How do I rent a cabana?

[Stuarotra]

My window opens up tonight at midnight and the only thing I want is to rent a cabana at Castaway Cay. I’ve been looking all over the website and I don’t see anywhere that it’s even an option. I don’t want to be up at midnight fumbling around trying to find where to reserve one. I know my chances are slim to none according to this forum, but I would at least like to try. Thanks for any tips on how to find out how to book this. Thank you!!

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Hi. You don’t mention what Castaway level you are or if this is your first DCL cruise. Sadly, if you are not concierge or platinum, you probably won’t get a cabana. Theres just too many people and not enough cabanas. If you do happen to luck out, go to “my cruise reservations” and then hit “activities”. Then they would be under the day you’re at Castaway and then go to “add plans” and then “port adventures”. If there is one available, it would be there, If you have children, make sure you snag one at the family beach and not Serenity Bay. That’s the adults only beach and your child will not be allowed to go. Good luck! I am platinum and have waited till midnight. Still didn’t get a Cabana. All taken by concierge guests, I guess.

 

[Stuarotra]

Ok thanks so much!! This is our first Disney Cruise so it would be a miracle if I got one. I still have to try.....

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Ok thanks so much!! This is our first Disney Cruise so it would be a miracle if I got one. I still have to try.....

I would also focus on snagging Palo or Remy (if you’re doing the Dream or Fantasy). Those adults only restaurant can fill up too. Also, the princess meet and greets and the Frozen meet and greet, if you want to do that. Those are ticketed events that sell out. If you’re doing a 3 day, don’t get too bogged down with things to do. Just enjoy your time. I know you’ll be back! We are total DCL addicts. We will have completed our 14th DCL cruise at the end of this year and we only started in 2013! I need a DCLAnonymous group for sure!

 

[Shanti]

It's listed as a Port Adventure for Castaway Cay day. I agree that there won't be a family beach cabana available when you look, though. They will be all booked up.

 

[Stuarotra]

I would also focus on snagging Palo or Remy (if you’re doing the Dream or Fantasy). Those adults only restaurant can fill up too. Also, the princess meet and greets and the Frozen meet and greet, if you want to do that. Those are ticketed events that sell out. If you’re doing a 3 day, don’t get too bogged down with things to do. Just enjoy your time. I know you’ll be back! We are total DCL addicts. We will have completed our 14th DCL cruise at the end of this year and we only started in 2013! I need a DCLAnonymous group for sure!

I think we will try for the princess meet and greet then. My grandson will be with us and I definitely want pictures with all the characters if possible. Thanks for all your helpful information! This is my 50th birthday celebration. We set sail on my birthday. My 2 daughters, son-in-law, grandson, mother and my husband will all be on this cruise with me. I am trying not to stress about anything because I just want to enjoy this trip. But I’m a planner and I like having my ducks in a row. I think I’m more concerned about everyone else having a great time more so than myself!! Hahaha!! It will be good no matter what, I’m sure.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Castaway Cay is a blast even if you don't have a cabana. There are tons of umbrellas and chairs/loungers. Keep moving down the beach until you find a relatively uncrowded area.

 

[lklgoodman]

Agree with SnowWhite2, you don't need a cabana to have a great time at CC. We've been there 4 times without one. If you're grandson is 3-12 yrs old, the kid's club(called Scuttle's Cove) on the island is right by the first tram stop for the first family beach. It has a small splash pad area that my dd enjoyed. The second tram stop lets you off at the second family beach, it is closer to Pelican Plunge which is where the 2 water slides are at. Beware that I've heard that sea lice like to hang out there. I believe Spring a-leak is another splash pad that is by the second tram stop also, we can never get my dd out of the ocean, so there's still a lot we haven't been to yet. Happy early 50th bday. You can call Disney and tell them you are celebrating your bday on the cruise. Stop by guest services and they will give you a happy bday pin to wear and your servers will bring you a special dessert/sing happy bday to you. We've celebrated anniversaries, my dd's bday, and will celebrate my 50th bday on our next cruise in Jan. People often book things and will then cancel right before the cruise, you have until 3 days before the cruise to cancel without being charged. So if you aren't able to book something now, just keep checking, something might become available closer to your cruise date.

 

[NCConch]

As a silver CC member I lucked into a cabana on Serenity Beach (adults only), so it is not impossible.

