17 AMAZING Things To Do at Castaway Cay
Heading to Castaway Cay on a Disney Cruise? After having visited Castaway Cay three times, I’ve had a chance to explore many of the options of things to do, and learn why this island is so special.
It took me up until my 3rd visit to really fall in love with Castaway Cay. It’s a beautiful, serene place where Disney has a lot of treasures for you explore if you know what you’re looking for.
I’m going to share the best (and lesser-known) things to do at Castaway Cay. Some activities are:
- Completely free (included in the cost of your Disney Cruise)
- Cost extra
- Can be booked the day of / are first come-first served
- Need to be reserved far in advance
So, it’s a good thing you’re looking into this in advance so that you can decide if there’s anything you want to book in advance or if you can decide how you feel the day of. Let’s jump in – all your options for things to do on Castaway Cay!
Fun Things to Do at Castaway Cay
1. Meet characters in their special ‘beach’ attire
Cost: Free
Castaway Cay is a really nice setting for your photos with characters. Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and other characters are always wearing special ‘beach’ clothes that they don’t wear any other time. There are also a couple characters available on Castaway Cay that weren’t available to meet on the ship, such as Captain Jack Sparrow!
Other than other character meets that just take place inside the ship, on Castaway Cay, you get beautiful outdoor photos of yourself/kids with the Disney characters. Be sure to look at the schedule for character meets and try to be in line a few minutes before the scheduled meetup if you don’t want to wait too long.
The actual photo-taking is free, but you will need to buy the photo package if you want the photos the professional photographer takes. But you can also take your own photos for free.
2. Swim or relax on one (or all) of the beaches
Cost: Free
There are three different beaches on Castaway Cay. All of them have shallow water, and aren’t visited by anyone other than the people on your cruise ship. The beaches on Castaway Cay all have lawn chairs, some with umbrellas and some without. The lawn chair areas are decently shaded with the palm trees and surrounding umbrellas. There are also plenty of hammocks to relax in.
I’m not a huge beach person, but I have to admit that Castaway Cay’s beaches are pretty nice. You don’t have to choose only one beach, its pretty easy to move between them if you want to try another beach. Here are your three beach options on the island:
- Two family-friendly beaches (they don’t have names – they’re just called Castaway Cay Family Friendly Beaches)
- Serenity Bay beach (Adults only beach for people 18+, the furthest away) It has its own food and restaurants right by it, plus lifejackets to borrow for adults who aren’t strong swimmers. On our cruise, there was a higher-than-usual demographic of adults travelling without kids, so Serenity Bay ended up being busier than the family beaches! (Good thing its easy to move beaches if you want to.)
Disney Cruise Line staff hands out towels, so you don’t need to bring your own towel. They also have water tubes and lifejackets that you can borrow to swim in.
3. Play on the Pelican Plunge
Cost: Free
There is a huge waterslide and play structure found at the second family-friendly beach (the one further from the ship.) Both kids and adults can play on the Pelican Plunge, and its located about 100 metres from the shoreline.
You need to be 38″ tall in order to ride the waterslides on Pelican Plunge,and guests between 38″ and 48″ are required to wear a life vest the whole time they’re playing on it.
Unfortunately, we seem to get unlucky every time – my first two visits to Castaway Cay, I didn’t notice the Pelican Plunge because I stayed at the first family-friendly beach. And the third time we visited, Pelican Plunge was closed due to the water pump being broken. So, we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s high on my list for next time.
4. Go snorkelling for underwater Disney statues!
Disney has sunk a handful of statues in the waters off the first family-friendly beach on the island. There is a designated beach area, and then a designated snorkelling area – but they’re a part of the same waters.
If you want to do the snorkelling, you’ll need to book snorkel gear with Disney which costs $20 per person, for ages 5 and up only.
There’s a wooden cottage right by the beach that you can grab your gear from. They’ll ask you your shoe size for the fins, and you wear a mandatory life vest.
The statues are not in deep water, but it is fairly far from the shoreline – at least 200 feet. The statues are also not close to eachother – there’s about 50 feet in between each statue, so o you need to be at least a decent swimmer to get out here plus see all of them. (Since they’re all so far apart and the waves are pushing you out, it can also be tough to ‘see them all’ because you can get disoriented and not remember the locations of the ones you’ve seen.)
I believe we saw most of them, and it about an hour to do all the snorkeling, but I have to admit we were rushing a bit. Snorkelling in general can last 1-2 hours, depending how long you want to spend out here. It’s a fun experience with the family!
5. Get 360-degree views from the observation tower
Cost: Free
There is a 2-storey wooden observation tower on Castaway Cay that will give you views of the surrounding lush jungle, and the beaches, cruise ship and the turquoise waters in the distance. The views are really pretty, and not too many people usually make their way out here. We had the tower mostly to ourselves when we were here.
