I just came back from a trip 10/18-10/23 staying at Carribean Beach Resort.
I flew down on Southwest, 75/175 seats filled per the flight attendant. After research and thought, I chose to sit in the back of the plane,4 rows from the back. I figured that would be the emptiest section, and if anyone wasn't wearing a mask and coughed, their germs would go forward, so I would have low exposure potential. I didn't want to be in the very last row in case of people standing and waiting for the lavatory. I ended up with my entire row empty except for me, and empty rows in front of me and behind me. Since I was going to have to wait for my checked bags anyway, this seating made me feel safer.
I arrived at the resort about noon and my room was not ready, so I checked my luggage and went to AK, arriving about 1. I did Kali x2 listed 30 minutes, 15 minutes wait. Then I did the Safari, and ITTBAB. I ubered to DS. There was a long line to get into World of Disney but it went quick, then dinner at Jaleo. OMG Jaleo. It was so amazing, and is now a must-do for any future trips. There was a bus waiting when I got to the circle, so a quick trip back to get my luggage and check into my room. Bell Services said that CR usually has 12-14 FT bell services staff and 6-7 PT. Only 4-5 FT staff were brought back to Bell Services. That says a lot about the number of people at the resort.
Day 2 at MK. I made the mistake of trying the Mickey Waffles at Centertown Market QS. They are as awful as others have said. I honestly didn't think it was possible to make them that bad. At least the eggs and sausage were good. I arrived at MK about 11:30. Shopped then had lunch at Liberty Tavern, which was terrific. Did HM (listed 40 waited 20) Then BTMR x2 listed 40 but walkon as it had started to rain. HM listed 40 waited 15. So strange not to see the Liberty Bell waiting for riders. Peter Pan listed 40 waited 25. Got a a drink at Cosmic Rays and relaxed for an hour while it rained buckets. About 5 pm I walked on Astro Orbiter, then got in line for 7DMT listed 60 waited 30. I left the park about 6:20 and there was a bus waiting.
Day 3 HS. I ubered to Yacht Club for an early reservation at Ale+Compass. Uber dropped me off at the Convention Center, and there are no signs there about how to get to the resort, so I wandered around lost for a few minutes. Great food at A+C. Headed towards HS about 8 - that walk seemed endless. Lots of joggers out. It's amazing to me that someone can walk so much at WDW and still have energy to jog. There were about 200 people in front of me by the time I reached HS, and by the time they let people go to the temperature booths, there were about 800 behind me. Stay left as there are twice as many temp check stations on the left. I went right to SWGE - only 5 others went with me, so we had the whole things to ourselves. I was the first on on Falcon, and I have to admit, I nearly cried when I jumped her to lightspeed #geek. I walked on a second time, then walked on TSMM all before 9 am. I was able to get BG 61, but no one else near me got a BG. I went back to the resort for lunch and some pool time. I made the tragic mistake of having the fish tacos at Centretown Market. Learn from my mistake. Don't eat them. They were so incredibly awful I still can't believe they tried to pass them off as food. I headed back to HS about 1:30. BG 61 called at 2:45. ROTR was every bit as amazing as people say. Did AS listed 15 waited 5, Star Tours listed 20 waited 10, Got a rontoroast at Docking Bay 7 (yummy!) and called it a day. I would have liked to do more rides but everythign else was listed at 85 minutes or more, which I figured was probably at least an hour's wait, and I simply wouldn't wait that long.
