Castaway Cay Tips: Navigating Disney’s Private Island

Feature photo cred: Cvorobek https://flic.kr/p/2mDS7ho

Introduction

If you’re heading on a Disney Cruise in the Caribbean, there’s a good chance you’re heading to Castaway Cay. Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. Disney purchased (well, leased for 99 years) the island from the Bahamian government, becoming the first of many cruise lines to have their own island. A private island allows cruisers to dock and immediately begin enjoying the fun when they walk off the boat. It also means that a lot of the activities are free. With so much to do and see at Castaway Cay, you want to make the most of it. So, here’s a bunch of tips to have as much fun as possible.

If you’re interested in the history of Disney’s Castaway Cay, check this post out.

Before You Go to Castaway Cay

Here are some things you want to think about before you get to Castaway Cay. If you think through these items and get your plan in place, you’ll be better prepared to have the best experience.

The map of Castaway Cay provided by Disney. Click on it to get a printable pdf of Castaway Cay.

When should I book activities for Castaway Cay?

If you know there’s an activity you want to do on Castaway Cay, it doesn’t hurt to book it ahead of time. This is especially true of excursions and cabanas. These activities fill up fast, so if you’re not prepared to book them as soon as your window opens, you might miss out. Nowhere is this more true than for cabanas.

Cabanas are private beach shelters that give cruisers their own place to stay in the shade with provided places to sit, drinks, snacks, private transportation, and a concierge that will fetch you whatever you need. You’ll also have a semi-private beach space, sharing it with the other cabana guests instead of thousands of other cruisers. However, there are only 27 cabanas on the island, so even though they are very expensive, they are usually booked full by the time the window opens even for the Gold Castaway Club members. So if you want one of these, you need to ask immediately and expect to be disappointed.

When is the best time to visit Castaway Cay?

There’s not really a bad time to visit Castaway Cay, the ocean wind usually keeps extreme heat from hitting the island, and the water is swimmable year-round. However, the best time is probably November-April. During these months, the temperature typically doesn’t get past the mid-80s, and the average rainfall is much lower than the other half of the year. During the summer months, it can be extremely hot, and if the weather is too bad, you may not be able to get off the boat at all. We’ve been a few times in the fall and experienced some fast thunderstorms but were still able to utilize the island, so don’t let averages deter you. Ultimately, the best time to go is the time that you are going.

A beautiful October day at Castaway Cay, despite an average rainfall of 7” during the month.

What is the weather like at Castaway Cay?

As a tropical island, Castaway Cay is warm year-round, hot in the summer, and prone to short thunderstorms May-October. It’s also possible for a large storm to move through, especially in the fall. All in all, bring lots of sunscreen and be prepared for rain.

What should I pack to Castaway Cay?

Since you’re so close to the boat, anything you forget to bring to the island is just a short walk away, and since almost everything you’ll want to do is near the ocean and involves swimming, I wouldn’t pack a lot of things. Here are a few necessities. If you want a full list of things to bring on your Disney cruise, check out this article.

Here’s a Castaway Cay Packing List

-stateroom key- you’ll want this to get on and off the ship and to pay for anything on the island
-insect repellent- there are bugs on the island. If the wind is blowing, they won’t be a problem, but if it’s uncharacteristically still, you may have some uninvited attention.
-sunscreen- it doesn’t matter what time of year you go, there’s a chance that you’ll get sunburned. Plan accordingly.
-phone- If you want to take pictures, use the island’s cell tower, or stay in contact with the app, you’ll want your phone. This is especially true if you have little ones in the nursery or Scuttle’s Cove, or if you plan to split up with your group and meet up later.
-snorkeling gear- If you know you want to snorkel, have room in your luggage, and own snorkeling gear, bring it. It will save you roughly $40 per person, per hour.
-book or Kindle- My favorite thing to do on the island is to sit in a chair and read. Bring a book, or better yet a waterproof Kindle. Follow the link if you want one (as an Amazon affiliate, I may earn from purchases.)

