Dos & Don’ts of Disney’s Castaway Cay (23 Helpful Tips!)
Disney’s Castaway Cay in The Bahamas is a tiny island, but it’s packed with so much to do that you might have a hard time deciding how to spend your time. Measuring 3.1 miles long and 2.2 miles wide, it offers tons of activities like bike rentals, water play areas, parasailing, fishing, a stingray interaction experience, and more. Here are some Castaway Cay tips from family travel experts to make the most of your visit.
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1. Don’t forget your stateroom key.
The most important item to bring to Castaway Cay is your stateroom key. You will not be able to disembark or reboard the ship without it. Most other necessities, like sunblock and sand toys, can be purchased on the island.
2. Do take the tram.
It’s a surprisingly long walk from the ship to the beach. Thankfully, you can hop aboard a handy and complimentary shuttle to get around the island.
3. Don’t bring a stroller.
There are free strollers, wagons, and joggers available on the island. There are even special wheelchairs made specifically for use on the sand for physically challenged cruisers.
4. Do choose the right beach.
There are three beaches on Castaway Cay: Family Beach, Sports Beach, and Serenity Bay.
Family Beach
If traveling with babies and young children, Keryn Means of Twist Travel Magazine advises sticking to the section of Family Beach closest to the ship. She says this area offers “a bit of space with a less rambunctious crowd.”
A little further along the shore on Family Beach, you’ll find Pelican Plunge. This is a waterpark structure floating in the ocean. Cruisers must swim out to the platform to play. Choose from two water slides here including one dark tunnel and an open air slide. Sliders must be at least 38 inches tall, and those under 48 inches must don a complimentary life vest.
Sports Beach
Active cruisers should head to Sports Beach. If sitting still on the sand all day sounds ho-hum, this is the place to be. Sand volleyball and tether ball reign supreme here.
Serenity Bay
Meanwhile, cruisers aged 18+ can spread out on Serenity Bay. This is the mellow adult-only beach on the island. (Psst…the food is better at the Serenity Bay BBQ!)
5. Don’t miss live entertainment and games.
Family Travel Magazine‘s Jodi Grundig advises seeking out Castaway Cay’s live entertainment and game options. Meanwhile, cruisers aged 18+ can spread out on Serenity Bay. This is the mellow adult-only beach on the island. Fun to be had at this pavilion includes foosball and pool tables, giant checkers, and chess boards.
Grundig says, “We love sitting on Family Beach by the island’s Gazebo because we can easily walk over and see things like a character dance party and the Island Vibes DJ performance. There’s also usually a basketball free throw competition and ping pong tournament at In Da Shade Pavilion.”
6. Do work off your vacation calories.
If you stay active, there’s no reason to feel guilty for indulging in dessert during your Disney Cruise. Good thing there are lots of exercise options on Castaway Cay.
Take a yoga class on the beach. Swim or snorkel off your lunch. Play volleyball or tetherball at Sports Beach. Rent a paddleboat, kayak, or aquabike from Gil’s Fins and Boats. Play ping-pong, basketball, and other games at one of two Game Pavilions.
Your family can also explore the 1.5 miles of bike trails aboard a beach cruiser. Adult bicycles, child seats, and kids’ bikes are available for rental.
7. Do go snorkeling.
Kirsten Maxwell with Kids Are a Trip says snorkeling at Castaway Cay was the highlight of her family’s day on the island. For kids, Maxwell recommends bringing “full-face snorkeling masks so they don’t have to mess with the separate pieces.”
If you forget your gear, you can buy or rent masks and fins on the island. Life vests are provided free of charge and are required for snorkelers.
8. Don’t pay for bottled water.
Why pay for water when you can hydrate for free? Plenty of coolers are situated throughout the island where you can get a complimentary cup of cold filtered water.
Non-alcoholic drinks like sodas and fruit juices are also available free of charge at bars located throughout the island. Adults aged 21+ can purchase beer, wine, and tropical beverages like frozen mojitos, too.
9. Do pack your running shoes.
Kimberly Tate, author of the Stuffed Suitcase blog recommends participating in the Castaway Cay 5K. She and her family have participated in these 3.1-mile races on the island. They’re open to walkers and runners of all levels.
Tate says, “We all earned medals and still had time to hit the beach for sand play and snorkeling afterward. This is perfect for families looking for more than just beach time.”
Keep in mind the run is for ages 10+. All participants receive a souvenir medal made of rubber material.
10. Don’t take cash or credit cards.
Debra Muccio, founder of Finding Debra, says there’s no need to lug your wallet around. “I had heard rumors before our trip that you needed cash or credit cards to shop at the few Castaway Cay souvenir stores. This turned out to be not true. Souvenirs were bought using our stateroom key loaded with our credit card information.”
