Resort Thread Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH Resort

[travelingmom4]

Thank you!

 

[rookie2]

I have a crazy questions that I'm not even sure anyone can answer..... We are currently booked for a waterview room. We 'd like a 2nd floor, facing the pool, preferably corner room. We like to go to the parks in the morning and be back to the pool by 1:00ish... We want to make sure the building pool will have sunshine while we're there....Any suggestions? We will be there 1/19-1/28 I know it may not be warm enough for most but we are from Michigan and have gone during this time of year in the past and have always used the pool.
TIA

 

[IrishNYC]

I have a crazy questions that I'm not even sure anyone can answer..... We are currently booked for a waterview room. We 'd like a 2nd floor, facing the pool, preferably corner room. We like to go to the parks in the morning and be back to the pool by 1:00ish... We want to make sure the building pool will have sunshine while we're there....Any suggestions? We will be there 1/19-1/28 I know it may not be warm enough for most but we are from Michigan and have gone during this time of year in the past and have always used the pool.
TIA

Each section has a quiet pool that might have a bit of shade, but the main pool doesn't get much shade. However, no rooms face the main pool. Also, I believe the category is "water view" which means a view of a pool or the lake. All room windows face an exterior corridor, so you'd likely not be keeping your curtains open to enjoy any view because passers by can look right in.

On our last stay we had a "water view" - it was a very distant, semi-obstructed view of the lake.

 

[Kevin355]

Each section has a quiet pool that might have a bit of shade, but the main pool doesn't get much shade. However, no rooms face the main pool. Also, I believe the category is "water view" which means a view of a pool or the lake. All room windows face an exterior corridor, so you'd likely not be keeping your curtains open to enjoy any view because passers by can look right in.

On our last stay we had a "water view" - it was a very distant, semi-obstructed view of the lake.

Excellent summation...don't leave your curtain open and expect privacy...unless you don't mind people seeing your Mickey Mouse boxers!!!! I have these little dandies!!!

 

[rookie2]

Each section has a quiet pool that might have a bit of shade, but the main pool doesn't get much shade. However, no rooms face the main pool. Also, I believe the category is "water view" which means a view of a pool or the lake. All room windows face an exterior corridor, so you'd likely not be keeping your curtains open to enjoy any view because passers by can look right in.

On our last stay we had a "water view" - it was a very distant, semi-obstructed view of the lake.

Thanks for the info... it's not that we like the view. We just like to be close to the quite pool. We tend to spend more time at the qp than the main pool during vacation. This will be our first time at CBR and can't wait for the beachy atmosphere.

 

[Dis703]

Thanks for the info... it's not that we like the view. We just like to be close to the quite pool. We tend to spend more time at the qp than the main pool during vacation. This will be our first time at CBR and can't wait for the beachy atmosphere.

There is a quiet pool in every village. No room is more than 2-3 minutes walk from a quiet pool from our experience.

 

[dis_guy]

Here's a question for anyone there or has been there recently: Is Disney still providing insect repellant at the resorts and parks as was reported earlier? It might be one less thing for me to bother packing...

 

[2littledisneyfans]

Here's a question for anyone there or has been there recently: Is Disney still providing insect repellant at the resorts and parks as was reported earlier? It might be one less thing for me to bother packing...

I several signs advertising it.

 

[2littledisneyfans]

Rooom 4626. Is ground floor ajoining room. Great location for close to bus stop. Jamaica is first pickup on that side of resort and first drop off at end of night. Buses are crowded. Did have a problem with housekeeping...we had gaston cinnamon rolls in clear takeout packaging that we had purchased for breakfast for several days. Came back and 3 whole plainly visible cinnamon rolls had been thrown away off our table. So beware, leave NOTHING out. On another note has anyone ever stayed at the contemporary? Worth the extra $?

 

[Dis703]

Here's a question for anyone there or has been there recently: Is Disney still providing insect repellant at the resorts and parks as was reported earlier? It might be one less thing for me to bother packing...

