Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Panel Discussion

On Thursday, I had the privilege of attending a Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point panel discussion featuring members from the various teams helping to bring Disney Cruise Line’s new island destination in Eleuthera to life.

When it comes to Disney Cruise LIne’s private destinations Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay, there are some similarities as well as different aspects that make each a unique offering. The newest Bahamian destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, has been purposely designed to complement Castaway Cay rather than creating a carbon copy.

One of the primary differences between Disney Cruise Line’s private destinations is the story. Castaway Cay is based on a fictional story of castaways inhabiting the island created by Walt Disney Imagineering. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point was designed to just feel completely different, steeped in authentic Bahamian culture.

A biographical approach was taken when designing the destination with a focus on the beauty, culture, art, and history of Eleuthera, along with its people, and their traditions such as Junkanoo.

Junkanoo is a cultural celebratory experience that brings together Bahamians from all walks of life. At Lookout Cay, guests will have the opportunity to learn and experience Junkanoo during RUSH! A Junkanoo Celebration featuring a local Junkanoo Group.

In collaboration with the National Junkanoo Committee, Disney develop a unique entertainment offering. Guests will be be swept up in a Rush Out, think conga line, from around the destination and converge on the Goombay Cultural Center where Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Donald and Daisy Duck will dance along, encouraging guests to join the vibrant celebration that brings the heartbeat of The Bahamas to life.

The Goombay Cultural Center, the heart of Lookout Cay, will host a Sights & Sounds of Junkanoo Workshop curated by Miss Melinda from Southern Eleuthera allowing guests to learn more about the history, music, and costumes. More than just a history lesson, the interactive workshop will include a making a Bahamian craft out of cardboard and cray paper making a headpiece to wear during RUSH! A Junkanoo Celebration.

Theodore Elyett, a Bahamian artist and fashion designer was also on hand to talk about the new character looks for Lookout Cay. The new character look theme is Junkanoo fun in the sun and the characters are on vacation at Lookout Cay wearing couture looks by Theodore Elyett.

The costumes are inspired by Junkanoo costumes with nods to Bahamian culture including straw work which is infused into the designs of all your favorite friends. Elyett’s new character costumes are historic in that this is the very first time Disney allowed a designer to create a new look for all 8 iconic characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip & Dale.

Some of the fresh looking characters will be featured during the Disney Fun in the Sun Beach Bash, a beach party full of games guests can play with Disney friends at the Play-Play Pavilion.

Victor Johnson, a Bahamian artist and musician in Essence Band, created all new renditions of popular Disney tunes with an authentic Bahamian beat and flare to accompany games such as Goofy’s Good Day Limbo, a skills challenge at Pluto’s Pineapple Ring Toss, and a splashtacular activity during Chip-n-Dale’s Water Brigade.

The architecture of the venues on site are inspired by Bahamian culture, art, flora and fauna. Organic shapes are inspired by sea shells found in The Bahamas. Patterns found on the buildings are inspired from the patterns found on the shells.

Smaller buildings feature a mixture of color, pattern, texture pulled from Junkanoo costumes. Across the property are pieces of artwork including murals ideal for photo backgrounds.

For an immersive experience guests can explore a nature trail which passes cliffs to sea some geological features on the property as well as signs highlighting various plants and animals populating Eleuthera.

The family wet play area, Rush Out Gush Out, is an interactive area inspired by the Junkanoo celebration where the community comes together to prepare for parade. Disney created all new unique characters just for this celebration which will be featured in little vignettes around the area.

For younger guests, the secured programing area is called Sebastian’s Cove. Disney Cruise Line in collaboration with NatGeo Kids created an interactive learning activity called “Play in Nature” where they will learn about the land, sea, and nature.

Teens and Tween have their own unique activities. Sand Creature Creations will be offered on the beach where they can select from one of five creatures to create in the sand. After taking pictures, they will return the beach to its natural beauty by cleaning up to ensure the environment is preserved for future enjoyment.

Another teen and tween activity, Seek & Find, is a 30-minute activity to discover 80 things on the property ranging from flora, fauna to the artwork.

A major difference from Lookout Cay compared to Castaway Cay is that the destination is not a small private island, it is a a larger land mass covering over 110 miles long with real people and communities. There will be opportunities for guests to explore areas elsewhere in Eleuthera via various port adventures such as the South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour and the South Eleuthera Eco and Historical Tour.

The development of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse point has remained committed to the Heads of Agreement with The Bahamas. Only 16% of Disney’s property has been developed and portions of the original privately owned parcel return to The Bahamas. These areas such as the light station (not an actual lighthouse by definition) which is marked as a historical marker on the southern tip of the map are now considered crown land.

The trestle pier where Disney’s cruise ships will dock was selected to avoid having to dredge a channel which would have come at the cost of the coral reefs surrounding the southern tip of Eleuthera.

Unfortunately, the all important question (which I did have the opportunity to ask), “which side of the ship should you book to have a view of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point while docked” remains unanswered at this time. I was told they will inquire with the marine technical team and follow up.

For those wondering, the trestle pier is just shy of 1/2 mile long and to go from the ship to the water on the family beach is a little over 1 1/2 miles based on rough estimates using February 2024 imagery from Google Earth.

A selection of merchandise that will be available for purchase at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point was also on display following the panel presentation. In collaboration with Disney, Theodore Elyett designed a collection of beach wear.

Even Elyett’s character costumes are featured on the Mickey and Minnie plushes.

There is a selection of character inspired Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Disney Pins to collect.

The same character looks are also featured shirts as well as a Loungefly backpack.

Below you can view the full hour long Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point panel presentation.

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