Ahoy, Maria!
Welcome back to planDisney! I love that you are planning ahead and getting ready for that moment when your
Concierge booking window opens. When it comes to reserving a cabana, preparation is a bit like a treasure hunt on the high seas. The more ready you are before the window opens, the smoother the adventure tends to go.
The short answer to your question is yes. Your cruise reservation does need to be paid in full before onboard activities can be officially reserved. That includes highly sought-after experiences like
Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay cabanas, Port Adventures, Premium Dining, spa treatments, and other onboard activities.
Since you are sailing Concierge, your timeline is a little different from most Guests. Around 135 days before your sailing, you should receive an email from the Concierge Services Team. That email will explain how to submit your requests for things like cabanas, specialty dining, and other activities. Your request window opens at 130 days before sailing, and the Concierge team will begin working to secure those reservations for you.
Then, once you reach about 123 days before sailing, you should be able to open your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and see what activities have been successfully reserved for your voyage. At that point you can also add additional experiences yourself if anything else catches your eye.
Since cabanas are often the crown jewels of beach day reservations, I always recommend being as specific as possible in your request while still leaving a little flexibility. For example, if your itinerary includes Castaway Cay, you might let the Concierge team know that you prefer a Sandcastle Cabana, but that you would happily accept a Mickey & Minnie Cove Cabana if that is what is available. You can also mention if there are specific cabana numbers or locations you would prefer, especially if you want to be closer to the shops, dining pavilion, or tram stop.
I hope this helps as you prepare for your booking window. With a little planning and a well-timed request, you may soon be enjoying ocean breezes, shady cabana comfort, and the kind of beach day that would make even Captain Jack Sparrow consider dropping anchor for a while.
Sea ya real soon as springtime magic begins to ripple across the water,
Dustin