Latest news with #CaribeRoyale
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edgar Berlanga scores monster KO in first post-Canelo bout; Austin 'Ammo' Williams shines in main event
Austin "Ammo" Williams earned the best win of his career in his first main event slot. Williams won a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 115-113) over Canada's Patrice Volny to win the WBA Continental Americas championship on Saturday evening in their battle of middleweight contenders at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. Williams, ranked No. 7 with the WBA prior to Saturday's event, is expected to target a fight next with the WBA middleweight champion, Cuba's Erislandy Lara. Although it was Volny (19-2, 13 KOs) who landed the cleaner shots, Williams (18-1, 12 KOs) outworked him through the 12-round distance to win the decision. Williams' success came in combinations, while Volny — who fought behind a high, tight guard — was content connecting with one or two punches at a time. Williams, 28, was urged by his corner to set a frenetic pace in the fight, which they believed Volny could not cope with. This spurred the American to pour pressure onto Volny and push him back. Volny failed to match Williams' tempo, and when the fight was close, Williams seemed to want to win more. It was an improved performance from the newly crowned champion. Williams has looked flawed in previous outing, but on Saturday night, he managed to tighten up his defense and make the necessary adjustments to grind out a tough win and put himself in line for another major fight. "This is what we trained for," Williams said. "A hard fight, tough guys who want to win. He had never been stopped before. I was going for it, but my maturity told me I can't go and blast out and get caught with something. I learned from doing that. I had to beat him strategically." A fighting family 🥊🔥#WilliamsVolny — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 16, 2025 Edgar Berlanga returned to his winning ways in the night's co-feature. Berlanga took out Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz in the opening round in his first fight since a wide unanimous decision defeat to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the unified super middleweight titles this past September. Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) landed a monster left hook to floor Gonzalez-Ortiz with just over one minute to go in the first round. Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-1-1, 16 KOs) got to his feet right away, but a three-punch combination culminating in a chopping right hand quickly sent him to the canvas again. Berlanga landed another big left hook on Gonzalez-Ortiz, which pushed him back onto the ropes, and at that point, referee Chris Young stepped in to stop the contest. 💣 Edgar Berlanga STOPS Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz in the opening — EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) March 16, 2025 Berlanga called out Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo, Caleb Plant and Alvarez for a rematch in his post-fight interview as he enters free agency following his final fight with Matchroom Boxing. Berlanga and Gonzalez-Ortiz were supposed to vie for the vacant WBO NABO super middleweight title, however Berlanga became ineligible to win the belt after missing weight by 1.6 pounds. Elsewhere on the card, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones made a successful hometown professional debut. Jones (1-0, 1 KO) scored a 2nd-round TKO win over Alessio Mastronunzio (14-6, 4 KOs). "The Banger" landed accurate, fast combinations from the opening bell. He found a home in particular for his long right hand, which could not miss on Mastronunzio's chin. Twenty seconds into the second round, Jones connected with a four-punch combination that included a strong right hand and a left hook, prompting referee Luis Pabon to stop the fight. 2024 🥉 Olympic Bronze Medallist 🇺🇸 Omari Jones STOPS 14-5 Alessio Mastronunzio in round — EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) March 15, 2025 Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Jones, confirmed in the post-fight interview that the Olympian will return to action in just four weeks, on the April 12 undercard for Jaron "Boots" Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis. Check out full Williams vs. Volny results below. Middleweight: Austin Williams def. Patrice Volny via unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 115-113) Super middleweight: Edgar Berlanga def. Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz via first-round TKO | Watch finish Super welterweight: Omari Jones def. Alessio Mastronunzio via second-round TKO | Watch finish Super lightweight: Jamaine Ortiz def. Yomar Alamo via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 99-91)
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edgar Berlanga, dismissive and overweight post-Canelo, should be wary of what happened to Jaime Munguia
