Planning a Disney vacation and wondering if Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is the right fit for your family? We recently stayed here and are sharing our honest review, covering rooms, pools, dining, transportation, and more, to help you decide if it’s worth booking.
I feel like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort sometimes gets a bit of a bad rap on Disney blogs and forums. But we wanted to give it a fair shot, especially since the resort has seen quite a few updates over the past several years. And we genuinely could not have been more pleasantly surprised!
We stayed there in February and felt like we got a fantastic deal at $275 a night for a 5th sleeper room, which is a great price for a moderate Disney resort with Skyliner access. Here’s our honest take on what we loved (and what could be better) to help you decide if this resort is the right fit for your next trip.
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About Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of Disney’s moderate category resorts, located near EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The theming is inspired by the laid-back islands of the Caribbean, with pastel-colored villages, sandy beaches, hammocks, and a tropical vibe throughout the property.
One of the biggest perks is that it’s home to the main Skyliner hub, making transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios quick and easy.
Layout of the Resort
Caribbean Beach is a big resort, much larger than many people realize when they first book. The property is divided into six different “villages” named after Caribbean islands: Barbados, Jamaica, Aruba, Martinique, Trinidad, and the central hub, Old Port Royale. Each village has its own set of colorful, pastel-style buildings, a quiet pool, and a bus stop, which helps spread things out.
At the heart of the resort is Old Port Royale, where you’ll find the main pool (Fuentes del Morro), Centertown Market, Banana Cabana, and the lobby. From there, bridges connect you across Barefoot Bay to Caribbean Cay, a little island with a playground and walking paths.
Disney Tip:
Because it’s so spread out, you should definitely expect to do some walking. Depending on where your room is located, it can take a good 10–15 minutes to get from one side of the resort to the other. I recommend requesting a room close to one of the two Skyliner stations (either the main hub or the Riviera station that backs up to the resort) to cut down on walking time and make transportation easier.
The Room
We stayed in one of the 5th sleeper Little Mermaid–themed rooms. Honestly, I thought it was super comfortable for our family of four. The setup includes a queen-size bed, a queen size Murphy bed, and a single Murphy bed.
Just keep in mind, the 5th sleeper (that single Murphy) is pretty darn small. It definitely wouldn’t work for an adult or teenager, but it was absolutely perfect for our six-year-old.
I really loved that Murphy beds fold up during the day, so instead of tripping over beds, you’ve got a couch and a coffee table. The bathroom was pretty standard for a Disney moderate resort. Nothing over the top, but perfectly adequate. It had a shower/tub combo, decent theming, and all the basics. You also get the standard safe, mini fridge, and coffee/tea maker.
There was a little bit of wear and tear here and there, but honestly, I think that’s to be expected in a resort that caters heavily to kids. Nothing stood out as problematic.
Transportation
Skyliner
One of the main reasons we chose Caribbean Beach was because of the Skyliner access. And honestly, this is a huge perk of this hotel.
The resort is actually within walking distance of two Skyliner stations. The main hub at Caribbean Beach and the station at Disney’s Riviera Resort, which backs right up to the property. This made it so easy to hop on and get to either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, and it really did make coming and going feel like part of the fun.
Buses
The bus system works about the same as other Disney resorts. It's reliable and convenient, but expect to queue, especially during busy hours.
The one negative with Caribbean Beach is that because the resort is so large, the buses make multiple stops around the property. If you’re at one of the later stops, there’s a chance the bus could already be full. This happened to us once. We waited as 3 full buses came to our stop that we were unable to board. After talking to a staff member, they quickly sent an empty bus straight to our stop. But it was still frustrating.
Pools
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has a large main pool, Fuentes del Morro Pool. We absolutely loved it. The theming is fantastic, with a big old fort design that makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a Caribbean adventure. The slides were such a hit with our kids. And I really appreciated that the lifeguards were super attentive the whole time.
We visited in early February and the pools were heated to the perfect temperature, so it was comfortable even on cooler days. The hot tub is also a nice bonus for the grown-ups after long park days. For younger kids, the pirate ship–themed splash pad area is a dream. And if you’re looking for something quieter, there are several smaller pools scattered around the resort villages that are perfect for a quick dip without the crowds.
Food & Restaurants
Centertown Market
The main dining option at the resort is Centertown Market. It has a wide variety of choices that work well for picky eaters and those with allergies. We noticed that it does get pretty crowded during peak hours, and that was during the off-season. I can only imagine what it’s like during busier times.
One way around this is to use the mobile ordering app. We did this for breakfast, and it was quick, easy, and stress-free.
The food itself is fairly “Disney standard,” but I appreciated that they mixed in some Caribbean-inspired options that felt unique and flavorful. It was nice to have something a little different from the usual theme park fare.
Banana Cabana
For a more laid-back vibe, Banana Cabana was really fun and lively. We stopped in for drinks and bites, and the cocktails were great.
Sebastian's Bistro
We didn’t end up trying Sebastian’s Bistro, mainly because the menu didn’t feel very kid-friendly (at least for our kids’ tastes). From an adult perspective, though, it looked delicious and more elevated than the quick service options. Honestly, we mostly saw teens and adults heading in and out, so I’d probably recommend it more for date nights or adult groups than for families with younger children.
Spyglass Grill
Another dining option is Spyglass Grill, tucked away in the Trinidad village. It’s a smaller walk-up spot with a mix of American and Caribbean-inspired dishes. Perfect if you’re staying on that side of the resort and don’t want to trek all the way to Centertown Market.
Activities
One of the things I really appreciated about Caribbean Beach is that there’s plenty to do outside of the parks. In the evenings, they have fun options like Movies Under the Stars and even marshmallow roasting, which gave the kids something special to look forward to at night.
During the day, we loved the little competitions and activities happening by the pool. Things like trivia, hula hoop contests, and fun games that kept the energy high. My kids absolutely loved joining in.
There are also lots of smaller touches scattered throughout the resort that make downtime enjoyable. The playground on Caribbean Cay Island was a big hit with the kids), as well as volleyball nets, ping pong tables, and other little surprises. Between the organized activities and the built-in amenities, it felt like there was always something fun to do, definitely enough to fill a whole non-park day without anyone getting bored.
Final Thoughts: Do We Recommend Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort?
Yes, we definitely recommend Caribbean Beach Resort! But there a few caveats. Room selection makes a big difference here, so I’d highly suggest requesting a room near one of the two Skyliner stations for maximum convenience.
But overall we had a blast here and thought it was the perfect, cost effective base for our Disney vacation. For our family of 4, the 5th sleeper room was perfect. The pools and activities were a ton of fun, and we loved having such easy access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner. Plus, we were able to snag a really good deal by visiting in the off season, which made the value even better.
If you’re looking for high-end, luxury-style amenities, this probably isn’t the resort for you. But if you’re a family who wants to stay in the Disney bubble, enjoy great pools and activities, and not spend a fortune, Caribbean Beach is a fantastic choice.
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