DVC Fireworks Cruise vs. Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise

[Julylady]

Under Membership Magic, DVC is advertising a Fireworks Cruise on Wednesday nights for $85 per person. This price includes champagne and chocolate covered strawberries plus a ride on a pontoon boat. It says each boat holds 10 guests. How does this experience compare to the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise? That event is much less expensive. Anyone know the difference? Is it just the alcohol?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have done the Pirates and Pals two times with our extended families. i think it is fun, and the host pirates are amusing. The boat you go out on holds around 30, you sit on bench seats and the boat does have a roof. The roof did not interfere with fireworks viewing as I feared it might. There are trivia questions, and small prizes given mostly to the kids as I remember.

I personally prefer a regular fireworks cruise because I try not to eat so many desserts.

I haven't done the DVC cruise.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

I think that cost is steep.
You can do the Wishes cruise for a party of 10 for around $350. It includes a 25' pontoon boat, driver, water, soda, snacks or you can have some private dining delivered to the boat (extra cost).

See details here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/recreation/fireworks.htm

For $850 bucks I would rather rent the Grand Yacht 1 for an hour to watch the fireworks. (See link above under Illuminations Cruises)

 

[Julylady]

Thanks for the replies. I already have a Pirates and Pals reservation for July, but then I saw the Membership Magic cruise description. We are paying $60 per person for Pirates and Pals which already seems expensive! I just can't see what the added $25 per person would be for. My girls are 13 and 10 (so getting a little old for this event.) We did Pirates and Pals when they were much younger, though and they remember it fondly. I am even re-thinking the $60. For that money we could do the Aloha dinner show or even eat at California Grill! Any opinions?

Has anyone done the Membership Magic Fireworks Cruise? If yes, what did you think?

 

[SnowWhite2]

I did the Membership Magic Fireworks Cruise! It was the first or second one that was available. It was absolutely fantastic. There were 4 of us on the cruise (2 couples). It was nice to meet other DVC owners. We started at the Contemporary boat dock and had champagne and choc covered strawberries. The strawberries were as big as my fist (I have a small hand but they were huge with the big long stem) There were a dozen of them but only 4 of us so they brought out containers for us to pack them up and take them with us.

After that, we boarded the pontoon. It was starting to drizzle and it was a bit chilly. There were blankets for us to wrap ourselves in and the canopy on the pontoon was enough to cover the 2 couples. There was also a cooler of treats but we didn't eat any of them. They didn't really tell us about them until the end. It was just water and chips/cookie package type of snacks. The pontoon driver took us around Bay Lake showing us all around and telling us all of the stories behind the islands/resorts/etc. We went from the Contemporary, Ft Wilderness all the way around to Grand Floridian and back to the middle of the lake to watch the fireworks. The music was pipped into the boat. The captain was a long time Disney employee and had all kind of trivia and early knowledge of the planning.

After the fireworks we went back to the Contemporary dock. It was a great time and we would do it again in a heartbeat. I love Wishes, have the CD, can sing the song and tear up every time I see the fireworks.

 

[Julylady]

Thanks so much, Snow. It sounds fun!

 

[Dawn68PA]

Sounds fun! I have to look into this!

 

[Newsies]

I've never done the DVC cruise, but Pirates and Pals was the highlight of my last trip. The dessert was great, the pirate hosts were fun and entertaining, and you got to meet Hook, Smee, and Peter Pan. A lot of Disney magic has been worked into this one- the surprise twist where Peter Pan comes out in the end is very fun. It was heartwarming to see my little sister and other children get wide-eyed when Peter started crowing from the CR dock. It's honestly something that should be done at least once- it's absolutely fantastic