Nine Reasons We Love Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Perhaps no Walt Disney World hotel has improved more in recent years than Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Management upgraded the facilities, improved the logistics, and thereby elevated the hotel’s perception.
This property is now in the conversation for the best Moderate Tier hotel.
Here are nine reasons we love Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
The Theme
Something I love about Wal Disney World involves a brilliant strategy.
Many years ago, Walt Disney recognized that guests wanted to combine several vacations in one location.
Disneyland possesses many themed lands for this reason. However, after his death, Walt Disney World planners expanded the premise.
The various Orlando resorts represent different kinds of vacations. You can embrace your love of beaches or pop culture or Europe.
Each hotel’s theme embodies a beloved getaway premise.
At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, you’ll leave Orlando behind, taking a tour of the islands.
The tropical theme permeates through the campus, with hotel buildings overlooking the water.
The Islands
To enhance the theme even further, Disney has separated these hotel buildings into islands.
For international travelers, this decision breeds a certain familiarity.
In the past, you’ve debated whether to vacation in Barbados, Trinidad, or Aruba, or Jamaica.
Imagineers have themed its “islands” as those countries, giving each building unique touches to differentiate it.
As such, Caribbean Beach Resort is one of the few Orlando hotels where each stay varies somewhat.
Pirate Rooms
In fact, you can even book a unique room type at Caribbean Beach.
These Pirate Rooms only cost a few dollars more than standard ones. However, kids and Pirates of the Caribbean fans will adore them.
The décor in these rooms ties back to the attraction, with remarkably thoughtful features.
The sitting area table includes a nautical compass, while the “TV stand” doesn’t just look like a box of crates. It IS a box of crates.
The hanging lights mimic lanterns from Pirates of the Caribbean dark ride sets and movies.
Image Credit: Disney
Perhaps the best aspect of the theming involves the beds. You’ll sleep on a ship in your Pirate Room!
The beds feature ship-like structures, curving at the ends. Instead of a headboard, you’ll find a ship masthead.
Even your pillows will rest just beneath the ship’s steering wheel.
Yo, Ho! It’s a pirate’s life for you when you stay in this room type, which every Disney fan should do at some point.
The Location
On official maps of the Walt Disney World campus, you’ll find Caribbean Beach listed as an EPCOT resort.
Photo: MagicalNewsLIVE
In truth, from a logistics perspective, it’s closer to Disney’s Hollywood Studios than any other hotel.
Caribbean Beach nearly splits the difference between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
The hotel campus resides north of the Chinese Theatre and south of the World Showcase.
Historically, the logistics here weren’t great. Disney didn’t offer a direct path from Caribbean Beach to either park.
Buses took the most direct routes that they could, but it took longer due to the odd location.
Thankfully, Imagineers invented a solution that has turned Caribbean Beach’s location into the gem it always should have been.
Disney Skyliner
Yes, I’m talking about the Disney Skyliner, the gondola system that transports guests across Walt Disney World.
Photo: Disney
Caribbean Beach hosts the central station for The Disney Skyliner, making it the main hub of the entire system.
You can ride to three different Disney resorts and both theme parks in the area.
Yes, you can skip the bus entirely at Caribbean Beach, at least on Hollywood Studios and EPCOT park days.
A gondola will carry you to the front gate of Hollywood Studios or the International Gateway at EPCOT’s World Showcase.
The Disney Skyliner has turned Caribbean Beach into one of the best places to stay at Walt Disney World.
Centertown Market
You’ll enjoy multiple dining options at Caribbean Beach, but the most convenient one is unquestionably Centertown Market.
This restaurant operates at Old Port Royale, which includes the hotel lobby.
So, the central location of Centertown Market enhances its appeal.
You’ll discover plenty of farm-to-table goodies at this restaurant, alongside some create-your-own bowls and other unique offerings.
The accompanying Grab & Go spot sells plenty of pre-packaged foods and meals that you can carry onto the gondolas!
Photo: Disney
This strategy could make your vacation more efficient.
Fuentes del Morro Pool
The pool and play areas at Caribbean Beach will keep you entertained throughout your visit.
You’ll marvel at the theming as you approach this pool. It’s a Spanish colonial fort, complete with armed cannons.
Of course, these cannons don’t fire artillery. They spray water instead, a surprise that will thrill your party the first time it happens.
Sometimes, these cannons employ a slow drip instead, giving them a cascading waterfall effect, too.
Similarly, the play area features this effect thanks to a barrel that tilts over randomly, leading to surprising water drips.
The attention to detail at this pool makes it one of the finest at Walt Disney World.
PS: I was texting my brother while I was writing this. He was sitting at Fuentes del Morro Pool at the time and asked me to mention that the Skyliner adds a lovely backdrop.
Also, he’s a big fan of the well-placed palm trees.
Photo: hotels.com
Disney vacations really bring families together, don’t they?
The Exercise
Given the beach setting, you won’t be surprised to learn about the various exercise activities available at Caribbean Beach.
Photo: DisneyCaribbeanBeach.com
You can play beach volleyball by the water or go jogging on a trail that includes unique views of the hotel campus and parts of Disney theme parks.
Kids will adore the playground mentioned above area, and the entire family might enjoy a boating excursion.
Photo: TripAdvisor.com
You can rent a ship to go fishing. How much exercise you get from that is entirely up to you.
If you’d prefer something that burns more calories, you can rent a bike to steer around the trails, too.
Spyglass Grill
Centertown Market may claim the title of most convenient resort restaurant, but Spyglass Grill definitely stakes a claim to the tastiest meal.
At this eatery, Caribbean cuisine will add a bit of spice to your life…and stomach.
The menu includes Crispy Yuca Bowls and Caribbean Taco Trios and Cuban Sandwiches. The Plantain and Yuca Chips are to die for, too.
This indoor/outdoor restaurant resides right by the pool and features a showstopper for dessert, the Passion Fruit Tres Leches.
I should mention that Spyglass Grill hasn’t reopened due to the pandemic. However, it’s sure to come back.
Another Caribbean Beach spot, Sebastian’s Bistro, faces a less certain future. Otherwise, I would have added it as something else we love here.
Simply stated, Caribbean Beach provides tremendous bang for the buck as a Disney resort. You’ll love your stay here.
