Disney's CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT Information & Questions

[AngiTN]

Ya saw that thanks. Lol never heard of the 15s before, but catchy name

Got an even catchier name. Though heaven help me spelling it. I can't even come close. quinceanera is a huge birthday in the latin culture

 

[SimonSez]

Seems people on the Dis know more than some CMs. Thanks for your help and input

 

[AngiTN]

Seems people on the Dis know more than some CMs. Thanks for your help and input

So many Disers have more Disney Experience than many of the phone CM

 

[TwinkleKS]

I'm in my room in Aruba right now. So far it has been quiet. I have only seen the 15 group at DHS, not in the resort. The pool just has a few families with school age kids in it right now.

The Freestyle machines are great! We always found the mugs useless because were never staying close enough to a place to use them. This time there is a machine right around the corner.

We have our own vehicle this trip so resort transportation isn't really necessary. DH used it with DD earlier to leave DHS when she wasn't feeling well and he had no issues. There appear to be quite a few busses running when I've been driving by.

We hardly ever eat at the resort hotels unless it is supper at a signature so that hasn't been an issue. I guess if you are the type that stays at an all star resort and eats one meal a day or more there it might be an issue. But I've never found those restaurants / quick service that great anyway.

Overall it seems to be a decent deal for the current price. We normally stay in the cabins at FW or at one of the monorail resorts. This was a total last minute trip ... might as well go here versus the beach when 5 can stay here for less than $200 a night.

 

[totebagg]

Bad info-still a QS-will always be a QS I would feel strongly.

Breakfast is strong,but Centertown Buffet was only about one-quarter full for Dinner last night(a little of that can be contributed to The 15s eating in their own tent).

I checked in yesterday and asked specifically about this. She told me that the buffet is QS dining and the only change they have is that there will be a different menu for July 3 & 4 (and it'll still be QS on those days).

Thank you for confirming. I thought she may be mis-informed but she sounded so sure of herself as if is was a QS but they changed to a TS. We usually do breakfast at the resort on our day off and just trying to figure out credits! Thanks again.

 

[ehrenrj]

I'm in my room in Aruba right now. So far it has been quiet. I have only seen the 15 group at DHS, not in the resort. The pool just has a few families with school age kids in it right now.

The Freestyle machines are great! We always found the mugs useless because were never staying close enough to a place to use them. This time there is a machine right around the corner.

We have our own vehicle this trip so resort transportation isn't really necessary. DH used it with DD earlier to leave DHS when she wasn't feeling well and he had no issues. There appear to be quite a few busses running when I've been driving by.

We hardly ever eat at the resort hotels unless it is supper at a signature so that hasn't been an issue. I guess if you are the type that stays at an all star resort and eats one meal a day or more there it might be an issue. But I've never found those restaurants / quick service that great anyway.

Overall it seems to be a decent deal for the current price. We normally stay in the cabins at FW or at one of the monorail resorts. This was a total last minute trip ... might as well go here versus the beach when 5 can stay here for less than $200 a night.

We are in Trinidad South, checked in Saturday and staying to the 10th. We've been to each of the parks (and DS) and saw the One Fives (as it reads on their t-shirts) at every park except AK. I haven't seen them in the resort, but I wouldn't really expect to if they are in Aruba. We had a pool day Sunday and, while there were plenty of people, it was all families.

We aren't doing the dining options on resort so I can't comment on that. Did anyone partake of the special menu on the 3rd and 4th? Am wondering if it was any better and, if so, maybe CBR might think of mixing things up.

As for the busses, we haven't had an issue with them. They state they come around approximately every 20 minutes and it seems that we always have a 20 minute wait. Just our luck, I guess. I wasn't too happy leaving Epcot last night. We saw multiple busses for each of the other resorts for the one that came for CBR. Again, our luck.

I'm not sure if anyone posted the Freestyle options previously, but I took pictures to show my wife what they have. For those unfamiliar with these, once you select your beverage a sub-menu comes up with flavor options. I didn't capture those. Here's what they have:

 

[ehrenrj]

There is some land clearing going on on the Aruba and Jamaica side, south of the road, across the lake from Trinidad South. There hasn't been any grading done yet, just clearing the land. I'm wondering if it's the rumored gondolas or if Disney has something else up their sleeves? Aside from the tower they are building, I haven't heard plans to expand the resort. Anyone know?

 

[Monima]

Agreed. We were there for 2 weeks and just got home on Saturday. We looked at the dinner buffet and then ran away. No way was I going to eat that. I can't believe people are jealous that CBR folks get to use a quick service point on such an "expensive" meal. LOL.

We will stay there 1st weekend of Sept, arriving Thursday afternoon. We're hoping to get dinner at the resort.
What are they offering that made you think it was a bad choice ?
And what would be another option for dinner close by ?
We are using DDP

 

[SimonSez]

So many Disers have more Disney Experience than many of the phone CM

I believe this!

 

[TwinkleKS]

Update: Okay ... have a semi sick kid so she and I stayed behind this morning and walked over for the breakfast buffet. I'm not sure why people are complaining .. the menu was similar to breakfast at Chef Mickeys and tasted pretty much the same quality wise (I'm not saying Chef Mickeys is awesome ... just that this was basically the same). Price was less than other Disney breakfast buffets we have had at $13.99 and $7.99.

Also we slept until 10 and no noise issues. I could faintly hear machines as we were walking to the buffet ... but I live in the city so any given day is a lot noisier than what I heard. Maybe if you live on twenty acres in the country you hear less noise.

