Disney Cruise Line non-public island showdown: Castaway Cay vs. Lookout Cay

Finest seashore

That is the place I provide the good or unhealthy information about this comparability of Disney’s two island locations. A lot of which one is “higher” is subjective, even once you break it into classes. So, I gives you my take and my causes, however you may come to the alternative conclusion than I did, which is nice, as the entire level helps you establish which one you may take pleasure in probably the most.

Disney’s Castaway Cay has wonderful postcard-worthy seashores, and the household seashore has the additional benefit of being sheltered by a rocky breakwater. This implies the water is often very calm, making it a fantastic match for households.

There are lifeguards, free seashore chairs with and with out umbrellas and a few shade beneath mature bushes.

Nevertheless, if you need a superb seat near the water or with some shade at Castaway, you typically must both get off the ship fairly early or wait till after lunch when extra households begin to head again to the ship.

In the meantime, at Lookout Cay, that basic recommendation continues to be true if you need a seat on the primary strip of seashore. Nevertheless, at Lookout Cay, you have got much more choices.

First, there are extra chairs in a secondary part behind a dune, not fairly as near the seashore. However maybe extra importantly to me, if you happen to merely stroll a bit of bit farther down towards the island’s tip, you could find loads of area that is not crowded, even through the busiest time of the day.

There are chairs you possibly can convey all the way down to that uncrowded part of the seashore, making it a reasonably implausible setup. That is additionally open water within the sense that you’re going to get some waves that you aren’t getting when at Castaway. Whether or not or not you want that may possible depend upon the ages of your children and their swimming talents, however we liked it.

Final however not least, Lookout Cay’s pink-hued sand provides an extra-special seashore expertise.

My private choice is the seashore at Lookout Cay. Nevertheless, I am calling it a tie as a result of the water within the household seashore part just isn’t as calm as at Castaway Cay, because of the latter’s breakwater rocks. The much less crowded a part of the seashore at Lookout Cay can be away from the lifeguards, and there aren’t shade-providing bushes on the seashore, so it will not be the perfect match for all households.

Winner: Tie relying on preferences

Finest meals

In fact, meals can be very subjective. Nevertheless, I do have a transparent favourite on this battle of the Disney islands, so this one won’t finish as a tie in my guide.

On Castaway Cay, lunch is included at Cookies and Cookies Too, that are basically the identical besides they’re positioned at completely different elements of the island. On the buffet menu at each, you may discover choices corresponding to ribs, scorching canines, hamburgers, hen, cornbread, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, pulled pork, fruit, potato salad and beans.

I do benefit from the simple lunch with crowd-pleasing favorites at Cookies and Cookies Too. The road is structured with a number of buffet stations which are all the identical, so it often strikes shortly and barely has you ready out within the solar in line for lengthy. To not point out, everybody is ready to discover one thing they like nicely sufficient to fill them up.

However whereas I just like the included meals on Castaway Cay nicely sufficient for a day on the island, I loved what is on the market and included at Lookout Cay even higher.

The meals on Castaway provides the vibe of a Fourth of July barbecue picnic, however at Lookout Cay, the island’s True-True BBQ and True-True BBQ Too lean into its tropical location a bit extra with choices corresponding to plantains, ginger-marinated snapper and seafood jambalaya. Regardless of liking the American staples on Castaway as a lot as the following individual, I do know I can get a good variety of these fan favorites on board the ship just about day-after-day of the cruise, so it is enjoyable to combine it up extra whereas on land.

However don’t be concerned if island-inspired meals seems like your child’s worst nightmare. There are nonetheless cheeseburgers, scorching canines, french fries and macaroni and cheese, amongst different kid-approved classics, on Lookout Cay.

The number of menu choices at Lookout Cay does result in barely longer strains, in my expertise, because the sections of the buffet are completely different. That is nice for selection, however it does imply a probably longer wait (typically within the solar) to make your alternatives. I will additionally add that we had a bit extra bother getting a desk for lunch at Lookout Cay than we did on Castaway, so be strategic about getting someplace to sit down or consuming at barely off-peak occasions.

However with a higher number of extra island-inspired decisions and what I might additionally describe as a wider number of tried-and-true child favorites (just like the addition of fries and macaroni … do not decide), the lunchtime trophy from me goes to Lookout Cay.

Winner: Lookout Cay

Finest for ease of use

Finest included facilities

Do you want a waterslide into the ocean? What about a big children splash space with waterslides that do not drop you into the ocean? How a couple of “free” 5K with a medal?

Do your children wish to head to an island children membership (with a shaded splash space) only for them? Do your teenagers desire a hideout space the place little children and adults aren’t allowed? What a couple of nature path?

Effectively, you’re in luck, relying on which of Disney’s island locations you select.

