Caribbean Beach Questions

[tink65]

Hi everyone. My family & I are visiting the World in September and as a surprise for my DD & DH I have upgraded our resort from Pop Century to POFQ. Well, I finally got up my nerve to register for the Wine & Dine half marathon so I had to change my travel dates by a couple of days. Anyway, neither POFQ or POR had availabilty for the new dates. I ended up moving to CBR. (I'm hoping something will open and I can swith back to POFQ since it is a host resort for the race)

So, my question is to all you guys out there who have stayed at CBR...what's it like? Did you like it or hate it & why? I've read about how big it is and and worried about that somewhat but has that really created alot of problems?

Thanks for all your help with my questions! I appreciate you guys!

 

[JillC LI]

Our family LOVES CBR. We usually have a rental car so I can't speak to the bus system, but I can tell you that if you request a room in either Aruba or Jamaica "near the footbridge" you will be within a few minute walk over a beautiful little bridge to the food court and the main pool. There's also a pool by each "island" as well as a beach area with hammocks. You can hear steel drum music in the background from many spots. The pirate themed rooms are further away if you ask for one of them. The place really has a tropical feel to it.

 

[mickey2008.1]

I have to start by saying, if your capable of running a half marathon, then there is no way that resort is too big:lol: Now, CBR is a great resort. We will be there in September as well, with four kids. Like a previous poster said, request Jamaic or Aruba due to the foot bridge. The place has privates pools, a main pool with slides, a great outdoor bar, good food court, and the grounds are amazing. Disney did a really good job in making you believe you are actually in the caribbean. The lake at night with the lighthouse is beautiful. We also stayed at POFQ, but CBR is our home because of its style and great CMs. Have fun, its amazing.

 

[duff527]

Ditto to both replies. Aruba and Jamaica make for a great walk over "Caribbean Cay" to the food court in the morning. Love the Caribbean theming. Buses are hit or miss in terms of wait time, but I've found that to be true in a lot of places. I've stayed there 6 times, with a 7th in the works for March. I've tried POR and CSR and they were nice, but I'll definitely keep going back to CBR.

 

[tink65]

Thanks guys! And thanks mickey2008.1 for the great pics. From your signature it looks like we'll just miss each other! I looked at some videos online last night and the resort does look amazing! I'll definitely follow through with your suggestions on the room requests!

 

[Korfar]

We stayed there last year in Aruba. The buses were fine. I don't remember any problems with them. The walks can be long to Old Port Royale but managable from Aruba/Jamaica. The food court is awefully small. That was probably my biggest complaint. If you go in a busy time you may not find tables to sit at during peak eating times. If you even want to eat there. This was the first Moderate we tried so I can't compare to other moderates yet. We are trying Coronado this year so after that I can compare at least those 2.

 

[Disney_Belle]

I love, love, love CBR! The room size is bigger than the other moderates (though you get full size beds, as opposed to queen which you can get at Coronado or POFQ). It is a large resort, but as others have mentioned - Aruba and Jamaica buildings near the the footbridge are a fairly decent walk. Both times I have stayed at CBR I was in Martinique. The first time we stayed at CBR I booked preferred due to the warnings I read about the size of the resort. Then I saw how the resort is set up, so the next time I just booked a standard room and put in a request for Aruba or Jamaica. Much to my surprise, we ended up in Martinique again. But we were far back in Martinique, right next to Barbados. It was still only a few minutes of walking. Plus they have the internal bus system which makes those far away buildings. I love CBR. I always say it's like a vacation within a vacation And the food court is great too

 

[GMRO]

Yes!

HI,

Wife and I just stayed at CBR this past May for our land portion of our vacation. We cruised on the Dream for 4 days then finished up at CBR for the next 9 days. During our past trips we stayed at POP and actually had this May booked at POP as well. We prefer the 80/90’s buildings by the computer pool. Anyway, wife got a pin code in Feb this year and we decided to take a chance and spend a little more on the CBR for this trip.

WOW, hate to say but it was a pretty big jump in quality - we think. We stayed in the Jamaica villa, yellow as shown in the post above, and found the resort pert near perfect. It was a little more kaesh - but for what we paid and got in return it was a real bargain. We really fell at home and really liked the resort the first 5 mins on property. We drove in from PA and had a rental car. BUT we also found the motorcoach stop was right near our villa. So picking up a motorcoach was easy. AND we had a private exit road...we tried to come in the same way – the motorcoach entrance...but it wouldn't let us...but leaving the resort in the AM for our day was super nice as OUT is OUT!. Like a BATCAVE exit! heheh

The rooms were larger than POP for sure. Features a double sink and the king bed was like the bomb! In room space was very nice! Nice flat screen with multiple hook ups if you wanted to watch your videos or view pics. In room fridge was nice too.

