Caribbean Seaside Resort has newly reimagined rooms impressed by The Little Mermaid, which substitute probably the most notorious lodging in all of Walt Disney World. This shares pictures & video of the redone ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms, plus our ideas on how these examine to their pirate predecessor and DVC studios at WDW.
That is the newest improve at Caribbean Seaside, which has change into the preferred Reasonable Resort at Walt Disney World because of a lot of additions. For many who are unfamiliar with Caribbean Seaside Resort (CBR), its benefits principally boil down to a few issues. First, it’s the hub for the Skyliner gondola, with two stations providing entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, plus Artwork of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts.
Second, the Outdated Port Royale space was basically rebuilt a couple of years in the past, with a brand new promenade alongside the waterfront that introduced with it a nicer foyer and eating, together with Sebastian’s Bistro, which is one in every of our favourite dinners in all of Walt Disney World! Along with that, lots of little enhancements have been made all through CBR, together with Spyglass Grill and Coke Freestyle machines in outlying buildings.
Lastly, proximity to Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is the latest Disney Trip Membership property at Walt Disney World. That Deluxe Villa Resort introduced luxury-caliber facilities to Barefoot Bay, which means {that a} wealth of eating choices–from an superior character breakfast to a rooftop superb eating expertise for dinner–are all inside strolling or gondola distance to visitors staying at CBR.
Though not related to visitors of Caribbean Seaside, Disney’s Riviera Resort additionally debuted a brand new fashion of visitor rooms. These married type and performance, with a fancy and Disneyfied European sensibility, plus sensible options that supply loads of utility and space-saving design.
The rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort have confirmed such a success with Walt Disney World visitors that it has since change into the template for room redesigns at different Disney Trip Membership resorts–together with the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Saratoga Springs, and Seaside Membership.
Now that fashion is being exported to Riviera’s subsequent door neighbor. The brand new ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms impressed by The Little Mermaid at Caribbean Seaside are the primary DVC-Lite fashion rooms at a Reasonable Resort!
That is particularly important, as these new ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms changed the notorious Pirate rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort. Whereas we liked the concept of the Pirate rooms, the execution was terrible. Our authentic Caribbean Seaside Resort Pirate Room Assessment referred to as them the worst rooms at Walt Disney World. This was for a lot of causes–they’re location removed from all the things else at Caribbean Seaside Resort, the small dimension of beds, and skinny mattresses that actually felt like sleeping on an uneven pile of plastic.
Through the years, we cautioned readers towards accepting an “improve” to the Pirate rooms. Although these rooms had the next rack fee, they might be a purposeful downgrade for many visitors as a result of aforementioned location and (dis)consolation degree. Disney would usually overbook the remainder of the resort and hand out free “upgrades” to the Pirate rooms, which is the equal of being given a free copy of the Cats DVD–typically you lose by “profitable.”
To be truthful, the Pirate rooms did have their followers. Whereas visitor suggestions was largely destructive, there have been additionally constructive reader opinions. And as this part of Trinidad turned extra engaging because of Spyglass Grill and the Skyliner station throughout the water, Walt Disney World made one final ditch effort at a delicate items refurbishment to enhance the rooms and (actually) soften up the mattresses. Sadly, that didn’t do sufficient to maneuver the needle on visitor satisfaction.
Enter the brand new Little Mermaid rooms. Earlier than we clarify all the execs & cons of those new DVC Lite rooms, right here’s our video tour of the brand new ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort:
Gone are the clunky pirate ships, crates & barrel (to not be confused with retailer Crate & Barrel–this was a literal barrel for a fridge and crates for a dresser), and swashbuckling types. The room was completely gutted for the redesign, with all new aquatic decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds.
The cramped quarters have been fully opened up, with probably the most notable change being that the 2 pirate ship beds have been changed by a raised queen mattress and a pull-down Murphy sleeper that’s in some way each a snug sofa and a snug queen mattress. A pull-down fifth sleeper has additionally been added, which affords extra seating when not in use.
These fifth sleeper rooms provide lodging for a celebration of 5-6 individuals, relying upon ages. The rooms have 2 queen beds that may every sleep 2 visitors (of any age or dimension), plus a pull-down mattress for a small grownup or baby. There’s no arduous and quick rule about who can sleep within the fifth sleeper, however we’ve famous previously that it’s “appropriate for Sarah.” Basically, you’d in all probability wish to have a baby below 5’6″ and 120 kilos use that mattress. Even that’s pushing the bounds of consolation for an extended keep.
