A Family Guide to Castaway Cay with Toddlers and Preschoolers
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Castaway Cay is one of Disney’s private islands in the Bahamas. If you’re embarking on a cruise to either the Caribbean or the Bahamas, there’s a good chance your itinerary will include a stop there. We’ve visited a few times now with our two young kids, currently ages 5 and 2 ½, and it’s become one of our favorite days of the cruise.
What we enjoy most is how easy Disney makes the experience for families. There are beautiful beaches, character meet-and-greets, shopping, and plenty of activities to enjoy, while Disney takes care of many of the details. It makes for a relaxing beach day where we can spend more time enjoying the island and less time worrying about the logistics.
In this post, I’ll share how our family approaches a day at Castaway Cay with a toddler and preschooler, including how we prepare for the day, what we pack, what our typical day looks like, and the tips we’ve picked up over multiple visits.
Getting Ready for Castaway Cay
Now that we’ve visited Castaway Cay a few times, we have a pretty simple routine before every cruise. We decide if there are any activities we want to book ahead of time, make sure we’ve packed our beach-day essentials, and then we’re ready to enjoy the island once we arrive.
Book Activities Before You Sail
If you’re interested in adding something extra to your day at Castaway Cay, you’ll have the opportunity to book activities before your cruise through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once your advance booking window opens. If you’d like to learn more about how the advance booking window works, you can read our full guide here.
Some of the experiences you can book ahead of time include renting a private cabana, parasailing, a stingray encounter, glass-bottom boat tours, and paddleboats. Once you arrive on the island, you’ll also have the option to rent things like bikes, snorkel gear, and inner tubes.
Our family hasn’t booked any of these experiences just yet. Right now, our kids are happiest spending the day building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, and making multiple trips to Pelican Plunge. As they get older, though, I could definitely see us trying one of the excursions or renting bikes to explore more of the island.
What We Pack for Castaway Cay
One of the nice things about Castaway Cay is that you don’t have to pack nearly as much as you might expect. Disney provides many of the basics, so we only bring a handful of items that help make the day a little easier for our family.
Beach Bag
Since everything tends to end up covered in sand, we like to keep our beach essentials in a separate bag instead of using our everyday diaper bag. We prefer a mesh bag because it folds up easily, lets most of the sand fall through, and is large enough to hold everything we need while still fitting underneath our stroller. I also recommend using a few small storage pouches inside to make things like sunscreen, snacks, and swim diapers easier to find.
What We Use: Extra Large Mesh Beach Bag Tote
Waterproof Phone Pouch
This is a must-have for any Disney Cruise. Between the beach, the pools, and the splash pad, it’s nice knowing your phone is protected while still being easy to use. We like waterproof phone pouches because you can still take pictures without removing your phone from the case. We even bring ours into the ocean so we can capture some fun family photos with Castaway Cay in the background.
What We Use: Waterproof Phone Pouch
Extra Swim Diapers & Wipes
If your little one is still wearing swim diapers, don’t forget to pack a few extras along with some wipes. We usually spend a few hours at the beach, so it’s nice knowing we have everything we need without having to think about it. I keep ours in a separate storage pouch to help keep them dry, organized, and free of sand.
Snacks
My kids are pretty picky eaters, and since I know they won’t eat lunch on Castaway Cay, I always pack a few prepackaged snacks to keep them going until we head back to the ship for lunch. We usually choose easy-to-carry options like granola bars or crackers that they can eat quickly before getting back to playing. Just remember to follow Customs guidelines, as certain foods can’t be taken off the ship.
Sand Toys
Even with swimming in the ocean and trips to Pelican Plunge, my kids still spend plenty of time playing in the sand. Disney sells sand toys on the island, and we’ve even bought a few in the past, but they’re fairly bulky to travel with. We now bring collapsible silicone buckets and sand toys instead because they fold flat, don’t take up much room in our beach bag, and are much easier to travel with. I always bring two sets so both kids have something to play with. You’ll see plenty of other families bringing sand toys too, so you definitely won’t be the only one.
What We Use: Collapsible Sand Toys
Refillable Water Bottles
We always throw a refillable water bottle in our beach bag before heading off the ship. We prefer insulated bottles because they keep our drinks cold for most of the day, and a larger size means they don’t need to be refilled as often. If you do run out, each of the food locations on the island has self-serve drink stations with complimentary water and ice.
What We Use: Refillable Water Bottle
Sun Protection (Sunscreen, Hats & Sunglasses)
We make sunscreen part of our morning routine before heading off the ship. After breakfast, everyone puts on sunscreen, and we set a reminder on our phones so we don’t forget to reapply later. We also make sure everyone has a hat and sunglasses before heading to the beach.
