Worried about crew members and castaway cay

[Delrea]

I am so concerned for the crew members that live on castaway cay and the island. Really hope that they are prepared and safe.

 

[Dug720]

Reports are that they have been evacuated.

 

[ImDMous]

They are gone. The Dream, I think, picked them up and battened down the hatches before leaving.

 

[tinkerone]

They have a routine, this is nothing new for them. Always good to be prepared.

 

[CamperMomma]

Huh! Did not know some crew lived right on the island. I always assumed it was the ship crew that ran things on the island. Learn something new every day!

 

[AquaDame]

Huh! Did not know some crew lived right on the island. I always assumed it was the ship crew that ran things on the island. Learn something new every day!

I have heard some live on nearby islands also and "commute" in by boat. I do wonder in this case where they go... do they just go home to wait out the storm there or is there anything Disney can do to get those people further out of harms way? Probably the former but the dreamer in me would love if it is the latter...

 

[truck1]

I talked to a crewmember on the Dream that spens time on the island. There is a handful of ships crew that live there full time and the rest is maint for the island. Some of the tram operators for example come from nearby. All of the food service, and the DCL shops are from the ship. Typically a cccm will spend 3 weeks on the island and 1 on the ship. The reason is is so they can get a chance to run Walmart for example for necesities. When that happens a ships crew member takes there place on the island. Typically it's the Dream that handles the crew swap outs. In a case like now, the closest ship will stop and pull everyone off the island. Again usually the Dream since the Fantasy is usually in the farther areas of the carribean, and the Dream is near the island 2x in a week. I want to say there's about 60-70 crew full time over there now. But don't be surprised if the first ship back only stops briefly after this week. It may take a few days to a few weeks to put the island back together again and make it habitable. I'd hazzard a guess and say the crew was pulled on Sun by the Dream and they'll stay on the ship until Fri or Sun.

 

[tinkerone]

Here is some interesting information on Castaway Cay and the staff.

http://dcl.disneycareers.com/en/explore-positions/island-operations/

I was told that they work the same kind of contracts that the crew aboard the ship have, work so many months on with so many months off. This information I was given by a friend of mine who is a former cast member so I'm not sure if this information is correct or truck1 is correct. Who knows. Doesn't really matter, the important thing is that they are trained for tropical weather and that they are able to stay safe.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This was a great link! Thanks for posting it @tinkerone! I spoke with one of the lifeguards during our last cruise and she said she lived on the island for the duration of her term with occasional trips to FL to allow her to go to Walmart, etc. I had no idea until then that people actually lived right on the island!

 

[truck1]

Here is some interesting information on Castaway Cay and the staff.

http://dcl.disneycareers.com/en/explore-positions/island-operations/

I was told that they work the same kind of contracts that the crew aboard the ship have, work so many months on with so many months off. This information I was given by a friend of mine who is a former cast member so I'm not sure if this information is correct or truck1 is correct. Who knows. Doesn't really matter, the important thing is that they are trained for tropical weather and that they are able to stay safe.

Its about the same. Theres been varying reported numbers of people that live on the island and Im guessing that more were added for 1 reason or another. The person I talked to prob falls into the recreation area, since he was a lifeguard. The lifeguards were also required to be divers and be rescue divers. When the ships are away, they are responsible for up keep on the nets and ropes that surround the laggoons. The way he explained it is that he did 3 weeks on the island, with 1 week on the ship. And typically it would be the Dream that they swap with, since they could get on the ship from CC on Thurs, and be back on the Island on Sun. Some of the different areas, like say maint, or animal care might have a slightly different schedule, or basically when ever they need to, jump on the ship for a shore side ride. But the basics were still the same, however long of a contract, with a month or 2 month break if they renew. The ships also bring out the spare parts, food etc for the island, and bigger things like say a industrial generator, come by barge from Miami or Ft L. What they'll do is after the storm passes, certain members from DCL will fly over the island in a helicopter for a once over, then land and look around. Then a determination will be made as to what extent of the island is damaged, and how long it will take to reopen the island and when it would be safe for 24/7 habitability, and passengers again.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since the safety of the employees has been discussed...


We were on CC the first time (Feb 2013) not too long after a storm, and according to those who had been there before, it was a bit different. The sand was NOT soft; it was downright painful. That was the biggest thing for us. Some said that the foliage was sparser because of the winds etc.

So for those with cruises after this storm has passed, it's possible you'll experience changes like that too.

 

[truck1]

Since the safety of the employees has been discussed...


We were on CC the first time (Feb 2013) not too long after a storm, and according to those who had been there before, it was a bit different. The sand was NOT soft; it was downright painful. That was the biggest thing for us. Some said that the foliage was sparser because of the winds etc.

So for those with cruises after this storm has passed, it's possible you'll experience changes like that too.

I forget what storm we went to the island after, but basically the vegetation on the island was brown because the island had been underwater at times between the waves and surge.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I don't even recall seeing any structures that look like housing units. They must be well hidden.

 

[party-of-five]

On our cruises, we've enjoyed being on the verandah first thing in the morning after docking at CC - you can watch all of the 'commuters' come in by boat. The kids enjoy waving to them.

I feel for the CMs on ship who call the Bahamian and Caribbean islands home. It's going to be a rough few days for them knowing their home/families/friends are in harms way while keeping a cheerful mood working on the ship. Hoping and praying for minimal damage from Matthew.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I talked to a crewmember on the Dream that spens time on the island. There is a handful of ships crew that live there full time and the rest is maint for the island. Some of the tram operators for example come from nearby. All of the food service, and the DCL shops are from the ship. Typically a cccm will spend 3 weeks on the island and 1 on the ship. The reason is is so they can get a chance to run Walmart for example for necesities. When that happens a ships crew member takes there place on the island. Typically it's the Dream that handles the crew swap outs. In a case like now, the closest ship will stop and pull everyone off the island. Again usually the Dream since the Fantasy is usually in the farther areas of the carribean, and the Dream is near the island 2x in a week. I want to say there's about 60-70 crew full time over there now. But don't be surprised if the first ship back only stops briefly after this week. It may take a few days to a few weeks to put the island back together again and make it habitable. I'd hazzard a guess and say the crew was pulled on Sun by the Dream and they'll stay on the ship until Fri or Sun.

I really love when you share your knowledge! I especially like the style you write, never condescending, just state the facts in an interesting manner. Glad you're here.

 

[jlemieu1]

Check this out. https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...e8ccc2d3b9842d!8m2!3d26.0936823!4d-77.5332796

 

[puffkin]

There have been multiple reports that the Dream was late leaving the island on Sunday due to ship and island crews going through their hurricane protocol. Transportable items were loaded onto the Dream as well as the island staff and that the island was evacuated as of Sunday. I am not sure about the commuters but the actual staff that lives on the island was pulled off on Sunday night.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Check this out. https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...e8ccc2d3b9842d!8m2!3d26.0936823!4d-77.5332796

Thanks for sharing that! I too was wondering where they sleep!

 

[SuperDry]

I'm predicting a brand new set of "newly-designed' cabanas are on the horizon for sometime soon.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I'm predicting a brand new set of "newly-designed' cabanas are on the horizon for sometime soon.

Ohh I didn't even think about the Cabanas! We just had one over the Summer. Hopefully the destruction isn't too bad!