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

[Deb & Bill]

My family and I also just returned from a trip to wdw and staying at CBR. We were in Martinique 21. We weren't super close to OPR but it wasn't a problem. Even though our room faced a parking lot the lush greenery almost covered it up. For us the food court was good. A little slow but good. We had our AC set on 65 for the entire week. By the end of the week the room got down to 69 degrees but didn't feel cool. Mousekeeping was fine. The buses......

I thought I was prepared. We have stayed on-site many times at all levels. My husband loves a Disney vacation because he doesn't have to drive. (He commutes 90 miles per day to from work.) The buses were mostly exceptionally bad. If they were timely they were overcrowded. 3 times we waited close to 45 minutes. Yes we used the bus stop phone to complain. It was like we forever going to the wrong park and other buses came instead of ours. We literally saw 3 HS buses one day before 1 MK bus.

CBR was beautiful and peaceful BUT bus service is an important part of our trip so we will stay elsewhere next time.

It sounds like you were there about the same time we were there, also in Martinique - Bldg 23. We never had any bus problems and never had to wait all that long. We kept our room around 70-71 because any cooler and we froze at night. We only had the two of us in the room, so that might have been the difference.

The worst bus stop we had was at MK where it was the second furthest from the entrance to the park. Only one resort was further away. BUT, the stops for the buses were the very long ones for the double buses. We did see them running those buses through CBR with Training noted on the marquee. Those could solve issues with fuller buses.

DHS had a very close bus stop; so did AK. Epcot was at the second bus area, right near our OKW stop that we usually ride.

 

[dansdad]

I just wanted to report that it seems WDW in general was having major bus issues the last 10 days or so. My parents are currently at POR and have been since the June 10th and said they have never had such bad experiences with the buses. More than 30 minute waits, standing room only, having to wait another 30 minutes for a 2nd bus because they couldn't get on the first one. One of my coworkers just got back yesterday from CSR and had the same complaints. My BIL's family is currently at Pop and has been since June 14th and has the same complaints.

Looks like this is not relegated to CBR only.

 

[dis_guy]

More than 30 minute waits, standing room only, having to wait another 30 minutes for a 2nd bus because they couldn't get on the first one.

Man, this sounds really bad! Hope they get it sorted out by, shall we say, November?

 

[Kevin355]

This is the start of peek season at WDW. Schools are out, summer vacations started, and I'd imagine WDW is at it's highest capacity since Spring Break. I am going in September...13th to be exact. We always go now after the kids are back in school.

 

[ksromack]

I am! Were you over there too? The internet can be a small world. =)

Yep, I was pea #66.

DH and I are looking forward to staying at CBR. Our last stay at POR had us waiting for the buses quite a bit and while we stayed very close to the CS there we never once used it for a meal and only used our free resort mugs twice! I think I'm mostly looking forward to the theming at the resort. We also plan to swim this time around!

 

[Amberleefuta]

So I just found a cheaper flight that arrives at midnight on Nov 12th. My question is how hard is it to add an extra night to our package and do u think it would be worth it? The flight would cost $95 per person vs $159 per person. Any advice?

 

[Simba's Girl]

This is the start of peek season at WDW. Schools are out, summer vacations started, and I'd imagine WDW is at it's highest capacity since Spring Break. I am going in September...13th to be exact. We always go now after the kids are back in school.

I can't wait until we can vacation in September again! 11 years, not that I'm counting or anything LOL

Bus situation is interesting...Wonder what the deal is since it seems resort-wide. Hopefully they straighten it out soon.

 

[dansdad]

So I just found a cheaper flight that arrives at midnight on Nov 12th. My question is how hard is it to add an extra night to our package and do u think it would be worth it? The flight would cost $95 per person vs $159 per person. Any advice?

We will always jump at the chance to arrive a day early! I say go for it. Even if you can't add a day to your package, you could try to add a room only for the extra night.

 

[Simba's Girl]

So I just found a cheaper flight that arrives at midnight on Nov 12th. My question is how hard is it to add an extra night to our package and do u think it would be worth it? The flight would cost $95 per person vs $159 per person. Any advice?

How much are you saving overall?

If more than 2 of you are going, I would probably try and get a room at the hotel in the airport and ME it in the morning.

 

[Amberleefuta]

How much are you saving overall?

If more than 2 of you are going, I would probably try and get a room at the hotel in the airport and ME it in the morning.

