There are over two dozen Disney Resorts at Walt Disney World. That makes it hard to decide which one is right for you. Luckily, there’s literally a resort that meets everyone’s lifestyle. If budget is your main concern, you will find resorts of all price ranges to choose from. If you want to stay at a more sophisticated, grown-up resort, there’s something for you. Maybe your main concern is to stay at resorts within walking distance to the theme parks. There’s even resorts to meet that criteria.
Better yet, whenever you stay on-site, you get a list of Disney resort perks that will make your vacation so much better. These perks are just part of the reason why the MouseHouseNews.net team recommends you stay in the Disney bubble. From the Early Theme Park Entry to the free Disney transportation and more, the value of these perks is simply immeasurable.
Welcome to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
The team at MouseHouseNews.net recently stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach so we can let you know what to expect if you plan to stay here. We’ve already shared some of the reasons you’ll love Caribbean Beach, but now we’re giving you the full picture.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a moderate-level resort at Walt Disney World. That means that you are getting a little bit more amenities than you get with the Value-level resorts such as Disney’s All-Star Resorts, but with a higher price tag. This tropical resort brings laid-back island vibes right to Walt Disney World with colorful villages, sandy beaches, swaying hammocks, and calypso rhythms playing throughout the property.
Island Theming
There are five island-themed villages that comprise Caribbean Beach Resort:
- Jamaica
- Aruba
- Martinique
- Barbados
- Trinidad
Every section has its own colorful paint scheme inspired by the islands. Palm trees, beaches, calypso rhythms, and waterfront paths really sell the tropical atmosphere. At the center of the resort is Barefoot Bay, a large body of water surrounded by twenty-four guest room buildings spread throughout those five villages. Having said that, it’s no wonder that Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of the largest resorts on Walt Disney World property.
Guest Rooms
The guest rooms in 18 of the 24 buildings are very similar. It is that room type that we are reviewing, as they comprise nearly 75% of the rooms on property. The rooms that are slightly different are located in the Trinidad village… those rooms are themed to The Little Mermaid.
The rooms all have exterior doors with a window that looks out onto a shared walkway. Inside the room, you can expect either two queen beds or one king bed. Some rooms have a fifth-sleeper, which is a convertible wall-mounted bed that folds down under the television. The rooms are fairly updated, having undergone a soft-goods refresh, painting, and flooring replacement in 2023. You will find a small table with two chairs in the room, perfect for enjoying a meal or small snack.
Comfort/Entertainment
There is a Cuisinart one-cup coffee maker with some Joffrey’s/Disney Resort Blend coffee, tea, sugar, creamer, and coffee cups/lids. There is also a beverage cooler in each room. A large dresser and clothes rod with hangers await you so you can unpack your wardrobe and stay a while. There is also an iron and ironing board in case you need them. You will find an ice bucket in case you want to grab some ice from one of the resort’s ice machines. Finally, to keep you entertained, there is a large smart television that does have casting capabilities. Here are the resort TV channels.
One thing that you won’t find at a lot of Disney resort rooms is the presence of a ceiling fan. The rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort have one!
Convenience
There are a number of plug outlets and USB charging ports in the rooms, but not as much as we’ve seen in many newer resorts. You will find most of them in the dresser and nightstand units. However, there are no side tables/shelves for the beds other than the one nightstand. Usually those extra shelves also add more charging capabilities for your devices. Also missing from these rooms are the built-in reading lights in the bed headboards.
In case you have valuables that you want to keep locked up while you’re out of the room, there is a large safe in the room. You can easily keep a 16″ laptop locked in this safe with room to spare.
Bathroom
The bathroom comes with dual sinks, which definitely helps when it is time to get ready in the morning and wind down at night. The sink area is separated from the toilet/shower. You will find toiletries such as hand soap and lotion in pumps on the sink, as well as a bar of soap and a soap dish. There is also tissue, extra towels, and a hair dryer. For those who need to touch up their makeup, you will find a magnifying mirror mounted to the wall.
Our bathroom had a combination bathtub/shower with a shower curtain, and the body wash, shampoo, and conditioner were wall-mounted.
Caribbean Beach Resort Amenities
Old Port Royale is the hub of all activities at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. It is where you will find Bell Services, the check-in desks, the gift shop, the feature pool, and a number of dining locations.
Bell Services
Bell Services can help you with your bags, whether you need to store them because your room’s not ready yet or if you need help getting your bags to your room. They do have vans to help transport you and your bags to your room if you’d like. You don’t see that at many Disney resorts, but not many are the size of Caribbean Beach! Here, it’s a real convenience for them to have this service.
Check-in Desks
You will find the check-in desks and concierge area to the left when you walk into the front of Old Port Royale. This is where you can get information on your reservation or ask for assistance. Caribbean Beach Resort does offer Online Check-in on the My Disney Experience app like other Disney Resorts, so you may be able to skip this area if you have used that feature.
Calypso Trading Post
The merchandise store at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is Calypso Trading Post. You will find resort-specific souvenirs, general Disney World gifts, over the counter medicines and those popular Disney pins. We’ve also found some unique Disney Skyliner merch that you won’t find in a lot of places here, so you’ll definitely want to check it out!
Centertown Market
Centertown Market is the resort’s main quick-service location where you will go for your full-service meals. Here, you can find items such as pizzas, burgers, hot sandwiches, chicken strips, Caribbean-inspired dishes and rice bowls, etc. They also have a number of beverage refill stations including a number of Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. Mobile ordering is available at Centertown Market, so be sure to use that feature in the My Disney Experience app to cut down on your wait time.
