A guest aboard the Disney Wish required a medical evacuation by helicopter after falling ill during a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private island destination.
Witnessing the Medevac
Reddit user u/codenameoxcart shared their firsthand account of the evacuation on Monday, posting photos of the helicopter and crew involved, though they refrained from photographing the patient or the Disney cast members assisting them.
Castaway Cay Medevac
According to the account, the passenger was evacuated due to suspected heat stroke. Disney cast members and paramedics worked together to transfer the individual from a Disney-owned stretcher onto the helicopter's own equipment before the aircraft departed for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the patient could receive further treatment.
“Taking nothing away from the individual needing assistance, but it was pretty damn cool to see the logistics behind something like this that you don't see every day,” the Reddit user wrote. “…Medevac crew had 2 pilots and 2 paramedics/EMTs. Pilots got a good photo op with the Wish in the background while waiting for the transfer.”
How the Ship Handled the Situation
The same user later described how Disney Cruise Line staff communicated with passengers throughout the ordeal, balancing transparency with the patient's privacy.
“Captain did well to inform everyone and the safety team looked on it,” they wrote. “It was a pretty eventful cruise for the crew in that regard.”
Another passenger who witnessed the evacuation, u/efferstine, described some logistical challenges paramedics faced while transporting the stretcher.
“I was on that sailing too! And watched the whole thing unfold while eating a soft serve from Deck 11,” they commented. “Made me wonder why they had steps going up to the helipad instead of a ramp, they looked like they struggled getting the stretcher up.”
When the Incident Took Place
This medical emergency occurred during a three-night Halloween on the High Seas sailing aboard the Disney Wish. The voyage departed Port Canaveral, Florida, on September 11, made a stop in Nassau, Bahamas, on September 12, visited Disney Castaway Cay on September 13, and returned to Port Canaveral on September 14. Based on that itinerary, the medevac took place on Sunday, September 13.
Which of Disney Cruise Line's private islands is your favorite: Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
