Banana Cabana Review
Banana Cabana is Caribbean Beach’s pool bar, and is an incredibly popular spot among Walt Disney World fans. In this review, we’ll take a look at what makes this lounge special, reviewing the new menu, sharing drink & food photos, and thoughts on whether it’s worth taking a detour to Banana Cabana on your next Walt Disney World vacation.
Prior to the recent reimagining of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Banana Cabana was a modest pool bar. A small square building with minimal space and essential just bar seating under the covered area of the building. Essentially akin to one you’d find at the Value or other Moderate Resorts.
During the multi-year reimagining, the original Banana Cabana was torn down entirely to make way for the waterfront expansion that now houses the new Banana Cabana and Sebastian’s Bistro. Rather than going without a pool bar or rolling it into one of the other temporary dining locations, Caribbean Beach gave Banana Cabana its own temporary outpost. This should speak a bit to its popularity…
The biggest reason Banana Cabana has such an ardent fan following has nothing to do with the drinks, food, or even ambiance. It’s all because of the long-tenured Cast Members at this poolside lounge. Just take a look at the Caribbean Beach Banana Cabana Friends group on Facebook.
In many of that group’s user submitted photos, you’ll see a cameo appearance by Jo Jo, one of the beloved bartenders. It should go without saying that the people are a huge part of what makes Walt Disney World a special place, and few places are that more true than Banana Cabana. Objectively speaking, the old Banana Cabana location was nothing special–but they made it special.
Now, Banana Cabana has a setting befitting of the first-class Cast Members. This new bar has considerably more seating, actual theme, lounge chairs, and some fun details. It offers the same poolside tropical ambiance, but now also has self-contained atmosphere that takes it to the next level.
Thanks to the Cast Members here, theme, and overall atmosphere, Banana Cabana now belongs in the conversation for the best bars at Walt Disney World. It’s a fun place and definitely one of the highlights of Caribbean Beach Resort’s reimagining. In addition to offering a nice open-air setting with the sounds of the pool providing background ambiance, it’s also a great spot for sunsets and watching Epcot’s fireworks.
When Banana Cabana first reopened, its menu consisted of “Island Appetizer Favorites” that were essentially shared menu items with Sebastian’s Bistro, the adjacent table service restaurant at Caribbean Beach. Additionally, guests were able to order directly from the Sebastian’s Bistro menu at both lunch and dinner.
A lot has changed since then. Sebastian’s Bistro stopped serving lunch only a few months after it debuted, Banana Cabana got its own menu, cross-over options were almost completely eliminated, and so was the option to order from Sebastian Bistro’s menu. Not a huge deal, save for one item:
These are the Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls with Guava Butter, Mango Chutney, and Jamaican Jerk Oil. As we wrote in our full Sebastian Bistro’s Review, the Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls belong in same breath as Sanaa’s Bread Service. They are that good.
I’m not sure if you’ll have any success, but if Banana Cabana is slow, you might want to inquire whether you can order the Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls. Even if you don’t have any luck, perhaps with enough inquiries, this glorious appetizer will return to the Banana Cabana menu. Walt Disney World doesn’t exactly have a penchant for leaving money on the table.
As for what is currently on the Banana Cabana menu, it’s mostly sandwiches, salads, and a handful of appetizers…
We’ll start with the Smoked Turkey Sandwich, “Served Deli-style with Smoked Gouda, Guava Barbecue Sauce and Cabbage Slaw. Served with Sweet Potato Fries, French Fries or Jicama-Apple Slaw.”
If you’ve had a deli-style sandwich at Walt Disney World, this is pretty much exactly what you’d expect. The guava BBQ sauce gives it a bit of a twist, but there’s not enough of it as compared to the turkey and cheese to really transform the sandwich into anything different. It’s a fairly pedestrian but crowd-pleasing item.
Next up is the Caribbean-Style Cheesesteak: “Braised Beef Brisket, Smoked Gouda and Grilled Bell Peppers on a Cuban Roll.”
This is really solid option. The beef brisket is juicy, flavorful and there’s a generous portion of it. Good enough that it could stand on its own without the cheese or bell peppers, which also enhance the flavor.
My only quibble here is that I’m not really sure what makes this “Caribbean-style.”
It’s delicious, but I think the idea here is another approachable and crowd-pleasing entree, not something authentic.
