Castaway Cay, Disney’s Private Island
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Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, is reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests on Bahamian and Caribbean cruises. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year land lease (through 2096) for the property from the Bahamian government, giving the company substantial control over the island. Initially, the island was called Gorda Cay. Here’s a link to an article entitled ’12 things you didn’t know about Disney’s Castaway Cay.’ First written by Michelle Foster and posted March 16, 2016, at www.wdwinfo.com.
The island is still mostly undeveloped, with only 55 of the 1,000 acres utilized. Disney spent $25 million while construction took 18 months. It included dredging 50,000 truckloads of sand from the surrounding shoreline area. As a result, the development of the pier and its approaches (1,700 ft. channel) allows the Disney ships to dock at the pier.
I’ve never been to the island but have enjoyed reading everything I could about it. In the meantime, I hope I can pass on my knowledge about Disney’s Castaway Cay and what I’ve learned about accessibility with mobility scooters and ECV’s. Like most Disney facilities, Castaway Cay is friendly to those with mobility issues.
Disney Cruise Ships Dock Right At The Pier On Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay is one of the first islands where you don’t have to board a tender boat to get there. Because Disney Cruise Ships dock right at the pier, it allows for comfortable passenger embarking and debarking. The gangway is the transitional walkway leading to and from the dock. If you look carefully enough (at the first picture), you can see stairs on one side of the gangway. The other side has a flat, inclined ramp. Although steep, a mobility scooter would be able to get up or down with ease. However, a manual wheelchair rider may need assistance getting up or eased down the incline. The second image shows a different gangway with a lesser slope due to the ship riding lower in the water. Also, there are no stairs present, just a flat inclined walkway.
Using The Gangways At Castaway Cay
Whenever possible, the Disney Cruise Line utilizes gangways that provide a minimal incline for boarding and leaving the ship. However, due to tidal changes, inclement weather, or other causes beyond the control of the vessel, there may be times where the gangway could be at a steep incline. In those instances, when possible, the Disney Cruise Line can assist the Guest in maneuvering the walkway safely.
When negotiating steep slopes on the walkway, the process can be complicated for a passenger with limited mobility, using a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Also, the Guest may receive assistance by one or more Crew, and in some cases, requested to transfer separately from their wheelchair or ECV. In certain situations, it may be impossible for Guests in a wheelchair or mobility device to use the gangway due to safety concerns.
To summarize, the decision to assist and allow passage of a Guest using a wheelchair or mobility scooter via steep gangways is at the sole discretion of the Captain or his designee. However, your safety is of the utmost concern and is the basis of any decision.
Utilize Adequate Speed Control When Using The Gangway
It is important to note that speed control is essential when using the gangway. In this case, use enough power to maintain a steady speed going up any incline. You don’t want to go too fast, but you may have to increase the speed to compensate for the slope. The same attention to your downward momentum would also apply. Go down slowly and not at a breakneck pace. Additionally, make sure that you are off the gangway completely before turning towards your intended direction. Here is a link to a previous post, Guide To Safely Operating A Mobility Scooter.
Tram Service
When you get off the ship, you can either walk, ride your mobility device to the beach area or take the tram. These are the main modes of transportation around Castaway Cay. As of May 2018, trams will only board manual wheelchair users due to previous mishaps with motorized chairs and associated damage. Mobility scooters are also not allowed on the trams.
It’s The First Tram Stop You’ll Come To When Leaving The Dock Area
There is a posted sign right after the security checkpoint that indicates it is a seven-minute walk to the first beach area. However, it sure looks a lot longer from what I’ve seen in some videos!! Thus, if you use a cane or crutches or otherwise have any trouble walking for extended periods, you should take the tram. Hence, if you are in a manual wheelchair and not a power chair, think about having someone with you to help push.
Round Round Get Around, I Get Around, Yeah
The lyrics in the chorus of The Beach Boys song, I Get Around, begins like this. “Round round get around, I get around, yeah. (Get around round round I get around, ooh-ooh) I get around.” The song was written by the Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Mike Love and recorded in May 1964. I just had to get my love of 60’s rock and roll music into this post somehow! In the meantime, it will be you, in your mobility scooter or wheelchair, getting around the island at your own leisurely pace.