Yes, we saw stations all over the parks with large bottles of repellant.

 

[sweetpeama]

Much better! We're "first flight of the day" flyers, which is great because we live 12 minutes from the airport, but not when we leave Disney, because it's just too early.

We are the same way though we are about 15-20 minutes to our local airport. For us later times get us in very poor times. Going with our least expensive airline from our area which is Delta ( I have not done the fly allegiant which has our essential air service contract of which my local airport is considered the hub for the smaller communities and then it goes onto a bigger hub and from there you can get to 2 destinations one for gamblers one for snow birds though for us we would take SouthWest but would have to fly an extra day on either end or else early enough to have time to make connections including getting luggage and rechecking it so I am thinking a day on either side of the trip)

Times that we can get on prefered airline
6:15 AM MST requires that we be at airport between 4:15 and 4:30 Am MST so leave house no later than 4 AM MST ( that time of the morning no one is out but a few officers and the paper delivery people for the most part) 2 Hour and 3 minute layover land at MCO 4:10 PM EST
6:28 AM MST ( same time requirement for airport due to being in the middle of a morning rush and only 2 lanes plus the gate is at the opposite end of the terminal area from the one security point though it is closer to the arrivals point) 3 Hour and 35 minute layover gets in at 5:20 PM EST this one tends to be $40-50 more in price than the earlier flight
1 PM MST requires that we be at the airport at 11 AM and leave home about 10:30 AM 2 hour and 45 minute layover get in at 11:33 PM which means we have to get our own luggage before getting on DME
5:25 PM MST would have to be at the airport at 3:25 ( Due to school release times and going through 2 school zones and 2 crossing areas ( 2 of the 3 sides of the school you can drive on the other is an empty field) would need to leave home around 2: 30 PM and hope that it is between the primary and secondary release times ( even though there is a crossing area there is a tendency of some of them to go out in front of cars along that area but not as bad as the middle school they move onto) 3 Hour and 56 minute layover. Here's the real stickler this flight gets in at 5:01 AM the next day. I am not even going to go there on the cons to this one but lets just say I would be the person sleeping on a bench in one of the parks or in a chair at the resort pool.

Returning we have ( all times ESt and MST in order)
6 AM 2 H 30 min lay over 12:27 PM (too darn early)
7:30 AM 51 min layover 12:27 PM (too darn early and you get to run from one end of the SLC airport on the upper level to the stairs to the lower level and then back across half the airport. Do not attempt unless you are a single adult or adult couple with a carry on small enough to go under the seat are seated close to the front and have no mobility challenges)
2:20 PM 3 H 2 M layover 9:07 PM
5:00 PM 2 H 25 M layover 11:18 PM ( the last 2 it comes down to price and getting a seat. Family members not being happy about picking us up too bad because while a cab to my area is expensive I have friends I can call for a ride and they are much nicer about it ( certain family members would be looking up flight information and demanding we switch flights to the AM ones-can we say Hey to the NO)

The best I can get on our second choice airline ( 3rd option has either 2 stops or around an 11 hour layover plus runs more even without the needed hotel room if you do only one stop) is
Here to MCO
7:25 AM 1 H 17 M 3:31 PM
MCO to Home
4:45 PM 3 H 45 M 11:29 PM
Cost $117 more per person

 

[duck_adoo]

Here's a question for anyone there or has been there recently: Is Disney still providing insect repellant at the resorts and parks as was reported earlier? It might be one less thing for me to bother packing...

Hi! We just got back last Wednesday and there was insect repellent in our room. Also saw some in MK too

 

[crewsn]

We just had a recent stay at CBR and had a wonderful time. We had booked standard and had our car with us at the resort. We first were given a room in Barbados building 15 on the first floor. Looked to be a bit of a hike to the main pool and food court so I'd thought I'd try my luck asking to be moved. I went to the custom house before heading to our room. The guy at the desk was super nice and got us a room in Aruba Building 52. Room 5233. It was a corner room on the second floor right at the steps that took you down the path towards the bridge.

