News Caribbean Beach Expansion

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

It's interesting to note what is going on up the road as well...Universal just brought a couple new resorts online in the last few years and every one of those looks to be superior in every way to Disney's "Moderate" resorts. Maybe it is time Disney just upgraded these properties to be on par with what the rest of the world is doing. Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay blow CBR out of the water.

This is a really good point. I've been to Cabana Bay but not the new Sapphire Falls, but from the pictures it looks beautiful. These two resorts are way better than CBR. I have only been to CBR once and said I would never go back. Maybe, Disney is actually just investing money in creating a better Moderate experience for guests?

 

[mikenatcity1]

My non-insider Spidey Sense says that the expansion at any moderate resorts will be more rooms... DVC will continue to be attached to existing DVC and/or Deluxe properties.

I agree...I can't see them putting a DVC at a moderate and charging less...there was just a price increase a couple days ago (at least that's what we were told was going to happen)...I hope it's something new or an upgrade to the resort

 

[peter11435]

I agree...I can't see them putting a DVC at a moderate and charging less...there was just a price increase a couple days ago (at least that's what we were told was going to happen)...I hope it's something new or an upgrade to the resort

I wouldn't assume the resort will still be a moderate when all is done.

 

[surfsupdon]

I would not expect much if any of the original resort to remain.

Holy cow! I have been at the resort from opening year, and watched its many room upgrades, and a complete overhaul at OldPort Royale and the main pool. I'm excited, because this is now where we stay on our Senior Trips.

What DO YOU expect to happen at this location? Wow.

 

[Bocabear]

I agree...I can't see them putting a DVC at a moderate and charging less...there was just a price increase a couple days ago (at least that's what we were told was going to happen)...I hope it's something new or an upgrade to the resort

Let's face it, CBR opened in 1988, and have there been any substantial upgrades to the property for guest experience since then? I stayed there a couple times and found it very spread out and inconvenient...the theming was not so great. When built it was the only budget option on Disney grounds... now that the real budget resorts (All Star) are frequently more expensive than staying in a Sheraton or Westin, a not-so-great themed hotel at premium prices makes a lot less sense. They really should completely overhaul the pool area and make it spectacular...they are trying to emulate the Carribbean... Why not a "Stormalong Bay" style resort pool... Like Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay have done? Why not beautifully themed grounds and restaurants? Add a back door path to EPCOT and this could be a real jewel.

 

[mikenatcity1]

Let's face it, CBR opened in 1988, and have there been any substantial upgrades to the property for guest experience since then? I stayed there a couple times and found it very spread out and inconvenient...the theming was not so great. When built it was the only budget option on Disney grounds... now that the real budget resorts (All Star) are frequently more expensive than staying in a Sheraton or Westin, a not-so-great themed hotel at premium prices makes a lot less sense. They really should completely overhaul the pool area and make it spectacular...they are trying to emulate the Carribbean... Why not a "Stormalong Bay" style resort pool... Like Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay have done? Why not beautifully themed grounds and restaurants? Add a back door path to EPCOT and this could be a real jewel.

I love that idea!

I have only stayed there 1 time and agree 100%- it's too spread out and just "ok"...

 

[uncle jimmy]

Don't assume that what you see in this permit is all that will be happening.

So is this the 1st phase in the resort overhaul? Are we looking at a Beach Club/ Yacht Club/ Boardwalk moderate like area in size and look?
This is very smart doing this now before Epcot gets some major love and DHS opens with SWL and TSL.

 

[csmat99]

After doing a quick an rough estimate the new building seems to have about the same size foot print as the parts of either the Swan or Dolphin that hold the guest rooms. So this could easily add a 1000 rooms if it's tall enough.

With where you have that large building you can almost guarantee it will be a tower and a roof top restaurant so you can hear and see illuminations and fireworks. Or since Chappie loves to just make extra money might just be a roof deck and you have to pay 20 dollars to go up to get there and 40 to go back down.

 

[marni1971]

I wouldn't assume the resort will still be a moderate when all is done.

Depends which one you're talking about.

 

[Jahona]

Depends which one you're talking about.

