REVIEW WRITTEN BY TRAVEL ADVISOR LAUREN WILLIAMS
BASIC INFORMATION
Location: Hollywood Studios?
Types of Rooms Offered: Preferred, Water View, Pirate Rooms, Standard, 5th sleeper option
Food Offerings: Centertown markets (QS), Sebationa’s Bistro (TS), Banana Cabana Pool Bar (Spyglass Grill not open now)
Recreations Available: Main Pool Has two slides, quiet pools available in Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Aruba
Transportation: Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studio, and buses Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs
Shopping Available: Calypso Trading Post
OUR EXPERIENCE
Dates of our Trip: 9/30-10/1
Party Make Up: 3 adults
Purpose of Our Trip: 50th Anniversary Trip
Why We Choose This hotel: Originally we picked this hotel because we were going to do Epcot for the 50th anniversary. When we got Magic Kingdom park reservations, we decided to stay at Caribbean Beach because we liked it so much. We also were moving to Pop Century during this trip.
Room Type and location (Include room number): We had a Standard room 5235 in Aruba in building 52. It was closest to the Riviera Skyliner stop.
Our Thoughts: Arrival was great. The Front Desk staff was able to get us into our room by 10am. They were trying to accommodate our requests and allow for us to check-in early. The bell staff was also great. They drove me to my building and then I could walk to my room. We were in building 52 so that is closer to the Riviera Skyler station. The room was nice and fit three adults very comfortably. We enjoyed being on the second floor and it was quiet. Just know there were no elevators in our building. We were able to see some fireworks from right outside our door too. We hardly saw other people around our building and being on the second floor, we did not hear the people below us or next to us. It was a walk to get to the main building Old Port Royale, but getting food and shopping was very easy and quick. The main pool is a lot of fun with the water slides and the kids splash area. The shop, Calypso Trading Post is nice, but as this is not a DVC resort, there are not as many food options to choose from. We enjoyed eating outside at Banana Cabana Pool Bar at night. We could see Spaceship Earth as we ate. You could also see Riviera at night too. We did take transportation from Old Port Royale to Disney Springs. There were buses often, but there were many stops on property before we could get to our destination. Overall, we loved staying at this resort.
WHAT WE FOUND MAGICAL ABOUT OUR ACCOMMODATIONS
We loved how quiet it was and that we were close to a Skyliner Station. Using the Skyliner was so easy and we could just hop on and get to Hollywood Studios or Epcot.
The front desk staff was excellent and really worked to get you into your room as quick as possible. The luggage service staff also was excellent driving you to your room.
Banana Cabana was excellent. It had a great menu and gave you the option of sitting outside. It is a covered area so if it rains you will stay dry.
WAHT NEEDS A LITTLE PIXIE DUST
The many internal bus stops along the way were hard. Buses sometimes were filled when they got to your stop and you had to wait. It typically took 20 minutes to get around all the bus stops before you were on your way to a destination. It also can take you a long time to walk between buildings. Riviera was actually closer for us than going to the main building at Caribbean Beach.
The bathroom has a shower and toilet combination. It is a very small space and you really need to move around to close the door. This is a smaller space than a value bathroom. Although we liked the double sinks and the space outside of the bathroom, it was tight in the shower/toilet area.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This place is for people who want the laid back Caribbean feel and want to have restful days on their vacation and have days that they love going to the park. The Skyliner makes it great for people that love going to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. It would also be great for people that have a car. It would be easier to drive to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom than wait for the bus. This is also for families of 5. There is a pull down sleeper that a child could sleep on and you would only be paying for one room.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHEN YOU STAY HERE
When staying at Caribbean Beach, you want to know what area will be important. If the Skyliner is important to you, make sure to request this, and if being near the main building is important to you make sure you book a preferred room. The Skyliner is great and can make your trip very enjoyable.
WOULD WE TAKE ANOTHER MAGICAL ADVENTURE HERE?
I would stay here again. This is a great place that has so much to offer. This is the type of resort you want to have some time to enjoy all it has to offer. There are so many quiet places to sit and watch all that is going on. It is close to Riviera and you can walk over and explore another resort. It has quiet accommodations that allows for you to rest when you need it and has a great main pool or quiet pool depending on what you prefer. This is a great option for people that want to enjoy the parks and their resort.
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Like Lauren's Review? Want to book Caribbean Beach Resort or any of the other amazing resorts she's stayed at? Reach out to her via e-mail: Lauren@magicalwanderlustadventures.com