Review: Renting a Poolside Cabana at Disney World
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to rent a poolside cabana during your Walt Disney World vacation? Well, the bad news is it’s an expensive treat. But on the flip side, you’ll probably enjoy the cabana so much that you won’t regret it.
Since we specialize in resort-related information, we try to cover unique offerings. Before this experience, a cabana rental had been at the top of my list for some time. So, for this article, we’ll preview all of the options for cabanas and poolside patios at Disney World. Then, we’ll share our experience renting a poolside cabana at Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach Club.
Which Resorts at Disney World Have Cabana Rentals?
Here is the list of resorts that have cabana rentals at Walt Disney World:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club
Additionally, poolside patio rentals are available at the Oasis Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Feature Pool at the Contemporary, and the Courtyard Pool at Grand Floridian. Poolside patios differ slightly from the cabana rentals, and pricing is not the same.
For more information on renting a poolside patio, check the patio rentals page on Disney’s site. Here are a few photos of the patio offerings taken within the last year. Again, these are not to be confused with cabana rentals. Most of these offerings are usually reserved for a dedicated seating area with some shade. (You can click on any of these photos to expand the picture.)
Cost of Cabana Rentals at Disney World
When updating this article, I called to check the price of cabanas. I was quoted an average price of $350.00 per day plus tax for all three resorts. This is a significant price difference from the $318.00 we paid (including tax) only two years ago. We’ve listed the number below if you would like to call and check the current price. Unfortunately, the prices are not listed online.
Poolside cabanas can be reserved at 60 days out. You must have a confirmed reservation at the resort for the day you want to reserve the cabana. Also, you’ll want to make this reservation as early as possible on the 60-day mark to secure your cabana. The number of cabanas at each pool is limited, and they fill up quickly. You can call Disney at (407) 939-7529 to check the current price and reserve a cabana. More information is available here on Disney’s website.
Special Discounts: When you call to inquire about the cabanas, let the cast member know if you are an annual passholder or DVC member. A 15% discount is available, which you’ll want to take advantage of if applicable.
What’s Included in a Cabana Rental at Disney World?
The following items are listed as amenities for each cabana rental. Note, they vary per resort and are subject to change.
Yacht and Beach Club Cabanas Include:
- Dedicated Cast Member providing service to the cabanas
- Cocktail service (Hurricane Hanna’s)
- Ceiling fan
- Padded furniture, including chairs and a couch
- Television with cable access
- Charging outlet/USB
- Mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and water
- Fruit basket (may not be available without advance reservation)
- Plush towels
- Cabinet safe
In addition, we received a dessert tray in the afternoon. This item is not listed in the amenities on Disney’s site, but I believe dessert trays are a standard item with the cabana reservation.
Disney’s Contemporary Cabanas Include:
- Padded furniture, including chairs and a couch
- Ceiling fan
- Bluetooth speaker
- Television with cable service
- Fruit tray
- Mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and water
- Safe
Disney’s Grand Floridian Cabanas Include:
- Dedicated Cast Member providing service to the cabanas
- Two padded lounge chairs
- Padded sectional couch
- Ceiling fan
- Smart TV with cable service
- Fruit basket (may not be available without advance reservation)
- Mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary sodas and water
- Snack basket (may not be available without advance reservation)
- Plush towels
Our Experience Renting a Cabana at Stormalong Bay
Now that we’ve covered the basics, we’ll walk through how our day went so you’ll get the whole story. This cabana was reserved for our check-in day at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. If you’re arriving early in the day, this is a wonderful way to start your vacation. Cabana rentals begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 7:00 p.m.
We got to our cabana at approximately 11:00 a.m. If it’s your check-in day, you can change in the shower rooms near the pool, or an additional changing area is available in the back of the Ship Shape Health Club, which faces the pool. You are welcome to enjoy the resort’s amenities as soon as you arrive, even if your room is not yet available.
A cast member will scan your Magic Band for entry at the pool gate. They will provide a bracelet indicating you’re a guest of the resort and an additional band identifying you as a cabana guest.
After getting our bands, we were escorted to our cabana. We rented cabana number four at Stormalong Bay. Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club share a pool area called Stormalong Bay. Four cabanas are available at the pool. They sit on one end near the children’s pool with the sand bar in the center.
Cabanas two and one sit near the edge of the pool. If you have smaller children, I recommend requesting either of these. You’ll be able to easily watch your child in the shallow pool from the cabana. Cabana two is on the right side of the photo below, and Cabana one sits next to it on the opposite side.
I would recommend cabanas three or four for older children who do not need as much supervision or a group of adults. We were a group of ladies, so I requested cabana four for this trip. These cabanas are a little more private. Below is a photo of where we were in relation to the other cabanas.
Here is a photo of cabana three.
After getting settled, a cast member greeted us and said she was moving us to three because the refrigerator was out in our cabana. This was disappointing because I had reserved four for privacy and the shaded area around the cabana. We also had a nice view out to Crescent Lake.
As we moved our stuff, we realized we wouldn’t have as much shade without closing the curtain. So I asked if we could stay where we were and use the refrigerator as needed. They said that would be fine, so we moved our stuff back. Unfortunately, that was our last real conversation with the cabana attendant.
After settling in, I took a few photos of everything.
A fruit tray came with the cabana rental. It was a nice assortment of fruit and the perfect refreshing treat for a hot day at the pool.
It would have been nice had we been given plates, bowls, napkins, and utensils for the fruit. As you can imagine, not having these things was awkward, and we didn’t know we were supposed to have them.