Edgar Berlanga affirmatively answered a lot of questions the night of Sept. 14. Before Berlanga went the distance with clearly his most imposing opponent, the brash Brooklyn native's critics correctly wondered whether he could compete with a heavily favored fighter at the elite level. His streak of 16 consecutive first-round knockouts had ended three years earlier. Careful matchmaking, going the distance in four straight fights and getting dropped by Marcelo Coceres made many wonder whether the self-anointed 'Chosen One' was merely a carefully manufactured contender who would wilt under the brightest lights. And Berlanga's harshest skeptics seemed as though they were onto something when Saul "Canelo" Alvarez blasted Berlanga with a left hook that knocked him to the seat of his trunks barely a minute into the third round of that September blockbuster. The shorter superstar's speed and precise punches frustrated Berlanga, who was more annoyed than hurt from Alvarez's shot. Hellbent on proving he belonged, Berlanga rose to his feet and then the occasion. He didn't win — didn't come close, frankly. Boxing's best super middleweight beat Berlanga by scores of 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110. Only judge David Sutherland scored more than two rounds for Berlanga, who won three rounds according to him. The official result aside, if ever an unproven fighter won while losing 10 out of 12 rounds on two scorecards, it was Edgar Berlanga. He wasn't good enough to upset Alvarez six months ago at T-Mobile Arena, but Berlanga demonstrated that he could compete with virtually every other 168-pound contender in the top 10. Oh, and he made more than $9 million for a fight he entered as an overwhelming +800 underdog on BetMGM lines. His manager, Keith Connolly, is one of this sport's shrewdest negotiators, thus Berlanga was compensated as if he had accomplished much more than he realistically had before he challenged Alvarez. Yet for as many questions as Berlanga put to rest in his fight against Alvarez, the 27-year-old contender has done nothing but raise questions in the six months since. Between Thursday and Friday, Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) began to sound and act as if he has not taken his seemingly overmatched opponent, Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1, 16 KOs), all that seriously. He wore a ninja mask on stage for the final press conference to promote Matchroom Boxing's show Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. You couldn't see his face, but his disdain for promoter Eddie Hearn was obvious. It bothers Berlanga that he is preparing to fight on middleweight Austin 'Ammo' Williams' undercard at Caribe Royale Orlando. His first fight after appearing on the grandest stage imaginable, and Berlanga will box in a co-feature against a blown-up middleweight most American fans haven't seen fight. BetMGM lists Berlanga as a 16-to-1 favorite to beat Puerto Rico's Gonzalez-Ortiz, who has fought just twice in nearly 11 years. The San Juan native didn't box from May 2014 until March 2024 because he wasted almost 10 years of his physical prime serving time on an armed robbery conviction. Gonzalez-Ortiz, 35, could really liberate himself by upsetting Berlanga in what is designed as a tune-up fight. But try telling that to Berlanga, who was rather dismissive of his opponent while Matchroom's Justin Shackil interviewed him after the press conference. 'This is something light here, man,' Berlanga said. 'I don't overlook no opponent, but this is a cakewalk for me. I've been at the highest heights of the mountain, my last fight, and I took it very well. I handled it very well. So, this is something light for me right now. I gotta go in there and I just gotta perform and do what I gotta do.' Berlanga's handlers insist that he prepared properly for Gonzalez-Ortiz, that he hasn't looked ahead to higher-profile fights that await if he wins. 'I got three names,' Berlanga said. 'I got a hit list, but right now I'm looking at Munguia, Jaime. Hopefully he wins [May] 3rd. Caleb Plant and [Jermall] Charlo. These are the type of fights I want to make in New York. I feel like those three fights deserve to be at the Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden. I'm big [in] New York.' It isn't the least bit uncommon for boxers to talk about future opponents prior to a bout. But then Berlanga blew weight Friday morning. Berlanga and Gonzalez-Ortiz's contracted weight was the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds because their fight was scheduled to be contested for the NABO belt, one of the WBO's regional titles. That didn't stop Berlanga from stepping on the Florida Athletic Commission's scale at 169.6 pounds. Berlanga hadn't missed weight for any of his first 10 fights in this division. Gonzalez-Ortiz officially weighed a career-high 167.4 pounds and looked flabby around his midsection. His promoters at Warriors Boxing nevertheless believe Gonzalez-Ortiz, though shorter and fighting in a foreign division, is ready to finally realize the potential he displayed prior to his legal troubles. Berlanga has plans of his own — first and foremost to test free agency after fulfilling his contractual commitment to Hearn's