Water Shoes and Sea Shells at Castaway Cay?

[jenhelgren]

Are water shoes necessary at Castaway Cay? Also wondering about shells to collect and find. Are there many shells and where are the better spots for shell hunting? Will the kids be allowed to bring the shells back on the ship to take home with them? Thanks for the advice in advance!

 

[Justacruiser]

Are water shoes necessary at Castaway Cay? Also wondering about shells to collect and find. Are there many shells and where are the better spots for shell hunting? Will the kids be allowed to bring the shells back on the ship to take home with them? Thanks for the advice in advance!

i use them, I got some at Walmart for $5. They are the netting over the top and rubber sole. Love them. You aren't going to find much in the way of shells. And you are supposed to remove nothing from the water.

 

[bucky1023]

I personally don't wear them on CC and never really felt like you need them to walk on the beach there (not too rocky).

As for shells there is a sign when you get to the beach area asking you to not take anything off of the island (shells, flowers, etc) to conserve the natural balance of the environment.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are water shoes necessary at Castaway Cay? Also wondering about shells to collect and find. Are there many shells and where are the better spots for shell hunting? Will the kids be allowed to bring the shells back on the ship to take home with them? Thanks for the advice in advance!

I, also, use water shoes.

In the Navigator for CC day it states:

Due to our commitment to the environment, we ask that seashells, coral, and other natural treasures be left undisturbed at Disney's Castaway Cay for all to enjoy.

While you might find a few shells (they are few as the beach is actually broken/ground seashells), you cannot take them from the island.

 

[Teri1]

I recommend water shoes. My DH got something in his foot from some kind of sea urchin on the adult side of CC.

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[martinm]

You cannot take them from this island or any other.
My daughter collected small rocks (not shells) polished in the sand on SanJuan and they broke her dang heart when they would not let her bring any of it on the ship.

 

[bumbershoot]

I had watershoes from Land's End, and could not convince DH and DS to get them. Then they set foot on the sand and were in pain. Got to buy them watershoes at the store on the island. There are definitely cheaper ways of getting water shoes. They found them necessary, especially in the water, because it's not soft soft sand you're walking on. (we were there in Feb, it might be different at different times of year)

 

[clten]

The beaches are not powdery sand, they are ground up shells as a pp pointed out. We try to always bring water shoes for walking on the sand and into and out of the water. The one time I forgot them, I was really missing them. There are a lot of partial shells to step on.

CC isn't the best place to collect shells anyway so I'd stick with DCL's rule and leave them all behind anyway.

 

[Kendal]

Water shoes for this family also I bought a pair of speedo brand water shoes at kohls and I think my kids 5 dollar wal mart pair are better...

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[TotallyTink]

We visited Castaway Cay for the first time last week. We didn't have water shoes and didn't wish we had them either. We didn't visit the adult beach but we didn't need them at the family beach.

 

[Greatfalls]

There really aren't many shells anyway, at least on the main beach. It's a protected lagoon, so there are no waves to wash in shells.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

I've never brought them, and on the family beach never needed them... but on the adult beach (once we got in the water) we needed them! We found it to be very rocky! The tide was also very low and we could go out (what I thought) was quite a ways!

 

[3dog2kidmom]

After nearly stepping on a sea urchin, we bring and use them at Serenity Bay.

 

[dizzi]

I am an avid shell collector I have about 60 plus pounds of shells that I have collected myself. Mostly from he Florida all types. I make crafts necklaces pictures etc with them.

I saw about 10 shells I would have picked up had I been anywhere else.

But I have collected from other islands. No problem. Not pounds but a few great ones.

 

[cheer25mom]

We live near the beach and are there all the time. My family HATES water shoes and the only place we use them are water parks with concerete. We did not even think about it at Castaway Cay.

 

[jjgarv]

Since 2000 when we began sailing DCL, we have never needed nor used water shoes on the family beach at CC.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I don't wear water shoes anywhere. Not Castaway Cay & not water parks....which ill be at Schlitterbahn in another hour..... Water shoes kinda gross me out. I have tough feet, tho. LOL!

 

[disneylove69]

I use them as the sand is hot and I don't want sand all over my sandals. Plus u can just ealk in the water and not have to worry about shoes.

 

[TDC Nala]

Confirming - no taking any shells, plants, rocks or anything like that off the island.

 

[aprilchem]

We were on last week's WC cruise and were told you could take no shells from ANY port, including CC. We didn't know that and collected a few a Costa Maya and they saw them on the x-ray machine and confiscated them. My poor DD4 had a total meltdown