You can either walk, or bike to this tower. Walking would take about 20 minutes from the second family-friendly beach, but if you rent a bike (for about $20 per person) you could get there much quicker. The trail to this tower is apart of the Castaway Cay 5k, which I’ll mention below.
6. Run (or walk) the Castaway Cay 5K
Cost: Free
The Castaway Cay 5k is a long, paved walking path that winds its way through jungled area through the island. If you want a good walk or run, its a really nice way to see parts of the island that many don’t see. Plus, you get a free medal just for finishing the entire 5k.
The path is pretty wide and easy though to navigate. There are also some photo ops and interesting things to look at along the way. The trail will take you to a small path where you can stop for views at the lookout tower, which I mentioned above.
It’s a good way to burn off those extra cruise calories too. The 5k is open to all ages, and the path is paved and easy to walk or run. One thing to keep in mind is that there are bikers on a portion of the same path, so watch out for them (as they will you.)
Pro Tip: You don’t have to necessarily walk/run the entire 5k. You can just do parts of it. For example, the trek out to the Observation Tower is a part of the 5k path, and you could either continue along or head back once you’ve seen it.
7. Go shopping for special Castaway Cay themed souvenirs
Cost: Depends on what you spend
Castaway Cay has stores that only sell unique Castaway Cay souvenirs. There are several shops around the island that sell items that say Castaway Cay or Bahamas. These souvenirs can’t be bought on the ship, they’re only found at Castaway Cay.
I came close to spending a bunch of money in one of their stores once, but unfortunately, I found out that they only take Key to the World (or Disney Band) payments – no cash!
However, this is just a reminder to bring your room card or Disney Band with you into the shops if you want to be able to spend any money on Castaway Cay. (This includes souvenirs, hair braiding and a few other activities.)
Reminder: Don’t bring any cash or credit cards to Castaway Cay, as you will not need it for anything. Anything that costs ‘extra’ on the island can be paid for with the Disney band or Key to the World (your room card)
8. Rent a bike
We rented bikes during our last visit to Castaway Cay, and I don’t know why I hadn’t done it sooner. Biking on the paved pathways through the jungle is so much fun.
Most of the bike paths are a part of the Castaway Cay 5k that I mentioned, but it also trails off at times to specific ‘bike trails.’ You’ll need to read the signs to make sure you’re going the right way.
They have bikes for everyone, of all sizes. When you rent a bike, you have it for the day. You can also return it to change bikes. For instance, we started off biking with my 4-year-old in an attached seat, but then we swapped it for a tricycle as she wanted to bike herself.
9. Get a photo in front of your cruise ship
Cost: Free
In addition to photographers taking photos of passengers with Disney character, you will likely also see a photographer taking photos of people in front of the cruise ship (or, you can also take a photo yourself.)
It’s free to get photos in front of the ship, whether you take your own photos or get the photographer to do it.
10. Get a photo in front of the famous ‘Castaway Cay’ sign
Cost: Free
You have to prove you were there, right?
If nothing else, I would definitely walk out to the Castaway Cay sign (about a 5-10 minute walk from where the cruise ship is) and get some photos.
Sometimes there is a photographer there. If there isn’t, then you can either take a selfie, or ask someone to take your photo!
You will see lots of people going in both directions, and someone will be happy to help.
11. Get your hair braided
Cost: Free
You will see signs for hair braiding on Castaway Cay. It costs extra, and the total depends on how many braids you want. It costs $3-$5 per braid. Similar to souvenirs, be sure to have your Disney band or room card on you to pay for the braids. The payment will be added to your account.
12. Put your kids in Scuttles Cove
Cost: Free
On Castaway Cay day, the Oceaneer’s Club moves to the island and then re-names itself ‘Scuttles Cove.’ They plan a fun day outside for the kids. Similar to on the ship, have special activities for them at different times of the day, like a sand castle building competition, and a bubble dance party.
It is very convenient that the childcare is offered right on the beach, because it allows parents to do both – spend time with their kids, and get some alone time as well. My first Disney Cruise was as a single parent with my then 5-year-old daughter. I wanted to enjoy Castaway Cay with her, but then take some time to relax in a hammock and read. So this is a good way to do that.
Pro Tip: In addition to Scuttle’s Cove for kids, there’s also a teen-only area on Castaway Cay called Hideout, and it’s near the family-friendly beaches. The Hideout planned activities for tweens
13. Play games at Da Shade Game Pavilion
Cost: Free
Da Shade Game Pavillion is a shaded area with pool tables, and other games. It’s for all ages, and completely free. Its a way to escape the sun, and play some games with whoever you’re sailing with.
