CR Garden vs CBR Preferred

[jennab]

Looking for opinions from people who have stayed at both or either. Which would you choose, contemporary garden swing or Caribbean beach preferred room (2 adults and a 13yr old boy)? I know one is a mod and the other deluxe. Obvious CR is priced higher as well. Here’s what I have as pros and cons. Feel free to add more!

CR pros - walk to MK, monorail access to other resorts, boat access to WL/FW, lots of good restaurants and coffee shop, arcade, garden rooms close to pool, fun looking pool slide, doesn’t seem too crowded, lots of activities available, laundry in garden wing

CR cons - monorail to EP seems like a pain (but could do lyft or drive if rent a car), no balcony on 2nd/3rd floor for garden wing, a lot of cement and less grassy areas.

CBR pros - skyliner to 2 parks and can get to other resorts for food, preferred rooms by food and main pool, fun looking main pool and bar, if wanted to ride the bus 1st stop (but could ride share or drive), village quiet pools, more options at QS, has activities, can walk to Riviera

CBR cons - huge so lots more walking, preferred rooms opposite side from skyliner (but could drive and park close to it), multiple bus stops (could rideshare or drive too), table service only has dinner and family style, hear pool can be hard to find a seat and lots of small kids, no arcade, no balconies or patio, smaller rooms and older style AC.

 

[Karalee402]

I love your pros and cons!! We've stayed at both places, and while we loved the Skyliner so much and the lower price of CBR, we really enjoyed the CR, even in the garden wing. We got a really good price for it since it wasn't in the main tower, but to me, you just can't beat the monorail and the crescent lake resorts. Being able to see and walk to the Magic Kingdom or take the boats around property was incredible. I know many people love CBR, but it wasn't the best experience for us overall(yes to the AC issues - it was a rough stay and we're not complainers). Having easy access to the dining/shopping around the monorail (we're also big fans of the Epcot resort area for the same reason), just can't be beat.

 

[Dug720]

Another con to CBR is no Extra Evening Hours.

I'm at the point now that if I can't swing a Deluxe I stay Value as there's no difference in park advantages between Value and Moderate.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

CR Garden Wing any day over CBR.

Going to EPCOT really isn't an "inconvenience".
While its not a true balcony it is a door with a balcony railing so its still nice to open it and look out.
Its a concrete "jungle" vs a grassy one but it still has beautiful greenery and the lake.
This also means its much more direct of a route to everything.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Another con to CBR is no Extra Evening Hours.

I'm at the point now that if I can't swing a Deluxe I stay Value as there's no difference in park advantages between Value and Moderate.

So true. I have become a deluxe "snob" but would pick any value over any mod any day!

 

[jennab]

Another con to CBR is no Extra Evening Hours.

I'm at the point now that if I can't swing a Deluxe I stay Value as there's no difference in park advantages between Value and Moderate.

For us not sure we would use the evening hours. We are normally rope droppers and can’t always stay up for both . We will be there most likely during cheerleading competitions so I refuse to stay value!

 

[jennab]

I love your pros and cons!! We've stayed at both places, and while we loved the Skyliner so much and the lower price of CBR, we really enjoyed the CR, even in the garden wing. We got a really good price for it since it wasn't in the main tower, but to me, you just can't beat the monorail and the crescent lake resorts. Being able to see and walk to the Magic Kingdom or take the boats around property was incredible. I know many people love CBR, but it wasn't the best experience for us overall(yes to the AC issues - it was a rough stay and we're not complainers). Having easy access to the dining/shopping around the monorail (we're also big fans of the Epcot resort area for the same reason), just can't be beat.

Yes I love the food options at the monorail resorts! I was thinking the skyliner gives good options of going to the Epcot resorts as well. I keep debating if it’s “worth it” to upgrade to CR. We’ve stayed at BLT before and the other monorail resorts, but never CBR. I worry my husband will hate it because it’s so big.

 

[jennab]

CR Garden Wing any day over CBR.

Going to EPCOT really isn't an "inconvenience".
While its not a true balcony it is a door with a balcony railing so its still nice to open it and look out.
Its a concrete "jungle" vs a grassy one but it still has beautiful greenery and the lake.
This also means its much more direct of a route to everything.

Did you find dealing with changing monorails not to bad? Just sounds so much of a hassle, especially coming back and going through all the resort stops and MK before getting to CR. But again, we could always grab a ride share as an option! I do like to hang out on a balcony sometimes, or at least dry the swimsuits out there . So I suppose a wash there since CBR doesn’t have any of that either. I’m not a huge fan of the exterior doors either.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Did you find dealing with changing monorails not to bad? Just sounds so much of a hassle, especially coming back and going through all the resort stops and MK before getting to CR. But again, we could always grab a ride share as an option! I do like to hang out on a balcony sometimes, or at least dry the swimsuits out there . So I suppose a wash there since CBR doesn’t have any of that either. I’m not a huge fan of the exterior doors either.

I don't mind the monorail switch. That's better than potentially massive amount of walking at the end of the day.
And on the way there in the morning you go through security at CR and then you're all set to enter the park when you get there.
You can still hang your towels since its a door and railing just not actually walking out onto the balcony. Although personally I would never do that anyways I've seen far too many swimsuits and towels fly off.

