Key Aspects:
- Due to erosion, some of the Mabrika Cove family cabanas at Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point have lost their private beaches.
- Stairs that previously led to the shore now lead to steep dropoffs.
- Even so, the cabanas remain popular and continue to book out well ahead of scheduled visits.
If a fix isn’t made soon, Disney Cruise Line guests are worried that an accident is just waiting to happen at the cabanas on the cruise line’s second private island.
Although the cruise line just officially opened Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in summer of 2024, beach erosion has led to potentially dangerous conditions outside of some of the 20 Mabrika Cove Cabanas.
Recent guests, who were expecting to rent their own beachside oasis, were surprised to find that the stairs of their cabana were unusable and led to a steep drop off because of seemingly rapid erosion.
“You could see the beach wash away while swimming in front of it. I don’t know how anything will be left soon…There was no way we could have stayed and swam there safely,” a recent guest shared, along with pictures and video of multiple cabanas.
The frustrated cruiser, who had rented cabana 21, saw their own back stairs lead to a drop off with rocks at the bottom instead of soft sand.
The cruiser did say that the stairs had been roped off, but it didn’t seem to stop them from trying to take advantage of their “private beach.”
“When we got to the deck, we were shocked to see all the huge rocks in front…They were not smooth, and they varied greatly in depth, so you had to walk very carefully and slowly or you would end up accidentally falling into a hole or crack,” they explained.
“We got to clearer water, but the waves and current were so strong that we kept getting pushed back into the rocks. The adults could barely stop themselves, and the kids were straight up being thrown into the rocks,” the guest warned.
There are 20 total Mabrika Cove Cabanas at the private destination, and while it was previously known that conditions became more rocky from cabanas 16 to 21, it does seem like the erosion has worsened quickly.
Several guests who had stayed in the cabanas as recently as May of 2025 said that “it didn’t look like this at all” during their visit.
What to Know Before Reserving a Cabana
Per this recent cruiser’s report, they would not recommend booking a Mabrika Cove Cabana outside of cabanas 1 through 5 due to the beach erosion as of their visit to the private island on July 17, 2025.
They also recommended that adults sailing without kids should reserve one of the six cabanas at the adults-only Serenity Bay area.
That said, Disney Cruise Line is one of the most safety-oriented brands out there, and likely would not continue renting out the cabanas if there was a significant risk to guests.
More likely than not, the cruise line is already working on a fix to stabilize the erosion, such as installing a sea wall or planting native vegetation.
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Despite these issues, the private cabanas are still a hot commodity and are usually fully reserved well in advance of planned port calls.
Each cabana is furnished with comfortable seating inside and out, a mini fridge, beverages, plush towels, charging outlets, and sunscreen, which adds some extra luxury to the experience.
There is even a provided smart pad for ordering snacks, drinks, or whatever else guests might need during the day.
Cabanas 3 through 19 are standard cabanas that can accommodate up to 10, but start at just under $1,000 for six guests.
Cabanas 1, 2, 20, and 21 are larger Grand Cabanas that can accommodate up to 16 guests, but start at $1,375 for up to 10 guests.
For both types of cabanas, additional guests can be added until capacity is met for a cost of $56 per person.
