When you’re planning a trip to Disney World, there are TONS of options for where to stay during your visit. You can stay at a Disney-owned resort, a non-Disney resort located at Disney World, one of the many hotels and resorts off Disney World, or even an Airbnb. As for us, we prefer to stay at a Disney resort.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney resorts come with many perks, including transportation to the parks, Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and all the fun Disney atmosphere. Of course, there are different tiers of Disney resorts, and finding the one best for you can feel daunting. If you’ve been considering staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort but it’s outside your budget, we recommend another beach-themed resort instead!

All the Beachy Vibes at a Cheaper Price

When you stay at the Polynesian Resort, you get beautiful sandy beaches with a great view and plenty of places to lounge. The whole hotel is themed for the Polynesian culture and island way of life. But as a Deluxe resort, rooms come with a relatively high price point. 

View from the Polynesian Village Resort’s Island Tower

That’s why we love the Caribbean Beach Resort! This hotel also has a beach theme with sandy beaches to relax the day away. There are hammocks to chill in, or if you’re interested in other recreational activities, you can play sand volleyball, go fishing, or play at the playground! 

Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach Resort is a Moderate resort, so the cost is typically less than staying at the Polynesian. The biggest difference between a Deluxe and a Moderate resort is that those staying at Deluxe resorts get Extended Evening Hours at the parks on select days. However, both resort levels get Early Entry into all four parks every day.

Go chill on the beach!

Don’t Forget About the Skyliner

The Polynesian Resort is a Monorail resort, which means that the Disney Monorail runs right through it to take you to Magic Kingdom. But don’t discount the transportation at the Caribbean Beach Resort! Here, you have access to the Disney Skyliner, with routes directly to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

Disney Skyliner

The Skyliner station at the Caribbean Beach Resort is the main hub where you can get right on the Skyliner to either park. This is a HUGE perk as the Skyliner is usually pretty quick at getting you to and from the parks and your hotel.

Disney Skyliner

The biggest exceptions to this are right away in the morning when it can be busy, and late at night from EPCOT after the park closes. This line can get VERY long. But you’ll see a similar wait for the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian at night, too.

The Pool Is SUPER Cool

Both resorts have some pretty neat swimming pools, but the Fuentes del Morro pool at the Caribbean Beach Resort is SUPER cool. This pool is a zero-entry pool that is designed to embody a colonial Spanish fortress. There are 2 waterslides, one that is 102 feet long, and two water canons. There’s also a kiddie play area with mini water slides, a crow’s nest, and a barrel that will drench you in its downpour.

Fuentes del Morro Pool

And if the Fuentes del Morro pool isn’t enough to keep you and your family occupied, or you’re looking for a little more peace and quiet, there are five leisure pools located around Caribbean Beach Resort.

Fuentes del Morro pool

Four Words: Cheaper ‘Ohana Bread Pudding

One of our all-time favorite desserts is at the Polynesian Resort — ‘Ohana Bread Pudding. You can get it at ‘Ohana during dinner and, if you ask, sometimes at Tambu Lounge. But the cost to dine at ‘Ohana, where you can grab a family-style dinner, is NOT cheap. Dinner costs $67 per adult and $44 per child. 

‘Ohana bread pudding

On the other hand, if you’re not willing to shell out nearly $70 for a meal to get the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding, you can check out Sebastian’s Bistro at the Caribbean Beach Resort, where they have a VERY similar bread pudding for a fraction of the cost. Sebastian’s Bistro is also a family-style restaurant, but dinner will only cost you $39 per adult and $21 per child. 

House-made Coconut Pineapple Bread Pudding

The Celebrated House-made Coconut-Pineapple Bread Pudding is essentially ‘Ohana Bread Pudding, and we love it just as much (especially since we don’t have to pay nearly as much for it).

YUM

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a great alternative to Disney’s Polynesian Village. It is a Moderate resort with all the beachy vibes you could ask for. There’s great dining, a fun atmosphere, and access to the Disney Skyliner. It might even top the Polynesian hotel with its cheaper price point!

We’ve stayed at every Disney World hotel, so if you’re looking for help deciding which one will suit your family on your next vacation, keep following the DisneyFoodBlog and check out our friends at Small World Vacations!

You’ll Always Find Me at My Disney World Hotel at 2 PM — Here’s Why

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Would you stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort over the Polynesian Village Resort? Let us know in the comments!