14. Do a port adventure
Cost: Ranges from $20-$500 depending on the adventure
Port Adventures on Castaway Cay will need to be booked in advance, and they fill up quite fast. The Port Adventures offered on your cruise for the island may vary, but they usuallyhave the following options:
Port Adventures to Choose from on Castaway Cay
- Parasailing (currently costs $140 per person)
- Glass bottom boat ride ($39-$59 depending on age)
- Castaway Cay’s Stingray Adventure ($54-$64 depending on age)
- Rentals of many types of gear – sea kayaks, snorkel equipment, water trikes, banana boat ans bikes (price varies for each of them)
For a complete list of all the port adventures, click here. You can filter the results to your preferred price range.
15. Rent a cabana
Cost: $700-$800+
Cabanas are like wooden cottages on Castaway Cay that you rent for the day. They come with sunscreen, towels, a mini fridge with snacks, bike rentals, and hammocks. They’re a nice way to have a home base while on the island and have your own space to relax for the day.
There are around 40 cabanas in total – some closer to the family friendly beach, and some near the adult-only beach. Renting one is something you book through Port Adventures once your booking window opens up (you won’t find it on the list above.) The cabanas are pricey, and fill up very fast. Some people say its nearly impossible to get one, unless you’re platinum or a concierge guest.
Pro Tip: Be sure to join your Disney Cruise Facebook group for the specific cruise you’re on. Sometimes I see people giving away bookings (which you can’t directly – but you can give a heads up that you’re cancelling something, and then tip someone off once you’ve done it so that they can snag it.) I saw few people get competitive bookings this way, for cabanas but also other things that fill up fast like the Royal Gathering, and Olaf’s Royal Picnic on the Disney Wish
16. Enjoy the special Castaway Cay lunch
Cost: Free
The lunch we had on Castaway Cay are some of my favourites from the entire cruise. They do barbecue-style lunches and they’re so fresh and delicious. Its fully included and unique from what is served on board.
If you have any dietary restrictions, my experience is that they will deliver as long as you specified in advance to your dining team. On my first Disney Cruise as a vegan, they provided a full tub of Rice Dream ice cream and a delicious veggie burger, and yummy and healthy sides on Castaway Cay.
You can get lunch between 11am and 2pm, and there are three different spots on the island where it’s served. Two of them area located near the family friendly beaches, and there’s also a restaurant near Serenity Bay, the 18+ beach.
Pro Tip: If you happen to be on board for the lunch, then know that some restaurants are shut down but a few remain open. For example, on the Disney Wish, only half of Marceline Market was open.
17. Spend some time on the boat
Cost: Free
I’ll be honest, I am not the biggest beach person. Before I fell in love with Castaway Cay, I used to head back to the boat early to take advantage of the activities there with fewer crowds. And there are some perks to doing that too, if you’ve had enough sun or just aren’t a beach person like me.
Here are the things that are typically open on the boat during Castaway Cay day:
- The waterslide (Aquamouse)
- SOME of the pools, but not all of them
- It’s a Small World daycare (but not Oceaneer’s, because it moves to Scuttle’s Cove on Castaway Cay day)
- SOME of the restaurants, or partial parts of them
- Your room. Castaway Cay might be the perfect day to sit on your veranda, with drinks and a good book
To see what it’s like on Castaway Cay and the boat, watch my YouTube video:
How to Get Around Castaway Cay
They make it very easy to get around Castaway Cay.
When you first get off the ship, it’s about a 10-minute walk to a tram stop. From there, the tram will carry people to the designated stops all around the island and you get off at the one that you want.
Castaway Cay FAQ
What is free on Disney Castaway Cay?
There are a few free things to do on Castaway Cay: meet characters, get photos in front of all the photo ops, run the Castaway Cay 5k, enjoy the beaches, hammocks and lawn chairs, eat the special Castaway Cay provided lunch, and go to the Pelican Plunge waterslides. Everything else besides those things tends to cost a bit extra. Most of the paid activities on Castaway Cay cost an added $50-$100.
Is food free at Castaway Cay?
Yes, the food provided at Castaway Cay is completely free of charge. It’s included as one of your meals on the Disney Cruise, just like other lunches, breakfasts and dinners.
Final Thoughts on Castaway Cay Activities
I hope that this guide on things to do on Castaway Cay has given you a good idea of how you may spend your day on Castaway Cay.
If you’re doing a 3-night sailing cruise from Florida, then Castaway Cay is the only other stop you make besides Nassau, Bahamas.
Castaway Cay is a beautiful, calm and private island. While I’m not a beach person (and, as I mentioned, generally prefer to stay on the boat) I always make sure I head out to Castaway Cay for a couple hours during the day we’re there, at least – even if it’s just to go for a walk, take photos, and check out the shop.