Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is a tropical lakeside paradise set on beautiful 45-acre Barefoot Bay. Sail away to the inviting Caribbean, where lazy days are devoted to sun and sand, swaying palm trees and island foods. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is located in the Epcot area of Walt Disney World, close to the waterpark Typhoon Lagoon and is classified as a moderately priced resort. It is themed to the beach, island foods, and bright colors. Tropical locales are celebrate here from the legacy of colonial forts and architecture to lively markets, exotic birds, and sand beaches. The Caribbean Beach Resort is designed with a Caribbean theme. Guests stay in one of the small buildings that encircle Barefoot Bay, a 45-acre lake. Buildings are grouped into one of six villages, with shared resources, each named after an island in the Caribbean: Martinique, Barbados, Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South. There is also a bus that travels throughout the entire resort so get from each village to the next.
Celebrate the spirit of tropical locales—from the legacy of colonial forts to lively markets—and enjoy the beaches, exotic birds, relaxing strolls or even a snooze in a hammock.
The Resort's Main Lobby, including Registration and Guest Services, is located inside the Custom House, a charming tropical pavilion designed to resemble the reception area of an exotic Caribbean retreat. The Custom House is physically separated from many of the Resort villages, and it may be some distance from your room. If you do not have an automobile, a shuttle is available to take you to your room.
The hub of the Resort is Old Port Royale, where you will discover dining, a lounge, shopping and a Concierge Desk. When it's time to eat, you'll find something for everyone—from quick snacks to a full-service restaurant, and even a food court themed like a quaint Caribbean town.
Rooms
When reserving a room, there are three room view options. Standard view is generally of a courtyard or parking lot, while water view is a view of one of the pools, beaches, or Barefoot Bay. Preferred room is closest to the Old Port Royale services, while offering either a water view or courtyard/parking lot view and are located in the villages of Martinique and Trinidad North. Most rooms have two double beds, a table and two chairs, a wardrobe, a telephone,a hairdryer, a bathroom with a shower and bath and a toilet, double sinks outside the bathroom, a safe, a mini-fridge, a chest for shoes, and a television. The rooms are decorated in a Caribbean style with pastel tones and each island village has slightly different themes.. In 2008, Disney began work redesigning several hundred of the rooms to a Finding Nemo theme. In January 2009, Disney refurbished 384 rooms in the Trinidad South village. These rooms have a pirate theme.
Your crew can choose to stay in a specially-decorated Pirate Room, where you can become a character aboard a pretend galleon! Perfect for swashbucklers and scallywags alike, each room features ship-themed beds and accessories to please every buccaneer.
All Resort Guest rooms are arranged into 6 villages—Trinidad North, Trinidad South, Martinique, Barbados, Aruba and Jamaica—spread over 200 lushly landscaped acres. Each village is a welcoming collection of pastel-colored 2-story buildings clustered around its own swimming pool, all surrounding the white-sand beaches of Barefoot Bay.
Recreation
At Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, the choices for recreation and relaxation seem endless. The Marina rents a variety of watercraft—from sailboats and pontoon boats to a canoe for two. Walk the landscaped paths, take a bike ride or soak up some fun at the sprawling pool complex themed like an old Spanish fortress—complete with towers, antique cannons and a waterslide.
- Beaches - Soak up the sun and relax on one of the many white-sand beaches. The Resort is called Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort for a reason—the beaches around Barefoot Bay define the look of the property and give everything a festive flair. Swimming is prohibited in Barefoot Bay, but there are plenty of watercraft available if you want to get out onto the water.
- Pools - Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Hotel has 6 heated pools located throughout the island villages. The main pool complex at Old Port Royale is a swashbuckling adventure, themed like the colonial Spanish fortress Fuentes del Morro. It boasts 2 water slides; one is over 80-feet-long and zips through the inside of the fort. The pool also features zero-depth-entry, water cannons and 2 12-person spas. Children less than 48 inches tall can enjoy the adjacent water play area, which includes squirt hoses, a large bucket that pours water from above and 3 additional smaller water slides.
- Playground - Climb, slide and play to your heart's content at Caribbean Cay—a full acre of fun in the middle of Barefoot Bay.
- Goombay Games Arcade - Play a variety of video and pinball games at the Goombay Games Arcade high-tech game room located inside the Old Port Royale complex.
Dining
Caribbean Beach Resort offers a variety of dining options including sit-down restaurants, lounges and bars, and quick service restaurants.
- Shutter's at Old Port Royale - Shutters at Old Port Royale restaurant in Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort serves up the island flavors of Caribbean cuisine with dinner dishes such as char-crusted 10-oz. New York strip steak, Caribbean braised beef, jerk-crusted yellow fin tuna and Caribbean-style rubbed pork ribs. At meal's end in Shutters, satisfy your sweet tooth with one of the seasonal desserts or with something more traditional like a key lime tart. The tropical drinks at Shutters each cast a voodoo spell on the palate. From the Lava Colada with raspberry rum to the spicy shiraz with black plum and dark berry flavors, the drink list dances a heady rumba with the senses that's sure to please the most imaginative thirsts. Or try one of the delicious smoothies and shakes for a refreshing drink with any meal. Surrounded by colorful shutters that open into the sunny dining room, Shutters at Old Port Royale is a Caribbean-inspired restaurant with an open kitchen and friendly service.
- Banana Cabana - Pool bar located at Old Port Royale which serves snacks and drinks poolside.
- Old Port Royale Food Court - Stroll through the Old Port Royale Food Court in Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Grab a seat, listen to catchy Calypso music and enjoy your selection. Rise early for pastries straight from the oven. Later in the day, stop by for fresh fruit and ice cream novelties. Breakfast selections, pizza and fresh sandwiches round out the menu at this Italian-style food shop. Start your day with whimsical Mickey waffles. Return for Angus burgers, fries and chicken sandwiches. Savor made-to-order omelets, hearty breakfast platters and succulent roasted chicken. Daily specialties range from pancakes to Philly cheese steaks. For a treat, try the New York-style cheesecake.
Touring Tips
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is located near Epcot theme park, Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and Disney's BoardWalk Area; smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor smoking locations.
- Resort facilities are located at Old Port Royale Centertown, a building that contains a restaurant, a food court, arcade, and two gift shops. The shores of the bay feature beaches, hammocks, and other activities such as beach volleyball. The resort also features various water sports at the Marina, where resort guests can rent various watercraft, such as paddle boats and speed boats by the half-hour.
- Each village has its own swimming pool and some also have their own playgrounds.
- Caribbean Beach Resort is one of Disney's biggest hotels, but there are plenty of ways to get across and around Barefoot Bay. Disney runs internal transportation busses between the villages, Old Port Royale, and the Custom House, and each village has its own bus stop. As always, there are plentiful Disney Transport busses running to and from the Disney theme parks. These depart from the villages as well.
- Pizza, sandwiches, salad, dessert and beverages are available in the evening for delivery right to your Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Guest room.
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort offers several childcare services to keep your children having fun—even when you can't be there.
History
The resort started operating on October 1, 1988 and is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. When the resort first opened it was considered a deluxe resort. Disney thought it looked small compared to the other deluxe-class resorts. In 1990 Disney transferred the resort to its moderate category.