disney caribbean beach resort tips

Share your thoughts or any questions you have in the comments! Today, we’re stopping by the resort and giving you a look INSIDE one of the rooms. It would be nice if you also had a picture of the 4 person room too! Kids (and immature adults like me) would really enjoy “playing pirate” in its many forts, complete with authentic working (eh, probably) cannons. First and most importantly, the Disney Skyliner gondola. Is grocery delivery still available at this point, with all the new Covid restrictions? It’s all moot, as here’s how the rooms look now, post-refurbishment…. On the plus side, this will make you less likely to eat those instant-eggs and rubber-bacon! At 2 p.m. daily, there is a Jammin' Pool Party bash at the main pool located outside Old Port Royale. The newly reimagined Old Port Royale is the “port of entry” giving guests access to check-in, concierge services, hotel amenities, and dining. If you want an idea of just how good these projects went, check out our revised Polynesian v. Caribbean Beach Resort Comparison. This is huge, and the advantage it offers cannot be overstated. NEW 2021 Walt Disney World Package Offer with Extra Theme Park Days Added! Banana Cabana is the full-service poolside bar and if you saw it before its extensive refurbishment, you may not recognize it. Check out our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page, which offers quick-hit capsule reviews of the strengths and weaknesses of every Walt Disney World hotel, plus links to our reviews and photo pages for every hotel we have reviewed. I say part of me because that’s really a minor quibble, and there’s still plenty of island styling to fit the theme. The main pool features waterfalls, waterslides and water canons as well as a large children's play area. Not sure which Walt Disney World hotel is right for you? Caribbean Beach is the first Moderate resort Disney built, and it has larger rooms (340 sq ft vs 314 at other Moderates), so if a little extra space matters to you, that’s a good thing to know. The bus route flips depending on other bus traffic and driver preference. Getting to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs from CBR can still take some time due to the resort’s internal bus loop. Caribbean Beach Resort is a Moderate hotel at Walt Disney World with a tropical theme. What Would You Envision For Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary? Second, Disney’s Riviera Resort is now open, meaning construction on this new Disney Vacation Club property adjacent to Caribbean Beach is finished. This area is convenient to many guest rooms, whereas Custom House wasn’t convenient to anything. So happy they left the ceiling fan! So, What's Open and What's Not at Disney's BoardWalk? VIDEO: Disney's Bay Lake Tower 2 Bedroom Villa Room Tour! Rooms in other parts of the resort require a longer walk or use of the internal bus service to reach Old Port Royale. It's also important to mention that there are no elevators at this Resort. Those rooms look so nice! VIDEO: Are Wait Times at Magic Kingdom Accurate? Tip: If you’re driving, this is a great resort to go to as the parking pass to the theme parks can really come in handy. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Address: We were in Aruba and never really found the buses an issue at all. It used to be so pretty like an outdoor market and now looks very bland and less selection. Along with Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of the most sprawling resorts at Walt Disney World. Caregivers provide in-room services which include playing games, reading, and generally entertaining your kids. The biggest addition here is the sliding doors separating the sink area from the beds. And new dining options, although I have to say, I loved the old food court. Closer Look at Decor Coming to Cinderella Castle for 50th Anniversary, Main Street Confectionery Closing Soon for Refurbishment, VIDEO: Checking Out the 2021 Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Merch. In the center of Caribbean Beach Resort separating most of the guest room buildings from Old Port Royale is Barefoot Bay, a 45-acre lake. First, I’d be remiss […] Its rooms are divided into five brightly colored villages representing different areas of the Caribbean; Trinidad, Martinique, Barbados, Aruba, and Jamaica. Do you miss the old style of CBR? For official information on Walt Disney World. Keep the price difference between the two in mind when reading that; the Poly is at least double to triple the cost of Caribbean Beach! By all means take the Skyliner if you’re going to Hollywood or Epcot, but take your care to Animal Kingdom; you’ll beat the buses by a large margin. Double the Magic: How to be a Fan of Both Disney and Universal, New Food & Drink Items Coming to Disney Parks for St. Patrick's Day, 2021 Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Photo Gallery. Is the CBR food court open? NEW Important Requirements: Walt Disney World Resort® Reservations. The main pool and marina are located in this area as well. At Castaway Cay, enjoy a barbecue lunch, watersports, games and an adults-only