One tip that’s made sunscreen much easier with little kids is using a self-tanning mitt to apply it. It goes on quickly, helps cover evenly, and keeps our hands from getting covered in sunscreen every time we reapply.
What We Use: Self-Tanning Mitt
What You Don’t Need to Pack
One of the nice things about Castaway Cay is that Disney already provides many of the essentials families need to enjoy a beach day. That means you can keep your beach bag a little lighter and focus on packing just the things your family will actually use. Here’s what you can cross off your packing list:
Towels
Complimentary life jackets in a variety of sizes (available on first-come, first-served basis)
Beach chairs
Umbrellas in many beach seating areas (availability varies)
Complimentary lunch and non-alcoholic drinks (if you plan to eat on the island)
If you’re traveling with young kids, Disney also provides a few complimentary items that can make your day at Castaway Cay a little easier. Depending on availability, you’ll often find wagons, strollers, and beach wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’d like to see a complete list of complimentary items available during your Disney Cruise, you can read our guide here.
The Night Before
The night before we’re scheduled to visit Castaway Cay, we like to spend a few minutes getting everything ready for the next day. It makes the morning feel much more relaxed, especially when the kids are excited to get dressed and head off the ship.
Read the Disney Cruise Notifications
Disney sends a lot of helpful information through the Navigator app that I recommend looking over the night before. You’ll typically find an approximate time guests can begin going ashore, instructions for getting to the gangway, and any documentation or identification you’ll need before leaving the ship.
Be sure to check the all aboard time as well so you can plan your return to the ship and leave yourself plenty of time.
The Navigator app will also list activities happening on both the ship and the island. If your family wants to meet characters, it’s worth checking the schedule since several character meet-and-greets take place as you’re making your way toward the beach.
Pack Your Beach Bag
This has been one of the biggest time savers for our family. While the kids are winding down before bed, I take a few minutes to pack everything we’ll need for the next day. I double-check that we have enough snacks, sunscreen, diapers, our waterproof phone pouch, and anything else we’ll want at the beach.
We also like to wear our bathing suits to breakfast. There are restrooms on the island where you can change, and we’ve done that before, but we’ve found it’s much easier to already be wearing our swimsuits. The night before, I set out everyone’s bathing suit, water shoes or sandals, and our beach bag next to the stroller so we can get ready quickly without searching for everything in the morning.
Decide on Breakfast
There are a few different ways to enjoy breakfast before heading to Castaway Cay, and the best option really comes down to how quickly you want to get off the ship and how many options you’d like. Since lunch on the island doesn’t typically begin until around 11:00 AM, we like to make breakfast one of our bigger meals of the day.
You can choose from a complimentary continental breakfast delivered to your stateroom, the buffet (Marceline Market or Cabanas, depending on your ship), or a sit-down breakfast at one of the rotational dining restaurants. If you’d like a closer look at each option, you can read our Disney Cruise breakfast guide here.
What Our Family Does
We usually get breakfast around 8:00 AM, which gives everyone plenty of time to wake up, get dressed, and eat before heading off the ship around 9:00 AM, assuming Disney has given the all clear.
That time tends to be one of the busiest because most families are trying to do the same thing before going ashore. If we’re eating at the buffet and can’t find a table, we’ll bring our food to one of the outdoor tables on Deck 11 instead of waiting for one to open up.
Getting Off the Ship
Once your family is ready to head to Castaway Cay, make your way to the deck listed in the Navigator app and follow the signs to the gangway. Getting off the ship is a quick and easy process, but there are a few things you’ll want to have with you before you leave.
What You’ll Need
Key to the World Card/DisneyBand+ for every guest
Photo ID (ages 18+)
Beach Bag
Stroller (If bringing one)
A Cast Member will scan everyone’s Key to the World Card or DisneyBand+ before you leave the ship and check photo IDs for guests 18 and older. We actually forgot our photo IDs on one cruise and had to run back to our stateroom to grab them. Ever since then, I make sure everything is set out the night before so we can head off the ship without any last-minute surprises.
Key to the World Card vs. DisneyBand+
My husband, older son, and I all have DisneyBand+, but when we visit Castaway Cay, we actually prefer using our Key to the World Cards instead.
Since my youngest son doesn’t have a DisneyBand+, we already have to bring his Key to the World Card. We also need to bring photo IDs for the adults, so at that point it just feels easier to use cards for everyone instead of keeping track of a mix of cards and bands. I tuck everyone’s cards into a lanyard, which keeps my hands free while we’re walking to the beach. Once we get there, I simply tuck it into our beach bag and don’t have to worry about anyone’s DisneyBand+ getting lost while we’re swimming or playing in the sand.
