19 Facts About Disney's Very Own Private Island

According to Disney, it was the first private island in the cruise industry that offered a place to dock, rather than requiring guests to take tender boats to the island from the boat docked farther out at sea. Very convenient!

Castaways is a running theme on the island, so all of the buildings and attractions are made to look like they were built after a shipwreck (but of course are held to the same Disney standards as the ships and parks — so while they look wrecked, they are actually still immaculate).

Don't miss your chance to take photos with your favorite Disney characters against a beautiful beach backdrop. You'll find friends at the post office, gazebo, gangway, and other popular spots.

Guests who want to get in a little adult time can escape to the Castaway Cay's Serenity Bay. The exclusive 18 and over beach is a quick bike or tram ride from the dock, and guests can relax and enjoy food and adult beverages to their heart's desire.

Guests can rent paddleboats, kayaks, bikes, floats, and tubes to enjoy the crystal-clear waters around Castaway Cay. There is snorkeling, parasailing, fishing, swimming, jet-skiing, stingray feeding, and SO much more.

Food and drinks — apart from alcoholic beverages — are part of your Disney Cruise package. There are a few places to grab food on the island: Cookie's BBQ, Cookie's Too BBQ, and a spot at Serenity Bay.

Don't wait until getting back on the ship to find your Castaway Cay keepsakes — they are only sold on the island. Anything you buy can be sent back to the ship for you, so don't worry about having to lug it around all day.

If you're up for it, you can swim out to the buoys at the Family Snorkeling Lagoon and find hidden gems under the water.

You can send mail from the island with a special Castaway Cay stamp that you can't get anywhere else.

While there is no potable water naturally on the island, there are plenty of coolers with filtered water you can fill cups or bottles with for free, or you can purchase bottles at the restaurants, bars, and shops. According to Disney, "because there is no potable water on the island, water is procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships to an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on the island."

If warm sand and an ocean-front view isn't quite complete without a cold drink in your hand, then adult guests can rest assured that there are plenty of drink options for those looking to sip on something a little stronger than soda.

Approximately 60 Disney Cruise Line crew members live and work full time on Castaway Cay. Sounds like a pretty tough job . . .

There are handy trams available to transport guests to and from different parts of the island; certain places are not walking distance from each other.

Disney Cruise Line states that "through a unique research project transplanting native sea urchins in rhe Bahamas. The urchins help to control harmful algae levels that can choke out corals, and the project is providing vital research for rebuilding coral reef systems that serve as homes for tropical fish and marine life."

If you want to get some exercise in while seeing the beautiful sights of Castaway Cay, then renting bikes and riding around the island on a tour is a great way to spend part of your day at port.

Before Disney purchased the island in the late 1990s, the island — then Gorda Cay — was once used as a convenient place for drug smugglers to stop. When Disney signed the 99-year lease with the Bahamas, a more Disney-friendly backstory explaining the island's origins was concocted.

Castaway Cay is a private island in the Bahamas and only guests on Disney Cruise Line Caribbean and Bahamian cruises are allowed access to its beautiful beaches and countless amenities.