Try for Cabana on Serenity Bay or Family Beach?

[goofy about mickey]

DW and I just placed our deposit for our first cruise ever. We booked a concierge stateroom (Halloween Trip 2019), so we're hoping we have a reasonable change at reserving a stateroom at Castaway Cay.

It's just us on this trip, so we think we'd prefer a cabana on Serenity Bay. Most of all, however, we just want to get a cabana. Are our odds better if we ask for a Serenity Bay cabana over a Family Beach cabana (or vice versa)? I realize there are many more family beach cabanas, but also realize that many cabana renters wouldn't even consider Serenity Bay because of families.

Or, do I not have to decide? Can I say that I wish to reserve my cabana, state my preference for Serenity Bay, but indicate that we will take either type?

I haven't done very much research for this trip, yet, so I don't fully understand the process. Is it true that I should e-mail all my reservation requests to concierge 125 days in advance, but not even a few minutes earlier? Am I permitted to contact concierge now with questions, or do I need to wait until I've paid in full?

Thank you!

 

[FSU Girl]

Be sure to send the email to shoreside concierge at exactly midnight 125 days before your cruise and you should get all your requests. You can mention that you would prefer serenity bay, but will take one on the family beach if that’s the only option. They are pretty good about meeting requests and if they have questions they’ll reach out to you.

 

[FSU Girl]

Also you can call and ask them any questions you have now until your cruise. They are very helpful. And yes, make sure the time is after 12am so it’s offically on your 125 day

 

[scrapbookjulie]

I have always put in a request prioritizing a couple certain cabana numbers, but I say I'll take whatever is available. So far, I've always gotten the cabana I asked for.

 

[RRB]

We booked a Halloween trip on the Fantasy too. Our trip is in September, when is yours?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have said, you can contact shoreside concierge now with any questions you have. If you send your request at exactly midnight on the day your reservation window opens, you should have no trouble getting a cabana on Serenity Bay, but you can certainly state on the request you will take any cabana available. You may want to look at a CC map and see which Serenity Bay cabana you would prefer so you can put that on your request as well.

 

[Weedy]

The cabanas on the Family beach are on the water.
The ones on Serenity Bay have a hedge and rows of chairs with people between you and the water
Of course kids will be on the family beach but it’s very spread out

 

[MomOTwins]

The cabanas on the Family beach are on the water.
The ones on Serenity Bay have a hedge and rows of chairs with people between you and the water
Of course kids will be on the family beach but it’s very spread out

This; since the family cabanas are on a private stretch of the beach, I think you might actually find them quieter than the Serenity Bay ones. The family cabanas are certainly more popular--there were still Serenity Bay cabanas open for public booking in the weeks before my two cruises. Nobody seemed to want them.

 

[Weedy]

I Googled these pictures. You can go online and look at more if you want to get a better idea between the Family beach and Serenity Bay

Serenity Bay



Family Beach