TRAVEL LOG: Day 3 of Our Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy
After a very busy but exciting Pixar Day at Sea on day two, on day three we were ready to enjoy our first beach of two private island days at Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Lookout Cay opened Summer of 2024, and provides a more relaxed experience compared with Disney Cruise Line’s first private island destination, Castaway Cay. It’s a beautiful location and a great way to spend our first beach day.
1 – Lookout Cay and Lighthouse Point
Lookout Cay is a part of the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas, and is inspired by and celebrates the culture of The Bahamas. This one-of-a-kind retreat offers unique and exclusive Disney entertainment, port adventures and nature trails, water play areas, and beautiful beaches for families and adults. There is so much to love about this island destination!
2 – The Pier
One of the first things guests will notice when they arrive at Disney Lookout Cay is the long pier that takes guests from the ship to the first tram stop at Mabrika Cove. Because of Disney’s commitment to protecting the natural beauty of the island, they created an innovative, open-trestle pier to prevent dredging. The long pier makes the walk from the ship to the first tram stop quite long. Guests should be prepared for a 10–15-minute walk from the ship to the tram stop.
Guests with young children will likely want to use strollers. Disney also has a small fleet of wagons available for guest use. Be aware, the number of wagons is limited. Cast members are constantly shuttling wagon back and forth so you may have a short wait. When we exited the ship there were no wagons remaining, although a load wagons was returned within about five minutes. Guests needing more assistance, such as a cart ride to the tram stop, should speak to Guest Relations ahead of time to arrange for a ride.
3 – Junkanoo-inspired Photo Opps
Some of the first things you’ll see when you get off the tram are the Junkanoo-inspired backdrops of the iconic Disney characters that will serve as the perfect photo spots for guests. The really are gorgeous pieces of art! Along with the four backdrops near the tram stop, there is a fifth Pluto backdrop you may need to do some searching for. Pro tip: line for photos can be very long at the start of the day so you may want to come back to these after the initial rush!
4 – Goombay Cultural Center
The heart and focal point of Disney Lookout Cay is the Goombay Cultural Center. The brilliantly colored pavilion celebrates the rich history of The Bahamas and hosts a wide range of activities, including the “Sights and Sounds of Junkanoo” family workshop, where families learn Junkanoo traditions and crafts from local artisans. It’s also the location where guests can enjoy Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration. A local Junkanoo Group introduces families to the signature festival of The Bahamas filled with colorful parades of dancing and music. Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration is performed twice a day. Guests are encouraged to join along, connecting them to the treasured tradition through a vibrant celebration. For us, this was the highlight of the day.
5 – More Festive Entertainment
Families won’t want to miss the Disney Fun in the Sun Beach Bash at the Play-Play Pavilion. Here, families can join in for fun games with Goofy, Pluto, and Chip-n-Dale, all to the sound of Bahamian renditions of Disney tunes arranged and performed by Bahamian artists. From Goofy’s Good Day Limbo to Pluto’s Pineapple Ring Toss and Chip-n-Dale’s Water Brigade, the bash ensures fun for the whole family. The Fun in the Sun Beach Bash is offered several times a day, but we hit the first one while our energy was high and it wasn’t too hot yet.
6 – Dining on the Island
With all of the activity on the island (and the long trek back to the ship), guests will want to enjoy lunch on the island. Unlike Castaway Cay, the time and distance make returning to the ship for lunch impractical. Three dining locations throughout the island offer delicious flavors of The Bahamas and shaded dining pavilions. At True-True and True-True Too BBQ, the main dining areas, and Serenity Bay BBQ, the adult dining area, guests can enjoy menu items inspired by local recipes, including Bahamian pigeon peas and rice and Bahamian-style lime marinated grilled snapper. Classic favorites, including barbecue ribs, island-spiced rotisserie chicken, and grilled cheeseburgers, are complemented by a wide selection of sides and freshly prepared salads.
