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!

©Disney The Little Mermaid-themed rooms are coming to Caribbean Beach Resort
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.
Heading inside, the lobby area is beautiful.
The check-in area is pretty grand! Just look at those high ceilings and architecture. Do you spot the hidden Mickeys?
The entrance is welcoming!
Fulton’s General Store is where you can pick up all your souvenirs.
Onto the rooms! This Magnolia Bend building is SO PRETTY with big trees and a courtyard featuring a stately fountain. Riverside is a beautiful hotel!
The 2-story “rustic cottages” in the Alligator Bayou area don’t have elevators. BUT the neighboring 3-story “Mansions” do.
Twisty pathways wind through the swamp-like setting of Alligator Bayou. Some guests love this side of the resort, others find it more difficult to find their way around and thus, less fun.
Either accommodations — Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend — are perfectly themed.
Results
Standard room refurbishments were completed in 2016 with a watered-down Caribbean vibe, but they now have sliding doors separating the sink area from the bedroom. If you want the most recently refurbished rooms, try Caribbean Beach as “Little Mermaid” room renovations in the Trinidad village will hopefully be completed in 2023.
The rooms at Port Orleans – Riverside were last refurbished in 2019. Many room renovations at Walt Disney World have resulted in a more generic, less themed look. On the exterior, though, Riverside is themed to the max.
NEWS! MAJOR HOTEL CHANGE Announced for Disney World
Pools
When the weather is HOT or you just need a break from park queues, head to your resort pool! After all, the pools have their own unique features and special theming. Feature pools at Walt Disney World hotels usually have at least one slide and also offer poolside activities. Look at the hotel’s recreation schedule for more information. Some Disney resorts are so spread out that they also offer leisure pools. These swimming spots are family-friendly with at least one whirlpool spa. Leisure pools are quieter than the more crowded and active feature pools.
Note that poolside towels are always complimentary.
Caribbean Beach Resort
Ready to channel your inner Pirate? Then your destination is the zero-entry Fuentes del Morro pool at Caribbean Beach Resort!
Of course, calling it simply a “pool” is not doing it justice. Themed like a colonial Spanish fortress, this water area also includes not one, but TWO waterslides and water-spraying cannons!
Wee pirates can enjoy a water play area just for them, complete with mini slides. And a whirlpool is also available for less splashing, and more RELAXING.
Martinique Village PoolGuests at the Resort may also swim in any of its five leisure pools.
10 Hidden Secrets About Disney World Pools
Port Orleans – Riverside
Sit for a spell at the ‘Ol Man Island pool. Unlike other pools in Walt Disney World, this pool (created to resemble an abandoned sawmill) has quite a lot of shade. There is a mild, 95 ft. long slide to keep the young and young-at-heart sliding and splashing all afternoon. Unfortunately, the children’s pool is just a simple “watering hole”.
Relax in a hammock, a hot tub, or simply lounge on a chair before heading to Muddy Rivers for a small bite and/or beverage.
Results
Not only is the Fuentes del Morro pool and shipwreck play area completely epic, but it also boasts the nearby Banana Cabana pool bar (which we’ll check out more in our “Food” category).
Food
Park days can be exhausting. Whether you’re taking a whole day to enjoy your resort, or you are relaxing after a shopping excursion at Disney Springs, once you’re at your Disney World hotel, you might not want to get back on a bus or boat for nourishment. So, you’ll want to know about the best options at your Disney World resort!
Take a look at the menus and decide which resort has the food that best suits your family.
Caribbean Beach Resort
When Caribbean Beach Resort received its aforementioned makeover, the dining options received a makeover, too. Caribbean Beach offers five dining options for guests.
Centertown Market is the Resort’s primary Quick Service location. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves up classic favorites like burgers and chicken strips alongside Latin- and Caribbean-inspired dishes such as Yucca and Jerk Chicken Bowls, a Rum-Mango Barbecued Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Fish Tacos.
Tucked inside this large eatery you’ll also find the Centertown Market Grab & Go filled with baked goods like morning pastries and cupcakes, quick bites like sandwiches and salads, and a coffee bar serving hand-crafted beverages.
Spyglass Grill is your other — much smaller — Quick Service option. Though you’ll find some seating, it’s primarily a walk-up window for grabbing a quick Caribbean-inspired breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
While we’ve enjoyed some tasty meals here, its primary purpose is providing a place to eat for guests closer to the Trinidad area of this sprawling Resort.
Sebastian’s Bistro is the Table Service restaurant at Caribbean Beach Resort. It features an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal!
The family-style dinner served here is inspired by Caribbean and Latin cuisine.
Banana Cabana is NOT your average pool bar! Sure, you can grab a tropical frozen drink to bring to the Fuentes del Morro pool.
But you can also stay put for quite a while to enjoy some appetizers (like Caribbean Pull-Apart Rolls or Jerk Chicken Wings), a full entrée, or some seriously scrumptious Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding!
All this in a setting complete with plenty of seating (including swing chairs) in a shaded open-air setting complete with a steel drum chandelier. We LOVE it!
We’ve got one more spot for you… Caribbean Beach is one of the few Resorts with its own Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea kiosk. And this one is conveniently located at the Resort’s Disney Skyliner Station!
Grab your cuppa joe before hopping onto a Skyliner gondola to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios!
Click HERE for the Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!
Port Orleans – Riverside
Port Orleans – Riverside offers a variety of southern-themed food choices. Port Orleans – Riverside and Port Orleans – French Quarter are connected to each other with a walking path, so you can eat at either resort’s locations and get your fill of southern and New Orleans inspired meals.
Boatwright’s Dining Hall is Riverside’s hidden gem of a Table Service restaurant, open every evening for dinner. The cajun-inspired menu is perfectly themed to its setting, and the Jambalaya is a hit!
Stop here for southern hospitality and a sit-down meal!
Muddy Rivers Pool Bar can be found by Ol’ Man Island swimming pool and serves up cool and refreshing cocktails and mocktails.
When you’re relaxing at the pool, you can also get light fare at Muddy Rivers.
Riverside Mill Food Court features Counter Service classics along with a few Southern-inspired dishes, all with a view of a 32-foot water wheel through the window. The Riverside Mill has great curb appeal with its blue exterior and long front porch.
You’ll find several windows or stations offering a wide variety of options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We’ve eaten here many times before, and the variety and quality have typically been pretty top-notch for a hotel food court.
Riverside Mill offers lots of atmospheric charm in addition to a pretty tasty menu!
River Roost Lounge is a great spot to grab a drink any evening and offers a menu of hearty eats as well. Here you can get light bites and some classic New Orleans cocktails.
This is a charming place to relax with a beverage!
PHOTOS: An Underrated Disney World Hotel Restaurant Has Finally Reopened
Results
Port Orleans – Riverside has a food court as well as access to additional dining via the Sassagoula River to Port Orleans – French Quarter and Disney Springs. For additional meal choices, Caribbean Beach Resort is connected to several other hotels via the Skyliner.
Both resorts offer a food court, pool bar, and table-service option. The winner in this category may depend on your preference of menu items. If it matters to you, the Caribbean Beach’s food court is newer.
Transportation
Are there any transportation differences with these hotels? Both resorts offer bus transportation as well as one other mode of Disney transport.
At Port Orleans – Riverside, the shimmering waterways lead to Disney Springs, while Caribbean Beach is home to the Disney Skyliner.
Let’s look a little more closely…
Caribbean Beach Resort
Caribbean Beach is LARGE! So much so, in fact, that it offers an internal bus system that guests can take around the hotel to get to the main Bus Station THEN travel from there to the theme parks!

