Family Cabanas: Just Hype?

[Yinn]

Background: First family cruise ever for us. We’ll be traveling with a couple of Oceaneer Club aged kids. We booked a concierge room on the Dream and we’re coming up on our request date so we’re hunkering down on our requests. We don’t normally book any type of Cabana when we go to WDW but considering it for our cruise given the hype and our room type.

Based on what we’ve been finding it seems to be a bit of a disadvantage in some cases (further away, rocky beach, feeling confined to get value) while an advantage to some (more peaceful, dedicated home base)

A lot of what I could find is from groups of adults, large families, or families with older children.

Question: What are this forums recommendations? Any insight from folks who have gotten the cabana with children in that age range?

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Background: First family cruise ever for us. We’ll be traveling with a couple of Oceaneer Club aged kids. We booked a concierge room on the Dream and we’re coming up on our request date so we’re hunkering down on our requests. We don’t normally book any type of Cabana when we go to WDW but considering it for our cruise given the hype and our room type.

Based on what we’ve been finding it seems to be a bit of a disadvantage in some cases (further away, rocky beach, feeling confined to get value) while an advantage to some (more peaceful, dedicated home base)

A lot of what I could find is from groups of adults, large families, or families with older children.

Question: What are this forums recommendations? Any insight from folks who have gotten the cabana with children in that age range?

From the questions in your post, I assume you mean lighthouse point, but you’ll get better answers if you specify which private island. It would also be helpful if you tell us what your ideal day looks like and if you want to do any activities, other than chill in the cabana.

 

[Cfabar1]

Also be aware these are very hard to come by.... I wouldn't count on one...

 

[CamColt]

I'm not in the demographic you are interested in, but I thought I'd share my perspective.

We have been to CC many times and now, LC twice. I have never really had an interest in a cabana, and I don't get the hype. I would rather be out in the sun on the beach, enjoying the islands, and for the price I've always thought no way. Due to some unique circumstances, we ended up with one on our last cruise with 5 adults (2, 50's 3 20's). This was SB on LC, Was it nice? YES! Did we enjoy it? YES! It was a fun splurge for sort of a special trip. I'm really glad we did it. Do I feel the need to go out of my way and try to get one again? Nope!

I wouldn't say I would never get one again. I would if the situation and possibility came along, but I don't feel it's a necessity to enjoy the island, especially in your case being your first visit there.

 

[Yinn]

From the questions in your post, I assume you mean lighthouse point, but you’ll get better answers if you specify which private island. It would also be helpful if you tell us what your ideal day looks like and if you want to do any activities, other than chill in the cabana.

We’re visiting both islands on our itinerary. So either one.

I’m personally not a huge beach person, I struggle even lounging around a pool. Usually the family goes to the local beaches without me, they love it though and usually can hang out playing for about half the day.

Our best memories are usually relaxation after a physically exhausting day. For example, sitting by a fire pit after a full day of skiing. Or watching the zebras on the balcony at Animal Kingdom lodge after a day at the parks. Hiking up some mountains and having a relaxing picnic lunch overlooking something.

Our ideal is finding something that will be distinctive. When we reflect my kids will go “the place with the fishing” “the place where you climb the rocks” but that’s not necessarily the requirement. We love going to WDW and the kids have a blast, but they struggle to distinctly remember the trip from this year vs last year and sometimes that’s ok too.

 

[Cheburashka]

.

 

[NephieRN]

I do think that the hype has been blown out of proportion over the last decade or so with the rise of social media. It’s so hyped up that they’ve become so hard to get, even when in concierge. 10 years ago, i never stayed up until midnight to send in my concierge requests and always was able to secure a low numbered cabana. Now, even when prescheduling my email at midnight, I’ve missed out on securing one.

That being said, I’m one that truly loves the cabanas (I’ve only been to castaway, so no info on lighthouse) They are worth every penny to me. I am not a beach person but my family is. I can enjoy the sun or shade in the cabana while my family plays in the water and on the beach with almost no one around. It’s a relaxing place to spend the day away from the hoards of people on the “public” beaches. It’s close to cookies too so easy to bring food back and eat in the cabana. Chairs, umbrellas, a hammock, floats, sand toys, snorkeling, and biking are all included with your cabana as well.

Now, if you’re the type of people that want to do all the activities offered (snorkeling, biking, pelican plunge, characters, hermit crab races, excursions, etc.) it’s probably not worth it as you’ll be away from the cabana most of the time. So it really just depends on what you want to do with your beach day.

My recommendation is to request a cabana with your 130 day requests. If you decide you don’t want it, you can cancel it. But you almost certainly won’t be able to get one if you don’t do it now but decide later you do want one.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

If you're going to request one, make it Castaway.

Lighthouse family cabanas are quite a distance from the main area and there are lots of entertainment offerings, a splash pad, etc that Oceaneer age kids will want to do. The kids club there is great, too. Also, the bike path isn't open yet and we don't have an ETA, so you may not be getting the full offering from that cabana.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Also not in your demographic now, but I was when my kids were little. Just a Castaway Cay experience, I don't visit Lighthouse next week-concierge, but did not request a cabana. We enjoyed the cabana on the family beach when the kids were young, and enjoyed when we didn't- you can always find a place to set up shop. They are a quiet place to rest, eat and relax. If your time is spent mostly on the beach, not on excursions, well worth it. They have now out priced me, the family ones anyway- I will never say never, but I need a special something to be celebrating to justify the cost.