11. Don’t wait to buy Castaway Cay souvenirs.
You will be disappointed if you wait to purchase Castaway Cay gear and memorabilia on board the cruise ship. You can only purchase Castaway Cay souvenirs on the island.
12. Do make a splash on Castaway Cay.
The Spring-A-Leak splash pad will keep children content for hours. Located near Family Beach, fountains bubbling from the ground incite joy and giggles from toddlers, preschoolers, and young grade schoolers.
13. Don’t waste time eating on the ship.
There’s no sense wasting beach time eating on the ship when the food is tasty and free on the island. Choose from three places to eat: Cookie’s BBQ, Cookie’s Too BBQ, and a “secret” Serenity Bay BBQ. Expect simple fare like hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh fruit, soft-serve ice cream, potato salad, and soft drinks.
The restaurant at Serenity Bay is solely for grown-ups and offers bonus entrees unavailable at the other two. Think deliciously seasoned grilled steak.
If you’d like to eat lunch on Castaway Cay, don’t wait till it’s too late. The restaurants typically shut down for the day at 2 pm.
14. Do book a shore excursion or activity.
Castaway Cay excursion options include a jet boat tour, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, and jet ski rentals.
Monica Young of My Life is a Journey says, “Although most activities do have an additional fee, the experiences can be so memorable, such as feeding stingrays, which is a cool activity for the whole family. For adults, I recommend booking a massage on the beach.”
15. Do rent a float.
Cruisers can rent inflatable inner tubes on Castaway Cay. Water toys like these provide oodles of fun for children or a relaxing way for grown-ups to laze about in the water. Your fabulous flamingo pool float may be confiscated by Disney, so it’s better to leave your own pool floats at home.
Keep in mind that the only floats you can bring to the island are “coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) and flotation sewn into the bathing suit for safety,” according to Disney Cruise Line. These are life vests, which are available for free on Castaway Cay.
16. Do find Disney characters on the island.
Photos with your favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse make wonderful souvenirs of your time on Disney’s private isle.
Margie DQ of DQ Family Travel says, “You can check the Personal Navigator schedule the night before or right when you get off the ship to find character meet-up times and locations. Some of our cutest family pictures are with a Disney character in island gear with a beach background.”
17. Don’t get stuck without a beach chair.
Plan ahead to nab a beach chair. Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess says, “Unless you take the tram early in the morning to the Family Beach you won’t get a spot, as this section fills up first.”
She continues, “If you enjoyed a leisurely morning on the ship and disembark after 10:30, get off at the first tram stop near the Snorkeling Lagoon. There will probably still be many beach chairs, loungers, and umbrellas. If you’re lucky, you may even snag a hammock!”
18. Do book your private cabana in advance.
Cruisers who want to make sure to have space and amenities on shore should rent a private cabana. Be forewarned that they are not cheap!
Castaway Cay cabanas do come with a slew of amenities, though. Expect snacks, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, sunblock, sand toys, snorkeling equipment, free float rentals, and a one-hour bike rental.
Be sure to book your cabana online far in advance. The island has a limited supply, making cabanas a hot commodity.
If you can’t nab one at first, check the Disney Cruise Line website regularly for cancellations. You can also try to book a private cabana with Guest Services as soon as you board the ship.
19. Don’t forget about free childcare on Castaway Cay.
Trips with Tykes Editor Leslie Harvey recommends taking advantage of babysitting services on shore.
She says, “Although there is plenty to do as a family together, parents may also want some time to explore the island together or enjoy a tropical drink at the bar sans kids. Scuttle’s Cove takes kids ages 3 to 12 and offers the same high-quality supervision, security, and fun you can find at the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab on board the ship.”
20. Do relax on Castaway Cay.
You could get Castaway Cay fever trying to squeeze too many activities into one day. Instead, pick a couple of must-dos to please everyone in your crew. The point here is to unwind island-style.
21. Don’t wait to plan your Disney vacation.
Research shows travelers may enjoy planning their vacation more than the actual trip. So, start planning! You can read more about Disney Cruise Line on CruiseDirect.com. I also suggest buying The Unofficial Disney Cruise Line 2024 guidebook. It’s packed with helpful tips for making the most of your time at sea and in ports of call.
22. Do book your Disney Cruise early.
Typically, the farther in advance you book your cruise, the better price you will pay. For assistance with booking your Disney Cruise, visit Get Away Today. On top of the best information, you can get bonuses like extra on-board credits and Mickey and Minnie plushes when you mention Travel Mamas sent you. Book your Disney Cruise now!
