The Orlando International Airport has now announced two new flights to San Francisco each week! Twice a week, Frontier Airlines will fly to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
The update was announced on the MCO Twitter account, and it was shared that the new flight service will begin on May 31st. You can now book through the Frontier Airlines website. These nonstop routes will make travel easier for anyone trying to get to the Central Florida area.
We’ll keep an eye out for any more new flight announcements from the Orlando International Airport, and we’ll make sure to share any flight deals that we find. It’s time to start planning that summertime travel!
If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023.
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
The meal, served family-style, is both hearty and plentiful. We especially love the Patriot’s Platter, which serves up all-you-care-to-enjoy roasted turkey, pot roast, and oven-roasted pork served with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, seasonal veggies, and herb stuffing. Dessert is included as well, featuring the spot’s signature Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake… one of our favorite desserts in all of Disney World!
A full spread at Liberty Tree Tavern
But, you might want to be specific about exactly where you want to dine when you arrive at your reservation. When Liberty Tree Tavern is busy, you might actually be seated inside the Diamond Horseshoe restaurant instead. The restaurants share a building, kitchen, and menu, so on particularly crowded days, Disney uses the often less crowded Diamond Horseshoe as a backup.
Diamond Horseshoe
If you don’t want to get seated here, you can request so at check-in, and the Cast Members will do their best to accommodate you. This is also a good time to let them know if you want a specific room inside Liberty Tree Tavern! They can’t guarantee anything but will do their best to get you where you want to be.
Diamond Horseshoe
Keep this in mind if you’re thinking about making a reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern on your next trip, and stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney dining news and more!
A truly fun part of planning a Walt Disney World vacation is picking which resort hotel you want to stay in! Then again, the choice can also cause of a bit of stress. After all, accommodations are a major part of your vacation expenses. And with OODLES of options to choose from, how do you know which one is the best fit for your traveling group?
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Perhaps you’re trying to decide between two options that look fairly similar at a glance, but a deeper dive into each might help you feel more certain about which one you’re leaning towards. That’s the approach we’re taking today as we compare Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!
We’re going to tackle this topic with help from a few chosen categories: Common Ground, Theme/Rooms, Pools, Food, and Transportation. Are you ready?
Common Ground
So, what do Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs Resort share in common? For starters, they both fall into the middle category of Disney Resort hotels. Categories are Value, Moderate, and Deluxe, and both of these are Moderate Resorts, so room sizes and guest perks are fairly comparable. (Coronado Springs offers additional accommodations thanks to its unique Gran Destino Tower.)
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Another thing these Resorts share in common is that they are both MASSIVE! So much so, in fact, that they each offer 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 each Resort also feature a lake providing lovely water views, scenic strolling paths, and hammocks for relaxing on a sandy beach.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
At Caribbean Beach Resort, the lake is called Barefoot Bay, while Coronado Springs is home to Lago Dorado.
Lago Dorado
Additionally, both Resorts have undergone fairly recent makeovers which have changed each in MAJOR ways. We’ll dive into each of these topics a bit when discussing the various categories, but 2019 brought BIG changes to Coronado Springs Resort with the opening of Gran Destino Tower. That same year, the Disney Skyliner made its debut, and this transportation system finds its hub at Caribbean Beach Resort. Though that sounds like one big change per Resort, those additions went hand-in-hand with several other renovations and enhancements at each hotel.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
When looking at price comparisons, you’ll find a fairly similar range when it comes to Standard guest rooms. Bear in mind that Coronado Springs presents additional room options due to Gran Destino Tower.
The least expensive room option at Coronado Springs Resort goes for about $290 per night for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit. The range goes aaaaalllll the way up to $2028 per night for the most expensive room (the Executive Suite) at the most expensive time to visit. Please note that these estimates do not account for any tax or current discounts.
At Caribbean Beach Resort, the least expensive room option goes for about $297 per night for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit. The range goes to $494 per night for the most expensive room at the most expensive time to visit. Please note that these estimates do not account for any tax or current discounts.
Now let’s dive into the differences…
Theme/Rooms
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!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
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, and serves as the hub for dining and shopping.
Old Port Royale
Five distinct villages are situated around the shores of the Barefoot Bay. The villages are named after Caribbean islands — Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Jamaica, and these colorful quarters are where the Guest Rooms are located.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Standard and Preferred Rooms feature two Queen beds, a King bed, or two Queen beds and a child-size pull down bed, and can accommodate up to five guests depending on the bedding options.
Caribbean Beach Resort guest room
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 vibe going.
Coronado Springs Resort draws its theme and inspiration from Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures.
