Resort Thread Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH Resort

[dizneefan13]

Are the CBR busses as bad as some people report? I'm wondering if I made the right choice after some reviews I've read.
This will be our second WDW vacation. Last year we stayed at the Coronado and loved it. We stayed right by the first bus stop
and never had a problem.
I love the look of the Caribbean resort and we don't mind that there will be no food court, gift shops, etc. We do our
meals and shopping in the parks.
But I hope the busses don't pose a big problem. It appears that the CBR busses go different routes, so its hard to know what location to request, but
I'm researching and learning a lot about this lovely resort.
No matter what I'll relax and go with the flow, but like to be aware of what to expect beforehand.

 

[Abbey Albright]

Made a reservation here for the $75 gift card for mid/late August but I was thinking we'd be able to get a room discount. Unfortunately they only offer this for the pirate rooms, which my kids would probably dig, but I wasn't keen on the distant location from the main pool.

Keep trying to change to a preferred or standard. When I called for the discount I had to upgrade to preferred but then called back the next day and a standard was available. More may open up for you. Good luck!

 

[jaysmom4285]

Are the CBR busses as bad as some people report? I'm wondering if I made the right choice after some reviews I've read.
This will be our second WDW vacation. Last year we stayed at the Coronado and loved it. We stayed right by the first bus stop
and never had a problem.
I love the look of the Caribbean resort and we don't mind that there will be no food court, gift shops, etc. We do our
meals and shopping in the parks.
But I hope the busses don't pose a big problem. It appears that the CBR busses go different routes, so its hard to know what location to request, but
I'm researching and learning a lot about this lovely resort.
No matter what I'll relax and go with the flow, but like to be aware of what to expect beforehand.

When we've been there, the buses have been fine. There are multiple stops within the resort, which takes a few minutes, but the bus service is efficient as anyone else's. It's important to keep in mind that it isn't as if the resort has its own fleet of buses that it controls. Buses are dispatched from a central point, so it isn't fair to blame any resort for the bus service, since they have no say about it. Jamaica is usually the first bus stop, which is very handy for getting a seat on crowded mornings.

 

[dizneefan13]

When we've been there, the buses have been fine. There are multiple stops within the resort, which takes a few minutes, but the bus service is efficient as anyone else's. It's important to keep in mind that it isn't as if the resort has its own fleet of buses that it controls. Buses are dispatched from a central point, so it isn't fair to blame any resort for the bus service, since they have no say about it. Jamaica is usually the first bus stop, which is very handy for getting a seat on crowded mornings.

Thanks, Jaysmom is Jamaica the first stop returning from the parks also? or is it first only on the way TO the park you are going to.
Do you remember what building you were in? it looks like 44 or 46 might work well for us.

 

[superman007]

Keep trying to change to a preferred or standard. When I called for the discount I had to upgrade to preferred but then called back the next day and a standard was available. More may open up for you. Good luck!

Would I still get the $75 gift card if I change at this point? I thought the $75 credit only applied if booked before April.

 

[pktbMouse]

9! The most I've had at one time is 3. They can get noisy at times.

The CM on the phone from Disney 2 weeks ago asked me if I worked in a pet shop I told her no I just live in one...lol

 

[dansdad]

Are the CBR busses as bad as some people report?

In our experience, not at all. The majority of our stays have been during Free Dining when the resort has been at capacity too.

 

[dansdad]

Thanks, Jaysmom is Jamaica the first stop returning from the parks also? or is it first only on the way TO the park you are going to.
Do you remember what building you were in? it looks like 44 or 46 might work well for us.

Sometimes Jamaica is 1st and sometimes it's 5th. It all depends on which entrance the driver decides to use.

 

[Suzanne74]

Are the CBR busses as bad as some people report? I'm wondering if I made the right choice after some reviews I've read.
This will be our second WDW vacation. Last year we stayed at the Coronado and loved it. We stayed right by the first bus stop
and never had a problem.
I love the look of the Caribbean resort and we don't mind that there will be no food court, gift shops, etc. We do our
meals and shopping in the parks.
But I hope the busses don't pose a big problem. It appears that the CBR busses go different routes, so its hard to know what location to request, but
I'm researching and learning a lot about this lovely resort.
No matter what I'll relax and go with the flow, but like to be aware of what to expect beforehand.

It sounds like Jamaica is ideal. We stayed in Martinique and it did seem that the busses were out of order and never the time on the screen in the AM. Like another poster said, once a bus is full they leave. I am not sure how they figure out to start another bus at the following stop. My guess is they don't often and that is where we had our issues. Instead of a 15-20min wait it was 30-40min multiple mornings. Never in the middle of the day or evening heading to parks. They were consistent. Issues were always AM before park opening.

I can tell you where not to stay. Trinidad South. They are last to pick up and last to drop off. At least on all our busses. Many busses even started at Martinque during peak times. But even by the time we got to Trinidad South it was standing room only packed. And sadly many young kids stay down there because it is the pirate rooms. We gave up our seats many times for parents with young kids who can't hold on, but not everyone does. I am sure it is not that way on off-peak times. We were there the 3rd week of March. Very busy!

Jamaica was always first to drop off coming home our entire 10 day trip except one night coming home from from Disney Springs.