Mainly, these rooms are appropriate for as much as 4 common American adults, plus one atypical grownup or baby, and an toddler in a crib. At the least, on paper–the sq. footage of the room and just one rest room would possibly make housing that many individuals a non-starter. At the least there’s extra respiratory room in these CBR rooms than the typical fifth sleeper lodging. It’s actually superb how rather more spacious these rooms really feel as in comparison with their pirate predecessors. These felt too tight with simply the 2 of us, whereas these Little Mermaid rooms are improbable.
By way of performance, there’s no query—these beds are far superior to what was there earlier than. The common queen mattress is way extra plush than the pirate ship! Even the pull-down Murphy mattress is extra comfy regardless of utilizing a thinner mattress.
Whereas cheap minds might differ about just about each different facet of room designs, there’s close to unanimous settlement about this new fashion of pull-down Murphy beds. They’re rather more comfy that couch sleepers because of having a standard mattress, and the area freed up when transformed right into a sofa makes the room really feel bigger.
The pull-down fifth sleeper serves as a seating space when not in use, with drawers under including to the space for storing. Above the mattress, there’s a ledge for gadgets and two grounded energy shops, plus two USB ports (A and C).
For some time, Walt Disney World lodge rooms had not “caught up” to the proliferation of gadgets that should be charged every evening. That hasn’t been the case shortly, and stays true with these Little Mermaid rooms. There are many energy shops and USB charging ports. Much more are conveniently positioned on the nightstands flanking both sides of the mattress.
Completely a matter of non-public desire, however I favor the rooms that put the fifth sleeper under the tv (see commonplace CBR fifth sleeper, above). The Little Mermaid room doesn’t have any desk or desk area, which is its largest shortcoming for me. From what I perceive, Walt Disney World discovered that households weren’t utilizing desks, so that they’ve began reducing these from rooms that aren’t at conference resorts.
However no desk? That’s a extra conspicuous omission for households. It looks as if a few of the dresser and sleeper area might’ve been consolidated to permit for a 2-person desk within the nook. (Whilst is, they in all probability might’ve crammed a desk into the nook–there’s some useless area there.)
Talking of space for storing, that is one other factor the brand new Little Mermaid rooms do exceedingly properly. There’s storage under the fifth sleeper, within the dresser under the tv, below the elevated queen mattress, in a closet, below the espresso desk, and different locations I’m in all probability forgetting.
Actually, this looks as if overkill to me, however we typically journey gentle. I’m guessing a celebration of 5 would really feel otherwise. Given the ever-increasing storage within the new rooms, Walt Disney World has probably acquired suggestions requesting extra locations to place stuff.
The toilet has additionally been completely up to date, with a modernization according to different resorts round Walt Disney World.
Right here you may have two vessel sinks, illuminated rest room mirror, and make-up mirror. A whole lot of shelf area and storage has additionally been added. Personally, I’d be prepared to commerce these cabinets for extra counter area. There’s additionally an precise sliding door separating the toilet space from the principle room (as a substitute of a skinny curtain with a cranium on it).
As earlier than, the bathroom and bathtub are in a separate room, additionally separated by a pull-out door.
There’s now a glass door within the bathe, and rainfall bathe fixture along with the usual one. Extra Little Mermaid artwork is above the bathroom.
The tile within the bogs is new, changing a grungier (IMO) look that was becoming for the pirate rooms, however nothing particular. This sample works with the tropical fashion, and provides one other punch of character and coloration–a very good addition.
One other addition that’s each considerate and enjoyable is the stool for teenagers to succeed in the sink. There’s a purpose-built area for this subsequent to one of many drawers below the sink. Intelligent.
Subsequent to the drawers under the tv, you’ll additionally discover a protected and trash/recycling bins. There’s additionally a beverage cooler, which is technically not fairly chilly sufficient to be referred to as a mini-fridge, however I exploit them in the identical approach as a result of I like residing on the sting. (I put leftovers from Sebastian’s Bistro, snacks stockpiled from Karamell-Küche, and yogurt in there…and lived to inform the story!)
Above that, there’s the beverage station with cabinets and extra artwork from the Little Mermaid behind that. This features a Cuisinart espresso maker, which is commonplace within the non-Deluxe Resorts. Single-serving Joffrey’s espresso packets and Twinings tea are each offered.
These new rooms are the end result of lots of classes discovered by Walt Disney World over the past decade–iterating on previous successes and disregarding previous failures–into one thing that coalesces completely. We’ve heard that the visitor response to this room fashion has been resoundingly constructive.
Disney Trip Membership has even indicated that visitor satisfaction scores have elevated by 20% amongst visitors who’ve stayed in new rooms. If something, this undersells the advance these Little Mermaid DVC-Lite rooms provide over the Pirate rooms–they’re rather more than 20% higher than their predecessors. (That’s not fairly how visitor satisfaction scores work, however nonetheless.)
