The New Caribbean Beach FAQ Part VII

[Jellybass]

Which is how it should be! I hope it stays that way here.

Staying Nov. 20-27. Thanks for all the advice given on this site, many people offering many great tips.

 

[LadyP]

Transportation
The order of pick up or drop off depends on which entrance the bus driver uses. If the bus comes in the side entrance the order is:

Jamaica
Aruba
Barbados
Martinique
OPR
Trinidad North
Trinidad South

If the bus comes in the main entrance the order is:

Martinique
OPR
Trinidad North
Trinidad South
Jamaica
Aruba
Barbados

It seems that when people talk about the buses in the threads, that the first stop is always Jamaica. Is this true? If it's easiest for the bus drivers to get in and out of because of the front gate, I can see them doing that??

We are starting to plan a May 2015 trip. THANKS!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

We were in Aruba 52 last October and didn't really have a single bus issue to worry about. In the morning if the bus stops were packed, it seemed there were always more than 1 bus going to the same park. Coming home, many times we hopped off at an earlier stop and went to OPR for a cocktail or two.

I do confess, since we were there with no set plans, on more than one occasion we made our 'which park are we going to' decision by which bus pulled up. That was easy as we were just two adults, we didn't have any ADR due to F&W, and we have both been there many times.

Tom

 

[mcd2745]

I'm glad you asked this in this thread as it can be a very hot topic on whether or not to tip housekeeping. In fact most threads get closed by the Moderators after the 2nd page because it gets too heated. It is a personal choice. We leave $5 a day for the 3 of us. We leave an envelope every day because you most likely won't have the same housekeeper for your entire stay. From reading the boards, the people that do tip tend to leave $1-$2 per person per day.

We usually try to do the same - $5 dollars a day. Sometimes, it may be only $3 or $4 if we don't have a $5 bill and only 3 or 4 singles. But we usually try to leave home with lots of small bills ($1s, $5s, & $10s) specifically for all tipping purposes (ME driver, bell services, housekeeping, restaurants, etc.).

 

[gr8tdame]

Beach Bum's Roll Call ~ Who will be staying at CBR and when. ch

We will be @ CBR. November 1-15, 2014

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DisneyDreamer04]

I am wondering if any has called wdw to inquire about reserving a preferred room later in the year? Like November? I would love to be able to at CBR!! Just wondering since the refurb if they will be available?

 

[mcd2745]

I am wondering if any has called wdw to inquire about reserving a preferred room later in the year? Like November? I would love to be able to at CBR!! Just wondering since the refurb if they will be available?

There are 6 buildings that make up the preferred rooms. They'll only be woking on one building at a time. So there should be no problems with availability.

 

[gr8tdame]

We usually try to do the same - $5 dollars a day. Sometimes, it may be only $3 or $4 if we don't have a $5 bill and only 3 or 4 singles. But we usually try to leave home with lots of small bills ($1s, $5s, & $10s) specifically for all tipping purposes (ME driver, bell services, housekeeping, restaurants, etc.).

I usually go to the bank and get $100 in singles for tips etc and a roll of Quarters for the laundry. Make sure the roll of quarters is easily accessible in your carry on at the airport. The image always confuses the security screeners at the airport.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dansdad]

Staying Nov. 20-27. Thanks for all the advice given on this site, many people offering many great tips.

You're welcome. And welcome to the thread!

It seems that when people talk about the buses in the threads, that the first stop is always Jamaica. Is this true? If it's easiest for the bus drivers to get in and out of because of the front gate, I can see them doing that??

We are starting to plan a May 2015 trip. THANKS!

No, the bus doesn't always come in the back entrance by Jamaica. It all depends on where the bus came from. I had notes on which park a bus came from and what entrance it used but I can't find it.

Happy planning!

We will be @ CBR. November 1-15, 2014

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Welcome!

