Resort Review: Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is one of the Moderate Resorts onsite, and is located near Epcot. It is my favorite Disney Resort when it comes to theme, location, and value.

The Caribbean Beach Resort is very large, and requires a bit of walking to get around. The main pool and the food court is located in one central spot, but may be a hike, depending on your room location. Rooms are situated in two story buildings with exterior entrances. There is no elevator service to get the the second story, but there is bellhop service if you can't handle the luggage on the stairs. Each cluster of buildings is set around the lake is themed according to a Caribbean Island (such as Aruba or Jamaica). There's a fun little island in the middle of the lake, with the light hearted spirit of the Pirates of the Caribbean.

A Moderate Resort, of course, lacks some of the amenities of the more expensive Deluxe Resorts, such as interior hallways, full service dining, and monorail and bus transportation. But when you consider that the Caribbean Beach Resort is half the price of the average Deluxe Resort, it is a great choice for folks who want a bit of Disney magic without the hefty surcharge.

Accomodations
Rooms are wonderfully themed. There are two double beds (not queen sized), and there's a table with two chairs for dining. Disney will guarantee connecting rooms for families with children in case you need the extra space. The bathroom is a standard toilet - shower/tub configuration with the sink area just outside the door. There's also a coffee maker and mini fridge.

Recreation and Dining
The main pool is very popular, and gets quite crowded and loud in the early evenings. The pool's theme is that of an old Spanish Fort on some Caribbean island, and the cannons pour forth liquid ice "smoke," much to the kids' delight. There's a fun slide off the fort, and some other elements worth exploring. The pools within each building cluster are standard looking pools, so they tend to be less popular (and also much quieter!).

Old Port Royale is the name of the main pool and food court complex. There's a poolside bar outside, and inside you'll find the food court, souvenir shop, and a sit-down restaurant. I've read criticisms about the food court not being adequate, but I don't think they were any slower or more crowded than any food court I've seen in a deluxe resort. There's plenty to choose from on the menus -- such as pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, and roasted chicken.

Shutters at Old Port Royale is the sit-down restaurant and offers American-Caribbean selections. The food here is quite tasty and a good choice if you want something a couple of notches above the food court quality. The atmosphere is relaxing and family friendly. I just wish they'd offer a breakfast menu as well, so those who like to start their mornings off with a hearty breakfast have that option.

Transportation
Each building cluster has a bus stop to take you to any of the theme parks, water parks, or Downtown Disney. If you want to go directly to another resort, you may have to connect buses. To get to the bus stop, you must cross the parking lot. Unlike the Deluxe Resorts, there is no monorail or boat transportation at the Caribbean Beach Resort. However, you can use any and all of Disney's transportation system to get around the World.

 

 

Resort Reviews