Our fridge was fully stocked with Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, apple juice, and bottles of water. Funny enough, our “broken” refrigerator had ice-cold drinks while the drinks in the neighboring cabana were warm.
On one side of the cabana, we had two regular chairs.
We had a sofa with a few wicker end tables on the opposite side. Each of the tables had compartments where you could store your belongings.
A long cabinet on the backside of the space provided plenty of storage.
We also had a safe, which was a nice touch. Since we hadn’t received our room assignment, I had my electronic devices. So it was nice to store those items and our wallets while we enjoyed the pool.
We had a Bluetooth speaker and several charging ports.
Of course, the television was another fun perk. I felt the television would be suitable for anyone wanting to enjoy a football game over the weekend. It’s also nice to let children take a break and watch a few Mickey shorts while eating lunch or napping.
Later in the day, we experienced a tremendous downpour. Since no lightning was involved, we let the curtains down and enjoyed the breeze from the rain. It was nice that we didn’t need to rush anywhere to protect our belongings. Overall, I felt like there were many benefits to renting a cabana.
Our cabana came with a list of television channels, menus for Hurricane Hanna’s, and a list of complimentary snack items. Unfortunately, we were never offered snacks until much later in the day.
Two lounge chairs sit in the sun in front of each cabana. We ended up turning them around and pulling them into the shade.
As far as the cabana’s proximity to the rest of the pool, it’s important to note that most teens and adults probably won’t spend much time in the nearby shallow pool. You’ll likely want to walk to other areas of the pool that aren’t geared toward children. For instance, you’ll have to walk around the entire pool to get to the lazy river or any other area of the pool. It’s not a big deal, but the cabanas are confined to this area.
Throughout the day, a server from Hurricane Hanna’s waited on us. This server came by when he was making his rounds at the pool. When he got near our area, he would check in to see if we wanted to order anything. This is the same service you would get at any lounge chair or table at the pool.
I’m not hard to please, and I know this sounds trivial. However, this is a review, and I want to paint a clear picture. We had a great server. But he was swamped. So when it came time for lunch, we had to go and find him after waiting over 30 minutes for him to stop back by. While it wasn’t his fault, having someone check in more often would have been nice.
Speaking of someone checking in, during the entirety of our afternoon, the cast members dedicated to the cabanas never acknowledged us. Nor did they offer us snacks, ask if we were doing okay, or provide any value whatsoever.
We had no idea there was a large cabinet full of snack trays they were supposed to bring by and offer throughout the day. Not only that, but all those napkins, plates, and similar items we needed were sitting in that cabinet the entire day. It was frustrating.
Thankfully, ordering lunch didn’t take too long. We ordered a kids’ meal to get the sand pail and shovel. Unfortunately, this option is no longer available.
I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich.
Thankfully, the grill at Hurricane Hanna’s has a decent selection. Here are the choices we had:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Hanna’s Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger
- Seafood Roll
- Impossible Burger
- Caesar Salad with Chicken
- Garden Salad
Most of the grab-and-go items are the same pre-made items in the area’s other counter service locations. I recommend ordering something fresh.
A cocktail menu was also available. You’ll want to note that anything you order extra (food or drinks) from Hurricane Hanna’s is at your expense. The only food items you’ll receive with the cost of the cabana are the fruit tray, snacks, and dessert tray.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., an attendant brought us a dessert tray. We thought this was a nice gesture. (Note this was the only interaction we’d had since initial check-in.)
Our afternoon snack tray contained red velvet cupcakes, key lime cups, a mocha-flavored dessert, and a chocolate cheesecake. Everything was tasty, and it reminded me of the offerings available at the club level at the Beach Club.
After lunch, we decided to do a little swimming. Stormalong Bay ranks as our top choice for the best pools at Disney World. The pool area is a small water park with a lazy river area, waterslides, and spas. We have a list of the pools at Disney’s Beach Club if you want to learn more.
When we got back from the pool, it was nearly 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, bad weather was approaching. At that time, a new cast member had appeared and introduced herself. This cast member was kind and immediately checked to see if we needed anything and offered snacks. I told her no one had checked on us all day except for dropping off the dessert tray.
She said that was not how things should be and apologized. Apparently, she told a manager because soon after, someone else came by to check on us and inquire about the service we had. Of course, we enjoyed the cabana even though we were painfully aware that we had been ignored most of the day.
After talking with the manager, she said they would credit our room for a meal during our stay. We would have never asked for any compensation, but we felt that Disney handled the situation well and tried to make up for it. We would rent a cabana again, even though we had a somewhat negative experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we enjoyed our time at the cabana. Next time, we’ll know how things should progress throughout the day. But that’s why we do this. If you’re looking to splurge on a cabana and read this review, you’ll know what to expect, too.
Before we left, our group discussed what kind of people would enjoy this type of rental. We felt like a group of women, like us, or a bridal party might enjoy that extra luxurious feeling. Those traveling with grandparents or anyone who can’t stay in the sunshine long might enjoy resting in the shade, or a family with small children who would use the nearby pool. One member of our group suggested that a child could easily take a nap on the sofa during the day.
While cabana rentals aren’t a necessity, it’s also nice to have the dedicated space in the pool area. We stayed at the Yacht Club for a week this last summer, and I waited in line at the pool each morning to secure one of the few tables and chairs in the shade. We inquired about renting a cabana during that stay, but they were booked for the entire week.
For more information about Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you might enjoy the following:
- Disney’s Yacht Club Review
- Disney’s Beach Club Review
- Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club (Photos)
- Cape May Character Breakfast Review
In the Comments
Now I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on renting a poolside cabana at Disney World? Have you had the opportunity to try this before? Do you have any questions?
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