company. They squabbled over opponents because Berlanga believed he was supposed to earn seven figures to headline a card in Puerto Rico this past Saturday night. Their disagreement lingered long enough for Matchroom to scrap that March 8 show in Puerto Rico, which was centered around Berlanga, and moved him to this co-feature. His fight against Gonzalez-Ortiz will pay Berlanga 25 percent of what he would've earned to headline a DAZN stream from San Juan. Berlanga gave away almost 10 percent of that lesser purse to Gonzalez-Ortiz and the Florida commission in the forms of a penalty and fine for missing weight. His handlers remain confident that Berlanga will tear through Gonzalez-Ortiz, who was dropped during the first round of his latest fight, a seventh-round knockout of Dominican veteran Edward Ulloa Diaz this past June 8 at Caribe Royale Orlando. Gonzalez-Ortiz overcame that first-round knockdown to send Diaz to the canvas once apiece in the sixth and seventh rounds. Berlanga has been dropped by a hard-hitting underdog in Coceres, who, like Gonzalez-Ortiz, primarily competed at middleweight before Berlanga beat him by unanimous decision in a 10-rounder on the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3 undercard in October 2021. This is undoubtedly a step up not only in weight, but in competition, for Gonzalez-Ortiz. Berlanga's words and actions indicate, though, that his unknown adversary could catch him looking ahead to Munguia, the contemporary Berlanga wants to fight most. Mexico's Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) must first avenge his own upset loss to light-hitting Frenchman Bruno Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs) when they meet again on the "Canelo" Alvarez vs. William Scull undercard May 3 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Munguia was a 35-to-1 favorite when Marseilles' Surace shockingly knocked him out in the sixth round of what was designed as a bout to keep Munguia busy this past December in his hometown of Tijuana. Berlanga obviously knows what happened to Munguia. Those invested in his career can only hope after what has happened the past couple days in Orlando that 'The Chosen One' is more mindful of Munguia's calamitous performance than he has let on.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Olympic medalist Omari Jones' path to becoming ‘America's next boxing superstar' will be so difficult
LAS VEGAS — Eddie Hearn's question was more loaded than he realized. It seemed harmless in the moment, strictly for promotional purposes. Omari Jones answered Hearn's inquiry on the afternoon of Jan. 24 the only way a confident, talented boxer should have replied. 'I definitely feel I can be America's next boxing superstar,' Jones said during a press conference at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. 'It's something that I've grinded for and worked for my whole life.' It will take much more, of course, than Jones' commendable work ethic and Hearn's heralded promotional chops to transform Jones into a superstar. Hearn more than understands that, the Brit's bluster notwithstanding. Jones, still only 22, will learn the harsh realities of this complicated boxing business soon enough. Matchmakers, managers, promoters and reporters all appear to agree that this 2024 Olympic bronze medalist has the ability, determination, intelligence, pedigree and team to reach boxing's elite level. Most of them realize, however, that building an American boxing star takes much more than an Olympic medal. Without assistance from network television conduits ABC, CBS, FOX and/or NBC, ESPN or premium cable partners HBO and Showtime, it'll be difficult to build the next Errol Spence Jr. or Shakur Stevenson, let alone another 'Sugar' Ray Leonard or Oscar De La Hoya. 'The Olympics certainly don't matter as much in North America as much as they used to,' promoter Lou DiBella told Uncrowned. 'I think in Great Britain, where there's a thriving boxing industry, or in some other countries on other continents where boxing remains somewhat strong and where they don't have good overall Olympic teams, but where boxing can bring home a medal, that kind of medalist in Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan or Georgia or Chechnya, that guy means a lot to that country. That's not the case here.' Olympic boxing medals don't resonate as much in the U.S. anymore in part because boxing has been marginalized as a niche sport in the land where the most money is available from multibillion-dollar media conglomerates. DAZN, the deep-pocketed platform that will stream Jones' pro debut Saturday night from his hometown of Orlando, Florida, is still working to penetrate the American market enough to reach requisite mainstream sports fans who must become aware of Jones — and other boxers after him — for those athletes to truly burst out of boxing's bubble. Hearn nevertheless has taken the appropriate path from the very beginning of Jones' career. Matchroom Boxing brought Jones to the outskirts of his hometown, where he will battle Italy's Alessio Mastronunzio (14-5, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder on the Austin 'Ammo' Williams-Patrice Volny undercard at Caribe Royale Orlando (6:30 p.m. ET). Amaury Piedra, an Orlando-area promoter who runs the Caribe Royale resort, is committed to helping Hearn build Jones into an attraction there as Jones' ascension in the junior middleweight division begins. Jones — who is trained by Jason Galarza and his father, Carl Jones — informed Uncrowned that he chose Matchroom in part because Hearn assured him that he'd be very active. A disciplined, rangy boxer-puncher whose jab is among his best weapons, Jones also appreciates how Hearn has helped IBF welterweight champ Jaron 'Boots' Ennis become a legitimate ticket-seller in Ennis' hometown of Philadelphia and Atlantic City, where Ennis will box WBA champ Eimantas Stanionis in a 147-pound title unification fight April 12 at Boardwalk Hall. 'Orlando, Florida is somewhere that's not always been a hotbed for talent,' said Hearn, whose company helped make 2012 Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua a superstar and two-time heavyweight champion in their home country of England. 'You go back to [Antonio] Tarver and those kind of guys. But with our relationship with Caribe Royale, I think this young man has the ability to be America's next boxing superstar. In the Olympics, he won bronze. We believe he should've gone on to win gold. 'That's good news, because [he was] probably a little bit less expensive [to sign]. You know, if [he] would've won gold, [he] really would've gone to the bank for me, you know? But this young man has it all — exceptional individual, a great talent, and on March the 15th the hero returns at the Caribe Royale.' Uzbekistan's Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, the gold medalist in Jones' weight class, edged the American by split decision in the Olympic welterweight semifinals this past August in Paris. Jones still emerged from the 2024 Olympics as the most promising prospect among the four American males who competed. Jahmal Harvey, a featherweight from Oxon Hill, Maryland, was believed to be the top pro prospect within that group, yet he wasn't as dominant as Jones before Kyrgyzstan's Munarbek Seitbek Uulu eliminated Harvey from the 125-pound quarterfinals. While Jones' loss to Muydinkhujaev meant he couldn't capitalize financially as much from his Olympic experience as he hoped, the bad news for Hearn is it is 'incredibly expensive' in boxing, according to DiBella, to develop young prospects. DiBella learned that very costly lesson when he paid Ricardo Williams, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist from Cincinnati, a $1.4 million signing bonus to sign with the company he formed, DiBella Entertainment, with part of the compensation package DiBella received when he left HBO Sports more than 20 years ago. Williams went 22-3 (12 KOs, 1 NC) as a pro, but the junior welterweight served 31 months of his physical prime in prison for his role in a cocaine-trafficking operation. Twenty-four years after Williams made his pro debut at Madison Square Garden's Theater, DiBella tells anyone who will listen that amateur success oftentimes doesn't translate into professional prosperity. A good example of that is Stevenson, the southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, who lost a split decision to Cuba's Robeisy Ramirez in the bantamweight final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Ramirez eventually won the WBO featherweight title, though only after he shockingly lost his pro debut. Ramirez has been inconsistent as a pro, whereas Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) owns the WBC lightweight title, is a three-weight world champion, is one of Uncrowned's top-10 pound-for-pound fighters and one of the sport's most effective defensive fighters. 'I definitely feel I can be America's next boxing superstar. It's something that I've grinded for and worked for my whole life.'Omari Jones Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KOs, 1 NC), another silver medalist for the U.S. in 2021, won the WBO lightweight title last month. The Norfolk, Virginia native is also much more advanced than his amateur nemesis, Andy Cruz. Cuba's Cruz, who defeated Davis by split decision in the lightweight final in the 2020 Summer Games, is 5-0 (2 KOs) since he turned pro. Yet the profiles of Stevenson and Davis were strengthened by ESPN's expansive reach, available because promoter Bob Arum's company, Top Rank Inc., has had an exclusive content partnership with the Disney-owned network since July 2017. That deal will not be renewed at the end of July, which means live boxing and important shoulder programming won't be available regularly on the most-watched sports cable channel in the United States. That could change if TKO's boxing division, which launched last week, secures a rights deal with ESPN through Dana White. The UFC CEO partnered with Saudi fight financier Turki Alalshikh, who also owns The Ring magazine and website — which employs this writer — as well as WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan to spearhead TKO's boxing venture. DiBella believes they have quite an opportunity to change the boxing industry. They face a considerable challenge as well, particularly as they try to build prospects into contenders and champions in the promotional company's infancy. Only one of Jones' Olympic bouts was televised in the United States. That fight was broadcast by USA Network, not NBC, which reaches a much larger audience. 