Listed here are some highlights of the included facilities on Disney’s Castaway Cay:

• Pelican Plunge: That is an in-water play construction positioned within the cove. It has two waterslides that shoot you into the water.
• Spring-a-leak: This can be a small, lined splash space for youthful cruisers to play.
• Snorkeling Lagoon: There are some Disney-themed surprises beneath the water right here (snorkeling within the lagoon is free when you have your personal tools; in any other case, there’s a small payment to hire snorkeling tools).
• Castaway Cay 5K: This can be a free, untimed, go-at-your-own-pace route you are able to do whereas on Castaway Cay. You will earn a medal after finishing the course. Professional tip: Do that very first thing within the morning, because it does get scorching later within the day.
• In Da Shade Recreation Pavilion: This can be a shaded space with actions corresponding to basketball, foosball, chess and pool.
• Scuttle’s Cove: This can be a drop-off children membership for youngsters ages 3 to 10 (just like what you may discover on the ships).
• Teen Hideout: This hangout space on the island is only for teenagers ages 14 to 17.

Whereas there are some overlapping facilities at Lookout Cay, there are additionally some very differentiated choices. Along with the beforehand talked about pink-hued seashore, beachside chairs and lunch, the primary included facilities to take pleasure in on Disney’s Lookout Cay are:

• Rush Out Gush Out: This huge, colourful interactive water play space has two waterslides, splash and water drums, amongst different options.
• Junkanoo parade: This energetic parade is placed on by the Bahamian individuals who reside on the island. It often occurs twice per day.
• Sebastian’s Cove: This drop-off children membership for these ages 3 to 10 has a water play space that’s impressed by “The Little Mermaid.”
• Goombay Cultural Middle: The Junkanoo parade ends right here, so it is a fantastic place to take pleasure in music and see the characters and headpieces.
• Play-Play Pavilion: That is additionally a shaded place to see Disney characters, plus play video games corresponding to ring toss.
• Nature Path: lf you wish to stretch your legs and be taught concerning the indigenous wildlife of the island, you possibly can stroll the roughly 20- to 25-minute marked nature path (and see the historic lighthouse from 1901).

Winner: Tie relying on preferences

Finest cabanas

Each of Disney’s island locations have cabanas you could hire on your personal non-public area to benefit from the seashore.

Finest sense of tradition

OK, let’s be severe. These are each Disney non-public island locations, so we’re speaking tastes or levels of tradition, not depths of genuine tradition. That mentioned, this class nonetheless has a transparent winner.

Castaway Cay is an absolute blast with enjoyable particulars, together with nice seashore outfits donned by Mickey and his friends. You will additionally get a intelligent shipwrecked storyline with plenty of Disney Easter eggs hidden about.

However on the subject of any true, genuine tradition exterior of the one created by Mickey and associates … nicely, this isn’t the island you’re searching for.

Whereas Mickey and Minnie even have some completely different festive outfits on Lookout Cay, they don’t seem to be the one ones dressed for the event.

Residents of the island additionally get into the celebrations on Lookout Cay by placing on the twice-daily Junkanoo celebration.

As an alternative of making a fictional storyline for the island, like Disney did for Castaway Cay, the cruise line made the Bahamian individuals and tradition the celebrities of Lookout Cay’s story. The island leans right into a (barely Disney-fied) model of the place it actually sits. Which means you do get a dose of tradition that may be loved not solely by way of the parade and the cultural heart, however even within the meals and the outlets.

For instance, whereas you will get official Lookout Cay merch on the island, you may as well buy jewellery, decor, luggage, toys and different objects that had been made by island residents.

Winner: Lookout Cay

Finest for staying within the Disney bubble

Each Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are non-public Disney locations (although one is not technically a complete non-public island). Each have Disney characters, an included lunch, a number of included facilities and Disney forged members entertaining company at virtually each flip.

So, each islands are fairly solidly within the Disney Bubble in lots of respects. Nevertheless, they don’t seem to be precisely the identical in how they strategy that have.

On Castaway Cay, you possibly can snorkel to get a have a look at underwater Disney statues in a delegated space and guide an exercise on the stingray journey proper on the seashore. And, after all, we have already lined how simple it’s to get off the ship and be virtually instantly within the enjoyable.

On Lookout Cay, you’re really on a bigger, inhabited Bahamian island, so whereas the a part of the island Disney makes use of is only for Disney, you’ll be able to do excursions that get you out of the bubble.

For instance, on Lookout Cay, you would guide the South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour, throughout which you will notice issues just like the city of Rock Sound, the Boiling Gap (also called “nature’s scorching tub”) and the Cathedral Cave, with its gorgeous rock formations. That seems like lots of