Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point welcomed guests for the first time on June 7th, when the Disney Magic arrived on a 3-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale. During our day at Disney Cruise Line’s new Bahamian destination in South Eleuthera, we stopped around at the various food and beverage locations checking out the menus and unique offerings.
I think it is best to start off with the map to get a better idea where each location is located at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – that’s a mouthful, and we haven’t even gotten to the BBQ lunch.
Mabrika Cove
When you arrive in Mabrika Cove from the cruise ship, you will have the opportunity to fuel up at Mangroves & Go (23 on the map) just past the Turbot Berth.
This area of the property is on the Exuma Sound, a body of water southeast of New Providence Island and Eleuthera Island and west of Cat Island.
You can start (and end) your day at Magnroves & Go offering a menu featuring cold brews, specialty coffees, refreshers, Dole Whips, and ice cold draft beer. Additionally, there are restroom facilities around back which is actually a common design at most of the beverage locations around the property.
I am not a cold coffee drinker, but this is quite refreshing and offers a nice little jolt of energy to start the day ashore.
Monin Hawaiian Island
Illy Cold Brew
Monin Coconut Syrup
Rich’s On Top soft Whip Topping
Mangroves & Go becomes the first place to purchase the Lighthouse Point Sierra Tumbler which includes a non-alcoholic signature cocktail which I would recommend trying the Bahama Brew.
Over at the Mabrika Cove Cabanas (3 on the map), cabana guests have an exclusive dining area between cabanas 10 and 11 featuring the same offerings (which will be covered later in this article) as Serenity Bay BBQ and both True-True BBQ locations. One unique offering available for cabana guests is made to order steak.
By the way, here is a fun fact, “mabrika” means “welcome” in Taino, the language of the Lucayans, who are considered the indigenous people of The Bahamas. While the language is no longer used, a few words remain – one of them being “Mabrika.”
Now, time to head to the Mabrika Cove Tram Stop (A on the map) and catch the next tram to the Atlantic Ocean side of the property where the majority of the food and beverage locations can be found.
Atlantic Ocean Side
To help understand and learn the lay of the land, let’s take a minute to reference the Atlantic Ocean portion of the map.
There are two main areas: the Family Beach (8 on the map) on the southern end, and Serenity Bay (9 on the map) to the north. The Goombay Cultural Center (10 on the map) and Rush Out Gush Out (11 on the map) family water play area are the central points of interest.
When you arrive at the Goombay Cultural Center Tram Stop (B on the map) you will have an option to head due east, north or south. I’ll leave this up to you, but for the sake of keeping some order to this food and beverage post, I am going to start with the BBQ lunch buffets.
True-True BBQ = True-True BBQ Too = Serenity Bay BBQ
The trio of True-True BBQ, True-True BBQ Too, and Serenity Bay BBQ are effectively identical in that they offer guests three distinct BBQ lunch buffet locations on the Atlantic Ocean side of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point all serving the same menu. The only point that could be confusing here is that Serenity Bay BBQ is also at Disney’s Castaway Cay. while the venue name is the same, the offerings are completely different with Castaway’s version identical to Cookies BBQ and Cookies Too BBQ.
I am going to focus on the primary lunch location, True-True BBQ. Primary? This is my statement as it is the subjectively closest to the tram stop and is the original, uniquely named venue of the triplets.
True-True BBQ is set up with 4 unique food service windows: Beach BBQ Burgers, BB Ribs and Rotisserie Chicken, Chicken and Seafood Rice Bowls, and Flavorful Fish replicated from the center to each side along with satellite beverage and condiment stations and 5 covered seating areas.
Start out by visiting Beach BBQ Burgers to pick up a tray, plate, flatware, and napkin.
Beach BBQ Burgers
Fresh from the Grill: Cheese Burgers, Hot Dogs, Impossible Burgers™ and Crisp Spicy Chicken Sandwiches
With a Selection of sides including Texas Potato Salad, Coleslaw and French Fries
BBQ Ribs and Rotisserie Chicken
Carved Rotisserie Chicken and Slow-cooked BBQ Ribs Plant-based Island Curry with Tofu, Ginger, Cilantro and Potatoes
With a selection of sides including Baked Mac & Cheese, Grilled Corn on the Cob, American Coleslaw, Tomato-Shallot Salad, Grilled Pineapple-Black Bean Salad and French Fries
Chicken and Seafood Rice Bowls
Pan-served Bahamian Pigeon Peas & Rice with Marinated Chicken
Pan-served Seafood Jambalaya
With a selection of sides including Oven-baked Plantain, Fried Okra, Coleslaw and Tomato-Shallot Salad
Flavorful Fish
Freshly Grilled Bahamian-style Lime and Ginger-marinated Snapper
Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
With a selection of sides including Pickled Vegetables, Yucca Fries, Grilled Corn and Broccoli, Coleslaw, Grilled Pineapple and Black Bean Salad and Tomato-Shallot Salad
Satellite Drink Station, Condiments & Soft Serve Ice Cream
The drink station included Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fuze Iced Tea Unsweetened, Minute Maid Lemonade Zero Sugar, Vitamin Water Acai-Plueberry-Pomegranate, Water, Sprite, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Condiments included ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and a selection of hot sauces (not pictured, as these appeared a little later). Additionally, pickles, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes are available on ice over in the burger window.
