Island Markets were temporary grab-and-go dining locations at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, created during one of the most disruptive refurbishment periods in the resort’s history. Rather than operating as a single restaurant, Island Markets referred to small snack stations placed within the resort’s villages, most notably Aruba, Jamaica, and Martinique. Their purpose was practical: to keep food and beverage options close to guest rooms while the central Old Port Royale dining area was closed for redevelopment.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort opened in 1988 as Walt Disney World’s first moderate resort, built around colorful island villages, tropical landscaping, sandy shores, and Barefoot Bay. For decades, the resort’s dining pattern revolved around Old Port Royale, the central complex that housed the main food court, shopping, and resort services. When that area underwent a major transformation beginning in 2017, Disney had to solve a real operational problem. Caribbean Beach is sprawling, and asking guests to walk long distances or rely entirely on temporary central dining would have made the construction period even more inconvenient.
Island Markets were one of the solutions. These locations offered simple grab-and-go items such as pastries, yogurt, sandwiches, wraps, salads, snacks, chilled beverages, and similar convenience foods. Some also provided microwaves for guest use, which was especially helpful because standard Caribbean Beach guest rooms did not include them. The markets were not meant to be themed dining destinations or culinary showcases. They were functional neighborhood food stations, designed to support guests who still needed breakfast before the parks, a quick lunch, or something easy after returning to the resort.
Historically, Island Markets are interesting because they represent a transitional moment for Caribbean Beach. During this same era, the resort was being reshaped by the Old Port Royale overhaul, the arrival of Disney Skyliner infrastructure, the development of Disney’s Riviera Resort nearby, and a broader modernization of its food and transportation offerings. The Island Markets helped bridge the gap between the older Caribbean Beach dining model and the resort’s current lineup, which includes Centertown Market, Centertown Market Grab & Go, Spyglass Grill, and Banana Cabana.
Today, Island Markets are remembered less as restaurants and more as a construction-era workaround that served an important purpose. They gave guests convenience during a messy but necessary transformation, and they remain a small footnote in the story of how Caribbean Beach evolved from a sprawling 1980s moderate resort into a more connected, refreshed, Skyliner-era destination.