Castaway Cay Private Cabanas

[mc2]

Just got off the phone with the shoreside concierge team. You absolutely do not need to be PIF by day 150. What had been explained to me was correct - you just need to be PIF by midnight on day 120. I had phoned because I wondered how it worked with the larger ships if they had more requests than they had cabanas. Whether or not you are PIF at day 150 or 121 makes no difference - it is a "first requested, first served" kind of policy. So if I request one at day 150 and PIF at day 121, and someone else requests one at day 149 and decided to PIF on that day, my request still stays ahead of theirs. The requests are processed in the order that they are received (for anyone who has remembered to PIF by the midnight deadline to start day 120).

Hope that helps?

 

[Bear3412]

mc2, thanks for the detailed confirmation.

Good luck to all Cabana hunters.

 

[AustralianJetsetter]

Just got off the phone with the shoreside concierge team. You absolutely do not need to be PIF by day 150. What had been explained to me was correct - you just need to be PIF by midnight on day 120. I had phoned because I wondered how it worked with the larger ships if they had more requests than they had cabanas. Whether or not you are PIF at day 150 or 121 makes no difference - it is a "first requested, first served" kind of policy. So if I request one at day 150 and PIF at day 121, and someone else requests one at day 149 and decided to PIF on that day, my request still stays ahead of theirs. The requests are processed in the order that they are received (for anyone who has remembered to PIF by the midnight deadline to start day 120).

Hope that helps?

This is exactly what Shoreside told us recently for our May cruise. You can put your requests in which are loaded into the system. At midnight of the day your booking window opens, the system checks that you are indeed paid in full....if so they begin to process your requests

We got our cabana request no problem!!

 

[Doingitagain]

I read this on someone's blog, anyone know if it is true? We want to have 9 people in a Cabana on Serenity Bay (all adults, all family):

The adult beach cabanas are $399 for up to six guests, do not include the sand toys or snorkel equipment rental, and you are generally not allowed to add additional guests, though exceptions may be made​

.

 

[AnnaS]

Our October cruise will be the first time we are cruising with only one other couple. We normally have anywhere from 10 - 18 people. Now might be the time to try for a cabana at Serenity Beach.

I know silly ??? Can my friend and I (two couples - different reservations/cabins obviously) share (and the cost) of the cabana? (billed to one cabin/reservation) or does the number of people per cabana need to be from the same reservation? I think we can since you are allowed up to 10 guests (family beach) but want to make sure.

TIA.

 

[gometros]

I read this on someone's blog, anyone know if it is true? We want to have 9 people in a Cabana on Serenity Bay (all adults, all family):
The adult beach cabanas are $399 for up to six guests, do not include the sand toys or snorkel equipment rental, and you are generally not allowed to add additional guests, though exceptions may be made.

Price is right, but you can add up to ten guests at up to $50 each additional after four and it does include the snorkel equipment, but not the sand toys. I guess they don't see adults playing in the sand. At least not that way.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using DISBoards

 

[stingfancb]

Our October cruise will be the first time we are cruising with only one other couple. We normally have anywhere from 10 - 18 people. Now might be the time to try for a cabana at Serenity Beach.

I know silly ??? Can my friend and I (two couples - different reservations/cabins obviously) share (and the cost) of the cabana? (billed to one cabin/reservation) or does the number of people per cabana need to be from the same reservation? I think we can since you are allowed up to 10 guests (family beach) but want to make sure.

TIA.

We were in same situation. I booked it for the 4 of us. When we got on the ship I told them the other couple's name. Since it was all on my account, the other couple took the cash for their half and put it on my account. The wrist bands were all given to me to hand out on that morning.

 

[Doingitagain]

What are the wristbands like? Can they be removed when we are suntanning?

 

[HeddyRuth]

What are the wristbands like? Can they be removed when we are suntanning?

Only if you put it on very loose. The concierge team allowed us to do our own so I guess it is possible. We just put them on tighter as we didn't want our children to lose them in the ocean. Then they need to be cut off.

 

[AnnaS]

We were in same situation. I booked it for the 4 of us. When we got on the ship I told them the other couple's name. Since it was all on my account, the other couple took the cash for their half and put it on my account. The wrist bands were all given to me to hand out on that morning.

Thank you. I am going to ask if she wants to go half with me.

 

[tinkattu6]

Well, I've done it 3 times in a row now without being PIF at 150 days.

