Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is DCL's private island with a crazy history! It was discovered by settlers in 1783.  At the time, settlers called it Gorda Cay and it was called that until 1996. Gorda's airstrip (now Castaway Cay Airport) was once used as a stop in the 1930s for drug smugglers. They stopped there to refuel their planes as it was centrally located. Many famous movies that you most likely have watched have been filmed there too. The beach where Tom Hanks first encounters Daryl Hannah in the movie Splash is on the island and parts of the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl were filmed on Castaway Cay as well. In 1997, DCL purchased a 99-year lease for the island from the Bahamian government with the purchase of the Disney Magic. The next thing they did was spend $25 million over 18 months of construction and still have only use 5% of the island. And now DCL has an amazing island that is is open for anyone to visit! One cool activity on the island is the snorkeling. Disney even sunk 2 of their submarines from the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage ride from Walt Disney World! Activities that are available to guests include bicycle rentals, personal watercraft rentals, massages overlooking the ocean, snorkeling, parasailing, volleyball, basketball and a play area for children on one beach and a slide about 25 meters (82 ft) into the ocean on another beach. There are three beaches for guests: one exclusively for families, one exclusively for cabana guests, and another exclusively for adults, called Serenity Bay. And that is the crazy story of how Castaway Cay came into existence and what it is like today for any guests who visit Castaway Cay!