Who can use lighthouse point?

[DCL58]

We were just lucky enough to visit Lighthouse Point twice. Our first time and we absolutely loved it.

While there the first time, a school bus pulled up and about 50 kids got off and ran to the beach. The second time, a family biked in from the beach beside serenity bay, stayed a few hours and then biked back out the way they came in.

We have never seen buses dropping off school children or families biking in to enjoy castaway. We weren’t exactly sure what was going on.

One of the workers on the shuttle said lighthouse is open to anyone that lives on Eleuthera and people visiting can buy a day pass. Anyone know the rules?

 

[Dug720]

I thought there was a separate area for Bahamians to use Lighthouse as it is not an island in and of itself but part of the island of Eluthera which does have Bahamian residents. I know there was something about usage as part of the agreement, but like I said, I thought they had their own section.

Castaway Cay is its own island.

eta: Just looked it up and Disney does allow locals to buy day passes to Lighthouse.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, locals can buy day passes to Lighthouse Point. It was part of the agreement with the Bahamian government. I don’t believe there is a separate beach or facilities.

 

[DCL58]

Yes, locals can buy day passes to Lighthouse Point. It was part of the agreement with the Bahamian government. I don’t believe there is a separate beach or facilities.

The locals we saw were at serenity bay with their kids. No one told them it was an adult only area.

Not sure where the bus load of kids ended up. They ran past the gift shop towards the beach.

 

[lanejudy]

The locals we saw were at serenity bay with their kids. No one told them it was an adult only area.

Well that should probably be addressed by the Serenity Bay lifeguards. I haven’t been there yet, is there signage indicating adults only?

 

[DCL58]

There were signs on the sidewalk indicating the adult only area. The beach was only separated by a life guard stand into the adult area and the family area. Didn’t notice a sign - could have missed it though.

 

[Moonspinner]

Well, that’s a downer

 

[jwalk03]

Well, that’s a downer

It’s a downer that people that live on the island are allowed to use their beach?

 

[Dug720]

It’s a downer that people that live on the island are allowed to use their beach?

Well, the number of day passes is limited, so that helps.


But it's definitely a downer that the adults only section isn't being enforced and local kids are being allowed there.

 

[DCL58]

It’s a downer that people that live on the island are allowed to use their beach?

There are private beaches everywhere - the US included. We have been to multiple all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean with armed guards at the borders of the property to keep locals out. Where we vacation every summer on 30A uses wristbands to keep locals off of their private beach.

Lots of beaches are private. I was surprised that Lighthouse Point was not.

 

[Disnsyncey]

There are private beaches everywhere - the US included. We have been to multiple all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean with armed guards at the borders of the property to keep locals out. Where we vacation every summer on 30A uses wristbands to keep locals off of their private beach.

Lots of beaches are private. I was surprised that Lighthouse Point was not.

technically 30A is not FULLY private, up to the high water line in Florida is public

 

[Moonspinner]

It’s a downer that people that live on the island are allowed to use their beach?

It is not marketed by Disney as a public beach. If I wanted to go to a public beach I’d schedule a cruise with public beach destinations. The downer is that Disney hasn’t been fully transparent with their customers in their marketing. I wouldn’t want the cruise ship to offer day passes while in port for locals to use the slides and pool. We pay a silly amount of money for exclusivity and a minimum amount of crowds.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Carnival has a new "island" over on the existing Island of Grand Bahama.... no word of any allowance for locals being required.
And I expect that RCL new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, isn't going to be open to just anyone either.

But yeah Disney made a big deal about it during their announcement about the development.... I get the feeling they choose to do this. But I do think they should also make it clear to all guest.

For sure castmembers should keep the adult areas adult.

 

[jwalk03]

It is not marketed by Disney as a public beach. If I wanted to go to a public beach I’d schedule a cruise with public beach destinations. The downer is that Disney hasn’t been fully transparent with their customers in their marketing. I wouldn’t want the cruise ship to offer day passes while in port for locals to use the slides and pool. We pay a silly amount of money for exclusivity and a minimum amount of crowds.

The entire population of the island of Eleuthera is a few thousand people- somehow I have a hard time believing there would ever be enough locals visiting to really impact the guest experience. (Also I am 100% positive Disney has some cap on the amount they will allow.) A handful of extra people sitting on this huge expansive area of beach is not going to impact my day one iota.

 

[Jillpie]

Does the day pass include food and buffet?

 

[lanejudy]

Does the day pass include food and buffet?

Yes, I believe it does, but only available on days a ship is in port. Other days I think beach access is free.

 

[Kwami]

The entire population of the island of Eleuthera is a few thousand people- somehow I have a hard time believing there would ever be enough locals visiting to really impact the guest experience. (Also I am 100% positive Disney has some cap on the amount they will allow.) A handful of extra people sitting on this huge expansive area of beach is not going to impact my day one iota.

I don't know. A bus of 50 kids with (probably) only a few adults/teachers as supervisors sounds rather unfortunate. Especially if they're on the adult beach.

 

[jwalk03]

I don't know. A bus of 50 kids with (probably) only a few adults/teachers as supervisors sounds rather unfortunate. Especially if they're on the adult beach.

I would agree with the part about enforcing the age requirement for the adult beach.

Otherwise really not a big deal. There is plenty of room on the beach. And per Bahamian Law all beaches are public property- there really is no such thing as a private beach. (though some are certainly harder to access than others!)

 

[Dug720]

Carnival has a new "island" over on the existing Island of Grand Bahama.... no word of any allowance for locals being required.
And I expect that RCL new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, isn't going to be open to just anyone either.

But yeah Disney made a big deal about it during their announcement about the development.... I get the feeling they choose to do this. But I do think they should also make it clear to all guest.

For sure castmembers should keep the adult areas adult.

Yeah. For some reason I thought it was a separate area for the locals - or that they would only be allowed on days a ship wasn't in port. But things are always subject to change.

But for sure "Adult Only" should mean "Adult Only". And they reportedly had issues with that even without locals coming (reports either here or on Cruise Critic about families right at and sometimes over the "border"). Though with the new family cabanas on Castaway that are just on the other side of the bar at the start of Serenity Bay AND the way the adult bars are scattered all over the Triton Class ships, it's feeling like DCL may not be as attuned to adult only spaces as they used to be.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

There were signs on the sidewalk indicating the adult only area. The beach was only separated by a life guard stand into the adult area and the family area. Didn’t notice a sign - could have missed it though.