Discovery Cove Cabana questions

pattyw · Mar 29, 2015

Hi!

We reserved the Elite package for June. :yay:

Do we get any choice for the location? And it comes with a host/hostess. What do they do for you during the day? I assume that we tip them- do we have the same person for the day or how do we tip them? at the end of the day? Thanks!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Mar 30, 2015

pattyw said:
Hi!

We reserved the Elite package for June. Do we get any choice for the location? And it comes with a host/hostess. What do they do for you during the day? I assume that we tip them- do we have the same person for the day or how do we tip them? at the end of the day? Thanks!

We requested a specific area for our cabana last August (we did so via email to DC guest relations) and we were able to get exactly the location we asked for. That said, we made the request knowing that it was just that.....a request.....and it was not guaranteed. We figured, though, it never hurts to ask!

Your host or hostess will stock your fridge with your favourite beverages (and restock throughout the day), fill your snack basket and keep it full for you throughout the day (again, specifically with your favourite options from their snack selection, or a variety at your request), bring you fresh towels, pick up your photo order and deliver it to your cabana, fetch you more sunscreen....whatever you need, basically. They will check in on you all day long, so if there's something they can assist with, don't hesitate to tell them when they ask.

We tipped our hostess both times we rented a cabana, but they both protested and assured us it wasn't necessary (we appreciated their excellent service, so insisted they take it.....and they were always delighted). We waited until the very end of the day, then handed them cash as we were gathering our things to leave. Each of them were there at that point anyway, offering assistance with the packing up of our items and such.

pattyw · Mar 30, 2015

Thanks, Gina!! I knew you had the answers! In fact, it was your trip report that encouraged me to rent the cabana. I love your trip reports!!

I figured that tipping our hostess is appropriate but I know sometimes they are not allowed to take them at Disney, so I wanted a first hand account- THANKS!

Looking forward to your next trip report in May!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Mar 30, 2015

pattyw said:
Thanks, Gina!! I knew you had the answers! In fact, it was your trip report that encouraged me to rent the cabana. I love your trip reports!! I figured that tipping our hostess is appropriate but I know sometimes they are not allowed to take them at Disney, so I wanted a first hand account- THANKS!

Looking forward to your next trip report in May!

You're welcome! :goodvibes

NorthshoreTigerFan · Mar 31, 2015

This thread reminds me that I need to reserve an Elite package for my Memorial Day trip in a couple of months. Does anyone have any suggestions on what a preferred area to request would be? My group will have 3 adults and my 3 kiddos (DS is 10, DD is 9 and DS is 6). If I could have whatever I want, I would want a cabana that is centrally located with a fantastic view and a hammock. Having said that, I've been married for 15 years and have 3 young children, so I'm used to not getting what I want! LOL

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 1, 2015

NorthshoreTigerFan said:
This thread reminds me that I need to reserve an Elite package for my Memorial Day trip in a couple of months. Does anyone have any suggestions on what a preferred area to request would be? My group will have 3 adults and my 3 kiddos (DS is 10, DD is 9 and DS is 6). If I could have whatever I want, I would want a cabana that is centrally located with a fantastic view and a hammock. Having said that, I've been married for 15 years and have 3 young children, so I'm used to not getting what I want! LOL

If I were you, I would email DC with your specific request (centrally located with a fantastic view and a hammock) and let them decide....unless you want a particular location (if you want to be near, say, the Grand Reed, then add that in too).

That said.....I am not 100% sure, but I think the hammock cabanas are generally reserved for those booking a VIP package. Neither cabana that we have had (one adjacent to the lazy river, the other next to the Grand Reef) have had one. I believe the cabanas that include cabanas are next to the dolphin pool. Now, you might get lucky and get "upgraded" should one be available, but otherwise....you might be out of luck for a hammock.

cantwaitvaca09 · Apr 1, 2015

Gina, how much should we tip? (Family of 4)

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 1, 2015

cantwaitvaca09 said:
Gina, how much should we tip? (Family of 4)

Well, I never really know what the "right" answers to tipping questions are, but I can tell you that we gave our attendant $20 (she was awesome....even gave me access to our cabana long before the water features opened at 9 am so I could get some pics of the park before there were any guests in those areas). We had 4 people too, so it worked out to $5 per person.

cantwaitvaca09 · Apr 1, 2015

$20 is doable. I will make sure we have cash. Thank you Gina!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 1, 2015

cantwaitvaca09 said:
$20 is doable. I will make sure we have cash. Thank you Gina!

