Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Mar 11

Disney’s Private Island

As a former Disney Cast Member and Disney Cruise Line Employee, I get asked often about Disney cruises. People are often surprised to learn that Disney actually has their own private island in the Bahamas. I love this beautiful island so much and it really deserves its own blog post. It’s located near Great Abaco Island. You can only access this island via cruise ship so be sure to check out my other blog posts about taking a Disney Cruise (Coming Soon…) and there are no overnight stays. I’ll tell you all you need to know to make the most out of your day at Castaway Cay.

Keep an eye out for character appearances on the island!

First things first, pronounce it correctly! It’s pronounced “Castaway Key”. The island used to be called Gorda Cay but Disney changed the name when they purchased the land in 1996. Now Disney doesn’t actually own the land - Disney signed a 99-year lease.

Many were worried that Disney would take this beautiful island and renovate it to have a “theme park style”. But Disney actually has kept a minimalist approach to their design and decorating of the island. They’ve left most of it untouched. Actually, there’s only a small portion of the land that is accessible to cruise ship guests. The rest of the island is either natural preserves or housing and facilities for the approximately 80 crew members that live and work on the island.

Many other cruise lines do own private islands and offer itineraries that will take passengers to their island. Typically, passengers must tender into the island. If you’re not familiar with the term, this is a process where passengers board a smaller boat from the cruise ship and then take the smaller boat onto the land or island. This is done when the depth of the water isn’t deep enough for the large cruise ships to get close to the land.

Disney decided that this process takes too long and chose to make their private island more accessible. So when you arrive at Castaway Cay, the cruise ship arrives right on the island. This way, you and your family can easily enter and exit the island anytime. This is a nice feature especially for families with young children who may need to return to this ship for a nap or lunch.

Hammocks and chairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis

Renting bikes is a great way to explore the island!

Navigating the island

So let’s talk about your actual day on Castaway and how to make it the most magical day ever! There are plenty of activities for you and the whole family to enjoy. I’ll talk more about this in later paragraphs. Before I get into all there is to do on the island, I want to tell you how to navigate the island. This information will allow you to spend more time on the beach and less time looking at a map! I suggest getting yourself familiar with the layout prior to your day here. Check out this virtual map!

When you exit the cruise ship, you’ll see trams right away. The trams are the quickest way to the island. There are 3 different tram stops. Almost everybody gets off on the 1st tram stop because they are so eager to get to the beach. I always recommend getting off on the 2nd tram stop. The island has hammocks, beach chairs, and umbrellas all available for no extra charge but it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. So while everybody gets off on the first tram stop and is fighting over the chairs with the best views, take the extra 5-10 minutes and get yourself settled on the far end of the beach. There’s more to do there anyways and it’s closer to the food.

A view of Disney’s private island from the cruise ship

Serenity Bay

There is a third tram stop that takes you to Serenity Bay, the adult only beach If you don’t have kids with you, head here! If you do have kids with you, you can always drop them off at Scuttle’s Cove (kids drop-off center for children ages 3-12) located at the beginning of the island (near the first tram stop) and go spend an hour or two at Serenity Bay. You do have an option to rent private Cabanas on either Serenity Bay or on the far side of Family Beach. You must do this ahead of time through the Port Adventures desk on the cruise ship.

Serenity Bay is calm and peaceful. You’ll have plenty of your own space here since most Disney cruisers have children with them and choose to spend the day at the Family Beach. There’s also an area for food and bike rentals by Serenity Bay. One of my favorite spots on the island is at the end of the bike path right behind Serenity Bay. If you have the time to walk or ride your bike all the way to the end, you’ll come to a beautiful lookout. Chances are you won’t be bothered by any other guests while you enjoy soaking in the views of the Caribbean.

A view from a private cabana at Serenity Bay

Scuttle’s Cove

As mentioned before, Scuttle’s Cove is the children’s area on the island. It’s a drop-off center for children ages 3-12. There may be some family friendly activities where the whole gang can join. Be sure to check your Personal Navigator while onboard the cruise ship. You’ll also find Monstro Point (the whale digging site) inside of Scuttle’s Cove. This can be confusing because it doesn’t really specify on the map that Monstro Point is located in a kid-only section of the island. I’ve seen families struggle trying to find Monstro Point. It’s fun for the kids if they are already in the Scuttle’s Cove area but don’t waste the short amount of time you have on the island trying to find Monstro’s Point.

While Scuttle's Cove is a fun and interactive spot, I would not leave your kids in Scuttle’s Cove for longer than 2-3 hours. The counselors do provide some fun activities for the kids but there’s not a lot of shade and (as a former youth activity counselor who used to work in this area) I don’t think there’s enough to keep them entertained for over 2 hours. Things may have changed in recent years but when I was working there, I found that most families kept their kids with them most of the day on Castaway. But if you do want to leave your kids in here around lunch time, the counselors will provide food for the children.

