Ahoy there, Sheri, and welcome to planDisney! LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE LAND HO OFF THE PORT BOW! Apologies, I just get REALLY excited thinking about spending a day at
Disney Castaway Cay! There's so much included on a Disney Cruise Line vacation, and so much of that carries over onto this island paradise!
I'm always excited to be able to answer "no" to this question! In many
destinations across the seven seas, your
Disney Cruise Line ship will be docked beside another cruise ship, but when you make your call at Disney Castaway Cay, you'll never have to share the island with any Guests other than those you call shipmates!
This means that when you arrive and make your way off the ship, the island will only be "inhabited" by you and your fellow castaways!...huh, I just put that together...
So you'll have run of the island from the Castaway Family Beach to Serenity Bay and everything in-between! While ANY day on Castaway Cay is sure to be amazing, I've got a few tips to help you get the most out of your stay!
- Wake up early! I know vacation is for relaxing, but whenever my family makes a stop at Castaway Cay, we're up as early as possible to watch the ship dock! One of the best places to do this is from the outdoor seating at Cabanas! A day on a private island should always start with Mickey waffles and a view this good!
- If you're planning on doing a Port Adventure, I always suggest the earlier the better! With most cruises having an all-aboard time around 4pm, there's plenty of time for sand and sun after lunch! Be sure to check out what's available when your booking window opens in the "my plans" section of the website or Disney Cruise Line Navigator App!
- Speaking of lunch, remember Cookie's and Cookie's Too both have an incredible island feast waiting for you, but Cookie's Too is just for Adults over at Serenity Bay!
- Serenity Bay may be on the far side of the island, but if you're feeling especially spry, it's totally walkable! No need to wait for a tram - though I do love a tram - and you can follow the airstrip all the way to Serenity Bay! And there's nothing like a Konk Cooler to refresh with once you get there.
There's obviously so much more to do and see during your day, but with just your ship in port, there's plenty of time to get to everything!
I hope that helps you highlight a few things for when your crew and a ship load of new friends arrive at the white sand beach paradise that is Castaway Cay! Thank you so much for your question, Sheri! If you find you have any other questions as you continue planning, please drop me another line the next time you sail our way at planDisney!
Fair winds and following seas!
Andrew