Using Your Mobility Scooter Or Wheelchair On Castaway Cay
You’ll be able to explore virtually any place with your scooter or wheelchair provided it’s not unpacked sand. Mobility scooters are not 4-wheel drive vehicles, nor are regular/electric wheelchairs able to negotiate sand. However, Castaway Cay does have special wheelchairs that can go on the sandy beaches—equipped with special oversized tires capable of traversing off-road and onto the sand. These are not motorized, and you’d have to rely on someone helping you to propel it.
Sand Wheelchairs
Disney Castaway Cay has a limited number of sand wheelchairs to use. The availability is on a first-come, first-served basis with no charge. All chairs are across from Scuttle’s Cove, by the Pelican Point tram stop, and at Serenity Bay. Guests’ wheelchairs and mobility scooters may be left while they are using the sand wheelchair. Guests should take all personal items with them when leaving their equipment at these locations.
Prepare In Advance For Pop-Up Rainstorms
As soon as you start exploring Castaway Cay, you should look for places that you could shelter in if the need arises. For instance, on any given day, you may encounter a bit of rain. Pop-up rainstorms are prevalent in tropical locations like Castaway Cay. Before leaving your equipment and transferring to a sand wheelchair, make sure you cover the control panel with plastic or other waterproof material. Therefore, a useful add-on to your carry bag or travel backpack could include a shower cap and plastic rain poncho. Protecting the electronics of your equipment from rain is very important. The following are a few images of a shower cap protecting the operating controls on a Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport and Victory 10 Mobility Scooter.
Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport Scooter Pride Mobility Victory 10 Scooter
I’ve driven a mobility scooter through driving rain, at Disney World while covered in a poncho. The poncho covered me, as well as the mobility scooter control panel. Simply, drape the front of the poncho over the tiller and controls while driving. Try heading to the nearest covered shelter until the rain stops when possible. The weather-protected dining locations at Gumbo Limbo, Dig In, and Cookies Too BBQ would be ideal places for waiting out a storm!
Paved Pathways Throughout The Main Promenade At Castaway Cay
There are paved pathways throughout the main Disney Castaway Cay promenade which will enable you to travel with your mobility scooter or wheelchair practically everywhere such as:
• First Aid • She Sells Seashells and Everything Else • Cookie’s BBQ and Cookie’s Too BBQ • SpringA-Leak • Pelican Point Tram Stop • Buy the Seashore • Gumbo Limbo • Pop’s Props • Dig In • Conched Out Bar • In Da Shade Games • plus all pathways leading to the cabanas and all restrooms (excluding Serenity Bay)
This One Leads To The Heads Up Bar And Pelican Point Lookout
Hard-Packed Sand Pathways And Boardwalk Type Wooden Decking
Hard-packed sand pathways and boardwalk type wooden decking provide accessible wheelchair and mobility scooter access to some of the other island establishments. These include:
• Gil’s Fins and Boats • Heads Up Bar • the massage cabanas at Serenity Bay • Lookout Point leading to the Pelican Deck of Pelican Plunge • the Castaway Air Bar
Accessible Restrooms
Accessible restrooms are located at the First Aid building, inside Scuttles Cove (for children), near Cookie’s Too BBQ and the Windsock Hut at Serenity Bay beach.
Companion-assisted restroom facilities are at the First Aid, Cookie’s Too BBQ, and the Windsock Hut locations.
YouTube Video Tour & Review Of Castaway Cay
I came across this excellent YouTube video of Castaway Cay. The narrator and tour guide is Danny Genung, CEO of Harr Travel. In brief, I’m sure that you’ll find it full of useful information about the island and all that it offers.
Disney Cruise Line Map Of Castaway Cay
It’s a great map, but it’s too small to read the details—link here for a pdf version of a Disney Cruise Line Map of Castaway Cay courtesy of picturethemagic.com.
In conclusion, I hope that you have enjoyed reading my narrative about Castaway Cay. I’ve tried to be as comprehensive as possible so that you can make informed decisions before your visit. You’ll find that Disney’s Castaway Cay is fun and accessible to all Guests!
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