Disney Cruise Line signed a 99-year lease for the island of Gorda Cay (now known as Castaway Cay) with the Bahamian government in 1996. While the exact annual payment remains a closely guarded corporate secret, the lease was part of a larger agreement that involved Disney investing tens of millions of dollars into the island's infrastructure—including a deep-water pier that allows ships to dock directly, eliminating the need for tenders. The lease agreement was significant because it transformed an island formerly used for salt farming and illicit smuggling into a world-class, private paradise exclusive to Disney guests. In exchange for the long-term rights to the land, Disney pays annual lease fees and contributes significantly to the Bahamian economy through head taxes for every passenger that visits, as well as by employing hundreds of Bahamian citizens to staff the island's facilities. This long-term arrangement ensures that Disney has total control over the guest experience on the island until near the end of the 21st century, making it one of the most valuable assets in the Disney Cruise Line portfolio.