Grab Your Towels
As soon as you leave the gangway, you’ll come to a large towel station where you can pick up complimentary beach towels for your family. This is the best time to grab however many you’ll need for the day because you won’t want to double back later after you’ve started making your way toward the beach. If you do forget, you’ll likely have a bit of a walk back to the ship, so it’s one of those easy things to check off before continuing on.
Bringing a Stroller
We always bring our own stroller to Castaway Cay because we’d rather know we have one than hope there’s one available when we arrive. It makes getting off the ship so much easier since I can buckle my youngest son in, toss our beach bag underneath, put our water bottles in the cup holders, and we’re on our way.
Once we get to the beach, we usually pick a spot close to one of the sidewalks since our stroller doesn’t push very well in the sand. That’s worked really well for us because we also like to walk back to the ship at the end of the day instead of taking the tram. It gives us a chance to stop by the gift shops, take a few photos, and enjoy the walk without chasing after a tired two-year-old.
The biggest downside is that you’ll need to fold your stroller if you decide to take the tram, and pushing through deep sand can be a little challenging. Even with those trade-offs, we’d still bring ours every time. Between carrying all of our beach gear, having a place for a tired little one to ride, and even the possibility of a stroller nap, it’s been well worth it for our family.
Walking or Taking the Tram
Once you leave the ship, you’ll have two ways to get to the family beach: walk or take the complimentary tram. We’ve done both, and each has its own advantages depending on what your family wants to do.
Walking takes about 15 minutes, depending on where you plan to set up for the day. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stop for character meet-and-greets, take family photos, and enjoy a little more of the island before getting to the beach.
The complimentary tram ride takes about five minutes and is a great option if you’d rather save your energy for swimming and playing in the sand. You may have to wait a few minutes during the busy morning hours, and you’ll need to fold your stroller before boarding, but it's a quick, shaded ride.
Our family usually takes the tram to the beach because our kids aren’t interested in waiting for character meet-and-greets just yet. On the way back, though, we almost always walk. It’s a nice chance to stop by the gift shops, take a few family photos, and enjoy one last walk around the island before heading back to the ship.
At the Beach
Once you’ve picked out a spot, it’s time to enjoy everything Castaway Cay has to offer. This is how we typically spend our time on the island and a few things we’ve learned along the way.
Beach Expectations
Castaway Cay has two family beaches, along with an adults-only beach called Serenity Bay. We’ve found the sand to be really soft with very few rocks, both on the beach and once you get into the water. The waves are also pretty gentle, and my younger son loves sitting at the edge of the water playing with his sand toys.
The water temperature can vary depending on the time of year. We visited in February when it was definitely a little chilly, but everyone still got in and swam. We also visited at the end of April, and while the water was warmer, it still took us a minute to get used to before it felt comfortable.
You’ll also notice lifeguards stationed throughout the family beaches while the swimming areas are open, which we always appreciate with little kids. On one visit, my son got a small cut on the bottom of his foot, and a lifeguard was able to help us clean it up and put on a Band-Aid before he went right back to playing.
Setting Up
We usually take the tram to Stop C for Pelican Point. It’s the farther of the two family beaches, but we’ve had good luck finding open chairs there, and it works well for our family. It’s close to Pelican Plunge, where my older son loves riding the water slides, a short walk from Cookie’s Too BBQ, and across from the Spring-A-Leak splash area.
The seating is arranged in small groups with two lounge chairs and two upright chairs. Many of the seating areas also have umbrellas, although how much shade you’ll have really depends on the time of day. Once we find a spot, we park the stroller behind the chairs, lay out our towels, put our beach bag underneath, and head over to grab life jackets for the kids.
One thing to keep in mind is that getting down to the water from this area does require a short walk and a small set of stairs. There are additional chairs closer to the shoreline, but they tend to fill up earlier in the day.
We usually arrive by around 9:30 AM and haven’t had any trouble finding a place to sit. Even later in the morning, we still noticed open chairs. It mostly comes down to how much shade you’re looking for.
What Do You Do With Your Valuables?
One question we had before our first Disney Cruise was what to do with our valuables while we were at the beach. Since there aren’t any lockers on Castaway Cay, we quickly realized that most families simply leave their beach bags with their chairs while they’re swimming or playing in the sand.
We try to keep it simple and only bring what we actually need, like our Key to the World Cards and photo IDs. If you’re planning to buy souvenirs or specialty drinks while you’re on the island, you’ll use your Key to the World Card and the charges will be added to your stateroom account.
We usually keep our phones with us in our waterproof pouches, but everything else stays tucked away in our beach bag. We’ve never had any issues, and limiting what we bring gives us a little extra peace of mind.