Finally, the Plant-Based Jerk Sandwich: “Toasted Ciabatta, Grilled Pineapple and Roasted Chili-Vegan Mayonnaise.”
In terms of both taste and ‘interestingness’ this is the winner of the Banana Cabana menu.
The chili mayo gave it a (still relatively mild) punch, the plant-based jerk is deceptively good, and the grilled pineapple gives it a sense of being on theme.
This is a real winner, and makes me eager to try the Jerk Chicken Sandwich, which is otherwise the same (except with chicken–so probably better).
We didn’t visit Banana Cabana for the drinks, but we did order the namesake Banana Cabana.
The Banana Cabana is made with Cruzan Mango Rum, Coruba Coconut Rum, Bols Creme de Banana, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Grenadine. For a sweet tropical drink, it packs some punch.
This is one place at Walt Disney World where these sweet and fruity drinks are decidedly on-theme. If you’re not in the market for one of them, fear not, as there are a variety of (also-appropriate) beers on tap.
Overall, we’re big fans of the new Banana Cabana location. The variety of seating, fun details, and expanded menu finally do justice to the superlative Cast Members that have long staffed the various iterations of Caribbean Beach’s poolside bar. The current food menu is good, although we can’t help but think that it’s a step backwards from what was offered when Sebastian’s and Banana Cabana debuted. Hopefully it’s expanded in the future, or a couple of the sandwiches are swapped out for more inventive and on-theme options.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you done any drinking or eating at Banana Cabana? Are you a fan of the venue, menu, or Cast Members here? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Thoughts on the look of the interior of the new bar? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
My family and I have been going to the CBR for over 20 years. I was blessed to go there in February. I got to see the cast members again who I haven’t seen in a few years. They all remembered me and the service is awesome. Some cast members have left for other bars in Disney but the remaining are still awesome. Can’t wait to back again.
Loved your write-up. The Banana Cabana is the best outside bar on property. The bartenders make you feel at home and by the time you leave you pretty much know everyone sitting around the bar. It is a terrific atmosphere and food.
Absolutely love this place!! We’ve been coming since my eldest son was 4 months old! He’s now 26!! ( and we first came to WDW in 1987 ) and we still come over to see our much loved bartenders and crew!! Such a wonderful, relaxing, fun place!! Made all the better by the happy , friendly Cast members!! As soon as we are able to fly we will be over again !! Home away from home
Can you go here if you’re not staying at Caribbean Resort?
I didn’t know that they had their own FB group but I am happy to join! My first experience was just grabbing some apps off Sebastian’s Bistro menu to go on a last minute 1 night stay and sat and had a drink at the bar while I waited. Mike was my bartender and ever since I have raved about this place! It’s the kind of bar where you feel like you and all the patrons and bartenders are old friends which speaks volumes to the service they provide there.
On my next visit I had to go shake Mike’s hand and tell him that the he and the bar were the sole reason I re-booked at CBR. It will continue to be my favorite moderate resort because of Banana Cabana and the CMs there. Now I almost feel bad changing from CBR to try the new club level at CSR on our trip in a few weeks. But as APH, I’m sure we will have many more CBR trips and nights at Banana Cabana in our future!
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We stayed last month and this resort is gorgeous!!!! We had many adults with our group and we all loved Banana Cabana- great drinks and food right next to the pool!
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That really looks like one awesome lounge! I can’t wait to visit it on my next trip (hopefully just a short walk from a Villa at the Riviera…..if I can secure one).
I was always curious about so many guests’ love for the previous Banana Cabana bar. It was just a very simple pool bar that didn’t seem special in any way. But your info on the amazing Cast Members explains it for me.
CBR was my first ever WDW Resort way back in 1991. I can’t wait to celebrate almost 30 years of WDW mania by eating & drinking in Banana Cabana!
Me and my Norwegian Princess had the pull apart rolls and some potent MiTies here, Very Good! ”Tis a Shame the rolls are gone…..
We’re staying at Caribbean Beach next year, is this restaurant included on the dining plan?
It appears not. I am going there soon, so I looked it up: QS but NOT on the dining plan.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/dining/caribbean-beach-resort/banana-cabana-pool-bar/
Can’t wait to visit in Aug 2020. Was there a year ago whilst all the building work was going on and we are excited to see the changes. Will definitely be enjoying a Banana Cabana cocktail when I am watching the Epcot Fireworks with the sand between my toes.
Love your updates here in Wales UK. Makes Aug 2020 seem a long way off………………