beach. The in-room safe in these rooms is large enough to hold a 15" laptop. In addition to the design of the rooms totally changing, the beds changed, too. I was thinking about that too! Being a New Yorker, I’m no stranger to constant transfers when commuting. Although the rooms were gutted and totally redone during the last refurbishment a few years ago, they were mostly untouched during the more recent Old Port Royale re-imagining. Discover a unique blend of cultures, white-sand beaches and Disney family fun, with 3 delightful days at sea, a day at Disney Castaway Cay and stops in fabulous Caribbean ports of call. The inspiration for Disney’s Riviera Resort came from Walt and Lillian Disney’s travels throughout Europe and the Mediterranean coastline — … There are volleyball courts, bike rentals, and even 'movies under the stars' to keep you entertained on those days when you choose to relax at the resort. Moving to Orlando: Hot Listing! VIDEO: Is the Tatooine Two Suns Hummus from Backlot Express a Full Meal? Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort - Overview. This is an evening adventure cruise on Barefoot Bay where kids can investigate the mysteries of pirates of the past and experience an evening of immersive storytelling on this interactive boating scavenger hunt. At this station, passengers can transfer gondola routes to reach their destinations. Try it first before alt plans. The resort map you receive at check-in will indicate where they’re located. Of course the Skyliner itself makes the Caribbean one of, if not the best, of the Skyliner Resorts, at least as to where it sits on the Skyliner route, with not just one, and the main hub at that, but two Skyliner stations, sharing the Riviera’s station (whose closed building complex is Aruba in the CBR, not the Riviera). If those options are insufficient, you can have alcohol and food to prepare for breakfasts brought to you for a much cheaper price–see our Tips for Grocery Delivery at Walt Disney World post for more info. We had an amazing holiday, the rooms were clean and well equipped, the food was great and CM friendly, welcoming and everything you’d expect from the most magical place on Earth! Windermere Condo - $224k!! There’s a lot more depth to the room now, and it doesn’t feel cheaply done. This experience is available on Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to guests ages 10 to 16. VIDEO: Walt Disney World News & Discussion | 03/09/21, Disney World Swan and Dolphin Announce Spring Food & Wine Classic, Opening Dates Announced for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure & La Creperie. For current information and pricing on fishing excursions around Walt Disney World, click here. Even if you liked the “character” of the old room, I think there’s little contesting that the new rooms are at least of a higher quality now. Orlando: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Package with Walt Disney World® Tickets. Spyglass Grill is located in the Trinidad area of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. I stayed in Martinique at CBR last Christmas New Year when the resort was busy and we never found the bus route a problem. I’m staying at the Poly and have been reading reports of the pool being filled to the point they are not really safe all afternoon/evening–presumably because of a combination of the parks’ early closures, no water parks, opportunity for a “mask-free” activity, and lack of nighttime spectaculars. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Hidden Delectability of a Customized Disney Cake, VIDEO: Flame Tree Barbecue's Plant-Based Hot Link Smokehouse Sandwich. Disney Pixar 'Soul' Wins Two Golden Globe Awards, Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Map 2021, Moving to Orlando Home Tour: New Build | Lakeside at Hamlin. The Disney Skyliner main HUB is located at this resort. VIDEO: Is It Worth It? Should FastPass be Given a Return Time or Fade Gracefully into Disney History? At more than 200 acres, Disney's Caribbean Beach resort is the largest resort on Disney property. Anyone know the bus order? Concerts Returning to This Year's EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival! On the dining front, some good news is that during the resort re-imagining, Coke Freestyle machines and smaller ‘Island Marketplaces’ were added throughout the resort, and you should have one of these ~5 minutes from your room. You can not walk through Epcot to get to the monorail until Epcot opens. What about the spread out nature of the resort–is that a strength or a weakness for you? You can also enjoy a meal at Sebastian’s Bistro, a table service restaurant that offers waterfront dining next to the Banana Cabana outdoor bar and lounge. Spyglass Grill has upped the entertainment as a great place to “Skyliner” watch, as the cars go into and depart the main station. If you’ve read elsewhere that it’s in the Custom House, that info is outdated, as Custom House permanently closed years ago. That’s one plus for fans of the tranquil and serene atmosphere that CBR offers. Here’s a slightly wider look from the same vantage, this time with the pull-down