If your room happens to be located in the Trinidad village, you will have a quick-service location called Spyglass Grill right there in your village. This will be much more convenient for you than Centertown Market would be.
Centertown Market Grab & Go
You can get some quick items like pastries, baked goods, candy, frozen novelties, beverages, and those Disney Rapid Fill resort refillable mugs at Centertown Market Grab & Go. If you need something quick, you’ll probably find it here.
Fuentes del Morro Pool
Fuentes del Morro Pool is the feature pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. This Spanish-fortress-themed pool has a zero-entry side and two water slides! If that’s not fun enough for you, maybe you’ll like the water cannons. However, if all of that activity is too much for you, you can lounge in one of many chairs that line the perimeter.
If you are looking for a quieter pool, you can find a quiet pool in each village.
Banana Cabana
Banana Cabana is the poolside bar located right next to the Fuentes del Morro pool. The menu includes tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, appetizers, and a small selection of food items like Jerk Chicken sandwiches and Cuban sandwiches. It’s a popular place to relax in the afternoon while enjoying the pool area. The colorful outdoor seating and island music really give it a beach-bar feel.
Sebastian’s Bistro
Sebastian’s Bistro is the resort’s table-service restaurant and one of the more underrated dining spots at Walt Disney World. The restaurant serves Caribbean-inspired dishes with a family-style menu that brings several courses right to your table. Guests will find flavors influenced by island cuisine here. It’s a relaxed and colorful restaurant that fits perfectly with the laid-back vibe of the resort.
Caribbean Cay
In the middle of Barefoot Bay, you will find an island called Caribbean Cay. You can reach it by walking across bridges from several directions around the bay.
Caribbean Cay features a playground, shaded seating areas, and some great views across the water. It’s a quiet place to relax and is often much less crowded than other parts of the resort. As long as it is not too hot outside, it is a great place to work. Just be aware that there are no plug outlets for your laptop out there.
If you’re staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach, it’s definitely worth taking a stroll over to check out Caribbean Cay.
Resort Recreation
When it comes to recreation, Disney’s Caribbean Beach has you covered. There are self-guided nature walks around Barefoot Bay, Movie Under The Stars on select nights, seashell painting, and a Caribbean Campfire. You can also participate in their Find A Friend scavenger hunt (you’ll be looking for Sebastian!).
One of the more unique activities at Caribbean Beach is the Purple Martin Nest Checks. That is part of Disney’s commitment to help improve nesting habitats for purple martins, which are migratory songbirds.
Transportation
One of the biggest benefits of staying at Caribbean Beach Resort is transportation. There are two options for free Disney transportation from Caribbean Beach. First, there’s the Disney buses.
Disney Buses
Disney buses will take you to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the Disney water parks. There is a bus stop centrally located in each village as well as at Old Port Royale. Because of this, it is important to point out that you can hop on a bus from your village’s bus stop to get to Old Port Royale. That is a hack that you will want to remember. You don’t always have to walk to get to Old Port Royale. Just realize that there may be a few stops before you get to Old Port Royale, so allow some extra time.
Disney Skyliner
But what if you’re trying to go to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios? You’re in luck, because this resort is also served by the free Disney Skyliner. In fact, Caribbean Beach Resort is the hub station for the Skyliner system!
That means that from here you can hop on one Skyliner route that takes you directly to EPCOT after a quick stop for loading at Disney’s Riviera, or you can hop on another Skyliner route that takes you directly to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There is also a third Skyliner route that will take you to Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
While there is no issue most of the time, the Skyliner will close for inclement weather such as extreme winds and lightning in the area. During those times, buses will be provided from the resort to the Skyliner destinations.
Why Caribbean Beach Resort Is Controversial
Because Caribbean Beach Resort has one of the largest footprints of any resort at Walt Disney World, there are a lot of scenic walking paths, secluded nooks, and quiet areas around the water which many guests absolutely love.
The Size
However, like a double-edged sword, the size of this resort is also one of the most common complaints from guests. Ask them, and they will say that bigger isn’t always better. If you just racked up tens of thousands of steps in a theme park, the last thing you want is to significantly add steps just to get back to your room.
No Elevators
Another thing to be aware of: There are no elevators at Caribbean Beach Resort. Therefore, if anyone in your traveling party has mobility issues and cannot use stairs, this is probably not the right resort for you. While a request can be made for a first floor room, a request is just that: a request. That means there’s no guarantee that there will be availability to grant that request.
Internal Bus Loop
Also, the resort operates an internal bus loop that stops at several villages before heading to the theme parks. Depending on the village where your room is located, that bus loop can add a little extra travel time to your trip (on the front end and/or your return trip).
Summary
While opinions about Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort can be polarizing, it all depends on what you want out of your vacation and your resort. This resort is one of the team’s favorite moderate resorts, and Disney Adults who want a resort that reinforces vacation vibes will enjoy this one. Just be sure that you don’t walk until your feet fall off in the theme parks, as you’ll need to do a little bit of walking when you get back to the resort as well.
If you have read this far, you are probably interested in booking a room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in the future. When you start looking to quote your Disney vacation, I’d love to help you. I am a Travel Advisor and I use my expert knowledge of Disney vacations to help everyone who books their vacation with me. There is no additional cost to book a trip with me. Just click/tap the button below to visit my travel site and reach out to me from there!
MouseHouseNews.net will continue to bring you the latest Disney Vacation News and Reviews For Disney Adults. For more Disney World content, be sure to subscribe to the MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube channel as well.
