Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT Information & Questions

[dnw25]

FWIW, I emailed GS with the issues we had during our trip, which included a 2 night stay at CBR. A GS manager called me back several days later. We had HORRIBLE bus service while at CBR. In those 2 nights we waited 2.5 hours for buses - once to MK, once to HS, and another to MK. Mind you, it was our luck. Lots and lots of buses were coming, just not ours. For example the first 50 min wait for MK, we saw 3 AK buses, 2 buses each for HS and Epcot, and numerous internal - just no MK buses. Same thing for HS the next evening - ironically 3 MK buses, and multiple Epcot and AK. It was OUR luck.

The manager said he passed along our issue and had already spoken with Disney transportation. they did "greatly" cut back bus service to CBR. 1. less occupancy and 2. due to construction they have to limit how many buses are in "the loop," since they don't all fit - physically not enough space with the roads blocked.

 

[tinderbox]

FWIW, I emailed GS with the issues we had during our trip, which included a 2 night stay at CBR. A GS manager called me back several days later. We had HORRIBLE bus service while at CBR. In those 2 nights we waited 2.5 hours for buses - once to MK, once to HS, and another to MK. Mind you, it was our luck. Lots and lots of buses were coming, just not ours. For example the first 50 min wait for MK, we saw 3 AK buses, 2 buses each for HS and Epcot, and numerous internal - just no MK buses. Same thing for HS the next evening - ironically 3 MK buses, and multiple Epcot and AK. It was OUR luck.

The manager said he passed along our issue and had already spoken with Disney transportation. they did "greatly" cut back bus service to CBR. 1. less occupancy and 2. due to construction they have to limit how many buses are in "the loop," since they don't all fit - physically not enough space with the roads blocked.

Well, this news isn't comforting especially when you consider most of us will be tied to pre planned destinations due to ADRs. It's not like we can change our plans, on a dime, and just hop on another bus and go to a different park if need be. The fact that an official has admitted to the bus situation at CBR speaks volumes. Hopefully, it will be addressed soon.

 

[circus4u]

Well, this news isn't comforting especially when you consider most of us will be tied to pre planned destinations due to ADRs. It's not like we can change our plans, on a dime, and just hop on another bus and go to a different park if need be. The fact that an official has admitted to the bus situation at CBR speaks volumes. Hopefully, it will be addressed soon.

Unfortunate. We just returned from a two week stay at CBR on Jun 6. We experienced no problems with the buses at CBR, but we are not rope drop people if that was the time frame for the bus problem. Actually, the buses were not that crowded when we rode; I believe people had to stand only three or four times when we were riding. Several times, there would be two buses following each other and going to the same park. Other times, they were using the longer articulated buses, so maybe they have taken some action to remedy the problem.

 

[JP267]

Has anyone been able to use their construction compensation GC to pay for the deposit on a bounce back offer for a future stay?

 

[dansdad]

Has anyone been able to use their construction compensation GC to pay for the deposit on a bounce back offer for a future stay?

My cousins were able to.

 

[JP267]

My cousins were able to.

Thank you

 

[Grace1987]

Hello everyone. I can't seem to find a work schedule for the renovations. we are planning on booking our honeymoon for 24/10/18-14/11/18 and although it says the center town should be done by then I'm hoping the pool won't be closed as this is one of the reasons we choose that resort. Does anyone know where to find the plan?

 

[dansdad]

Hello everyone. I can't seem to find a work schedule for the renovations. we are planning on booking our honeymoon for 24/10/18-14/11/18 and although it says the center town should be done by then I'm hoping the pool won't be closed as this is one of the reasons we choose that resort. Does anyone know where to find the plan?

In the project managers office. Other than that, under lock and key. That is something WDW has always kept secret.

Pool is not expected to close at all because of this project.

 

[LCoulter]

I have family that had their very first Disney trip during the hurricane last year so they are doing a make up trip this October. They are staying again at Caribbean Beach Resort but now I'm seeing that their is construction there and no food court? I just want to prepare this family because they are expecting Caribbean Beach Resort to be as wonderful as it was last year and I'm thinking it's not going to be unless they adjust their expectations. What can they expect with construction? Is there no food court? They will be on Disney Dining Plan again this time.

