Lookout Cay long pier.

[Erica1016]

Watching this right now, it’s a very fair and well-rounded review.

We just watched that tonight and said we should post a post a link!

 

[insureman]

We just watched that tonight and said we should post a post a link!

I thought it was a fair assessment on LC.

 

[Henlady]

I watched the video that was attached. It was well done. We are heading on a 5 night Magic in mid August. We booked just for the cruise in general, not specifically for the Lighthouse Cay stop. We will probably get off ship, visit the site via golf cart transport due to DH walking issues. Anticipate just looking around, checking things out, having lunch and heading back to ship. The area looks interesting, but the lack of shade and places to just sit and enjoy the sites is a deterrent for us. Disneys concept art made it look like this was really something to see. Right now it’s just “meh” and not very inviting. We shall see…..

 

[brentm77]

A must watch

The video points out something that stood out to me on first seeing the island. The buildings in Castaway feel like they could be a land at one of the parks. They are themed in a fun, mostly subtle, whimsical way that is Disney at it's best. They don't scream for your attention, but instead let you take in the details slowly when you look for them.

The buildings at lighthouse just don't have that fun Disney vibe to me. I know they were going for a local vibe, but they feel like they could be buildings at any port-area in any Caribbean port. It wouldn't have a large impact on my enjoyment of the stop, since the beach is the central focus, but I would have preferred a little more Disney in the design. Not in-your-face Disney, but more of Disney resort vibes with theming. It's another reason to love Castaway in my book. I know Castaway is not everyone's cup of tea, but it hits all the right notes for me. I'm glad to still have that option in the future.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

The video points out something that stood out to me, but I was reserving judgment on until I saw it in person. The buildings in Castaway feel like they could be a land at one of the parks. They are mostly themed, but in a fun whimsical way. The buildings at lighthouse just don't have that vibe to me. I know they were going for something that felt like it fit in with the culture, but they feel more like generic buildings in a Southern California strip mall, with unusual roofs. Or even like the buildings you see in the touristy areas of most Caribbean ports. It wouldn't have a big impact on my enjoyment of the beach, which still looks even prettier than Castaway to me, but the building design seems like a pretty pic miss. It's another reason to love Castaway in my book. I know Castaway is not everyone's cup of tea, but it hits all the right notes for me. I'm glad to still have that option in the future.

I saw that video last week, and mostly chuckled at his down play of coco cay, "coco cay represents whats wrong with the cruise industy and both islands are better than it.' I know a lot of people will disagree with that here. But that's the thing, that video was so broad it's like a Rorshach test that almost says more about the viewer's preferences being reinforced than the island itself. Which seems like we are going off topic a bit, which is 'long pier' lol.

I agree with what you are saying, and I like Castaway Cay theming as well, but I remember the first time I saw CC I was like 'they took a lovely island and bulldozed it and put out those ugly jetties and made an attraction that looks very artificial.' Sure I like the theming, but do see why Disney didnt just make Castaway Cay 2 but tried for something very different. And he makes that point in the video too.. that if you want those long pink sand beaches with uninterrupted view of the ocean, Lookout Cay is the choice. The rest is icing, and icing that isn't completed. You go to LC not because of the pier, but despite it.

I just dont feel the need to keep comparing the two. I am not married to CC, it wont get jealous if I visit LC every now and then. And that might have been part of the equation too... it is easier selling going to two different Disney islands on the same cruise if the experiences are... different. Yes, I know cruises going to CC twice are popular, but that was not sustainable with increasing number of ships.

The video points out Disney has more work to do and I think Disney knows that. But for now, l am still interested in checking it out for myself. if for no other reason to go back in 5 years and see how it has changed.

 

[Racer X]

I feel like this is a marketing disaster. As some said all the initial renderings looked like it would be a destination unto itself! What they delivered was a "nature preserve". Not that that is wrong by any stretch but is that what most cruisers want in a port stop?

 

[insureman]

I feel like this is a marketing disaster. As some said all the initial renderings looked like it would be a destination unto itself! What they delivered was a "nature preserve". Not that that is wrong by any stretch but is that what most cruisers want in a port stop?

I mentioned somewhere in this thread that Joe Rhode was involved in the original design hence the nature preserve feel. Besides the long pier I think some parents with little kids might have a problem with LC 's beaches. The family beach on CC is sheltered with a net to keep large predators away also there is virtually no wave action on CC family beach where as LC has no net and seems like a decent surf sometimes.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

After the alligator incident at GF, you would think they’d catch on.