23. Do get more cruise tips.
Here’s how to choose the best Disney Cruise for your family.
Before your vacation, look at what to pack for a Disney Cruise.
Learn what to do if you get sick on a cruise.
Sailing with children? Read these tips for cruising with kids.
Save these Castaway Cay tips!
Considering a Disney Cruise? Keep these Castaway Cay dos and don’ts for future reference. Just pin the image below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!
Do you have any questions or additional Castaway Cay tips? Share your comments and questions below!
A note from the Travel Mama: Thank you to Disney Cruise Line for inviting me to sail on Fantasy and Dream. My family has also paid full price to sail with Disney.
We will be there in February of 2016. As far as the bikes that have children seats…
My son is about 43″ and 50lbs, he doesn’t know how to ride a bike yet, I was wondering if he would be too big for the kids seat on the back of the adult seat since there are no tandem bikes?
Rachel – I can’t speak to the requirements of children’s seats on the bikes at Castaway Cay. You might want to call DCL to see if they can help you out: 800-951-3532. Have a great trip!
Hey,
There are no tandem bikes on the cay. Only regular cruiser bikes. 🙂
Castway Cay is seriously my favorite place to be! I absolutely love it. I look forward to this stop so much on every Disney cruise we go on. It is so peaceful and you have the beautiful blue carribbean waters. If you are traveling without kids, a visit to the adult only beach is an absolute must! It is so peaceful and the water is just crystal clear. Absolutely perfect!! We also went snorkeling while there and it was so much! The fish and reef were beautiful. Castaway Cay is my happy place and the place where I am relaxed the most! LOVE!!!!
Heather – I agree! It’s pretty hard not to be happy and relaxed on Castaway Cay!
We were there in 2007 and at that time they had their own post office. The kids had fun sending their grandparents postcards that were postmarked “Castaway Cay”. We even sent ourselves some to our own home as souvenirs. I’m not sure they still have it – but it was a cute thing to do. We just booked our next DCL trip for June 2016. Can’t wait!!!
So excited for you, Bambi! Enjoy your next Disney Cruise!
Can anyone tell me if there are 3 wheel bikes available for older adults to rent on Castaway Cay?
Hi Shirley – I don’t remember seeing any three-wheeled bikes for older adults. I’ve emailed my contact at Disney Cruise Line to see if they can answer your question. You might want to call them directly too: DCL Guest Services at 800-951-3532.
None for sure. Only 26″ two wheel bikes for adults. 🙂
Castaway Cay is always the highlight of any cruise with Disney for us. We try to get to our spot on the beach as early as we can. The lunch on the island, in some ways, is better than the ones back on the ship! We usually bring our own swim mask and cheap blow up raft and just throw the raft away after we are ready to go back to the ship.
Do you have any tips on the 5k? I was hoping to run it with both my kids ages 10 and 12? I hear that the runners have to disembark earlier than everyone else to complete the race. Will we be able to take all our gear for the day with us at that time?
Hi Jennifer – I don’t know much about the Castaway Cay 5k but I did a little research and found a helpful blog post over on the Run All the Races blog. Check it out: http://runalltheraces.com/tag/castaway-cay-5k/ It doesn’t look like there are any lockers on Castaway Cay (according to a DisBoards.com stream), but if you’ll be just bringing towels and swimsuits that you aren’t overly worried about being stolen, I’m sure you could stow your stuff on the beach somewhere. Otherwise, you might need to go back to the ship to grab your stuff after the race. Hope that helps!
This maybe too late but hopefully it helps others. There are people of all ages running/walking this event. Runners do disembark earlier and Disney offers an unlocked communal treasure chest for runners to store belongings they don’t want to run with, but remember it’s unlocked. If you don’t finish the run in a timely manner you can still get your medal, the staff that setup the run also work other activities later that day. There are also water coolers setup throughout the course. I was the only one running from my family so it was easier for me to meet them on the boat after the run than searching for them on the beach.
Cat – Thanks so much for these handy tips!
We were lucky to be able to visit Castaway Cay back in 2013. What a great time! We got a Cabana and I would definitely do that again. We were escorted to the Cabana, our concierge took care of getting us food and drink, we were all taken care of. We were able to go out our front door and right to the water. It had rained a little the day we were there and the Cabana was the perfect place to be. We also had my little granddaughter with us and it was the perfect place for her (an us) to take a nap It was cozy and kept us well protected from the rain. We spent most of the day on the island and were one of the last ones off, because we were having so much fun …. What a great great time.
Jim – I’ve never rented a cabana on Castaway Cay. Sounds like a great idea, especially if traveling with babies or young children and/or it’s raining. Thanks for the tip!