 

[dansdad]

I have family that had their very first Disney trip during the hurricane last year so they are doing a make up trip this October. They are staying again at Caribbean Beach Resort but now I'm seeing that their is construction there and no food court? I just want to prepare this family because they are expecting Caribbean Beach Resort to be as wonderful as it was last year and I'm thinking it's not going to be unless they adjust their expectations. What can they expect with construction? Is there no food court? They will be on Disney Dining Plan again this time.

All the construction details are in post #1 Of this thread.

 

[LCoulter]

All the construction details are in post #1 Of this thread.

Great, thanks!

 

[cyndiella]

FWIW, I emailed GS with the issues we had during our trip, which included a 2 night stay at CBR. A GS manager called me back several days later. We had HORRIBLE bus service while at CBR. In those 2 nights we waited 2.5 hours for buses - once to MK, once to HS, and another to MK. Mind you, it was our luck. Lots and lots of buses were coming, just not ours. For example the first 50 min wait for MK, we saw 3 AK buses, 2 buses each for HS and Epcot, and numerous internal - just no MK buses. Same thing for HS the next evening - ironically 3 MK buses, and multiple Epcot and AK. It was OUR luck.

The manager said he passed along our issue and had already spoken with Disney transportation. they did "greatly" cut back bus service to CBR. 1. less occupancy and 2. due to construction they have to limit how many buses are in "the loop," since they don't all fit - physically not enough space with the roads blocked.

OK this is scary... who wants to wait hours for a bus. Question (for my future reference/not judging you/just need to know) : I have seen pictures on pg. 2 here of a phone at the bus stops... in case of emergency.. but there is a number for bus information. Can we use that to ask when the next bus to our park of the day since you have been waiting overtime, or if there seems to be no buses like this poster experienced???

 

[dansdad]

OK this is scary... who wants to wait hours for a bus. Question (for my future reference/not judging you/just need to know) : I have seen pictures on pg. 2 here of a phone at the bus stops... in case of emergency.. but there is a number for bus information. Can we use that to ask when the next bus to our park of the day since you have been waiting overtime, or if there seems to be no buses like this poster experienced???

Yes you can. And there has been quite a bit of road construction on WDW property which was causing bus delays at all resorts. That has eased now and they have since added extra buses. I think the experience of the poster you quoted was an anomaly. I have family there now and they have had zero issues with the buses.

 

[DavidHobart]

On Saturday June 3, while others were having fun, I timed the departures of buses from Jamaica for 90 minutes. I then calculated actual times between the departures of buses to the same park.

For AK and MK the average interval between departures was 14 minutes; HS saw 15 minutes between departures; Epcot was 17.

Since you could arrive anytime in the departure interval, on average during this period your expected wait to departure would be half the average interval, or 7-9 minutes.

These averages mask, however, variability in actual departure intervals. The longest waits were 26 minutes for HS, 22 for Epcot, 23 for MK, and 20 minutes for AK. So a family that by chance picked the longest-interval buses, and arrived right after the prior bus departed, would have a very different experience than the “average.”

To illuminate this, I graphed “minutes to next bus to same park” vs percentage of all intervals, and got the following:



What you can see is that the 50th percentile interval (marked in red) was 15 minutes—so half of users should have an expected wait of half of that. The 80th percentile interval (gold) was 20 minutes, suggesting that even in the worst case of arriving right after a park bus left, 80% of trips would see a wait of 20 minutes or less.

These conclusions strictly speaking of course apply only to the time I observed, (June 3, 3.30p to 5p), but sometimes data helps interpret anecdotes.

 

[AngiTN]

Looks like we'll return to CBR in August for my birthday trip. Last night, before MDE went down for reservations, I checked and they had added AP rates for the next set of dates. I got a King room for a great rate. No gift card but the rate was so low I'm fine with it. All they had for our dates, 8 25-29, were Pirate rooms and King rooms. Since it's just DH and I, we'd want a King room anyway, so it was perfect. We'll see if I end up moving us around. I tend to do this often for our shorter trips but really, I'm loving the rates and if I keep this trip reasonable it means maybe we can have a longer trip for Fall Break in Oct.

 

[AngiTN]

On Saturday June 3, while others were having fun, I timed the departures of buses from Jamaica for 90 minutes. I then calculated actual times between the departures of buses to the same park.