Super location and not far to the main pool and food court. Actually a rather fun walk.

We had a murphy bed in the room too which was a nice surprise. It worked well for us as we had our car and didn't need to bring the stroller in our room just stored it in there for the parks.

I will have to say I really did not care for the buses here. We had stayed at Pop before since they have the one bus stop and I really didn't mind the buses there. We tried taking the bus on our magic kingdom day. It took forever once picked up to the stop at about half the stops around the resort before proceeding on.

On our last MK day we were going to take the bus for extra magic hours. When we went to the bus stop we looked at the next scheduled arrival time on the board based on that time, stopping around the resort to pick up everyone we would have never made it to Magic Kingdom on time and it was 6:50am. EMH started at 8am. So we drove instead. Made it easily to Magic Kingdom with time to spare.

All and all we loved it here, but I would again only stay here if we had our car. I think this is a perfect resort for travelers who are driving to Disney!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Long time browser first time poster!.....Will be joining the ranks of the CBR elite next April/May and I have a boring question to most but hopefully you guys will appreciate. Here in the UK Root Beer is more scarce thank Rocking Horse poop...I can see by the photos of the refill stations there is NO ROOT BEER! Please tell me its just been cut off the end of the photo. I mean this won't stop me going to the resort lol But save me please!

Sad but true my friend! DH is a heavy beer (root beer only - lol) drinker and there is little root beer to be had in WDW AT ALL!
They use all coke products and have chosen to fill the space with lemonade to offer non fizzy decaf drinkers a choice. Waitress at Coral Reef gave us the low down. There are still a few places that offer it, but most offer lemonade.
Sorry...

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Excellent summation...don't leave your curtain open and expect privacy...unless you don't mind people seeing your Mickey Mouse boxers!!!! I have these little dandies!!!

Ohhhh @Kevin355!!! Don't toy with us! lol

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Just back (10 - 18th)... Thought I would add stuff to the Dis as we went along but at the end of the day we were toast!
CBR, as always, was fabulous. We had King corner 5101 and the location was perfect. Close to the car park, close to the bridge, and close even to the quiet pool. No negatives to report. Our room.was ready at 10 am when we arrived. Yippee Skippee!!!
While there, I mentioned to DH and DGS that maybe we should try AKL or YC next time. (one for theming, and the other for location) I was IMMEDIATELY shot down. (By a 21y/o no less!) The response was, "We ALWAYS stay at Caribbean Beach, why would we stay somewhere else!"
The food at CS was pretty darn good, loved the pulled pork sandwich. Shutters was excellent (our waitress was superb! Much better than our waiter at Cali Grill!)
and all CMs we dealt with were terrific.
Some really good am choices on snack credits to go with our free mugs of coffee. Nice selection of pastries, muffins, and bagels. Also crustables (those little pb and j Sammy things) were a snack credit, which for some little ones would make a perfect little breakfast or lunch. They offered some really nice looking fruit as well.
Our bed was super comfortable, every time I stay there I swear I'm going to buy one of their mattresses from Beautyrest, until I see the price, yikes! But, holy cow are those beds comfy!
DGS was in Jamaica 43, they really liked their room as well.
From the moment we got there until we left, we felt very well cared for.
We have and will continue to highly recommend CBR.

 

[Dis703]

Okay, I've been back a few days now so it's time to start posting about our trip. This was our second stay at CBR and we were there Dec. 11th - 16th. So glad we stayed here again as it's truly one of our absolute favorite resorts.