bed under the television opened and the table visible. VIDEO: Is the Carrot Cake Cookie at Hollywood Studios Still One of the Greatest Snacks? You can read about those in our Caribbean Beach Resort Pirate Rooms Review (we do NOT recommend them). One of the biggest downsides of Caribbean Beach used to be that it’s a really spread out resort. As big fans of Caribbean Beach, we had a good amount of trepidation regarding the resort’s re-imagining, plus the additions of the Skyliner and Disney’s Riviera Resort. These rooms are in close proximity to Old Port Royale. VIDEO: Getting Ready for EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival! In this post, we’ll cover room recommendations based upon various priorities. The advantages of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort basically come down to three things. Saturday Snacks' 1st Birthday: Let's Make Hollywood Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake! That may not be ideal if you prefer the themes of Coronado Springs or the Port Orleans Resorts, but we think Caribbean Beach has more going for it than any other Moderate. The shuttle circles the resort and stops at Old Port Royale (food court, pool area, arcade, shopping) as well as Old Port Royale (check in). Within this tropical paradise, rooms are spread among 6 villages: Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica. Category: Moderate Have you tried Centertown Market, Banana Cabana, or Sebastian’s Bistro? As Walt Disney World Resort® reopens, Park attendance will be strictly managed through a new Park reservation system. Pirate-themed rooms are available at an additional charge of $35 to $50 per night over the cost of a standard room, depending on season. Sometimes they start at one “village”, and other times the cut through the bridge at the other end and begin on the opposite side. The Unsolved Mysteries of Barefoot Bay is for kids ages 10-16. Plus, all you favorite Disney and Star Wars characters! It’s now a very balanced hotel with a tremendous amount of upside: a diverse slate of restaurants, plenty of recreation options, beautiful grounds to enjoy, and efficient Skyliner transportation to Epcot and DHS. Open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. ft at Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, and Coronado Springs). Visit the updated Centertown Market for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and Calypso Trading Post for your shopping needs. VIDEO: Ryno's Favorite Things at Disney Springs! Reservations are recommended and can be booked by calling (407) WDW-PLAY. There is a separate Mobile Order pick-up window. Unfortunately, neither Spyglass Grill nor Sebastian’s Bistro will operate during he first phase of Caribbean Beach’s reopening–only Banana Cabana and Centertown Market will be open until further notice. Visiting Universal Orlando During Your Disney Trip: Come and Check It Out! It’s a nice feature in case someone wants to sleep while others are getting ready. Overall, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a very nice place to stay, especially if you enjoy the theme and the sprawling resort grounds. As you can see, it’s a pretty dramatic difference. The ‘update’ at Caribbean Beach was far more substantial than a standard refurbishment, and it was handled excellently, as you can read in our Photos & Thoughts: Re-Imagined Caribbean Beach Resort post. Room categories at the Caribbean Beach Resort are Standard View, Water View, King Bed, Preferred Room, Pirate theme room (Standard View) and Pirate Themed Room (Water view). Now $265 (Was $̶3̶9̶1̶) on Tripadvisor: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Orlando. For those who have stayed CBR in the last few weeks)… that seems like… a LOT haha. (Read our Skyliner Gondolas Review: Disney World’s Most Magical Flight on Earth for everything you need to know about this new transportation system.). Play hundreds of free online games including racing, action, dress up, escape, arcade, puzzle and brain games. Yes, they were bright and loud and not how I would decorate my own house. Looking for comprehensive Walt Disney World vacation tips? If you need the Murphy bed, be sure to request thst on your reservation; there are 5th Sleeper Standard, 5th Sleeper Water View, and 5th Sleeper Preferred categories available. Learn about updates at Disney Resort hotels during the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The hotel is themed after various islands, here called “villages” in the Caribbean and is easily recognized by its candy-colored buildings throughout the resort. Moving to Orlando: Market Update - Windermere! Don’t forget that you would have to go thru security at Epcot, walk all the way thru the front of the park which is currently under construction to get to the monorail. Images of New Moana-themed Rooms Coming to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Released! It also breaks up the walk across the huge lake. I’ve not stayed at CBR yet but I have to imagine the internal bus loop has to be shorter than what I just described. Caribbean Beach Resort is the hub for the Skyliner, with two stations offering