As one of Disney World’s ‘moderate’ category resorts, one of the biggest perks of staying at Caribbean Beach Resort is how easy it is to get to the theme parks - and, with one method of transport in particular this hotel really stands out.
Getting to whichever theme park you’re going to from Caribbean Beach Resort is going to be pretty straightforward and easy.
Here, we take a closer look at the transport options for travelling to the parks from Caribbean Beach.
Buses
Guests staying at Caribbean Beach Resort can get Disney World’s complimentary bus services straight from the resort to the park entrances.
Separate buses run every 20 to 30 minutes to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs.
The ride to Magic Kingdom takes about 15 to 20 minutes, while Animal Kingdom is the furthest away and the journey takes around 20 to 25 minutes.
There may be one slight drawback to the bus system at the Caribbean Beach Resort, depending on where your room is located.
Caribbean Beach is one of Disney World’s largest, and most spread out, resorts and as such the theme park buses here run a ‘resort loop’ before heading to the parks.
In total, there are seven stops at Caribbean Beach - the loop starts at Old Port Royale, near the resort’s main lobby, and its ends at either Aruba (stop 6) or the Custom House (stop 7) before heading to the park. Depending upon the number of guests joining the bus, and how many strollers/buggies are coming onboard, this can add between 10 and 20 minutes to your travel time to the parks.
It is recommended that guests plan their departures accordingly.
Another ‘top tip’ among seasoned guests at Disney World is to take time to check a resort map, research which part of the Caribbean Beach Resort will be preferable to you, and make a room request to Disney before your trip - either on the phone or by email, guests can request specific areas and buildings / room blocks.
So, what does that mean? Well, really there are two ways to play it.
One option is to be first on, by requesting a room block near the start of the loop, in short walking distance to Old Port Royale, or Martinique (the second stop on the loop). This way, you’re likely to be among the first guests on the bus every time, giving you the pick of the seats. You’ll be first on in the morning, and first off when returning to the resort.
This may be an especially useful ploy if you’re travelling with infants, or if someone in your group has mobility assistance - as the buses have a limited number of spots for strollers/buggies and scooters.
The flip side of this strategy may suit your needs better. Alternatively, guests may request a room block in the Aruba area, which will be towards the end of the loop. This way, you won’t have to sit on the bus going around the loop and you can just go straight to the parks.
One word of caution for peak season, however, is that as buses fill up on the loop those joining at later stops may find themselves standing - or, worse, having to wait for the next one when a bus is full.
Can you walk to the parks?
No. While Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is well-connected by transport, walking to the theme parks isn’t an option.
The parks are too far away to be reached on foot.
Disney Skyliner
The Skyliner gondola cable-car network, opened in 2019, is the standout option for getting from the Caribbean Beach Resort to the parks.
It connects the Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts to the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios parks. Guests can also choose to hop from EPCOT onto a monorail to Magic Kingdom (but getting the bus directly would probably be easier).
At Caribbean Beach, the Skyliner station is located in the Jamaica area.
Meanwhile, a popular ‘hack’ / tip for guests staying in the Aruba area is to take the walkway to the neighbouring Riviera resort - the walk will take about 5 to 10 minutes - and get the Skyliner from there.
Once on the Skyliner, from Caribbean Beach, the closest park is EPCOT is the closest park, about 10 minutes away, whilst to Hollywood Studios it will take around 15 minutes.
Typically, up to 10 people will fit in a Skyliner gondola and unlike the buses each one departs every few minutes.
But, the whole system stops running during inclement weather or when a thunderstorm is in the Orlando area.
Not only is the Skyliner very convenient, its novel and fun too. Not to mention that the unique aerial views of Disney World are a real bonus.
Since the Skyliner came online in 2019, it has significantly enhanced guest experiences at Caribbean Beach, with the elevated transport option driving a renewed popularity for the large ‘moderate’ category resort.
Thoughts …
The sheer size of Caribbean Beach, and what that can mean for park transport, is sometimes seen as a potential drawback for the resort - nobody fancies the idea of spending ages on the resort loop bus.
Nevertheless, with good planning and preparation savvy guests can make the resort’s size work in their favour.
The main perk of Caribbean Beach over some other cheaper Disney World resorts is the Skyliner.
Altogether, getting from Caribbean Beach to any of the Disney World theme parks is pretty straightforward and relatively painless.
Like all ‘on-site’ resorts, complimentary transport directly to the park entrances is a major perk and selling point for at a Disney World hotel.
Whether taking the bus or the Skyliner, guests won’t have to wait too long for their transport.
