Review: What We Tried on a Spring Afternoon at the Cabana Bar and Beach Club
The Cabana Bar and Beach Club is a poolside restaurant at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort. It’s located on the Dolphin side of the resort near the pool’s edge. We stopped in on a recent visit to check out the menu and try a few items. Below, we’ll review our experience and what you can expect.
This restaurant casually sits alongside the resort’s lap pool and is bordered by semi-private, cabana-like seating areas. The main dining area has standard tables and chairs to help accommodate groups of varying
On this visit, I had spent most of the day at Epcot photographing the Flower and Garden Festival. I was looking for something like to eat that wasn’t festival food. I stopped by Hurricane Hanna’s but didn’t find anything that leaned toward being healthy. So I continued on to the Swan and Dolphin. It was one of those moments when I was battling indecisiveness and hunger pangs kicked in, overruling everything else. As I walked toward the Dolphin, it occurred to me that I hadn’t tried the pool bar. So I decided to see if I could find an available table.
Upon arrival, I was greeted by a sign indicating guests should wait to be seated. While I was waiting, I noticed there was a walk-up bar available. Anyone can join the line and order the beverage they choose to enjoy while lounging at the pool.
The restaurant also has a mobile order service if you would like to pick up a to-go order. You can scan the code on one of the signs and place your order. Within a few moments, I was greeted and taken to a seat. Here is a look at the different seating areas.
I thought the pergolas were a nice touch and added to the ambiance of the outdoor dining space.
The menu is available via a QR code.
I took a few screenshots of the menu to share. Note that all menus and prices are subject to change. This experience was in March of 2021.
The specialty cocktails are a bit high on the pricing side, but they align with standard Disney pricing. However, they do offer a unique drink menu. I can’t tell you how many people I saw with the Strawberry Basil Lemonade Jar.
It was a tough decision on what to order. Everything sounded delicious. I liked how you could order a simple handheld item or get something more extravagant like charred octopus or a steak.
The options for kids’ meals are also nice at the Cabana Bar and Beach Club. I have a feeling an adult could easily order one of these to enjoy at the pool.
Not only that, but there is a full appetizer menu with shareable items, salads, and bowls.
I ordered the grilled watermelon with spiced ricotta and a side of waffle fries.
The salad comes with tomatoes, but I ordered mine without. The ricotta was smooth and creamy, complementing the fresh bites of watermelon. The dish was topped with frisee lettuce.
The ricotta had a spicy seasoning, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. Overall, I enjoyed the bites when I combined them. But I didn’t care for the taste of the cheese mixture on its own.
The waffle fries were great, and I was glad I ordered them.
As far as dining here, I had to wait approximately five minutes to be seated. Then, I ordered quickly and received my meal shortly after. Suffice it to say, the service at Cabana’s Beach Club was excellent.
During the course of the meal, I also noticed that everyone seemed relaxed and as though they were having a nice time. You don’t always feel that way in a busy theme park, especially when you feel starved by the time you sit down. I guess that’s why I started Resorts Gal. Over our years of visiting Disney, I’ve taken the time to find the places where you actually feel like you are on vacation. The Cabana Bar and Beach Club is one of those places.
For those staying in the Epcot Resorts Area, add this restaurant to your list of places to enjoy a meal. You can’t go wrong here. For more information on Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, you might enjoy the following:
- A Review of Our Stay at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin
- Disney Swan Reserve Review
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Restaurants Guide
- Grounds at the Swan Reserve
Or you might enjoy our entire resort guide:
The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Swan And Dolphin and Swan Reserve
In the Comments
I hope you enjoyed this mini-review of the Cabana Bar and Beach Club at Disney’s Dolphin. Does the Cabana Bar and Beach Club look like a place you might enjoy during your Disney vacation? Have you ever visited the resort before?