We sampled the majority of the food aside from the standard American fare, and overall we were happy with the new flavors. Considering this was the first day, and really the first few minutes of opening, the food was great. There are few items that missed in terms of preparation, such as the oven baked plantains which were more like thick beef jerky or the fried okra that was cold, but the foundation for a great Bahamian beach BBQ lunch is there and I look forward to returning.
There has been a lot of talk about diptera when it comes to lunch offerings on property. Well, this isn’t made up, there are indeed flys and they seem to love the food just as much as we did. Disney Cruise Line is aware of the issue and is working on potential solutions. On day one, they had table top fly fans to help mitigate the issue and when the Disney Fantasy arrived a few days later, there were larger fans positioned near the openings of the food service windows.
While this is currently a hot topic, I expect a combination of time and mitigation efforts will bring the issue under control. Keep in mind, this area of Eleuthera was un-inhabited and this is really the first time this many people have been on site at once and also the first time this amount of food has been prepared at once. A perfect storm of sorts with development impacting the natural habitat and new fauna years away from maturity.
If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it’s that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh… well, there it is…. Life, uh, finds a way.
Dr. Ian Malcolm
Beverage Locations
Across the Atlantic Ocean side of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, you will find a plethora of options to wet your whistle.
Sandsational Smoothies
Sandsational Smoothies, is a similar offering to Castaway Cay’s Summertime Freeze serving up a selection of non-alcoholic frozen delights and specialty drinks. Sandsational Smoothies (22 on the map) is conveniently located near Rush Out Gush Out family water play area with views of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
Here is a closer look at the Sandsational Smoothies menu and you can even get the beverages in a souvenir Disney Cruise Line pineapple cup or the Lighthouse Point Sierra Tumbler.
There are three bars which are essentially identical, just placed in various spots in a similar fashion to the BBQ lunch options. Bow & Ribbon Bar, Watering Hole Bar, and Reef & Wreck Bar, which all share the same menu.
Bow & Ribbon Bar
Bow & Ribbon Bar (19 on the map) is the primary bar in the area of True-True Too BBQ serving cocktails, frozen specialty drinks and ice cold beer. You can view the Bow & Ribbon Bar Menu here.
The Bow & Ribbon Bar gets it’s name from the shape (an archery bow) and mass (a thin ribbon) of Eleuthera.
Watering Hole Bar
Watering Hole Bar (20 on the map) is just south of Sandsational Smoothies and the ideal spot to grab a beverage when dining at True-True BBQ. This appeared to be the busiest of the bars in the family area, and where Emily grabbed a refreshing Moet Ice champagne to go with lunch.
The Watering Hole Bar is inspired by nature, a place where the local wildlife would gather, serving up classic cocktails, frozen specialty drinks and ice cold beer. You can view the Watering Hole Bar menu here.
Reef & Wreck Bar
Reef & Wreck Bar (21 on the map) is the the spot to grab a frosty beverage after a walk up to the lighthouse on the nature trail, or breaking away the Fun in the Sun Beach Bash at the nearby Play-Play Pavilion. You can view the Reef & Wreck Bar menu here.
The Reef & Wreck Bar is actual the southernmost venue on Disney Lookout Cay offering patrons stunning views of the coves at the tip of Lighthouse Point.
Blue Hole Bar
The Blue Hole Bar (18 on the map) is located near Serenity Bay BBQ and is the northernmost venue on Disney Lookout Cay.
This particular bar is specifically reserved for guests 18 years and older due to its location in the Serenity Bay area.
Before anyone comments, bars are for guests 21 and older, however, the bars on property do offer non-alcoholic / zero-proof options.
In fact, the Blue Hole Bar has it’s own unique menu in addition to the offerings from the standard bar menu found at the previous 3 bars.
