Heading to Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay? There’s a reason guests love visiting this island destination! Don’t miss out on any of the eats, drinks, or activities when you cruise. We’ve got the all-you-need-to-know guide to spending the ultimate family day at Disney Castaway Cay right here.

What is Disney’s Castaway Cay?

Located roughly 70 miles from Nassau, Bahamas, Castaway Cay is a 3-mile-long island in the Bahamas. When Disney Cruise Line first started in 1997, they signed a 99-year lease with the Bahamian government and have since turned it into a highly sought-after vacation destination.

The island itself covers about 1,000 acres, but Disney Cruise Line has only developed about 55 acres of that into what it is today. This leaves the opportunities endless for expansion in the future!

The only way guests can get to Castaway Cay is by booking a Disney Cruise with an itinerary stop there. There are no flights and you cannot stay overnight. The length of your stay will depend on your cruise itinerary, but usually, it is 8 or 9 hours of fun!

There is a pier at Castaway Cay, which means guests just walk right off the ship and need nothing but their ID and their Key to the World Card.

Things to do on Castaway Cay

For being such a small island, there is no shortage of entertainment. There is a good combination of free and paid activities on the island. So, there’s always something new to discover — even if you’ve been here multiple times!

There are two options for getting around the island — walking trails or the complimentary tram. The tram will pick you up and drop you off right off the pier, then proceed to stop at Scuttle’s Cove, Pelican Point, and Serenity Bay.

Which stop is the right stop for you and your family? Let’s find out!

Free Activities

Guests have access to plenty of free activities on the island. You could have a great time and not spend a dime.

Character Greetings

Want to meet your favorite Disney characters on island time? Some of the characters will come out and do meet and greets at Disney’s Castaway Cay! What would a Disney private island be without a visit from the mouse, right? The DCL Navigator app lists all the times and locations for the meet and greets. Usually, you can meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy, Captain Jack Sparrow, and others throughout the island.

PRO TIP: If you plan on doing the meet and greets, get off the ship early! The lines do get long, sometimes longer than on the ship. We suggest getting there at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time in the app. Skip the tram and walk directly from the ship to the meet-and-greet location. You’ll get there faster!

Castaway Cay 5K

This is an extremely popular activity within the Disney Cruise Line community. While it used to be an organized group, this free “excursion” is now a run-as-you-please (or walk) event. Guests run at their own time and pace and collect a medal at the end. Just head to the start line by the Bike Rentals and follow along the path with the 5K markers as your guide.

Good news for frequent cruisers, they do change the medals up once a year!

Scuttle’s Cove/The Hideout

There are plenty of things to do as a family, but there are specific areas for young ones as well! The Oceaneers Club transforms from ship to shore into Scuttle’s Cove. Kids ages 3 to 12 will be supervised and entertained by Disney Cast Members from the ship. And, just like the Oceaneers Club, it is complimentary! Not only do they have organized island activities for them, but there is also a dig site for kids to play in the sand.

The Hideout is an area for the 14-17-year-olds to hang out and have some independence. Teens have areas to lounge without parents around.

Pelicans Plunge/Spring-a-Leak

Pelicans Plunge is a 2,400-square-foot floating barge of fun! There are 2 waterslides, water cannons, a dump bucket, and hours of fun! Since this is a floating activity, guests must be able to swim. And, regardless of swimming capabilities, anyone under 48 inches must wear a life jacket provided. Kids must be 38 inches tall to ride the waterslides.

Spring-a-Leak is a toddler splash pad on the island. There are bubblers, misters, and waterspouts for toddlers and babies to play on. There are no slides or interactive activities at this splash pad like the splash pads on the Disney ships. This is a good option for small babies or little ones who aren’t fond of the ocean. It’s also a fun way to rinse all the sand off the toddlers if they don’t like the showers!

In Da Shade Game Pavilion

Over in the back of the Family Beach, you’ll find the In Da Shade Game Pavilion. There are basketball games, ping pong, foosball, and billiards here. And, it’s all shaded! This is a great way to get out of the sun for a little bit but still have entertainment, for the young and the old.

Snorkeling Lagoon

This can be a free or paid activity. The giant snorkeling lagoon is a very popular attraction at Castaway Cay and you can bring your own snorkeling gear, making it free! There is also a space to rent snorkel gear for an affordable cost if you don’t want to bring your own. There are two paths you can follow, with one for beginners and one for those with experience.

Regardless of whether you bring your own gear or not, you will have to stop by the rental shack and get a snorkel vest. They are free but required when you snorkel, as it’s easier for the lifeguards to see you!

Would it be a Disney private island without the Disney touch? Of course not. Not only will you find fish and ocean sights, but you may also find some Disney sunken treasure! There are sunken statues, old ride vehicles from the parks, and more!

PRO TIP: Bring an underwater camera or Go-Pro! You’ll want to capture this!

