Hi Donna,
The
Caribbean Beach Resort is a great resort to stay in! I loved my last stay there and the kids loved the main pool area!
The resort is relatively large as there are 2112 rooms in over 30 2-story buildings. Old Port Royale, also known as Centertown, is the main activities area. There's a food court, table service restaurant, arcade, and shopping available there. That's also where you will find the large Spanish fort themed pool. Preferred rooms are closer to Old Port Royale.
Whether it is worth it to stay in a preferred room depends on your preferences. A lot of guests like to be close to the main area; my family especially likes to be close to the food court and the main pool. Some guests like to be far away so that they can feel more secluded; they don't mind the walk, which can be about 15 to 20 minutes away at the farthest point depending on how fast you walk. If you are using Disney transportation, there are bus stops at various locations throughout the resort. There are also smaller pools at various location as well.
Whatever you chose, you can't go wrong with a stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Have a magical vacation and write back if you have any more questions!