Seriously considering CBR--how do you think the fit will be?
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coastgirl · 07-21-2006, 10:18 PM

We are thinking of going back for a week or so in the winter, Dec or Feb. Last time we stayed at Pop for one night then 2 nts @ AKL and 2 @ the Poly. If money were no object, I'd live at the Poly, but I think in many ways I liked the Pop better than AKL--cheerful and efficient. Anyway, a deluxe is not in the cards this time, and while I liked Pop well enough, the room size is a real barrier for me. I felt claustrophobic @ Pop.

The first reason I like CBR is that it has the biggest rooms of all the mods, as big as our room at AKL. I can live with that, and from the photos, the decor looks bright and cheerful. (I also like lots of *light* , or at least the illusion thereof.)

The kiddie pool looks wonderful, with the spray fountains. The main pool looks lovely too, but my kids loved the mom-doesn't-have-to-chase-me-every-moment kiddie pools, and a spray fountain of any description elevates them to cloud 9. Even if it's winter, I see the pools are kept quite warm, and we hardy Canadians don't mind it being a bit cool. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Parrot Cay sounds neat, and the idea of walking over the bridge to the playground and central amenities sounds quaint.

Beaches and hammocks, yep, we're there.

It's a big resort but sounds like you can get some quiet and privacy there. (That's another thing about Pop that would keep me away--that music being broadcast all the time.)

Transportation doesn't matter to us, unless we end up really a long way from a parking lot. (We like having our own car.) We are able-bodied, and while the kids may whine a little when they're tired we can always pop dd in a stroller and put ds on Daddy's shoulders.

Food, meh. Loved the sit-down places at AKL and the Poly, but that's not every day fare. A big food court is better for us, giving more choices. Again, we liked that about Pop, and variety seems more likely at a larger resort. We would probably pick up what we could off property with that rental car (we are fans of ethnic dishes generally too weird for many travellers).

So, my initial take is that we'd request a top floor room near the bridge in Jamaica or Aruba.

Am I missing anything? POFQ sounds lovely also, as does some of what I've heard about CS, though its fans seem fewer. I dunno, is Dec "we dig up all the flowers" month or do mosquitos make evenings unpleasant, or something else weird I haven't considered? Or maybe there's something special I haven't yet heard about that would tip the balance further toward this resort?

Any feedback, experience, etc gratefully accepted!

IdahoDisneyMom · 07-21-2006, 10:30 PM

Well I've never stayed at CBR, but it sounds like you've done your research, and found what you like!! I say go for it. If it meets all your needs and looks appealing to you, I bet you'll love it!!

LuvMinnie · 07-21-2006, 10:45 PM

Like you I prefer a more spacious room and CBR is roomy. I
didn't feel cramped at all & the bright colors were uplifting.
The size of the Value rooms really should be larger. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
In fact I liked CBR more than I expected too. The resort is
lovely, you really feel like you're on a tropical island. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
The food court was great, tasty with lots of options. I think
you'll be pleased. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

**disneydani** · 07-21-2006, 10:47 PM

Sounds likje a great fot for your family's desires. December will be very festive, all decked out for the Christmas Season. The weather can be quite variable but if you are looking at the first two weeks of December you will have low crowds and lots of festivites!

**WDWfan** · 07-22-2006, 12:05 AM

I stayed at CBR in Nov 04 and loved it! We were in Jamaica and I also requested a room near the bridge. The parking lot was close and we had a room with a beautiful courtyard view. The walk across the island to Old Port Royale was enjoyable. I highly recommend the hotel. I think it would be a wonderful place for your visit!

Have fun planning!

coastgirl · 07-22-2006, 12:07 AM

Another question--Just read some reviews on trip advisor which mention both worn rooms and recently updated rooms--anyone have any feedback on that detail?