Day 4 Epcot. had a bowl of cereal in the courtyard outside of my room, then headed to Epcot. Walked on Soarin x 2, Land 2 x, then got the Pulled Pork at the Hawaii booth. headed to Figment where there was a 10 minute line. A line at Figment!at12:30 on a Wednesday - Crazy! Headed to SE listed 20 waited 40. They didn't take a picture of my face and put it on Future Me. Grabbed the corned beef nachos and steak chimichurri at Flavors of Fire (yum!) then headed into the World Showcase. Lines at Mexico and Frozen were hideously long so I skipped them. I got a glass of wine at Tutto Gusto. The trains weren't running by Germany. At that point my SIL texted me asked me to buy a bunch of presents for her family, and Epcot didn't have what they wanted. I headed to DS for a quick shopping trip, then back to my resort. I tried to Doordash dinner, but while the app showed multiple restaurants as available, when I tried to order I got a message saying I was outside their delivery area. I tried Roayl Indian, Carrabas, Millers Ale House, 360 American bistro, and Chilis. Literally could not find a Doordash restaurant that would deliver to CR. i call the front desk who couldn't help. I then tried Uber Eats, and was able to order successfully from Millers Ale House - the same restaurant that said i was outside of delivery range for Doordash. It made me wonder if the real problem was trying to order via Doordash. This was not a good day. So much is walled off or closed at Epcot, and lines were very very long in the afternoon. Then not being able to get dinner. I thought seriously about cutting my trip short and leaving a day early.
Day 5 MK got to the bus stop at 7:30 and there were 5 family in front of me. Only one family could get on the first bus, but a second one showed up by 8:10 and I was at the park by 8:30. Walked on BTMR as Splash wasn't running yet, then got in line for Splash about 8:45. it started promptly at 9 and had a fun ride. Then Pirates (listed 30 10 minute wait), HM (Listed 30, waited 10), Mermaids (listed 20 waited 20), Carousel (listed 35 waited 20), Space Ranger (listed 40 waited 30). Carousel of Progress (waited 10) Had lunch at Pecos Bill's - the carnitas was a lot better than I thought it would be. Visited the Hall of Presidents., did some shopping. I walked over to Rivera and got the cheese and charcuterie platters from the Petit Cafe. I took them back to CBR, grabbed a glass of wine, and had a simple dinner in the gardens at Cay Carribean where I could hear the pool music. This ended up being a great day, and I'm glad I didn't go home early after all.
Day 6 AK and home. Got bell services to pick up my luggage about 6:30. Got to the bus stop at 7:30 and in the park by 7:40. Got the end of the FOP line by 7:55 and was off the ride at 8:31. Headed straight to Navi and off it at 9:30. Walked on Kali x 2, then Safari listed 20 waited 10. Lunch at Satuli canteen. Have you noticed how many dishes have the same slaw on it? It was on the fish tacos, the rontoroast, the carnitas bowl, and now on the chicken bowl at Satuli. Food services must make that stuff in a vat. Everest was down, so no roller coaster for me.
I shopped for a bit, then headed to the bus at noon. I spent an hour at the pool (showers are closed, but you can rinse off at the outdoor shower by the hot tub), and headed back to the airport on the Tragical Express. 85/143 seats filled on the flight home. Soooo tired.
As someone who generally goes to the park once per year, I will not return for a long time. On day 1, you are just glad to be there, and you think the lines are manageable. On Day 2 you see how few places there are to eat, and that dinner is a real problem. The best option is Disney Springs, and frankly, after a day at the park, I don't always want to bother with that. By day 3, you see how much is closed - food carts, rides, shops, character meets - and you realize how much is missing from the Normal. Full Price isn't worth it. By day 4, you are just so tired of lines. Lines for the bus to get to a line for the temperature check to get to a line for security to get to a line to magic band into the park to get to line after line after line for rides or food. The experiences are fun, but a ride is 2 minutes and you spend 20 in line. If you are local where this is normal because you didn't have fast pass, you'll be ok. But as an occasional visitor, it got old fast.
Like many people, I've had a really terrible year, and it was nice to have something to plan for and look forward to. It was nice to walk so much that I was too tired to worry or grieve. But if this is your first time? Or you only go once a year? or you are paying full price? I'm not sure I would recommend it. I think WDW is best right now for people who go frequently enough at a low enough cost like locals or APs that the value will still be there for the cost.