Disney's Lighthouse Point
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I have been trying to find any news on the Lighthouse Point project but keep coming up empty handed. The last "news" on the official site was in December 2019 and the FAQ's offers this answer to the question - what is the current status of the project?

Disney Cruise Line has completed its purchase of the Lighthouse Point property and signed a Heads of Agreement with the government of The Bahamas. Disney will only move forward with a project at Lighthouse Point if it can do so in a way that aligns with the company’s deep and longstanding commitment to the environment. In addition to its own animal and conservation experts, Disney assembled a team of highly qualified and experienced scientists and other professionals who spent more than two years developing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Disney submitted the EIA to the BEST Commission in late December and has been advised that the BEST Commission will post the document on their website after their feedback is incorporated and government reviews are complete. Additional public consultation will occur as part of the site plan approval process. The EIA is based on extensive field work, robust data collection and analysis, direct engagement with those who have studied the site and the species observed there, and an exhaustive review of available literature. Construction will only begin on the site after the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are accepted by government, public consultation has occurred and all other necessary government permits and approvals have been granted.

Does anyone know when we might see the environmental impact assessment or public consultation? I can see a number of groups already opposing the construction but nothing concrete seems to have been announced about the consultation process etc. Starting to think this will be abandoned in the current climate.

Source: https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/frequently-asked-questions/

I noticed that in the concept art there are multiple play areas and water splash areas although I can’t see much Disney theming which is unusual. Also I can’t really see the island at its current state becoming what is proposed although Disney is very good at that area of development.

Lastly lots of people don’t want Disney to build it so the current situation is unstable, I think it will happen along with the new Disney cruise ship!

I really like the look of this! Two play areas can be seen in the concept art one looks abit like a geyser spring area which would be an amazing addition! Another looks like a totem pole large wooden sticks area although i can’t quite work it out? This will probably be a separate resort for long vacations!





Source: https://www.bdcnetwork.com/disney-develop-private-island-destination-bahamas

The Disney Wish, the cruise ship linked with the opening of Lighthouse Point is currently under construction and has now been announced to be setting sail in January 2022 despite rumours that it is being delayed further.

Construction on the ship can be seen here from June 2020.

Disney lovers, we finally have a date for the maiden voyage of the the company's newest cruise ship. In August last year, the entertainment giant announced the next cruise liner to join its ever-growing fleet will be called the Disney Wish - and now we have learned it will be setting sail in January 2022.

The Wish joins four other cruise ships already part of The Disney Cruise Line - Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. A further three ships are planned to be added in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Source: https://www.tyla.com/entertaining/tv-and-film-disney-wish-january-2020-maiden-voyage-date-details-images-20200702

How likely do we think it is that Lighthouse Point will not see any further construction and will be abandoned?

Some interesting news about the new ships Disney ordered and the current state of the cruise industry which has taken a battering from COVID-19. Will be interesting to see what chances with Disney cruise plans from this.

The future of the Disney Cruise Line is open to speculation at this point in time. Certainly construction on DCL's second tropical destination, Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas located at the southern tip of Eleuthera, was stopped along with all other Disney construction.

The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the shipyard that builds cruise ships for Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Corporation, said in April that cruise lines let them know that they won't be needing all of the new ships ordered. The shipyard expects to have no new orders come in for the next three years. In addition, they said that cruise lines will not need all of the new cruise ships that they previously ordered due to a slowdown in customer demand.

There were four other cruise ships on the queue schedule before the Disney Wish, which was due to be delivered in late 2021 and now the assumption is that the ship may be delayed up to an additional year. That will also mean the delay or cancellation of the other two Triton class ships that Disney previously ordered. It is estimated that perhaps only half the world's cruise line fleets will be operating by the end of this year but that doesn't take into consideration should one or more cruise lines go bankrupt as a result of the pandemic.

In mid-May, Disney announced that they were suspending all new DCL departures through at least July 27, 2020—and perhaps longer. Disney CEO Bob Chapek acknowledged that DCL will likely be the last of the Disney Parks units to re-open.

Source: https://www.mouseplanet.com/12662/Disney_Cruising_With_Walt

Some interesting views on how this location will compare to Castaway Cay and discussion of the concept art and the layout plans we have seen so far.

New image of plan from the Lighthouse Point official progress page.

Source: https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/progress/

Earlier this week, we shared news of a town hall meeting in Eleuthera to discuss an economic development plan for Lighthouse Point, a 700-acre peninsula located at the southern tip of Eleuthera. During the town hall, which did NOT include official representatives from Disney Cruise Line or the local government, attendees received a handout.

When asked for comment on the town hall, a representative from Disney Cruise Line said Disney was not part of the event. Therefore, please take the following as an overview of what was presented to the public, not an official plan from Disney or any other developer.

Source: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2018/08/lighthouse-point-eleuthera-town-hall-handout-reveals-conceptual-site-plan/

Opening in 2023 only:

Construction at Lighthouse Point will begin only after an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are reviewed and accepted by the Government of The Bahamas and public consultation has occurred. Construction could begin in 2020 with completion in late 2022 or 2023.

Source:
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/disney-cruise-line-new-island-destination-will-celebrate-the-culture-of-the-bahamas/

Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, whose work includes the design of Disney's Animal Kingdom and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, has embarked on an in-depth cultural tour of the Bahamas to meet with local artists and cultural advisers. Together, they have explored arts and cultural sites across New Providence and Eleuthera, from Junkanoo shacks to noted art galleries.

Source: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/disney-cruise-line-new-island-destination-will-celebrate-the-culture-of-the-bahamas/

Status: Announced