Caribbean Beach or AOA Suite

[chdice]

Looking for your expertise. We are going on the Disney Cruise next August for the first time. I am looking to add 4-5 days at the parks before the cruise. We are a family of five so we didn't fit in a lot of the rooms. Should we go with a room at the Caribbean Beach Resort or a suite at AOA? The past two times all five of us have gone we had two Little Mermaid rooms at AOA. I did a quick price check without any discounts and CBR would be cheaper. Kids will be 8, 5 and 5. Thanks!!

 

[popcenturylover]

We stayed at both resorts & love them both for different reasons. CBR has a great pool with slides. We had a room that was close to the food court & Main pool. I also enjoyed the quietness & beautiful surroundings. The hammocks & beach are neat too! Oh, one more thing hot tubs!!! Love the pools & theming at AOA & the food court is pretty tasty. Didn't love the walk to the food court from the LM rooms for my morning cup o'joe!

 

[Tinkerkelle]

CBR fab but would request a room close to main buildings. The buildings closest are preferred rooms and cost extra but the ones just across the bridge are good for proximity to Port Royale and to buses. Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51. Pool is brilliant and theming lush and gorgeous.

 

[Master Yoda]

It is really going to depend on how much more AoA will be vs CBR. While I have not stayed in CBR with a party of 5 I have stayed at PORS with a party of 5 quite a few times as well as AoA.

Our stays a AoA we by far more pleasurable due to the increased room, the additional bathroom, the mini kitchen and the increased privacy.

A party of 5 in one of the moderate rooms can be a bit cramped. It is workable and by no means miserable, but given the option, go with more square footage.

 

[DarthVader]

I stayed at the CBR last november and it was great, we stayed in the Jamaica build, I highly recommend this, since that build has the bus stop that is first on the route.

 

[chdice]

Thanks - hoping there will be a summer discount of 20-25% and that might make the AOA suite a little easier to swallow. Haha My kids love it there - they are the prime age for the theming. I'm almost afraid of switching resorts since that's the hotel they associate with Disney World. The bargain hunter in me just liked the savings CBR had to offer, but it probably would be quite cramped. Having the two bathrooms when we did connecting Mermaid rooms was a lifesaver at times. It would be nice to spead out for a few days especially since the second part of our trip will have us all in a 299 sq ft stateroom. Yikes!!

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks - hoping there will be a summer discount of 20-25% and that might make the AOA suite a little easier to swallow. Haha My kids love it there - they are the prime age for the theming. I'm almost afraid of switching resorts since that's the hotel they associate with Disney World. The bargain hunter in me just liked the savings CBR had to offer, but it probably would be quite cramped. Having the two bathrooms when we did connecting Mermaid rooms was a lifesaver at times. It would be nice to spead out for a few days especially since the second part of our trip will have us all in a 299 sq ft stateroom. Yikes!!

For comparison, that 299 square foot stateroom is not much smaller that the room at CBR. Depending on whose numbers you use, the rooms at CBR come in at either 314 or 340 square feet.