Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort Assessment


Caribbean Seaside Resort is a Average resort at Walt Disney World with a tropical theme. This evaluation options new room photographs, ideas on the reimagining, Skyliner gondola transportation, pool & eating information, plus particulars on facilities supplied by Riviera Resort, the sister DVC property to CBR. (Up to date June 22, 2025.)

Some great benefits of Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort mainly come down to a few issues. First and most significantly, the Disney Skyliner gondola. Caribbean Seaside Resort is the hub for the Skyliner, with two stations providing entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, plus Artwork of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts.

We use the Skyliner typically, and are massive followers. It makes for straightforward noon breaks while you’re doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT, and can be advantageous for Early Entry at each parks. Knocking out Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Frozen Ever After, or Remy’s Ratatouille Journey (particularly straightforward because you enter EPCOT by means of Worldwide Gateway by way of the Skyliner) earlier than the park even opens to day visitors is large. The advantages of the Skyliner can’t be overstated–we choose it to the monorail.

Second, there’s the proximity of Caribbean Seaside to Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is the latest Disney Trip Membership property at Walt Disney World. That is positioned adjoining to Caribbean Seaside and is a brief stroll over to that tower.

The benefit right here is within the facilities that Disney’s Riviera Resort gives. Whereas Caribbean Seaside Resort visitors can’t pool hop to Riviera (CBR’s characteristic pool is best), you do have entry to virtually all different facilities. You can too take a leisurely stroll across the grounds, because the pathway that circles Barefoot Bay passes by each resorts.

Eating is the massive factor, as Disney’s Riviera Resort has some nice choices. Le Petit Café, Bar Riva, Primo Piatto, and the gelato stand are all stable choices.

We additionally love Topolino’s Terrace–each the Signature Dinner and the Character Breakfast a la Artwork with Mickey & Mates. For more information concerning the sister property to Caribbean Seaside, seek the advice of our Disney’s Riviera Resort Assessment.

Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort Assessment

Lastly, Caribbean Seaside’s is essentially the most fashionable of the Average Resorts. Previous to the opening of Disney’s Riviera Resort, Caribbean Seaside underwent a large and multi-year reimagining to boost and enhance its facilities and design. This re-imagining was undertaken as a result of Caribbean Seaside Resort is the oldest of the Moderates, and there have been complaints that its amenities are starting to point out their age.

The Previous Port Royale foyer space and check-in, Centertown Market, Banana Cabana, and Sebastian’s Bistro are all completely new or lately redone. Whereas Coronado Springs Resort obtained comparable updates alongside the development of Gran Destino Tower, that’s extra disjointed of a resort–like two motels in a single. (I suppose the identical might be stated for Caribbean Seaside and Riviera, however that really is two resorts.)

Particularly, we’re large followers of Sebastian’s Bistro, which is the greatest worth dinner in all of Walt Disney World! The ‘replace’ at Caribbean Seaside was way more substantial than a normal refurbishment, and it was dealt with excellently. Suffice to say, these upgrades re-assert Caribbean Seaside’s place as a top-notch resort.

If you need an thought of simply how good these tasks went, take a look at our revised Polynesian vs. Caribbean Seaside Resort Comparability. Maintain the worth distinction between the 2 in thoughts when studying that; the Poly is at the least double to triple the price of Caribbean Seaside!

As massive followers of Caribbean Seaside, we had quantity of trepidation relating to the resort’s re-imagining, plus the additions of the Skyliner and Disney’s Riviera Resort. We’ve stayed at Caribbean Seaside Resort a number of occasions previously yr, and this trio of additives are all largely optimistic, even when they’ve eroded a number of the secluded and luxurious tropical vibe of the resort.

Getting all the way down to the enterprise of the resort evaluation, let’s begin with an outline. Positioned close to Epcot, Caribbean Seaside Resort has first rate proximity to the theme parks. Due to the Skyliner, there’s additionally a novel and environment friendly mode of transportation between CBR and two parks.

In the event you’re staying at Caribbean Seaside, our recommendation is to line up for the Skyliner shortly earlier than it begins working in case your plan is to rope drop Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Traces will be lengthy within the morning, however the Skyliner is extremely environment friendly and Caribbean Seaside’s standing because the “hub” resort for the Skyliner means you’re nonetheless ready lower than visitors coming from Artwork of Animation or Pop Century, who need to switch at CBR.

That is one thing we mentioned lately in Skyliner Warning for Rope Dropping Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. That publish solely applies to Artwork of Animation and Pop Century. It’s not relevant to Caribbean Seaside and even Disney’s Riviera Resort, for that matter. You may discover a line at CBR within the morning, nevertheless it’ll transfer quick–and fortunately, there’s no switch concerned!

Within the middle of Caribbean Seaside Resort separating a lot of the visitor room buildings from Previous Port Royale is Barefoot Bay, a 45-acre lake. Operating across the lake is a 1.4-mile path, with extra paths resulting in all visitor rooms. It looks like the proper resort for a morning run…or racing round to {photograph} the dawn, for those who’re like me.

Within the middle of all that is, Caribbean Cay, which is an island with a lush picnic and play space. It additionally breaks up the stroll throughout the large lake.