Caribbean Beach has an internal shuttle!
Of course, where the sprawling grounds may lead to more walking (and bus riding) than you might anticipate, the grounds at this Resort also feature lovely water views, scenic strolling paths, and swaying palm trees.
Caribbean Beach Resort used to be limited to Disney Bus Transportation.
And while guests can still find Bus service for several destinations, that all changed in a BIG WAY in 2019 with the addition of the Disney Skyliner, connecting EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with four Disney Resorts.
In fact, the Skyliner station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach is the HUB for the gondola system!
All three Skyliner lines come and go from the Caribbean Beach Skyliner station, and any transfers that happen from line-to-line occur at this station. Although this method of transportation is usually a much quicker way to reach EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, expect bigger wait times at the main hub during the parks’ opening and closing hours.
From here, guests are able to travel directly to and from Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, Disney’s Riviera Resort continuing to or from EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Port Orleans – Riverside
No, Riverside isn’t as close to Disney Springs as Saratoga and Old Key West are, but there is boat transportation that’ll take you over to the shopping district.
Otherwise, you’re limited to taking the bus — a bus that’s shared sometimes with Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Results
And the win goes to Caribbean Beach Resort, which has earned major bragging rights in this category thanks to the Disney Skyliner!
Find our Guide to Disney World Transportation HERE
The Winner!
So, where do we think you should stay? Sorry, that decision has to be up to you. It depends on the people in your traveling party and what your plans are during your stay at Walt Disney World. If dining and/or shopping at Disney Springs is important to you, opt for Port Orleans – Riverside.
If you’re looking for a convenient way to get to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then Caribbean Beach might be the one to book!
Overall, these are both wonderful resorts, although when it comes to moderate hotels, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort arguably has the best transportation options.
Looking for time poolside? The pool at Caribbean Beach is the stand-out!
BoardWalk Villas vs. Beach Club Villas Disney World Resort Guide 2023
DON'T DO IT ALONE!

Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.
Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)
So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you
Where did you decide to stay? Share with us and your fellow readers!
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! .
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.