Just got back from CBR

[ELSA711]

I thought the POR bus service last September was a lot better than our trip to CBR this year. The one thing I really liked about POR was that they had a TV screen that told you when the next bus for each park was supposed to arrive. I really think all resorts should do this.

I loved those screens, think they were new last year as we've always gone to POR and never had them before. Bummer I just assumed they installed them at all the resorts

 

[nkereina]

Thanks for the review! DH and I are staying at CBR for the first time in November. Does anyone have any recommendations for room requests? We have booked just a standard room.

Do you have a king room booked or just standard? DH & I booked a king room and I had requested Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51. We were told at check-in they did not have any king beds in Jamaica 45 (none at all, not just booked up). They put us in Jamaica 46 instead which was fine, but it's set back further off the main walking path so you have a higher chance of a parking lot view. We also never could get our bearings when leaving the room and often went the wrong way. The upside to 46 was that you were closer to the bus stop.

 

[JimmyBean42]

But after walking in the parks all day the last thing I wanted was a 10 minute walk to get some pop and then a 10 minute walk back to my room.

At night it can be a little annoying, but I love being 10 minutes away for my morning coffee. I'll get coffee for me and my wife and the 10 minute walk up and 10 minute walk back is just enough time for her to get showered and ready and then I can shower and get ready while she gets the kids and our bag set to go. Works great in AM, not so much in PM as you stated.

 

[archdandy]

Thanks for the responses! We aren't on the dining plan and likely won't get the mugs. I'm probably going to order a garden grocery delivery so walking to get drinks won't be an issue. We've stayed at Coronado, POR AoA LM section and AK Jambo before and they were all LONG walks, haha. So we're pretty used to it.

We have just a standard room booked, no king. I was thinking about requesting a king room but I have to try and decide if that or a location request is my priority as I don't think I'd be likely to get both requests granted.

 

[dansdad]

Thanks for the responses! We aren't on the dining plan and likely won't get the mugs. I'm probably going to order a garden grocery delivery so walking to get drinks won't be an issue. We've stayed at Coronado, POR AoA LM section and AK Jambo before and they were all LONG walks, haha. So we're pretty used to it.

We have just a standard room booked, no king. I was thinking about requesting a king room but I have to try and decide if that or a location request is my priority as I don't think I'd be likely to get both requests granted.

Jamaica 45 and Aruba 51 are both about 4 minute stroll across the bridge to OPR and the Main Pool.

King rooms are a bookable category, and cost more $$, so your odds of getting one are slim. If you want a king you can always book one.

 

[Babsy]

Thanks for the responses! We aren't on the dining plan and likely won't get the mugs. I'm probably going to order a garden grocery delivery so walking to get drinks won't be an issue. We've stayed at Coronado, POR AoA LM section and AK Jambo before and they were all LONG walks, haha. So we're pretty used to it.

We have just a standard room booked, no king. I was thinking about requesting a king room but I have to try and decide if that or a location request is my priority as I don't think I'd be likely to get both requests granted.

As Pp stated a king room is a bookable category, so you won't likely get that as a request. I would use my request for a building location because that is much more likely to be granted. If a king bed is important, I would really try to book one.

Good luck!

 

[dpswift]

I would hope that CBR learned from their mistakes last year and are better prepared for the free dining masses, since they will likely be booked to capacity due to POFQ/POR black-outs. The saving grace this year, though, is that only certain room types were offered which may make the crowds smaller. You could also always rent a car and avoid buses all together. Aside from the buses, we enjoyed the resort.[/QUO

I wouldn't worry about the buses. We have stayed at CBR in September during free dining twice and the buses were fine. This was the first trip we had a bad experience. I really think it is hit and miss. When we left HS at night CBR had a shorter line than a lot of the other resorts.

Thank you both. I am sure it will work out I just tend to worry. I was looking forward to being slightly closer to the bus stop and then they moved it further away. If we have major problems I will ask DD to borrow her car.

 

[AllieBoo]

We stayed a few days at CBR last week and found the bus service to be horrible. We've always had great experiences with buses at the other resorts we've stayed at, so this was a surprise. Overall, we just weren't impresssed with CBR. Rooms were nice though and we did get in a great location - Jamaica 45 .

 

[ELSA711]

This bus service issue may not be pleasing to me. We will have our car but I hear that it is just as bad trying to drive and park in the lots. What to do, what to do.... I'm hoping since we are in a preferred room near OPR, maybe that bus is picked up first there.

 

[maxiesmom]

This bus service issue may not be pleasing to me. We will have our car but I hear that it is just as bad trying to drive and park in the lots. What to do, what to do.... I'm hoping since we are in a preferred room near OPR, maybe that bus is picked up first there.