access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot, plus Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts. Saturday Snacks: Making EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival's Warm Berry Buckle! Are you planning on staying at Caribbean Beach Resort now that the big re-imagining is finished? It is not possible to do that for rope drop. New Disney MagicMobile Service will Allow Smart Devices to Access Touchpoints, REVIEW: EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival's Froot Loops Shake, VIDEO: What We Took For Granted at Walt Disney World, VIDEO: Bungalow Room Tour! Find out what to know before you go, including changes to check-in, cleaning, transportation, recreation, amenities and more. Cayman Way A snack will be provided. Why Can't All Disney Guests Just Follow the Rules? Mickey for President: Top Five Disney World Spots to Celebrate Presidents' Day Weekend! (Like the glorious Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls with Guava Butter, Mango Chutney, and Jamaican Jerk Oil pictured above!). It’s not just my favorite room at any Moderate Resort now, it’s one of my favorite rooms in all of Walt Disney World. As Walt Disney World Resort® reopens, Park attendance will be strictly managed through a new Park reservation system. Running around the lake is a 1.4-mile path, with additional paths leading to all guest rooms. With a great refurbishment, then getting the TV upgrade as well, with its own restaurants plus those of the Riviera, and being Skyliner Central, the CBR shows that it has regained its prominence as the premiere moderate resort at WDW. Bus transportation to all Disney theme parks is available at several locations around the resort. Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunt Returning to EPCOT Later this Month, At Least 60 North American Disney Stores to Close Before Year-End. Number of Rooms: 2109 As is the case with all Walt Disney World on-site hotels, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is fully integrated in My Disney Experience, which means that guests receive MagicBands and more. A sliding barn-style door divides this section of the room from the sleeping area in the regular rooms; Pirate-themed rooms have a curtain. If this resort sounds good to you and you’re craving even more info, see our Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. ft. (versus 314 sq. The other advantage is the amenities Disney’s Riviera Resort offers. VIDEO: Moving to Orlando - Dream Finders Homes | Anna Maria Model. Park Hopping at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I foresee the pool being a BIG problem. VIDEO: LIMITED TIME Strawberry & Chocolate Swirl DOLE Whip | Did it melt our hearts? I’ve never stayed at CBR but heard about the busses being a pain. Skyliner Gondolas Review: Disney World’s Most Magical Flight on Earth, use Uber to get to and from those parks, and it costs $8-15 per trip, Caribbean Beach Resort Pirate Rooms Review, shot of Captain Barbossa and Jack the Monkey, Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The children's area is for children under 48" tall and has a number of water features including squirt hoses and water slides. For those adults who are more mature, you can always “play pirate” by chugging a bottle of rum and staggering around on one of the white sand beaches at Caribbean Beach Resort while bemoaning the fact that the rum is always gone. In fact, Caribbean Beach will be the only Moderate Resort operating for a few months. Your email address will not be published. Guests who do not have an advance Park reservation will be denied entry. Of interest, looking over things for spring, 2021 (May, June), there are presently only 2 moderate resorts available for booking: CBR and Coronado Springs. There is an Island Dance Party at 3 p.m. and a Caribbean Campfire on Fuentes del Morro Beach at 5 p.m. (all events are weather permitting). Due to the expansive size of this resort an internal shuttle bus is available to get around. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features popular American foods infused with classic Caribbean flavors. At 7 p.m. each night is the 'Movie Under the Stars" - located outside Old Port Royale next to the Banana Cabana. If we went to the bus stop (1 minute walk away from our room) and the expected wait was going to be more than 10 minutes we just caught a Lyft to MK or Animal Kingdom as they were so cheap and quick and especially great in the early mornings. All rooms have a flat screen television. Any idea when Disney plans to remove the carpet in the CBR rooms? Monday Merch: Muppets, MagicBands, Hydrangea Spirit Jersey & More! The Caribbean Beach Resort opened October 1, 1988 as Disney World’s first Moderate Resort. The rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort are slightly smaller than rooms at some of Disney's others at 300 sq. DVC Resale Market: Average Sales Prices for February 2021. VIDEO: Disney News - EPCOT Flower & Garden Menus, DCL Cancels Sailings, & More! There are also a number of pool-side games and activities including Bingo, What's in your beach bag, Disney trivia and more. If you can't do stairs, you'll want to request a first floor room. Caribbean Beach is the only Moderate Resort offering non-bus transportation to Walt Disney World’s theme parks. Since the internal bus loop is a pain to get to MK, I’m wondering whether it would be more time efficient to get the Skyliner to Epcot and then switch to the Monorail to MK? Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise is for children ages 4-12. This re-imagining was undertaken because Caribbean Beach Resort is the oldest of the Moderates, and there have been complaints that its facilities are beginning to show their age. VIDEO: Back at Regal Eagle Smokehouse for More Barbecue! The pool at Old Port Royale is pretty awesome. Jogging Trail - a jogging trail is located around the lake and is 1.4 miles long. For more info about the sister property to Caribbean Beach, consult our Disney’s Riviera Resort Review. Copyright © 1997-2021, Werner Technologies, LLC. However, the new Skyliner gondolas totally eliminate this issue when it comes to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are a total of 8 bus stops which are located outside Old Port Royale, across from Barbados (Building 33), in Trinidad between buildings 36 and 37, in Jamaica across the parking lot from building 44, in Aruba across from building 56, in Martinique across the parking lot from building 23, at Old Port Royale, and at the Disney Skyliner main HUB. Make your base at a boutique resort such as Tensing Pen or Rockhouse in Negril (both made the top 10 of this year's best Caribbean hotel rankings), and then explore the island's natural attractions. It seems like the perfect resort for a morning run…or racing around to photograph the sunrise, if you’re like me. Your guide will provide you with all the gear and tackle you may need during your fishing excursion—including a fishing rod and reel, … Here’s why…. REVIEW: Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew's Limited-time Sweet Heart Donut, Charles Boyer, Disney Legend and Master Illustrator, Passes Away, A Review of Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe's Newest Treat: Kransekake, Moving to Orlando: Kissimmee Townhome new build - $220k - 3 bed / 2.5 bath. Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai Creates a Special Lunar New Year Message, Important Tips (and a Little-Known Fact!) The counter service options include the Grab-n-Go shop which has pre-made sandwiches, baked goods, snacks, and drinks. Is there space under the beds for suitcases? Guests will be given a tracker to set on their table and their meals will be delivered to them. Art of Animation and Pop Century require a transfer for a total flight time of about 8-9 minutes. For Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, see the Moorea, Pago Pago, Tokelau, and Bora Bora buildings of our Disney's Polynesian Village Resort map. VIDEO: Disney News: Disneyland Reopening Possible April 1, Moana-themed Rooms, & More! The grounds are lush and beautiful, now has additional resources with the Riviera, which only serves to enhance a lineup that was substantially upgraded even before that DVC resort arrived. VIDEO: Disney News - Muppets, Brunch, Earnings Call & More! There are two sink basins outside the shower/commode allowing one person to get ready while another one showers. Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter have no scheduled reopening date, period. Are there microwaves available for use to heat up some food? A room that’s Poly-lite at a resort that’s a fraction of the cost of the Polynesian Village Resort is a great thing. NEW! There also are playgrounds, an arcade, volleyball, sand beaches, and other standard Moderate Resort amenities available at Caribbean Beach Resort. We absolutely love this counter service spot for both breakfast and lunch/dinner. It would be nice if you included pics of the rooms that sleep 4. Between the new dining, other amenities, and this gondola transportation, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has some of the same selling points as Deluxe Resorts. There are a total of 6 pools at the Caribbean Beach Resort, with the main pool - Fuentes del Morro - located outside Old Port Royale. VIDEO: 2021 Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Otherwise, everything is the same.). 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In other words, if you have a Walt Disney World vacation booked with a Moderate Resort stay between now and the remainder of 2020, even if you’re booked elsewhere, there’s a very good chance you’ll be moved to Caribbean Beach. Thanks to the Skyliner, there is now also a novel and efficient mode of transportation between CBR and two parks. VIDEO: Cherry Dole Whip at Storybook Treats | Disney Dining Quick Take, Disney Resort Reviews: Tell Us About Your Recent Stay at Disney World, REVIEW: EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival's Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon Bread, A Hit and a Miss at Flower & Garden Festival's Flavor Full Outdoor Kitchen, VIDEO: Visiting an Empty Blizzard Beach + Flower & Garden Event. Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge