Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT Information & Questions-Old Thread-New Thread Link in Post 1

[pigletgirl]

We are there just after you... It's our first stay at CBR too

And we'll be there right after you guys!

 

[ksromack]

I did. I bought a travel size pkg. if Gain pods. There is detergent for sale but I think it was all generic. I will go back and double check if you need me to.

No, I have a travel sized pkg of these same pods.....I will throw them in the suitcase! We plan on taking a swim or two this trip....we don't always allot time for this but this trip is going to be more relaxing than previous trips....I'm a planner and resisting the urge to overdo it!

We have done laundry every trip and never stayed with it. You could always take a dip in the quiet pool which is right beside the laundry

We swam last time at POR while laundry cooked.

I'll give you my wife's phone number...maybe you can convince her that doing laundry on vacation is a good thing!!!

I don't mind laundry and as mentioned above, we'll swim......besides, hubby does the folding, lol

 

[beckydisneyb]

First timers and already obsessing! What does everyone recommend eating at the food court? we will have free Disney dining so just curious as to how to maximize at CBR. Do their smoothies count as a QS drink and are they good?

We find that the QS meals are very large and our family of 4 can easily share 2 meals for breakfast and share another 2 for lunch or dinner. Makes your dining credits go a little further this way!

 

[disneycruisegal]

We find that the QS meals are very large and our family of 4 can easily share 2 meals for breakfast and share another 2 for lunch or dinner. Makes your dining credits go a little further this way!

I agree, my DH and I split the "bounty platter" for breakfast, it's huge. sausage, scrambled eggs, a biscuit, bacon, and I think pancakes too. It's more than enough to share and only costs one QS meal.

 

[msteffen]

First timers and already obsessing! What does everyone recommend eating at the food court? we will have free Disney dining so just curious as to how to maximize at CBR. Do their smoothies count as a QS drink and are they good?

Such a great question, I have been wondering that myself. What's extra yummy.

 

[ksromack]

Such a great question, I have been wondering that myself. What's extra yummy.

From reading Lisa's reports it sounds like you can't go wrong with the Bounty Platter. Dh will argue with me about splitting it but I know we could share it and not starve....at least until 11 am when F&W booths open up

Speaking of F&W, has anyone here ever done the Premium F&W packages?

 

[Kevin355]

Shutters is vastly under-rated. We ate there last year and have 2 nights scheduled for FD this year. New chef and the food is excellent. My wife has many food allergies...the chef came to our table and got her order, then made her a gluten/soy/dairy free dessert that was to die for. And Kevin, the morning food manager is the best...although he is a Miami fan.

Such a great question, I have been wondering that myself. What's extra yummy.

 

[beckydisneyb]

We are there just after you... It's our first stay at CBR too

 

[beckydisneyb]

We are there in 102 days. Super excited for 3rd trip to CBR

 

[dis_guy]

Shutters is vastly under-rated. We ate there last year and have 2 nights scheduled for FD this year. New chef and the food is excellent. My wife has many food allergies...the chef came to our table and got her order, then made her a gluten/soy/dairy free dessert that was to die for.

When we first started staying at CBR, Shutters got terrible reviews routinely. We'd eat there first and last nights for convenience but it really wasn't much to write home about. Now, however it is much improved. I had what must've been one of the best steaks I've ever had there a couple of years ago.

Same thing happened for my MIL and her shellfish allergy. The chef went to great pains to make sure she didn't have any issues, even to the extent of checking what meals neighbouring tables had to ensure there was no chance of setting off a reaction with her.

 

[JBurke]

Got a great Pin in the mail and decided to book one last family vacation to Disney!
My eldest DD graduates college next year, my other DD starts college in the fall, and my DS starts high school. SO I figure this may be the last time we can all take a vacation together.
It has been awhile since our last trip and after a couple of rough years, this vacation will be much appreciated.
Never stayed at CBR, but we are very excited to learn all about it!

 

[ang79]

Newbie here! We just booked today for end of Oct./beginning of Nov. w/ free dining at CBR and are super excited. This will be our first family trip to Disney (with our 6 and 9 yr. old girls) and also have close friends going. They booked a standard room to save some money but we got a waterview at the suggestion of my TA. She said it would be closer to the pool/dining. But now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if we should also do standard and save that $170 for something else, or is the water view worth the extra? I saw someone mention having a courtyard view and outside there was a smoking area, I definately would not want this with a standard though.

Also trying to decide if I should request ground floor or second floor? I'm thinking maybe less traffic/noise by our room on second floor, but DH wants ground floor so that he doesn't have to carry our 6 yr. old up a flight of stairs at the end of each busy day after the parks. Do all rooms come w/ a minifridge or is that something I need to request? And can I request a murphy bed if there are only 4 of us in the room? Thought that may alleviate some fighting between my kids at bedtime.

I'm sure I'll be back w/ more questions! Thanks for your Disney wisdom

 

[dpswift]

Fridges are in all rooms no need to request.

You can request a murphy bed but parties of 5 will get them first.

With just 2 stories either ground floor or second is fine for noise. If your husband wants ground I would get it. I have made so many solo trips with a young DS that I can tell you it is no fun carrying little ones home after a day in the park.

 

[POOHLUV69]

We aren't going until next July/August 2016, but always planning. Quick question about the new washing machines, can you use liquid HE detergent or can you only use pods? I know nothing about front loaders.

 

[dpswift]

pods would be fine. I like to travel with a few in a small rubbermaid container.

 

[Amberleefuta]

Couple questions guys. Our plane arrives at MCO at 915 am and we are taking magical express to CBR. What time should we arrive at the resort? After we ate settled we are going to head over to AK what should I make our first fast pass for? It is just my husband and I if that helps.

Thanks

 

[Kevin355]

Couple questions guys. Our plane arrives at MCO at 915 am and we are taking magical express to CBR. What time should we arrive at the resort? After we ate settled we are going to head over to AK what should I make our first fast pass for? It is just my husband and I if that helps.

Thanks

It is usually less than 1.5 hours from landing to resort. The longest time that I have had is probably 1.5 hours, and have had it at a little less than an hour a couple of times.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Hoping you can all help a newbie out. When is the best time to call in and add room requests to our reservation? We have a water-view. I need to request to be far from any smoking areas and DD and I are both highly allergic, so we do our best to avoid them. We would love Jamacia 45 or 44 based on the map, but can we only request a certain country? Floor level doesn't matter so much, but we would like to avoid a connecting door as well (is this a request?). sorry for so many questions! On our other stays we just asked to be far away from the elevator lol

 

[Kevin355]

Hoping you can all help a newbie out. When is the best time to call in and add room requests to our reservation? We have a water-view. I need to request to be far from any smoking areas and DD and I are both highly allergic, so we do our best to avoid them. We would love Jamacia 45 or 44 based on the map, but can we only request a certain country? Floor level doesn't matter so much, but we would like to avoid a connecting door as well (is this a request?). sorry for so many questions! On our other stays we just asked to be far away from the elevator lol

Have had very little problem with smokers at WDW and CBR. You get the occasional smoker who gets away from the area, but not often.

 

[Bills22]

Arriving on June 17 and super excited. We have always stayed at POR so this is our first experience with CBR. Can't wait!! We will be celebrating our 25 anniversary and oldest DD's college graduation. I read a few pages back that we will be able to see the Epcot fireworks from the beach. That was a nice surprise. Sorry to all for rambling. DH said our previous trip would be the last then HE suggested this trip. We are all just so happy to get to go back!!