Checked in 3/11/18 and Checked out 3/14/18 with 2 adults and 1 12y.o.
We were in Trinidad South in a pirate room, building 34 in a second floor and corner room (both requested by phone about 45 days out).
We had everything about our stay go great! I do realize that we might be rare in our expectations and details of how we stayed at CBR.
My experience is really limited to Trinidad South and 2 quick trips at night to the Customs House using our rental car. I drove right past all the rest of the resort in the car, or on the bus for 3/12 and 3/13 mid day breaks. Trinidad South was very quiet in both construction sound and other people, we hardly knew there was work being done or really if anybody else was staying there. That was a huge positive over staying at the crowded and bustling value resorts! Another big positive was the cast members at CBR being eager to help and interact beyond expectations. The Trinidad South property and buildings were mostly beautiful (Spyglass Grill at the pool was still being finished up) and you basically don't notice any of the other construction even at the "beach" area.
The actual pirate room was themed perfectly. Not having a queen size bed didn't matter for us, and the bed itself was very comfortable. The fridge is definitely a negative, it's very small in it's depth and doesn't get very cold when full. Also it's very unclear which way is even how to make it coldest. Layout, size, and cleanliness of the room was good. The heavy curtain separating the bedroom from the "sink and closet" room, and then a door from the "shower and toilet" from that was great for having an assembly line for the getting ready in the morning process. Huge HDTV for the limited time to even watch TV. Overall we loved the room for our situation and reduced cost, and once the resort is finished I would consider booking it under normal planning for specials and deals. Full booking rate would have me looking at other options.
Below is probably an unnecessary detailed breakdown, but maybe it will help someone in their planning.
I was fully aware of the condition of the resort after a year of research lurking these boards and all the other sources of info out there. Normally the pirate rooms are overpriced and far away from everything else, but for our stay it was fine for a few reasons. First were normal discounts we found and also pairing up with gift card promo deals and unused gift cards, so when all combined it made it about the same price as staying at a value resort. Second was the fact that Trinidad South is pretty well separated from the heavy construction in both sight and sound (except for driving past it to get in and out of the resort) even though we were basically not going to be at the resort while the parks were open. Third we had no plans to use any of the pools or temporary food and shopping areas. Fourth is a minor consideration and bonus in the actual theme of the pirate room, in that all 3 of us love everything Pirates of the Caribbean and the ride was still closed during our stay.
The first thing was 60 days before our arrival I did the online check-in and paid the full balance for our stay. About 45 days out I called up to make sure I had requests in for second floor priority and corner if possible. Before our plane even took off for MCO I already had an email and text that my room was ready with the room number so I could bypass the front desk. We rented a car from the airport so no Disney Magical Express to the front desk and then getting to the room by cart, bus, foot.
We landed and got our rental car at the airport, on the road to WDW by 7pm on Sunday 3/11. Made a quick stop at Winn Dixie near property to get some snacks for bags, easy breakfast stuff, bottled water, and beer (Sweetwater 420, yum). Since we weren't going to be using the food tent for breakfast our plan was quick bites in the room/car before doing rope drop, then a treat in the parks between lunch. Worked great for us all 3 mornings. We then drove over to the Poly beach to watch 8:55pm HEA and have dole whips. Finally got to our room around 11pm.
Rope drop Animal Kingdom for resort guest extra hours Monday 3/12, so out of the resort well before construction hours. We took the rental car and had resort guest free parking, which at that hour is way up front. Left the car in our spot and took the bus back to the room for a break for a couple hours mid day. Easy to find where to catch the CBR bus and waited 5 minutes for the on-time bus. A few stops at other buildings before ours wasn't an issue. No construction noise inside the room, or even outside, and we were on the north side of Trinidad South. Waited 5 minutes for the on-time bus back to Animal Kingdom. Dusk at Animal Kingdom, then a few hours at Hollywood Studios and Boardwalk before back to CBR for a stroll around quiet and peaceful Trinidad South.
Rope drop Epcot Tuesday 3/13 with regular morning hours but resort guest extra hours at night. Again up front for parking and using the bus for break mid day. The wait for the bus was 15 minutes and the 2 groups before us said they had been waiting about 10 after a couple minutes after walking up and chatting with them. Again quiet and barely notice other guests or construction outside around Trinidad South. Less than 5 minute wait for bus back to Epcot. After late hours at Epcot, then a payment of Magicband charges to the room at the Customs House, we did another stroll around Trinidad South and didn't see a guest or cast member.
Wednesday 3/14 we slept in a bit and didn't make the 8am regular rope drop. Automatic check-out with no balance after a visit the night before made it easy to park at the TTC and catch a Monorail or Ferry. Still ended up in and looking at floral Mickey and the beautiful Main Street Station before 9:30. No breaks until 1am and then said "see ya later" to WDW after a magical trip.
The crowds were extreme at the parks with prime Spring Break numbers while we had our stay at CBR, despite that it ended up being a nice reprieve with proper planning and expectations.