For Those Of You Who Have Shared Your MK Fireworks/Illuminations Cruise

[beachbunny]

If you were the one to rent the boat and shared it with fellow DISers, how was it? I want to hear the good, the bad, and everything in between.

[Bete]

I'm very happy to share to keep costs down. I always expect prepayment and I haven't had trouble on that count, either. I have a cut-off date for payment. I will say it can get a little more complicated when dollars are not U.S. but there are ways to handle it as a money order, etc.

I don't fill the boat to the maximum. I go with 8 or 9 people including kids. I want everyone to have a nice view.

I warn parents with children under 5 that it may be too late to be out or that the noise level, etc. may be too intense for young ones.

There are no refunds unless Disney calls it off for weather, etc. The sharing party can sell their share of the boat if something were to occur and they couldn't make it. I'm not sure how I would handle it if I couldn't make it. I think I would give the ressie number to someone in the party to carry on.

It's enjoyable to meet with fellow Dis pals. I've done it three times and so far so good.

[Muppet]

I booked one last year and filled it quickly.

We all met up and then waited 30 minutes for a woman from the Dis and her son to turn up. She didn't, to this day she has never given me the curtosey(sp?) of an explanation. I gave her my cell phnoe number incase of any problems as I knew someone else staying in the BCV who would be able to join us.

It was never the money, just the fact she is rude, selfish and cowardly.

The cruises are great though.

[Belle1962]

I would recommend getting contact info for the people you are sharing with. I had one last year then got hurt at EPCOT and couldn't contact the family I had arranged to share with to let them know I wouldn't be there. We had probably exchanged some type of info through our emails but I left them at home thinking "what could happen?". Or work out some arrangement beforehand about "noshows", etc.

[goofy4tink]

We will be sharing this coming August. Hi Gayle!!! We aren't making any plans for prepayment. If Gayle and her group can't show up, I'm assuming that she will let me know, so that I can let someone else get a crack at sharing with us. I'm sure we'll touch base several times before our 'excursion'.

[slp87]

We weren' t the ones who rented the boat, (Hi Rhonda!), but everything worked out perfectly. There were 3 families from the DIS. I discussed paying ahead of time, but we agreed to pay when we arrived. We had 12 on the boat, 6 adults, 2 teens, and 4 kids. There was plenty of room for us all and we had a great time. At $10 a piece, I would definitely share again!!

[snwwhite]

My question is, how does everyone work out the payment amount?
Do you take the cost and divide it equally according to the # of people on the boat? OR If there are 2 groups going (of different sizes) do you split the cost evenly ($60 per group)?

Just wondering how people have done it in the past.
Thanks!!!:cool:

[Bete]

I find this to be the fairest. If you did it by groups and say there's a party of two and a party of eight then the party of two would be paying 4X what the other group is paying.

[snwwhite]

Thanks!! I agree with splitting it up based on the # of people going. I just wanted to hear what other people have done in the past.

[jimmiej]

Originally posted by snwwhite
My question is, how does everyone work out the payment amount?
Do you take the cost and divide it equally according to the # of people on the boat? OR If there are 2 groups going (of different sizes) do you split the cost evenly ($60 per group)?

Just wondering how people have done it in the past.
Thanks!!!:cool:

This is a great topic!

I was lucky enough to get an Illuminations Cruise last June. Although it rained a lot during our trip, the weather was cool & beautiful for our cruise. My entire family agreed this was THE highlight of our nine day trip! After I posted our cruise on Illuminations Cruise Central, our boat filled up in just a couple of days. All DIS people-my family of 2 adults & 2 teens, a family of 4 from KC, a mom & son from Indiana, & two ladies from SC? Everyone offered to pay upfront, but I told them to bring cash & pay me that evening(I wasn't that worried because I had the $$$ to pay all of it if needed). Everyone arrived on time, payed, & we had a blast! It was great meeting other DISers!

As far as cost pp, I figured $125? for the cruise & added $25? for the tip & divided by 12 passengers. Came out to $12.50 pp. Everyone agreed & it worked out fine.

For our next trip, I plan on trying again(this time for a MK fireworks cruise). If I'm not succesful, I'll try to hook up with someone else.

[joyjoy]

I'm new here, hi everyone.:wave:

I was about to burst with excitement a couple of days ago when I, on a lark, called Disney recreation to see about an Illuminations Cruise and actually booked one! Yay! I posted the info on the Illuminations Cruise forum but haven't had any sharers yet. I'm wondering if it's because I'm new and nobody knows me, or if I'm going at an off time (8/30 - 9/6) and there are just not a lot of people going. My cruise is for 9/1.

Anyhow, love your message boards. I spend way too much time here.:cool:

[dvc guy]

I split /sold half my cruise last year over christmas. I did not ask for payment up front( but not a bad idea). Everything worked out fine. I e-mailed the other family every month or so and we exchanged cell numbers before leaving. I did try to find a family with children my kids age, just from a stand point of having like ages. It all worked out fine and I would do it again.

[HvnzCaress]

Hi Diane! I assure you that you have nothing to worry about!! I feel very fortunate to have the chance to share this experience and wouldn't want to deprive someone else of the opportunity if for some reason we were unable to go. As Diane said, I expect we'll be in touch a few times over the next couple months (WOW I just realized how close we're getting!! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc )

I am very much looking forward to meeting Diane's family and sharing a few moments of magic as a group of near strangers. Perhaps before its over we'll all have made new friends. (And if we find we can't stand each other, its all over in an hour LOL)

[MycatlovesEeyore]

On our first cruise we were not the original renters of the boat but answered a post by someone asking if anyone would like to join him and his family. When we asked how much the cost would be he refused any money saying the boat was already paid for. We could not thank him enough.

