Stingrays at Castaway Cay

[tonyg]

Hi All,
Just got back last week from a wonderful 7 day cruise.
While watching the video I took, I was reminded of the tiny fright we felt while at Serenity Bay at Castaway Cay -- the presense of a Stingray (and another fish people were saying was a Barracuda). OK, I know Disney has warnings up -- but no one said there'd be Stingrays swimming in there!? What gives? Isn't this a turn off? And if they are circling the adult beach, what other sea creatures might there be nearby?

I must say, though - that was the quietest beach I've ever been to. Just lovely.

Oh - one more gripe -- somehow the Ms. and I both missed out on hearing that food would also be served at the adult beach. I don't recall seeing much notice of this anywhere, and neither did she. Should we bother raising that point up to the Mouse House?

Otherwise, loved the trip and can't wait to go back.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

no one said there'd be Stingrays swimming in there!? What gives? Isn't this a turn off?

Nah. The turn-off would be a 300-pound cruiser wearing a 95-pound speedo...

what other sea creatures might there be nearby?

Possibly some intoxicated Carnival cruisers...

missed out on hearing that food would also be served at the adult beach.

We keep to the family beach so I don't know what the offerings are for the adult-only area.

 

[DisneyGator01]

As far as sea creatures go... probably just as many as you would find at a beach on the east coast.. only at Castaway, you can actually see them, since the water is clear.

on my last cruise, there was a MASSIVE sting ray, it was awesome! I got the coolest pictures snorkeling at the adult beach. And there were starfish EVERYWHERE. We got pictures holding them. I did see a few barracutta's, but just small ones.

I think you see a little more sea life on the adult beach then family, simply because it's quieter--less feet steping on them, cramping their style. Sea creatures aren't dummies... they know where the good beach is!!

As far as the food, I usually head back to the family side, I have heard the offerings are better there. This time I might stick to the Adult beach and eat there since it's such a drag taking the shuttle back and forth.

 

[Hygiene99]

My only thought is ,

If they serve lunch at CC adult beach , would u not think it would be at lunch time ????

and how did u think they where going to inform u ???
did u know of lunch being served before hand ???

or did u plan to go to Cookies ???

Peter

 

[Redmic]

When we went banana boating earlier this month, you could see stingrays all over the bottom when the boat stopped to turn around.

 

[SueEllen]

There is usually a stingray around at the adult beach, as well as an octopus in his little cave. It's nice to see some of the sea life. There are starfish and sand dollars and all kinds of other things. It is the ocean and there are no barriers to keep out fish (it's not a swimming pool as much as it looks like one!) so the sea life does not bother me at all. I like being able to see the fish and such there.

As for the food at the adult beach area--they do list it on the Navigator and tell you about it. I found the offerings to be better than cookies (although in a much smaller area!)

I LOVE Serenity Bay.
Sue Ellen

 

[papa]

Food? There is food at the Adult beach? Both of the last times I have been to CC we have had so much fun at the beach that we forgot to get out in time to eat. Last year we barely got out in time to eat at Cookies and this year all the food was put away before I got there and even though I was offered something that Art (Goofynuts DW) had snagged, I really didn't mind. We just had fun. You can always get something on the boat at Pluto's or Scoops. Kathy, DW of Papa

 

[ducklite]

They had it in the navigator about food on CC at both the adult beach and at Cookies. Pretty much the same stuff at both, except there's lobster at the adult beach as well.

We also saw the rays at the adult beach, they were swimming around us while we were on our floats.

Anne

 

[SueEllen]

2 weeks ago they had STEAK sandwiches at the Adult beach and the lobster burgers were at Cookies (both of the last 2 cruises I have done in the last 6 weeks had those at cookies)

The Steak sandwiches were awesome and much better than anything else I had. It's the adult beach food for me all the way!