-small bookbag- Of course, if you’re bringing all this stuff, it’s good to have a little backpack to carry it around.
­-cash- You will only need cash if you’re planning on visiting the post office or tipping any cast members (even then, a lot of gratuity is added into the cost of excursions/activities)
-snacks- food is provided, but you could bring some fruit from the buffet or order room service items like cereal. A lot of parents order Uncrustables to take with them.
-alcohol- if you want to save a little money, bring some of the alcohol you brought with you or picked up in another port. Remember, no glass on the island for safety purposes.

Things you don’t need to bring with you on Castaway Cay

Towels, strollers, and chairs are provided. Food is provided as well, but you may still want to bring some snacks. You also can’t bring your own floats. You can rent floats when you get there. Don’t bring lots of valuables or forms of currency you won’t need.

Once you’re on Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay Transportation

You have two options for getting around the island, your feet or the tram. Since this is vacation, unless you really love walking, you should take the tram. The tram goes from just off the dock and makes three stops. It will stop at the first family beach (where Scuttle’s Cove is), the second family beach (called Pelican Point), and Serenity Bay (the adults-only beach). Some of the trams will skip stops, so make sure you know which one you want to be on.

Best place to sit at Castaway Cay

If you’re heading to the family beach, I’ll let you in on one of the best spots to sit. A lot of people know about it, so you want to head there early. Take the tram to the second family beach, then head backward towards the first family beach. There’s a section of chairs looking out at the Ropes Course (not Pelican Plunge) that’s only one or two rows deep. If you grab a spot there, the crowds will be much lower, and you’ll be right near the Heads Up Bar, the Ropes Course, Pelican Plunge, and some restrooms. Thanks to Brooks Witter for this tip. Follow her on Instagram for more tips for families that wake up early (unlike ours).

The perfect chairs. No crowd. A little shade. Near the stuff.

Must-do Activities on Castaway Cay

It’s hard to say which activities are must-do. That will vary by personal preference. However, I think everyone should at least enjoy the beach, the food, a dance party, a character photo-op, a picture at Mount Rustmore, and many of the other free options. Everyone should also snorkel to see the hidden statues at least once in their lives and take a bike to the undeveloped parts and up the Observation Tower. I have a full list of every activity coming soon.

Things to Do with Kids on Castaway Cay

This might surprise you, but a lot of people bring kids on a Disney Cruise. In fact, if you’re reading a blog post from some guy who calls himself Second Dad to the Right, you might want his opinions on what to do with kids at Castaway Cay. So here are some of the best activities to do with kids (or without).

Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay

At the beginning of the second family beach, there is a small offshore splash pad and water slide area. This is an amazing activity if you have kids over 38” tall. The waterslides are much more intense than expected and will shoot you out at such velocity that you will get a much-needed saline sinus rinse. The open-air slide is slightly slower than the tunnel slide, so keep that in mind if you’re timid. It also has a splash pad area with a giant bucket that periodically dumps 500 gallons of water on those that walk under it. You can play there for a while before getting in line for the slide.

A couple of things to note about Pelican Plunge. You must be 38” tall to ride the slide. If your child is between 38” and 48”, they will need to wear a life jacket (provided). You also can’t touch the bottom of the ocean around the area, so be prepared to swim. I often wear a life jacket and make my older kids wear them just so it’s easier to drag them to the platform. Finally, I meant what I said about the sinus rinse. Hold your nose if you don’t want to wash your brain.

Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay. Second daughter to the right about to go down the slide.

Stroller Rental

Disney provides strollers to help parents of small children navigate the island. If your stroller isn’t suited for the island (small wheels/doesn’t like sand and sun), request one from them.

Live Music at Castaway Cay

There are few places to enjoy some live music or DJ’ed music with your kids. The most common places are near the Cookies and Cookies Too BBQ restaurants. It’s also pretty common for characters, especially Chip and Dale, to show up and join in the fun. If you’re without kids, they also have live music at Serenity Bay.

Glass Bottom Boat at Castaway Cay

There are lots of excursions that kids can go on, but I list the glass bottom boat here because it’s the only excursion that kids under 5 can go on. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenes of the ocean through the bottom of the boat.