Complimentary Life Jackets
Complimentary life jackets are available throughout the family beaches and are organized by size. One thing we noticed on our most recent cruise was that some of the smaller sizes for younger kids were harder to find. We eventually found one that fit our younger son after checking another station, but you may need to walk to a few different locations or ask a Cast Member if you can’t find the size you’re looking for.
Disney does allow guests to bring their own Coast Guard-approved life jackets from home if you’d rather not rely on what’s available on the island. We saw quite a few families doing that during our visits. For our family, it hasn’t been worth carrying one since our younger son spends most of his time playing in the sand and only goes into the water for short periods of time. If your little one plans to spend most of the day swimming, bringing your own life jacket may give you one less thing to worry about.
Food and Drinks
Our family usually spends the morning at the beach before heading back to the ship for lunch. My kids are pretty picky eaters, so I pack a few prepackaged snacks to hold them over since I know they won’t eat much on the island.
If your family plans to eat on Castaway Cay, there are two complimentary barbecue locations in the family beach area: Cookie’s BBQ and Cookie’s Too BBQ. Lunch typically begins around 11:00 AM and includes familiar favorites like burgers, hot dogs, sides, desserts, self-serve ice cream, and complimentary drinks. There are also plenty of covered seating areas nearby to sit and enjoy your meal.
Each food location has a self-serve beverage station with water, soda, and ice. If you’re looking for something a little different, there are also several bars around the island serving specialty cocktails for an additional charge.
One of our favorite stops is Olaf’s Summertime Freeze. It’s right near the Pelican Point tram stop, so we usually grab a frozen drink in a souvenir cup before heading down to the beach. We’ve brought home both the Olaf and Sven souvenir cups over the years, and my kids still love them.
Things To Do
Even if you don’t book any excursions, there’s still plenty to do around Castaway Cay. We’ve been a few times now and still haven’t experienced everything the island has to offer, but here are a few activities to consider if you’re visiting with young kids.
Spring-A-Leak
My younger son enjoyed taking a break from the beach to explore Spring-A-Leak for a little while. It’s a small splash area with a few water features and water tables. While it’s fairly simple, the shaded play area was a nice change of pace before heading back to the beach.
Pelican Plunge
Pelican Plunge was easily the highlight of the day for my older son. It’s a floating play area with two waterslides that end in the ocean, so you’ll need to swim a short distance to reach it. Even when the line was at its busiest, we only waited about 15 to 20 minutes before he was back on the slide again.
Sports & Games
Away from the beach, you’ll also find areas for beach volleyball, soccer, and tetherball. Another covered area features basketball, pool, and table tennis. We haven’t spent much time there yet because our kids would rather be swimming or playing in the sand, but it’s nice to know those activities are available.
Youth Activities
If your kids enjoy the onboard kids clubs, Disney also offers supervised youth activities on the island. There’s Scuttle’s Cove for younger kids and the Hideout for teens. We haven’t used them ourselves yet, but they’re another option for families who want to spend more time exploring Castaway Cay.
Explore the Island
It can be tempting to head straight back to the ship once you’re done at the beach, but I’d recommend taking your time if you can. Disney added a lot of fun details throughout Castaway Cay, and we’ve noticed something new every time we’ve visited. As you’re walking around, keep an eye out for the themed signs and little nods to Disney employees and Imagineers. It’s one of those little touches that makes Castaway Cay feel even more like Disney.
Heading Back to the Ship
As your day at Castaway Cay comes to an end, here are a few things to keep in mind before heading back to the ship.
Leave yourself plenty of time. Keep an eye on the all aboard time and leave enough time for the walk or tram ride back to the ship.
Return your towels. Drop them off at one of the designated towel return stations before boarding.
Take a look in the gift shops. This is a great chance to pick up any island-exclusive souvenirs.
Snap a few last photos. Don’t forget to grab a few pictures of the ship, Mount Rustmore, or the island before you leave.
Keep your Key to the World Card or DisneyBand+ handy. You’ll need to scan back onto the ship.
Go through the security screening. Before boarding, you’ll pass through a quick bag check and metal detector.
Final Thoughts
Castaway Cay has become one of our family’s favorite stops on a Disney Cruise. We’ve been a few times now, and every visit we’ve found something new to enjoy. Whether your kids want to spend the whole morning building sandcastles, splashing in the ocean, or racing back to Pelican Plunge over and over again, there’s plenty to keep them entertained.
A little planning before you arrive can make the day feel much more relaxed, which means you can spend less time worrying about the logistics and more time making memories together. I hope these tips help your family enjoy your day at Castaway Cay as much as ours has.