Sue Ellen

 

[Tulirose]

We saw the stingrays at Serenity Bay also. They were great. First time in three trips we ever saw them there. I thought Barry the Barracuda hung out at the family beach. I'm told he is harmless. Hubby saw him the first time we went to CC but that was the only time we ever went to the Family Beach. We love Serenity Bay.

Tony - As we were leaving SB and walking the beach to head back, I heard a young woman in the water call to a guy on the beach and address him as Tony and I think she was asking him to get the camera. I so wanted to stop and ask the fellow if he was TonyG of NYC but I lost my nerve and we were so ready to head back to the ship. I think it was around 2:30-3 p.m. I don't suppose that was you? Tony is a very common name, as you know - well, at least here in NY! LOL!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I didn't go to Serenity Bay, but saw plenty of mantas while kayaking - they were so cool.

When we got back at 12:30 from the tour, I was expecting to go to the family beach to eat, but was really really happy to see them serving food at the Adult Beach BBQ.

 

[bnelvr]

I know it is an ocean out there......beautiful one at that, but just wanted to know if there is any danger with the sting rays? I know that you can swim with them. Where does the "sting" in the rays come from. I love them and want the kids to be ok in the water with them also.

 

[tonyg]

Originally posted by Tulirose
Tony - As we were leaving SB and walking the beach to head back, I heard a young woman in the water call to a guy on the beach and address him as Tony and I think she was asking him to get the camera. I so wanted to stop and ask the fellow if he was TonyG of NYC but I lost my nerve and we were so ready to head back to the ship. I think it was around 2:30-3 p.m. I don't suppose that was you? Tony is a very common name, as you know - well, at least here in NY! LOL!

You're kidding! Shoulda said hello.
Yep - sounds like it was us.
I had two cameras on me - a video and a still. And a green backpack. And 'young woman' is an apt way of describing her, but she'll be flattered to hear that, since she's not 12, she's actually an Attorney (LOL). Pigtails & sunglasses, right?

Where were you? I might have you on video?

I too, was hesitant to ask for Dis-er's, though I noticed many of the magnets in the hallway. Pretty sure I saw yours (we traversed the hallways many times during the week).

 

[tonyg]

Originally posted by SueEllen
2 weeks ago they had STEAK sandwiches at the Adult beach and the lobster burgers were at Cookies (both of the last 2 cruises I have done in the last 6 weeks had those at cookies)

The Steak sandwiches were awesome and much better than anything else I had. It's the adult beach food for me all the way!

Sue Ellen

THIS is what I'm talking about. Yes, we thought Cookies was where it was all at- didn't realize there was more food at Serenity Bay. We watched that info channel and devoured the navigators and passporters and somehow missed this important piece of information. The lobstercakes were pretty good, though!

I've got some video footage of that stingray chasing us around.

ducklite- did you by any chance speak to someone about being from NJ? We were swimming about taking pictures when we overheard someone talking about NJ and such- I THINK they were on floats or beach chairs. Could that've been you?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

We were swimming about taking pictures

Yes tonyg, photography can be so overwhelming...

 

[ducklite]

Sorry Tony--It's been over a year since we cruised--but I WISH I could say it was me LOL!

Anne

 

[Tulirose]

Originally posted by tonyg
You're kidding! Shoulda said hello.......
...........Where were you? I might have you on video?....

Shoulda's, coulda's, woulda's - My life has been filled with them. I KNEW it was you! Like I said, however, DH and I were ready to head back to the ship and were a bit too tired to start socializing. If it had been earlier, I definitely would have said something.

We had parked ourselves further down the beach. Take the distance you were from the bar and double it and that's about where we initially settled and played in the water. So it was a bit far from you and I doubt we are in the video.

BUT - JUST IN CASE - I am wearing a red two-piece suit. Anja and I did float off back towards the bar area on the inner tube things and away from the rest of our group for a little while. She's a petite thing in a green two-piece suit. That would be funny if you caught us.

 

[jwann]

Don't freak out - the rays and the barracudas and all the other sea creatures will not hurt you if all you do is LOOK at them.