 

[Zeusesmom]

Hi EpcotBill, I booked a preferred room and asked for water view and a king bed. There will be 2 adults. I asked for Martinique. I booked as far ahead as I could so I really hope to get Martinique. Any suggestions on how to make sure I do or is it just random even if you book that far in advance? Thanks! Patty

 

[gr8tdame]

Hi,
I did not request a preferred room as I would like to stay in Jamaica and requested a refurbished room if available. To get a refurbished room would I be better off paying for Preferred or leaving my request as is?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Tiggr924]

It seems that when people talk about the buses in the threads, that the first stop is always Jamaica. Is this true? If it's easiest for the bus drivers to get in and out of because of the front gate, I can see them doing that??

We are starting to plan a May 2015 trip. THANKS!

No, the first stop isn't always Jamaica. It depends which park the buses are coming from. There is another gate the buses travel through.

 

[dansdad]

Hi EpcotBill, I booked a preferred room and asked for water view and a king bed. There will be 2 adults. I asked for Martinique. I booked as far ahead as I could so I really hope to get Martinique. Any suggestions on how to make sure I do or is it just random even if you book that far in advance? Thanks! Patty

It doesn't matter how far in advance you book. Since you booked preferred, you will be in either Martinique 24, 25, 26 or in Trinidad North. As long as your requests are noted on your reservation, there's nothing more you can do. They will do everything they can to honor your requests, just remember they are only requests.

 

[dansdad]

Hi,
I did not request a preferred room as I would like to stay in Jamaica and requested a refurbished room if available. To get a refurbished room would I be better off paying for Preferred or leaving my request as is?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

You can't request a preferred room, it's a bookable category. Well you CAN request one, but the odds are slim you'll get one. To get a refurbished room you best bet would be to make that your only request. Or as reports come in as to people getting refurbished rooms and where they were, you can request that location.

 

[EpcotBill]

Hi EpcotBill, I booked a preferred room and asked for water view and a king bed. There will be 2 adults. I asked for Martinique. I booked as far ahead as I could so I really hope to get Martinique. Any suggestions on how to make sure I do or is it just random even if you book that far in advance? Thanks! Patty

If you requested Martinique when you made the reservation that's all you can do. You could still be assigned a room in Trinidad North. If that happens ask if there is anything in Martinique.

 

[summersun47]

thanks il just pop them in the bin then, normal leave pool toys by the pool hope thats the same at disney too

 

[AmyKat]

We flipped our reservation from a bounceback discount at POFQ to a FD discount at CBR. Actually, I have two reservations right now because I can't seem to make myself cancel the BB reservation. But, I booked airfare today that matches my CBR reservation, so it looks like that's what we will be doing. This is our first stay at CBR and will be our first Christmas trip. Our dates are 12/12 - 12/17.

Is there a fax number to fax a room request to CBR like you can at POR/POFQ?

 

[dansdad]

We flipped our reservation from a bounceback discount at POFQ to a FD discount at CBR. Actually, I have two reservations right now because I can't seem to make myself cancel the BB reservation. But, I booked airfare today that matches my CBR reservation, so it looks like that's what we will be doing. This is our first stay at CBR and will be our first Christmas trip. Our dates are 12/12 - 12/17.

Is there a fax number to fax a room request to CBR like you can at POR/POFQ?

Welcome! I put you down on the Beach Bum Roll Call. There is a fax number but POR and POFQ are the only resorts that actually read and act upon fax requests. Calling and adding any requests to your reservation works though.

 

[Daly]

I am wondering if any has called wdw to inquire about reserving a preferred room later in the year? Like November? I would love to be able to at CBR!! Just wondering since the refurb if they will be available?

We have a preferred room booked for Nov. 1st-9th. I'm hoping to extend our stay by a day because flights will be a much better price on the Monday. After all, why would I give money to an airline that I can use to stay at Disney? I've called a few times and there has not been any availability, but I'll just keep trying and crossing my fingers until then.

 

[mickeystoontown]

You just need some better spy equipment!!

I need a big telescopic lens. Ha!