During our recent cruise aboard the Disney Magic, I was invited to a Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse panel discussion held onboard in Fathoms. The panelists featured representatives from Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Bahamian artists and a musician who all help bring authentic Bahamian elements to life at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Bringing Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point to Life Panelists
Joey Gaskins, Jr, Rachel Quinn, Kevin Thomas, Bradley Watson, Kevin Cooper, Dorman Stubbs, Warren Andrew Pinder, Victor Johnson
Joey Gaskins builds and manages relationships with government officials and agencies, local businesses, and communities to support Disney Cruise Line’s business operations in The Bahamas and Caribbean. Before joining Disney in 2022, he co-founded a public and government relations consulting firm that supported Disney in securing the Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point project in The Bahamas.
As Vice President, Entertainment Operations for Disney Cruise Line, Rachel Quinn is responsible for onboard Entertainment operations, Youth Activities, Adult & Family entertainment, and Port Adventure operations. Rachel joined Disney Cruise Line in 1998 and rose to Executive Cruise Director for the Disney Magic. She also served on the new build team for the Disney Dream. Rachel’s previous roles include General Manager of Entertainment for Magic Kingdom, General Manager of Entertainment for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and General Manager for Entertainment & Imaging Beyond Parks.
Kevin Thomas is a senior creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering. As part of the
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point development, Kevin and the team of Imagineers worked closely with local Bahamian community members, artists, musicians and historians to create a destination that celebrates the spirit and culture of The Bahamas.
As Conservation Programs Manager, Bradley Watson leads the implementation of Disney Cruise Line’s environmental management plan and local conservation strategies within The Bahamas, particularly as progress continues at Disney Lookout Cay. He has championed several community-driven conservation and ecotourism projects as a science officer with the Bahamas National Trust, and was named The Bahamas’ National Youth Climate Ambassador in 2023.
Impressionist Kevin Cooper celebrates light and color in the tradition of Monet and other great painters of that era. He expresses the grace of Bahamian culture from the perspective of a born and raised Eleutheran. Landscapes, seascapes and portraits, suffused with the incredible light in Eleuthera are the inspiration for Kevin’s creativity. His expansive body of work – paintings and murals – exemplifies a dedicated, hardworking and prolific painter who puts paint on canvas with uncanny skill.
Dorman Stubbs began drawing at an early age, inspired by scenes of downtown markets where his parents worked as fruit vendors. Drawn to a bright color palette, his lush paintings of Bahamian landscapes and seascapes are as much an illustration as an exploration of brush strokes and light. Stubbs attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, where he received a BFA and earned the John R. Conner Memorial Prize in Printmaking.
Warren Andrew Pinder is co-chair of the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), an advisory body appointed by the Cabinet of the Bahamas Government to advise on, administer and judge Junkanoo competitions across The Bahamas. The NJC has been instrumental in the creation of Junkanoo entertainment offerings at Disney Lookout Cay. Warren Andrew is the Executive Vice President of Construction for Arawak Homes and has a Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree in Construction Management from Texas Southern University.
Victor Johnson is is recognized as one The Bahamas’ Top 48 Millennials. He has dedicated his life to inspiring the world through music and creating opportunities for others to do the same. He formed the world-renowned Essence Band and established Humble Den Studios, his own multimedia creative space. He received the inaugural Trailblazer Award at the 2019 Elevation Awards and was recently honored with the Party Band of the Year Award at the 2024 Elevation Awards.
After watching the panel discussion, do you have any questions about the design and look of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point?
There is a big fly problem Disney needs to address at Lighthouse Point!!
They are aware and working on solutions.
My wife and I got back from our DVC cruise to LHP double dip. The new island is Amazing and much larger than Castaway Cay so it can appear overwhelming the first time. The beach and water are so clean it takes your breath away. The bars have exclusive drinks only found on LHP. We overheard a few “suggestions” about the long walk from ship to shore: “should be covered/shaded” & “needs a tram/trolly”. There are water stations on the pier which is welcome on the way back. We notice more people using carts to get back to the ship at the end of the day. Food, drinks, shops and Cast Members were fantastic as expected. The tram from the pier to family /adult beach is a bigger, newer vehicle. Obviously, the new island was built for larger DCL ships but the fewer Guests the MAGIC brought made it seem comfortable and personal. There is still some construction going on, a few road/trails are unfinished, housing area is getting done and some solar panels need to be finished. However, you would never know there is any of this construction going on unless you are on the bike or ATV excursions. The areas for guests are immaculate. Quite above & beyond Disney standards. Well down DCL!!!!