Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point sneak peek with creatives
Disney Lighthouse Cay at Lighthouse Point will welcome Disney Cruise Line guests with the Bahamas’ natural beauty and authentic culture.
Welcome to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Next month, several Disney cruise ships will begin making stops at a new private destination, the full name of which is Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point (semantics about dates and sailings at the end of this story).
Disney held a media panel with five creatives bringing Disney Lookout Cay to life on May 2, 2024 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort near Orlando, Fla. The individuals represented a variety of disciplines — Imagineering, conservation, fashion, and public affairs — and shared with us behind-the-scenes tales of the creation of the project and a sneak peek of what guests can expect when making port.
The panel was moderated by Yolanda Clark Cade, VP of communications and public affairs for Disney Signature Experiences. Below are interview selections from the presentation.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Before we begin, a primer: Contrary to common reporting, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is not a private island. Disney Lookout Cay is the Disney-owned destination located upon a stretch of land called Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera, itself part of the Bahamas. (Princess Cruises’ Princess Cays also makes its home on Eleuthera.)
The Inspiration Behind Disney Lookout Cay
Image courtesy of Disney
Joey Gaskins, regional director of public affairs for Disney Cruise Line:
Disney Cruise Line has been bringing guests to the Bahamas for over 25 years at this point. Castaway Cay is beloved by our guests. We know that. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is a little different.
What makes the Bahamas interesting is a lot of people think of it as a place where there is sun, sand, and sea. We’re known for our beauty, right? But it is also a place that has rich traditions, that has a deep culture, that has a history that is unique to this particular part of the world. I think Eleuthera is a really good example of Bahamian history and Bahamian culture that we share as a people.
Eleuthera is an island that was settled in 1640 by a group called the Eleutheran Adventurers, who were escaping Bermuda from religious persecution at the time. They came to Eleuthera [and] settled there. Really the heart of the Bahamas, as the Eleutherans like to think, starts there.
Natural Beauty, Authentic Culture
Joey Gaskins, regional director of public affairs for Disney Cruise Line:
Eleuthera, as is the rest of the Bahamas, is beautiful. But what also makes Eleuthera special are the people. They are a warm people. They have deep traditions. Their communities are small. There’s such history around Junkanoo there. What Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point does is really enhances, engages, embraces both the natural beauty and the culture of the island and brings it to you as guests.
Kassandra Rose, color designer at Walt Disney Imagineering:
When you arrive, you’ll be overwhelmed by the natural beauty. That, along with the Bahamian culture and art, is the focus.
We have some really large architectural buildings. They’re the gathering places. Whether you’re dining at the dining pavilions, or you’re coming together at the Goombay Cultural Center, these have huge, structural roofs that have really organic shapes. They’re inspired by shells that you can find around Bahamian islands. You’re going to find all kinds of patterns from these shells. It’ll be fun to take note and see if you can figure out which shell it comes from.
Image courtesy of Disney
Celebrating Junkanoo
Image courtesy of Disney
Joey Gaskins, regional director of public affairs for Disney Cruise Line:
Junkanoo is the preeminent cultural celebration in the Bahamas, and it is an exciting way for us to really immerse our guests in Bahamian culture.
Theodore Elyett, Bahamian artist, fashion designer:
For me, Junkanoo is the rhythm of the Bahamas. Speaking with the voice of Junkanoo is speaking with the voice of the Bahamas.
Denise Case, director of entertainment creative for Disney Cruise Line:
We started talking to the National Junkanoo Committee about a year ago. It was important to us to shine a light on this time-honored tradition in the right way and authentically. They have been at our side, true partnership, the entire journey so far over the past year. We have had a blast.
You’ll be able to participate with the music. You’ll be able to make a Bahamian craft … We’re very, very excited that guests will not only be able to hear it, [but] make it, dance it. It’ll be very interactive.
Kassandra Rose, color designer at Walt Disney Imagineering:
We’re also going to have some really fun, unique characters just for our destination. You’ll see them in little vignettes. They’re working on different aspects of Junkanoo; maybe cutting some crate paper or painting one of the costumes.
