Hi Megan!
Welcome aboard here at planDisney. I'm thrilled to hear you’ll be setting sail with Captain Mickey and soaking up the sun on
Castaway Cay.
I applaud your idea of booking a Family Cabana at Castaway Cay. In fact, I think it’s the number one best way to chill out on Disney's private island. Between the shady space to veg out and the hammock which is THE perfect spot for napping, Guests have it made in the shade! Beyond the cabana itself, other included perks are full use of snorkeling gear, tubes, and floats.
Depending on the ship, itinerary, and the time of year, these cabanas can book up in a flash. Once your cruise is paid in full and your Advance Booking Window opens, you would log in under "My Reservations" and then look under
"My Cruise Activities" to book a Castaway Cay cabana.
Cabanas on the Family Beach generally start at $599 for 6 guests (plus tax) with a maximum of 10 Guests for an added fee. Pricing does depend on whether you are traveling in peak season, so you will know the precise cost as it is listed online if any cabanas are available for booking. You can also tell if the cabanas are fully booked already because they will still show up at the very bottom of that Port Adventures list but will be greyed out. I must help you set expectations that these cabanas are incredibly popular and often get booked up very quickly by the Concierge Guests and
Castaway Club members.
As a Plan B, scope out some spots over on the Castaway Cay Family Beach that are farther removed from other Guests. I recommend heading straight for the beach area in front of Pelican Plunge on the far end down where the cabanas begin. That way, you can minimize how many people are next to your travel party. Also, most people do not want to walk that far when lounge chairs are readily available before getting to that spot. So it should be yours for the taking, especially if you are early in getting off the ship.
Let me assure you that having a cabana will not make or break your Castaway Cay experience; you can still have a fabulous day of fun in the sun making your own space on the beach. Wishing you a MAGICal day on Castaway Cay and a WONDERful cruise.
Sherry