Family Beach/Serenity Bay

On an island, the most obvious thing to do is to grab a lounger and umbrella and soak up the sun! There are two main areas to do this. The Family Beach is the most popular, as it is closer to the ship and the main area for kids.

However, Serenity Bay is an adults-only beach. No one over 18 years old is allowed on this beach, leaving it to be a more relaxing space for adults. This is a great space to lounge and read a book!

We have never had a problem finding a chair on the Family Beach even on a full-capacity Disney Wish sailing, but it does get busy. The further you go away from the ship, the less busy it will be.

PRO TIP: There are a number of complimentary beach wheelchairs and beach strollers on the island along the beach. Get off the ship ASAP for access to these, as they do go quickly.

Paid Activities

For guests looking for a little more adventure than just lounging and soaking up the sun, there are plenty of options! Between individual rentals and full-blown excursions, it’s hard to be left bored on Castaway Cay.

Rentals

Head down to Boat Beach to rent water activities! On our last trip, there were paddleboards, paddle boats, water cycles, kayaks, aqua trikes, and more available! You can rent them in time slots such as 30 minutes or an hour.

You can also rent bikes, floats, and tubes near the family beach for a small cost. There are bike trails around the island that you can travel through at your own leisure.

Excursions

Guests can book Excursions on Castaway Cay when the booking window opens after they have paid in full online or at the Port Adventures desk on board if there is availability left. Castaway Cay has a variety of options such as full and half-day fishing excursions, a stingray adventure, parasailing, water skis, jet skiing, and off-shore by-boat snorkeling. There are age restrictions for certain excursions, so be sure to check the DCL website when booking.

Guests can also book some spa services on Castaway Cay. Massages at Serenity Bay are a popular add-on.

Cabanas

Cabanas are one of the most popular pre-booking options for Castaway Cay. They are highly sought after and come with some awesome amenities. You can book Cabanas as soon as your booking window opens, but they do go fast. Concierge guests get first access to booking, so first-time cruisers might be out of luck depending on how full your sailing is.

There are only 27 Cabanas in total, spreading across from the Family Beach all the way to the Adults Only Serenity Bay. They are in quiet secluded areas on purpose, keeping you away from the hustle and bustle for prime relaxation.

The Cabanas include a shaded shack with two large fans, chairs, loungers, a safe, power outlets to charge your phone, and an outdoor shower. Some amenities included in your Cabana are a complimentary selection of snacks such as chips and granola bars. Guests also have access to nonalcoholic drinks such as bottled water and sodas. You’ll get some cooling towels, some sunscreen, and floats or tubes to use in the water. Guests with a Cabana rental also get bike and snorkel rentals included in their stay. And, you will have a Cabana Concierge that will grab you any alcoholic beverages you may want and it will just be added to your onboard account.

PRO TIP: There is a waitlist for the Cabanas but you can’t get on the waitlist prior to your cruise. You must go to Guest Services when you get on board and put your name on from there.

Shopping

A trip to Castaway Cay is not complete without a souvenir, of course! There are two main shops on Castaway Cay including She Sell Sea Shells & Everything Else and Buy the Sea Shore. At both locations, you will find Castaway Cay exclusive merchandise. You will also find island basics like sunscreen, sand toys, goggles, and hats for purchase.

There is no Castaway Cay merchandise on the ship, so if you want something specific from the island don’t wait on it!

Food and Drink on Castaway Cay

Food

A great thing about Castaway Cay is that the food is included in your cruise since it is owned and operated by Disney! There is a lunch buffet starting at 11:30AM at Cookies BBQ, and a second buffet a little further down the beach called Cookies Two.

Both buffets are the same and have shaded areas to sit down at a picnic table and enjoy your lunch. Guests will find standard BBQ offerings such as burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, chicken, and (most importantly) soft-serve ice cream!

The lines do sometimes get long but they move quickly so don’t be discouraged. Guests also will have access to juices and fountain drinks just as they do on board.

The adults-only beach of Serenity Bay also has a buffet called Serenity Bay BBQ. Guests will find the same offerings here as there are at Cookies BBQ, with a few upgraded options. One stand-out upgrade is a sirloin steak.

Drinks

While many drink options are included in the cost of your cruise, you can also purchase some specialty drinks on the island! DCL crew members walk around the beach taking drink orders, or you can head to one of the bars.

Best thing about the island? You don’t need any cash! Guests can charge everything they purchase to their Key to the World Card, just as they do on board. It doesn’t get easier than that!

There are multiple places to stop and get a drink on the island. You have the Conched Out Bar, The Sand Bar, and the Heads Up Bar. All of these locations offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages you can purchase.

Summertime Freeze (themed after Olaf), also offers a variety of smoothies for purchase.

Spending the Ultimate Family Day at Castaway Cay

The options are endless for guests to spend their perfect day at Castaway Cay. Whether it is a couples cruise or a family reunion there is something for everyone. So, be sure you get off the ship when it stops at Disney’s private island!

Comments

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