You're welcome! :goodvibes

I am envious of all you lucky ducks who have DC visits planned for 2015. Its killing me to have 3 trips in the works but no SW parks among them!!!

cantwaitvaca09 · Apr 2, 2015

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:
You're welcome!

I am envious of all you lucky ducks who have DC visits planned for 2015. Its killing me to have 3 trips in the works but no SW parks among them!!!

3 trips??? All to WDW? You have to sneak I SW some how. LOL I have 159 days until we are in WDW. I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 2, 2015

cantwaitvaca09 said:
3 trips??? All to WDW? You have to sneak I SW some how. LOL I have 159 days until we are in WDW. I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, no Disney either!!! We have a Universal trip in May, a second Universal trip in October (we have AP's), and then a no-parks trip Christmas week (we're doing the Orlando Eye, SeaLife Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, Wild Florida, mini golf, beach, resort, etc.).

We're down to 28 days until we leave for our May getaway. Gettin' close (but not close enough, lol!).

mshanson3121 · Apr 10, 2015

I'm curious... do you only get the cabana-person if you book an elite package, or if we rent a cabana do we still get one?

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 10, 2015

mshanson3121 said:
I'm curious... do you only get the cabana-person if you book an elite package, or if we rent a cabana do we still get one?

I am pretty sure that all cabanas get service from an attendant.

We have booked our cabana with the Elite package once, and as an add-on to Celebration package once. Both times, we had a personal attendant.

cantoine · Apr 25, 2015

I have a question, we have 4 small children 10,6,3,2 and I added the elite package to our DC trip next month. Is there a particular area that I should request that would be better for the kids?

Fuhnuh · Apr 27, 2015

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:
I am pretty sure that all cabanas get service from an attendant.

We have booked our cabana with the Elite package once, and as an add-on to Celebration package once. Both times, we had a personal attendant.

We have rented a cabana 3 times (I believe it was a Celebration package add-on twice, and Elite the last time) and had the same experience as Gina. I think the only difference is that with the V.I.P. package your attendant is assigned to only your cabana. I believe the attendants for the other packages serve several cabanas.

cantoine said:
I have a question, we have 4 small children 10,6,3,2 and I added the elite package to our DC trip next month. Is there a particular area that I should request that would be better for the kids?

I would suggest the one by the dolphin lagoons for location and watching the Dolphins, but I think those are V.I.P. package reserved. I imagine that they will be available if the V.I.P. packages haven't all been booked? There are quite a few cabanas around the Grand Reef. We really enjoyed our cabanas there, but its at one end of the park and quite a walk (with four young children) to dining, the freshwater oasis. I think there are some on the other side of the park in the Freshwater Oasis area. Those look fairly isolated and are closer to dining, but further away from the Dolphin Lagoons and Grand Reef. For me, it would depend on how much time I think we'd spend at the Grand Reef.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Apr 27, 2015

cantoine said:
I have a question, we have 4 small children 10,6,3,2 and I added the elite package to our DC trip next month. Is there a particular area that I should request that would be better for the kids?

Fuhnuh said:
I would suggest the one by the dolphin lagoons for location and watching the Dolphins, but I think those are V.I.P. package reserved. I imagine that they will be available if the V.I.P. packages haven't all been booked? There are quite a few cabanas around the Grand Reef. We really enjoyed our cabanas there, but its at one end of the park and quite a walk (with four young children) to dining, the freshwater oasis. I think there are some on the other side of the park in the Freshwater Oasis area. Those look fairly isolated and are closer to dining, but further away from the Dolphin Lagoons and Grand Reef. For me, it would depend on how much time I think we'd spend at the Grand Reef.

To add to Fuhnuh's good advice, I would also consider how much privacy you want.

The one we had near the lazy river was MUCH more secluded and quieter than the one near the Grand Reef:

versus:

With all the folks in the Grand Reef, our cabana near that area was also less quiet (particularly as the younger guests shreiked and shouted as they felt the initial swooshes of the rays sweeping by their ankles).

If you are near the Grand Reef, this is what you have right outside your cabana:

Nearer to the lazy river/FreshWater Oasis, you are closer to the Laguna Grill, and also to the caves/sand beach at the entrace to the river:

Fuhnuh · Apr 27, 2015

Gina, thanks. As always, you are a treasure of information (and photos) for those of us planning a day at DC.

Discovery Cove Cabana questions

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