CONCEPT ART: First Look at New Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Shutters, Centertown Market, Banana Cabana Lounge, Lobby, ETC.

WDWNT on December 11, 2017

Hiding in the hallway to the restrooms in the Customs House, guests will now find several pieces of concept art for the reimagined Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, a massive project scheduled to be completed by Late Summer 2018. The Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters, Banana Cabana Pool Bar, and Calypso Trading Post at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort all closed May 1st, 2017 to begin the project.

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The board features nine pieces of concept art that we have not seen before. Sadly, Spy Glass Grille was not included.

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A reimagined outdoor courtyard area should be rather pleasant to stroll around.

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The new new food court, Centertown Market, will feature indoor and outdoor seating. It will take up most of the space that was the old Shutters restaurant.

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The interior will be quite the departure from the old look.

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The Porte Cochere and lobby are moving to Old Port Royale, with the Customs House set to be demolished once the new check-in area is complete.

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It should be nice to finally have everything in one building here.

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The lobby cuts through what was the Calypso Trading Post store.

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Shutters is moving to an entirely new location on the waterfront which should offer fantastic views. Banana Cabana Lounge will act as the bar for the dining venue.

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The interior of Shutters does leave a little to be desired as the exterior is just way more vibrant.

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The interior of Banana Cabana looks pretty fun.

The reimagined Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is set to open Late Summer 2018, with the Disney Skyliner and adjacent Disney’s Riviera Resort (also part of this project) coming online sometime after that.

To relive what Centertown Old Port Royale once was, be sure to check out our tour of the area from just before it closed:

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RUMOR: 10-Story Tower, Waterfront Dining, and More Changes Coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

While Coronado Springs has stolen a lot of the thunder with the announcement of a 15 story tower and massive expansion, the far-longer-rumored expansion of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is beginning as well, but Disney is saying very little on the project…

Also during this exciting time, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be reimagined with new additions to the resort’s current marketplace, Centertown, including new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. This centralized location will offer the resort’s guests more convenient access to services, amenities and dining.

This doesn’t really tell you a whole lot about the overall project. Why? Well, it would be kind of hard to sell the Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge (which aren’t even on sale yet) when people know that another Disney Vacation Club Resort is on the way.

The following information comes from cast members at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and is in no way official as of yet. This is simply what they are being told at this time.

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The expansion of Old Port Royale that begins May 1st and runs through Summer 2018 will reportedly include moving the Shutters table service restaurant onto the waterfront and will include a new bar and lounge. Small grab and go locations are also being constructed elsewhere around the resort, including one in Trinidad South. The counter service location and shop space inside of Old Port Royale will be completely reimagined during this process.

Other pieces of the project include the demolition of the Customs House and the move of all important guest facilities to Old Port Royale as well.  A centralized pathway system over the water (similar to another facet of the Coronado project) is also planned to allow guests an easier way to traverse the large resort.

Of course, the focus of the project will be a new, 10-story tower with 600 guest rooms that will make up the Disney Vacation Club wing of the resort. This and the rumored gondola system are yet to be announced, and knowing DVC, it could be a while until they are formally. The tower should also have a rooftop dining restaurant similar to the one being constructed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

Hopefully Disney will come forward with more information soon, but in the meantime, guests staying at Caribbean Beach should keep in mind that it will be a “war zone” in there starting this May. Guests are being compensated with $75 gift cards per night until the Old Port Royale project is completed.

Shutters, Old Port Royale, and More Closing in 2017 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

WDWNT on February 23, 2017

The Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters, Banana Cabana Pool Bar, and Calypso Trading Post at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will all be closed starting May 1st, 2017 as part of the ongoing re-imagining of the resort.

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Starting at that time, Centertown will serve breakfast and dinner and a variety of grab-an-go options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available at markets located in the Aruba, Jamaica, and Martinique sections of the resort.

These establishments are scheduled to return in late 2017 (as of right now).