Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be fun, but also complicated — especially when you’re trying to choose between 25 resort hotels. If you’ve narrowed down your choices to these two resorts, how do you make your final selection?
Well, we’re here to walk you through the similarities AND differences between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside.
Whether cost, room size, location, pools, and/or restaurants are most important to you, we share the information that you’ll need to make an informed decision. After all, we want you to stay at the hotel that is best for your traveling party!
Let’s get started and look at all the details so that you can plan your Disney trip with confidence.
There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive, and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip. We’ll dive deeper into the details of these resorts by breaking down our analysis into five categories:
- Common Ground
- Theme/Rooms
- Pools
- Food
- Transportation
It takes a lot of research to plan a Disney vacation, but we’re here to help.
Common Ground
When planning your Disney World vacation, Moderate Resorts can be a great option that won’t break the bank but offer up some larger rooms and more amenities than a Value Resort.
Before we mention their differences, let’s take a look at what Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans – Riverside have in common. First, both have a relaxed vibe with quality theming.
Each have a central lobby building with outer buildings housing the actual hotel rooms.
These resorts are sprawling with multiple, internal bus stops.
But what about cost per night? These moderate resorts have similar price points!
For Caribbean Beach, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $258 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $551 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit.
For Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $278 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $555 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit.
Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests
Theme/Rooms
Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans – Riverside exude a relaxing atmosphere with nicely done themeing.
These resorts boast beautiful landscaping, but they do have some differences!
Caribbean Beach Resort
You’re on ISLAND time at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! The atmosphere is whimsical, bright, and colorful. With its relaxing island vibe, this Resort sets a calypso tone for a vacation within a vacation!
The spirit of the Caribbean is alive and thriving at Old Port Royale, the Resort’s main building. This “port of entry” is where guests check in; it also serves as the hub for dining and shopping.
Five distinct villages are situated around the shores of Barefoot Bay. The villages are named after Caribbean islands — Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica, and these colorful, two-story quarters are where the Guest Rooms are located. Take note that there are no elevators!
Standard and Preferred Rooms feature two Queen beds, a King bed, or two Queen beds and a child-size pull down bed. These rooms can accommodate up to five guests depending on the bedding options; they measure 314 sq. ft.
The color scheme inside the rooms is a bit more muted than outside, opting for breezy corals, blues, and rattan accents to keep the island theme going.
Alas, the famed Pirate Rooms of yore are no more. However, you should know that some of the rooms in the Trinidad area are currently receiving a makeover!
Initially Disney announced that the rooms would be refurbished and decorated with “characters from under the sea.” More recently, Disney has provided a bigger reveal with a look INSIDE these new rooms with theming inspired by The Little Mermaid!
You can take a closer look at these upcoming rooms here.
Take a complete Photo Tour of a Caribbean Beach Resort Standard Room here!
Port Orleans – Riverside
Sweet Magnolia! Let the Louisiana-inspired hospitality charm you while exploring this vast resort. In fact, the resort is so large that it’s split into two sections — Alligator Bayou (swampy setting) and Magnolia Bend (stately mansions).
The atmosphere of Port Orleans – Riverside is absolutely a winning attribute, helping guests to relax and refuel in a space that’s rustic and comfortable.
Randy W says
Just got back from Caribbean beach resort, definitely out new favorite resort at WDW!
We stayed in the Jamaica area, such reduced walking, quick walk to skyliner and the Fuentes pool,as well as easy access to the island playground.
The skyliner is a major point in staying at WDW we absolutely love it! .
Jane Dew says
As we intend to visit in August, having the Skyliner is not a bonus as it ceases during thunderstorms (mainly in the late afternoon), leaving us with the dreaded bus to return to the resort after a day in the parks. A hire car and POR is currently our first choice.