'Honestly, most people in America don't give a f*** about boxing, forget Olympic boxing, which we struggle to find a way to see on TV,' DiBella said. 'People are paying way less attention to boxing in the Olympics. And you don't even know if boxing's going to be in the 2028 Olympics [in Los Angeles]. It's back and forth as to whether boxing is going to be sanctioned as an Olympic sport. It's certainly been a big subject of debate in recent years. And boxing decisions in the Olympics are even stinkier or just as stinky as they are in the pros. And the sport in the Olympics has as little or less credibility than the pro sport has. 'So, I mean, in a weird way everything is tied together. The state of boxing in general, well, that's one of the reasons why an Olympic medal doesn't mean as much. If boxing gets resuscitated or revived in the United States in [2028], would it mean more than when Omari Jones won a medal? If boxing is in a way different situation in 2028, and there's an Olympic medalist from the United States, maybe that could mean that a medalist that emerges in 2028 could be more warmly received.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edgar Berlanga misses weight for first fight since Canelo Alvarez loss: 'Damn, man — I can't do it'
Edgar Berlanga is 1.6 pounds over the championship limit for his comeback fight. Berlanga tipped the scales at 169.6 pounds in his first attempt at Friday's weigh-in ahead of his WBO NABO super middleweight title bout with Jonathon Gonzalez-Ortiz. Gonzalez-Ortiz successfully made the 168-pound maximum, weighing in at 167.4 pounds. "People don't know, right, but I had the flu," Berlanga said to FightHype about missing weight. "I was struggling with my health, and I knew that at a certain point, I was like, 'Damn, man — I can't do it.'" Berlanga vs. Gonzalez-Ortiz will still go ahead on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, but Berlanga will be ineligible to win the title. Should he emerge victorious, the belt will become vacant. Berlanga vs. Gonzalez-Ortiz is the co-feature of a DAZN-streamed fight card headlined by the Austin "Ammo" Williams (17-1, 12 KOs) vs. Patrice Volny (19-1, 13 KOs) middleweight contest. Elsewhere on the show, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones makes his professional debut at welterweight against Alessio Mastronunzio (14-5, 4 KOs), and Jamaine Ortiz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) faces Yomar Alamo (22-3-1, 13 KOs) in a super lightweight bout. Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) was last in action this past September when he challenged Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles. Berlanga extended Alvarez the 12-round distance at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas but ultimately lost a lopsided decision on the scorecards. Saturday's bout represents Berlanga's final fight as part of his contract with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing on Saturday. He will then enter free agency in the summer, likely targeting big fights with Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia. Berlanga has expressed his disappointment at being on the undercard of a relatively smaller show coming off a fight with the sport's biggest star, Alvarez. He blames Hearn's Matchroom for what he has described as a "disrespectful" move. Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1, 16 KOs) had two fights in 2024, a pair of knockouts over Jose Saint-Hilaire Gil and Edward Ulloa Diaz, which ended a 10-year hiatus from the sport. Gonzalez-Ortiz, 35, represented Puerto Rico at the 2008 Olympics. He fought to a draw with former super welterweight world champion Serhiy Dzinziruk in 2012 and has a win over Derek Ennis — the brother of IBF welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Ten years on and two weight divisions up, it is no surprise that he is such a big underdog (+950 per BetMGM) against Berlanga.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
This Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel is quietly serving up Orlando's best cuisine
This Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel is quietly serving up Orlando's best cuisine Show Caption Hide Caption The Bucket List Family gives five tips for traveling with kids The Bucket List Family sold everything to travel around the world. Here are their tips for traveling with children. Caribe Royale, a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel, is gaining recognition for its exceptional cuisine. Executive Chef David Hackett prioritizes fresh, local ingredients, sourcing from nearby farms and suppliers. The hotel offers a range of dining options, from casual poolside fare to an upscale steakhouse and a new sports bar with interactive experiences. The hotel you choose for your Disney World vacation is much more than a place to sleep. It'll be your home base – where you recharge, refuel, take the little ones back for naps, and quickly commute to and from the parks. So, it should offer everything you want, including good food. My experience with many Disney-area hotels is that good food – like amazing 'I drool just thinking about it' food – has always been hard to find (unless you want to spend big buckaroos at a five-star resort). That was until I spent one night at Caribe Royale. This affordable Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel is cooking up something quite special. And this 'something' makes it among the best food I've ever eaten in Orlando. 'PARK' LIKE A PRO: 8 expert tips for navigating Disney World with preschoolers So, what's the secret sauce? Complex Executive Chef David Hackett, who helms all the restaurants on site, blends freedom with skill and creativity. Since Caribe Royale is privately owned, he's not tied to a limited set of vendors like other hotel chains. Ingredients are sourced from local farms, fishermen, and small ranches Handpicking meat, produce, seafood, and other ingredients from his desired locations, Hackett upholds a standard that's hard for other area hotels to beat. Whether you're dining outside by the pool, in its upscale steakhouse, or at the hotel's new Stadium Club, an elevated sports bar and interactive experience, you can taste the quality in every dish. When it comes to dessert, the same standard applies. Executive Pastry Chef Jessica Bingham has her kitchen make almost everything from scratch – from cakes and cookies to specialty candies and even popcorn. Ice cream, on the other hand, is sourced from an Orlando creamery and includes the hotel's signature flavor, Rum Cake Royale. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: 11 budget-friendly family vacations in the U.S. that really pack in the fun The flavor is on point With a colorful background that has included several years overseas, Hackett has cultivated global inspiration for the flavors he produces. At the Stadium Club, you aren't served your average tailgate-style foods. Asian-inspired wings (pre-roasted for the perfect bite), Stracciatella cheese pizza with whipped lemon ricotta, candied orange and rosemary bacon, and some of the best pork belly bao buns I've had in the United States are a few of its many dishes. I feel assured about what is (and isn't) in the food Unlike 'crunchy' moms, a term coined for those who live toxin-free and avoid processed foods, I strive for a natural family lifestyle but also believe that (almost) everything can be enjoyed in moderation – especially on vacation. Indulging at Caribe Royale was guilt-free. You won't find most seed oils in the kitchen. Olive oil and fats like tallow and butter are preferred. Additionally, Hackett does not serve any plant-based foods due to their chemical content. To accommodate special dietary restrictions like vegan and gluten-free, the hotel gets creative with whole foods, even pickling their own vegetables. FOOD ALLERGIES?: Here's how to plan, pack, and enjoy your vacation Mouthwatering food aside, Caribe Royale earns major kudos for convenience, comfort, and fun Being a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel means Caribe Royale is close to the parks, and families can enjoy shuttle service to and from the parks and Disney Springs (included in the resort fee). All-suite accommodations sleep up to five and were recently gutted down to the studs. Each one-bedroom suite has a living room separate from where you'll sleep thanks to a door – a gamechanger if you want to hang out after the kids go to sleep or if your kids have trouble sharing a room. MAKE MEMORIES: The 10 best places in the U.S. to go with kids in 2025 Need a little more space? Two-bedroom villas, which are in the pipeline to be completely renovated, sleep up to six and have full kitchens, ensuite laundry spaces, and access to a private pool. Both the suites and villas include accessible options. Families can spend downtime cooling off in the main swimming pool with a water slide. A small fenced-in area features a kiddie pool and shaded playground, and there's an arcade a few steps away. More fun can be had catch-and-release fishing at the hotel's pier (equipment is free to rent), biking or walking along the surrounding trails (bikes are complimentary), or at the sports court. On weekends, families can gather by the pool for movies under the stars. For something you won't find anywhere else, rent out a sports simulator suite at the Stadium Club. You and your kids can peruse more than 10 sports and games, like pro-level golf and zombie dodgeball. (Worth noting: Simulator settings can be personalized, including for those who use a wheelchair, for a truly interactive experience.) This Walt Disney World Good Neighbor hotel is quietly serving up Orlando's best cuisine originally appeared on More from FamilyVacationist: The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. and are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
