Is CBR only worth staying at if you pay preferred?

[samsonjs]

We don't eat too much at the resort except I will wake up early to get a coffee, and maybe a poolside snack or drink. We do like to take the kids to the pool for a break so proximity to the pool is important. I'm also super confused about where the bus pickup is. Is it only on the lobby side of the site? If I book standard at CBR is it really a far walk?

 

[dansdad]

We don't eat too much at the resort except I will wake up early to get a coffee, and maybe a poolside snack or drink. We do like to take the kids to the pool for a break so proximity to the pool is important. I'm also super confused about where the bus pickup is. Is it only on the lobby side of the site? If I book standard at CBR is it really a far walk?

In our opinion paying extra for Preferred is a waste of $$. Every Village has it's own bus stop and leisure pool so you're never far from either. The walk from the furthest Standard room to the Food Court and Main Feature Pool is 7 minutes. With the vast majority of them being 4-5 minutes.

 

[Babsy]

WE have never paid for preferred at CBR and love staying at this beautiful resort!!! We usually request Jamaica and find it to be a short walk across the bridge to dining and the main pool, plus it has its own bus stop (as do all areas). There are lots of 'quiet' pools throughout the resort.

With the renovations and a new gondola coming for transportation to Epcot, I plan to go back to try CBR again soon! And I still plan to book a standard room!

 

[samsonjs]

WE have never paid for preferred at CBR and love staying at this beautiful resort!!! We usually request Jamaica and find it to be a short walk across the bridge to dining and the main pool, plus it has its own bus stop (as do all areas). There are lots of 'quiet' pools throughout the resort.

With the renovations and a new gondola coming for transportation to Epcot, I plan to go back to try CBR again soon! And I still plan to book a standard room!

Thank you! Its hard to tell how long that walk really is. I feel like everyone has different opinions on whats a short or long walk.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Thank you! Its hard to tell how long that walk really is. I feel like everyone has different opinions on whats a short or long walk.

Yes!!
I booked preferred as some afternoons I’ll be heading back from the parks with the littles on my own so even a 5 min less walk to dinner, the pool whatever may very well end up being priceless lol

 

[Babsy]

Thank you! Its hard to tell how long that walk really is. I feel like everyone has different opinions on whats a short or long walk.

IIRC, it was less than 5 minutes (and I am NOT a fast walker.)

But you are right - what makes a long or short walk is very subjective and relative. Different factors affect how 'long' a walk feels. So, for me it feels like a long walk from the bus stop at Epcot to the back of World Showcase. (long distance) It feels like a long walk when I have to walk inside long convoluted corridors with no windows for more than 5 minutes. (boring) It feels like a long walk at the end of the day and after watching the MK fireworks from the hub to get to the bus stop. (Tired)

If you want to minimize walking then preferred rooms are the way to go, for sure. However, CBR is worth booking without having to pay to stay in a preferred location. You will, however, obviously have to walk more from a standard room location. Maybe a little more, maybe quite a bit more, but definitely more walking is involved.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

I remember staying there as a kid and feeling like the walk was really, really long. I was always hungry and hated having to wait to eat. I remember the walk seemed to take forever. I also remember my parents didn't want to bother walking to the main pool with the waterslide that I wanted to try. If you don't have kids it probably won't seem so bad.

 

[buzznina]

Like DansDad, we also think it's a waste of $$ for preferred, but to our family a 10 minute walk at a great themed WDW resort is not a long walk at all. And this includes having our DDs from infant til now, with and without strollers. If you get SV I would request a room close to main pool.

 

[maxiesmom]

I booked standard for my stay at CBR after reading that no walk was that bad. I regretted listening to that advice. After a long day in the parks I ended up buying pop from the vending machine instead of hiking to the front. I did it one time, and that was it.

I think booking preferred is the only way to stay at CBR, if you want to make any use of the themed pool and food areas.

 

[Dis703]

We've never stayed preferred here and never had an issue with our room location.

 

[shocker]

I've never stayed here, but as I look at this resort my considerations would be:

1) Will I have my own car/rental? From this resort, I would consider driving myself to all parks except MK. I would be more concerned my walk distance to my car. If I was reliant only on bus transportation, I would consider another resort (why I've never stayed here).

2) Will the gondola be up and running when I stay there? Again, unless this is up and going, I wouldn't bother staying at this resort. If access to transportation is important, then consider POFQ with one bus stop for entire resort and boat transport to Disney Springs.

As you can see, transportation options and timing are SUPER important to me too. As a rule, I don't book preferred. But, recently did when the price difference in a 6 night stay was $20 for the week.

3) Will I be on a dining plan and feeling like I need access to the food offered at my resort?

4) Will I be using a refillable mug? I cringe at the thought of getting to my room to get my cup, hiking to a fill location, and hiking back to my room and/or having to carry my mug in parks because I didn't want to hike back to leave my cup behind.