Coronado Springs Resort
The general feel is more modern than that of Caribbean Beach, especially with the 2019 addition of the stunning Gran Destino Tower.
Inside Gran Destino Tower
It’s also worth noting that Coronado Springs hosts a Convention Center, so fellow guests may likely be convention guests in addition to vacation guests. But that doesn’t mean that Coronado Springs doesn’t also have a sense of fun, which you’ll spy in touches around the Resort!
Inside Panchitos Gift Shop
Most Standard and Preferred Rooms in the Casitas (guest room housing outside of the Gran Destino Tower) can sleep up to 4 adults.
Standard Room at Coronado Springs Resort
(Just a reminder, Caribbean Beach Resort Rooms can sleep up to five guests, depending on bedding options.)
More than any other aspect of the Resorts, this category comes down to personal preference. Those looking for more classic Disney whimsy will likely lean towards Caribbean Beach Resort. Those looking for a bit more of a mature vibe may feel more at home at Coronado Springs Resort.
Pools
Oh, BOY! Are you ready for some poolside FUN? Because you can have PLENTY at either Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs!
Caribbean Beach Resort
Ready to channel your inner Pirate? Then your destination is the zero-entry Fuentes del Morro pool at Caribbean Beach Resort!
Fuentes del Morro Pool
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!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Pool
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. Guests at the Resort may also swim in any of its five leisure pools.
Martinique Village Pool
Not only is the Fuentes del Morro pool itself completely epic, but it also boasts the nearby Banana Cabana pool bar (which we’ll check out more in our “Food” category).
Coronado Springs Resort
Coronado Springs offers the Dig Site pool complex featuring The Lost City of Cibola pool!
The Lost City of Cibola Pool
A 50-foot pyramid is the centerpiece of this Mayan ruins-themed area, which is complete with a 123-foot-long waterslide.
Pyramid at The Lost City
Additional features include a kiddie pool and a sand volleyball court for some extra fun in the sun. And the Dig Site offers guests the chance to unwind in the largest whirlpool spa in Disney World!
Time for Some Fun in the Sun!
Three leisure pools are also available around the Resort.
Results
As much as we would love to make this easy on you, we’re comparing two of the best Resort pools in all of Disney World here! This is probably as close to a draw as we’re going to get, since clearly both pools provide truly memorable settings… along with a TON of fun!
Food
Our next two categories of Food and Transportation present some pretty major differences between the two Resorts in question. Let’s dig into to our very favorite of the two topics: FOOD!
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.
Centertown Market
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.
Centertown Market Grab ‘n Go
Spyglass Grillis 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.
Spyglass Grill
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!
Sebastian’s Bistro
Thefamily-style dinnerserved here is inspired by Caribbean and Latin cuisine.
Sebastian’s Bistro
Banana Cabanais NOT your average pool bar! Sure, you can grab a tropical frozen drink to bring to the Fuentes del Morro pool.
Banana Cabana
But you can also stay put for quite awhile to enjoy some appetizers (like Caribbean Pull-Apart Rolls or Jerk Chicken Wings), a full entrée, or some seriously scrumptious Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding!
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!
Joffrey’s at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Grab your cuppa joe before hopping onto a Skyliner gondola to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, and you can save some serious time in line at the in-parks Starbucks locations!
Settle in, friends… because we’re about to explore the 10 dining options at Coronado Springs Resort!
El Mercado de Coronado is the primary Quick Service option at Coronado Springs. While a bit of Tex-Mex fare is available in the form of Nachos and Sante Fe Chicken sandwiches, you may be surprised to see find plenty of pasta and flatbreads up for grabs, too.
El Mercado de Coronado
You can enjoy your meal right there in the roomy dining area, or choose one of many grab-and-go options like an entrée salad or sandwich.
El Mercado de Coronado Grab-n-Go Desserts
The fantastic dessert bar tends to fly under the radar, but the cupcakes and cronuts are well worth a look (and taste!). Adults can even pick up a layered Fiesta Margarita here!
Coronado Springs is home to several Table Service restaurants. Maya Grillserves authentic Mexican fare for dinner (which you can enjoy with a tequila or margarita flight).
Chicken Fajita Skillet at Maya Grill
Rix Sports Bar & Grill is a casual spot where you can grab some great pub grub (don’t miss the WATCHOS) while you take in the big game on one of its bajillion TV screens.
This shaded, open-air restaurant serves up sharable plates along with full entrees like Steak Frites. Or you can simply enjoy a crafted cocktail or a glass or two of house-made sangria.