7 – Gorgeous Beaches
After lunch it was time to find a chair and umbrella and get a little relaxing done. One of the things that struck us was just how beautiful the island is, especially the beaches. The adult-exclusive beach, Serenity Bay, and the family beach offer gorgeous white sand with a lot of space to enjoy. We’ve always felt the beaches at Castaway Cay are a bit cramped, but at Disney Lookout Cay, there is a lot of open space for relaxation. There are also plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas. You also have two different seating areas to choose from. You can sit right on the wide beach, or you can sit further back, closer to the raised boardwalks and amenities.
8 – Specialty Drinks
Obviously, in order to fully report on the experience we needed to try a few drinks. Ice-cold beverages are served at four bars, including the main beach locales, Bow & Ribbon Bar, Watering Hole Bar and Reef & Wreck Bar, the Blue Hole Bar for adults, and Sandsational Smoothies, which serves specialty frozen drinks. Locally sourced beverages are available there, such as Bahamas Goombay Punch soda, Bahamas Coffee Roasters coffee, locally roasted in Eleuthera, and Pirate Republic Brewing Company Long John Pineapple Pilsner. The Disney Lookout Cay signature cocktail, Eleuthera Euphoria, is a blend of premium aged rum and pineapple smoothie topped with pineapple-shaped candy.
9 – Merchandise Locations
The last thing on our list to do before heading back to the ship was a little shopping. As temping as it is to hit the shops first thing when you get off the tram, we prefer to do this at the end of the day so we can carry our purchases straight back to the stateroom.
There are two merchandise locations that offer guests an opportunity to bring home a piece of The Bahamas to commemorate their vacations. Disney T’ings offers a full collection of clothing and accessories by Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett, along with an array of brightly colored Disney Junkanoo-inspired merchandise. Guests can also purchase a variety of island-inspired Disney merchandise reflective of the island experience at Disney T’ings.
Authentic, original work by Bahamian artists is available for purchase as a keepsake at Treasures of Eleuthera, a store that spotlights local artists with an array of unique gifts and artisan crafts.
10 – ‘Disney’s Believe’
We finished the day with the second of the three Broadway-style productions during our cruise, where we were treated to “Disney’s Believe,” a stage spectacular that combines a heartfelt story with a captivating musical score. The lavish production tells the story of a workaholic father who, through the power of Disney magic, reconnects with his daughter and learns a valuable lesson about what is important in life.
“Disney’s Believe” takes guests to the garden of Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, a brilliant botanist obsessed with cultivating his precious plants. Dr. Greenaway is so preoccupied with his garden that he overlooks the birthday of his daughter, Sophia. Saddened, Sophia makes a special birthday wish, and the impossible happens: Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” appears to make her wish come true.
Joined by a host of characters, Genie takes Dr. Greenaway on an enchanting journey into the world of Disney stories. Through spirited production numbers, Dr. Greenaway learns that magic is real and is embodied in his beloved daughter.
More than 20 of Disney’s most beloved characters take the stage during “Disney’s Believe,” including Cinderella, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Belle (“Beauty and The Beast”), Rafiki (“The Lion King”), and Princess Tiana (“The Princess and the Frog”).
We’ve seen this production many times; but as always, it was fantastic. Once again, Genie was perfect, and he stole the show. We highly recommend this show! Read our full review at the link below.
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Disney’s Believe on Disney Cruise Line.
Additional Lookout Cay Articles
Click here for our full overview of Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Learn more about Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy
Be sure to follow along on our voyage to hear more about the experience, learn tips and tricks for cruising, and read our reviews of all the unique offerings.
Articles with Cruising Tips and Tricks
Learn more about the Disney Cruise line and our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail on Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2 – Part 1 of Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2 – Part 2 of Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy
TRAVEL LOG: Day 3 of Our Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy
TRAVEL LOG: Day 4 – Part 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy
Instagram Story with Photos and Video of our Cruise
Day 1 – Instagram Story Highlight – Arrival Day
Day 2 – Instagram Story Highlight – Pixar Day at Sea
Day 3 – Instagram Story Highlight – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Day 4 – Instagram Story Highlight – Sea Day
Day 5 – Instagram Story Highlight – Unplanned Sea Day
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Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Pixar Day at Sea Cruise with special media-specific events and tours during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line in this article are entirely our own.