Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Welcome to the Islands! That is how we were greeted when we made our way to the Caribbean Beach Resort! This resort is BIG and COLORFUL. Nestled in the Epcot and Hollywood Studios area of Walt Disney World. Caribbean Beach Resort is the first Disney Moderate resort built in 1988, it boost 6 villages, all with Caribbean island-themed names.

We just had our first stay at Caribbean Beach Resort. Since we are DVC, we mostly stay at Disney Vacation Club Villas. However, when you want to add an extra day or two, we will stay at a value or moderate resort to experience all the different resorts that Disney has to offer. For our room tour click here!

We did a two-night stay at Caribbean beach. We were counted as a 5+1. Ones are infant times three years old will no longer be able to stay in these rooms. So we’re really trying to knock them out before then. We picked Caribbean Beach because of the access to the Skyliner. Our first two parks days were Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and this resort was great for access to those parks. (Con: The access to MK and Animal Kingdom is not great from this resort, so it would be a good resort if you are doing a split stay like us!)

If you don’t know what 5+1 means, it means five people in the room, and the plus one can be a Disney infant, and a Disney infant is any child under the age of three. She technically does not count as an extra body, although we include her in the reservation for occupancy.

This resort has a lot to offer. There have been many changes in the last five years. So if you have not been back since then and did not have the best experience at this resort, let me tell you why it is now an excellent choice for a moderate resort.

Room

For our DVC spoiled children, the room felt very small. It is your stand motel-style room, with entry from outside. But in actuality, it was a pretty good size for what we needed. If you are staying at a moderate resort, you will most likely be at the park with maybe rest periods in the room and one rest day. This room is perfect for that. It has enough space for everyone to sleep, and a little table for eating. The 5th sleeper is ideal for kids ten and under; it is not quite a twin bed in length. But I did pass out on it with my daughter and slept there half the night, but I am only 5’1’!

We stuck our luggage behind the door, there is a perfect nook there. There are also vending machines and ice machines in every village.

Because of how large the resort is, there are preferred room areas. Jamaica is closer to the sky-liner. You can stay in a village closer to the big pool and request whatever you feel you need. It took me 17 minutes to walk from one end of the resort to the other. 

Also, Caribbean Beach has themed pirate rooms that you can book, with ship beach and pirate-themed artwork. 

Con: This is a BIG one. This resort does not have elevators! So if you have littles and plan on having a stroller, be sure to resort to a 1st-floor room. Also, if you need a handicap-accessible room or a scooter, be sure to get that 1st-floor room.  Also if does not have a true mini fridge it has a cooler box that gets down to 41 degrees.

Pools

Pro: There are six different villages here. Each village has its own small quiet pool nestled within the village, and then there is Fuentes del Morro the Spanish Fort themed the big pool at Old Port Royale with a ship splash pad for the littles to match. So they were plenty of places to swim on those rest days.

Con: The quiet pools usually do not have a lifeguard and sometimes do not have towel service like the bigger pool.

Dining

Pro: You not only have your food court Centertown Market which you can mobile order, which we appreciated since we stayed here with my best friend, so we were a group of 11. It also has Centertown grab-and-go snack station, which was great if you were in a rush to get to the parks by wrote drop. You have Sebastian‘s Bistro currently available for Dinner. The menu provides a taste of the Caribbean. Your pool side bar Banana Cabana is your walk-up pool bar with outdoor seating and a limited food menu. There is also a quick service location on the property. As of Feb 2022, it has yet to reopen, but Spyglass Grill provides another eating option on the Caribbean Beach property. 

There’s also a Joffrey‘s coffee on the way to walk into the Skyliner. In addition, you are now walking distance from the Riviera resort, Fun Fact: where the Riviera‘s located was actually part of the beach club resort; I had no idea until I talked to a cast member while I was staying at the resort. 

The Rivera Resort has a beautiful quick service Primo Piatto, Bar Riva, Le Petit Café, and our favorite Topolino’s Flavors of the Rivera! Currently the best Character meal breakfast at Walt Disney World. 

Con: Honestly, when it comes to a con, I can’t think of any for food. 

Transportation

Pro: You are one of the hubs of the Skyliner, so that gives you direct access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Which made it a perfect location for our first two parties as those are the two parts we tackle first when taking our friends on their first trip to Walt Disney World. We even cut through to the Rivera Skyliner hub because it was less busy than the one closest to Caribbean Beach since the Rivera is a short walk. We love traveling in the Skyliner, and you do not have to break down your single strollers, so that is a plus.

Con: The buses are Caribbean Beach are TERRIBLE. This resort is huge; there are seven inner stops. So if you are waiting on a bus to get you to the Skyliner hub, you may be waiting up to 30 minutes. Then let's talk access to MK and Animal kingdom. Pre-covid, you could take a bus directly to MK and Animal Kingdom. As the parks are completely open and the resorts are filling up, I hope they bring this back. But as of our Jan 2022 trip, there were no direct busses to MK or AK. Luckily, we were transferring to Jambo House, so it did not matter, but just make sure you have your transportation needs before staying at Caribbean Beach. There is also the option to walk to the Rivera and use their buses too!

Final Thoughts…

So here is why we would stay here again. Until our youngest is 3, we can be considered a 5+1! The price was great, around $300 a night plus tax in Jan 2022. Although we are a military family, this is no longer included in one of the discounted resorts, so we may look to one of those first for availability.

This is a great option if we just need a place to lay our heads if we are going to Epcot or HS and cannot get a room at Boardwalk (ONE OF OUR FAVORITES).

Also, Art of Animation is a value resort and you may be thinking why we wouldn’t stay there as they have access to the Skyliner and the Family suites would give us more room. But they only have a food court. It is nice to have all the dining options at CB. 

Lastly, if we were doing another split stay, this is a great resort for that when you are specifically going to Epcot & Hollywood Studios. I would not stay at Caribbean Beach Resort for my entire trip, mainly because we are DVC members, and we do not go to parks every day and really enjoy things the Deluxe resorts have to offer. However, we did like the resort, and they have PLENTY to do here from Caribbean Cay, bike rental, volleyball pits, jogging trails, fishing, and movie under the stars.  

This resort can definitely now compete with the other moderate resorts!

Ratings:

Resort Classification: Moderate

Restaurants/Food Options: 9/10

Hotel Theme: 10/10

Disney Theming: 5/10

Cleanliness: 8/10

Space: 4/10

Pool: 6/10

Kids Activities: 6/10

Transportation: 6/10

Size of Resort: 4/10

Location: Epcot/HS Area