Home > Family Vacation Ideas > Disney Family Vacations > Spending a Day on Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas Spending a Day on Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas One of the highlights of our recent Disney Cruise vacation was the day we spent on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas. From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., our ship had the entire island to ourselves. I left for this trip without doing a lot of my normal intensive research, so I wasn't as prepared as I could've been for our adventure ashore. Here are some things I wish I had known in advance. First of all, if you want to sound like you know what you're talking about, it's pronounced Castaway "key," not "kay." And if you want a beach chair, get off the ship and onto the beach no later than 9:30 a.m. There is a tram that makes stops at the three main beach areas. And there are a few important things to bring with you: sunscreen, sunglasses, bottled water and beach toys. We brought our own reusable water bottles on this trip, so we filled them that morning at the complimentary drink stations on the ship.
Towels are provided to you after you disembark. You can buy bottles of water on the island, but this can get pricey. Sunscreen, beach toys, goggles, etc. are available for sale at the two gift shops if you don't have them, but why pay when you can bring your own? There's a lot more to do than just laying on the sand, like biking, snorkeling, watercraft rentals, parasailing, etc. However, there's a charge for every activity. I was surprised and a little disappointed to learn that there was a hefty fee for Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure, especially since the planning DVD doesn't let on that there's a charge for this. There's even a $10 rental fee for inner tubes and foam rafts. Had I planned better, I would have packed my own inflatables. Regardless of the fees, you don't need to bring any money with you. As long as you have your "Key to the World" card, you can charge anything you purchase to your room. The only exception is if you want to send a postcard from the island's Post Office.
It will need a Bahamian stamp, which you can purchase with cash there. The amazing supervised children's program isn't just onboard the ship either; it's on the island, too! You can drop off your kids at Scuttle's Cove, and head off to the adult-only beach, Serenity Bay. They will be cared for, entertained, and fed by the same well-trained childcare staff, with games, activities, and water play area. There is no extra fee for this program; it's included in your cruise fare. The main water attraction is Pelican Plunge, which contains two fast-moving waterslides, two water cannons, and a large bucket that pours out overhead every few minutes. However, it's on a dock, and you have to swim out to it -- through deep water -- to reach it. There are life jackets provided, and anyone under 38 inches is required to wear one to swim over to it.it's served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is not only to avoid crowds, but also to get there before the seagulls start swarming. We heard a high-pitched whistle tone over the PA system the entire time, which presumably is used to keep the birds away.
It didn't really work, and it bothered my son and husband, who are sensitive to certain sounds. You can, however, bring your lunch tray to the beach if you want to eat there. The two gift shops -- Buy the Seashore and She Sells Sea Shells and Everything Else -- carry special Castaway Cay souvenirs that you will only find there. If having unique Disney merchandise is your thing, stock up there. What other tips do you have for visiting Disney's Castaway Cay? More From Family Vacation Critic: Disney Cruises for Families 10 Best Family Hotels in the Bahamas 5 Best Cruise Lines for FamiliesWritten by Traci L. Suppa Find Your Family Vacation Any Type of Vacation AdventureAll-inclusiveBeachMuseum/CulturalSkiingTheme ParksWater ParksWater Sports AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaCanadaCaribbeanCentral AmericaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDisneyEuropeFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMexicoMichiganMid-AtlanticMidwestMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew EnglandNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPacific NorthwestPennsylvaniaRhode IslandRockiesSouth AmericaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaSoutheastSouthwestTennesseeTexasUSA National ParksUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
When you picture a cruise line’s private island, do you imagine an empty stretch of sand with rows of lounge chairs, and not much else? That’s certainly not the case on Castaway Cay. This is Disney Cruise Line, after all, so its version of a Bahamian island is just that: Its own. Picture a tram (what else?) to take you from the ship to the three different areas, character visits, a giant three-story water slide designed to look like a castle, and even a sprinkler park for little kids. Read on for what else you’ll find there: Cookie's BBQ serves ice cream all day long. - Photo by Disney Cruise Line Cookie’s BBQ and Cookie’s Too BBQ: These two buffet spots each have plenty of covered seating, with picnic tables and enough high chairs (in two different sizes) to go around. Look for grilled burgers and hot dogs, but also veggie burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and pork ribs. Sides include corn on the cob, baked beans, coleslaw, and German potato salad — and there’s also a fruit bar, as well as soft serve ice cream and banana bread for dessert.
At every restaurant on Castaway Cay, you’ll find a serve-yourself drink bar, with everything from soda and iced tea to coffee for the grown-ups and milk for the kids. Conched Out Bar, Heads Up Bar, Sand Bar, and Castaway Air Bar: These four beach bars all serve a mix of beer, cocktails, and frozen drinks. In addition, roving waiters walk the shore with buckets of water and rum punch specials for sale throughout the day. Tip: Kids melting down in the sun? All of the onboard dining options are also open when the ship is in port at Castaway Cay, so you can always take the kids back onboard, feed them, let them have a nap, and head back out later. Kayaks, parasailing, sailboats, and fishing charters are all available for rent. Marge’s Barges: Here, you can sign up for parasailing and fishing charters. At nearby Boat Beach, you can rent watercraft (including Aqua Trikes and sea kayaks) or take hop-on, hop-off banana boat rides; you’ll also find the stingray feeding area.
Beach Sports: Volleyball, tetherball, and soccer courts are set up just far enough from the sand. Snorkel lagoon - Photo by Disney Cruise Line Gils’ Fins and Boats, Flippers n Floats, and Windsock Hut: These three shops all have snorkel and tube rentals, as well as free life vests you can borrow. Pelican Plunge: This castle-looking water slide is set far enough from the shore so that the squeals of children can’t be heard on the beach. Tip: The family beach at Pelican Point gets increasingly crowded as the day progresses. Go there at 8:30 am when the gangway opens, and you’ll have a few hours of quiet time before the throngs arrive. Spring-a-Leak: Similar to the “Finding Nemo” water park for small kids on the ships themselves, this wet play area includes a variety of fountains and sprinklers for toddlers and young children to explore. Burn off some energy with a bike ride around the island. Bike Rentals: Not only can you rent bicycles to ride the same path that some passengers run a 5K on, but you can also rent a variety of sizes — including ones with training wheels and even kids’ seats for the smallest riders.
Scuttle’s Cove: Right near the first tram stop, Castaway Cay's children’s area includes supervised activities —such as sandcastle competitions and water balloon games — so that parents who want some alone time can drop off the little ones and head to the adult-only beach, called Serenity Bay, for a little while. This is also where characters, including Mickey Mouse and Goofy, make appearances throughout the day. Private cabanas are available for rent. Beach Cabanas: The cruise line rents out 20 cabanas, which — at 325 square feet each — might be bigger than your cabin. Complete with lounge chairs, a dining table, a sitting area, a fridge, a locker, towels, and sunscreen. Hide Out: This teen-only area has music as well as a private strip of beach, with lounge chairs and umbrellas just for the 14- to 17-year-olds. Serenity Bay is the perfect retreat if you prefer a quiet beach day. Serenity Bay: The adult-only beach on Castaway is farthest from the ship but has a tram stop to it.