News Caribbean Beach Expansion

[lawdogNOLA]

Aerial from bioreconstruct today:

Thanks!! It is really coming along. Looks like only a bit more roof work to go, at least for exterior, and from a couple of other pictures of the CBR Skyliner station, they're doing some additional paving on the soon to be main entrance from Victory Way. I'd thought they'd finished paving and striping it when we were there 5/29-6/7, but it looks like it didn't quite get done how they wanted,

 

[Patcheslee]

Where on Facebook? Anyone have any pics or vid? I've been predicting an October 1st re-opening, due to the anniversary tie-ins for the CBR (30th) and WDW (47th), and the last video I've seen is 2+ weeks old, and a LOT can get done in 2 weeks.

The Disney Caribbean Beach Resort group.

 

[surfsupdon]

Do we think large portions of Jamaica and Aruba will be shut down to hang the cable? How long does hanging take?

Do we think the Trinidads will get their own names and identity? Trinidad and another island name, perhaps Tobago.

Do we think any current bus stops can be eliminated? The Aruba stop’s off centerness helped take some of Barbados....but Barbados is no longer. Martinique and Trinidad North are nearby OPR’s new bus terminal. The walks from the remotest of rooms would be on par or shorter than other locations at Values and Moderates ie Little Mermaid at Art and Parterre at POR.

Any thoughts, suggestions, and rumors?

 

[lawdogNOLA]

Looking at more details of bioreconstruct's 9/21/18 pic of Old Port Royale's reconstruction, I feel that it is very close to re-opening. The check-in area is already striped. Although I'd looked for more lead-time by way of an announcement, October 1st (and its anniversary dates) remains a strong possibility for re-opening. If not then, then I expect it by mid-October. Obviously, that's not going to be the end of all the work, as Centertown's Food tent needs to be struck down, and that parking area reclaimed. However, such tents are designed for fairly speedy teardowns. It's just a question of whether the parking lot gets a resurface before reopening as to the overall length of the cleanup process.

Do we think large portions of Jamaica and Aruba will be shut down to hang the cable? How long does hanging take?

Do we think the Trinidads will get their own names and identity? Trinidad and another island name, perhaps Tobago.

Do we think any current bus stops can be eliminated? The Aruba stop’s off centerness helped take some of Barbados....but Barbados is no longer. Martinique and Trinidad North are nearby OPR’s new bus terminal. The walks from the remotest of rooms would be on par or shorter than other locations at Values and Moderates ie Little Mermaid at Art and Parterre at POR.

Any thoughts, suggestions, and rumors?

I'd expect cable stringing to take a short amount of time, possibly 1 day one way, 1 day the other, with no major closures. Trinidad North and South has been so named for 30 years as of this October 1st. I doubt any change is coming. I don't see bus stops being eliminated.

What I do expect to see is construction on the walkway (walkways?) for improved pedestrian traffic to the Skyliner stations. Right now, the main pedestrian path across the bridge that goes over Barefoot Bay is on the side opposite of the main Skyliner station. And that roadway becomes the main/only entrance into the CBR (whether the inner ring road makes a comeback after the Riviera opens, I'm not holding my breath) once OPR reopens. I expect there'll be a pause before that work gets started, but look for it to be completed prior to the Skyliner opening.

 

[lawdogNOLA]

September 23rd picture courtesy of bioreconstruct https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct: "Main entrance of Old Port Royale. Themed music can be heard from inside. Has been in refurbishment."

 

[TJJohn12]

The site that must not be named has another press release from TDO about new resort offerings - this time a kid’s interactive pirate cruise.

With the frequency of the press releases hitting, it seems like Oct. 1 (to put it firmly on the new financial books) is all but assured.

 

[lawdogNOLA]

The site that must not be named has another press release from TDO about new resort offerings - this time a kid’s interactive pirate cruise.

With the frequency of the press releases hitting, it seems like Oct. 1 (to put it firmly on the new financial books) is all but assured.

As I've forgotten which site that is, heh, there's been an interactive pirate cruise at the CBR for decades, so I'll ask if this is anything new, or are they just announcing that it'll be sailing now from the Barefoot Boatyard, like it used to (it's been docking at Carribean Cay since the construction)?

 

[TJJohn12]

@lawdogNOLA - This look like the same one they did before? I’ve not been to CBR since 2007, and even then this wasn’t really my jam.

Kids ages 10 to 16 can now “investigate the mysteries of pirates” at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The nighttime cruise takes young buccaneers on a quest to unravel the mystery of Captain Calico’s disappearance.

From Disney:

Our crew will embark on a quest to unravel the mystery of Captain Calico’s disappearance by solving puzzles and collecting clues. You will experience an evening of immersive storytelling during this interactive boating scavenger hunt.​

The excursion takes place on Thursday’s at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort from 8pm to 9:30pm and costs $39 per person.

 

[surfsupdon]

I do not remember the original pirate adventure taking place at night. It was always a day event.

 

[surfsupdon]

Looking at more details of bioreconstruct's 9/21/18 pic of Old Port Royale's reconstruction, I feel that it is very close to re-opening. The check-in area is already striped. Although I'd looked for more lead-time by way of an announcement, October 1st (and its anniversary dates) remains a strong possibility for re-opening. If not then, then I expect it by mid-October. Obviously, that's not going to be the end of all the work, as Centertown's Food tent needs to be struck down, and that parking area reclaimed. However, such tents are designed for fairly speedy teardowns. It's just a question of whether the parking lot gets a resurface before reopening as to the overall length of the cleanup process.



