Inside Disney’s private island Castaway Cay in the Bahamas – which you can only get to if you’re on one of their cruises
AVID Disney fans often spend their holidays immersing themselves in the world of their favourite films at Disneyland.
But did you know that Disney also has its own private island in the Bahamas?
You could visit and hang out in tropical climes with Mickey and co – here’s how.
Where is Disney’s private island?
The island is called Castaway Cay and is only open to people who are on a cruise with Disney Cruise Line.
The island is in the Bahamas, near to Great Abaca Island. It’s 3.1 miles wide and 2.2 miles wide – small by island terms, but plenty of space for all the activities going on there.
The island even has its own private airport, Castaway Cay Airport.
Where have I seen Castaway Cay before?
Parts of it were used to film Pirates of the Caribbean.
It was also used for scenes in Splash, when Tom Hanks first meets Daryl Hannah – a mermaid.
Can you stay overnight at Castaway Cay?
Castaway Cay is only open for day trips on Disney Cruise Line – you can’t stay overnight, though some staff who work on the island live there year-round, such as the island’s manager and landscaper.
One user on the Cruise Critic forum explains that ships normally depart the island at around 5pm due to the biting bugs which come out at sunset.
They said: “If anyone did overnight, we’d never hear about it, the bugs would eat them!”
Island manager Guenter Schmid told Oh My Disney: “We have about 150 people living here, but we also have crew members who come in the morning and leave in the evening.”
What is there to do on Castaway Cay?
Disney ships dock directly at the island – guests do not have to tender to shore.
You then get on a tram that takes you to the island’s amenities.
Once you’re there you can take part in a wealth of activities, such as biking, volleyball, massages, basketball, or simply chilling out on the beach.
There are two beaches – one, Serenity Bay, is adult-only.
Food-wise there are barbecues at Cookie’s BBQ and an adults-only bar called the Castaway Air Bar at Serenity Bay.
Of course, visitors will also get a healthy dose of Disney and will see their favourite characters wandering around the island while they’re there.
There’s also a souvenir shop which is the only place you can buy Castaway Cay memorabilia as a well as a post office, which has a special Castaway Cay postmark.
What would happen if you got left behind on the island?
Users on forum Disboards have revealed that this sometimes happens.
People who have missed the ship have had to catch the ship up by speedboat, or meet the cruise at a port further down the trip if the cruise liner is too far away.
How much is a Disney cruise?
Prices start from £983 per person for a three-night cruise around the Bahamas with a day trip to Castaway Cay, including food and soft drinks, setting off from Port Canaveral.
Seven-night Bahamian cruises start from £2,396 including food and soft drinks, setting sale from New York.
Are there any controversies surrounding Castaway Cay?
Disney reportedly used explosives to blast coral when they were creating the mooring site for cruise ships to dock at.
The Miami Herald reports that the company is now trying to correct the damage with a programme to restore the reefs, which have also been harmed by pollution.
Are there any more private Disney islands?
The company had planned to expand with another cruise stop at Egg Island in the Bahamas, but plans ceased after nearby residents launched a petition over environmental concerns.
Residents were worried that more coral would be damaged in the process.
Sun Online Travel recently revealed that Royal Caribbean is giving their private island CocoCay a £142million revamp.