Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point vs. Disney’s Castaway Cay: Which is the better private island?
When Disney Cruise Line first set sail with the original ship, Disney Magic, 27 years ago in 1998, it did so to its original private island, Castaway Cay, located in the sunny Bahamas. Castaway Cay was actually a first of its kind in some ways, as it did not require a tender to reach the …
When Disney Cruise Line first set sail with the original ship, Disney Magic, 27 years ago in 1998, it did so to its original private island, Castaway Cay, located in the sunny Bahamas.
Castaway Cay was actually a first of its kind in some ways, as it did not require a tender to reach the island, unlike the way some other cruise lines’ islands operated at the time. Instead, the ship could pull right up to the dock, and the day of fun in the sun could begin for cruisers.
For a couple of decades, Castaway Cay was the only Disney Cruise Line private island destination for those who chose to sail with Mickey and friends.
However, the line entered an expansion era in 2022 when Disney Wish joined the original fleet of four ships. This phase of growth will culminate in 2033 when the line expects to sail a total of 13 ships (more than three times the number it had in early 2022).
With the rapid growth in ships and passengers has come the addition of a second private island destination in the Bahamas, Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which opened in 2024.
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Unlike Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point isn’t an entirely private island, as it sits at the southernmost tip of the populated Bahamian island of Eleuthera (about 70 miles east of Nassau). But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it means it is a cool and differentiated offering from Castaway Cay.
Some Disney cruises, like the four-night sailing I recently took on Disney Fantasy, hit the itinerary jackpot by going to both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. But many times, you may be on a ship that either goes to one island destination or the other.
If you have to choose between Disney’s Castaway Cay and Disney’s Lookout Cay, here’s how these islands compare so you can select the best match for your family.
Please note that I’ve never been on a Disney cruise without my family, so I’m not at all qualified to compare the islands’ adult spaces (yet). Instead, we are going to keep this head-to-head ranking focused on the family areas and activities on these islands rather than the adult-only ones.
Related: 12 ways to save money on a Disney cruise
Best beach
This is where I give you the good or bad news about this comparison of Disney’s two island destinations. Much of which one is “better” is subjective, even when you break it into categories. So, I will give you my take and my reasons, but you might come to the opposite conclusion than I did, which is great, as the whole point is helping you determine which one you’ll enjoy the most.
Disney’s Castaway Cay has excellent postcard-worthy beaches, and the family beach has the added benefit of being sheltered by a rocky breakwater. This means the water is usually very calm, making it a great match for families.
There are lifeguards, free beach chairs with and without umbrellas and some shade under mature trees.
However, if you want a good seat close to the water or with some shade at Castaway, you often need to either get off the ship pretty early or wait until after lunch when more families start to head back to the ship.
Meanwhile, at Lookout Cay, that general advice is still true if you want a seat on the main strip of beach. However, at Lookout Cay, you have even more options.
First, there are additional chairs in a secondary section behind a dune, not quite as close to the beach. But perhaps more importantly to me, if you simply walk a little bit farther down toward the island’s tip, you can find plenty of space that isn’t crowded, even during the busiest time of the day.
There are chairs you can bring down to that uncrowded section of the beach, making it a pretty fantastic setup. This is also open water in the sense that you will get some waves that you don’t get when at Castaway. Whether or not you like that will likely depend on the ages of your kids and their swimming abilities, but we loved it.
Last but not least, Lookout Cay’s pink-hued sand adds an extra-special beach experience.
My personal preference is the beach at Lookout Cay. However, I’m calling it a tie because the water in the family beach section is not as calm as at Castaway Cay, thanks to the latter’s breakwater rocks. The less crowded part of the beach at Lookout Cay is also away from the lifeguards, and there aren’t shade-providing trees on the beach, so it won’t be the best match for all families.
Winner: Tie depending on preferences
Best food
Of course, food is also very subjective. However, I do have a clear favorite in this battle of the Disney islands, so this one will not end as a tie in my book.