Image courtesy of Disney
New Costumes for Mickey & Friends
Theodore Elyett, Bahamian artist, fashion designer:
The theme [for the characters’ costumes] is “Junkanoo fun in the sun.” These Disney icons are on vacation at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in their designer looks.
Image courtesy of Disney
The stunning piece for Minnie, I think — that everyone has been talking about on all the blogs and all the social media platforms — is the straw purse that I’ve designed with Minnie. A huge nod to Bahamian straw work, but also very special to the island of Eleuthera, is raffia-embroidered queen pineapple on the purse. When you come to Eleuthera, there is a very rich history of pineapple growth and exports, so I wanted to give a nod to Eletheurans, not only because my family is from there, but because that is where is where this project will call home.
Image courtesy of Disney
This is special for me because this is the first time in history of Disney that they’ve ever allowed a celebrity to dress all eight of their icons. So it’s an historic move for Disney; it’s an historic move for the Bahamas. It’s so culturally infused. I feel special about this because so much of the Bahamas is on display.
Commitment to Conservation
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Bradley Watson, conservation program manager for Disney Cruise Line:
Before we started this project, we spent years studying the site of Lighthouse Point. As we’ve mentioned, its beauty is almost incomparable. We wanted to find a way to, #1, protect that environment, so we designed our project to avoid some very sensitive areas onsite that are never going to be touched. Only 16% of the property has been developed so far. We’re maintaining that commitment.
We also found some areas that we wanted to curate for our guests so that we could give them a sense of place, to give them an opportunity to take in the beauty of Lighthouse Point.
Joey Gaskins, regional director of public affairs for Disney Cruise Line:
One of the things that I love about this map is how untouched the site is. Bradley mentioned that we’ve developed less than 16%. This is 900 acres of property, by the way, 152 acres of which [is] private property that we are giving back to the people and the government of the Bahamas, as well, because that site is so meaningful. I think looking at that very small footprint on what is a significant piece of property is really important on the environmental story.
Image courtesy of Disney
Beyond Lookout Cay
Image courtesy of Apple Maps
Joey Gaskins, regional director of public affairs for Disney Cruise Line:
I think what’s special about Lookout Cay is that, unlike Castaway Cay, which is on an island unto itself, we are on a mainland island. There are real communities. There are real people on this island. We want to encourage our guests to get out there and explore the island. Eleuthera is 110 miles long, so you can’t explore all of it. You can only go so far, but even within the communities that you can reach, there is so much to see.
We’ve been working with local vendors in the port excursion space to really build out some cool experiences that’ll take you off-property and into the communities that make Eleuthera special.
There is a lighthouse, [technically] a light station. It is not on Disney property. It remains on what we call crown land in the Bahamas. It belongs to the Bahamian people. It is a part of the experience and what we’ve committed to is creating safe access to that so people can take a look at it and see it. Again, we keep it protected. It is there and if you’d like to, you can go and see it when you get there.
Sneak Peek of Lookout Cay Merchandise and Drinks
During the media event, Disney displayed prototypes of Lookout Cay merchandise that will be available for purchase at the destination, as well as samples of some of the drinks guests can enjoy there.
Photos by Matt Roseboom
Photos by Matt Roseboom
Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Sailing to Disney Lookout Cay
The first guests to visit Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will be those sailing upon the Disney Magic during a three-night preview cruise departing June 6, 2024, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Only limited areas of Lookout Cay will be accessible for this voyage.
Disney Lookout Cay will officially open during the Disney Fantasy’s seven-night cruise departing June 8, 2024, from Port Canaveral, Fla. The ship will stop twice at Lookout Cay.
Thereafter, the Disney Magic will visit Lookout Cay on select three-, four- and five-night sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale.
Check availability of Disney Cruise Line vacations sailing to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point here.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will operate in addition to, not in replacement of, Disney Castaway Cay. Some cruise itineraries will even visit both destinations.
If you’re interested in sailing with Disney Cruise Line, we recommend Mouse Fan Travel for a free, no-obligation quote and free help throughout your trip.