All I was ever told was that you absolutely had to be PIF as of midnight when the booking window opens (at the 120 mark) or you lose whatever requests they have made on your behalf. And that goes for everything, not just cabanas. So if you have a Palo request, same deal. Once that booking window opens up at midnight, if you aren't PIF, any requests become "null and void" of sorts, and you would have to start with new requests (based on whatever is available) once you are PIF. Even if you pay at 10 am on day 120.

Maybe something different happens if more people request them than there are cabanas (not sure how that is prioritized?), but I know we haven't had an issue yet in 3 cruises, and we were only doing PIF at around the 123-124 day mark for all 3 (hoping for the CAD to hit par...no dice...haha!).

Just prebooked our cabana today and was told it's ours as long as we are PIF by 4PM the day before the 120 mark. So exicted even if this has to be a short cruise we are making the most of it!!!

 

[HeddyRuth]

Just prebooked our cabana today and was told it's ours as long as we are PIF by 4PM the day before the 120 mark. So exicted even if this has to be a short cruise we are making the most of it!!!

Have been very relieved to hear this since we will be at Aulani at day 150 and it will be nice to recover from that before we PIF.

 

[BeautyFan]

When do you actually pay for the cabana? Do you pay on board just like any other excursion?

I know sometimes the ship cannot port at Castaway Cay due to wind/weather. If this happens on Day 2when we are scheduled, but we're able to dock on Day 3, would anything change?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When do you actually pay for the cabana? Do you pay on board just like any other excursion?

I know sometimes the ship cannot port at Castaway Cay due to wind/weather. If this happens on Day 2when we are scheduled, but we're able to dock on Day 3, would anything change?

It will be charged to your onboard account just like an excursion.

Any reservations would be moved to day 3.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

What are the wristbands like? Can they be removed when we are suntanning?

You can put it around your ankle, it just has to be visible when they ask. I do this when we have a cabana as if it rubs my wrist, I will get hives due to my allergies.

 

[Doingitagain]

We have a large group and will need two cabanas, if we can get them. Since our reservations are linked, I know we shouldn't be booking at the same time. Can I get two cabanas under my one reservation number?

 

[pgjak]

This will be my family's 2nd Disney cruise. The first time, my dad didn't even get off the ship at Castaway Cay because he can't be in the sun for long periods of time. The rest of the family got off the ship but only enjoyed our day for a short time so that we could get back to ship to be with my dad. I was really hoping this time to get a cabana so that he would be able to enjoy the day and still be out of the sun. I know it is expensive but for me...it's priceless if it means my dad can enjoy his day! Of course, when my booking window opened at 90 days, the cabanas on the family beach were all sold out. If anyone who has a cabana booked for the Fantasy 7/12/14 sailing that is thinking of canceling can you email me before you do. Thank you so much!
Patty

 

[pouncingpluto]

Anyone mind giving me advice on what cabana to request (we are sailing concierge, so hopefully we will have some choice)? I am thinking 4, 5, 6, or 7.

We will be a group of 7-- a woman in her 70s, three adults in our 30s/40s, and three 3-year-olds. We don't want to have to do a ton of walking for bathrooms or to get to the tram stop (if no one offers to take us on a golf cart). Is the beach nice for little ones in front of 4-7?

Let me ask, though-- why does no one on here ever really recommend 1, 2, or 3? Is it a little less peaceful on the end closest to the Family Beach?

 

[ibouncetoo]

Let me ask, though-- why does no one on here ever really recommend 1, 2, or 3? Is it a little less peaceful on the end closest to the Family Beach?

I had cabana #2 and loved it. Very convenient to the rest rooms and Cookies II. The beach in front of the cabin was just as peaceful as anywhere further along. Also, since we had some 9 year olds in our group, we could walk over to the water slides fairly easily.

The cabins a little further down have a nice view of the ship.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Anyone mind giving me advice on what cabana to request (we are sailing concierge, so hopefully we will have some choice)? I am thinking 4, 5, 6, or 7.

We will be a group of 7-- a woman in her 70s, three adults in our 30s/40s, and three 3-year-olds. We don't want to have to do a ton of walking for bathrooms or to get to the tram stop (if no one offers to take us on a golf cart). Is the beach nice for little ones in front of 4-7?

Let me ask, though-- why does no one on here ever really recommend 1, 2, or 3? Is it a little less peaceful on the end closest to the Family Beach?

IMHO 4 and 5 are ideal we have had them, not too close to cookies2 or the restrooms, but not too far rather, 1/2/3 seemed to be at the end of the beach and cramped up a bit, for more peace and quite the higher the number the better but there a further walk or golf cart ride away, 4/5 have a great bit of beach in front of them, ideal location.