First Time Staying at CBR - Questions

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

We are staying for the first time at CBR - and really, it's my first stay at any kind of resort! I really don't know the do's and don'ts so I have a few questions.

I'm just curious - I see there is an additional cost for preferred rooms...but what about a fee for making room requests? Or is that allowed? I ask because I have read you can see the fireworks from Illuminations if you have a room in Martinique...can I request that or is it going to cost me?

Also - just how good is the view of the fireworks? Are there certain rooms that see them better than others?

Is there an addtional cost to stay in the rooms of Martinique or Trinidad North to be closer to Old Port Royale? (Really I just want to be closer to the pool for the kids!)

 

[dansdad]

We are staying for the first time at CBR - and really, it's my first stay at any kind of resort! I really don't know the do's and don'ts so I have a few questions.

I'm just curious - I see there is an additional cost for preferred rooms...but what about a fee for making room requests? Or is that allowed? I ask because I have read you can see the fireworks from Illuminations if you have a room in Martinique...can I request that or is it going to cost me?

Also - just how good is the view of the fireworks? Are there certain rooms that see them better than others?

Is there an addtional cost to stay in the rooms of Martinique or Trinidad North to be closer to Old Port Royale? (Really I just want to be closer to the pool for the kids!)

There is a $25 per night price difference for preferred over standard.

No charge to make a request. Just remember it is only a request.

The preferred locations are all of Trinidad North and Martinique 24, 25, 26. If you don't want to pay for preferred, there are pleny of locations that are not preferred but are under 5 minutes to OPR and the Main Pool. Those are Martinique 21, 22, 23, Aruba 51 and Jamaica 45.

I have never stayed in Martinique, but I can't imagine there being a good view of Illuminations from your room. There may be a few rooms in the Waterview category that could get a view. But it's $25 per night more for a Waterview. We love to watch Illuminations from the beach at Tinidad North, the beach at Martinique or the bridge.


Here's a map if you haven't seen one yet.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

We love the Jamaica 45 location,.

 

[mkburme]

We stayed at CBR in 2005. Not wanting to pay for a preferred room we requested ( at no additional charge ) the Jamaica section and bldg 45, which we received. It is across the lake from the pool area. There is an island that you cross to get to Port Royal and pool.
It was a very quick walk across to get to the pool and Port Royal without having to pay for a preferred room.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We were in Barbados and had a pretty good view of the higher fireworks from IllumiNations right outside our door. It was pretty cool!!!

However, Barbados is not a "preferred" location, and is far from OPR and the pool. We were not fans of the location.

If we ever stay at CBR again, we will pay for the "preferred" location, it would be worth it!

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

Thank you! This is all so very helpful!!!

There will be 5 of us total...myself (31), Husband (34), and our three daughters 10, 6, and 16 months.

Of course I'd like to be within a reasonable distance of the pool and/or a playground...not too far from a bus stop and not too far from OPR...

Is there a place that you think would suit our family better than another based on that info? (Or is that basically what EVERYONE in Disney wants? Lol*)

How is the walk from Jamaica 45 to OPR? I see on the map there is a roadway/walkway to get there or is that both?

 

[dansdad]

Thank you! This is all so very helpful!!!

There will be 5 of us total...myself (31), Husband (34), and our three daughters 10, 6, and 16 months.

Of course I'd like to be within a reasonable distance of the pool and/or a playground...not too far from a bus stop and not too far from OPR...

Is there a place that you think would suit our family better than another based on that info? (Or is that basically what EVERYONE in Disney wants? Lol*)

How is the walk from Jamaica 45 to OPR? I see on the map there is a roadway/walkway to get there or is that both?

Since you mentioned the playground, I would definitely say Jamaica 45 would be perfect. The playground is on the way to the Main Pool. You cross the bridge and the playground is right there. Then cross another bridge and you are at the Pool. Without stopping at the playground, it would take us 4-5 minutes to stroll over to the pool. And it's a beautiful walk.

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

Since you mentioned the playground, I would definitely say Jamaica 45 would be perfect. The playground is on the way to the Main Pool. You cross the bridge and the playground is right there. Then cross another bridge and you are at the Pool. Without stopping at the playground, it would take us 4-5 minutes to stroll over to the pool. And it's a beautiful walk.

Oh wonderful that sounds perfect, and from what you say it sounds like a request that could likely be honored for us. I bet the rooms closer to the pool get busy with people walking by heading to the pools too - so that sounds like the perfect amount of privacy without being too far from the good stuff.

Thanks again so very much, I truly appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions!

 

[dansdad]

Oh wonderful that sounds perfect, and from what you say it sounds like a request that could likely be honored for us. I bet the rooms closer to the pool get busy with people walking by heading to the pools too - so that sounds like the perfect amount of privacy without being too far from the good stuff.

Thanks again so very much, I truly appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions!

You're very welcome. Here is the bridge to where the playground is.

Here's the playground.

This was from the bridge on the way to OPR in the morning.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Pretty picture -- I love the reflection!

Tom

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

OH WOW that is so beautiful!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! I'm so thrilled - we leave in 11 days and I just cannot wait!!! Your pictures have me even more excited!!!!!!!!!! Oh my, thank you for sharing!!!

I was looking up the rooms in that area and I have to say the yellow buildings are just gorgeous...yay! I can't wait!!!

Would you suggest I do online check in and ask for Jamaica 45 then or wait until we arrive? This is our first visit and I know there is some debate on the boards about this. Is there vaulable information we might miss if I do an online check in?

 

[mkburme]

I would call and have them put it on your reservation. Then do online check in and also put it on that (if you can).

If when you pick up your keys and find that your request wasn't given, then work with the CM to see if it or something near is available.

 

[dansdad]

OH WOW that is so beautiful!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! I'm so thrilled - we leave in 11 days and I just cannot wait!!! Your pictures have me even more excited!!!!!!!!!! Oh my, thank you for sharing!!!

I was looking up the rooms in that area and I have to say the yellow buildings are just gorgeous...yay! I can't wait!!!

Would you suggest I do online check in and ask for Jamaica 45 then or wait until we arrive? This is our first visit and I know there is some debate on the boards about this. Is there vaulable information we might miss if I do an online check in?

My pleasure. I would suggest that you call the Central Reservations line, 407-W-DISNEY and tell them you want to add a request to your reservation of Jamaica 45. You can still do online check-in at the 10 day mark. Our last 3 trips, I have done online check-in at 10 days out. Then at the 5-6 day mark I call and ask for Jamaica 45. We have gotten our requests all 3 times. I personally like online check-in because our flight times usually get us to CBR around 10:30. With online check-in you can specify what time you expect to be at CBR. Even though check-in isn't until 3:00, all 3 times we have had our room ready. That's not a gauranteed, just what has happened to us.

 

[mkburme]

To dansdad-

Great pictures!

 

[dansdad]

Pretty picture -- I love the reflection!

Tom

To dansdad-

Great pictures!

Thanks to you both!