For AK and MK the average interval between departures was 14 minutes; HS saw 15 minutes between departures; Epcot was 17.

Since you could arrive anytime in the departure interval, on average during this period your expected wait to departure would be half the average interval, or 7-9 minutes.

These averages mask, however, variability in actual departure intervals. The longest waits were 26 minutes for HS, 22 for Epcot, 23 for MK, and 20 minutes for AK. So a family that by chance picked the longest-interval buses, and arrived right after the prior bus departed, would have a very different experience than the “average.”

To illuminate this, I graphed “minutes to next bus to same park” vs percentage of all intervals, and got the following:

View attachment 242970

What you can see is that the 50th percentile interval (marked in red) was 15 minutes—so half of users should have an expected wait of half of that. The 80th percentile interval (gold) was 20 minutes, suggesting that even in the worst case of arriving right after a park bus left, 80% of trips would see a wait of 20 minutes or less.

These conclusions strictly speaking of course apply only to the time I observed, (June 3, 3.30p to 5p), but sometimes data helps interpret anecdotes.

Bottom line, doesn't all this pretty much back up what Disney says, that their buses run about every 20 min, in most cases? Sure there are always exceptions, they can only control so much. But they have a goal and I think they keep to it pretty darn well. No?

 

[TwinkleKS]

Looks like we'll return to CBR in August for my birthday trip. Last night, before MDE went down for reservations, I checked and they had added AP rates for the next set of dates. I got a King room for a great rate. No gift card but the rate was so low I'm fine with it. All they had for our dates, 8 25-29, were Pirate rooms and King rooms. Since it's just DH and I, we'd want a King room anyway, so it was perfect. We'll see if I end up moving us around. I tend to do this often for our shorter trips but really, I'm loving the rates and if I keep this trip reasonable it means maybe we can have a longer trip for Fall Break in Oct.

We are going July 4th week because of the rate. There are five of us and most of the 5+ rooms get expensive fast, even at a regular hotel. We were going to rent a house at the beach, but when the PIN (or whatever they call it now) came out we decided what the heck, might as well stay there and do a couple of park days and then use it as the base for day trips.

 

[AngiTN]

We are going July 4th week because of the rate. There are five of us and most of the 5+ rooms get expensive fast, even at a regular hotel. We were going to rent a house at the beach, but when the PIN (or whatever they call it now) came out we decided what the heck, might as well stay there and do a couple of park days and then use it as the base for day trips.

Yeah, I saw those posts about the PIN code rate and I was jealous because we don't ever get those. But the AP rate was fabulous so I didn't feel so bad. I think the location would be great for a central base for day trips too

 

[Bsams1654]

On Saturday June 3, while others were having fun, I timed the departures of buses from Jamaica for 90 minutes. I then calculated actual times between the departures of buses to the same park.

For AK and MK the average interval between departures was 14 minutes; HS saw 15 minutes between departures; Epcot was 17.

Since you could arrive anytime in the departure interval, on average during this period your expected wait to departure would be half the average interval, or 7-9 minutes.

These averages mask, however, variability in actual departure intervals. The longest waits were 26 minutes for HS, 22 for Epcot, 23 for MK, and 20 minutes for AK. So a family that by chance picked the longest-interval buses, and arrived right after the prior bus departed, would have a very different experience than the “average.”

To illuminate this, I graphed “minutes to next bus to same park” vs percentage of all intervals, and got the following:

View attachment 242970

What you can see is that the 50th percentile interval (marked in red) was 15 minutes—so half of users should have an expected wait of half of that. The 80th percentile interval (gold) was 20 minutes, suggesting that even in the worst case of arriving right after a park bus left, 80% of trips would see a wait of 20 minutes or less.

These conclusions strictly speaking of course apply only to the time I observed, (June 3, 3.30p to 5p), but sometimes data helps interpret anecdotes.

This has me cracking up that you went through all of that to help people understand the buses. Not all heroes wear capes my friend. (Maybe you do? No judgement here.) Thanks for the information!

 

[DavidHobart]

Bottom line, doesn't all this pretty much back up what Disney says, that their buses run about every 20 min, in most cases? Sure there are always exceptions, they can only control so much. But they have a goal and I think they keep to it pretty darn well. No?

Bottom line yes...