Last week, we were among the first people to visit Disney Cruise Line’s new island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Cruise goers love Castaway Cay, Disney’s original island destination, I know I do. So how does Lookout Cay compare? I have thoughts. First the facts, then my honest opinions, let’s jump right in!
(Videos at the bottom)
We were invited by Disney to board the Disney Magic and get an exclusive first look at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. It was our second time on the Magic, and it surely didn’t disappoint! Friday morning we docked at Lighthouse Point and there was a lot of excitement and anticipation. We went out on our veranda first thing in the morning and could see a clear view of the pier that stretched to the island. It was much longer than I anticipated, the photos that I saw previously didn’t compare to seeing it in person! We also saw Cast Members heading out for their first day on the island with guests which was fun!
When we disembarked, we headed on our journey to the island. It was a long walk, but we were excited so that made it a lot easier. There are no trams on the pier. If guests feel that they can’t do the walk, they do have golf carts to help! Once we got to the island, there were trams to take you to the actual location of Lookout Cay, which was about a ten minute drive. Travel time from the ship to the beach destination was about 45 minutes, some said it took them an hour.
Once we got to Lookout Cay, we were surprised at how big it is. Castaway Cay is a little more condensed, this new area is extremely spread out. Instead of walking on a path along the beach, there are various wooden decks that lead you around the property. There is no actual walking in or near the sand until you head down towards the water.
There are three spots to have lunch at, two in the family area and one on the adult side, Serenity Bay. Food options include burgers, chicken, seafood, fruit and desserts. Of course they have drink and ice cream stations as well as full bars for cocktails. More on this later.
The island features cabanas on the beach that you can rent, they’re beautiful and can hold up to 10 people. These are on both the adult and family side of the beach. Lots of shade and comfortable seating!
As far as entertainment at Lookout Cay, for kids there’s the Fun in the Sun Beach Bash. Here is where the kiddos can play games and such with characters. There is also (for everyone) RUSH! A Junkanoo Celebration. Junkanoo is like a Mardi Gras party for the Bahamas with costumes and music. I truly enjoyed this, it’s one of the best things about the island!
Once we explored all the areas it was time to check out the beach. I was looking forward to this because it was so darn hot that day! The beach area was quite spacious and beautiful! The sand was so soft and the water was crystal clear, I’d say that was the high point of our visit! Honestly it’s one of the most amazing beaches I’ve ever been to.
Before we headed back to the tram, stopped at the merchandise store up front. This shop is small but has a decent selection of new merch like shirts, spirit jerseys, towels and more. We couldn’t get into the store when we first arrived because the lines were extremely long. Sadly a lot of merch ended up on eBay shortly after.
After a full day we took the long trek back to the ship! It was a long one, especially on the pier. The walk felt much longer than it did when we walked it earlier.
Now that the recap of our preview day is done, comes my personal assessment. Please keep in mind, these are my opinions, you may feel differently when you visit Lookout Cay yourself!
First things first, the long walk. The reason Disney has such an extended pier is to not disturb the marine life near the island in the water. I full understand this and commend them. However, I do feel that there should have been some sort of transportation to the island. The walk there isn’t bad but the walk back was a bit tough. After spending the whole day in the sun, it was pretty tiring. Disney does offer golf cart service to those who need it. For the rest of us, it would be helpful if they added some sort of shaded coverage along the path with a bench or two. It was so hot and with no shade the walk back was exhausting. Most on the ship had the same sentiment on that one.
Lookout Cay is beautifully done, it’s a tropical paradise for beach goers. I love going to the beach so I was pretty happy with how spacious the area is, not to mention the gorgeous sand and water.
The shows are great, especially Junkanoo. It’s performed by locals on the island and is quite a celebration! Junkanoo is a must see when you visit Lookout Cay, you’ll love it!
Let’s talk about the food and bars. The variety of food that is offered is pretty good, there’s something for everyone no matter what you prefer. The down side is the flies. I’m not sure what the problem was but there were flies everywhere near the food stands. They had little fans going but honestly they weren’t helping. This was a concern for quite a few of us on board, we did give feedback on the issue for sure. I hope they can find a remedy, as with every Disney destination, food is important! There are specialty drinks at the bars, including one that tasted like a Dole Whip. It was delicious! I did however have to wait over a half hour at the bar to get served. Keep in mind we were the very first round of guests so I’m sure there is a lot that will be worked on.
The island experience over all is a good one, but I think some things need to be adjusted. One thing that was a general concern was the lack of shade. Not just on the pier but across the property as well. It was extremely hot that day and there wasn’t much relief from the sun. Adding water stations would be a good idea too as some get overheated and a little woozy, myself included. After a full day in the sun, the walk back was extremely tiring. Shade on the pier (or water) would be so helpful! There is a lot of walking overall when visiting Lighthouse Point so stay hydrated and be prepared! It’s much easier to get around Castaway Cay.
It’s hard not to compare Disney’s two cruise destinations. Castaway Cay is all we know, so of course you’ll have some preconceived ideas when visiting Lookout Cay. I can honestly tell you that they are no where near the same! Castaway is more quaint and Lookout is much more sprawled out. Yes, there is a lot of walking at Lookout Cay, but the plus side is that bigger beaches mean more room to spread out and find chairs to use. The beach at the new location beats the one at Castaway Cay hands down!
In conclusion, I’m grateful that we got to experience Lookout Cay before other ships started going there. This week the Disney Fantasy is there and I’m looking forward to seeing what cruisers think. Just like with anything else, when there’s a new attraction or destination, there’s going to be growing pains. Honest feedback helps the powers that be determine what areas need work or more attention. If you love sailing with Disney Cruise Line like I do, I encourage you to check out all that Lighthouse Point has to offer and decide for yourself. Would I love to go back? Of course! Now that I know the details I’d just prepare a little better, I’d definitely bring a water bottle and a wider brim hat. Sunblock is a must too (which I did have). I hope this review helps give you an idea of what’s in store for you when you visit Lookout Cay, and also hope you give it a go for yourself! See more info on the videos below and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel! Thanks for following along! -M
Our First look at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point from the Disney Magic
Our thoughts on Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line!
Junkanoo at Lookout Cay, Disney Cruise Line #disneycruiseline #lighthousepoint #disneycruise
What Makes Disney Lookout Cay’s Island Home So Special
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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