We are taking our first DCL cruise July 2026 and are staying concierge thanks to the generous in-laws. I understand that I can start booking things myself online at 123 days, but that I can also start booking things at 130 days through the concierge team. I assume using the concierge team is well worth it for the in demand items to get that extra week jump on others.
The language I see says that Beginning at midnight US Eastern Time on the morning of 23-Mar-2026, you will be able to submit your requests, via email, for Port Adventures, Cruise Activities, and, if applicable, a Cabana at Disney Castaway Cay and/or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. I am familiar with the concept of booking things right at midnight (for WDW). In this case, is it really true that I should hit send on an email right at midnight to have the best chance? If you hit send on that email the day before (131 days out), does it just get ignored? Just curious how the timing actually plays out with it being via email rather than direct via the app or website.
Separate question: I think booking a cabana at Castaway Cay is going to be the primary high-demand item I will be trying to get. Everything I have read seems to support the fact that they are well worth it if you can get one. With that said, I havenât seen a price point anywhere. Can anyone give me a ballpark of what you would expect that to be for summer 2026? Also, any feedback or experiences with the cabanas in general!
Thanks in advance! I have much to learn as a DCL first-timer.
Yup! You can call them to talk this thru and theyâll tell you what to do but I recall pre-typing out an email for all the things I wanted like a cabana on the castaway cay. Then like literally at midnight on that cutoff I hit send. It is in order of when they get the email so you use a global clock to send it right on time. Itâs like trying to get a BG for WDW fun. But I did get the cabana both times!
Oh and they can even work things you donât know. For example, on the night of a certain restaurant like the Marvel one (which was my least fave on Wish) thatâs the night I want the upcharge dining but I donât know which night is gonna be our Marvel night but they do so they make it happen like that. This is great on shorter cruises where you donât repeat restaurants twice so might miss out on the rotation dining youâre most interested in.
YES! Very important. Youâre still competing with other concierge guests and even then not guaranteed things like a cabana. In fact on the Wish (and newer boats) they have more concierge guests so we got the very last cabana even though I clicked send at exactly midnight. Just squeaked in.
If you hit send on that email the day before (131 days out), does it just get ignored?
Yes, love them. So relaxing and come with tubes, snorkel gear so you donât have to deal with that. No real feedback on them like you donât need to do anything. Watch some online videos to see what they come with. A handful of snacks, bottled waters and sodas, etc. They will bring you drinks but food youâll have to walk to the BBQ Too place if youâre doing family beach (itâs the closest and not that far of a walk even from the farthest out cabana which Iâve had on castaway cay). We just carried our plates back to the cabana and ate there. I donât know what current prices are but a google search might give you some idea. They are not cheap. If you get one I wouldnât do any other âexcursionsâ I would enjoy the big bucks cabana and private beach without the crowds.
Thank you for the great info, very helpful! One more question; it looks like the cabanas accommodate 6 people standard with the ability to add 4 more people for an additional fee, for a total of 10. Is that correct, and if so, how tightly do they police that? I ask because we will have 11 people total in our group. Do you get wristbands or something? Or check cards to enter the area? Iâm a rule follower and would willingly pay for the extra people. Would just be a bummer if it didnât end up working for us because we are one too many.
The party size is managed using wrist bands and they are non-transferrable. There is a Grand Cabana that has capacity for up to 16 that you can request (#21 on the Family Beach). But it is just the one so youâd have to hope & wish that no one else wants that big of one (or maybe you can list in your request that youâd be happy with 2 Cabanas next to each other?)
Castaway is in the final stages of adding another 10(?) cabanas to help open up availability. The first sailings that are going to start getting access to these new Cabanas are this December so it will hopefully be easier for more of Concierge to get the chance. I canât figure out where I saw more details on that now, but I know I have seen info floating around on them.
Weâve never taken the splurge for Concierge and weâve only once ever seen a Cabana pop up as available to book (but it was snatched up quickly within minutes before we had a whole lot of time to go through our deliberations of it was really worth it to book). But they sound amazing and one we want to try it. The included snorkel gear, bike rentals and floats on your own private slice of beach with your own shower, dedicated cover & relaxing space with provided beverages, snacks, a fridge, and cooled towels sounds like a perfect way to really enjoy Castaway.
