Returning to Ship on Castaway Day?

[chloe1733]

We're hoping to do the Castaway Cay 5k on our upcoming cruise.

Our current plan is to get off as soon as we are allowed, immediately start the 5k (we're intending to walk it), get our medals and any Castaway merch we may want, then get back on the ship, shower, and chage into swim/beach gear. Then, we'd get off the ship a second time, go snag a spot somewhere and enjoy the rest of our day. I'd estimate that we'd probably be de-boarding again around two hours after folks are initially allowed ashore.

Are there any downsides/problems with this plan, other than we'd have to walk the really long pier twice?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Castaway Cay doesn’t have a long pier.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

You won't get 'primo' spots, but there's tons of loungers between the family beach and Serenity Bay. Shouldn't be an issue

 

[Dug720]

Castaway Cay doesn’t have a long pier.

No, but the distance to the family beach is about the same if you don't take the tram (which involves waiting for one to come).

 

[BarlowFamily]

We just did the 5k on Friday. We had a short excursion first thing, so we didn't start until 10am. We just put tennis shoes in a bag and carried them with us. They stayed in a bag in a chair in the back of the beach until we headed back to the ship at the end of the day. I think your plan sounds good. We aren't a back and forth family and didn't get super sweaty - plus we went snorkling right after. We were glad we completed it in the morning, they ran out of 5k medals in the afternoon.

 

[CamColt]

We have done this in the past when it was an organized event and we got off first. It worked fine then so I would think it would work fine now too, if you got off asap.

When we have walked it, we didn't bother going back to the ship as it wasn't really necessary, but after running, I wouldn't have been comfortable without a shower.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Your plan was sort of our original plan, but instead we got off ASAP in the morning. Dropped a bag at some chairs on the beach, ran the 5k, then immediately went into the ocean. I swam in my sport bra, and had bathing suit bottoms on under my running shorts.
No point in showering before getting into the ocean. Then we had more time for swimming and a prime chair location on the beach.

It was a great, hot day, that was cut off a bit early by downpour and thunderstorms.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Dropped a bag at some chairs on the beach, ran the 5k, then immediately went into the ocean.

So you saved "some chairs" that others couldn't use then?

 

[lilmc]

We just put our swimsuits in our beach bag and put our bag in the very nondescript box at the start line that is a vestige from the organized 5k days. When we’re done (and yes, very hot and sweaty on the island), we change in a restroom stall and head to the ocean. It’s a beach hair day and we properly shower before dinner, but we don’t waste precious CC day time going back and forth when we’re sandy and gross anyway.

 

[unrequited23]

So you saved "some chairs" that others couldn't use then?

How long is it acceptable to be away from "your" chairs? Can you grab lunch from Cookies and leave your towels and sand pails? Is everyone allowed to swim at the same time? Isn't everyone that is not actually sitting "saving some chairs that others couldn't use them?"

Walking a 5K takes about an hour. I don't think that an egregious amount of time to be away from your spot.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Yes, I think we saved 3 chairs for a family of 4. My kids used the chairs while the adults ran 5k (30 minutes). We swam a bit together, then swam a bit 2 in, 2 at chairs, 2 shopping, 2 in and out of water. Back and forth all around all day.
Our behavior did not seem out of line of what was happening with the other chairs around us.
I don't do anything like "towels on chairs" at the ship pool, as that seems much more limited, but Magic at CC really didn't seem like we were out of line.
Our biggest issue with "saving seats" was actually at Cooke's buffet lunch on the island. It seemed like a lot of people were taking up tables while the rest of their family got the food. I find this to be a problem at WDW QS restaurants too.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes, I think we saved 3 chairs for a family of 4. My kids used the chairs while the adults ran 5k (30 minutes). We swam a bit together, then swam a bit 2 in, 2 at chairs, 2 shopping, 2 in and out of water. Back and forth all around all day.
Our behavior did not seem out of line of what was happening with the other chairs around us.
I don't do anything like "towels on chairs" at the ship pool, as that seems much more limited, but Magic at CC really didn't seem like we were out of line.
Our biggest issue with "saving seats" was actually at Cooke's buffet lunch on the island. It seemed like a lot of people were taking up tables while the rest of their family got the food. I find this to be a problem at WDW QS restaurants too.

Thank you for the clarification. Original post made it seem like you put your things on several chairs and they weren't in use while you ran.

 

[Dug720]

Walking a 5K takes about an hour. I don't think that an egregious amount of time to be away from your spot.

Most cruise lines I've been on (it's been a while since Disney, but I seem to remember it too) say 30 minutes and then unattended things will be removed.

 

[unrequited23]

Most cruise lines I've been on (it's been a while since Disney, but I seem to remember it too) say 30 minutes and then unattended things will be removed.

I always thought that was a guideline for the pool deck loungers not the private island beaches...but we've only cruised on Disney.

 

[Dug720]

I always thought that was a guideline for the pool deck loungers not the private island beaches...but we've only cruised on Disney.

I've always seen it listed for the islands as well. Hence why I splurged on a beach bed on Perfect Day at Coco Cay - being solo it's worth it to have a designated spot.

I've never had an issue on Castaway, but I'm on Serenity Bay and don't take more than 30 minutes for lunch.

 

[dreamer17555]

Most cruise lines I've been on (it's been a while since Disney, but I seem to remember it too) say 30 minutes and then unattended things will be removed.

I have seen this clearly stated and enforced on Royal. However I have not seen it stated nor does not seemed to be enforced on DCL (ships or beaches). There are tons of chairs on Castaway... Lighthouse there were fewer oceanfront (not behind dunes)... the pool chairs seem to be more in demand with fewer options.

 

[bakofarmgirl]

i havent been to castaway in maybe 10+ years but going next month, just to confirm the 5k is different now as in it used to be it started at one time and everyone got off the ship early who wanted to do it?

now is it more of a just complete at your own time?

 

[LorrieAnn5]

i havent been to castaway in maybe 10+ years but going next month, just to confirm the 5k is different now as in it used to be it started at one time and everyone got off the ship early who wanted to do it?

now is it more of a just complete at your own time?

Correct, start at the bike hut, whenever you want, but on my limited experience if you get off early there will be a group of people all starting out so you get that comradery, or see people on the loop, etc.
Refresh your mind by looking at the map before you cruise. We didn't do that tiny bit to go to the staircase of the tower and then I had to run past the finish line towards the tram stop to get the full 5k.

 

[lilmc]

We didn't do that tiny bit to go to the staircase of the tower and then I had to run past the finish line towards the tram stop to get the full 5k.

Did you run the “fun run” or the challenge one? We remember it as out to air strip, around loop, turn right and head down to Serenity Bay, U turn, go back around loop a second time, then back to bike rentals. We always get 5k and that’s how we ran it when it was organized. I don’t remember staircase at the lighthouse on the course.

 

[DMMarla07860]

i havent been to castaway in maybe 10+ years but going next month, just to confirm the 5k is different now as in it used to be it started at one time and everyone got off the ship early who wanted to do it?

now is it more of a just complete at your own time?

Yeah you just complete on your own. I usually get off grab a chair to put bag on take what I need, 5k and get medal. Grab stuff and head to grab a adult beverage on adult beach then bike ride with Dad and either grab lunch and and drink and head back to ship