Have stayed in both, and yes the suites are laid out very similar.
- ES will be newer, and rooms probably more fresh
- ES includes one of the best breakfast buffets we've ever had, and that saves us money as we will then skip lunch for an early dinner
- ES has a managers reception in evening if you plan to be there at all then
- Hilton Honors Points
- CR has a great pool area with slide and waterfall
- Much larger fitness center, spa/salon
- Stash Rewards Points
- More in house dining options
- They are equally good locations for getting to the parks
CR is a much larger resort than ES, but if I had to choose I'd likely go with ES. You can't go wrong with either one and the suites are similar in what you get.
ES has grocery across street (we do save some money that way) and variety of restaurants right around it (Caribe you have to drive). We don't spend much time at the pool, so the ES suites quiet pool is fine for us. We found by time we got back from parks even though the Caribe pool was open they had closed the slide. We love the breakfast buffet, it saves us at least $60 a day in breakfast costs plus the lunch we won't need. I like going through the lobby having hotel staff right there for us, at Caribe once checked in we never saw lobby again and rarely saw any staff. And we are Hilton people, so I prefer their points.