Update on Constructions & Changes at Disney World's Caribbean Beach Resort

My husband and I recently enjoyed a six-night stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, one of Walt Disney World’s moderate resorts. Caribbean Beach is - as you have probably guessed - Caribbean-themed, with different villages of the resort representing some of the various islands in the Caribbean, such as Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad, and Martinique. This resort is beautiful with brightly colored buildings, lush landscaping, and hammocks placed throughout the resort invoking a relaxing, tropical vibe.

If you are considering a stay at Caribbean Beach Resort in the near future, plan
to see these construction walls everywhere!

While Caribbean Beach is typically a very peaceful resort, that is not the case right now. This resort is a major construction zone with three different construction projects going on at once! These projects include the Disney Skyliner, the re-imagining of the Old Port Royale complex, and the construction of Disney Riviera Resort. While I certainly would not hesitate recommending Caribbean Beach Resort to anyone interested in staying there, it is definitely important to know what to expect when you get there. With that in mind, let us take a deeper look at everything that is happening at Caribbean Beach.

This building will become one of the stations for the Skyliner

The Disney Skyliner is a gondola lift system that will be a new transportation option connecting Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century, and the new Disney Riviera Resort with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Each point on the Disney Skyliner route will have its own station, with the exception of Pop Century and Art of Animation, which will share a Skyliner station. What makes Caribbean Beach unique is that it will be the hub of the Skyliner system, where guests can transfer gondola routes in order to reach their desired destination.

Here are some of the gondola towers that can be seen at Caribbean Beach Resort.

As you can see from these photos, construction on the Disney Skyliner is very noticeable at Caribbean Beach Resort. Construction crews have started working on the main station at this resort. In addition, you can see the gondola towers rising above the landscape, giving us an idea of the route that the Skyliner will take. As of May 2018, an opening date for the Disney Skyliner has not been announced.

Old Port Royale as seen from the nearby mail pool area for the resort.

The most noticeable construction at Caribbean Beach is at the Old Port Royale complex, in the central area of the resort. This will be the center of activity at the resort, housing guest check-in, shopping and dining options, and other amenities. Ever since Caribbean Beach Resort opened nearly thirty years ago, guests have had to go to the Custom House, which is in a remote area of the resort accessible only by bus or personal vehicle, to check in and out of the resort. This process is unique to Caribbean Beach, and has caused frustration for many guests. With the re-imagining of Old Port Royale, guest check-in, bell services, and concierge will now be located in a centralized area of the resort, offering guests more convenient access from any of the villages.

In addition to being the new hub for guest check-in, bell services, and concierge, Old Port Royale will also house many of the resort’s shopping and dining options. Come back next week for more information on the dining options coming soon to Caribbean Beach Resort!

Special thanks to our Guest Blogger this week, Katie Forsyth! Katie has been a Disney fan since childhood, and she and her husband enjoy visiting Walt Disney World as often as possible! Her favorite park is Magic Kingdom, her favorite attraction is Avatar Flight of Passage, and her favorite Disney restaurant is 'Ohana. Contact Katie if you're ready to book a fabulous Disney World vacation!