The Concierge experience · Private islands
Castaway Cay & Lookout Cay Cabanas: Why Concierge Guests Book First
A private cabana is Disney's island day, elevated: covered seating, a stocked fridge, fresh towels, snorkel gear and your own Cabana Host, steps from turquoise water. It's also one of the hardest reservations on Disney Cruise Line, and on popular sailings cabanas are gone before non-Concierge guests can even see them.
- Concierge books cabanas first
- Five cabana beaches on two islands
- Every cabana walked with a camera
▶ All 31 Mickey & Minnie Cove cabanas, timed walk-through
That's the Concierge connection. Cabanas are booked as port adventures when your window opens, and Concierge guests go first, 130 days out through the Shoreside team. For many of my families, the cabana is the reason they sail Concierge.
Five cabana beaches
- Castaway Cay: Sandcastles (the classic family cabanas, formerly the Family Beach Cabanas: 20 cabanas numbered 1 through 21 with no 13), Serenity Bay (adults only), and Mickey & Minnie Cove (the newest beach, 31 cabanas, where Concierge guests get first selection).
- Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point: Mabrika Cove on the arrival side with an all-day view of your ship, and Serenity Bay, the adult beach.
- I've filmed all 31 Mickey & Minnie Cove cabanas in one timed walk, every Sandcastle cabana, and most of Mabrika Cove, so you can request a number, not a hope.
Choosing by number
- Mickey & Minnie Cove: 7 through 14 for natural shade, 14 through 16 to be near the O'Buoy Bar, Grand Cabanas 29 through 31 for big groups, and 9 and 11 for accessibility.
- Sandcastles: Cabana 1 is the accessible cabana and Cabana 21 is the Grand Cabana; the rest run 2 through 20 (there's no 13) along the family beach with the ship in view.
- Mabrika Cove: a dedicated lunch spot sits between Cabanas 10 and 11, and the beach has a ship view all day.
- Sandcastles vs. the Cove is a decision I've filmed and written up on the blog; Castaway vs. Lookout is next.
Filmed by Melissa
The cabanas, every one
- Sandcastles vs. Mickey & Minnie Cove: which is better?1.5K views · 11 min · Sep 2026
- Grand Cabana 29 at Mickey & Minnie Cove1.5K views · 21 min · Jun 2026
- Lookout Cay Family Beach Cabana 154.7K views · 15 min · Mar 2025
- Lookout Cay Family Cabana 6, first look4.9K views · 6 min · Jun 2024
- Step-by-step guide to Mabrika Cove cabanas1.9K views · 7 min · Feb 2026
- Sandcastle Cabana 7 with Royal Suite perks1.7K views · 10 min · Feb 2026
- Serenity Bay adults-only Cabana E at Lookout Cay2.4K views · 10 min · Dec 2024
- Castaway Air: the new coach transfer to the Cove cabanas1.7K views · 10 min · Jun 2026
- Mickey & Minnie Cove full beach tour and FAQ1.6K views · 14 min · Jun 2026
From the blog
Side-by-side comparisons I've written
Complimentary planning · Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Thinking about a cabana day?
Tell me about your family and the sailing you have in mind. I'll send real options, real numbers, and my honest take on whether Concierge is the right splurge for this trip. Planning is always complimentary.
Melissa VIP Magic is an independent travel planning practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.
Questions I get all the time
- Do Concierge guests get a cabana automatically?
- No. A cabana still has to be reserved as a port adventure when your window opens, but Concierge guests get the first window, 130 days before sailing through the Shoreside Concierge team, ahead of every Castaway Club tier. I'm Melissa Jiles, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and getting my families their cabana number at that window is half my job.
- Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay: which cabanas are better?
- They're different days. Castaway Cay's Mickey & Minnie Cove has the newest cabanas and a cabana-guest dining area; Lookout Cay's Mabrika Cove has a Bahamian feel and an all-day view of the ship. Many itineraries visit both, which is my favorite answer. My full comparison is in the works, and the cabana guide on this site covers both islands today.
- How many Sandcastle cabanas are there at Castaway Cay?
- Twenty. They're numbered 1 through 21 with no Cabana 13, just like Mickey & Minnie Cove. Cabana 1 is the accessible cabana and Cabana 21 is the Grand Cabana. I'm Melissa Jiles, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and I've filmed every one of them.
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More: the concierge experience
Concierge Lounge & DiningMickey waffles at breakfast, a happy hour that's actually happy, and on the newest ships a full menu most guests never order from. Lounge after lounge, filmed.Explore 
Perks & Check-InFrom the Shoreside Concierge email at 130 days to the private character meet on day two. Check-in walk-throughs filmed at every port Disney sails from.Explore