We arrived Sunday afternoon and there was a bit of a line to check in. I had requested Jamaica 45 as our only room request but we were assigned to Barbados Building 15 on the 2nd floor. I didn't say anything at first and was going to just give it a try but as we were walking out I decided to go back and see if they could at least move us to Aruba/Jamaica near the bridge. The CM who helped me was great. He said it was his first day working at the check in desk and he spent a ridiculous amount of time on hold waiting for the room assignor. I was even going to have him give up at one point and he insisted it was fine and continued to wait until he finally got to speak to someone. He explained what I was looking for and they asked which floor we wanted. I said 1st would be great, but isn't necessary. They ended up placing us in 5231 (Aruba 52) on the first floor and we even had a partial water view. It was a great room and easy spot to go back and forth over the bridge to OPR. It's situated pretty much halfway between the Jamaica and Aruba bus stops so we went back and forth between the two.

This was the view from right outside our door.


Buses were not as good as we experienced last year. Our Epcot day we just missed a bus as we got to the stop and it took 30 minutes for another one to come. In the meantime, there were multiple buses for every other park and Disney Springs so I'm not sure why they were so lacking in Epcot buses that morning. We had a couple longer than usual waits, but last year we rarely waited more than 5 minutes for a bus the entire 10 days we were there, so we were spoiled.

Mousekeeping was a little lacking as well. Nothing awful just seemed to forget something every day. A couple days we didn't get any coffee or cup refills. One day they didn't put any liners in the garbage bags and no liner for the ice bucket. We tried to reuse our towels to be environmentally friendly, but even though we hung them up they kept replacing them. But the room was clean and we always had plenty of towels. I did call on day one to ask for an alarm clock. I'm one of those crazy people who want to be able to glance at the time during the night or when I'm getting ready without having to search for my phone. They brought a brand new clock, but when we plugged it in the time was automatic and not correct. It was off by 8 minutes for some reason and I couldn't seem to adjust it (it just went by time zone). No biggy but be aware if you get one and are trusting the accuracy of the time.

Food court was good, never too crowded and staff was always very friendly and helpful. We have some food allergies to deal with and the chefs were always great. We have several Mickey straws that were given to the kids by the CMs in the food court. The boys loved the arcade as well.

We also had a great experience with a CM in the gift shop. I had a surprise custom cake ordered for our MK dinner and because my twins can't eat the cake (allergies) I brought along homemade cupcakes for them. I ended up not having the time to make frosting though and decided to go and buy marshmallows to use as a topping since I knew they used them at the resort and I was sure I bought some in other gift shops. I asked a CM named Michele where I could find them and she informed me they didn't sell them. I was rather disappointed and explained to her what I was trying to do. She then closed up her register and told the other CM she would be back in a few minutes and walked me over to the food court to talk to the food manager and try to get some from the kitchen. Unfortunately, they didn't use any marshmallows in the kitchen so the manager suggested we call recreation. Michele said she knew where the office was so we walked outside and over to the recreation office where she went in and I heard her explaining what I was looking for and why. A few minutes later she came out with an entire bag of marshmallows! I asked if I should pay for them in the gift shop and she said there was no charge. I was so grateful for what she did. She could have easily just told me no, they didn't carry them or send me to the food court to inquire myself, but she was determined to help fulfill my request and she delivered. And here is one of my very excited happy boys enjoying the fruits of her labor. I wish I had taken a video of the jumping and squealing with excitement when they were delivered.



All in all it was another great experience. I just love this resort for how quiet and peaceful it is in between the hustle and bustle of the parks and the rest is just icing. As we left the park on Friday I decided we should walk to the Custom House just to take in our beautiful surroundings one last time. They were already roasting marshmallows on the beach so we stopped to grab a treat on our way out. And when I told the kids to say goodbye we turned around to this beautiful sunset. What's not to love about that.

 

[kitkat4622]

I am loving all the great reviews. staying here for our first time 03/31-4/8/2017....almost into double digits

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

@Dis703
Great photos!

 

[EnchantedTikiGal]

Hey guys how is 1st Floor Trinidad North Building 32 for accessibility to food court, etc? Walking long distances or stairs can be an issue