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by Character Diva

49129299[1]When you’re planning a wedding, a Disney honeymoon can be a great option. (Considering my husband and I went on a 4 day trip to Disney World, followed by a three day Disney cruise to the Bahamas, I know it worked for us!) However, if you are like us and are on a limited budget and paying for your trip yourself, it is important to find a balance between fun, adventurous activities and not breaking the bank. Being in the Bahamas, you know that you are going to have beautiful weather in a beautiful location. The most obvious way to save money is to take advantage of the pristine beaches. While I was scrolling through all of our Port Adventure options, the  Castaway Cay Getaway Package seemed perfect for us. It included snorkeling (an activity that neither my husband nor I had ever done, but was definitely on my Bucket List), as well as getting to go tubing and an hour long bike ride around the island. And at the time of writing this article, the adult price for all three activities was $41.93 for anyone over the age of 10, and for children between the ages of 5-9, the package was $20.43. For more information on this port adventure, you can click here.  Disney Diva Tip: With this package, the bike rental is only for an hour, but the snorkeling and tubing lasts all day long, and you can even take a break and do it again later if you prefer.

 

As far as picking up and returning your snorkeling equipment, you can do that at either Gils’ Fins and Boats or Flippers n Floats. There are also bathrooms on the beach where you can change your clothes, use the facilities, or get cleaned up after being out in the salt water. Disney Diva Tip: You may want to bring baby powder with you. Nothing gets sand off of you quicker than some good old-fashioned baby powder.

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We had a lot of fun snorkeling around Castaway Cay. Not only did we get to see some great marine life and tropical fish, (not to mention we could take it off of our Bucket Lists) but Disney has added a few special underwater touches, including a statue of Mickey Mouse, and one of Minnie. Disney Diva Tip: If you have trouble finding them, you may want to explore around the orange buoys.

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After we went snorkeling, we decided to go for our bike ride. It was very easy to pick up our bikes, and the next thing we knew we were on our way. We had a lot of fun riding around the island. Not only was it great exercise, but it was also very relaxing and a great way to explore and see the island. Disney Diva Tip: There are also some great observation decks, so make sure to pullover at some point and enjoy the island views.

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After that, it was back to the beach for tubing and playing in the sand. Tubing was very relaxing… the water was very calm, and it was nice just floating in the ocean. It was great just to have some time to relax and talk, and the water is so clear and beautiful that it’s nice just to lay back, float along, and enjoy the view. And because no trip to the beach would be complete without stopping to play in the sand, my husband and I did the typical walk along the beach, picking up white seashells, and then I stereotypically arranged them to form our initials around a heart. Cliché, I know, but hey, we were on our honeymoon, and again, it’s fun, FREE entertainment.

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But perhaps the best thing about going to Castaway Cay as opposed to another island is that it is an island in the Bahamas OWNED by Disney, so you know it’s going to have lots of Disney influences. I mean really, where else can you see Captain Jack Sparrow getting a ride across the island on a golf cart? They also have other character meet and greets, lots of shopping, and other fun Disney touches. In addition to the underwater Disney statues, they also have the iconic Disney character rocks where you can pose with Mickey, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy.

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And if you want a fun, cheap souvenir (or want to mail postcards or letters to all of your friends and family members back home and tell them about all the fun you’re having), you can mail your postcards and letters and receive a special “Castaway Cay” stamp. Note: Disney gives you the disclaimer that it may take several weeks for your mail to arrive. For more information on mailing things from Castaway Cay, click here.

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Disney Diva Tip: Depending on the time of year that you travel will affect what the weather will be like, as well as how expensive your vacation will be. Although we were married in July, my husband and I opted to take our honeymoon in September 1.) So we could save more money before our trip and 2.) Because it was the “off-season” and was significantly cheaper. Note: The reason why it is the “off-season” is because it is also hurricane season. And while we did not have any problems with the weather (though it did rain a little bit while we were in Florida), I highly recommend getting insurance on your vacation and if you are traveling during this time of year, keep the weather in mind.

 

And as always, we here at Tips from the Disney Divas & Devos highly recommend booking your vacation with a travel agent. Their services are free, their knowledge is invaluable, and a lot of times, you can get some great perks as well. And with so many travel agents out there, how do you find a great one? Tips from the Disney Divas & Devos recommends Patricia Payne of All For Dreams Travel. For more information or for a free quote, click here.