Theme Park Scope

Heading to Disney’s Castaway Cay soon? One popular family attraction may be missing from your island day.

Disney Cruise Line guests visiting Castaway Cay will temporarily be unable to experience Pelican Plunge, the popular floating water-play structure located just offshore at Disney’s private island destination in The Bahamas.

The attraction has officially closed for refurbishment, and at this time, Disney has not announced exactly when it will reopen.

Pelican Plunge is one of Castaway Cay’s signature family activities, floating approximately 2,400 square feet over the water and offering guests a combination of water slides and interactive features.

The structure features two twisting water slides, including an enclosed slide and an open slide, both of which send guests directly into the surrounding ocean. There’s also a giant bucket that dumps water onto guests below, along with water cannons and other interactive elements throughout the platform.

But if Pelican Plunge is on your Castaway Cay must-do list, you’ll want to keep an eye on its status before your cruise.

The attraction is currently undergoing a scheduled refurbishment, and Disney Cruise Line has not provided a specific reopening date.

Once the attraction reopens, there are a few requirements guests should remember.

Because Pelican Plunge is located offshore, guests must swim out to the platform, and the water in the area is approximately six feet deep. Children must be at least 38 inches tall to use the water slides. Guests between 38 and 48 inches tall must wear one of the provided life vests, while those taller than 48 inches may also use a life vest if they choose. Guests also need to be able to swim out to the structure, although Disney provides complimentary life jackets around Castaway Cay.

Thankfully, the Pelican Plunge closure doesn’t mean guests are losing their Castaway Cay day.

Disney Cruise Line’s private island destination remains open with its beaches, dining locations, character experiences, recreational activities, and other amenities available to visiting cruise guests.

So this isn’t something that should derail an upcoming Disney cruise, but families with kids who were particularly excited to tackle Pelican Plunge may want to prepare them for the possibility that it won’t be available during their visit.

And since Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date, exactly how long the refurbishment will last remains unclear. For now, we’ll be keeping an eye out for signs that the slides are ready to welcome swimmers again.

Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Disney Cruise Line news, Castaway Cay updates, attraction refurbishments, new ships, and everything you need to know before your next Disney cruise.