Would we stay at POP again? SURE! But if we can swing it CBR will be our new HOME. The experience was super.

We did as you say; found a lot of youtube videos online before we pulled the trigger on the upgrade in Feb. Tell you what - the videos were good...and we said let's do it. BUT once there on the property we found even the best videos and pics we saw online didn't do the resort justice. There are so many nice photo ops there and things to do. We were very pleased all around! Made our pool days TERRIFIC. And we sat on the beach a few nights and just enjoyed the resort. The resort is HUGE but once you walk around alittle you get the lay of the land. We sort of worried about the size before getting there but again in 5 mins we felt much better and just dug it.

The only thing that puzzles us is when we read about folks who travel for their birthdays and anniversaries… We always plan our vacation around our anniversary – sort of a present to the both of us. And we always tell our agent…this too. Everyone claims they know. The ADR folks and resort folks - CM's I guess. Well we received NOTHING. We don’t go looking for handouts…but it does make you wonder HOW folks post that they received balloon bouquets…special desserts and other items while away. We did get a voice mail from Mickey/Minnie on our anniversary on the phone in our room at CBR. But past that... ZERO. Makes me wonder - when I've seen it on billboards where folks claim the got something for nothing. So do they run around all over property with large neon shirts on saying HEY LOOOKIE AT US WE ARE CELEBRATING - PLEASE PROVIDE GIFTS! Just wondering is all.

Anyway, enjoy your trip!!!! GOOD LUCK in your decision and I sure hope you have a magical time!!!

 

[Lexi]

So do they run around all over property with large neon shirts on saying HEY LOOOKIE AT US WE ARE CELEBRATING - PLEASE PROVIDE GIFTS! Just wondering is all.

Haha..did you go and get your pins that said you were celebrating..most of the time the CMs see the pins on your person somewhere and that's where the free stuff comes from :lol:

 

[Disney_Belle]

PS. All this CBR talk made me switch my reservation from Pop to CBR today for our October trip lol

 

[coachwnh]

stayed at CB 2 Thanksgivings ago. We had the pirate rooms. they are a decent walk to the main building, but we never thought that was an issue. and our kids were 4 and 6 at the time. the pool was great! buses ran smooth. even at this busy time we were never overcrowded. you'll love it

 

[Magical Dreamer]

We stayed one visit and enjoyed it, but found we liked the Port Orleans Resorts much more.

We most likely won't ever return.

 

[GMRO]

Haha..did you go and get your pins that said you were celebrating..most of the time the CMs see the pins on your person somewhere and that's where the free stuff comes from :lol:

Actually we did have the free buttons they give out when you register/sign in at your resort. hehehe

Yea the CM's are polite and wish you a happy anniversary, which is nice but that is it. Not looking for more than what we are due just wondering if the stories folks post are true since we have not received the same treatment. Some have very elaborate posts on what they got.

But again really dig CBR either way!

 

[CaptainShortty]

I've stayed at CBR twice and was not really a fan. My main issue with it is the size. I don't like having to walk so much for everything and like a resort with a big lobby you can come down to and relax is. That being said the rooms are nicer in size than the value resorts.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Actually we did have the free buttons they give out when you register/sign in at your resort. hehehe

Yea the CM's are polite and wish you a happy anniversary, which is nice but that is it. Not looking for more than what we are due just wondering if the stories folks post are true since we have not received the same treatment. Some have very elaborate posts on what they got.

But again really dig CBR either way!

It all depends on the CMs you encounter. Every CM is at liberty to make magical moments throughout the day and what that magical moment is depends upon the work location. CMs are often more likely to make a magical moment for a guest celebrating something than one that's not which is why a lot of people wearing those buttons telling those types of stories. Generally CMs create magical moments to guests they feel a connection with during their shift. So really it's all luck.

 

[gnuts0306]

I LOVE CBR!! We will be staying there from sept 29th-oct 9th!! Its such a beautiful place. Ole Port Royale is one of my fave food courts! I always request to stay in Martinique buildings 24, 25 and 26, and in Trinidad North buildings 31, 32 and 33...they are all the closest to Old Port Royale! Happy travels...im sure you will LOVE it!