The bars serve drinks in reusable metal cups (yellow cup pictured in the second photo behind the pineapple) and plastic stemmed wine glasses in an effort to reduce waste from disposable plastic and paper cups. Drinks can also be upgraded to the souvenir Disney Cruise Line Pineapple sipper or the Lighthouse Point Sierra Tumbler.
One last thought, I would highly recommend having a refillable and even insulated water bottle to take ashore. While your mileage may vary, and I mean literal milage, it is important to stay hydrated while enjoying the beauty of South Eleuthera.
And that completes our food and beverage tour of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Looking forward to this on our DVC Member cruise, we will be here on two days. So what we don’t get on Saturday, we can catch it on Monday. Thank for the tips!!!
Do all three, True True BBQ, True True Too BBQ, and Serenity Bay BBQ, serve the same items? That would be unlike Castaway Cay where Serenity Bay BBQ serves made-to-order steak. Is the BBQ by the cabanas the only location for steak and can only resedents of the cabnas partake?
Serenity Bay BBQ was closed down by the time I made it to that area. I was told by Cast Members at True-True, the offerings were identical. However, I do have a friend checking the steak situation over at Serenity Bay BBQ later this week.
I believe this will eventually depend on enforcement of the Mabrika Cove Cabana area. During our visit, you could walk down the pathway without any signage saying this was for cabana guests only. However, I suspect if this becomes a busy spot for non-cabana guests a sign and maybe an attendant will be added in a similar fashion to Castaway where there is a gate near Cookies Too and an attendant on the beach checking wristbands.
Same question – does Serenity Bay no longer have steak?? 🙁
By the time I made it over to Serenity Bay the BBQ was closed down. It was the first day of operations, I asked a friend to check when they return later this week if Serenity Bay BBQ will be serving steak.
I just disembarked the Fantasy 7-night Inaugural and can personally confirm that steak is offered @ Serenity Bay @ Lookout Cay. Obviously subject to change at any time, but it was available and I ordered it.
So… I keep seeing the simplistic beer menu… is that really all that is on the island? There isn’t even the standard / basic American beers like on Castaway?
And… is there any way to walk the tram route? Or are trams the only option?
I believe you will eventually be allowed to walk the tram route/bike path. However, I was told walking was not allowed on June 7th as that was my original plan. What beers were you looking for specifically?
I wouldn’t eat any of the fly infested food. Disney should know better. The beach was nice but nothing there is worth getting off the boat for.
Why is there so many FLIES?? My sister just got back and said
it was so gross. They were practically attacked when they sat
down to eat so just dumped the food.
Start with a previously undeveloped and uninhabited area of South Eleuthera, change the natural habitat, and prepare and add a massive amount of food for the first time. It was a perfect storm. The key will be how long it takes to mitigate the issue. It is an issue that needs resolved, but as the saying goes… Rome was not built in a day.
But shouldn’t they have done some test runs? They know flies are an issue – hence the daily spraying at CC. My guess is they can’t spray on this island (since they don’t own it) and they know they have a big, big problem now.
Thank you for this information. I will not be eating on the island; so sad because food itself looked good. However, I will not share with unclean bugs; I am sure they did not washy washy their wings
——disgusting!
Rome wasn’t built in a day. This is something that should have been taken care of on Day 1! DCL should not be given a pass on this. They knew there was a problem and yet chose to serve lunch on the island; this is inexcusable.
My daughter just reminded me that Walt Disney hired Major General William “Joe” Potter to make sure there would be no mosquito problems at the parks BEFORE the parks were built. This is just another example of how far this Corporation has devolved. Yes, this is my third comment about this, but that should show you how important I think this matter is. It is not one to be shrugged off. DCL, I hope you are reading this blog.
Great summary, as always! Thanks!
Thank you for all of this information. I am confused by the draft beers (the pilsner and IPA) as I do not see them listed on any of the bar menus with the exception of Mangroves and Go but I see the draft pour handles in the picture for Wreck and Reef. Did you happen to notice if the draft beers were available at all the bars?
Lauren, I did see the draft beer at multiple locations, but not included on the standard drink menu. I see them in pictures of Wreck & Reef, Blue Hole, and Watering Hole. I do not have a good picture of Bow & Ribbon to see if the taps are there – I am still working through pictures and video and will update accordingly.
The flies were much better day 2 of the 7-night inaugural cruise. Only saw 1 or 2. First day there were quite a few
Did you see if you were able to buy coolers of water like you can on Castaway? I read on Disney panel you could get it at Mabrika but it’s not listed on the photo menu here. PS I love the podcast and have missed newer episodes. Audio is easier for me to consume than reading blogs but your blog is the best!