 

[tvguy]

The video points out something that stood out to me on first seeing the island. The buildings in Castaway feel like they could be a land at one of the parks. They are themed in a fun, mostly subtle, whimsical way that is Disney at it's best. They don't scream for your attention, but instead let you take in the details slowly when you look for them.

The buildings at lighthouse just don't have that fun Disney vibe to me. I know they were going for a local vibe, but they feel like they could be buildings at any port-area in any Caribbean port. It wouldn't have a large impact on my enjoyment of the stop, since the beach is the central focus, but I would have preferred a little more Disney in the design. Not in-your-face Disney, but more of Disney resort vibes with theming. It's another reason to love Castaway in my book. I know Castaway is not everyone's cup of tea, but it hits all the right notes for me. I'm glad to still have that option in the future.

I don't know, the whimsical design of the buildings very much remind me of Toontown at Disneyland.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/ligh...ruise-line-island-destination-in-the-bahamas/

 

[MonaMN]

I feel like this is a marketing disaster. As some said all the initial renderings looked like it would be a destination unto itself! What they delivered was a "nature preserve". Not that that is wrong by any stretch but is that what most cruisers want in a port stop?

Seems like most cruises in that area are all about beaches, and this one looks amazing.

Does it need refinement and additional development? Sure... it's brand new. But calling it a "disaster" is hyperbole.

 

[randumb0]

Correct me if I am wrong but didnt the initial rendering have a tram on the pier?

*edit* Yes I found it on Scott's page. The original had a tram at the pier as well as 3 beaches.

 

[OKW Lover]

Correct me if I am wrong but didnt the initial rendering have a tram on the pier?

*edit* Yes I found it on Scott's page. The original had a tram at the pier as well as 3 beaches.

View attachment 877544

Perhaps I'm not seeing it - where is the tram on the pier?

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Correct me if I am wrong but didnt the initial rendering have a tram on the pier?

*edit* Yes I found it on Scott's page. The original had a tram at the pier as well as 3 beaches.

View attachment 877544

TBH, this was pre-COVID and my assumption was that they scaled back on so much due to the nightmare of supply chain, and basically zero DCL income for nearly 2 years. The east side of the point is pretty much as originally conceived. The South Beach Cabanas & marina are in place. The adventure camp & south beach with supporting infrastructure are missing. Not sure if deleted, or delayed. COVID screwed up so much, I don't doubt that the lack of income plus the delays had an impact.

 

[randumb0]

Perhaps I'm not seeing it - where is the tram on the pier?

I blew up the picture. If you notice there is a loop where the tram would turn around

 

[SL6827]

I just feel as though trams from the ship were in the original plans.

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

I blew up the picture. If you notice there is a loop where the tram would turn around

View attachment 877589

Also visible is the tram loading area in the pier. Clearly this was the original plan to have people take the tram directly from the ship.

 

[insureman]

I blew up the picture. If you notice there is a loop where the tram would turn around

View attachment 877589

Yes , I posted that a few pages back. That's why someone nicknamed the final pier design as the"Bob Chapek Pier" on google maps due to his budget cuts at DCL.

 

[DCLMP]

Not that that is wrong by any stretch but is that what most cruisers want in a port stop?

How much have you cruised? I'm guessing not much. All port stops are different. Why would you want the same thing at every stop?

 

[DCLMP]

Yes , I posted that a few pages back. That's why someone nicknamed the final pier design as the"Bob Chapek Pier" on google maps due to his budget cuts at DCL.

My take away from all these posts and threads is that people that post on this forum are either incredibly lazy or they just like to complain about everything.
It's just getting old. I hate the phrase " first world problems" but good grief. How long are people going to complain about a 10 minute walk. Get over it or book a different cruise.

 

[insureman]

My take away from all these posts and threads is that people that post on this forum are either incredibly lazy or they just like to complain about everything.
It's just getting old. I hate the phrase " first world problems" but good grief. How long are people going to complain about a 10 minute walk. Get over it or book a different cruise.

A 10 minute walk for you might be a 30 to 40 minute walk for others or not being able to do the 1 mile round trip at all. No one is forcing you to read this thread either. This the Disney Cruise line "forum". Look up that definition.