 

[Amberleefuta]

 

[debsters41]

Hello all! I would like to talk about buses and early ADRs, please. I read on the first page (thank you mickeystoontown and other contributors) that buses run about one hour before park opening. I have an ADR for 8:00 am at BOG on a day that the MK opens at 9. I have been reading on the boards that I should aim to be at the far left turnstyle at 7:45, which means I should be at the bus stop no later than 7, right? However, what are the chances that there will be buses at that time? I would like to avoid using a taxi, but if need be, does someone know approximately how much it will cost?

Thank you!!

 

[Team Bunch]

I just wanted to report that it seems WDW in general was having major bus issues the last 10 days or so. My parents are currently at POR and have been since the June 10th and said they have never had such bad experiences with the buses. More than 30 minute waits, standing room only, having to wait another 30 minutes for a 2nd bus because they couldn't get on the first one. One of my coworkers just got back yesterday from CSR and had the same complaints. My BIL's family is currently at Pop and has been since June 14th and has the same complaints.

Looks like this is not relegated to CBR only.

Glad you posted this.....it will be our 1st visit to CBR, whenever I read negative posts I take them with a grain of salt. We are a glass half full family and figure what bothers other people probably won't bother us but reading these bussing issues had me nervous. We have only been to Disney the last week of August so we are spoiled with bus/park crowds. We are going in november this year and judging by lack of adr's it's going to be pretty busy.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Buses start running at 6;30 a.m., but they are less frequent at that time. If you just miss one, it may be awhile before the next one arrives.

 

[debsters41]

That is perfect! Thanks!

 

[denise5374]

we leave tomorrow for CBR.....flying into MCO and staying Friday night at the Hyatt there. Will check into CBR Saturday morning! This will be our 5th stay at CBR.

I will report back!

 

[ELSA711]

It sounds like you were there about the same time we were there, also in Martinique - Bldg 23. We never had any bus problems and never had to wait all that long. We kept our room around 70-71 because any cooler and we froze at night. We only had the two of us in the room, so that might have been the difference.

The worst bus stop we had was at MK where it was the second furthest from the entrance to the park. Only one resort was further away. BUT, the stops for the buses were the very long ones for the double buses. We did see them running those buses through CBR with Training noted on the marquee. Those could solve issues with fuller buses.

DHS had a very close bus stop; so did AK. Epcot was at the second bus area, right near our OKW stop that we usually ride.

I don't remember the line ups of stops (even though we go every year) but in MK is POR the last bus stop from entrance? I remember it is and we always joke that we love our resort to much to change it
But we did this year and CBR is new to us. These bus reports have me worried.

 

[Rhetts1stWDW]

I am such a flighty first timer. I read the positive trip reports and think "Awesome this sounds like the best hotel ever. We are going to have a blast!" Then I read the negative experience and just like that I start to dread that I have made a terrible mistake. I think it's because it is so much money (for my family at least) and even more planning effort. Resort experience can make a huge impact on my vacation. I guess I just need to take a chill pill, it will like be neither the best or worst experience haha

 

[themommy]

I don't remember the line ups of stops (even though we go every year) but in MK is POR the last bus stop from entrance? I remember it is and we always joke that we love our resort to much to change it
But we did this year and CBR is new to us. These bus reports have me worried.

Well, since it is all of the busses at all resorts that seem to be having a problem, I would assume it will be fixed soon.

 

[Monykalyn]

I think I posted impressions awhile ago- we were there june1-4. Martinique 23. No cooling issues, mouse keeping issues and no bus issues except one night coming back from MK. The line that night was just really long and they brought in one of those double busses- and then of course he chose to start in opposite side of resort lol. Other than that the busses going to parks in am were nearly empty. Food court was a short pleasant walk- I bought one refillable mug and got coffee and tea and lemonade several times. Kids loved, loved the pool. I even did laundry one morning on our checkout day (love being able to set an alert when your machine stops!). My DH and I went to poolside bar one night after kids decided they'd rather sleep than swim and talked for a couple hours with the bartender (had just opened up after a brief storm). Lovely resort. If we stay onsite again we'd probably get 2 rooms here just to have more space for our family, or do what we did this time and split stay. Our room faced a smoking area in the courtyard and it never bothered me (highly reactive asthma). And I got to try my first Mickey waffle here- omg so good! They make them fresh too- watched mine come straight from the waffle iron!