Hope this helps

 

[FBandA]

Going to miss Barbados last couple of trips to CBR we stayed in Barbados short walk to Customs House even with pulling luggage to room (IMO) we had to get our luggage last trip they were having problems at bell service we arrived at 3:00pm went off to MK when we got to our room at 11:00pm only one suite case and it was DH we called no help so we walked to CH asked nicely if some would look for other 2 suite cases they did and DH and pulled them to room at 12:45am we were in Building 15. Nice walk to food court and main pool. And we never saw a full bus go by without stopping, but we may have had to stand when we had gotten on. Room had never smelled and CM always kept us with clean room, towels, coffee, cups, shampoo/conditioner and soaps. Love to stay at CBR going back in October.

 

[kmc8826]

Would I still get the $75 gift card if I change at this point? I thought the $75 credit only applied if booked before April.

If it is a modification to the original reservation made before they ended the gift card promotion (you keep the same reservation number) you get the gift card. I modified mine by adding a night and the AP discount All that was available was a king bed instead of standard, but I kept the same original reservation number and so still get the gift card.

 

[kitkat4622]

just back from our first stay at CBR and 3rd trip to Disney. We stayed in Barbados building 14 and as much as I wanted to LOVE it here. we liked it but we didn't "love it" like we do French Quarter. No complaints about the bus service we never had to wait more that 10 to 15 minutes. One of the bus monitors gave us a little pixie dust with a FP for Soarin' because we only had one for Test Track. Again, beautiful resort, just way too big for us and I don't mind walking. In fact I walked over 175,000 steps while at Disney.

 

[dansdad]

just back from our first stay at CBR and 3rd trip to Disney. We stayed in Barbados building 14 and as much as I wanted to LOVE it here. we liked it but we didn't "love it" like we do French Quarter. No complaints about the bus service we never had to wait more that 10 to 15 minutes. One of the bus monitors gave us a little pixie dust with a FP for Soarin' because we only had one for Test Track. Again, beautiful resort, just way too big for us and I don't mind walking. In fact I walked over 175,000 steps while at Disney.

Thanks for coming back and giving your honest opinion. Not every resort is for everyone. We prefer CBR over POFQ because of the size. It's why we love WDW, there's a resort for everyone!

 

[Suzanne74]

just back from our first stay at CBR and 3rd trip to Disney. We stayed in Barbados building 14 and as much as I wanted to LOVE it here. we liked it but we didn't "love it" like we do French Quarter. No complaints about the bus service we never had to wait more that 10 to 15 minutes. One of the bus monitors gave us a little pixie dust with a FP for Soarin' because we only had one for Test Track. Again, beautiful resort, just way too big for us and I don't mind walking. In fact I walked over 175,000 steps while at Disney.

Very cool on the extra FP. What is a bus monitor?

 

[AngiTN]

Very cool on the extra FP. What is a bus monitor?

Disney stations transportation CM at most bus stops in the mornings. They help to get buses dispatched when lines are abnormally long. The ones we've chatted with are usually part of the CP program

 

[Suzanne74]

Thanks for coming back and giving your honest opinion. Not every resort is for everyone. We prefer CBR over POFQ because of the size. It's why we love WDW, there's a resort for everyone!

Agree BUT after staying at 3 mods, I am not sure which one I prefer though. Love the 2 mod combo, bars/food and DS boat at POR. Love the rooms, courtyard, and overall resort look of CBR. Love the hot tub/pool, Siestas, and bus service of CSR.

I know my favorite value, deluxe, and timeshare. I feel like the mods are tough to choose between, at least for me.

 

[Moocabn2258]

Agree BUT after staying at 3 mods, I am not sure which one I prefer though. Love the 2 mod combo, bars/food and DS boat at POR. Love the rooms, courtyard, and overall resort look of CBR. Love the hot tub/pool, Siestas, and bus service of CSR.

I know my favorite value, deluxe, and timeshare. I feel like the mods are tough to choose between, at least for me.

Out of curiosity - what are your favorite value, deluxe, and timeshare? We have this debate all the time on our favorites!

 

[Suzanne74]

Out of curiosity - what are your favorite value, deluxe, and timeshare? We have this debate all the time on our favorites!

AoA Mermaid (Cars for suite)
Yacht & Beach Club
Kidani (prefer with a rental car)


Only resorts we haven't stayed in are POFQ, Boardwalk, and Wilderness, although we have been to these 3 for meals/sightseeing. We haven't been in Bay Towers at all yet. Only stayed in one of the All-Stars and it was only two nights before a cruise.

 

[dizneefan13]

Sometimes Jamaica is 1st and sometimes it's 5th. It all depends on which entrance the driver decides to use.

Thanks Dansdad,

...........

Jamaica was always first to drop off coming home our entire 10 day trip except one night coming home from from Disney Springs.

Hope this helps

Thanks Suzanne, it helps a lot!

 

[dizneefan13]

AoA Mermaid (Cars for suite)
Yacht & Beach Club
Kidani (prefer with a rental car)


Only resorts we haven't stayed in are POFQ, Boardwalk, and Wilderness, although we have been to these 3 for meals/sightseeing. We haven't been in Bay Towers at all yet. Only stayed in one of the All-Stars and it was only two nights before a cruise.

The biggest reason we don't choose a value resort is because we like to stay where its quiet. Our stay at CSR was great. Never heard a sound from those around us and the place was pretty much sold out. I assume there are a lot more children and noise at the values. Do you seasoned WDW folks think this is true?