Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is massive. Honestly, it’s basically a small city disguised as a tropical paradise, sprawling across 200 acres of prime Florida real estate. If you’ve ever looked at a Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map, you probably noticed the giant lake in the middle—Barefoot Bay—and thought, "Oh, that looks scenic." It is. But that lake is also why your feet might be throbbing by day three of your vacation.
The scale is deceptive. You see five distinct "villages" named after Caribbean islands—Barbados, Jamaica, Aruba, Martinique, and Trinidad—and they look like cute little clusters of buildings. In reality, walking from the furthest corner of Trinidad to the main lobby at Old Port Royale can take fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty if you have a toddler or a slow-moving stroller. It's a lot of ground to cover.
Decoding the Layout: Why the Villages Matter
Location is everything here. When you pull up a digital Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map on the My Disney Experience app, your first instinct is to find the pool. The Fuentes del Morro pool is the crown jewel, themed like a Spanish fortress. It’s located right next to Old Port Royale, which houses the Centertown Market dining area and the Banana Cabana bar.
If you’re staying in Martinique or Barbados, you’re relatively close to the action. Jamaica and Aruba? You're across the bridge. Now, Trinidad is the outlier. It used to be home to the famous Pirate-themed rooms, but those were recently reimagined into Little Mermaid rooms. While the rooms are gorgeous, Trinidad is physically separated from the rest of the resort. It feels private, sure, but you’ll be relying heavily on the internal shuttle bus if you aren't up for a hike.
The internal shuttle is a life-saver, truly. It runs in a continuous loop around the resort, stopping at each village. It’s separate from the theme park buses. Use it. Your calves will thank you.
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The Skyliner Factor Changes the Map Entirely
A few years ago, the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map looked completely different in terms of utility. Then came the Disney Skyliner. This gondola system didn't just add a transportation option; it fundamentally shifted where the "best" rooms are located.
There are actually two Skyliner stations accessible from this resort. The main hub is located near Jamaica. This is the big one where lines converge to go to either EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The second station is technically the Riviera Resort station, but it’s an easy walk from the Aruba section.
Because of this, Jamaica and Aruba went from being "the far-off quiet spots" to "the most coveted real estate on property." Being able to walk five minutes from your room and hop on a gondola to Hollywood Studios is a game-changer that makes the traditional bus system feel archaic.
The Logistics of Old Port Royale
Old Port Royale is the heartbeat of the resort. This is where you check in, though most people just use the direct-to-room service on their phones now. It’s where you get your refillable mugs. It’s where the smells of jerk chicken and tropical fruit hang in the air.
If you look at the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map, Old Port Royale is the central hub on the northern side of Barefoot Bay. It’s been renovated recently to feel more upscale—less "cafeteria" and more "boutique Caribbean hotel." The lobby is stunning, with high ceilings and lush greenery.
But here’s the thing: if you are a "breakfast at the hotel" person, you need to prioritize Martinique. It’s the closest village to the food. If you’re in Trinidad and you realize you forgot to grab a coffee, you're looking at a significant trek or waiting for that internal shuttle. Planning your morning based on the map's geography is the difference between a relaxing start and a stressful one.
Navigating Barefoot Bay
The lake is 45 acres. It’s huge. There’s a 1.1-mile promenade that circles the entire thing. It’s beautiful for a morning jog. It’s less beautiful when you’ve just spent twelve hours at the Magic Kingdom and you realize your room is on the opposite side of the water from the bus stop.
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Caribbean Beach has multiple bus stops. Each village has its own. This is a blessing and a curse. You don't have to walk to the main lobby to catch a bus to the parks, which is great. However, the bus has to stop at every single village before it leaves the resort. If you’re at the first stop, you're in for a tour of the parking lots before you even hit the highway.
Room Types and What the Map Hides
Not all rooms are created equal. You’ll see "Standard View," "Water View," and "Preferred" on the booking site.
- Preferred Rooms: These are located in Martinique and Barbados. They are "preferred" because they are closest to Old Port Royale.
- Standard View: Usually looks at a parking lot or a landscaped area.
- Water View: This could mean the lake, or it could mean a pool.
The map won't show you that some "Water View" rooms in Trinidad are actually quite far from anything else. You're paying for the view, but sacrificing convenience. On the flip side, some Jamaica rooms that are technically "Standard" are just steps away from the Skyliner hub. That’s the real "preferred" location in the eyes of many frequent visitors.
Caribbean Beach vs. The Riviera
You can't talk about the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map without mentioning Disney’s Riviera Resort. They are neighbors. Physically, they touch. You can walk from the Aruba buildings right onto the Riviera property.
This is a massive perk. The Riviera has some of the best dining on Disney property, like Topolino’s Terrace. You don’t have to stay at the Riviera to eat there or use their Skyliner station. Caribbean Beach guests essentially get two resorts for the price of one when it comes to atmosphere and dining options.
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Don't just look at the map—understand the flow.
- Request a Village Early: You can’t guarantee a specific building, but you can put in a request through the app. If you want easy park access, ask for Jamaica or Aruba. If you want easy food access, ask for Martinique.
- The Bridge is Your Friend: There is a bridge called Caribbean Cay that cuts across the middle of the lake. It has a playground and some seating areas. It is a massive shortcut. Use it to get from the Jamaica/Aruba side over to the Old Port Royale side without walking the entire perimeter of the lake.
- Luggage Services: If your room is far away and you don't have a car, don't try to haul your bags across the resort. Bell services has small vans and carts to transport you and your luggage to your specific village during check-in and check-out.
The resort is designed to feel like a getaway. It’s spread out on purpose to keep it from feeling like a crowded hotel. It succeeds at that, but the cost is the physical distance between points A and B.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume that "Moderate" resorts like Caribbean Beach are just slightly bigger versions of "Value" resorts like Pop Century. That’s a mistake. The footprint of Caribbean Beach is significantly larger.
Also, many guests think they have to go to the main lobby for everything. You don't. You can do almost everything from your phone or your local village's amenities. The only reason to trek to Old Port Royale is for the main pool, the sit-down restaurant (Sebastian’s Bistro), or the food court.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip
Before you arrive, download a high-resolution PDF of the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort map and save it to your phone’s photos. The My Disney Experience map is interactive but can be clunky when signal is low.
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Identify your "must-haves." Is it the Skyliner? Is it the pool? Is it being near the parking lot because you’re driving your own car? Once you know that, use the online check-in feature to request a room near your priority landmark.
When you arrive, take twenty minutes to walk the Caribbean Cay bridge. Getting your bearings immediately will prevent that "where am I?" frustration later in the week when you're tired and just want to find a Mickey ice cream bar.
Pack comfortable shoes. This isn't a suggestion; it's a requirement for this specific resort. You will easily clock 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day between the parks and navigating the resort grounds.
Finally, plan at least one "resort day." Because the map is so spread out, Caribbean Beach offers a level of quiet and immersion you won't find at the more compact resorts. Grab a drink at Banana Cabana, find a hammock on one of the white-sand beaches along Barefoot Bay, and actually enjoy the scenery you're paying for.