What are the best things to do on Castaway Cay? There are many different activities on Disney’s Castaway Cay that range from active to relaxing. This guide will share the best Castaway Cay activities to include during your Disney Cruise.
Castaway Cay is the private island that guests vacationing on a Disney Cruise typically stop at in the Caribbean. We have experienced Castaway Cay during our trips on the Disney Dream Cruise.
The Disney Wish and Disney Fantasy also include a stop at Castaway Cay in their itinerary out of Port Canaveral. This is a great option if you are planning to do a land and sea trip with some time spent at Walt Disney World.
The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Treasure, will be making stops at Castaway Cay.
The Disney Dream and Disney Magic sail out of Miami. The Disney Dream also sails out of Fort Lauderdale. They usually have a day at Castaway Cay.
The ships do change ports at times. It is always a good idea to check the website for the most updated information.
What is Included in Castaway Cay
The most frequent questions I get is what is included at Castaway Cay. There are many free and paid activities for guests to participate in.
The free activities include access to beach and water areas along the shore. The normal lunch buffet you would have on the ship is brought to the island and is included with your day. There is unlimited soft serve on the island as well.
There is also a kids club on the island. The cast members from the Oceaneer club bring the fun to the island for the kids, so parents can visit the adults only beach.
Before you arrive on the island you can make reservations for the port activities. Guests can snorkel, rent tubes, rent bicycles, go kayaking, parasailing, and fishing. Learn more here.
Disney Castaway Cay also has a 5k fun run that is free to all guests on the cruise ship. Currently there is no group start time. The start line is marked near the family beach bike rental station and the course is marked all day.
Once completed guests can check in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App to pick up your medal back on the ship. This is a change to previous years where guests had to register and arrive early for the race. There is also no longer an age limit for the race so families can run/walk at their own pace and receive a medal at the end.
Related Post: Is a Disney Cruise Worth It? (Disney Cruise Pros and Cons)
Castaway Cay Activities
The best thing about Castaway Cay is that you can plan your day the way you want to. If you want to sit by the beach all day you can do that. If you want to explore the island and do shore excursions you can do that too. It is great for every type of vacationer.
When you arrive on the island you are given towels for your day and you can either walk or take the shuttle to the main area of the island. It is a 15 minute walk typically. When we arrive we like to walk, sometimes you will see character meet and greets along the way. Usually at the end of the day we will use the shuttle.
Castaway Cay Food Options
One of the perks of being on a cruise is the unlimited food. There really is so much food and something for everyone. The greatest thing is the unlimited amount of soft serve ice cream.
At Castaway Cay you can enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch and unlimited soft serve ice cream. The BBQ lunch includes burgers, chicken, corn, fruit and salad options as well as fountain drinks.
There are also options to purchase snow cones and specialty drinks on the island.
You can use your Key to the World card for all purchases at Castaway Cay.
Family Fun Things to Do at Castaway Cay
Guests visiting Castaway Cay have many things to do as a family. Included in your stay is volleyball, tether ball, and more games to play as a family.
On our next visit I plan to rent a bike to explore the island. The bicycle rentals are $12.00/hour as per publishing this. There is an observation tower to explore off one of the trails that I would have loved to explore.
Rent Snorkel Gear from Gil’s Fins and Boats
Beginners and experts can rent snorkeling gear. There is an area off the family beach that is designated for snokeling. Ther are even underwater statues of Mickey and Minnie to discover.
Character Meet and Greets at Castaway Cay
As soon as we arrived at Castaway Cay we saw Captain Jack Sparrow doing a meet and greet. We stopped and visited of course! Jack Sparrow is as fun to meet as he is on the big screen.
There are also Mickey and Minnie meet and greets and Goofy. You never know who you may find on your visit.
There are also different activities and entertainment during the day featuring different characters. Check the guide when you arrive to see times and where to find them on the island.
Water Slides and Splash Pads at Castaway Cay
The big play area for the kids is Pelican Plunge. This has 2 twisting water slides that send guests right into the lagoon. There is also a giant bucket that soaks the guests below. Our kids could have spent the entire day here.
There is also a water play area called Spring-a-Leak that is great for the younger kids. Our cruises have always been during the winter months and water temp is a bit chilly in the ocean. Keep that in mind during your visit!
Adults Only Private Beach and Kids Club
Disney’s Castaway Cay has Serenity Bay which is an adults only beach area. You can drop the kids at Scuttle’s Cove and take the shuttle to the quiet beach for some couples relaxation. Scuttle’s Cove has activities for the kids and is supervised by the counselors from the Kid’s Club on the ship.
There is also a Teen Hide Out of kids ages 14-17. This lounge is a designated space for this age group and has ping-pong tables and areas to hang out.
Castaway Cay Excursions
A lot of the Castaway Cay activities are self-guided but they do offer options for guests looking for a little more adventure. A few of the Castaway Cay excursions are Jet Boat Tour, Fly Fishing Adventure, Glass Bottom Boat Tours, and parasailing. Learn more here.
Relax and Take it Slow
One of my biggest Castaway Cay tips is to take it slow. On our first visit to Castaway Cay we planned it like a parks day and that was our biggest regret.
We are on the go from morning to night at the parks and we love it that way. We like to see and do as much as possible. This is NOT the way to approach Castaway Cay.
There may be lots of things to do at Disney’s Castaway Cay, but it is important to slow down and enjoy the moments. Take life at a slower pace and really let yourself enjoy an island vacation.
Is Castaway Cay Worth It
Castaway Cay is totally worth it but what if you are not a beach person. If you are not interested in spending the day on the island staying on the ship is a great option.
The ship is basically empty and you have lots of the activities on the cruise all to yourself. This is a great time to ride the water slides. Read more about the activities on board: Awesome Disney Dream Activities with Kids To Do On Your Disney Cruise Vacation
On our visit to Castaway Cay we started with breakfast on the ship and then spent the morning and lunch at Castaway Cay. A little after lunch we made our way back to the ship to enjoy the onboard amenities with less crowds. This is a great way to enjoy the best of both on and off the ship fun.
I would say it is worth it to spend some time at Castaway Cay because it really is a beautiful island. Even to just take a stroll along the paths will make a visit worth it.
Overall the things to do at Castaway Cay make it a great addition to the Disney Cruise itineraries and we are always happy to spend the day there.
Want to hear more from me? Subscribe to my Five for the Road Substack where I share the latest posts from the blog, plus destination and theme park news I am excited about. It is like a coffee chat delivered to your inbox. 🙂
Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.