 

[AngiTN]

Update: Okay ... have a semi sick kid so she and I stayed behind this morning and walked over for the breakfast buffet. I'm not sure why people are complaining .. the menu was similar to breakfast at Chef Mickeys and tasted pretty much the same quality wise (I'm not saying Chef Mickeys is awesome ... just that this was basically the same). Price was less than other Disney breakfast buffets we have had at $13.99 and $7.99.

Also we slept until 10 and no noise issues. I could faintly hear machines as we were walking to the buffet ... but I live in the city so any given day is a lot noisier than what I heard. Maybe if you live on twenty acres in the country you hear less noise.

This was the same short definition I gave to the dinner buffet. Now, my longer definition includes that it has fewer options than the Character buffets do but the food quality was pretty much spot on to what I've had at H&V or CM

 

[dansdad]

The walls have gone up at the International Gateway for the Gondola Station. Shouldn't be too long before they start work on the CBR station.

https://blogmickey.com/2017/06/photos-construction-walls-epcot-gondola-station/

 

[Statefan17]

One month from today we wil be enjoying CBR and our room.

 

[autismmom1]

Okay, I've been going back and forth on whether to pose this question or not...but I finally decided I need to know what you, the faithful of CBR, think. We've been to WDW every year since 2009 and have never stayed at CBR. Moderates are where we usually choose to stay (except when we've received a pin or a super discount), and last year we tried CSR for the first time and really liked it. When I made our reservations for this year, CSR and CBR had the same price quote, so I decided to try CBR...to try something "new to us", since we enjoyed that experience at CSR. Now, after reading about the construction, I'm a bit nervous. Will that ruin our "first time" experience at the resort? We are in the Parks for most of the vacation, but we do spend one day at the pool and occasionally eat QS at the resort. We drive down, so we'll have a vehicle, though we do take buses now and then. I understand about the noise and some mess, but is the charm of the resort totally ruined by it or will we still be able to see some of what makes CBR special? TIA!

 

[AngiTN]

Okay, I've been going back and forth on whether to pose this question or not...but I finally decided I need to know what you, the faithful of CBR, think. We've been to WDW every year since 2009 and have never stayed at CBR. Moderates are where we usually choose to stay (except when we've received a pin or a super discount), and last year we tried CSR for the first time and really liked it. When I made our reservations for this year, CSR and CBR had the same price quote, so I decided to try CBR...to try something "new to us", since we enjoyed that experience at CSR. Now, after reading about the construction, I'm a bit nervous. Will that ruin our "first time" experience at the resort? We are in the Parks for most of the vacation, but we do spend one day at the pool and occasionally eat QS at the resort. We drive down, so we'll have a vehicle, though we do take buses now and then. I understand about the noise and some mess, but is the charm of the resort totally ruined by it or will we still be able to see some of what makes CBR special? TIA!

I've had 2 experiences at CBR.
First one was years ago, when we brought DGD for her first trip ever and then last month, when construction was first starting. And pretty heavily involved quite honestly. So extremes to compare it to. We had resort time on both trips, including pool time.
I don't believe the construction took away from the ambiance of the resort in any way whatsoever.
Most of what we saw going on when I was there is over too, the destruction of Barbados. It's gone, so the ripping down of buildings and loading it in trucks is over.
And none of it is stopping me from booking another stay there in August.

 

[autismmom1]

I've had 2 experiences at CBR.
First one was years ago, when we brought DGD for her first trip ever and then last month, when construction was first starting. And pretty heavily involved quite honestly. So extremes to compare it to. We had resort time on both trips, including pool time.
I don't believe the construction took away from the ambiance of the resort in any way whatsoever.
Most of what we saw going on when I was there is over too, the destruction of Barbados. It's gone, so the ripping down of buildings and loading it in trucks is over.
And none of it is stopping me from booking another stay there in August.

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for!

 

[cyndiella]

Um, So how exactly does the internal bus transport work? Where do I pick it up? at the bus stops? or do I have to call for it? Was there a post I missed that explains all this on this thread? TIA!!

 

[dansdad]

1. Um, So how exactly does the internal bus transport work?
2. Where do I pick it up? at the bus stops? 3. or do I have to call for it?
4. Was there a post I missed that explains all this on this thread? TIA!!

1. It runs continuously from 6:30AM-11:00PM
2. At the bus stops
3. No need, it runs continuously every day
4. On the 1st page of this thread

 

[moesy4]

So...I have a question, I think I know the answer but want to clarify. I have a reservation for November that I booked during the GC deal and I have the confirmation email. That trip isn't going to work out, but I am thinking of suprising my DH with a split stay at CBR and AKL in January or February. As long as I keep my same reservation number and just change the dates, I should still receive the gift cards, correct? And I will be able to alter it again when the discounts come out and still have it honored?
Secondly, if it does work as I figured, where would be a good place to request that would be far away from the construction as we will probably be at the resorts a lot (we aren't doing parks). Or would it be better to just stay off site and skip the whole GC deal to avoid too much of it?

 

[cyndiella]

1. It runs continuously from 6:30AM-11:00PM
2. At the bus stops
3. No need, it runs continuously every day
4. On the 1st page of this thread

So they just continuously drive from bus stop to bus stop to see if people need to get to the other side of the resort? I hope there are several internal shuttles running because that would take an hour or more (my guestiment) to do one circuit picking up and dropping off people! yikes!! I think this is what I don't understand about this.