 

[Stuarotra]

Agree with SnowWhite2, you don't need a cabana to have a great time at CC. We've been there 4 times without one. If you're grandson is 3-12 yrs old, the kid's club(called Scuttle's Cove) on the island is right by the first tram stop for the first family beach. It has a small splash pad area that my dd enjoyed. The second tram stop lets you off at the second family beach, it is closer to Pelican Plunge which is where the 2 water slides are at. Beware that I've heard that sea lice like to hang out there. I believe Spring a-leak is another splash pad that is by the second tram stop also, we can never get my dd out of the ocean, so there's still a lot we haven't been to yet. Happy early 50th bday. You can call Disney and tell them you are celebrating your bday on the cruise. Stop by guest services and they will give you a happy bday pin to wear and your servers will bring you a special dessert/sing happy bday to you. We've celebrated anniversaries, my dd's bday, and will celebrate my 50th bday on our next cruise in Jan. People often book things and will then cancel right before the cruise, you have until 3 days before the cruise to cancel without being charged. So if you aren't able to book something now, just keep checking, something might become available closer to your cruise date.

Thank you for all the information. My grandson will be 1 so the splash pad sounds like fun. I won’t let it ruin my trip if I don’t lick out and get one last minute but I’m still going to try. I just thought it would be a nice place for him to take a nap without his mother having to take him back to the ship. Thanks again!! Happy early 50th to you too!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is not that hard to get back to the ship on CC.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

Would he sleep in a stroller? They have free ones on CC. We did one beach trip when my daughter was younger and were able to get her to fall asleep in the stroller and park her in the shade. She got to sleep for a bit while I played in the sand with my son.

 

[MSPeeler]

Good Luck trying to score the cabana!

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

My window opens up tonight at midnight and the only thing I want is to rent a cabana at Castaway Cay. I’ve been looking all over the website and I don’t see anywhere that it’s even an option. I don’t want to be up at midnight fumbling around trying to find where to reserve one. I know my chances are slim to none according to this forum, but I would at least like to try. Thanks for any tips on how to find out how to book this. Thank you!!

So how did it go last night? Did you get a cabana??

 

[Stuarotra]

So how did it go last night? Did you get a cabana??

Nope. But I did make sure to get tickets for the princess meet and greet. I am persistent, I will keep checking. I know for sure that it’s not going to make or break my trip. Thanks for all the tips everyone!! My grandson has already been on 2 beach trips with his parents, so they are not worried about his comfort. He will be fine. I’m super excited to go on a Disney Cruise with my whole family!!

 

[MSPeeler]

Yay for meet and greet tickets! We were unable to get those on our last cruise, so that's a plus!

 

[KaityB]

Nope. But I did make sure to get tickets for the princess meet and greet. I am persistent, I will keep checking. I know for sure that it’s not going to make or break my trip. Thanks for all the tips everyone!! My grandson has already been on 2 beach trips with his parents, so they are not worried about his comfort. He will be fine. I’m super excited to go on a Disney Cruise with my whole family!!

My plan has always been to be persistent and KEEP CHECKING!!! All caps because it's important lol. On my last recent trips there were some activities I wanted to score, but neither were available when I could start reserving them. (I couldn't get princess meet & greet tickets on my cruise vacation and I couldn't get a flight of passage fastpass at wdw) I just kept checking and sure enough, about 2 weeks before sailing more princess meet and greet tickets popped up and about a week and a half to my wdw vacation,a few flight of passage fastpass were available. We also wanted fast track at epcot and ending up scoring them the day of, thanks to my persistence. Don't give up! Good luck!

 

[lorimay]

If you don't get lucky trying online, go to the Port Adventure's desk when you board and ask to be added to the waitlist. I have been lucky 3 times this way.
We are Platinum now, but have gotten one as a silver by looking everyday online too.
I have also been unlucky (mostly on The bigger ships) and unable to get one too.

 

[Quellman]

If you don't get lucky trying online, go to the Port Adventure's desk when you board and ask to be added to the waitlist. I have been lucky 3 times this way.
We are Platinum now, but have gotten one as a silver by looking everyday online too.
I have also been unlucky (mostly on The bigger ships) and unable to get one too.

Good job on the waitlist. We were on a Back to Back cruise, was the first one on the waitlist. Didn't come through. Oh well!

 

[Stuarotra]

Yay for meet and greet tickets! We were unable to get those on our last cruise, so that's a plus!

Yes!! I wasn’t aware that we needed tickets until I read this forum! Such a wealth of knowledge on here!! I love these boards. Every time I bring someone to wdw they go on and on about how I knew about stuff that they had no idea. I tell everyone that I read these message boards and find out as much as possible. This place has been a lifesaver!!