I'd expect cable stringing to take a short amount of time, possibly 1 day one way, 1 day the other, with no major closures. Trinidad North and South has been so named for 30 years as of this October 1st. I doubt any change is coming. I don't see bus stops being eliminated.

What I do expect to see is construction on the walkway (walkways?) for improved pedestrian traffic to the Skyliner stations. Right now, the main pedestrian path across the bridge that goes over Barefoot Bay is on the side opposite of the main Skyliner station. And that roadway becomes the main/only entrance into the CBR (whether the inner ring road makes a comeback after the Riviera opens, I'm not holding my breath) once OPR reopens. I expect there'll be a pause before that work gets started, but look for it to be completed prior to the Skyliner opening.

They def have to rework the main Promenade as it gets to the Skyliner station. SeaBreeze Drive needs to be crossed by pedestrians, and SeaBreeze is becoming the new main route to enter and get to check in. I would hope they would build the expanded Promenade underneath SeaBreeze Drive, as it is on the Trinidad side of the lake. We do not need to have pedestrians crossing the actual road.

Also, I am hoping the Promenade will connect to Riviera. I imagine this will be a no brainer.

 

[lawdogNOLA]

@lawdogNOLA - This look like the same one they did before? I’ve not been to CBR since 2007, and even then this wasn’t really my jam.

Nope, that's new! The original pirate cruises are ages 4-12 (potty trained is a requirement), and during daytime. This increases the ages to 10-16. Both the original and the new cruise have the same price point. The original cruises have been going on since at least 2001, as it shows up in a guidebook we have from the trip that year, and are also available at other resorts that have water features.

 

[lawdogNOLA]

From other reports, I see that the beach has been closed off at Aruba, as the cart/walking path is being widened along that stretch, which is roughly from the Skyliner pylon by Aruba's quiet pool, to the fenced off area leading to the Riviera Skyliner station. It also has been reported that there will be a ribbon-cutting at Old Port Royale on September 30th, with the first public day being October 1st.

 

[Dave B]

From other reports, I see that the beach has been closed off at Aruba, as the cart/walking path is being widened along that stretch, which is roughly from the Skyliner pylon by Aruba's quiet pool, to the fenced off area leading to the Riviera Skyliner station. It also has been reported that there will be a ribbon-cutting at Old Port Royale on September 30th, with the first public day being October 1st.

Reported by who?

 

[TJJohn12]

Reported by who?

Dude in the video mentioned it - but doesn't mention his sourcing.

 

[Dave B]

right on, thx, sorry didn't watch the video, was just reading your quote

 

[WDWtraveler]

Photo update as of Friday, September 28, 2018. The porte cochere at the lobby entrance to the Caribbean Beach resort has some new architectural details added this week. Top coat paving was in progress today at the entrance.

A side view of the new Centertown, with the new table service restaurant in the right background.

The new bar / lounge next to the resort's feature pool is just about ready to open. Tables and chairs are in place, the beer taps have handles, and cups are on the bar top. Lighting design is unique: over the bar are hanging bottles with lights inside, and over the seating area are colorfully painted, small steel drums with lights.

Finally, the entire Martinique area has been re-landscaped. Gone are the overgrown, tall tropical plants. Everything is newly planted and the shorter new plants allow visibility over the entire area. Of course, the new plants will grow over time.

 

[eddie104]

Photo update as of Friday, September 28, 2018. The porte cochere at the lobby entrance to the Caribbean Beach resort has some new architectural details added this week. Top coat paving was in progress today at the entrance.

View attachment 316921

A side view of the new Town Center, with the new table service restaurant in the right background.

View attachment 316922

The new bar / lounge next to the resort's feature pool is just about ready to open. Tables and chairs are in place, the beer taps have handles, and cups are on the bar top. Lighting design is unique: over the bar are hanging bottles with lights inside, and over the seating area are colorfully painted, small steel drums with lights.

View attachment 316923

Finally, the entire Martinique area has been re-landscaped. Gone are the overgrown, tall tropical plants. Everything is newly planted and the shorter new plants allow visibility over the entire area. Of course, the new plants will grow over time.

View attachment 316924

Thanks for all the updates.

 

[Dave B]

Thank you

 

[lawdogNOLA]

Photo update as of Friday, September 28, 2018. The porte cochere at the lobby entrance to the Caribbean Beach resort has some new architectural details added this week. Top coat paving was in progress today at the entrance.

View attachment 316921

A side view of the new Town Center, with the new table service restaurant in the right background.

View attachment 316922

The new bar / lounge next to the resort's feature pool is just about ready to open. Tables and chairs are in place, the beer taps have handles, and cups are on the bar top. Lighting design is unique: over the bar are hanging bottles with lights inside, and over the seating area are colorfully painted, small steel drums with lights.

View attachment 316923

Finally, the entire Martinique area has been re-landscaped. Gone are the overgrown, tall tropical plants. Everything is newly planted and the shorter new plants allow visibility over the entire area. Of course, the new plants will grow over time.

View attachment 316924

Thanks so much for the update and pictures!

 

[lawdogNOLA]

right on, thx, sorry didn't watch the video, was just reading your quote

Sorry about that. I was haphazard in that post, going back and forth whether to link the video. The vlogger states his information at the start of the video, but doesn't mention his sources. In his video of last month, he mentioned that he had talked to cast members (IIRC he said he'd stopped off at the Custom House and asked there) and they provided the October 1st date. One could assume that he did the same, but there's the old saying about what happens when you "assume", so I didn't. All my bad for not putting enough detail in my post.