For the “tweens” or kids ages 12-14, their crew will be bouncing around different spots on the island. You can find them at the basketball courts, In-Da-Shade Games, or at the Beach Sports. The teens have their own Teen Hideout which they like to keep a secret. If you’re bringing a teenager on your cruise and they spend some time in Vibe (the teenager area on the ship) then their counselors can guide them on the hideout location.

Mickey Mouse often makes a guest appearance at Scuttle’s Cove

Beach Sports offers an area where you can play volleyball, soccer, or tetherball

Tram System

I should mention that the tram system can get a little bit confusing, especially if you are in an island state of mind or have too many frozen daiquiris (yes, they serve alcoholic drinks on the island). Sometimes you will need to get off the tram at the second station and wait for another tram to come by that’s going to the third station. Some trams loop from the ship to the first and second stations. Other trams loop back and forth from the second and third stations. No matter what, you won’t be waiting any longer than 15 minutes for a tram to come by to get you to your destination.

Now you can easily walk the island. From the ship to the first tram stop it is about a 15-20 minute walk. It’s probably another 10-15 minutes to talk to the second tram station. This second tram stop is also where you’ll find the food. They serve lunch on the island from 10am-2pm. It’s buffet style and you’ll have your options of burgers, (veggie burgers upon request), hotdogs, salad, fresh fruit, fresh juice, etc. Don’t miss out on the island cookie! It's just a giant chocolate chip cookie but it's delicious. If you happen to miss out on lunch on the island, there are a few places open on the ship but your options will be limited. Also, you must go to the buffet and get the food yourself. The bar staff will walk around the hammock and beach area to serve drinks but they do not serve food to guests.

When I was working on Castaway Cay, all-aboard was always at 4:00pm. The last tram will leave 30 minutes prior to all-aboard time so make sure you catch the tram unless you’d prefer to walk. Please be kind to your crew members and return what you can, including flippers, chairs, meal trays, etc. to their respected areas before you leave. Disney’s island is well-kept and clean and the crew works hard to keep it that way. But the majority of crew members do return to the ship with you. So please be kind and do not leave too much work for the island crew. You’ll notice that there’s not a lot of artificial lighting on the island so the crew has only a few hours of sunlight to clean up before the next Disney ship comes.

You can get your photo with the characters on Castaway Cay near the first tram stop

Activities

I usually recommend for guests to purchase the bike, boat, and snorkel package. You can do all 3 of these activities at any time so you don’t have to worry about sticking to any type of schedule while you are on the island. You can also swim with the stingrays through Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure but you do need to book a time in advance. I’ve never done this but anyone I’ve talked to who has done it seems to have enjoyed this unique experience.

The snorkeling is a must-do while visiting the island. Disney Imagineers did a great job at adding some extra Disney magic into the snorkeling adventure. You’ll find statues of Mickey and Minnie at the bottom of the ocean as well as a shipwreck. You’ll see a wide variety of tropical fish and you may just happen to see stingray or (try not sing it) a baby shark!

The Snorkeling Lagoon is roped off and makes a U-shape around the family beach. You can enter or exit at either end and you’ll find a snorkel gear station on both sides. The station nearest to the ship is called “Gil’s Fins and Floats” and on the far side of the island it’s called “Flippers and Floats” and both stands offer the same rental services. The family beach itself has a fun little jungle gym in the water. There are about 80 or so staff members who live and work on the island and most of the staff are professional lifeguards. It’s Caribbean water so it’s clear (some of the clearest waters I’ve ever seen!) and very calm so it is extremely safe for children to swim around.

If you want a little more excitement, head past the second tram stop to Pelican’s Plunge. This is a really cool feature on the island. The Pelican Plunge is a water slide that you must swim out to and then it plunges you into the ocean. Near the Pelican Plunge, you’ll also find some sandy areas for soccer or volleyball. You’ll also see a trail entrance. This trail is for bike rentals and I do recommend riding your bike around this section of the island. It will take you along an airplane landing strip and circle you through some bushes and greenery. If you’d like to walk to Serenity Bay, this is how you’ll get there.

The start and finish of the 5k race route

Castaway Cay also hosts a 5k Run every morning on the island. You’ll meet the staff on the cruise ship and they’ll lead you to the race starting point. There is water provided throughout the course and all finishers receive a Mickey medal. Other options for activities include In-Da-Shade Games where you’ll find a shaded area with shuffleboard, foosball, pool tables, basketball hoops, etc. There are no pools on the island but there is an area called Spring-A-Leak that shoots up water. This is ideal for the younger kids and it is located close to Beach Sports where you’ll find the volleyball, soccer, and tetherball courts.

Boat Rentals

You can find boat rentals at Boat Beach which is located close to the first tram stop. If you are looking at the water, Boat Beach will be to your left. You cannot swim in this water, it's just for boat rentals. Also, in front of Boat Beach next to the walkway is an area where you’ll find your favorite Disney Characters and can get a photo with them. This photo offers an awesome background with the water and ship behind you.