Unfortunately that is usually not the case. More often than not the first stop is Jamaica.

 

[ELSA711]

Unfortunately that is usually not the case. More often than not the first stop is Jamaica.

Bummer, maybe I better start researching using our car more.

 

[dansdad]

Bummer, maybe I better start researching using our car more.

Every WDW resort can have issues with buses from time to time. All 45 of the nights we have spent at CBR have been during Free Dining with the resort at 100% capacity and have not had any issues. We have had our car with us for 3 stays and it never moved until we checked out. So at least you'll have your car as an option but you most likely won't need it. During our stays we only stood on 1 trip to MK. But then again we're a rope drop family so maybe that helped.

 

[dis_guy]

But after walking in the parks all day the last thing I wanted was a 10 minute walk to get some pop and then a 10 minute walk back to my room.

What we often do is get off the bus at OPR, fill our mugs, and only have to walk back to the room. True, you have to carry your mug with you but we don't have an issue with that.

 

[nkereina]

This bus service issue may not be pleasing to me. We will have our car but I hear that it is just as bad trying to drive and park in the lots. What to do, what to do.... I'm hoping since we are in a preferred room near OPR, maybe that bus is picked up first there.

We've not driven ourselves but I will say that there appeared to be ample parking in the parking lots at CBR. If you get to the parks early enough, I don't think that's an issue either.

While I do agree that any bus can be subject to good or bad bus service on any given day, I think it's particularly poor in many experiences at CBR because they run the same amount of buses at the same frequency even though it's one of the largest resorts on property. Not only does it have more rooms than most (all?) other resorts, but it also has 7 bus stops which is the most of any resort to my knowledge. To me, that would merit more buses at a greater frequency to accommodate the additional people but that is not something I've personally witnessed there, unfortunately.

 

[ELSA711]

Every WDW resort can have issues with buses from time to time. All 45 of the nights we have spent at CBR have been during Free Dining with the resort at 100% capacity and have not had any issues. We have had our car with us for 3 stays and it never moved until we checked out. So at least you'll have your car as an option but you most likely won't need it. During our stays we only stood on 1 trip to MK. But then again we're a rope drop family so maybe that helped.

Thanks for the positive note. We are NOT RD people by any means. We are more the 10am-8pm crowd. We tend to catch the bus at parking opening around 8:30-9am every day with AK being our only exception because we like to hit Safari early before our Tusker House brunch time!

 

[ELSA711]

We've not driven ourselves but I will say that there appeared to be ample parking in the parking lots at CBR. If you get to the parks early enough, I don't think that's an issue either.

While I do agree that any bus can be subject to good or bad bus service on any given day, I think it's particularly poor in many experiences at CBR because they run the same amount of buses at the same frequency even though it's one of the largest resorts on property. Not only does it have more rooms than most (all?) other resorts, but it also has 7 bus stops which is the most of any resort to my knowledge. To me, that would merit more buses at a greater frequency to accommodate the additional people but that is not something I've personally witnessed there, unfortunately.

I'm more worried about parking at the parks, heard terrible things about it in May from a friend who also drove for the first time.

 

[nkereina]

There are plenty of people who will drive to the parks, and maybe opt to bus to MK to avoid the TTC. I've actually not seen many complaints about parking - moreso people who recommend you should drive over busing. Both have pros and cons. You'd have to deal with the stress of driving in foreign territory, parking shuttles, etc. But you are on your own time and own terms. Unless you're traveling at a busy time when it's possible the parks could close due to capacity, I'm under the impression parking isn't too bad.

 

[AllieBoo]

Driving to Epcot and AK isn't bad, but MK is a different story. You have to drive to the parking lot, walk to the TTC (or wait for a tram to take you there), and then get on the monorail or boat to get to the MK. We did it twice last week, and it was the least fun part of our trip - well that, and waiting at the bus stop for an MK Bus that never came.....

 

[hulk51382]

We had no issues with parking at the parks last week. This is the most we drove around Disney and preferred it to the buses. It is nice being able to come and go as you please and not worry about having to wait in a long line at the end of the day. I do agree that taking a bus to MK is the best option since you get dropped off close to the main gate.

 

[WooPigScientist]

Thanks for the review! We are planning to stay at CBR in Jan 2016. CBR seems to get a lot of grief on the boards, so I'm always happy to hear from those who really enjoyed it! Sounds like outside of the bus issue, you guys had a great time!

We are traveling with young kids and the pool was a huge draw - I'm hoping it's warm enough at least one day to swim. Lots of people also recommended CSR, but honestly, that theme just doesn't do much for me.

Lots of pics in the review pretty please!