Poly vs CBR

[autumnpalm]

In two weeks, we are leaving for the Poly. Because we got a great rate and it was Christmas... we decided to upgrade to a Deluxe and stay on the monorail. It really will be a dream come true for us.

Unfortunately, we cannot afford to stay at the Poly for our May trip. We LOVE the feeling of the Poly and it seems that Caribbean Beach might be a nice substitute. I just called CRO and switched our reservation from CSR to CBR and hoping we made the right choice! Some thoughts I had:

Poly --> Wishes from the beach
CBR --> Illuminations from the beach

Both have tropical atmospheres
Both have recently renovated pool areas

CBR doesn't have Tonga Toast but... I guess we will just have to head over the Kona Cafe for that.

I'm kind of nervous that after the Poly, CBR won't live up to our expectations. I know we are lucky to even be going to WDW and I know it will be a magical trip no matter what, I am just hoping CBR will make a decent replacement?

Any thoughts?

 

[crazyoldmaurice]

I think if you adjust your expectations, then you might be pleasantly surprised by CBR. There are reasons that I would pick CSR over CBR, one being that there are queen beds at CSR and only doubles at CBR, and I prefer the theming slightly at CSR. But in CBR's favor, their rooms are a little larger, and the pool did just get redone very nicely, so I think you will have a great time. It is definitely better than not going!

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

Sounds like you have made an excellent choice. We're staying at Poly. in Janary.... and if/when we go again I would love to try CBR - it looks like a great resort!!!!! Be sure to give us a report when you get back I'd love to hear about it!

 

[KatMark]

We have stayed at the Poly at least three times. We have had NO problem at all staying at the CSR numerous times after the Poly. We've never been disappointed. We're still at Disney so we are very happy.

 

[autumnpalm]

The reason we switched from CSR to CBR is mostly just the theming... we prefer tropical to southwest. CSR looks just gorgeous, though.

Also, we've stayed Value before, so hopefully we won't turn into resort snobs after the Poly and will be thrilled to be at CBR. We've stayed moderate before at POR and it was gorgeous, so fingers crossed that CBR measures up!!

I will make sure do give a full review upon return!

 

[judben821]

We typically alternate our stays between the Poly and CBR. We love them both - I think you'll have a great time. We typically stay in the Jamaica section at CBR. They just re-did the pool area - it's very nice. We just think the CBR is a beautifully themed resort. It's crazy, but we always end up getting better service at the CBR than we do at the deluxe Poly resort.

Don't get me wrong - we love the Poly as well. But we always have a great time at CBR as well. Have fun!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We love CBR! ~ Beautiful grounds, white sand beaches, hammocks by the lake, Caribbean music playing quietly everywhere, a relaxing tropical feel, a beautiful bridge and island, great and huge food court, friendly CM's, double sinks in the bathroom with LOTS of storage space underneath, and the LARGEST rooms of all the moderates! All that, PLUS a brand new huge zero entry pool with 2 slides. The rooms are all currently being redone and CBR does not share buses with any other resorts. It’s like a vacation within a vacation, a “leave your worries at the door” kind of place!

I'm sure it won't be exactly like the Poly, obviously it costs much less. But it does have that same relaxing tropical lush feel.

ENJOY!!

 

[SGMCO]

We're excited to be trying CBR on our next trip
because of the tropical theme.
With all of the updating of this resort it should be nice.
I wish I could afford to stay at the POLY.
I would worry that I would become a resort snob
and wouldn't want to stay any place other than a deluxe.
Have a Great Trip!

 

[marsrunner]

I'd like to stay at a moderate, but I just don't see putting our family through it. By that I mean trying to get a 14 year-old boy to sleep in the same bed as his 5 year-old sister!
Not to mention trying to cram my wife and I into a double or heck even a queen size bed. We've got a king size at home and everybody in our family are roaming sleepers. Somebody would wake up in the middle of the night with a foot in their face!
At least at the deluxes my wife and I can tolerate the queen, my son can sleep on the other queen and my five year old can sleep on the daybed.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Those are DH's fav resorts, he is happy at either one. I say as long as you are in WDW and staying onsite that is all that matters to us. We are staying at the Poly in January and I booked a March weekend trip....the deluxe resorts are just too dang expensive so I booked POFQ....the only mod we have not stayed in

 

[autumnpalm]

It will only be the two of us, so the two double beds should be just fine... we slept very comfortable in our tiny room at the POP.

