Finally, after three fun-filled days, we are here, Castaway Cay! YAY!!!! This is the place I’ve been waiting for and the main reason we booked a Disney Cruise. If you are unaware, Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. Only Disney Cruiselines are allowed to dock here. And if you’re taking a Carribean cruise, you’ll most likely stop here for at least one day and two if you’re lucky. Again, like my previous three posts, I’ll provide a review of our day at Castaway Cay as well as some pro tips and lessons learned.
We arrived at Castaway Cay at about 7:30 am but didn’t leave the ship until 8:30 am. Check-in for the 5K run was at 7:45 am, and once registered, there was a short presentation to let us know the path. The runners were the first off the ship.
Pro Tip #1 – Disney provides bug repellant, so if you don’t want to bring yours onto the beach, you don’t have to, Disney’s got you! Once you’re off the ship, there is a station/table with several gallon-sized bug repellant.
Pro Tip #2 – If you do run the 5K, there is a water station, so you don’t have to bring a water bottle.
Pro Tip #3 – I highly recommend purchasing a running fanny-back, if you do run the 5K. I was able to store my phone and IDs (e.g., license and “Key to the World” card) comfortably while running.
Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay was my absolute favorite part of the cruise. It is not only beautiful but so clean and so much to do. As I mentioned earlier, I participated in the 5K in the morning and then met up with my husband and kids afterward.
The island is amazing! Beautiful beaches with calm waters and not super packed. We were able to find seating easily. In true Disney fashion, there are two playset areas in the water. I would caution that the water is relatively deep, so make sure to use the available life vests.
My daughter and I had a fantastic time snorkeling. We saw many different types of fish, and we were able to also swim with a sea turtle. Disney also has various surprises hidden under the water, (e.g., submarine, Mickey, Minnie)
Pro Tip #4 –Disney provides towels on the beach, so no need to pack them.
Pro Tip #5 – If you plan to snorkel, the best value is to purchase the Manta Ray excursion, it’s about $60, and you get the snorkel gear as part of the package, which is about $30 anyhow.
Pro Tip #6 – Rent a floatie. The kids had a blast just floating on the calm waters. There are tubes and mats available for about $8-10 for the whole day.
Cookies BBQ Lunch Review:
Lunch was good and buffet style. It is your regular BBQ fare, (e.g., burgers, ribs, chicken sandwich, bbq chicken, corn, etc.). Desserts include cookies, pineapple cake, and all different kinds of fruit, (e.g., watermelon, melons, grapes) and of course, unlimited soft-serve ice cream.
Pro Tip #7 – The seagulls will attack any plates left behind, so make sure you clear your dishes in the designated areas.
Pirate’s Night Dinner and the Evening Show
Once we returned to our room, we were met with fun Mickey pirate bandanas for each member of our family. We showered and dressed for dinner. I had previously purchased pirate costumes for our family, which we wore.
Pro Tip #8- Buy pirate costumes at your local Halloween store post-Halloween. I got 75% off our costumes.
At dinner, the kids’ menu was pirate themed, and they had a small dance party, which was super cute and entertaining for the kiddos.
Rapunzel’s Royal Table Dinner Food Review:
The bread service included cornbread, which was a great start to the meal, because who doesn’t like cornbread! I again got a seafood pasta dish with scallops and shrimp in a red sauce, which was pretty good. The kids got their usuals, cheese pizza and mac & cheese.
In terms of the pirate party, my kiddos were pretty pooped and only lasted a little after the fireworks ended, which was fine with me. The beginning show was terrific with all the different characters and ending with Mickey starting the fireworks. It was a fantastic night.
Day 4 Wrap-up
Day 4 at Castaway Cay by far was the highlight of the cruise. I got to run my first official Disney 5K and had an awesome time snorkeling and exploring with my daughter. The day was the perfect blend of activities and relaxation. And Pirate night was awesome. The kids really got into dressing up and other than Disney what cruise line has fireworks at sea?!?!?!
Comment down below if you’ve been to Castaway Cay and if you have any suggestions or tips. And with that, I hope you’re having a magical day.