Casual outdoor lounges include Siestas Cantina, located at the Dig Site pool area. (You can also grab a bite to eat here, too.) Laguna Bar is a small but charming waterfront bar that also serves up some of the eats from Rix Sports Bar & Grill.
Laguna Bar
But we’re not done yet…
Barcelona Lounge is a stunner of a space, located on the lobby level of Gran Destino Tower.
Barcelona Lounge
It serves as an espresso bar by day, and a gin bar by night (though other spirits and wines are also on offer).
Travel all the way up to the rooftop’s Dahlia Lounge to enjoy tapas, Spanish wines, and crafted cocktails in an upscale setting complete with fantastic views.
Guests can expect cuisine inspired by Spain at this Signature restaurant, including seafood and steak options. Small plates and House Boards (charcuterie and cheese) are plated in an on-stage tapas kitchen. Wine lovers should take note that 80% of its vintages on the extensive wine list are from Spain.
Truly, it’s almost an embarrassment of riches when it comes to dining at Coronado Springs Resort.
It’s no contest here. The win goes to Coronado Springs Resort for its sheer variety, food quality, GORGEOUS settings, and wide range of pricing options from casual to upscale. In fact, not only does Coronado Springs win out in a food contest over Caribbean Beach Resort. These days, Coronado Springs can hold its own against Deluxe Resorts when it comes to offering true destination dining in Disney World.
Transportation
So, what happens when you want to explore things OUTSIDE of your Resort? Just like all Disney Resort hotels, free transportation is provided to all four Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs at both Resorts. But there is another MAJOR different to explore…
Caribbean Beach Resort
Caribbean Beach Resort used to be limited to Disney Bus Transportation.
Caribbean Beach Bus Stop sign
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.
Disney Skyliner gondolas over Caribbean Beach Resort
In fact, the Skyliner station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach is the HUB for the gondola system!
Caribbean Beach Skyliner Station
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.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, meanwhile, simply offers bus service.
Disney Bus Transportation from Magic Kingdom
And, due to the fact that the nearest park is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, that means you can expect longer rides times to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom.
Again, this is an easy win…. But this time that win goes to Caribbean Beach Resort, which has earned major bragging rights in this category thanks to the Disney Skyliner!
The Winner!
“Aaaand the winner is”... whichever Resort YOU think it is for your group’s needs and desires. If a certain style or vibe doesn’t jump out at you between Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, you might find it most helpful to consider your group’s park touring M.O. above other factors. If you plan on making the theme parks the focus of your vacation, Caribbean Beach Resort might be your best bet due to better transportation, with the Disney Skyliner providing easy access to TWO parks! Plan on enjoying your Resort’s dining options while there? You’ve got LOTS more to choose from at Coronado Springs Resort.
The great news, though, is that BOTH Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs Resorts have come a LONG way over the past several years, jumping to the top of the list of many guests (even over some Deluxe Resorts) for all of the factors we’ve discussed here. So our question to YOU is… which Resort do you prefer from what you’ve seen today? We’d love to hear it!
The Skyliner is Disney’s gondola transportation service that connects two of the theme parks (EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) to certain hotels. It debuted in 2019 and has run into a few hitches since its opening, but generally it’s a quick, safe, and efficient way to get where you need to go. Even though it’s a safe way to travel, there are a few things you should NEVER do on the Skyliner.
The gondolas feature reflective windows and cross-ventilation to maintain a comfortable temperature in the tropical climate of central Florida. However, they are NOT air conditioned.
Skyliner platform
Using the Skyliner might be the fastest way to get where you need to go, especially if you’re staing at a hotel that has a Skyliner station. But keep in mind these WARNINGS before you ride! Here are the two things you should never do on the Skyliner:
Ride When You’re Feeling Sick
The Skyliner gondolas are suspended in the air on a sturdy cable, and they can sometimes wobble and move if there’s strong wind. If you’re already feeling sick or especially if you’re feeling nauseated, all of that movement could be very bad. You definitely don’t want to throw up in that confined space!
Riviera Resort Skyliner
You likely won’t feel that side-to-side movement much when you’re going forward, but if the Skyliner stops for some reason (as it often does), the wobbling becomes much more obvious. We’ve frequently been stopped on the Skyliner — it’s a pretty routine occurance and not something to panic about. However, being stopped makes the extra motion from the wind more noticable.
Skyliner
In addition, those pauses could last a few minutes or even longer, and you don’t want to be stuck in the sky for a long time while you’re not feeling well. So if you’re feeling sick, we’d recommend using a different transportation option, such as a rideshare service.
