cruise for electrical water parade?

[stina]

hello! i'm trying to find out if there's a cruise for the electrical water pagent, like the ones they have for illuminations. i know they do a cruise for the magical gatherings folks, but is there one for us smaller groups? thanks for the help!

 

[disney queen]

well yes sorta. you do see the water parade when you book a fireworks cruise for wishes. we have done this several times from the wilderness lodge, but you can depart any of the MK resorts. to book you need to call 1-407-939-7529.

 

[DebbieB]

You can get a great view of it from either the Poly or GF beaches, I've seen it from there. It also travels around to WL, FW and the bay lake side of the Contemporary, but I've never seen it there.

 

[WDSearcher]

There is not a specific cruise for the Electrical Water Pageant. The EWP was designed to be watched from land, not water, and because of its constant motion, it's hard to develop a cruise "path" that would give riders a good view without be too close or having to move alongside (thereby spoiling the view for the folks on land).

You can, however, see it from a Wishes cruise, as someone else stated!

 

[Robo]

A great (and inexpensive) way to view the Water Pagaent is to take the 9:30pm Hayride at FtW.
It loads right in front of Pioneer Hall.

Its a peaceful hour-long journey via a (2) horse-drawn wagon in which guests get to sit on benches (not prickly straw) as they traverse the woods (at some places in the trip... totally dark!) that surround the FtW Campgrounds.

The driver will take various routes thru the actual campgrounds (where the camper-dwellers wave as you pass), the bike trails, and down to the lake-front.

At somewhere around 9:50 to 10pm the driver "whoas" the horses, and the Electrical Water Pagaent unfolds directly in front of your wagon (the sound of the Pageant carries very well over the water to your viewing area.)

Afterwards, your driver continues the winding trip (watch out for those low-hanging tree branches) and, after a while, brings you back to the boarding area at Pioneer Hall.

We love to do this following the 7:15pm Hoop De Doo Review performance.
Its pure Disney fun for about $8 per person.

 

[gigi1313]

robo, thank you for that suggestion... i had considered a hayride after hoop dee doo, but was not sure it was do-able (timing wise) and now i am soooo excited... that sounds like the perfect way to end a perfect disney day!!! thank you!

does one need reservations for the hayride?

 

[Robo]

Originally posted by gigi1313
robo, thank you for that suggestion... i had considered a hayride after hoop dee doo, but was not sure it was do-able (timing wise) and now i am soooo excited... that sounds like the perfect way to end a perfect disney day!!! thank you!

does one need reservations for the hayride?

Nope.

Just stroll over when the wagon pulls up.
Its timed perfectly for after the Hoop (with plenty of time for a restroom break before the ride, too.)
Its a very casual set-up.
Pay the driver, climb on in and pick a spot on the benches.
We like to sit up close to the driver as she usually talks a lot about the horses' personalities and how they train and board all the horses at WDW (at the barn there at FtW).

There have actually been TWO different trips in the off-season when my DW and I were the ONLY TWO riders in the wagon!
It was pretty CHILLY out and most folks just passed on by.
The driver had even provided some nice wooly blankets for us to wrap up in for trip... talk about a romantic ride!
(We tipped the driver a few extra dollars because she gave us the "full treatment" even though if we had not been there she might have gotten to go home early.)
Its just one of those extra "magic" situations you can't PLAN for... but when they come along... we try to be READY!

 

[stina]

Thank you all SO MUCH! No wonder I couldn't find information about a cruise--there isn't one!

Robo, we are totally going on the wagon ride! We love horses, and it sounds awesome...just as good as a cruise, and so cheap, too.

One of the best things we did last time was we took the little boat across the lagoon from MK to the Grand Floridian, and we were the only people on the boat. It was so great. It's so magical when you can have those "just us" experiences at a normally crowded place.

We're not doing Hoop this time, but we will go to dinner at Wispering Canyon...we'll figure out how to get to the campgrounds and do the hayride then. I think Wispering Canyon followed by a hayride sounds perfect.

I hope you all have a fabulous trip!

 

[HopperFan]

When we stayed at Ft. Wilderness, we were heading back from MK on boat just as parade was going by. Our boat was zig zagging around the parade .............. and it wasn't nearly as nice close up. You really need to view it from afar. In the water you were so aware of the boat, the wakes, the apparatus and you couldn't take in the art of the lights.

Enjoy it from ashore !

 

[Robo]

Originally posted by stina
We're not doing Hoop this time, but we will go to dinner at Wispering Canyon...we'll figure out how to get to the campgrounds and do the hayride then. I think Wispering Canyon followed by a hayride sounds perfect.

The transportation boats "bounce" between WL, FtW, and MK (in various order) for up to an hour (or more) after MK closes for the evening. So depending on when you dine at Whispering Canyon (yum) you may be able to easily get over to FtW by water transportation.
If you arrive at FtW a little early, its nice to sit on the porch of Crocket Inn in a rocking chair and relax a bit (you can also shop at the "outpost store" for while.)

I'm assuming after our discussion that you are choosing the 9:30pm Hayride. So after the Hayride (you'll be back by about 10:30pm) if MK has been closed for some time, the only way "back" is by bus.
The bus "depot" is UP the path from Pioneer Hall (opposite direction from the boat dock).
If you are headed to MOST WDW resorts, you'll want the bus that goes from FtW to Downtown Disney, where you will exit that bus and board one that is going to your resort. (The exception MIGHT be if you wanted to go to WL... which MAY be on the TTC route "directly".)
If you have parked in MK parking lot, you WILL want the FtW bus that goes to TTC and that is where you'll find your car.

As ALWAYS, ask any WDW busdriver for EXACT directions/connections as the WDW transportation system is a "constantly-changin' operation."

 

[Robo]

Originally posted by stina
One of the best things we did last time was we took the little boat across the lagoon from MK to the Grand Floridian, and we were the only people on the boat. It was so great. It's so magical when you can have those "just us" experiences at a normally crowded place.

Ditto! These times make for some of our best WDW memories.

One off-season night, my DW and I were the ONLY passengers on one of the BIG crusiers (normally crowded with about 100 boisterous guests) that runs between FtW and MK.
We sat on a bench out on the open bow, and the captain annoucnced over the PA that he "hoped we enjoyed our private romantic moonlight cruise"... you can't beat Disney for those happy times!

As for the "little" boats you talk about: When we make PS for Mickey's Character Breakfast (don't remember its "offical" name... but its a GREAT character breakfast) at 'Ohana (Poly) early in the morning... we ride to MK by bus from our resort, then stroll past the (too early to be open yet) MK... still magical in its more "quiet" state... and head down to the dock to the Floridian/Poly water transportation.
Since most guests choose to take the monorail, we are nearly ALWAYS the only passengers in the boat at that early hour. (Ahoy!)

 

[sters]

The electrical water parade is nice if you happen to catch it, but IMHO I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. It's a little dated and ... I don't know... blah? Perhaps I was expecting too much, something like Spectro on water. Oh well.