Stylistically, we actually like these new ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort. There’s been criticism on social media that they’re boring and sterile, with solely splashes of the Little Mermaid right here and there. This criticism appears to give you each single new Walt Disney World room redesign. In some instances, it’s completely true–together with when directed on the redesigned common new rooms at CBR.
Different instances, it’s off-base. There’s an enormous center floor between bland and busy, flavorless and garish. We predict that these new Little Mermaid strike the proper stability, with the correct amount of coloration, element, animated paintings, and enjoyable prospers. A few of it’s on the refined and understated facet, however we’d take this ‘Underneath the Sea’ room any day over the Little Mermaid rooms at Artwork of Animation. These are over-the-top and impractical for us. To every their very own, although; tastes differ and selection is the spice of life!
Fortunately, this isn’t simply one other Little Mermaid character room, like these discovered at Artwork of Animation. Along with the ‘Underneath the Sea’ paintings, there are touches that evoke the Caribbean. The tip of the espresso desk, rest room door, and dresser drawers all seem Caribbean-inspired, as do the colour decisions. Similar goes with the floral curtains, which characteristic starfish, seaweed, and even hidden Mickeys!
It’s undoubtedly extra on the refined facet, and never over-the-top just like the earlier Pirate rooms or present Little Mermaid rooms at Artwork of Animation, however not everybody desires that. These new Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort are refined and barely refined, aimed toward an older viewers (or not less than a greater stability of pursuits and desires).
In contrast, the rooms at Artwork of Animation are extra in-your-face and kid-focused. There’s nothing flawed with both strategy, and there are audiences for every. The Little Mermaid is an animated basic that has stood the check of time, so extra rooms that includes its characters makes excellent sense to me–and that is undoubtedly the fitting resort for any such room!
We like each approaches. Whereas we love the concept of immersively themed rooms like these at Artwork of Animation or the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans, we’d moderately keep on this room. Actually, I’m a bit stunned on the high quality and magnificence of those ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms. I’m much more shocked that they used any such pull-down mattress; I assumed that was going to be a DVC-exclusive characteristic to differentiate these.
To make sure, the studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort are extra refined, spacious, and simply typically higher-end. In addition they have balconies, which is an enormous deal for a lot of. It’s actually the “bones” which can be related right here, with lots of the ending and options differing–and being higher–on the Deluxe Villa Resorts that supply related room sorts.
Nonetheless, if I have been primarily involved with location, facilities, and value–and the room have been a bit decrease on my checklist of priorities–it could be tough to e book the Riviera over its next-door neighbor given the colossal price differential. These new Little Mermaid rooms ought to shut the hole between the 2 resorts for a lot of households.
Sarcastically, nearly a decade in the past we dubbed the then-new Caribbean Seaside rooms as “Poly-Lite” since they have been the budget-friendly different to staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. That was based mostly on the rooms alone, as Caribbean Seaside and the Poly are nowhere close to each other, and provide few of the identical different upsides.
These new “DVC-Lite” or “Cheap-Riviera” rooms (nonetheless workshopping the title) provide not only a very related fashion, however lots of the identical benefits in location, transportation, eating, and extra by advantage of each choices being positioned round Barefoot Bay. If it’s a selection between paying ~$250 per evening or ~$700 per evening, I’d e book the cheap ‘model’ and go for the DVC-lite rooms each single time. A balcony and barely nicer finishings don’t make a room price nearly triple the value to us.
Talking of the situation on Barefoot Bay, we’ve change into rising followers of the Trinidad part of Caribbean Seaside within the final a number of years. We already touched upon Spyglass Grill and the Skyliner, however the latter is absolutely price emphasizing.
The hub gondola station is straight throughout the water from the Trinidad part of Caribbean Seaside the place these Little Mermaid rooms are positioned, offering continuous entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and 1-stop service to EPCOT’s Worldwide Gateway entrance.
I did Early Entry twice at DHS throughout our keep in these Little Mermaid rooms–it took lower than quarter-hour from the time I left the room till I touched down at Disney’s Hollywood Studios every time, with temporary waits (<quarter-hour) for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Canine Sprint consequently. Early Entry to EPCOT took a bit longer, however I nonetheless managed to be one of many first individuals on Remy’s Ratatouille Journey one morning. The strategic benefit and effectivity for Early Entry can’t be overstated.
To that time, you received’t simply wish to make a room request when reserving the Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seaside…you should make one. For no matter motive, the ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms will not be a definite reserving class regardless of being dramatically totally different from the common rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort. Because of this there’s technically no method to assure you’ll get the Little Mermaid rooms proper now or in 2024.
