Welcome aboard, Jill!
Castaway Cay is one of my family's favorite places in the world. And since the only way to get there is to sail with
Disney Cruise Line, we get so much magic in our vacations because we enjoy
something for everyone in our family both onboard the ships and of course at Disney's private island paradise, Castaway Cay! I'm excited for your family to spend the day there too!
Castaway Cay offers a wide variety of Port Adventures for guests to enjoy during part of their visit to the island. One of my family's favorite activities on the island is snorkeling in the Snorkel Lagoon. The last time we were there, a huge sea turtle swam right under my son and me! What a treat! You can book your
snorkel gear rental and
bike rentals ahead of time through
Disney Cruise Line's Port Adventures. However, if you forget to book the bikes and snorkel gear, no problem, as there are plenty available, and quite often, my family and I just wait to see what we feel like doing on the beach that day and then simply walk up to rent on the spot at Flippers n' Floats or the Bike Rental Hut. It's never been a problem. Sometimes we bring our own snorkel gear (if I have enough room in the suitcases!) and just use that to enjoy the Snorkel Lagoon. But, if we do that, we do still need to borrow the mandatory inflatable yellow snorkel vest (no charge) to wear in the lagoon.
Over at Gils Fins and Boats, guests can walk up and rent small watercraft like kayaks and water bikes. They are available to use in a private lagoon area, so you shouldn't encounter many waves, which makes for a smoother time on the water!
Other Port Adventures do book up quickly so those should be pre-booked online in advance, but for these fun little water rental activities, Jill, if you feel like enjoying one once you arrive at Castaway Cay, go for it!
As far as fun for the kids on the ship, no need to book
Youth Club activities ahead of time. Just check your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App each day for the schedule of events in the clubs and check your kiddos in during the time that their "must-do" activities are taking place. There is no sign-up required for the activities, so just arrive with the kids and the counselors will include them in the amazing events that go on all day and night in the clubs. My kids cannot get enough! We sometimes have a hard time convincing them to leave the clubs, they enjoy them so much! Plus, they meet lots of new friends from around the world that they want to spend more time with!
Have so much fun as you count down to the big sail date, and please stop back if you have other questions before you head out to sea! We're happy to help!
Marcy