Watersports Rental at Castaway Cay

One fun paid activity on Castaway Cay for your kids to do is rent one of the watercrafts. At the first beach, you can rent tricycles, paddleboats, paddleboards, hobie cats (tiny sailboats), and a variety of other crafts to experience the ocean in a more active way. It’s a great way to wear your kids out, or more likely, wear yourself out.

First daughter to the right about to enjoy my exhaustion on the aqua trike, one of the watercraft rentals at Castaway Cay.

Scuttle’s Cove

If your kid would rather hang out with their friends from the Oceaneer Club, and you’d rather check out the adults only Serenity Bay for a little bit, you can check them into to Scuttle’s Cove. It’s basically the Oceaneer Club on the island, with the same counselors and careful supervision. My kids’ only complaint is that they can’t see the ocean. This Oceaneer areas are not open on the boat while guests are on Castaway Cay, so this is your only supervised option for ages 3-12.

The Hideout

The Hideout is Scuttle’s Cove for teens. If you’re done making core memories with your tweens and teens, they can head over to the Hideout to spend time with their friends playing games and enjoying the shade. Counselors are there to keep them from a Lord of the Flies situation.

It’s Small World Nursery

If you have a child under 3, you’re probably already familiar with the It’s a Small World: Nursery, but did you know you can use it on the island? Well, it’s not ON the island, it’s still on the boat, but you can check your little mouseketeer in for a little adult time on the island, or so they can take a nap (or you can take a nap. It’s your vacation). Slots for the nursery fill up fast, so if you want childcare during your Castaway Cay day, book before your cruise, when you get on the cruise, or as early as possible. If you want to know more about the nursery, here’s my full explanation of the It’s a Small World Nursery on Disney Cruises.

Third baby to the right at the It’s a Small World Nursery. He colored his eyebrows for April Fool’s Day.

Romantic Activities on Castaway Cay

If you came on your Disney Cruise without kids or you put them in one of three places to stow children listed above, you may be looking for a romantic option to enjoy your day at Castaway Cay. Here are a few of those options.

Second Dad and Mom to the Right finally by ourselves on Serenity Bay

Serenity Bay

Serenity Bay is the adults only beach at Castaway Cay. If you’re not dealing with your kids, you don’t have to deal with anyone else’s kids here either. It’s a beach with chairs, bars, and food just like the family beaches, however, it doesn’t have the reef outside the swimming area, so the waves can be a little rougher. But if you’ve been to the Atlantic or Pacific, the waves will still be mild. Even though this is an adults only area, this is still Disney, so it won’t get wild. The best part about this romantic activity is that it’s free.

Couple’s Massage

If you’re looking for a more luxurious romantic experience, you can book a couple’s massage at Serenity Bay. It will be in an open-air Cabana with sights and sounds from the ocean (partially obstructed by privacy bushes). Nothing better than enjoying some couple’s time while someone else removes all your stress. If you want this experience, book early. Also remember that these are not the cabanas you rent, so you don’t have to book a cabana to get the massage. You also can’t stay in the cabana after your massage.

Bike Rental

If you’re looking for a more active and adventurous romantic experience, rent bikes together and explore the island. You can enjoy the wind, see the whole island from the Observation tower, and follow the bike path to the undeveloped parts of the island. The wind and extra speed make taking a bike far superior to walking.

Cabana Rental

If you really want to spend a lot of money and hide from everybody, consider renting a cabana. A cabana is private shelter with seating, cold non-alcoholic beverages, concierge service, semi-private beach, and private transportation. There are 27 cabanas on Castaway Cay—20 family cabanas, 1 grand cabana, and 6 Serenity Bay (adults only) cabanas. You and your spouse can have an area all to yourselves on the beach for an entire day.

However, getting a cabana is nearly impossible. They are usually booked by the time Platinum Castaway Club members open their pre-booking window. If you’re not Pearl, Platinum, or Concierge, try to book the second your window opens (long before your cruise), and you might get lucky. Make sure you check that $500+ price tag first, though.

Hidden Gems on Castaway Cay

If you are looking for some unique or hidden locations or activities at Castaway Cay, Disney has no shortage of easter eggs for you. Here’s a few things to look for while you’re on the island.

