This is my personal experience from our visit to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in August '08. We arrived on a Sunday and stayed through Tuesday for a weekend getaway. Our trip also included a visit to The Magic Kingdom. The main pool was closed for renovations during this time.
Guestrooms
We checked in early at the main house at about 12:00 and were able to get our room since it was available. Our room was located in the "Aruba" section of the resort. It was very quiet and empty when we arrived, due to school being back in session. (Perfect time to go, by the way!) The little villages were cute and colorful in pastel colors. Our room was near the lake and not too far from the pool in Aruba. The rooms are your average size hotel room with two double beds, a shower/bath combo and a sink/vanity area.
If you stay in Aruba, you have a little bit of a walk to get to the restaurants and Main pool area. We didn't mind this because it was a nice, scenic walk by the lake and through the gardens. If walking or convenience is an issue though, I would stay at a Preferred location.
Transportation
Every village has its own bus station for catching your ride to the parks. We never waited longer than 10 minutes each time we rode. The bus stop was very close to our room, just a short walk across the parking lot. You have to wait on your specific bus to arrive for wherever you are going, including Downtown Disney.
Overall, its very easy getting around Disney World with their system. The buses run often and hold a lot of people per bus. They are also wheelchair accessible.
Resort Activities
We enjoyed the pool in Aruba since the main pool was closed for remodel. It was large enough that people were not right on top of you, but the pools that are in the villages are just your basic pool, nothing fancy. The pool area had patio tables and lounge chairs. Across from our pool was a "beach" with sand and hammocks overlooking the lake.
You can also rent boats at the main area near the restaurants, which I do not recommend. We have rented them before at Downtown Disney, which allows you to go further and actually see things. The ones at Caribbean Beach Resort will only allow you to go around the lake and then under the main bridge to the other side of the lake. We got tired of it after about 10 minutes and returned back to the dock. I believe it was about $45.00 for 30 minutes, but I am not sure on the price. So, I would recommend renting a boat at DD if you want to take a boat ride, you will have a much better view and be able to go more places for the same price.
The main pool was being renovated during our stay, but it sounds like it is very nice!
There was a family movie night in the garden area. The movie is shown on a big screen in the gardens, with beach chairs by the lake.
There is also live entertainment at the main area, near the shoppes and food court. There are patio tables setup around so you can sit and enjoy the music or have a drink at the outdoor bar area.
Restaurants
We ate at the food court for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a "market" style setup with several different choices of food types. We had burgers at one of the quick service's and they were the same as you would find in the parks. Overall, good choices for everyone in your family.
We purchased a souvenir thermos to use for the weekend at the resort, which allows you to have free refills anytime you want. You pay around $14.00 for the cup, but its worth it.
Shutters is the only table services restaurant here at the resort. The atmosphere of the restaurant is a little loud and not so "beachy". Its casual, and a little noisy and crowded. Wouldn't recommend for a romantic evening for a couple. We did have a nice view from our table, which faced the lakeside.
I ordered a seafood pasta dish, which was surprisingly good. My husband loved the steak he ordered, too. The prices were decent, average prices for a sit down place. Our waiter was very attentive to our needs and made sure we were happy with the food. A very good Cast Member. :)
Overall Experience
We both had a great time here, and unless you are looking for the real Caribbean, I would suggest it for a family getaway or a romantic weekend. It will not make you feel like you are in the Caribbean, there are just touches of "the islands". It offered us a relaxing weekend, and like most things with the Disney resort, it lived up to the service and quality that its known for. We will definitely go back in the future.
If you would like to ask me any questions about this resort, please email me here.
