Greetings from CBR! Any questions?

[donmil723]

Thanks BJ for getting the info about Martinique pool. I am drooling thinking about you lying in that hammock. Have fun!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Ok, we are arriving on Friday, so I just called and requested Jamaica 45! Any other tips or advice? This is our first time to the world, and our kids are 2 and 4....which is better 1st or 2nd floor?

 

[tjhj]

First I would like to say thanks for the info on the playground.. As I sit here reading the other posts I am getting a chuckle it looks like in May we are going to have a rush on Jamacia #45, we also requested that one. Oh and on the info about begging, we will have to give it a try now I wouldn't be lying when I tell them I was their for my honeymoon,I wonder if it will score me any points. We seem to be getting very lucky,first we got a post card, next we were able to get resie for Cin royal table now look out #45 here we come..... (maybe thats alittle to much). Hope everyone has a magical time. I can't waitinkbounc

 

[boltjames]

More answers to your questions:

Disneylvr: Food court stays open in limited fashion until about 11pm in my estimation. I'll get the official times for you tomorrow. As for the May 11 date, based on what I can find out the Port Royale uplift will be completed in mid April so no worry there.

JALaP: Congrats. Jamaica 45 is the place to be as far as I can tell. Smoking isn't an issue at the pool. Haven't seen many smokers whatsoever in CBR to tell you the truth. They are everywhere at the parks though

Mickeyluver37: 1st floor is a must-have with a stroller. No two ways about it. We've got a nice lake view (FYI: If you pay more for a 'water view' you may get a pool view, so always ask for a LAKE view) on the ground floor and I'd have passed up the tranquility of the lake if I had to take the upper floor. Food for thought. Also, take care not to bring any food with you! There's a great supermarket (Goodings) about 5 minutes away that will have all the kid snacks/diapers/etc that you'll need. We requested a refrigerator and it's a major plus. Lots of turkey, yogurts, juices, milk, and water fit in it and save us time and $ at the parks and by the pool.

Have fun all!

BJ

 

[JALaP]

Thanks, we're on our way! Look for us with our 14 year old daughter! By the way, totally agree about smokers at the parks.When we were there in January, it seemed that the smoking restrictions weren't being enforced at all. Wonder what that's about- Judy

 

[boltjames]

JALaP: Have a good flight! Bring me some syrup in a pre-sealed container as your way of saying "thanks". LOL.

BJ

 

[Disneylvr]

boltjames, thank you so much for the information!!!! I hope your trip to WDW was absolutely fantastic!!!

For those of you going in May like us, we won't be requesting Jamaica #45. We requested any building, 2nd floor in Trinidad North. 2nd choice is Martinique. Since we will have a rental car, location isn't as important.

 

[cindyfan]

Couple questions......
the construction.....is it actually on the Port Royale, or on the marina too? Can you tell exactly what they are doing?
One of the reasons we chose CBR is the marina. We plan on renting the boats.
Parrot cay....are there really alot of birds?
Sorry, hope not to offend anyone.....but....I hate birds!
Ever since I saw Alfred Hitcock's "Birds" when I was 8 years old!
That alone would keep me away from Jamaica and Aruba.

Any indication of other construction that may be starting?
Can you tell if the gift shop has been refurbished? When we were there 3 years ago it was looking pretty shabby.

BTW.......I would choose 2nd floor over ground level if you can do the stairs. In certain buildings.....if it rains....there is a chance of the ground floors flooding. Posibly not as much of a chance at this time of year. But when we were there in Oct '99, we were getting some pretty heavy rains and I saw them cleaning out alot of water out of some of the ground level rooms, replacing the carpet too. I know this was hurricane season, but just thought I would mention it. second floor can be alot quieter too. Not all the walking traffic.

 

[SeaSpray]

I was in Martinique last month AND last year, and even though there was NO construction going on last year, we still walked through the food court to get the main pool Even if it was late at night and you wanted to swim in the main pool, you can simply walk to the left of the food court to get there if you're coming from the direction of Martinique. It's really not a big deal

The marina was open and in full swing last month.