On Castaway Cay, lunch is included at Cookies and Cookies Too, which are essentially the same except they are located at different parts of the island. On the buffet menu at both, you’ll find options such as ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, cornbread, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, pulled pork, fruit, potato salad and beans.
I do enjoy the easy lunch with crowd-pleasing favorites at Cookies and Cookies Too. The line is structured with multiple buffet stations that are all the same, so it usually moves quickly and rarely has you waiting out in the sun in line for long. Not to mention, everyone is able to find something they like well enough to fill them up.
But while I like the included food on Castaway Cay well enough for a day on the island, I enjoyed what is available and included at Lookout Cay even better.
The food on Castaway gives the vibe of a Fourth of July barbecue picnic, but at Lookout Cay, the island’s True-True BBQ and True-True BBQ Too lean into its tropical location a bit more with options such as plantains, ginger-marinated snapper and seafood jambalaya. Despite liking the American staples on Castaway as much as the next person, I know I can get a fair number of those fan favorites on board the ship pretty much every day of the cruise, so it’s fun to mix it up more while on land.
But don’t worry if island-inspired food sounds like your kid’s worst nightmare. There are still cheeseburgers, hot dogs, french fries and macaroni and cheese, among other kid-approved classics, on Lookout Cay.
The variety of menu options at Lookout Cay does lead to slightly longer lines, in my experience, as the sections of the buffet are different. This is great for choice, but it does mean a potentially longer wait (sometimes in the sun) to make your selections. I’ll also add that we had a bit more trouble getting a table for lunch at Lookout Cay than we did on Castaway, so be strategic about getting somewhere to sit or eating at slightly off-peak times.
But with a greater variety of more island-inspired choices and what I’d also describe as a wider selection of tried-and-true kid favorites (like the addition of fries and macaroni … don’t judge), the lunchtime trophy from me goes to Lookout Cay.
Winner: Lookout Cay
Best for ease of use
Both Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay are easy-to-access islands in that no tendering is required. (For those not familiar, tendering involves leaving your big ship on a smaller boat to reach the land.)
On Castaway, once you step off the ship at the dock, you are just a two- or three-minute walk from the tram that takes you to the different parts of the island. However, if you wanted to skip the tram, it isn’t that far of a walk to the nearest of the two family-friendly beach areas, so you could get your steps in and be at the beach within a few minutes.
On my last trip to Castaway, I got off the ship to do the at-your-own-pace 5K in the morning, went back to the ship to get my kids up for breakfast and then we all went back onto the island together later that morning. The on-and-off-and-on-again situation didn’t feel like a big deal due to the proximity of everything on Castaway.
Lookout Cay is a different story.
To protect the sea floor life and not have to dredge in order for the ship to be able to pull up closer to the land, Disney constructed a lengthy pier from where the ship docks to the island. It really does look a bit worse than it is, but my Apple Watch clocked the walk from the ship to the tram stop on Lookout Cay at about 0.6 miles each way. That’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it does discourage hopping on and off the ship too much in one day. And in inclement weather, it wouldn’t necessarily be a very pleasant part of the journey.
There are little red wagons for young kids to be pulled in, and those with mobility issues can request a golf cart ride, if needed. But the majority of guests will get about 1.2 miles worth of steps in full sun just walking from the ship to the island and back.
Then, once you are at the tram stop and loaded on the tram, it’s still a five- to 10-minute ride to the main beach area that Disney uses.
All this to say, while both islands are very easy to get off the ship and enjoy compared to visiting most other islands outside the “Disney bubble,” there’s no question that getting straight to the fun at Castaway Cay is a little easier than at Lookout Cay.
Winner: Castaway Cay
Best included amenities
Do you like a waterslide into the ocean? What about a large kids splash area with waterslides that don’t drop you into the ocean? How about a “free” 5K with a medal?
Do your kids want to head to an island kids club (with a shaded splash area) just for them? Do your teens want a hideout area where little kids and adults aren’t allowed? What about a nature trail?
Well, you are in luck, depending on which of Disney’s island destinations you choose.