Force Someone To Ride If They’re Afraid of Heights
As we mentioned before, the Skyliner gondolas are suspended high in the air. If you have a fear of heights, this could definitely be a problem, as the gondolas are covered in large windows.
They’re pretty high up there.
If someone in your group is unsure about riding the Skyliner because of a fear of heights, don’t pressure them to try it anyways. Even some of our reporters who don’t fear heights most of the time mentioned that it’s a little scary, especially the first few times you ride.
Riding the Skyliner with the Riviera in view
Once you board the gondola and the doors close, you can’t get out again until you reach the next station, so you don’t want to be stuck in a situation where someone in your group is very uncomfortable. There are always other options to get where you need to go, including the buses, rideshare services, boats, and Monorail.
Disney bus
One more bonus tip for you: you should NOT depend on the Skyliner when the weather looks questionable. The Skyliner will almost always close in bad weather and especially during a storm or high winds. Make sure you have a back-up option for getting to your destination, and leave plenty of time for travel if it’s important that you arrive at a certain time (such as for a dining or Lightning Lane reservations).
Bad weather in Disney World
Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news!
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
We have made it to the Final 4 of our Mouse Madness tournament. This year, in celebration of Disney100, we have decided to crown the very best film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Our field of 16 has been narrowed down to just four and now it’s time to decide who will be heading to […]
It’s going to be a very big and very busy week at Walt Disney World! This post takes a look at the changes on the horizon plus the crowd forecast for this coming week, which could end up being the peak week of Spring Break 2023 in the parks. That the next week is going […]
You might wonder how the magic is made behind the scenes at some of your favorite Disney restaurants. From our theme parks to our resort hotels, culinary cast members are constantly setting the bar for what it means to create immersive and imaginative dining experiences for our guests. Meet the chefs behind new fine dining menus debuting April 1 at Walt Disney World!
As both The World’s Most Magical Celebration and Women’s History Month come to a close, we are taking one last look at the incredible 50-year history of Walt Disney World Resort and the innovative and inspiring women who have helped create happiness, wonder and inspiration for guests of all ages over the years. From the […]
Celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary with this new Platinum Disney100 Minnie Mouse Ear Headband — now available in select merchandise stores around Walt Disney World Resort.
We first saw these new ears at Bayview Gifts at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and at Creations Shop at EPCOT.
The Disney100 Minnie Mouse ears are platinum colored — which is the theme for the 100th Anniversary Celebration. They feature a platinum colored bow and a Mickey head-shaped medallion in the center that reads “Disney 100” with fireworks on the ears.
The soft padded ears on the headband feature many beloved Disney characters in their Disney100 platinum outfits. You can find Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Chip & Dale, Tinkerbell, Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse in addition to the Disney100 logo.
The Disney100 ears headband is made of polyester and features a non-slip velour interior. This headband is advertised as for adults, so it may not fit small children. They also feature a much shorter tag than previous ears that have been released. These ears are part of the popular ongoing collaboration between Disney and Loungefly.
What is your favorite piece of Disney100 merchandise that you’ve seen so far? Let us know in the comments below.
For more Disney100 merchandise, check out the following:
100 Years of Wonder Celebration at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World has announced monthly themes for their own version of the 100th anniversary celebration, which will begin when the 50th anniversary ends this month.
According to the Disney Rewards site, “Monthly spotlights on some Disney favorite franchises like Pixar, Mickey & Friends, and Disney Princess will help Guests fully enjoy and immerse themselves in the many Disney stories they love.”
As previously announced, Disney100 will be celebrated at EPCOT with Mickey and Minnie in their platinum outfits and a platinum Mickey sculpture. A new Spectacle of Light show will debut on Spaceship Earth and, in late 2023, a new nighttime spectacular will premiere to replace “Harmonious.” Journey of Water, CommuniCore Hall, World Celebration Garden, and Dreamers Point are all scheduled to open in late 2023 at EPCOT.
Mirabel will have a meet and greet at Magic Kingdom beginning “this fall” in the Fairytale Garden. She will be replacing Merida, and the area will be redesigned to look like the Casita Madrigal.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.
Writer Charles Soule’s Marvel Comics miniseries Star Wars: the High Republic – The Blade comes to an epic conclusion in issue #4, which was released earlier this week. The High Republic – The Blade #4 picks up right where the penultimate issue left off– with Jedi Masters Porter Engle and Barash Silvain caught in the middle of […]
Starting May 31st, our friends @FlyFrontier begin service to @flySFO 2x/week. Explore the Bay Area, take in the sights – everywhere you look, there’s something exciting to explore!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
