Vote on which island

[AquaDame]

The food was better at LC, but we prefer CC for now. As others have said that may change once the foliage grows in, but I also disliked how things I usually skip are in your face at LC. Namely you HAVE to take the tram (we always walk at CC, its so pretty by the water), and you have to go through the shopping area when you debark the tram making it feel more like a mall. The raised walkways are great from a nature sense, but it makes it all feel less natural and more restrained. We didn't see any many folk recreating in the water since so much is on land. We've only been once this past spring... maybe I'll feel differently next time.

 

[asgur5]

I didn't vote either - just saying what currently puts Castaway ahead. I just haven't had the chance to go to Lookout yet - it's not that I don't want to go.

Not sure what Vegas has to do with this?

You dislike being near kids that much that this trumps food, nature of the ocean, activities, quality of the beach, aesthetics for you?

Have you heard of adult only cruises and island resorts?

Gees when Im on a Disney cruise as a parent I think Im on a ship full of people who like kids given thats what Disney is about. Kids. A place where I can let my kids be kids and dont have to worry about frowning adults who haven forgotton what being a kids is like just for once. Guess Im wrong. Didnt realise that some were so desperate to be away from them that its the number one thing they care about when rating the islands.

 

[Dug720]

You dislike being near kids that much that this trumps food, nature of the ocean, activities, quality of the beach, aesthetics for you?

Have you heard of adult only cruises and island resorts?

Gees when Im on a Disney cruise as a parent I think Im on a ship full of people who like kids given thats what Disney is about. Kids. A place where I can let my kids be kids and dont have to worry about frowning adults who haven forgotton what being a kids is like just for once. Guess Im wrong. Didnt realise that some were so desperate to be away from them that its the number one thing they care about when rating the islands.

When Disney promises adult only areas, I expect them to make the areas so that they are adult only, yes. Not areas so that families are literally a line in the sand away from the adult area as on Lighthouse/Lookout (with reportedly iffy enforcement at best). So yes. Serenity Bay being more secluded on Castaway automatically ranks that higher for me. Though we'll see how the new cabanas that killed the crew beach affect Serenity...

Similarly I dislike the lounges being spread all over on the Wish Class ships because it's harder to enforce adult-only hours at them as opposed to a dedicated club/lounge area on the Classics and Dream Class.

And I have zero desire to go on the party/Vegas-style cruise that is Virgin and all-inclusives hold no interest for me.

 

[NAB]

We have been to LP a few times now. The sand and water with the waves is great.

We could only get chairs up top not near the water.

The lines are long at the adult food and I don’t think they have as much selection there as the family ones. No soft ice cream there either. I’m not standing in the long side for steak either . Then you have to go all the way around on that side anyway to get your drink. Not to mention you than have to get into another line very close to the food line to get dessert.

Never been fond of the island food anyway. Oh and the family one has rice dishes if you go around the sides. Almost missed it.

 

[WxKristin]

I love Lookout - easily one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to; I adore the waves and the sand. I also like that it is only a couple rows of chairs deep along a long stretch of walkable sand. I honestly would be happy just staying here instead of the ship for the 5 days (though my family would probably have a different opinion).

Our cruise on the Destiny just after thanksgiving was the first time I made it to castaway (we previously failed to dock and in Oct 2024 on the magic). I was really looking forward to it, but it paled in comparison to lookout cay (for me). Castaway felt more like disney-lake park (or typhoon lagoon?) than an actual beach. The lagoon was fine, but crowded for most of the day and the snorkeling was meh for us (the water was a bit cloudy that day which may not be normal). Overall the weather was great and we enjoyed the day it just didn't feel like a "beach". Access was of course easier/quicker than lookout (at one point we realized coffee wasn't an option at castaway and my husband did a trip out and back to the ship; definitely wouldn't have considered that at lookout). Food was very similar at both islands and we didn't experience lines or bothersome flies at either place. However, everyone in my group noted the food at lookout was definitely 'fresher' and they seemed more prepared to deal with special orders (vegan in our group).

If I could convince myself to spend the money (and ever even saw the option), I would definitely consider the mickey & minnie cabanas that just opened this week though. I'm not at all interested in the family cabanas at lookout as you miss the main beach.

 

[DCL58]

I love Lookout - easily one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to; I adore the waves and the sand. I also like that it is only a couple rows of chairs deep along a long stretch of walkable sand. I honestly would be happy just staying here instead of the ship for the 5 days (though my family would probably have a different opinion

I thought the same. There seems to be lots of unused land past the adult only beach before you hit the rocks. Perfect place for an all inclusive Disney resort. I would love to stay there and enjoy the perfect beach and water for a week.

 

[jwalk03]

I have been to both and definitely liked Lookout more. Its just so much more naturally beautiful than Castaway. Though I do love CC too. I really can't wait to see Lookout again in a few years when all the foliage has really had time to grow into its own.

 

[Scalemaster34]

I thought the same. There seems to be lots of unused land past the adult only beach before you hit the rocks. Perfect place for an all inclusive Disney resort. I would love to stay there and enjoy the perfect beach and water for a week.

I think that would be cool too... but over 200 Acres were returned to be used as a National Park - which seems to split Disney property as it includes Lighthouse Beach and Lighthouse Point. Also only low density construction was approved as part of the sale , so that would rule out a hotel. And a big deal was made about not overdeveloping the site , which did include a significant amount of wetlands.

 

[imbelle]

You dislike being near kids that much that this trumps food, nature of the ocean, activities, quality of the beach, aesthetics for you?

Have you heard of adult only cruises and island resorts?

Gees when Im on a Disney cruise as a parent I think Im on a ship full of people who like kids given thats what Disney is about. Kids. A place where I can let my kids be kids and dont have to worry about frowning adults who haven forgotton what being a kids is like just for once. Guess Im wrong. Didnt realise that some were so desperate to be away from them that its the number one thing they care about when rating the islands.

Disney himself said that if he made films just for kids, he'd go broke. Also, Disneyland came into being because he wanted to have a little fun too (not just his daughters).

As a child-free adult I choose DCL for the majority of my cruises because I love Disney, the design of the ships, and the designated adult areas. I expect there to be kids on the ship but I also expect them to be well-behaved in the public areas. Unfortunately, a lot of parents misjudge their offspring's capacity, think it's cute, or believe that being on vacation also means taking a break from parental duties. Hence, the need for adults only restrictions. No one is frowning at kids simply because they are younger humans, they are frowning because the kids are exhibiting behavior inappropriate for a public setting.

For the record, I think the nature of the ocean, quality of the beach, food, at Serenity Bay on Castaway Cay exceeds that of Lookout Cay, regardless of the kid situation.