The resort itself doubtless advantages from its age, as its twenty plus years in existence have given the greenery on the resort an opportunity to grow to be fairly lush and mature.

Inside this tropical paradise, rooms are unfold amongst 6 villages: Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica.

One of many greatest downsides of Caribbean Seaside was that it’s a very unfold out resort. The scale coupled with the variety of bus stops could make transportation at Caribbean Seaside Resort an actual trouble.

Nonetheless, the brand new Skyliner gondolas completely get rid of this situation in terms of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Caribbean Seaside is the one Average Resort providing non-bus transportation to Walt Disney World’s theme parks. That is large, and the benefit it gives can’t be overstated.

Attending to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs from CBR can nonetheless take a while as a result of resort’s inside bus loop. This inside loop can added ~10 minutes to transit occasions, and likewise imply the bus arrives to your cease almost (or completely) full throughout peak occasions.

Due to this, we regularly use Uber to get to and from these parks. It’s one thing value contemplating if you end up annoyed with the bus service at CBR. Remember to value out the Uber earlier than committing to that, as prices can fluctuate broadly relying upon demand.

Caribbean Seaside Resort’s fundamental foyer and visitor check-in is now positioned in Previous Port Royale.

That is the place you’ll get picked up and dropped off by Mears Join, choose up grocery supply and different orders. It’s the central hub of the complete resort, the place you’ll discover a present store, meals court docket, and different facilities. Previous Port Royale is positioned in Centertown, and that’s the place just about every part–save for the Skyliner–is positioned when it comes to key visitor facilities.

The consolidation of the foyer and check-in in Previous Port Royale is a particular enchancment. This space is handy to many visitor rooms, whereas Customized Home wasn’t handy to something.

Together with Saratoga Springs and Previous Key West, Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort is among the most sprawling resorts at Walt Disney World. My private take is that this offers it extra of a real “resort” really feel with extra to discover, however affordable minds may definitely differ on that one.

It’s fairly a trek from essentially the most distant rooms to Previous Port Royale, that means it might be a trouble to get breakfast. On the plus facet, this may make you much less more likely to eat these instant-eggs and rubber-bacon! (Aren’t I the optimist…)

On the eating entrance, some excellent news is that throughout the resort re-imagining, Coke Freestyle machines have been added all through the resort, and it is best to have considered one of these ~5 minutes out of your room. The resort map you obtain at check-in will point out the place they’re positioned.

At Centertown, you’ll discover a trio of eating choices together with a desk service restaurant, meals court docket for fast service eating, and poolside bar. Listed below are our opinions of every:

Every has just a few can’t-miss, signature objects that we extremely advocate testing. (Like the wonderful Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls with Guava Butter, Mango Chutney, and Jamaican Jerk Oil pictured above!)

If these choices are inadequate, you’ll be able to have alcohol and meals to organize for breakfasts dropped at you for a less expensive value–see our Suggestions for Grocery Supply at Walt Disney World publish for more information.

caribbean-beach-boat-sunrisecaribbean-beach-boat-sunrise

Caribbean Seaside has a pleasant marina close to Previous Port Royale, which rents out boats and bicycles.

There are also playgrounds, an arcade, volleyball, sand seashores, and different normal Average Resort facilities obtainable at Caribbean Seaside Resort.

caribbean-beach-resort-pool-nightcaribbean-beach-resort-pool-night

The Fuentes del Morro characteristic pool at Previous Port Royale is fairly superior. You may as nicely name it Previous Fort Royale, as it’s paying homage to the Spanish forts below siege initially of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Everybody is aware of that something pertaining to pirates is certainly superior, so Caribbean Seaside Resort scores severe factors for the pool.

It’s a very cool pool–I contemplate it to be top-of-the-line at Walt Disney World. Youngsters (and immature adults like me) would actually take pleasure in “taking part in pirate” in its many forts, full with genuine working (eh, in all probability) cannons.

For these adults who’re extra mature, you’ll be able to at all times “play pirate” by chugging a bottle of rum and staggering round on one of many white sand seashores at Caribbean Seaside Resort whereas bemoaning the truth that the rum is at all times gone. What may go fallacious?

Okay, now the visitor rooms. Let’s begin with the perfect and latest possibility, that are the ‘Beneath the Sea’ fashion fifth sleeper rooms within the Trinidad part of the resort.

These have been beforehand the notorious pirate rooms, which have been among the many worst rooms in all of Walt Disney World. Worse but, the Caribbean Seaside entrance desk would typically provide a free “improve” to the pirate rooms to unsuspecting visitors, as they overbooked the remainder of the resort and solely had area left within the “premium” pirate rooms (air quotes round each improve and premium. In any case, these are lifeless and gone.

The pirate rooms have been changed by new ‘Beneath the Sea’ lodging. Take a look at our Assessment, Photographs & Video: Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort for every part it’s essential find out about these. These Beneath the Sea rooms are improbable for households who need extra space whereas they’re not sleeping, because the pull-down beds make the primary dwelling space far much less cramped throughout the day.