 

[Babsy]

I would stay at the CR over CBR for sure! If affordable, the CR is just so convenient to the MK. Walking is the best way to get to the MK, but if you are tired at the end of the day, you can hop on the monorail and the CR is the first stop. The CR is a short walk from the MK bus stop with buses to every other resort which gives you direct bus access to every almost resort in WDW! Monorail to the Poly or the GF and a boat to FW and WL, means that you can go anywhere from the CR. The ONLY place where you have a two step transit is to Epcot. Yes, it is a small inconvenience to have to. change monorails at the TTC. Only you know how much that would bother you. We didn't find it to be a problem, but some people do not like it.

An addition to your pros for the CR GW over CBR is room size. The CR rooms are much larger with about an extra 80 sq ft. It does make a difference.

And, I believe that the deluxe resorts are offering a free arrival day water park visit starting sometime soon? I'm not sure of the details of this one, though. But it is something to look into.

 

[jennab]

I would stay at the CR over CBR for sure! If affordable, the CR is just so convenient to the MK. Walking is the best way to get to the MK, but if you are tired at the end of the day, you can hop on the monorail and the CR is the first stop. The CR is a short walk from the MK bus stop with buses to every other resort which gives you direct bus access to every almost resort in WDW! Monorail to the Poly or the GF and a boat to FW and WL, means that you can go anywhere from the CR. The ONLY place where you have a two step transit is to Epcot. Yes, it is a small inconvenience to have to. change monorails at the TTC. Only you know how much that would bother you. We didn't find it to be a problem, but some people do not like it.

An addition to your pros for the CR GW over CBR is room size. The CR rooms are much larger with about an extra 80 sq ft. It does make a difference.

Oh yes room size for sure! Oh and I noticed CR has keurigs and CBR has the other ones with the flat pod. Not a huge deal but means I could bring my own coffee!

 

[Karalee402]

Another con to CBR is no Extra Evening Hours.

I'm at the point now that if I can't swing a Deluxe I stay Value as there's no difference in park advantages between Value and Moderate.

THIS!!! We've gotten so much value out of the extra evening hours - each time we've done it, nearly everything has been a walk-on. That's a huge plus I'd totally forgotten to add.

 

[DVCjj]

We don't like outside entrances so it would be a no-brainer for us. Would actually take a moderate CSR Tower instead of CBR, though CBR was fun in the early years we stayed there. I'm speaking room-wise and understand that CSR transportation can be a pain and CBR has the wonderful Skyliner. (I'm addicted)

 

[jennab]

We don't like outside entrances so it would be a no-brainer for us. Would actually take a moderate CSR Tower instead of CBR, though CBR was fun in the early years we stayed there. I'm speaking room-wise and understand that CSR transportation can be a pain and CBR has the wonderful Skyliner. (I'm addicted)

I would have tried CSR tower, but we will be there during cheer comps and my husband said he absolutely will not stay where the cheerleader groups are slotted to stay

 

[dansdad]

Looking for opinions from people who have stayed at both or either. Which would you choose, contemporary garden swing or Caribbean beach preferred room (2 adults and a 13yr old boy)? I know one is a mod and the other deluxe. Obvious CR is priced higher as well. Here’s what I have as pros and cons. Feel free to add more!

CR pros - walk to MK, monorail access to other resorts, boat access to WL/FW, lots of good restaurants and coffee shop, arcade, garden rooms close to pool, fun looking pool slide, doesn’t seem too crowded, lots of activities available, laundry in garden wing

CR cons - monorail to EP seems like a pain (but could do lyft or drive if rent a car), no balcony on 2nd/3rd floor for garden wing, a lot of cement and less grassy areas.

CBR pros - skyliner to 2 parks and can get to other resorts for food, preferred rooms by food and main pool, fun looking main pool and bar, if wanted to ride the bus 1st stop (but could ride share or drive), village quiet pools, more options at QS, has activities, can walk to Riviera

CBR cons - huge so lots more walking, preferred rooms opposite side from skyliner (but could drive and park close to it), multiple bus stops (could rideshare or drive too), table service only has dinner and family style, hear pool can be hard to find a seat and lots of small kids, no arcade, no balconies or patio, smaller rooms and older style AC.

If your option was CBR Standard, that would be our choice. You'd have less walking to transportation, food and pool with a CBR Standard over the Garden Wing rooms. Plus you'd have Skyliner access to 2 parks and saving a bunch of money. But since it's CBR preferred we'd go with the Garden Wing.

 

[DVCjj]

I would have tried CSR tower, but we will be there during cheer comps and my husband said he absolutely will not stay where the cheerleader groups are slotted to stay

Great decision. Cheer groups? NO WAY.

 

[Dug720]

I would have tried CSR tower, but we will be there during cheer comps and my husband said he absolutely will not stay where the cheerleader groups are slotted to stay

I'd make sure there are none at CBR...they've been known to stay there before.

 

[dansdad]

I'd make sure there are none at CBR...they've been known to stay there before.

None of them are at CBR in 2025.

 

[jennab]

If your option was CBR Standard, that would be our choice. You'd have less walking to transportation, food and pool with a CBR Standard over the Garden Wing rooms. Plus you'd have Skyliner access to 2 parks and saving a bunch of money. But since it's CBR preferred we'd go with the Garden Wing.

My husband would rather be close to food and amenities than skyliner at CBR. It still looks like a pretty long walk from standard to the pool/food area based on videos I’ve seen…. I also watcbed a video of CR GW to main building and it didn’t look long at all. Also close to pool.

 

[jennab]

I'd make sure there are none at CBR...they've been known to stay there before.

From what I’ve seen so far it’s All Stars, CSR, and AKL. I’m sure some stay elsewhere too, but hopefully not big groups of them.