Disney has it’s own island in the Bahamas – of course! It’s named Castaway Cay (pronounced “key”) and depending on your cruise, you might visit it once or twice. It’s a fun port of call on this relaxing vacation. Here are the highlights:
Accessibility
There are wide, paved pathways to every destination on the island, and a tram connecting main areas that is wheelchair and scooter accessible. Free beach wheelchairs and strollers are available, I saw one person’s scooter being charged at a bar, so no worries about low batteries.
Castaway Family Beach
- Swimming, kayaking, aqua trikes, snorkeling, water sports and more
- 325-square-foot furnished, private cabanas with a personal butler available for an additional fee
- Pelican Plunge floating platform that you can swim out to with water slides and other water play.
Hide Out Teen Beach
- Swimming, kayaking, aqua trikes, snorkeling, water sports and more
Serenity Bay Beach
- Ocean view massage cabanas
- 325-square-foot furnished, private cabanas with a personal butler available for an additional fee
- Swimming, kayaking, aqua trikes, snorkeling, water sports and more
- Beach front yoga classes
Sports Beach
Beach volleyball, tetherball and other beach sporting activities.
Port Adventures
- Stingray interactions
- Glass-bottom boat tours
- Parasailing
- Fishing
- WaveRunner Adventures – Single and Double riders
- Guided nature walk
- Bike rentals
In Da Shade Game Pavilion
Featuring games like table tennis, foosball, billiards and basketball.
Grouper Game Pavilion
Shaded area featuring foosball, ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard, basketball, golf wiffleball.
Spring-a-Leak
2,400 square foot water play area.
Scuttle’s Cove
Free supervised child care and kids’ activities.
And, of course, Character Sightings
Also on the Cay are complimentary open-air Barbeque areas and frozen yogurt stands (which I took advantage of several times), gift shops, bar areas, and a tram to take you to other parts of the island. Free strollers and beach wheelchairs are available at the family beach.
Want to find out more about a Disney fantasy cruise with special needs kids? Stop back tomorrow for my next Disney cruise post about the Senses Spa and Salon.
Disclaimer – Disney hosted me on the Disney Fantasy Inaugural Preview Cruise, but the opinions and experiences are my own.
My husband and I have our first-ever cruise planned for mid-February, and I have to say that I’m very disappointed already. My husband has Muscular Dystrophy – he can transfer out of his electric wheelchair, but walking any more than a few steps is out of the question. In planning our port activities at Castaway Cay, it’s very sad to see that there’s nothing we can do extra. Everything that we’d be able to take his electric wheelchair to says “…wheelchairs (collapsible or electric) are not permitted. Tour operators will deny participation to Guests arriving in wheelchairs or electric scooters…” So Disney is saying that we can’t even park his chair somewhere, as long as we can manage to get to the activity? VERY disappointing!
Hi Jennifer, I’m excited to hear more about your cruise! I have a couple of suggestions:
1. Call Disney Cruise Line Special Reservations Line (407) 566-3500, they were really helpful and had great suggestions about the cruise – See more on my post: Wheelchair and Special Needs Accessibility on a Disney Cruise.
2. I will connect you with my friend Connie – http://brainfoggles.com/. She travels with a scooter and was on the Disney cruise with me. She can give you great first-hand information.
I hope this helps and that you have a wonderful time!
Karin