the main pool is way too small for that big of a resort!!

 

[disneydiehard]

Two years ago, my very first trip to Disney, we stayed at the CBR. I have to say, it was not a good experience. We had nothing but problems, from checking in, to our carpets being soaking wet, to not having the ammenities we asked and paid for. Add early morning lawn maintenance and super unfriendly customer service, and it was just too much. The staff was horrible to us, hanging up when we would call, and just being down right rude. I left after just one day and will never stay there again. All I can say is thank god this happened at a place like Disney, where no matter how bad things are, you can always find something good. Although we stayed off the property for the remainder of our trip, the rest of Disney lived up to it's amazing reputation. Too bad the CBR did not.

 

[Gabrielle]

The first time I saw CRB was in '91 when we were staying at the GF...we went over with our two little ones to check it out and I wasn't impressed.

Well, about 7 years later, we stayed at the CBR with the no-so-little ones, and I saw it through my 7 year old daughter's eyes. She was enchanted with the bright colors, the calypso music, the beach. I ignored the damp carpets and tired looking room to go lie out on the hammock with her. We're going back soon, she and I, and I can't wait. I'm going to lie on "our" hammock, drag my feet in the sand and gaze at the pretty colors of the Jamica buildings.

 

[GeorgeG]

We've been staying at the CBR for quite a few years and like it. Granted, a few years ago it was ready for refurb, but that is now complete and it's at good, if not better, than ever.

We've never had any problems with the people or service there. My only complaint last November was that the music at the Banana Cabana had changed. I was told there were some copyright issues with the old music. Some of the new music is good, but the atmosphere is a bit different. Still a great place, though.

 

[DixieDreamer]

We really liked the CBR and have stayed at the Swan, and Port Orleans Riverside as well, but it is the CBR I chose to return to for my upcoming trip with DD in June. It is a relaxing, beautiful resort. I had excellent service while there and my room was in very good shape. The food court layout is better at PO Riverside... but you know... that does not make or break my vacation! We rarely used the main pool - because the quiet pools in each village were so large and much less crowded. The fact that there are so MANY quiet pools - takes alot of the crowding problem away that I have experienced at the other resorts.

Personal taste has alot to do with what resort will be right for you.

 

[Disneydenise]

I just retured Saturday from the CBR. It was the first time I had been back since 1991. I thought that the room was great. Our room was a standard garden view room. It was convinient to the OPR and the parking lot and bus stop. Trinadad North. I probably would ask to be in a different island loction if I was not going to have a car. Our room was very clean and the grounds were lovely. I was surprised that the AC was so quiet. There was no noise from any other rooms as far as the flushing of toilets and the showeres. I know that that is one thing that did bother me when we weree at the POR. Th young lady who checked us in at the front desk was not very personable but I was too happy to let her bother me. She gave out no information on the resort other than the newspaper. She must have been tired. At first she was going to place us in Barbados and I thought it was just too far from everything so I asked for a room closer to OPR and that is how we got the Trinadad location.

 

[cindyfan]

We've stayed at CBR twice....March '99 and Oct '99.
After the second time I swore I would never go back.

The rooms were EXTREMELY run down, and service was not that great....not aweful...but not that great.
In Oct '99 we had a ground floor and flew in just after a hurricane had passed. You could tell there had been a flood in that building. Water marks on the walls and the carpet had just been replaced. But the aweful moldy/mildew smell was what I couldn't stand!!!

disneydiehard....were you on the ground floor and did it rain recently???
I also agree with hellokitty on both points!! But we love to relax at the quiet pools more than the main pool.

BUT we really love the theme....the tropical beach look.
AND...with the current refurbishment ....we will return in June and we are VERY EXCITED!!
I think that they deserve another chance from us.

Disneydenise.....we had the same experience with the loud toilets at POR too....I thought I was crazy, so I am glad I wasn't the only one it bothered.

 

[momejay]

The only complaint I have about CBR is that it was my daughter's birthday & they promised HER something (they didn't tell us what) for her birthday. They asked who her favorite characters were, her name, & got her all excited & then nothing. I at least expected a phone call from a character saying Happy Birthday or something. I wouldn't have mentioned it if they hadn't promised her. CBR is still a favorite. It is quiet, relaxing, & reasonably priced. One CM's forgetfullness & another's lie, didn't prevent us from having a good time. It's not like I paid for a Birthday service & didn't get it.

 

[susy]

Disneydenise,
We will be at CBR in 15 days and I have requested Trinidad North. We are paying for a standard view. What were the views like? If there is a parking lot , are you right on top of it? do you think I should change to Martinigue 25, just to not have any parking lot views? I don't mind the parking lot ,as long as it isn't like a motel where the car is parked right outside your door. We will have our own car and plan on using the food court and main pool. Did they have a section in the food court that had things like fruit, bagel, and other cold stuff in the mornings??? We aren't big breakfast people. I will probably walk down there very early and just get some stuff to bring back to the room. Can you do this there? We did it at ASMo.

How long did check in take? What time did you check in? We are checking in on a Friday. I plan to be there around 2pm. We are having lunch at the Garden Grill right before (yum). Did you have to wait long for your room to be ready?

 

[Disneydenise]

Hi,
I think I would request Martinique 25. I don't request anything until I see what they are offering. I didn't want to be too far out from the food court. That was the reason I asked for a closer room. I just don't understand why they make you ask but whatever. We checked in fairly late. We got to the hotel at 6:30. We were in our room by 7PM. We made coffee in the AM and ate in the parks around 10AM each day. I as traveling with a girlfriend not my family this time. I saw large bowls of fruit and cereal the one time we went to the food court. I have never stayed at the AS but DD said she loved the food court.
I don't think that it is important to specify no parking lot view as there is no view from any of the rooms. The way they have the rooms situated you are very close to your car you just can't see it. Make sure you walk around a bit so you can determine the easiest route to the ice the food and the car and bus stop. We walked out of our way the first day or so. Have a great trip. I loved the resot and would stay there again. One night I was trying to get the frnt desk at about 11:30 and they took the phone off the hook and never ansered it. I thought that was rude but... it was late and who knows what was going on at the time. If you have any other questions just ask I am happy to help.

 

[bobnjodi]

I faxed a room request about 24 hours ahead of our arrival. I believe if you are polite about it, give your reservation number, arrival date, and departure date, you will be surprised at how nice of a room you get. WDW is looking to please due to a slowdown in the number of vacationers.

I walked near Pop Century (close to Trinadad South) and noticed very little construction activity although it looked about 50% complete for the first phase.

 

[SeaSpray]

bobnjodi:

Welcome back, and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at CBR I've stayed there twice and LOVE this resort!