Lookout_Cay_at_Lighthouse_Point
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Private peninsula in the Bahamas
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, or simply Lookout Cay, is a private peninsula in The Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located in the south-eastern region of Bannerman Town, South Eleuthera. In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company purchased the peninsula from the Bahamian government, giving the company control over the area.
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bannerman Town, South Eleuthera, The Bahamas |
| Coordinates | 24.6268°N 76.1487°W / 24.6268; -76.1487 |
| Type | Peninsula |
| Archipelago | Lucayan Archipelago |
| Area | 700 acres (280 ha) |
| Administration | |
| District | South Eleuthera |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
Eleuthera
Lighthouse Point
After Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line purchased another Bahamian destination in early March 2019, the Lighthouse Point property on the island of Eleuthera, from the Bahamas Government.[1] The cruise line was looking for another Bahamas location since the announcement of the third ship expansion in 2016.[2] Disney spent between $250 million and $400 million on developing the 700-acre property, incorporating Bahamian themes, and donated 190 acres, including the southernmost tip, to the government for a national park.[3]
Disney also hired and offered training for Bahamians for construction, vending, and other employee positions.[3] There were also increases in calls on Bahamian ports, Nassau and Freeport, of 30 to 40 percent over 2018 calls.[3] Imagineer Joe Rohde, whose previous projects being the development of Disney's Animal Kingdom and Aulani, was assigned to oversee the ports' development,[3] before his retirement on January 4, 2021.[4] Construction workers were hired in March 2022,[5] before work finally began at Lighthouse Point the following month,[6] for an expected completion in early 2024.[7] Lighthouse Point will open exclusively to Disney Cruise Line guests on June 7, 2024.[8][9] In September 2023, Disney officially named the location "Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point" during Destination D23.[10]
- List of islands of The Bahamas
- Castaway Cay, Disney's first private island
- Tribou, Richard (March 11, 2019). "Disney Cruise Line completes land purchase, enters agreement for second Bahamas destination". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- Staletovich, Jenny (July 22, 2016). "Disney backs off cruise port on pristine Bahamas island". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- Storey, Ken (February 11, 2020). "Disney Cruise Line gives new details on its upcoming, game-changing private Bahamian port of call". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- Bevil, Dewayne (November 23, 2020). "Disney: Joe Rohde, Imagineer who designed Animal Kingdom, is retiring". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- Mackey, Jade (February 27, 2022). "Construction for Disney Cruise Line's Lighthouse Point to Begin in the Bahamas Starting March 2". WDWNT. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- Mazloum, Thomas (April 20, 2022). "The Future Is Bright as Work Begins at Lighthouse Point - Disney Cruise Line | Lighthouse Point Bahamas". lighthousepointbahamas.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- McKenzie, Natario (March 10, 2021). "Disney's Lighthouse Point development slated for early 2024 opening after pandemic delay". Eyewitness News. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- McKenzie, Natario (April 11, 2024). "Disney Cruise Line to host final job fair for Lighthouse Point destination with employment to exceed HOA commitment". Eye Witness News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- Peros, Evily Giannopoulos (March 9, 2023). "New Disney Cruise Line Island Destination at Lighthouse Point in The Bahamas to Welcome Guests in Summer 2024". disneyparks. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- Libbey, Dirk (September 9, 2023). "Destination D23 2023 Disney Parks Panel: Ahsoka In Star Tours, What's Next For Animal Kingdom, And When Epcot's Transformation Will Finally Be Done". Cinema Blend. Retrieved September 9, 2023.