Sandcastle vs. Mickey & Minnie Cove: Which Castaway Cay Cabana?

Choose the view first, then the cabana

When I book a cabana for my guests, I tell them the same thing every time: choosing a cabana isn't only about looking at pictures of the inside. You're choosing your view for the entire day. Both areas have lovely, comfortable cabanas, but they're two completely different experiences. ▶ 1:41

The easiest way I can put it: Sandcastle equals convenience, family activities, and that iconic ship view. Mickey & Minnie Cove is more of a destination, with a spectacular open beach. If you're investing in a cabana, I think the view should absolutely be part of your decision. ▶ 7:15

Sandcastle Cabanas: the ship view and everything close by

If you've sailed with Disney before, you might remember these as the Family Beach Cabanas, numbered 1 through 21. Just like Mickey & Minnie Cove, there's no Cabana 13, so there are 20 of them. Cabana 1 is the accessible one, and Cabana 21 is the Grand Cabana. They've been renamed the Castaway Sandcastle Beach Cabanas. ▶ 0:00

The biggest advantage here is location. Your family gets the privacy and relaxation of a cabana while staying close to the activities the kids want to do during the day. And then there's that view: you're on a gorgeous Bahamian beach, looking across blue water at your Disney ship. It's nothing short of spectacular. ▶ 1:19

We stayed in Sandcastle Cabana 7 on the Disney Fantasy, and it has a magical view of the ship sitting right outside. It came with floats, a hammock, a foot shower so you don't track sand inside, pool toys for the kiddos, two chaise lounges, Coppertone SPF 50 sunscreen (including a baby formula), a ceiling fan, and a curtain that pulls across for a little changing area. ▶ 4:13

In the refrigerator we had a fruit bowl, drinks, and water, replenished as we used them, plus cool towels, snacks, and granola bars. Watch the little birds, though. They know how to unwrap everything. There's also a safe where you can set your own code, extra towels, a trash can, and tissues for when it's time to say goodbye. ▶ 5:25

Mickey & Minnie Cove: the open beach, and the trip to get there

Mickey & Minnie Cove is on the other side of Castaway Cay, and the whole feeling changes. Instead of the ship, you look out at a wide, open beach. It feels expansive, beautiful, and incredibly peaceful. For some of my guests, this is exactly what they picture when they imagine a private cabana in the Bahamas. ▶ 6:51

Here's what you need to know before you book it: getting there takes multiple tram changes. On my December 2025 visit, I took the first tram from the ship to Pelican Point, then switched to the Serenity Bay tram. Cabana check-in is right across from the Serenity Bay entrance. If you have very young children, grandparents, or mobility considerations, or you just don't want to spend part of your day changing trams, we'll talk this through. ▶ 4:04 ▶ 1:40

From check-in, you can walk to your cabana or ride one of the little taxis. The cast member at check-in told me any guest can take the taxi, which is good news if you're in the high numbers. Walking to 30 took me over five minutes. ▶ 2:02 On another visit, we walked the whole way from the ship to Cabana 12. It was about 1.66 miles and took about 20 minutes. We enjoy a morning walk, but you can take the tram instead. ▶ 0:23

Inside is the same comfortable home base you'll find at Sandcastle: a shaded seating area, a refrigerator stocked with bottled water and soft drinks, snacks and fresh fruit, towels, sunscreen, a private safe, and the cabana host tablet. ▶ 5:15

Which Mickey & Minnie Cove number should you request?

