Cruise: Illuminations or Wishes?

[billwendy]

Hi,

Which cruise is better, Illuminations or Wishes for a 65th birthday????

thanks!!!

 

[disney junky]

Based on demand, I'd have to say Illuminations is the better cruise. I haven't been on either but I have checked into both and the responses I have gotten are varied. Illuminations is much more up close than Wishes. From what I understand, the music isn't piped into the boats so since you are out of the park for Wishes, you really only see the fireworks display. I have also heard that some people have experienced a good deal of smoke and ash from the Illuminations Cruise depending on which way the wind blows, though most have said it's not a problem. I called for three straight mornings to get an Illuminations cruise, booked a Wishes as a back up, and then, when I was able to get Illuminations, I cancelled the Wishes. There is a lot of info on the theme parks and stategies thread about both.....

 

[WDWFAN9]

I've done the MK fireworks cruise twice, and loved it both times. Once we started from GF, and once from the Poly. There is a tour of the lake before the captain "parks" your pontoon in the water across from the entrance to the MK. The view of the fireworks was spectacular, and we heard the music both times. I've never done the Illuminations cruise, but I've been on the International bridge when the boat was parked in the channel to see the show. The one thing I didn't like was that the people in the boat were almost directly below those of us on the bridge watching, I would have felt a little on display, but that it just me. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, but I'd choose the MK cruise again for myself.

 

[d'Isigny]

We've done the Illuminations cruise in 03..it was one word - AWESOME!!! We split the cost of the cruise with another family of 5...just $60 each, plus a very nice tip. Well worth the money. We are looking into going again, this October. The tour around the Boardwalk area was a nice touch. This extra time gave our 3 DD's some time to 'calm down' before staging below the bridge at the International Gateway. It's like having front row seats for a multi-thousand fireworks display.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Based on demand, I'd have to say Illuminations is the better cruise.

Need to clarify this statement.
There are only 5 pontoon boats and Breathless available for IllumiNations. That's it, just 6 possible boats available. Meanwhile at Wishes, they dispatch pontoon boats from Wilderness Lodge, The Contemporary, The Poly and the Grand (and The Grand One). So there are many more boats available. So yes, IllumiNations is harder to secure due to the limited number of boats.