A Sneak Peek at Disney's New Island Lookout Cay

We recently had the opportunity to visit Disney's brand-new private island and spend the day at Lookout Cay and Lighthouse Point, located in the Bahamas. It did not disappoint. This trip also marked our first family cruise with Disney Cruise Line, and we loved everything about it.

The Disney team has been working on the concept and creation of Lookout Cay for many years now, and you can feel the pride in what they have developed as soon as you step on the island. This was a collaboration between the creative team at Disney and many local Bahamian contributors. If you've been to Disney's other island, Castaway Cay, you'll notice a familiar feel but with many new and unique features.

If you're considering a Disney Cruise that stops at Lookout Cay, here's what you can expect.

Arrival at Lookout Cay

Once our ship, the Disney Magic, docked at the port, the speaker system gave us plenty of instructions about when and where to disembark. We knew there would be a lot of excitement to be the first group to explore the island, so we waited to leave a little later to avoid the crowds.

Although many people were still waiting to get off the ship, the queue went quickly and efficiently. We decided to bring our stroller for our five-year-old, knowing the walk to the island would be long for her. The entire trip, from exiting the ship to arriving on the island, was accessible with our stroller.

The walk from the ship to the first checkpoint at Lookout Cay is about 15 minutes. If you cannot make that walk alone, you can book a shuttle ride in advance. While it may seem far, you can't beat the view of the ocean and the island. Just remember a hat and sunscreen, as the path is not shaded.

Once we arrived at the first checkpoint, we walked through the gate and went to the shuttle pickup area.

Shuttles arrived constantly and had many helpful cast members ready to assist us in getting on board. We needed to fold up our stroller and remove all the bags to fit it on the shuttle. The tram ride to the main entrance of Lookout Cay was another 10-15 minutes, and more welcoming cast members greeted us.

Once exiting the shuttle, we walked a short distance to the entrance, where there were areas for stroller and wagon rentals, washrooms, shopping, and the local vendor market. From this point on, you can go to the family side of the island or the adults-only side.

Exploring the island

As we started to explore the island, we were beyond impressed with the level of detail in every element. It was apparent that the island's environmental protection and cultural representation were prioritized while adding elements of Disney magic.

All areas up the beach are accessible and easy to move around with a stroller. Many walkways and ramps are raised so as not to disturb the natural plant life. There was an abundance of beach chairs and umbrellas, both near the water and further back, and plenty of towels to use for the day.

There are multiple different areas to explore, including two large splash zones for kids, the Play Play Pavilion with various activities throughout the day, the Goombay Cultural Center to learn more about the island, a large dining area to try numerous BBQ dishes, nature trails, and, of course, the stunning beach.

Activities and entertainment

There was no shortage of things to do on the family side of the island. We had the pleasure of experiencing an authentic Junkanoo celebration, complete with beautiful costumes, dancing and local music. Our daughter watched in awe as the parade passed us by.

We also made our way to the Play Play Pavilion, where the team was running tons of fun activities for kids, and characters like Goofy, Chip & Dale and Pluto made an appearance and joined in on the fun. Mickey and Minnie were stationed at different locations throughout the day for photo opps and autograph signings.

The splash zone play areas were bigger than anything I'd ever seen, and as you can imagine, our daughter went wild over them. It was a scorching day, and this made for the perfect way to cool down. There were also multiple times throughout the day when families could join in on a Disney fun-in-the-sun beach bash.

I would've spent hours at the beach if we had more time. It was the clearest, bluest water and most beautiful beach I had ever experienced. The water was warm and calm for swimming, and the sand was perfect for building sandcastles. If you don't want to leave the beach for a drink, servers regularly walk throughout to take orders.

Dining and refreshments

For lunch, we made our way to the True True BBQ and the True BBQ areas. There is a large self-serve area with multiple sides where guests can simply walk up, grab, and try yummy local BBQ offerings. We tried the chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and various salads and sides.

There are multiple covered pavilions with plenty of picnic tables to use while eating. We had no trouble finding a spot that was shaded and cool. There is also a self-serve ice cream and drink area. Staff members were quick to clean up dishes and tables between guests.

If you are looking for alcoholic drink options on the family side of the island, you can visit the Blue Hole Bar. We didn't make a stop there during our day at the island but from what we could see, guests were having a great time.

Tips and recommendations

If you have little ones and are considering a Disney Cruise that stops at Lookout Cay, I recommend bringing your stroller or wagon to help with the walk to and from the ship. If your kiddos can handle the walk, there are plenty of strollers and wagons to rent once you arrive. As much of the island is not covered and the temperatures can get quite warm, bring extra water bottles to fill up throughout the day, and of course, remember hats and sunscreen.

If you're looking for exclusive merchandise or souvenirs from Lookout Cay, there is a shop at the island's entrance. The store carries many T-shirts, towels, sandals, bathing suits, and supplies like swim diapers and sunscreen if you forget anything.

Right next to the store is a local vendor market. I found gorgeous handmade earrings and was able to buy them from the artist herself. This was another really cool way to experience the Bahamian culture.

We loved our day at Disney Lookout Cay and felt honoured to be among the first to experience it. It's a special place that I know many families will enjoy in the years to come. We can't wait to plan our next trip!