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img]

**WDWfan** · 07-22-2006, 12:45 AM

The rooms were in good condition when we stayed there. That was a year and a half ago. I think they had been fairly recently updated at that time. They do all have a small refrigerator in them. I know those had just been put in when we were there.

gwugirl03 · 07-22-2006, 03:47 AM

I am staying at CBR for the first time this November, so I can't really give you any advice. It looks like CBR has all kinds of things that would suit your family perfectly, so I say go for it!!! I love the tropical feeling I get from looking at all the resort pictures and I look forward to putting my feet in the sand!

Chelledun17 · 07-22-2006, 08:32 AM

I've stayed at all the moderates and CBR is my new favorite. I LOVED it. The grounds looked so nice and cheerful, bus service was speedy, and we really enjoyed the bright rooms. I second whoever nominated Jamaica, it was a great place to stay.

goofy4goofy · 07-22-2006, 08:51 AM

If you request top floor, please remember we have no elevators. So lugging a stroller or sleeping children up a big set of steps isn't always fun.

Kelly

TheGoof · 07-22-2006, 10:02 AM

I don't think I have ever read the reviews on TripAdvisor (or any other place with mass reviews for resorts) for any Disney resort and not run into a few that ran into "worn out room" etc. So I tend to take the reviews with a grain of salt.

Disney has so many rooms, and many people don't understand that on-site justifies a premium and therefore that a comparably priced room offsite is bigger, so many people have unreasonable expectations.

That is not to say that every person that has a complaint about there room is unjustified, far be it from that. Disney again has so many rooms, there will be occassional problems. And just like every where else, some CM's will handle problems better then others.

I've never stayed at CBR, but it sounds like a perfect fit for you and your family, so I would go for it.

MadHatchers · 07-22-2006, 10:24 AM

We really liked the CBR last year...for all the reasons you mentioned. We want to stay in all the resorts so we plan on going to a new one each trip. We looked at both PO and CS for this trip and decided CS. I like the quiet pools at CBR and they have them at CS too. My daughter is still getting used to swimming and a smaller pool with fewer people means fewer splashes in the face. And sometimes we are the only ones in the pool in the afternoon.

I also find the reviews on Trip Advisor to be a bit harsh. Like sometimes they mention rooms having a smell, I find that all hotel rooms have a smell, could be bleach, could be the carpet, could be a smoking room that we go because they ran out of any other room.

You put a lot of thought into your decision, you will have a great time.

jodie

coastgirl · 07-22-2006, 10:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think I have ever read the reviews on TripAdvisor (or any other place with mass reviews for resorts) for any Disney resort and not run into a few that ran into "worn out room" etc. So I tend to take the reviews with a grain of salt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you're right, absolutely. I have started checking for general impressions, and if you see something over and over then you know it's probably valid at some level...but overall the ratings for CBR were glowing, with high averages. Actually what surprised me was that some of the rooms had been more recently reno'd, as I hadn't seen that mentioned elsewhere. And I know I can always ask for a change if there's something that really bugs me. In general the reviews tend to rate the Disney places low(er) on value, and they are smaller than comparable off-property, but the others don't give extra park hours, lots of transportation options, etc.

Many years ago I did training for front-line hospitality sector workers, and what I learned is that you judge a business not by the complete absence of problems, but by their willingness to correct them. That's actually part of the reason why I am unlikely to suffer in silence--I know the business is better off making knowing about the problem than having me keep my mouth shut but then complain on tripadvisor! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

coastgirl · 07-22-2006, 11:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If you request top floor, please remember we have no elevators. So lugging a stroller or sleeping children up a big set of steps isn't always fun.

Kelly

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Kelly, yes I remember seeing that. I have to double-check, I can't remember if the buildings are 3 storeys or 2. Second floor, we can handle the kid lugging; third I'd have to consult dh (who does most of the serious lugging).

Would love to have your opinion on my near the bridge strategy if you have the chance.

coastgirl · 07-22-2006, 11:01 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I stayed at CBR in Nov 04 and loved it! We were in Jamaica and I also requested a room near the bridge. The parking lot was close and we had a room with a beautiful courtyard view. The walk across the island to Old Port Royale was enjoyable. I highly recommend the hotel. I think it would be a wonderful place for your visit!

Have fun planning!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's really useful, thanks for taking the time Lesley!