So as to receive these Little Mermaid impressed rooms, it’s essential begin by reserving the fifth sleeper class. That’s not all, although, as there are a variety of fifth sleeper rooms throughout Caribbean Seaside Resort. (It’s additionally doable you could request this room upon arrival even when reserving one other class, however the outcomes are going to be very hit and miss–we’d not advocate that strategy.)
Through the on-line check-in course of, you’ll have to make a room request, and can have the choice to decide on between Outdated Port Royale or close to the Skyliner–choose the Skyliner. Comply with that up with the in-app chat characteristic and request a room in constructing 34 or 35. To actually cowl your bases, drop by the entrance desk upon arrival to verify your location. (That’s in all probability overkill, however precisely what I did–this room was too costly to go away something to likelihood!)
Buildings 34 and 35 are going to be the shortest stroll to the Skyliner station and Outdated Port Royale, whereas buildings 36-39 are rather more of a hike. (Constructing 39 is actually throughout from the different Little Mermaid rooms…those at Artwork of Animation!) See our submit on the Greatest & Worst Rooms & Buildings at Caribbean Seaside Resort for complete request suggestions.
It’s all the time a good suggestion to make use of a journey agent for Walt Disney World holidays, however that’s very true for “trickier” bookings like these Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort that require request. We advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Approved Disney Trip Planner, to allow them to do the give you the results you want and advocate in your behalf.
Their providers don’t price additional, they’ll reserve your room, assist you with eating reservations and itineraries, and apply the perfect reductions to your reservation as soon as they’re launched. Utilizing an Approved Disney Trip Planner is the win-win choice for those who’re overwhelmed by the complexities of Walt Disney World, don’t wish to do all the “homework” your self, or need somebody to watch your reservation so that you get monetary savings.
Admittedly, this “goal assessment” has largely been us gushing in regards to the new Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort. That’s largely as a result of these are excellent for us, an evening and day distinction from their dreaded pirate predecessors, and higher than their counterparts over at Artwork of Animation. All, in fact, in our opinion. As with something subjective, tastes differ and your mileage might fluctuate. These may be terrible for you, both by way of fashion or private preferences.
There are additionally goal shortcomings of the Trinidad part of Caribbean Seaside, which is why it wants the draw of distinctive rooms within the first place. If you happen to’re caught in buildings 38 or 39, it’s a hike to Outdated Port Royale, the Fuentes del Morro Pool, Sebastian’s Bistro, Banana Cabana, and so forth.
As a result of it’s out in no man’s land, Trinidad additionally has spotty WiFi (and even cell protection for these of us who use T-Cell) sign. It’s additionally the final cease on the bus route, and we’ve been skipped fully on a number of events throughout peak transit instances as a result of (presumably) the bus to Magic Kingdom had already crammed up.
Nearly all of that may be minimized by requesting buildings 34 or 35. (Even the bus concern–it’s not that for much longer of a stroll to the Barbados bus cease from constructing 34.) These two buildings nonetheless really feel comparatively near the center of Caribbean Seaside Resort, and have all the advantages of Trinidad. Better of each worlds.
In the end, for those who’re a household centered on kid-centric lodging, can be spending most of your time at Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, and plan to make use of the characteristic pool and principal foyer eating choices usually, these Little Mermaid rooms will not be a very good match for you. You’ll discover higher choices elsewhere at Caribbean Seaside or, higher but, at Artwork of Animation or Pop Century Resorts.
We love the brand new Little Mermaid rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort and extremely advocate them with the above asterisks in thoughts. If you happen to’re a bigger occasion that desires whimsy alongside extremely purposeful, extra spacious, and considerably upscale rooms, the ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms are an ideal choice. Similar goes for those who’ll be extra centered on Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, and received’t be often utilizing the facilities within the Outdated Port Royale space.
In our view, these ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms remedy one of many largest excellent downside factors at Caribbean Seaside and full the transformation of the lodge right into a Reasonable-Plus Resort. The one actual disappointment and criticism we’ve is that Walt Disney World is confining this room kind to Trinidad–it’s going to be powerful to return to the common rooms after getting a style of the nicer Little Mermaid ones! It might’ve been improbable to see totally different aquatic characters and flicks represented in every part of Caribbean Seaside Resort.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas on the brand new ‘Underneath the Sea’ rooms at Caribbean Seaside Resort? Happy by the The Little Mermaid changing Pirates of the Caribbean, or did you favor the swashbuckling fashion? What do you consider the purposeful design of the brand new rooms? What about their aesthetics? Assume these are too bland or simply proper thematically? Does the close by Skyliner hub change your perspective on the Trinidad part of CBR? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!