Those who love Disney Cruise Line are looking forward to the opening of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This new exclusive island will open in June. Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point celebrates the rich culture and natural beauty of The Bahamas, with signature Disney entertainment, port adventures and nature trails, a water play area and beautiful beaches – including a dedicated beach for adults.
The new island destination is full of unique native animal and plant species, and Disney’s team of conservation experts have been working for many years to help create this magical cruise destination where nature can continue to thrive.
As we celebrate Earth Month, I wanted to share an inside look at the wildlife we’ve met along the way and highlight some of the impressive conservation work we’re doing to continue Disney’s long-standing commitment to protecting the natural beauty of The Bahamas – including more than 80 grants provided through the Disney Conservation Fund to nonprofit organizations working with communities locally to protect nature over the past 25 years.
Here are some of the wildlife you will see at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will be home to more than 100 dazzling bird species, including the Kirtland’s warbler and the thick-billed vireo. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the gray and white piping plovers dotting the shoreline – you might recognize relatives of these birds from the Disney Pixar animated short, “Piper.”
A bird monitoring program was started so that Disney could help identify where the island’s resident flyers call home, and was even purposefully designed for the destination to avoid these sensitive areas. Disney continues to monitor the island’s bird species to this day through a tagging and tracking program so that other feathered friends are protected as well.
Nearly 50 giant barrel sponges were found off the coast of Disney Lookout Cay. These important invertebrates are the largest species of water-filtering sponge and are sometimes called “Redwoods of the Reef” due to their size and long lifespans. To preserve these sponges along with corals and other marine habitats, an innovative open-trestle pier was designed that was able to extend into deep waters. Designing the pier with its long, slender stilts helped Disney avoid dredging the ocean floor to build a dock for the ships. For the few giant barrel sponges that fell within the pier’s footprint, these were expertly relocated using a groundbreaking method with the help of some friends in EPCOT’s costuming team, who designed the innovative mesh carrier you see above. Initial results show the relocated sponges have taken root and are expected to thrive.
It’s no surprise the waters off Disney Lookout Cay are teeming with marine life, including 74 species of fish and more than 60 other species that have so far been identified. While enjoying the ocean, keep an eye out for silversides like the ones pictured above as well as Nassau grouper, parrot fish and blue tangs that are known to swim just offshore. To help these fish and other sea creatures, just keep swimming around Lighthouse Point because some special features were added under the open-trestle pier. By repurposing 30 limestone boulders already on the site, artificial reefs were built to establish an underwater “fish highway.” These structures provide fish and other marine species a natural shelter so they can move safely through the pier’s support legs.
Land crabs have been known to be important to the Bahamian way-of-life, and you’ll see plenty of them when you visit Disney Lookout Cay. Don’t be surprised if you see the ghost crab, black crab or the black-backed crab like the ones pictured above scurrying across the sand or on walkways. Just give them some space and they’ll walk right by you. Since these crabs are abundant and important residents of the island, they have been tagged and are being tracked through their natural behaviors so that Disney can learn more about them. This is one of the first studies of this kind in The Bahamas!
From the moment you arrive at Disney Lookout Cay, you are sure to notice the destination’s rich and diverse plant life. Home to nearly 200 species of plants, the island features dense evergreen forests, open-water ponds, mangroves and more. The shrub-filled sand dunes like you see in the photo act as an important animal habitat and help maintain the island’s natural shoreline. To preserve the native vegetation, only about 16% of the land has been intentionally developed – much of it for low-density uses like beach chairs, umbrellas and small support structures. For the areas that have been developed, Disney Imagineers relied on elevated walkways and structures that all help reduce impacts to the natural environment. Disney has also partnered with a local Bahamian plant nursery to conserve a variety of native plants.
Disney hopes that guests are excited to see all this and much more. Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team collaborated with many others from Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering and local organizations in The Bahamas to design and build this destination where guests can enjoy the natural beauty Eleuthera has to offer. From the island’s Nature Trail and Port Adventures to the various activities for both kids and adults, Disney hopes you spend some time learning about this special place and that you come to love and appreciate.
This is just one example of how we are taking meaningful and measurable action to protect nature and support a healthier planet for people and wildlife. This collective efforts is known as Disney Planet Possible, and Disney will continue to collaborate on initiatives like this globally to help inspire optimism for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Are you looking forward to the opening of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point? Are you a fan of Disney Cruise Line? Let us know in the comments.