Post Office at Castaway Cay

One of the first structures you’ll pass when you disembark the boat is the Castaway Cay post office. It’s a functional post office where you can purchase postcards, postage, and send letters back to the mainland from Pixie Hollow/Neverland/Castaway Cay. Many cruisers report that it’s not always open. If it’s not, you can purchase postage and stationary on the ship and drop it off in the post office drop box.

Mount Rustmore

Mount Rustmore, an area near the first family beach with painted metal balls, is probably the most iconic photo spot on Castaway Cay. This is true even though it doesn’t have a clear view of the ocean, and it’s not a mountain. Of course, Disney has a habit of naming things mountains that aren’t mountains (looking at you Space Mountain—it’s just space, no mountain). If you want to read about Disney’s Space Mountain and other intense Disney World rides, check this post out.

First and second daughter to the right at Mount Rustmore. Humidity does crazy things to the little one’s hair.

Ropes Course at Castaway Cay

The ropes course is out in the water at the end of the first family beach. It’s a fun area to hang on stuff and fling yourself into the water to impress your kids. Conversely, it’s a grade place to injure your shoulder because you’re not as young as you once were. It’s not really hidden, but I call it a hidden gem because it’s not labeled on the map and doesn’t have a goofy name. Therefore, you may not know about it if you’ve never been there before.

Observation Tower

The Observation Tower is tucked away as far inland as Disney will let you go. You can only get there by foot or bike on a looping path that goes deep in the woods. From the top of the tower, you can get great views and pictures of the whole island and the ship.

Hidden Statues while Snorkeling at Castaway Cay

Since Disney puts a net around the swimming areas to keep out sharks and large fish, snorkeling doesn’t yield the mind-blowing exotic experience it will other places (or if you take the snorkeling boat excursion). But what it lacks in large tropical fish, it makes up for in Disney magic. Beneath the water are hidden statues of characters and sunken props from closed Disney rides, just to name a few things. You’ll feel like Ariel, savoring ocean debris.

Characters at Castaway Cay

It wouldn’t be Disney without character experiences. The fab 5 have been known to roam the island and do photo ops, especially at Mount Rustmore. Chip and Dale can often be found at the dance parties. And various pirates (Hook, Smee, and Jack Sparrow) have been seen about the island. Find them and get your picture and maybe an autograph. I hope one day to find Dwayne Johnson chasing a chicken down the beach for a boat snack.

Donald Duck driving by like he owns the place.

Other Tips for Castaway Cay

Here’s a few more tips to round out the article.

Chairs

Just like on the pool deck and at the pools at the Disney resorts, you aren’t “supposed” to save seats. However, since it would be mass chaos if everyone lost their seats (and their belongings moved) every time they got up for food, to swim in the ocean, or use the bathroom, this rule is virtually never enforced. Therefore, if you want a good seat, go find one in the morning and put your stuff down. It will be waiting for you when you return from your fun adventures. If you save a bunch of seats with just towels, that is probably the most likely scenario where someone would steal your seat. Having actual belongings tells everyone that you’re actually using the seat.

Get a Double or Nothing to save money

If you plan to pay for and drink cocktails or frozen drinks on the island, and you know that you want the alcohol content of more than one, order a double. You’ll get twice the alcohol at a $5 discount from ordering two. Scenario- one mojito with a double shot of tequila costs $25. Two mojitos cost $30. If you want the drink and not a lot of alcohol, order a virgin, mix it with your real one and save a fortune. A virgin daquiri is somewhere around $8.

Go and Come

One of the best parts of being on a private island is how easy it is go and come from the ship. If you want get all the sand off, get some air conditioning, or sit on the boat with no crowds, you can! Then you can head back to the island when you want as well. This was great for us when we wanted the baby to take a nap. We’ve also done it when we felt like our older kids were getting a little sunburned and dehydrated.

Further Reading

That’s it for my tips on what to do on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. If you want to see more of my articles on Disney Cruise Lines, check out the articles below. And if you liked the article or have a question, say something in the comments.

If you’re ready to head to Castaway Cay and haven’t booked a trip yet, consider using the Cruise Direct ad link below. I’ll earn a commission, and it won’t cost you anything extra.