Keep your expectations in check and you will not be disappointed. Just returned from a week (our first trip to DW) at the CBR (12/2/2004 thru 12/8/2004). Stayed in Trinidad South, which is the farthest "island" from the Custom House (Lobby) and as far as you can get from Port Royale (restaurant, food court, store (gifts, sundries, snacks, beer, liquor, pop, juice, etc) and main pool). Have we stayed at better resorts? Yes. Would we come back? Yes.

Transportation is great, even if it is difficult to get from Downtown Disney to a theme park or from one theme park to the other without going back to your hotel (hint: Go to MGM Studios and just before the entrance on your right is a path to the Friendship Boat water shuttle. It will take you to Disney Boardwalk and Epcot directly--then take the bus home from Epcot or a taxi from Boardwalk ($7)).

This is the slow season for traveling so we were met with no lines whatsoever in any park (including Universal Studios). Take advantage of the "Early Hour" program with each park.

Rooms are clean, plenty of storage, and ours had a free fridge. It had a nice Caribbean feel (we frequently visit Jamaica). Safe, secure, convenient to the parks and a decent value. It's Disney--everything's a bit pricey--but you already knew that, didn't you? Popular with the kids (we're childless and have just entered our 40's) but was still quiet and romantic. Some rooms have views of the Epcot fireworks, too. Pools are good and there are "beaches" throughout the complex that make for a nice place for some sun or a nap.

It's a big resort, but the distances from the "islands" to Port Royale are not nearly as long as the amount of walking you'll be doing in any theme park. From our "island" (remember--it's the farthest one away) it was not more than a 5-7 minute walk to Port Royale--easily manageable even after a day at the parks--and if you don't want to walk, there's an internal shuttle that will take you anywhere you want to go. At the end of each day, we would usually just have the park bus drop us off at the Port Royale stop, go to the store, food court, or restaurant (open until 11:00 pm) and then make the short walk back to the room.

We'd recommend this resort but we have also heard great things about Coronado Springs--it's in the same price category and less kids, if that's important to you.

Spend more--you'll get more, but for a mid-priced, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!!!

I too was a bit worried when I read some of the negative reviews, however I did not experience anything remotely close to a bad experience. We loved the grounds, the village pools were never crowed and we were there on the March Break!

The iternal transportation system was outstanding.

I have seen a lot of hotel rooms in my time, and this was one of the cleanest rooms I have ever stayed in. The housekeeping staff at this hotel are top notch and the 'characters' they make to greet you when you get home from the parks are charming and very much enjoyed by the kids.

The staff at this resort are outstanding. We did not experience any waiting at the reception counter. We found the food court clean and the staff very courteous and friendly. We did buy the refillable mugs and found that we used them a couple of times a day--which did not prove to be expensive--and we had a great souvenir of the hotel. The Mickey Mouse Straws were also a great inexpensive souvenir for my nephews friends back at home.

This hotel is rated by disney as moderate--it definitely lives up to it's description and even more!

We just returned last night from another great 7 days at WDW having stayed at the CBR at the suggestion of another faithful WDW friend. We are glad we listened! We stayed at Wilderness Lodge the last trip (which is a beautiful hotel with great restaurants, pool and setting) and found the transportation to the parks was a nightmare. This problem was reiterated by a cast member this year during a conversation about WDW buses who stated that Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian are the 2 worst hotels for bus transportation. Well, staying at CBR put our faith back into WDW bus service. Not only were the hotel grounds beautiful and peaceful, the rooms were the same size as Wilderness lodge and just as nice and we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus in the morning. We asked for a standard room (we figured we are not in the room long) which still had a very nice island feel landscape when we walked out our door. My husband is 6"4" and had no problems with the bed. We as well were quite apprehensive after reading a lot of the negative reviews about the terribly long walks and how the hotel was too spread out. We stayed in Building #41 Jamaica and walked to Port Royal almost every evening for our FREE refill drinks (usually hot cocoa- weather was quite cool this time!) after having walked all day at one of the parks and did not mind the 5 minute walk. Our 10 yr old daughter loved the hammocks on the beach. We did notice that Trinidad South is as far as reviews stated and would definitely have a longer walk. TIP: They DO have FREE refrigerators in the rooms. We called to confirm this but made the mistake of calling Disney reservations who still insisted there was a charge. Upon check in we were told all rooms have refrig's. Great place and will definitely stay here on our next trip. Only negative: our housekeeper was not creative at all when it came to the expected "Disney surprises" created by things in the room. Missed that!!

We recently completed our trip to Disney staying at the Carribbean Beach Resort. We were able to procure off season rates on an excellent room package. Our room was very pleasant, roomy, and comfortable. The two double beds were comfortable and there was a separate area that could be closed off with a curtain that was attached to the adequate bath area. Plenty of storage in the room and dressing area with a large area for hanging clothes added to the functionality of our stay. A great vacation could be had just visiting the hotels on Disney World with lots of shopping and dining to be enjoyed. And then there is the Disney experience! It was just "Fantasmic"...that is fantastic!