As a result of every part wants a nickname, we’ve dubbed these as Caribbean Seaside’s “DVC-Lite” or “Affordable-Riviera” rooms (nonetheless workshopping the identify). Conceptually, these are equivalent to the usual rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort. These characteristic the identical fashion of pull-down Murphy beds that convert into couches, and now have most of the similar ‘high quality of life’ options because the DVC-style studios.

To make certain, the studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort are extra spacious and well-appointed. It’s actually the “bones” which might be virtually equivalent right here, with a whole lot of the ending and options differing–and being higher–at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Nonetheless, for lower than half the worth (when going by rack charges), that’s a good tradeoff.

These are fairly probably the perfect rooms at any Average Resort (excluding Gran Destino Tower, since that’s its personal factor)–much better than the usual rooms at Caribbean Seaside and even Port Orleans. Honest warning–these will be tough to ebook and require a room request. They’re value it for many households, although!

Lastly, there’s the usual rooms. These are why we dubbed Caribbean Seaside Resort “Poly-lite” within the first place a number of years in the past. These rooms don’t appear to be funds motel lodging, and have a whole lot of particulars and enjoyable tropical motifs.

These rooms have been first redone in 2014, and for those who can imagine it, they have been wonderful on the time. There have been a lot of particulars and the rooms have been similar to these on the Polynesian. Over a decade later, a whole lot of that has been misplaced. These at the moment are among the many most generic rooms at Walt Disney World. I’d go so far as to say they’re worse than any of the Worth Resorts, at this level.

The blandification started with the removing of the mattress runners, and continued with different thematic parts being misplaced. On a optimistic notice, the rooms have been refurbished a few years in the past, in order that they nonetheless really feel recent as of 2025, however they’re very bland.

That was solely a tender items refurbishment, and it mainly concerned portray one of many partitions child blue to brighten up the inside and changing worn furnishings and furnishings. There’s much less put on and tear because of this, however the rooms are additionally arguably much more sterile.

The following arduous items overhaul can’t come quickly sufficient (it in all probability received’t occur for an additional 5+ years, sadly). We’d extremely advocate staying within the newer and nicer ‘Beneath the Sea’ rooms if in any respect attainable. Simply make sure to make a room request, as a few of these buildings are a severe hike from the primary foyer!

Talking of which, as a result of it’s a bigger resort with many various room kinds and a variety of facilities, we extremely advocate making a room request. Take a look at our suggestions for the Finest & Worst Rooms & Constructing Places at Caribbean Seaside Resort.

There’s rather a lot to think about, together with Disney’s Riviera Resort and the 2 gondola stations, with continuous entry to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. This covers the perfect choices for proximity to the Skyliner, swimming pools, and eating at Caribbean Seaside, and makes particular constructing suggestions.

Utilizing a journey agent is at all times a good suggestion for Walt Disney World trip planning, however that’s very true for “trickier” bookings like Caribbean Seaside Resort the place room requests come into play.

If you wish to work with a TA, we advocate requesting a no-obligation quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Licensed Disney Trip Planner. They’ll do the be just right for you and advocate in your behalf in terms of room requests and different elements of journey planning.

Their companies don’t price additional, they’ll reserve your room, enable you with eating reservations and itineraries, and apply the perfect reductions to your reservation as soon as they’re launched. Utilizing an Licensed Disney Trip Planner is the win-win possibility for those who’re overwhelmed by the complexities of Walt Disney World, don’t need to do the entire “homework” your self, or need somebody to observe your reservation so that you lower your expenses.

Total, Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort is a really good place to remain, particularly for those who benefit from the theme and the sprawling resort grounds. It’s now a really balanced resort with an amazing quantity of upside: a various slate of eating places, loads of recreation choices, lovely grounds to take pleasure in, and environment friendly Skyliner transportation to Epcot and DHS.

Between the eating, gondola transportation, different facilities, and easy accessibility to the Riviera, Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort has a number of the similar promoting factors as Deluxe Resorts. I used to be already a fan of Caribbean Seaside Resort, however now that it’s mainly a “Poor Man’s Polynesian.” Whereas the is probably not as good as its tropical cousin, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, it does provide considerably higher worth for cash due to its stable facilities and wonderful rooms.

That is mirrored in our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Motels from Worst to Finest, which takes value and quite a lot of different variables into consideration. In the event you’d choose to learn that for a rundown of how all resorts rank, have at it. Spoiler alert: Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resorts is within the prime 5 and is the #1 ranked Average Resort in all of Walt Disney World. That’s a controversial selection, however we really feel that Caribbean Seaside has large upside, as long as you make a room request to restrict the downsides!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s essential know!

Your Ideas

What do you consider the brand new ‘Beneath the Sea’ rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort? Suppose CBR is the #1 Average Resort (or prime 5 general) at Walt Disney World? Are you planning on staying at Caribbean Seaside Resort? Have you ever tried Centertown Market, Banana Cabana, or Sebastian’s Bistro? Do you miss the previous fashion of CBR? What concerning the unfold out nature of the resort–is {that a} power or a weak spot for you? Any questions on this Walt Disney World resort resort? Share your ideas or any questions you could have within the feedback!

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