 

[GhostHost1000]

could be a 2 in 1... sorta... like Wildernress Lodge / Boulder Ridge/Copper Creek

share some resources and real estate to make the overall cost less

some parts of the resort could remain moderate while part is deluxe (similar to AoA as well - standard room v/s family suites too)

interested to see how this pans out in many ways

 

[Bocabear]

could be a 2 in 1... sorta... like Wildernress Lodge / Boulder Ridge/Copper Creek

share some resources and real estate to make the overall cost less

some parts of the resort could remain moderate while part is deluxe (similar to AoA as well - standard room v/s family suites too)

interested to see how this pans out in many ways

Yeah but when you are starting out with moderate and sharing resort infrastructure, who will want to pay premium prices for what would be just a nicer room and the same resort amenities... Would make it a hard sale for me as a consumer... Now if CBR were brought up to the level of a premium hotel, that would be a different story...and they would really need a back gate entry to EPCOT to make it attractive...

 

[surfsupdon]

I'd agree with what Universal is doing is hurting Disney, or that Disney is not comparable.

I still say that Disney has the edge when it comes to the Deluxe Resorts, by far, and I have stayed at Universal Deluxes. But Cabana Bay blows the Disney Values out of the water. And Universal's take on the Caribbean, Sapphire Falls, blows Caribbean Beach out of the water.

I really like the name "Caribbean Beach," so I would lament that name leaving, if it did.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Yeah but when you are starting out with moderate and sharing resort infrastructure, who will want to pay premium prices for what would be just a nicer room and the same resort amenities... Would make it a hard sale for me as a consumer... Now if CBR were brought up to the level of a premium hotel, that would be a different story...and they would really need a back gate entry to EPCOT to make it attractive...

that is what I am interested in... seeing how this plays out

this may not even be dvc... or maybe it is...

 

[Bocabear]

that is what I am interested in... seeing how this plays out

this may not even be dvc... or maybe it is...

I am not sure a moderate DVC would have much interest... I would never have interest in it... As it is, the DVC units in maintenance and upkeep are alsready slipping often to a moderate... Can you imagine if you are starting at Moderate? No thanks.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Depends which one you're talking about.

Star Wars resort with an overpass walkway directly into SWL confirmed!!

 

[spresso81]

Depends which one you're talking about.

Is there any chance Disney builds a new country on the expansion pad next to China which is tied in with this new tower/hotel and to make it a Deluxe uses a Hogwarts express type transportation system to connect it with Epcot? If you somehow went with Brazil as a new country, you could even keep a tropical theme for the hotel.

Eventually they could then add a DVC (as it looks like there will be land to spare.

As an aside, the CBR was my first Disney hotel that I visited when I was a child. My parents and I went back many times plus I went back as an adult with a girlfriend. I will be really sad to see the place changed as drastically as these permits suggest. While the hotel was a bit spread out, I thought the size and scope was part of the charm. I guess I will not be taking my parents back to the CBR for their 50th anniversary this October with my wife.

 

[marni1971]

Is there any chance Disney builds a new country on the expansion pad next to China which is tied in with this new tower/hotel and to make it a Deluxe

Not that I've heard of, which of course isn't everything.

 

[surfsupdon]

As an aside, the CBR was my first Disney hotel that I visited when I was a child. My parents and I went back many times plus I went back as an adult with a girlfriend. I will be really sad to see the place changed as drastically as these permits suggest. While the hotel was a bit spread out, I thought the size and scope was part of the charm. I guess I will not be taking my parents back to the CBR for their 50th anniversary this October with my wife.

Great memories, I feel the same way. Caribbean Beach was our first family trip when I was 5 and my sister age 4 back in 1988. It was the first time my parents were able to stay onsite. We had an annual trip to Caribbean Beach up to the early 2000s, before making a permanent change to Yacht & Beach. Over the course of those years at CBR, we celebrated sweet 16s, had Magical Gatherings of 8 rooms, brought our grandmothers after they each lost their husbands, and countless birthdays, graduations, and holidays. I too brought my gf to the Resort. It's size was part of its charm, it really felt like an escape, a true vacation!! I have been back to CBR as a class advisor for our senior trips from 2009- present time. I will miss CBR in its current form.

 

[TabulaRasa]

Depends which one you're talking about.

Very interesting. It would be hard to imagine that CBR could move from Moderate to Deluxe (I feel like the whole place would need to be gutted). Port Orleans Riverside on the other hand...