If you are visiting Disney's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, here's the rich history and story of how this brand new private island destination came to life!
Lookout Cay is a beautiful nod to the Junkanoo culture on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. On Eleuthera, known as the Island of Freedom to the locals, there is a lighthouse at the Southernmost point on a stunning stretch of beach. This location is now what we call Lookout Cay.
You might think that Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is a very wordy name for a private destination, but there is a beautiful reason for this name. The people of Eleuthera would often climb to the cliffs and lookout at the lighthouse and wonder if there was anything else more beautiful out there than what they were seeing..... and I can guarantee that we asked this question, too! Lookout Cay is beautiful!
When you arrive at the island, you will dock, you are immediately greeted with the sounds of the Bahamas. Be sure to listen closely for the sounds the Bahamas while enjoying your day at Lookout Cay. Disney enlisted the help of Chrislain Smith, who took some of our favorite Disney songs, like "Under the Sea" and gave transformed them with a Bahamian flare. Chrislain mixed the Bahamian styles of Rake and Scrape, Junkanoo, Goombay and Calypso to really allow visitors to experience an authentic Bahamian musical adventure.
When walking the port, you'll feast your eyes on a colorful masterpiece that represents that of Junkanoo. Kishan Munroe, a well-known Bahamian multi-disciplinary artist and the Chair of Visual Arts at the University of the Bahamas, was instrumental in creating a visually stunning masterpiece that is Lookout Cay. The usage of colors of the island were described as both warm and cool, which together create vibration, which is at the heart of Junkanoo culture. You'll also notice that there are no hard lines on buildings at Lookout Cay, really tying the architecture to the flora and fauna of the island. You can also look around to see the living creatures of the island represented in the designs, you can see the hints of conch and lobster shells.
Another really cool fact about the design of the island is the silver palm frond mural. The silver palm is an important part of the Bahamian culture since the earliest settlers used the fronds as cover from the elements.
Another important part of the island is its sustainability. When you arrive, you’ll notice that the boardwalk is built above the terrain. This is to ensure that you’re able to experience all of Lookout Cay in its natural beauty, while maintaining the integrity of the land. Disney also decided to only develop 16% of the destination. They took time to explore the entire area to conserve some of the most beautiful areas, while enhancing areas that were perfect for this private destination.
Another part of the conservation effort and education are the mascots that tell the story of environmental conservation. You’ll first meet these mascots when you pass through security. The four mascots are camped out on a rock greeting you. You’ll hear their story in the tram, and you can follow along even more on the Nature Trail.
One last way that the Junkanoo is represented is with the Junkanoo celebration at the Goombay Center. Disney partnered and collaborated with the Co-Chair of the National Junkanoo Committee to create the best, most authentic Junkanoo parade for Disney Cruise Line. The costumes are rich in color, and the characters in their Junkanoo outfits lead the parade to the Goombay Center. The character’s outfits are designed by renowned Bahamian fashion designer, Theo Elyett. The bright colors, and rhythmic beats performed by amazing Bahamian performers was truly the heartbeat of Lookout Cay.
Lookout Cay of Lighthouse Point is a true storytelling experience of the Bahamas and Junkanoo Culture. Be sure that when you visit to check out the details, immerse yourself in the Junkanoo culture and look for those hidden Mickeys!
If you are ready to visit Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, reach out to your Marvelous Mouse Travels agent today. Don’t have an agent? We can assist you in finding the perfect one!
