Curious about castaway cay!!

[garrett]

I am a college student doing a project on castaway cay. I am especially curious about bahamian labor on castaway cay. How many natives work at castaway cay? Is it mainly crew members who run the island? If Disney were to expand on the island, would Disney hire local Abocos natives to build? How would the Bahamian Government handle this? Any information or insight would be greatly appreciated! -Garrett

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I think that the only Bahamians who work on the island are those who work at the post office and the tour operators (fishing, banana boat, etc.), who I think come over from Abaco. The vast majority of crew members on the island come off the ship. I think there are about 40 or so "natives" who live and work there full time. I don't know anything about their nationalities other than once reading that the island manager is Austrian.

I can't speak to who Disney would hire to develop or what the Bahamian government's position would be.

 

[crisi]

Disney usually hires contracting companies to do the development. Whether at CC they would use a company out of the Bahamas or one in the US would depend on which was most cost advantagous for the quality Disney expects. So Disney wouldn't hire any natives. They would hire a contractor, who may use natives.

 

[garrett]

Thanks so much for your responses. Would anyone possibly have any good information or links about how Disney went about creating Castaway Cay? Anything will help! thanks

 

[floridaminnie]

It's former name is Gorda Cay. I found this which I found interesting http://oii.net/Journal/sep98/ABACONIANS_TOUR.shtml

 

[crisi]

Thanks so much for your responses. Would anyone possibly have any good information or links about how Disney went about creating Castaway Cay? Anything will help! thanks

There is a little bit on the travel channel special - Disney bringing in Imagineers (Americans employed by Disney), dredging and bringing in the sand and power generation. But not much depth.

 

[Dcanoli]

My husband works for FM Global, the company that insures WDW and CC. When the hurricanes hit CC this past fall, he said the guys were talking at work.

They said that FMG has probably "bought" CC with all the $$ they have had to invest in repairs, etc.!! They said all of the rocks were brought in special for Disney, and when the hurricanes go through, they take the rocks out to sea. They have to actually have divers go out and retrieve the rocks because they were so expensive! Go figure.

I don't know if FM Global has a web site, but you might try them too. Good luck!