Castaway Cay - Which beach first?

[DVCinderella]

For those of you who have visited both Serenity Bay and the family beach in the same day, which one would you recommend visiting first?

DH and I have cruised before, and we spent the entire day at Serenity Bay. But this time, we would like to explore the family beach as well.

Last time, we got to Serenity Bay early enough to get an umbrella (we're both fair, so we need a place to escape the sun). Is it possible to get an umbrella later in the day if we decide to switch beaches? If so, when is the best time to try?

 

[eml]

We were at CC on 2/18. I took the tram over to Serenity Bay after lunch and it was practically empty. There were only about 20 people there. Lots of empty chairs and umbrellas. I went to the first empty hammock and had a nice rest!

It was low tide and the beach was quite full of seaweed. I don't know if this is normal or not.

 

[inkkognito]

We like to visit Serenity Bay first beause it is the farthest point. Then we return for lunch at Cookies and get a spot on the family beach. There is an area that is rarely crowded all the way at the far end, near the bike rental and the farthest bathroom. Even if you can't get an umbrella, there are plenty of shady palms in that area that will do the trip. Many times I just spend the whole day over there because it is very quiet but still part of the family beach and not at all far from the "action."
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[disboo]

On both of my cruises we have gone to Serenity Beach first, then the family beach after lunch. We went early and had no problems getting good spots on the beach. We snorkeled, swam a little and sunned. After eating at the adult beach we went to the family beach to snorkel and sun there. Both times we had no problems finding a spot (although we were not looking for hammocks).

People complain about the sand that is kicked up at the snorkel area after a while, but I found it cleared up not too far from the beach, and the snorkeling was great even in the afternoon.

On our second cruise we were traveling with teens, so they didn't make it out to the beach until 11:00 anyway, and they were able to find a spot ont he family beach for themselves.

 

[rykdad]

What did you do with the kids while you were at Serenity Bay?

 

[mcnuss]

We checked DD8 into the kids program first thing, then went to Serenity Bay until after lunch. We headed back bc we thought DD would want to be with us, but she did not. (in fact, she had so much fun that she did not page us until about 15 minutes before the end of the kids program.) We tried to find a place at the family beach, and it was tough. I know people really like CC, but to me that beach was worse than being on Cape Cod in the summer. It was wall-to-wall people, and it seems some of them get pretty darned protective of their little patch of sand. We ended up walking to the furthest point, I think about where Barb is talking about, and that was ok, but I would not call it great. Had I known DD would not want leave the kids program, we'd have stayed at Serenity Bay for much longer. I think Disney needs to develop more beach area on that island. When the ship is full, there is just not enough space for everyone.

 

[TeamMom011]

At the Disney Dreams presentation the night before CC, Cruise Director Rick told us that when we get to the beach, no matter how nice it looks, just keep walking. . .there's lots of beach to be found. We took his advice and after trudging behind DH all the way to the end of the family beach, sure enough, there was no one there. Even though we left the ship almost an hour after the earlybirds, there were even still hammocks available. We were so happy there we never even bothered to check out Serenity Bay. I'm all for developing more beach area on the island but from our experience during the President's Week cruise with a full ship we had no complaints.

 

[Michelle]

I actually prefer the family beach as it is more groomed than Serenity Bay. When sailing with my daughter that is the one day she does NOT do the programming, she wants to be in the water, and I fully support that.

When sailing without her we do sometimes go to Serenity Bay and it is definitely quieter but I've actually had a harder time finding a close location there.

 

[rae519]

Adult beach first - get the best spots available and have your lunch there!!

Maybe then a massage at the Cabana or to the family beach for time with the kids. Mine doesn't care much for the water and would rather play in the sand with the kids at Scuttles.

Rae