On our second cruise we rented the boat and had each family pay $40.00. We took care of the tip for the driver. One family (from Canada) had 2 adults and 2 children, another (from Alabama) had two adults and three children and then just the two of us (from North Carolina). (We were Pre-Katy at the time) It worked out really well and we all went to the Boardwalk and talked after the cruise.

[NJmouse]

I shared a cruise this past May. I figured on 12 people (including children) and charged $10 a head. The boat cost $120 and we paid the tip. You can only have 10 adults on the boat if you have children then it can be 12 people. (10 + 2)

[MPLsDad]

My family was lucky enough to arrange a share with a kind heart from these boards last year (Hi Barbara!) and we were reluctant because it was myself, my DW, and my 2yo DS joining a group of six ages teen to senior. We couldn't have enjoyed it more and loved listening to Aunt Helen's stories about living in Connecticut. We showed up a little late (bottle stop) but were never asked to prepay. Barbara only charged us 3/9 of the cruise cost and we tipped the driver separately. A wonderful memory and an incentive to book another cruise this year!

[nativetxn]

I've never shared an Illuminations Cruise. There were no Illuminations Cruise Centrals here when we experienced our cruise in March, 2000. I would love to share one someday, though.

I think paying in advance calls for a lot of trust on the part of the person paying. Then again, accepting an offer to share the cost also calls for a bit of trust too.

It sounds as though everyone has found the best way to deal with this issue. I am glad to know that so many have been pleased with sharing an Illuminations cruise with others. What a great way to make new friends :)

[NJmouse]

I forgot to mention that we only asked that you pay when we meet. My dh and I figured that we booked the cruise and if nobody wanted to come we would have to pay the $120 anyway so no big deal. Also I did not ask anyone when they showed up for the cruise they ASKED "who do we pay?". That was so nice. We had Scott as our captain he was terrific and everyone (I hope) had a nice time?

[tc]

We have been on two cruises, one someone else booked, and the last one we booked. Both cruises, everyone paid the day of cruise. We had a great time both cruises, and really enjoyed meeting all the Disers. It's a great way to get to know other Disers, see Illuminations up close and have a great evening.

joyjoy: we are going 6/5-6/16, too bad your cruise isn't later in the week. I have found that no many Disers are going this year in September. I don't know why. Many are waiting until Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I hope you find people to rent with you, it's lots of fun.

[MulanMom]

We arranged to share a MK fireworks cruise last year through the boards and emailed the person who made the arrangements. Never thought to swap cell phone numbers, but I did let her know where we were staying in case there would be any changes. When we arrived at the Poly for the cruise, found out it was canceled the day before. Fortunately for us, the CM arranged to have us go with another family. When I emailed the Diser after returning home (and I was nice about it...knew there was an illness in the family that probably was the reason) I never received a response. It would have been nice to be extended the courtesy of an explanation.

I would say all parties should get full contact info to minimize any potential problems/inconveniences. As a result of my experience, I'm leary of sharing cruises in the future, regardless of who books. Sorry if this seems a bit cynical but I consider my vacation time to be too valuable to potentially have others' inconsiderateness screw it up.

[InstImpres]

I shared an Illuminations cruise last year and it was the highlight of my trip! I was bummed I couldn't get one and than thrilled to find someone that was willing to share. I made it a surprise for my family and they didn't know until we were standing on the dock:) :) The person that booked it checked in with the skipepr, told her she was sharing with strangers and than went off for hot cocoa for the trip (it was Feb). Therefor, she was actually the last to arrive (we were all so worried to be late or have her think we stood her up) . It was terrific.

I have booked an MK cruise for next month that I am sharing space on and hope to have the same great experience. We have swampped resort info plus cell phone info. I am doing a solo trip so the boat is not affordable for just me. One note - it seems much harder to fill an MK cruise than Illuminations. Right now we are only 8 people.

Good luck
Sandy

[Buckaroo's Dad]

If you were the one to rent the boat and shared it with fellow DISers, how was it? I want to hear the good, the bad, and everything in between.

A year ago I was fortunate enough to secure an Illuminations cruise for August and posted on these boards a desire to share. Made arrangements to share the experience with one other couple and their child(ren). They never showed up, never sent us a message (even though I had told them where - and when - we were staying) and never received any e-mail with either an explanation or apology.


how does everyone work out the payment amount?

I figured that since we would be taking the cruise anyway, there was no need for the other family to "reimburse" anything. Instead I had told them they could pay whatever tip they felt was appropriate.


After that lovely display of human thoughtfulness on their part, I'll pass on sharing a cruise or "depending on/expecting" anyone. You see, they were celebrating an anniversary and we had foolishly purchased a small bottle of champagne for the happy couple. Gave it instead to the CM who piloted our boat as an additional tip. He was quite humorous and seemed to have a wealth of interesting stories, facts and fictions to share...

[Muppet]

In a way I'm glad its not just me that had some Disers not turn up for our cruise.

I do think its a shame as I had more people contact me who wanted to go on the cruise who could of had the places.

[Pig Pen]

I shared the Illuminations cruise in May with Bete. It was fabulous. We met several interesting people and had a great time.

We paid up front and kept our fingers crossed about the weather. It turned out to be the nicest evening of our trip.

Thanks Bete for organizing the crusie & for your willingness to share with a bunch of strangers!

[Badger Brent]

We tagged along with fellow DIS'ers and had a great time (Hi Gem)!! After reading some of the potential problems from the previous posts, I guess we were just fortunate to have a flawless trip. We had a full boat of 10 adults and 2 kids. 4 different groups were involved. The view was ok, but we enjoyed the cruise around the worldshowcase and got some great video of Spaceship Earth at night. We also had a mini dis meet afterwards.