Here are some highlights of the included amenities on Disney’s Castaway Cay:
- Pelican Plunge: This is an in-water play structure located in the cove. It has two waterslides that shoot you into the water.
- Spring-a-leak: This is a small, covered splash area for younger cruisers to play.
- Snorkeling Lagoon: There are some Disney-themed surprises underneath the water here (snorkeling in the lagoon is free if you have your own equipment; otherwise, there is a small fee to rent snorkeling equipment).
- Castaway Cay 5K: This is a free, untimed, go-at-your-own-pace route you can do while on Castaway Cay. You’ll earn a medal after completing the course. Pro tip: Do this first thing in the morning, as it does get hot later in the day.
- In Da Shade Game Pavilion: This is a shaded area with activities such as basketball, foosball, chess and pool.
- Scuttle’s Cove: This is a drop-off kids club for children ages 3 to 10 (similar to what you’ll find on the ships).
- Teen Hideout: This hangout area on the island is just for teens ages 14 to 17.
While there are some overlapping amenities at Lookout Cay, there are also some very differentiated offerings. In addition to the previously mentioned pink-hued beach, beachside chairs and lunch, the main included amenities to enjoy on Disney’s Lookout Cay are:
- Rush Out Gush Out: This large, colorful interactive water play area has two waterslides, splash and water drums, among other features.
- Junkanoo parade: This lively parade is put on by the Bahamian people who live on the island. It usually happens twice per day.
- Sebastian’s Cove: This drop-off kids club for those ages 3 to 10 has a water play area that is inspired by “The Little Mermaid.”
- Goombay Cultural Center: The Junkanoo parade ends here, so it’s a great place to enjoy music and see the characters and headpieces.
- Play-Play Pavilion: This is also a shaded place to see Disney characters, plus play games such as ring toss.
- Nature Trail: lf you want to stretch your legs and learn about the indigenous flora and fauna of the island, you can walk the roughly 20- to 25-minute marked nature trail (and see the historic lighthouse from 1901).
Winner: Tie depending on preferences
Best cabanas
Both of Disney’s island destinations have cabanas that you can rent for your own private space to enjoy the beach.
But before we talk about which Disney island cabanas are better, I want to be sure you know that these cabanas are pretty hard to book. As you will soon see, there aren’t very many cabanas compared to the thousands of guests on board a typical Disney cruise, so you often need to be sailing in a concierge-level cabin or have the highest level of Disney’s Castaway Club status to have a shot at early booking … and even then, it’s not guaranteed you’ll get one due to supply and demand.
With that caveat out of the way, let’s dive into the cabanas on each island.
On Castaway Cay, there are 20 cabanas available on the family beach (one of which is larger than the others) and six cabanas available at Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach, though more are reportedly under construction.
Currently, the family cabanas on Castaway Cay have space for up to six people and cost $880 for the day. It costs $1,238 for the Family Grand Cabana for up to 10 people for the day. The six cabanas on Serenity Bay cost $523 for the day and can accommodate up to four guests ages 18 and over.
At Castaway, the family cabanas are located right next to one of the main family beaches and just a beach ball’s throw away from one of the main areas where you can get lunch, bikes and more.
Related: Are Disney’s Castaway Cay cabanas worth the price?
Meanwhile, over at Disney’s Lookout Cay, you’ll find 20 family cabanas over in Mabrika Cove, which is notably on the opposite side of the island from the main family beach. In fact, this is the only beach on Disney’s part of the island where you can see the cruise ship from the sand. To get straight to your day in the cabana, you won’t need to take the tram, as this area is the first stop to the right after you walk across the pier.
That’s great news for access purposes, but on the flip side, this means that the cabanas aren’t particularly close to the Junkanoo parade, Sebastian’s Cove, the waterslides and other happenings, which will require a ride to the other side of the island.
The 16 six-person family cabanas on Lookout Cay are priced at $963 for the day. Currently, for the four grand cabanas with space for up to 10 people, you can expect to pay $1,375 per day. (You can add extra guests for additional fees.)
