Top Reasons for a Caribbean Beach Resort Stay!
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The very first time I stayed onsite at Walt Disney World was twenty years ago and we stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort. There have been many trips since then and many different resort stays. While I have favorites in every category and I’m not sure I could truly pick an absolute favorite resort, there are a lot of great reasons to book a stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. We love all of the moderate resorts but in this category, Caribbean Beach is definitely the one my whole family agrees on!
A few years ago, the Caribbean Beach Resort went through a massive renovation that took nearly two years to complete. This grand reopening after renovation was the perfect boost the resort needed before the new Skyliner opened offering a whole new transportation option.
There are a few things that may be considered negative about Caribbean Beach Resort so I want to address those up front!
Capacity - The first is that the capacity for rooms at this resort is 4 or 5. There are fifth sleeper rooms but the fifth sleeper is a trundle bed for a child so you may need to keep that in mind if you have a family of more than four.
Size of the Resort - One of the complaints I often see in social media groups about Caribbean Beach Resort is the size of the resort and it is quite large. I actually like the space of this resort so this isn’t a negative for my family but I know some families do not want to have a long walk or multiple bus stops at the end of the day when they return from the parks. With the Skyliner on one end, the main building of Old Port Royale somewhat centrally located, and seven bus stops through out the resort, there is a lot of land to cover.
Themed rooms are outdated - There are Pirate themed rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort which should offer some more appeal but these rooms were not included in the renovations. The two beds are only full beds and shaped as pirate ships. Unfortunately, the rooms have become dated and few guests want to pay more for a room with full beds that are dated as opposed to renovated rooms with queen beds. I can’t blame them!
I know these three points can be deal breakers for some families but they don’t impact others or the benefits way outweigh the negatives!
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s jump right in to the top reasons we love Caribbean Beach and think it’s a great option for a resort stay. I won’t rank the things we love about this resort in any order because I think it really comes down to personal preference and what is important to your family. There are some great reasons to choose this resort though!
Skyliner - This alone has definitely increased the popularity of the Caribbean Beach Resort. Transportation from the resort to either Hollywood Studios or Epcot along with stops at several other resorts offers a unique transportation benefit to this resort than any of the other resorts in the moderate category. Transportation around Walt Disney World is important and having options other than buses can be a great selling point on where you want to stay!
Proximity to Riviera Resort - The newest resort at Walt Disney World is a deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resort, the Riviera Resort. This beautiful resort is next door and within walking distance or a short skyliner trip away. One of the most popular restaurants in Walt Disney World right now, Topolino’s Terrace, is located in the Riviera Resort. It is one of my family’s favorite breakfast spots. (Watch for a new blog coming soon all about breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace!)
Resort Theming - The caribbean theming at this resort is stunning. Sandy beaches, hammocks in palm trees, brightly colored villages named after regions of the Caribbean all make up a part of the ambience of this resort.
Running trails - Honestly, I confess that I am not a runner. I mean, I’ve been known to chase down my share of toddlers over time but running just for the exercise or even just for the fun of it is not one of my strengths. However, there is a great trail around the Caribbean Beach Resort and I know it’s quite popular with those who are much less klutzy or much more athletic than I am!
Food, delicious food - Every resort has dining options, food courts, quick shops, or table service restaurants. Some are better than others. Caribbean Beach was definitely upgraded in dining options after the renovations! Centertown Market is the food court at Caribbean Beach and the menu has improved greatly in the past couple of years. There are many menu items with Caribbean flair. Sebastian’s Bistro is a great table service option with casual dining. The all new Spyglass Grill offers dining options for those guests staying further away from Centertown Market and Sabastian’s Bistro giving them a dining option on that end of the resort.
Free Style Coke Machines - I know this sounds like a silly thing to include in our list but it was an important addition on behalf of my children. Those refillable mugs can save your family some money especially if your family drinks soda. My children do not though - in fact, they don’t even like soda. (Shocking, right?) They do like lemonade, different flavors of Hi-C and powerade though. The freestyle machines give them a lot of options that they don’t have at resorts with just basic soda machines and they love this about the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Banana Cabana - This dining location offers a walk up bar along with a great menu for something quick to eat. Located near the main pool area, it can be a popular spot to visit!
Six Pools! - There are six pools throughout the Caribbean Beach Resort which means you have a lot of pool choices during your stay. The main pool, Fuentes del Morro, offers two waterslides, one of which is 102 feet long!
Shipwreck Splash Area - You may not be able to get your little ones away from the splash and play area near the Fuentes del Morro pool! Mini slides and a crows nest will make this play area a blast of fun.
Movies Under The Stars - I know, I know - this isn’t really special to the Caribbean Beach Resort since all of the resorts offer movies under the stars but it is a fun away to spend the evening at your resort so we are mentioning it anyway.
Have you stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort? What did you like about this location? Share your comments below!
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Traveling with Kids? Read all about the Epcot Kidcot Stations here!
Spring is a great time to visit Epcot just in time for the Flower and Garden Festival.