Cabana numbers matter more at Mickey & Minnie Cove than anywhere else on the island, because the row is long. I timed myself walking from Cabana 1 to 31 at a pretty fast pace, and it took 5 minutes and 17 seconds. There's no Cabana 13, which is why the numbers run to 31. The first few cabanas are closest to Hangar Bar 98, and there are restrooms at 1 and at 15. ▶ 4:00 ▶ 9:56

For shade, look at the trees around 7, 8, and 9, and again from about 14 through 19. Cabana 12 is a bit shaded, with a big tree over the beach chairs and umbrella. ▶ 5:33 ▶ 7:41

For little ones, the lower numbers sit closest to the water, and the cabanas move farther back as the numbers go up, leaving a lot more sand for kids to play in. Behind 20 the water is shallower, and I did notice some rocks. From 23 the beach wraps around, and 29, 30, and 31 are the big grand cabanas. 28 has a large veranda, and some of the high numbers sit up on walkways. ▶ 14:50 ▶ 7:31 ▶ 9:30

For accessibility, Cabanas 9 and 11 are the accessible ones, with ramps down to the sand. My daughter Taylor used a wheelchair, so this means a lot to me. Thank you, Disney. ▶ 11:43 ▶ 16:25

Lunch and drinks: Cookie's BBQ vs. Hangar Bar 98

Food is another piece of the puzzle. The Sandcastle Cabanas are close to Cookie's BBQ, one of the main dining spots on Castaway Cay. That's the familiar Castaway Cay barbecue lunch, and it's easy when you're with kids who want to grab what they like and get back to the beach. ▶ 7:38

Mickey & Minnie Cove guests eat at Hangar Bar 98, and Disney has split the building in two. Cabana guests come in through their own entrance on their own side, and Serenity Bay guests use the other side. When we were there, the buffet had burgers, barbecue ribs, smoked pork, rotisserie and fried chicken, ribeye steak, grilled ahi tuna, Caribbean red snapper, a plant-based island curry, a new Castaway seafood and rice dish, salads, desserts, and an ice cream station. You can eat there or carry your plate back to your cabana. ▶ 12:59 ▶ 21:55

Then there's the O'Buoy Bar, across from Cabanas 14 through 16. It opened at 9:30 the morning I was there. Right across from it, between 14 and 15, the Imagineers built a little sitting area where you can have your drink and look at the ocean. It's a fun change of scenery when you're spending the whole day at your cabana. ▶ 6:22 ▶ 24:21

Perks I found at each

At Sandcastle, the cabana host tablet lets you change the music, order snacks and beverages, ask for more towels, request general help, and call a taxi to the tram stop when you're ready to leave. These tablets are new on Castaway Cay and work just like the ones at Lighthouse Point. ▶ 6:35

As Royal Suite guests on the Disney Fantasy, we got a private golf cart escort from the ship to Sandcastle Cabana 7, set up by our concierge host. We asked for our champagne to come down to the cabana, too, since drinks and wine in a Royal Suite are replenished as you finish them. ▶ 0:25 ▶ 5:49

At Mickey & Minnie Cove, snorkel equipment is included with your cabana. Go to the Pelican Point area, tell them you're in a Mickey & Minnie Cove cabana, and they'll look up your name. The best snorkeling is in the snorkel area on the other side, but you can take your gear there or explore near your cabana. ▶ 19:56 In Cabana 12 we also had complimentary sand toys, three floats and tubes, and Coke products and Dasani water. If you have an infant, I can have a pack and play brought to your cabana. ▶ 5:18

The water in front of Mickey & Minnie Cove has never been deep when I've been there, and I've been there a lot. Cabana 12 was on my 51st Disney cruise. There are lifeguards on duty and life jackets in baby, medium, and larger sizes. Keep in mind that the beach itself is shared by all the cabana families, so you can go anywhere along it. ▶ 8:30 ▶ 18:48

Which one would I choose?

If I were traveling with younger children and wanted easy access to the children's areas, and I loved the idea of looking out at my Disney ship all day, I'd put Sandcastle very high on my list. That view is hard to beat. ▶ 8:47

If my priority were getting away from everything and spending my Castaway Cay looking out over that open beach, I'd seriously consider making the journey to Mickey & Minnie Cove. For the right family, those tram changes are completely worth it. It ultimately depends on how you like to travel, so contact me and let's talk it over. ▶ 9:10