Castaway Cay is one of the popular destinations for family vacations. This place provides activities and areas specific only to kids, teens, or adults. Not to mention, you get to enjoy the spectacular view of crystal-clear water and pristine white sand.
So, what is there to do on the island? Continue reading this article to learn about nine fun things to do on Castaway Cay!
What Is Castaway Cay?
Castaway Cay is a Disney-owned private island. The island’s port is exclusive to Disney Cruise Line ships that depart from Port Canaveral or Miami, Florida, like the Disney Wish. This means that the only way to get there is from a Disney Cruise ship.
The Disney private island spans 1,000 acres. However, only 55 acres are being used, as the rest of the island is under development.
I’ve been here two times and the island is just as amazing as it sounds! I went after a few days in Walt Disney World, which makes for a really fun Disney vacation.
Where Is Castaway Cay?
Castaway Cay is located in the northern West Indies, in the Bahamas. It is around 248 miles from Port Canaveral, Florida.
The entire journey’s time differs depending on the cruise you’re on. However, for a 3-night trip, the cruise ship usually sails all night to reach Castaway Cay’s port.
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9 Things to Do on Castaway Cay
Here are 9 fun activities you can enjoy doing on the island. Remember that for any excursions, book them online or at the Port Adventures desk before going on your cruise.
1. Go Snorkeling
One of the common activities you can do on the private island is snorkeling. The island offers a 22-acre snorkeling lagoon. There, you can watch amazing fish and sea creatures.
Plus, you can explore some Disney magic with your kids! Under the sea, you can search for hidden Disney character statues and sunken ships.
The best part is that snorkeling can be free, as long as you have your equipment on hand. You’ll only need to wear the yellow safety vests, which are free to use. Don’t worry if you don’t have any equipment, as you can rent whatever you need.
You might want to consider the Castaway Cay Getaway Package to have some fun and save money. It includes rentals to bike, snorkel, and float.
2. Rent a Bike
Now, that you’ve explored the island’s sea life, why not tour the land as well? And no activity will help you discover the island better than biking.
Castaway Cay offers bike rentals for kids as young as three years old. You can rent ahead or stand and pick up your bike once you arrive on the island. All rentals provide helmets, which are mandatory to wear.
You can enjoy the bike for an hour. The good news is that the duration is enough to discover most of the island’s trails since they range between 1.5 and 3 miles.
3. Meet Disney Characters
Since Disney owns the island, it’s only natural that you’ll run into some of your favorite Disney characters in Castaway Cay. The island hosts a meet-and-greet with the characters during an onshore dance party. You get to see the cartoons boasting their beach clothes.
The characters appear throughout the day, so make sure to have your camera on hand. Examples of the Disney characters you might see include:
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Goofy and Pluto
- Stitch
- Olaf
- Captain Jack Sparrow
- Captain Hook and Mr. Smee
4. Swim at the Pelican Plunge
Pelican Plunge is another place you must visit when you reach Castaway Cay, because who doesn’t like water activities?
Just near the Family beach area, you’ll find a floating platform, around 2400 square feet, and a water play area with a floating water slide. The Pelican Plunge hosts all sorts of fun water games. You can glide on two twisting Pelican Plunge water slides.
Additionally, you can practice shooting using the water cannons and enjoy getting drenched by the water dump bucket. Keep in mind that the water surrounding the Pelican Plunge is a bit deep. So, anyone shorter than 4 feet must wear a life jacket.
5. Visit Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure
If you’re a fan of stingrays, then Castaway Cay’s Stingray Adventure is the right place for you. This place accepts five years old and older.
At the Stingray Adventure’s lagoon, you can enjoy a 60-minute extrusion. The adventure begins in shallow water, where you get to see, touch, and feed those awesome swimming creatures!
After petting the stingrays, you can swim into the deep water and enjoy snorkeling among skates and rays.
6. Bring Your Kids to Scuttle’s Cove
Scuttle’s Cove is a place that combines the best of both worlds: water and sand activities. The area hosts kids between 3 and 12, but older kids are welcome too. The best part is that the toys provided at most of the events are free!
Some of the fun activities you can do at Scuttle’s Cove include:
- Water games
- Disney beach party
- Building sand castles
- Sand Soccer
- Capture the flag
- Scavenger hunt
7. Relax at Serenity Bay
Since the kids had their fair share of fun, it’s time for the adults to relax at Serenity Bay. As the name implies, Serenity Bay is an adults-only area that welcomes 18 years old and older. There, you can unwind from all the water activities and island tours.
You can enjoy an open-air cabana massage and watch the wind sway palm trees. What’s more, you can savor some BBQ dishes at the Air Bar BBQ when hunger hits you.
8. Escape to the Teen Hideout
For teens that want to get away from kids and adults, Teen Hideout is the place for you. Only ages 14 to 17 are allowed to enter.
You can lounge on the beach to get a tan. However, if you want some excitement, check out and participate in the athletic programs the place offers.
9. Enjoy Delicious Food
Any trip is never complete without food. So, what restaurants does Castaway Cay have for the cruise line guests?
Aside from Air Bar BBQ at Serenity Bay, you can visit two eating hotspots: Cookie’s BBQ and Cookie’s Too.
Just like a casual backyard BBQ, the restaurants offer burgers, hot dogs, ribs, grilled chicken breasts, and spicy chicken breasts. You can also find vegan options, salads, corn on the cob, and other sides.
As for dessert, you might have guessed that the restaurants offer huge chocolate chip cookies. You can also treat yourself to banana bread, topical fruit salads, and ice cream!
To Sum Up
Snorkeling, feeding stingrays, and biking are among the fun things to do on the castaway cay. Plus, you get to meet Disney characters, which can please your inner child and the kids.
If you want to escape all the noise, head to Serenity Bay, where you can unwind and dine at Air Bar BBQ. Alternatively, you can eat with your family at Cookie’s BBQ or Cookie’s Too.
A few other things you could look into are sending someone a post card from the island’s post office, riding a banana boat, and going to the In Da Shade Game Pavilion (located near the Castaway Cay family beach).
Whichever activity you choose to do, one thing is for sure: Castaway Cay caters to all preferences, ensuring everyone has an enjoyable trip!
You can learn more about it by talking to an authorized Disney vacation planner to plan your vacation to Disney Castaway Cay.
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