Castaway Island — Attraction in Salem

I have to retract my previous great review of Castaway. We rent a cabana every year. The price kept increasing astronomically, and even then we said "fine", we still went ahead and rented because sadly, they do not provide umbrellas at all at the seating sections. So either pay for shade or get burned.

We have rented cabanas at different water parks along the East Coast, and I have to admit that Canobie Lake is charging the most in this area. A ridiculous amount considering there's just one lazy rive with a couple of slides in the center of it. And a water play area. So renting a cabana just to be there is quite expensive to just enjoy what they have.

And now that I am able to compare the amenities from different water parks, I realize that we get very little in return for the expensive cabana cost at Castaway. For one, you'd think for the price they charge, it would come with free water bottles like some other places. Fine, no free water, but at least provide towels that can be returned. But no, not even towels. We bought their very expensive towels instead: $15 each. Didn't end up using them at all since the sun dried us up so that was a waste. So when we got home, decided to use them as regular towels, why not ? Gave them a good wash. Let me tell you, they are worse than dollar tree towels. They just disintegrated on your skin as you're wiping, nothing but lint and particles falling off on you. Had to wash off again just to get all the debris off. They are thin and cheap. Very disappointed in the quality of the cabana rental. I can assure you that they will raise the price again next year. We won't be renting them anymore, but with the lack of shading, we'll avoid the waterpark altogether and just...

Usually it is extremely packed and very overcrowded with thousands of people gathering everywhere at Castaway Island trying to cool off. The amusement park itself is not too bad and not as bad as Castaway. It can be crowded at times but that is only for certain attraction ride wait times while in line. It is best to arrive very early even before the park main entrance gates open just to get an excellent spot and it also helps avoid the crowds. I would just Usually wait inside of the parking lot in the car for a little while before allowed to head towards the front gates of the amusement park. I also even enjoy being the first along with a few other people to enter the park just as it is about to open at 10am while all of the attraction rides open at 10:30am. I also get to beat the large amount crowd of people that arrives at the park when they enter by 11am and even get a very early head start. I leave from my place anywhere from about 7:30am in the morning to no later then 8am in the morning because it usually takes about one hour or 1hour 30minutes just to get there. I arrive there at the parking lot of Canobie Lake Park anywhere around about from 9am to 9:30am; then I make my way to the front entrance gates to find a very great spot to settle down by sitting somewhere on a bench or a chair for a while before going on any of my most favorite ride attractions multiple times while at...

It was great on a hot day to go in the lazy river and other water features to break up the day.

It seemed like the lifeguards, as hard working as they were, couldn't control the crowds. It is not their responsibility, and supervisors need better control. I did mention this because someone in our group got hurt. They were very attentive in First Aid.

If you don't get a chair early, you will probably need a locker. Cheapest locker $10. Be prepared to use debit/ credit card. If you do go to the water park you need shoes and clothes to reenter the rest of the park. So don't use the lockers outside of Castaway Island.

Park opens at 10:30 AM. Castaway Island is in a section of Canobie Lake Park. Behind the Pirate Ship ride. Once you pay tickets to enter Canobie Lake Park, you can enjoy Castaway Island as well.

*First Aid is located behind the Carousel in...