Are The life vests on castaway key available in adult sizes. My 11yo grandson swims but wants the security at pelican plunge. He is 5′ 3″ and 135lbs.
Carol – Life vests are available in adult sizes and, in fact, they are required for anyone who embarks on a snorkeling excursion at Castaway Cay.
Thank you very much.
Life vests aren’t required for snorkeling but snorkel vests are. But there are plenty up to 3XL… 🙂
We’re going on a cruise stopping at castaway cay at the end of March- my son is 4 years old. If I read correctly he is too young to rent a floating tube on the family beach? Do you know if that’s true? If so, do you have any experience with the glass bottom boat ride? Is the whole bottom glass or just a small section? I was hoping for something a bit more interactive for us, but we’ll take what we can get. Thanks!!!!!
Hi Mary – According the the Disney Cruise Line website, children should be 5 years old or older to rent an inner tube but I rented one for my son when he was 3 years old. I sat right near him the whole time he played with his inner tube (while wearing a life vest) in the shallow water and he was fine. Perhaps the 5-year-old mention on the DCL website is just a suggestion or they must recommend that age for legal reasons. I have never personally done the glass bottom boat ride but it appears to get mixed reviews on the DisBoards.com. You might want to go research there to make your choice. Enjoy!
Thanks so much for your info. We have family group going on double dip in july. Would like to have picture taken if 5grandkids with santa hats in the water. Any chance of photographers available on castaway cay for that?
Hi Elaine – There are ship photographers available to snap photos on Castaway Cay, but I’m not sure about booking a private session. Let me check and get back to you!
Elaine what a great idea! My family doesn’t go until the end of October but what perfect timing for a family Christmas card shot 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Elaine – Here’s Disney Cruise Line’s response to your question:
Yes, families can schedule private photo sessions. I would suggest calling DCL Guest Services at 800-951-3532 for details regarding how to book a private photo session.
Hey there! I was curious about the post office at Castaway Cay. Do they sell post cards at the post office & is it expensive to mail something?
Hi Jaime – I am almost positive they sell post cards at the Castaway Cay Post Office and gift shops, but I will check with my DCL PR rep to be sure. Not sure on prices for shipping, either, but I will ask. Here is what I found on the Disney Cruise Line website:
“The post office on Disney’s Castaway Cay is operated by the Bahamian authorities and may not be open for business each day that our ship visits the island. If the post office is closed, Guests can still mail their letters and post cards by utilizing the drop box outside of the post office or by dropping their letters at Guest Services onboard. Stamps are available for purchase at Guest Services and letters mailed from either location with the correct postage will be delivered with the Castaway Cay postmark. Please allow several weeks for mail from The Bahamas to be delivered.”
Hi again Jaime – Here’s the response I received from Disney Cruise Line:
There are two postcards in every stateroom for guests to mail from the island. Stamps are available for purchase (cash only) at the Castaway Cay post office and at Guest Services onboard. Traditional Bahamian postage stamps costs 55 cents for a standard size postcard. For a larger postcard, the cost is 65 cents.
Thank you!
Also wondering about the life vests! Can my 5 y.o wear hers on the water slides there, and in the pools on the ship? We leave next Wednesday!
Jenn – According to Disney Cruise Line, guests may bring their own life vests to use at Castaway Cay. Have a great cruise!
Hi! I read where you said Disney will provide life jackets, but my son prefers to wear his. Is it ok to bring his or do they only allow theirs?
Hi Erin – I’ve reached out to Disney Cruise Line to find the answer to your question. I will let you know when they get back to me!
Hi Erin – This is what the Disney Cruise Line PR said:
Guests may bring their child’s own life vest and take it with them ashore to Castaway Cay.
Guests can wear their own, but not on any slides! 🙂
You answered a previous comment as to whether I can use the scooter that I have reserved on Castaway Cay but I was wondering if it is acceptable to use it on board the ship. We will be traveling the Wonder in early Feb. 2015 and I want to be able to enjoy as much as I can. My feet will not allow me to walk for a long distance so that is why I have reserved the scooter. Can it be used on the Cayman Islands since it appears that you are tendered onto the island? Thanks for your help.
Hi Donna – I am looking into this for you. I’ll let you know what I find out!
Hi Donna – This is what the Disney Cruise Line PR representative said:
Mobility scooters are permitted aboard the ship. Due to the nature of the tendering operated by Grand Cayman, mobility scooters cannot be brought aboard the tenders. However, collapsible wheel chairs may be loaded onto the tender boats. See link on the DCL consumer site for more info: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/guests-disabilities/
What fantastic tips!