Just back from Caribbean Beach - my thoughts...

[LuvsTinker]

I knew about the desk in the food court area - as I used it to check how many TS, QS and Snack credits I had left for each room on our dining plan but when I asked about the airline check in they told me to go to the Custom House.

That's odd - we were there in Sept. and I was able to check-in for SW at that location.

 

[dtripli]

Thanks so much for your review. We are headed to CBR in less than 4 weeks; so I am devouring all the info on it that I can. It will be our first stay at a mod as well (always gone deluxe); so I am a little apprehensive. But hay we need two rooms now so our growing family can't be too choosyAnyway, I think you were very fair and unbiased. The only thing that bothers me now is the dirty pool area. Stuff like that freaks me out, grosses me out, yuck!!! I hope it was an isolated incident. I am happy to hear that the rooms were clean as we are traveling with our 16 month old toddler who is into EVERYTHING!! Also we booked the 4/3 deal and couldn't get a preferred location. Im hoping when we get there it will be available; to us it is worth the extra $$$. Well, Im glad you had a good trip. I'll let you know how ours go when we get home!

 

[suz_cute]

Michelle, thanks for the review of CBR. I couldn't agree with you more on all of the points you made. If we are forced to stay in moderates because of budget, we prefer CSR much more over CBR. I always suggest people try the resorts once before making a judgment, because what one person loves, the next will hate. Glad we tried CBR in the past, but we will pass it up in the future for the Deluxes or CSR. To all with upcoming trips, have a fantastic time!!!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks so much for your review. We are headed to CBR in less than 4 weeks; so I am devouring all the info on it that I can. It will be our first stay at a mod as well (always gone deluxe); so I am a little apprehensive. But hay we need two rooms now so our growing family can't be too choosyAnyway, I think you were very fair and unbiased. The only thing that bothers me now is the dirty pool area. Stuff like that freaks me out, grosses me out, yuck!!! I hope it was an isolated incident. I am happy to hear that the rooms were clean as we are traveling with our 16 month old toddler who is into EVERYTHING!! Also we booked the 4/3 deal and couldn't get a preferred location. Im hoping when we get there it will be available; to us it is worth the extra $$$. Well, Im glad you had a good trip. I'll let you know how ours go when we get home!

I hate a dirty pool area. It grosses me out as well. There were so many people at the main pool and with that comes people who aren't so mindful of others and really just don't care what they do - know what I mean? The people who don't put their toddlers in swim diapers, the people that don't take their kids to the bathroom and let them go where ever... you get it everywhere - if that pool area is nasty use the quiet pools they are like having your own pool at times. Lots of times we were the only ones at the quite pools.

Seriously we had a preferred room - building 32 is preferred and I still thought it was a little bit of a walk to the OPR building. I don't know that I would pay for that again. If your going to walk for 5 minutes what is 5 more? - I don't think I would pay for preferred again there - but that is just me.

Have a great time on your vacation no matter what!!!!

 

[momma2kiddos]

Thanks for your unbiased review! We're planning our trip back to WDW next year and for a HOT second, my daughter wanted to try CBR because she liked the way the pools looked. I think we'll stick with returning back to CSR. We'll definitely visit CBR though because it does look likea beautiful resort. Plus, I need my queen sized bed! I can't imagine sleeping on a double with my wild sleeping son!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Great review. We have toyed with the idea of CBR and CSR but just can't. We stayed CR and Poly and just can't go backwards either. I would rather go less often and be relaxed with conveniences. DH and I are "good eaters" and a double bed is NOT doable. Also don't like outdoor corridors and the whole curtain/open sink area.

The slide area smelling like urine is not just at CBR though. Everytime I climb the stairs and wait for the slide at Poly...UGHHH! I smell urine. I think some kids are just so excited about going down the slide over and over that they do not want to stop for a peepee break so eventually....yeah.

Glad your trip was enjoyable. Sounds like everyone had a great time.

 

[dtripli]

I hear ya on the double bed issue. We are doing two connecting rooms; so hubby and I will have our own bed (baby in pack-n-play) and our 2 dd's and other ds will be next door. I was thinking of requesting a roll-away for our ds so the girls can have their own bed as well. Does anyone know if they charge extra for that at CBR?

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Yep they do. I paid $16.88 per day and that is with tax included. It was worth it for us as we had our 14 yr old ds, our 12 yr old ds and my 17 yr old nephew all in one room. The 14 and 17 yr old are both 6ft 180-220#'s so there was no sharing of beds for them! As soon as we got to our room we called hskping and they brought it for us.

 

[afcgirl]

Thanks for the review!

But don't count out all non-deluxes just yet.

The first time we went to WDW we stayed at a deluxe (WL) and loved it. After that we stayed again at WL and at Poly, POR, Pop Century and CSR. Even after WL and Poly, we loved Pop Century and CSR.

Pop Century is so fun and upbeat and has a great food court. CSR is so beautiful, it has queen beds, a fabulous pool and a health club. The only place we were not so fond of is POR.

So, even though I am normally a hotel snob, I have really enjoyed some of the lower priced options on property.

 

[TJA]

Thank you for the honest review -- I loved reading it.
We stayed at CBR for the first time last month. We had similar feelings as you. We did think the grounds were beautiful and we enjoyed our pirate room.....our kids LOVED the new pool (they are young....). And we all enjoyed the gift shop. However, we did miss balconies, larger beds, indoor corridors, character meals at the resort, and the huge thing we missed was the easy transporation to parks that some deluxes offer.

And I agree about somehow attaching the main check-in area to the main part of the resort (can't think of what each section is called). Three times during our trip I had questions for concierge and went to the one in the food court and all 3 times they said I'd have to go to the main building. It was really a nuisance. I do think one of the times was simply because the woman working couldn't understand English very well -- she was very nice but she kept having me write things down so she could read it because she couldn't understand me when I spoke.

 

[DonaldDC]

Hi Michelle,

I totally agree with your comments. A nice resort but after Deluxe it just doesn't seem the same. My biggest observation was the double beds, definitely not what I was expecting. For that reason alone I'll try to stick with the deluxe resorts when the pocket book can afford it.

But for the price a nice resort - very friendly staff!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

We stayed at POP for 1 night last year prior to our going to the GF and I honestly think I liked the themeing better at POP than at CBR. It is loud and bright and crazy but it's cool you know. The only reason I won't go back there or try out the other moderates is because of those darn double beds! So maybe I am not a hotel snob but a bed snob!! LOL!!!! I like me some room to move CSR doesn't really appeal to me even though the price might be right and the beds larger - really really thinking about those DVC points at AKV- Kinandi or however it's spelled - beau-tiful!

 

[oddBotkins]

First time at CBR tomorrow. Enjoyed CR in 96'. Since WDW with the kids we've done the values for two reasons ... theming and we only seem to sleep or swim while at the room. ASMovies was a real blast for the kids. Wake up, go outside and WOW. This time they are a little older and I'm thinking that a moment away from total Disney immersion might just be a needed. Not for me of course i've become a disaholic, thanks t o you guys on the disboards, the 4/3 promotion that got me to book this upcoming trip, ridemax, UG and lets not forget my first ever trip in 71' that was a real twighlight zone experience best left to share another day. This will probably be my last post until I return. I want to thank all for the positive information and of course the observations and concerns for value and entertainment. YOOHOO less than 24hours and I'll be 'checkin' in'

 

[BarleyJack]

We had a decent time at CBR, I agree with your review. The neatest thing for me was mailing actual coconuts to friends from the gift shop, they got a kick out of that LOL.