Each of the quiet pools is getting a minor refurbishment done to them... Last month the quiet pool in Trinidad South was closed for a week or so, apparently right now they're working on Martinique. Not sure which quiet pool will be next!

I still say that if you need or desire a location close to the food court and main pool, then Martinique is the best. Of course that walk around the lake and bridge are beautiful, but I liked being able to choose when I wanted to walk it, not at 6am when I wanted some hot tea and a muffin Trinidad North is also close. Jamiaca has the prettiest color scheme and it was nice to look across the lake at it each day, but I truly preferred to be located in Martinique

As for the syrup in the food court.....I personally enjoyed the warm syrup! I thought it was an improvement over the cold individual plastic containers. To each his own, I suppose!

I think one thing everyone agrees on are those wonderful hammocks!!

 

[corvair]

hello does anybody know how long the pool bar is open till? this site is really great for cbr info for people like me who have never stayed at cbr thanks everyone

 

[boltjames]

corvair: Got a Strawberry Daquiri at 12:30am so it's open at least that late

BJ

 

[Ted and Holly]

THanks for all the info Boltjames! Do you or does anyone else know how long it takes from Jamaica 45 to the bus stop??

I just called CBR and all THREE CM's I spoke with said that Martinique quiet pool is "down" now and that it would be back up in a few days. Nobody knew which one would be next.

Holly

 

[teroot]

How long is the renovation supposed to last? Would you recomend changing resorts? We don't go until may 31st. We are there for 6 days and then cruise for 3. i keep hearing so much negative about the CBR. I haven't stayed at CBR before and am getting concerned. I know so many questions. Sorry Im new to this. Thanks for all the help in advance.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I haven't seen many negative posts about CBR. Every resort is undergoing some sort of construction at any given point in time. If they have already done two pools, they may be completed with the work by the time you get there. CBR is a WONDERFUL resort, and you will LOVE IT!! Don't stress. You'll get there and you will find a hammock to lie on, and you will see. I promise!


Holly

 

[corvair]

Ted and Holly----- I see you have stayed at AKL we were going to go there but we chose CBR instead. I have never been to either one. What is AKL like? How is their pool?

 

[boltjames]

The construction around the food court area is finished!

Retaining walls are down......they just put in some new bricks on the walkway and touched up the paint.

So, now that the Martinique pool will be re-opened on Friday, there's no issues on the horizon from a construction standpoint that I can see. All they need to do is correct the unfortunate syrup issue and the place is 100%.

BJ

 

[Ted and Holly]

Corvair, I just PM'd you!

Holly

 

[jwwi]

I can't wait, we leave one month from today!

boltjames: Thank you for all the info. I have a question about the rental frig, is there a small freezer area like in a small dorm frig? I like to really chill my H2O, I hate FL H2O. Sounds like you are having a great trip.

cindyfan: LOL about your "Birds" comment, my sister absolutely terrorized me when we were young. She is now my favorite travelling companion to WDW. We even stayed in the CBR Jamaican section together. I don't remember being frightened by the birds on the walk to OPR.

 

[boltjames]

jwwi: Yes.....dorm room fridge. Right down to the ice cube tray sized "freezer". Goodings grocery store is right up the street and has water at under 50 cents a bottle. Fridge can pay for itself when compared to Disney beverage prices.

On the bird issue: The ducks are beautiful and very friendly. There are no 'aggressive' birds that will swoop down and steal food from you at the pools (at least none that I've seen). Crossing the bridges over the island is certainly 'bird central' at the CBR. Never threatening, but you know they're there. I'm still looking for Gators and Snakes personally. The birds? You know where they are.

BJ

 

[corvair]

Hello Jb, how is your trip going? You said the store is right down the road. Does that mean it is of site? I did not consider a fridge but if water is only 50 cents it would be worth getting the fridge. We will be there in June so will need lots of water. Do you have a car or are you using the bus? We are still thinking about getting a car. How is the weather? What has been your favorite park or ride so far? Thanks corvair