If you are renting boats (canoe, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, etc.) you will be charged by the hour. Do not purchase any more time than 1 hour because I can tell you that the workers do not actually keep track of your time. I know this because I used to work at this boat stand. We don’t keep track because most people get tired after about 45 minutes, especially if they have little ones with them. Also, you will see these giant tricycles in the water and your kids will want to rent one because they look cool. I wouldn’t do it. They look really fun but the wheels are so big that the tricycles end up moving slow so you’ll be in for a boring experience. I’d do the paddle boat instead. You can also rent a catamaran for up to 4 people but at least one person in your group must have prior sailing experience. This is a rule that the lifeguards and staff do follow strictly, especially if it's a windy day.

You can also go parasailing or take a fishing charter. These activities leave from Marge’s Barges & Sea Charters Dock which you’ll find on your left hand side as soon as you leave the cruise ship. You do need to book in advance and you do not need to take a tram to get here.

SUP (stand up paddleboard) at Boat Beach

Beaches

There are three beaches on Castaway Cay. There is the Family Beach which is, of course, open to all ages. There is Serenity Bay which is for guests ages 18+. There’s also one other beach that you cannot attend but I do love to tell people about this private beach. It’s Disney’s Crew Beach. This beach is for crew members only and if you’re looking at the water, it’s to the left side of Serenity Bay.

Guests have tried to access this beach but I wouldn’t attempt it. Disney workers have the ability to really make your trip a magical one. As a former crew member on the ships, I can tell you that if I find a guest or a particular family that I love, I will do anything I can to give them a positive experience on their cruise vacation. This might include giving them freebies or sneaking them to the front of a line… or giving them insider information. If you attempt to sneak into the crew member beach, the crew members will know and they will tell all the other crew members and you will not be liked very much by the Disney crew members. You also won’t get very far because it’s very obvious who is a crew member and who is a vacationer.

Crew member have their very own Crew Beach

As a cruise ship employee, we eat, sleep, and breath Disney Cruise Vacations. We are ALWAYS on duty. We are always being stopped by guests and answering questions. We are recognized even out of uniform. I can’t tell you how many times I’d get off the ship for my lunch break and end up sharing a taxi or a tour with guests and would spend much of my “off time” answering questions about cruising. We already have 70+ hours/week of working hours so the few hours a day that we have off work are very precious to us.

Disney’s Crew Beach is our only place on the island that we can be away from guests (as much as we love you) so please don’t bother the crew members there and give them the privacy they deserve.

However, I will tell you how AWESOME this crew beach is so you can experience it with your imagination. Crew Beach offers all the amenities available on the island but its all condensed in one spot. We have hammocks and lounge chairs. We have kayaks, canoes, floats, and snorkeling gear that we can take out into the water. We also have our own dining area where we can grab burgers and beers (if we have a long enough lunch break) and ice cream. Sometimes there will be a DJ or live music. Often, crew members will put together a volleyball tournament. Every year in May, the CAM (Crew Activities Manager) will put together DCL Games which is an Olympic-style tournament between departments. It lasts a few weeks and takes place on the ship and on the island. The island competitions include a 5k, volleyball tournament, and a triathlon.

Summary

Disney’s private island is one-of-a-kind. It's happy, friendly, clean, and extremely safe. The only “locals” are the Disney crew members who live on the island. There’s also a handful of employees who live on other Bahamian islands and take a boat over in the morning before the cruise ship arrives. Typically, the cruise ship will be there from 9am-4pm. You can spend the entire day on the island (which I would!) but if you want to experience some parts of the cruise ship without the crowds, like the swimming pool area, then maybe take a break and head back to the boat for a portion of the day.

The weather is unpredictable and I have been on cruises before where the ship was unable to make it to the island. Either the captain will decide to have a Day at Sea (which guests often admit are their favorite days) or possibly switch up the itinerary and attempt to go back to Castaway Cay another day on the cruise. This is a rare occurrence when the ship can’t dock on the island (extreme winds, hurricane, etc.) and there are many factors that go into where the captain will take the ship instead of Castaway. You would really only have to worry about this happening if it is during Hurricane Season (August - November) but I did want to mention that it is always a possibility.

There’s also always a possibility that you’ll get some rain on the island. Try to enjoy the island day no matter what happens with the weather. I’ve seen families have the worst days ever because of the rain and I’ve seen families make the most out of it and have the best days ever. Embrace it and enjoy it!

You might also catch a wedding while you’re on the island. Castaway Cay is a popular wedding destination. The weddings take place usually in the morning and the stretch of land near the Pelican Plunge.

Make sure you rest up the night before you go to Castaway. Along with all the activities mentioned above, you’ll also find some random dance parties with the characters, crab races, basketball tournaments, and more. It’s up to you how much you want to do but there are plenty of options available! More than anything, enjoy your time because this is a very beautiful place in the world that only a small percentage of the population gets to see!