Can you stay on Disney's island? There aren't any hotels on the island, and guests are not allowed to stay overnight. Disney employees are another story—a reported 60 cast members (what Disney calls its employees) live on the island. Their homes are in the backstage areas that guests can't see, much less access.
Much like other private islands including Perfect Day at CocoCay, Great Stirrup Cay, and Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay is only available to Disney Cruise Line guests. Unfortunately, you can not get to Disney's Castaway Cay without a cruise. You also can not stay overnight on Castaway Cay.
Castaway Cay is Disney's private island in the Bahamas and is always a highlight of their Caribbean cruises.
Around 100 Disney Cast Members live on Castaway Cay all year round, while more commute by boat from the nearby island of Abaco. Cast Members who live on the island include landscapers and maintenance workers.
In 1997, Disney entered into a 99-year land lease for the cay with the Bahamian government. The lease will expire in 2096. It took the Walt Disney Company 18 months to develop the island. The total cost was $25 million.
Food and Beverages
Complimentary food, water and soft drink are provided at no extra cost at Castaway Cay. There are several venues on the island.
One of my favorite things about Castaway Cay is that the island is barricaded with reefs and netted to keep sharks and the larger fish out. The water is crystal clear and it's amazing how far out the shallow water goes.
"Splash" (1984), a smart and genuinely funny comedy, was a critical and commercial success that instantly resonated with audiences. The movie was filmed in multiple locations, but the famous scene where Madison (Daryl Hannah) meets Allen (Tom Hanks) was filmed along the beach of what's now known as Castaway Cay.
Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line
Owned by the Walt Disney Company, the island is used exclusively for Disney passengers -- though alert cinephiles might also remember it as the spot where Tom Hanks finds his mermaid (Daryl Hannah) in "Splash."
Can you buy alcohol in Castaway Cay? Guests can purchase alcoholic drinks at several bars on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. The island's four beach bars – Conched Out Bar, Heads Up Bar, Sand Bar, and Castaway Air Bar – serve beer, cocktails, and frozen drinks.
Instead, in April 2015, Disney reopened Pleasure Island as the middle link of the Downtown Disney shopping area. This section of the complex is now called "The Landing". The former dance clubs, jazz club, and Adventurers Club are no longer part of the concept.
The closing of Pleasure Island – including the Comedy Warehouse, BET Club and Adventurers Club – marked the first public phase of reimagining the entertainment complex. The process sometimes stalled but eventually landed where Walt Disney World executives aimed – a place with more shopping and dining options.
Although Disney never officially stated its reasons for closing the park, poor attendance and high maintenance costs, combined with the newer and bigger Disney's Animal Kingdom being opened a year before, are the most likely causes. Since its closing, the island has sat largely abandoned, with no signs of development.
Luckily, Castaway Cay does have a cell phone tower, so your mobile data should get plenty of bars.
At Disney's Castaway Cay in the The Bahamas, the new solar facility installation is nearing completion and will provide nearly 70% of the power required to operate the private island destination.
Castaway Cay is an absolutely beautiful island that some would call Paradise so please try to leave it the way you found it. Even though the sea shells might look pretty, do not take them or any of the sand away with you so all other future visitors can get to enjoy the island the way it is supposed to be seen.
Sampson Cay, The Bahamas
John Malone overtook Ted Turner as the biggest private land owner in the U.S. when he amassed 2.2 million acres in 2011. He now currently owns Sampson Cay, in the Exuma chain of islands in the Bahamas.
Castaway Cay is a highlight of your Disney Cruise and is a favorite port for many cruisers. You can just relax on the beach and enjoy the ocean. No extra costs are needed. However, there are some special Disney Castaway Cay excursions and activities that you may want to consider which cost extra.
That's right: While many cruise lines have one private island, Royal Caribbean has two -- one in the Bahamas and one along Haiti's beautiful northern coast. But the experience at both Royal Caribbean private islands couldn't be more different.
The setting is breathtaking, the activities plentiful, and all of the little details are taken care of, including towels. When you disembark your cruise ship to enjoy your time on Castaway Cay, you will be welcomed to Disney's private island by helpful Crew Members handing out towels.
A: “Key” and “cay” are just different spellings of the same 17th-century word for a small, low island, especially in the Caribbean or off the coast of Florida. “Key” is more common in Florida and “cay” in the Caribbean, and it's likely that local customs and place names have kept the different spellings alive.
While Disney Cruise Line has five ships, only one docks at Castaway Cay per day, so the small island is never overcrowded. Once the ship's captain makes the all-ashore announcement, guests are permitted to disembark and head straight for Castaway Cay's white sandy beaches.
The walk really isn't that bad, and can actually be faster than the trams. Like so many things Disney, there is a convoluted backstory to go along with Castaway Cay, some of which you can pick up on as you wander the island, looking at signs and other little clues.
Snorkeling on Castaway Cay (Paid or FREE)
If you search far enough you will find one ship with Captain Mickey at the helm. If you have your own snorkel gear, snorkeling is free, you just need to wear one of these inflatable yellow life vests (see pic above). They are free to use. Otherwise, you can rent snorkel gear.
The Shark Reef at Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon will permanently close Oct. 3. A Disney spokeswoman said closing the shark reef will help make way for a new water ride in the area. A family-friendly raft ride called Miss Fortune Falls is planned nearby.