Caribbean Beach Construction Update
It has been given many pet names: “The place where dreams come true *contractors go to retire*”, “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Construction”, and my favorite “annoying”. The construction at Walt Disney World Resort has taken on such a persona of its own in recent months that it and of itself could almost be considered an attraction! Between the Parks and the Resorts and new buildings and roadways, keeping it all straight is a full time job…especially the Caribbean Beach construction!
Lucky for you, it practically is my full time job! On a recent visit to the Resort, I took a day to drive to the Resorts in question (read: resorts under construction) to check on the progress. From new DVC buildings to Skyliner updates, here is everything you need to know about the construction happening at Caribbean Beach Resort!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The brand-new lobby debuted this month and the adjacent Sebastian’s Bistro began feeding hungry Resort guests just a few days after. I won’t name names, but I read two articles about the ‘completed Caribbean Beach’ and ,to put it mildly, those articles were plain misinformed. I visited after the lobby was re-opened, and let me tell you, the construction is still very much underway.
A brand-new DVC building is in the process of being erected, and it’s far from complete! When finished, Disney’s Riviera Resort is slated to open in late 2019 with 300+ DVC-style units (think villas and multi-room spreads). So far, the construction progress photos look to be on-par with the artist-created renderings…and lots of folks aren’t pleased.
I can’t really blame the die-hard fans of Caribbean Beach who have spoken out on their dislike of the new building’s style. Right now, the Resort consists of low-lying, traditional Caribbean-style buildings that truly match with the Resort’s original theming and concept. Will the new building change the entire skyline of Caribbean Beach as we know it?
The answer is; yes…but maybe not in a bad way. Think about it: is there ever a time when The Walt Disney Company announced something, anything new, that wasn’t met with backlash and premature critics? I can’t think of a single example, and if we simply judge Disney on what they have done in the past, I don’t think any fears or reservations are rational here! When Disney does something, they do it right!
Skyliner
It will likely be the last to be completed of the Skyliner stops, but that doesn’t mean construction isn’t already well underway! The uprights have been popping up next to major highways and near the entrances to the Parks, and judging from the number already in place, the Skyliner is well on its way to being completed on time!
When opened, Caribbean Beach’s new Riviera Resort will be one of the featured stops on the Skyliner tour. If you were one of the folks wondering if the stop would be centrally located to all of Caribbean Beach Resort (like near the check-in), the answer to that question is a big ‘no’. So far, the uprights in place for the Skyiner are strictly being erected in the area around Riviera Resort. Check out the above map for a better idea!
DVC
Vacation Club members will have the choice of not one, not two, but three new high-rise style buildings to choose from in the coming years. With construction well underway over at Coronado Springs and approved plans for a new DVC high-rise at Fort Wilderness, DVC members will have no shortage of choices when booking future vacations!
In total, there will be HUNDREDS, if not thousands of new rooms and villas available for DVC members when all the construction is completed…woah! They tend to know what they’re doing, but is Disney biting off more than they can chew with the addition of so many rooms so quickly? Only time will tell, but I would wager a bet that we’ll see these new high-rise buildings available for bookings for non-DVC members not long after their openings. What do you think?
Are you planning on booking a Disney vacation for you and your family? I’d love to help! You can find me over on Facebook, or contact me directly at msalerno@mickeytravels.com, or 800-308-6257