I've been looking at pictures of POR and it's tempting me to switch again. But we did stay at POR in 2003 and even though we loved it... it will be fun to try something new.

I don't think I could ever HATE a Disney resort. There can be disappointments, but I cannot see myself not enjoying being at WDW no matter where I am. I just watched an online video of Illuminations from the CBR and it looks so close to Epcot! That is definitely a plus for us.

Thanks for all the input, guys. I really appreciate it!

 

[kaysmommie]

I think you will like CBR just fine. We prefer deluxe resorts and have stayed the 2 prevoius years at the Poly. this year Poly wasn't in the budget so we picked CBR. We really liked it. Only real drawback is not being on the monorail and having to take buses. We prefer deluxe but would happily stay at CBR again. It's a very relaxing resort and the new pool area is really nice too. We actually had more housekeeping issues at Poly than CBR. All the CM's we met at CBR were also great!!

 

[autumnpalm]

Thanks kaysmommie! Luckily we are renting a car so hopefully the transportation obstacles won't bother us too much.

 

[kaysmommie]

Thanks kaysmommie! Luckily we are renting a car so hopefully the transportation obstacles won't bother us too much.

Your welcome . We had our own car so we did drive sometimes. But still worth it to take the bus to MK so you don't have to park at TTC and monorail or ferry in.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

We typically alternate our stays between the Poly and CBR. We love them both - I think you'll have a great time. We typically stay in the Jamaica section at CBR. They just re-did the pool area - it's very nice. We just think the CBR is a beautifully themed resort. It's crazy, but we always end up getting better service at the CBR than we do at the deluxe Poly resort.

Don't get me wrong - we love the Poly as well. But we always have a great time at CBR as well. Have fun!

we do the same switching between CBR and Polyand feel the same way...CBR is as gorgeous and relaxing as the Poly and you will love both resorts!!

 

[catbertdave99]

We love CBR! We love the white-sand beaches, the hammocks and beach chairs, the resort's own 45-acre lake, the 1.4-mile Promenade walkway around the lake, the beautiful and lush foliage across the resort, the boat and bike rentals, the quietness of the villages of rooms, the food court and gift shops, all the pools..... CBR is like a vacation within our vacation!

We are much more 'food court' people at WDW than table service people, and so CBR suits us just great! We can't wait to be back!

 

[topherSC]

I do beleive someone else said it but the fact that you will be at Disney makes it a great vacation. I have done the Deluxe and the Moderates. Actually will be staying at CBR in feb. The advantage of Poly is the monorail. But the bus system is great. Once we get there we never ever crack our car again we want to leave that kind of stuff to WDW. CBR is very relaxing and you are able to escape the hustle and bustle easy. So you will be very happy there.

CSR is nice also the only issue I have found there is the fact that it is a conference location so you can get stuck with a lot of people there not going to the parks. so the food and common areas can get crowded.

 

[LuvsTinker]

We stayed at the Poly one time and it has never bothered us to go back to staying at the CBR.

We love the CBR; the price is so much better and the scenery is beautiful.

As nice as the monorail is, I did not care for the buses at the Poly.

 

[camdensmom]

We stayed at the POLY last Christmas 12/12-12/18.

I was disappointed.

The plus was that we booked a lagoon view and had an amazing 3rd floor balcony with a direct view of the castle and really enjoyed seeing the fireworks (some nights had two shows because of MVMCP).

However, I was annoyed by the crowds at the poly. Because of the restaurants there the lobby was shoulder to shoulder every night. Also, I found transportation to be crowded and slow because you get a lot of people who will just hop on the POLY bus to access the Magic Kingdom via monorail.

The resort is beautiful, but at the price per night I found myself annoyed by the "cattle drive" feel.

We then stayed at CBR in April and had the most wonderful stay. We rented a car and zipped all over property. I highly recommend it.

We've stayed at CSR before. Great resort and a great value. I just personally felt that the large convention groups took something away from my vacation experience.