On Lookout Cay, there are two grand cabanas on adults-only Serenity Bay that up to 10 people can enjoy for $963, while the four Lookout Serenity Bay cabanas that accommodate up to four guests are priced at $523.
Unique to the new cabanas at Lookout Cay is the presence of iPads from which you can order food, more towels, toys, cocktails and more with just the press of some buttons.
You do have your own place to make your plate for lunch in the family cabana area on Lookout Cay. It has the same food as what’s available at the main lunch stations, plus steak for cabana guests.
However, you are removed from most of the island’s main amenities (and people). That may be a pro or con, depending on the ages of your kids and what you want to do during your day at Lookout Cay.
Winner: Tie depending on preferences
Best sense of culture
OK, let’s be serious. These are both Disney private island destinations, so we are talking tastes or degrees of culture, not depths of authentic culture. That said, this category still has a clear winner.
Castaway Cay is an absolute blast with fun details, including great beach outfits donned by Mickey and his pals. You’ll also get a clever shipwrecked storyline with lots of Disney Easter eggs hidden about.
But when it comes to any true, authentic culture outside of the one created by Mickey and friends … well, this is not the island you are looking for.
While Mickey and Minnie also have some different festive outfits on Lookout Cay, they are not the only ones dressed for the occasion.
Residents of the island also get into the celebrations on Lookout Cay by putting on the twice-daily Junkanoo celebration.
Instead of creating a fictional storyline for the island, like Disney did for Castaway Cay, the cruise line made the Bahamian people and culture the stars of Lookout Cay’s story. The island leans into a (slightly Disney-fied) version of where it really sits. That means you do get a dose of culture that can be enjoyed not only through the parade and the cultural center, but even in the food and the shops.
For example, while you can get official Lookout Cay merch on the island, you can also purchase jewelry, decor, bags, toys and other items that were made by island residents.
Winner: Lookout Cay
Best for staying in the Disney bubble
Both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are private Disney destinations (even though one isn’t technically an entire private island). Both have Disney characters, an included lunch, multiple included amenities and Disney cast members entertaining guests at almost every turn.
So, both islands are pretty solidly in the Disney Bubble in many respects. However, they aren’t exactly the same in how they approach that experience.
On Castaway Cay, you can snorkel to get a look at underwater Disney statues in a designated area and book an activity at the stingray adventure right on the beach. And, of course, we’ve already covered how easy it is to get off the ship and be almost immediately in the fun.
On Lookout Cay, you are actually on a larger, inhabited Bahamian island, so while the part of the island Disney uses is just for Disney, you are able to do excursions that get you out of the bubble.
For example, on Lookout Cay, you could book the South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour, during which you will see things like the town of Rock Sound, the Boiling Hole (also known as “nature’s hot tub”) and the Cathedral Cave, with its stunning rock formations. That sounds like a lot of fun if you want a broader sense of the island, but it may not be the best match for those who want to stay all-in on Mickey and friends during their day.
Winner: Castaway Cay
Bottom line
If you asked my family if they’d rather cruise to Disney’s Castaway Cay or Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, I bet you’d get a split vote — though the true answer is really either, anytime.
For us, our favorite elements of Castaway Cay are its familiarity, ease of use, 5K running and biking course, more mature trees for shade, protected beach and teen hideout, the latter of which Lookout Cay notably lacks. However, it’s very much in the Disney bubble, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you are after from that port.
Meanwhile, our standout memories from Lookout Cay involve the cool on-land waterslides, the gorgeous beach with pink sand, the fun Junkanoo parade and the delectable island-inspired lunch. On the flip side, Lookout Cay was really hot (even in March) because it didn’t have much natural shade, and, of course, that trek from the ship to get to the fun was unquestionably longer than on Castaway Cay.
But truly, both are top-notch cruise island destinations, and I’d pack my bags in a hot hurry if you told me we had a chance to return to either and take comfort in knowing that there is no bad choice.
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