Epcot Fireworks - Rose & Crown or Fireworks Cruise? Which would you choose?

[Ciyra]

If you were going to see EPCOT Forever once during your trip.

Would you pick the Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package or a Fireworks Cruise out of Beach Club?

I'd love to hear everyone's pros and cons.

 

[disneydreamer781]

That R&C fireworks package has been unobtainable when I've tried to book it for the past couple of years but since I've already seen the fireworks from R&C many times before, I would probably go with the fireworks cruise particularly if I was staying at one of the Epcot resorts.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Also to note it was always easier to get an outdoor table for fireworks at R&C before having to pay for the package.

 

[Maxie86]

Hand down the fireworks cruise. It is even less expensive than Rose and crown if you have 4 or more people. You cruise around for about an hour before then they park right after the bridge. Can't get a better view than that.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

The cruise is so much better especially if you want something special.

 

[nw6675]

We did the EPCOT cruise in May and had a great time! As a PP said, you cruise down to HS and back from the YC for an hour or so before parking under the bridge to France. Snacks and drinks provided, and alcohol allowed on board.

100%the cruise over R&C. $399 plus tax and tip. Our captain (Mark) was awesome.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Another vote for the cruise - but be ready to book as soon as you can. There are only 5 boats going out each night, and they go quickly, depending on your dates! We enjoy that cruise and show a lot.....

 

[Marthasor]

I've done both and they are both great. R&C is probably the biggest bang for your buck since a full dinner with alcohol is included. It just really depends on how you want to experience the show - the cruise offers you the ability to not have to deal with EP crowds at all and have an unobstructed view. With R&C, you will have to deal with exiting crowds (it's much easier if you exit out of IG) and there are some views that are slightly obstructed and some lights in the area (the servers still need to be able to see). I love them both - we did the cruise in December 2021 and R&C in April - we are going to try for R&C again in December - I just like that dinner is included so it's one less meal and reservation I have to deal with.

 

[anierodzik]

Another vote for the cruise - but be ready to book as soon as you can. There are only 5 boats going out each night, and they go quickly, depending on your dates! We enjoy that cruise and show a lot.....

What is the booking window for the fireworks cruise? Sixty days out?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I believe, and perhaps someone can confirm, it's 60 days or 60+days if you have a WDW reservation - like dining. But you can only get it by calling 407-WDW-PLAY, starting at 7AM.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Another vote for the cruise - but be ready to book as soon as you can. There are only 5 boats going out each night, and they go quickly, depending on your dates! We enjoy that cruise and show a lot.....

Do you know when this is? I just tired < 60 days and was told by the CM, it was not available, yet.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I believe, and perhaps someone can confirm, it's 60 days or 60+days if you have a WDW reservation - like dining. But you can only get it by calling 407-WDW-PLAY, starting at 7AM.

I just tried and I am in the 50s days mark and at Old Key West. CM said it hadn't been released, yet.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I believe, and perhaps someone can confirm, it's 60 days or 60+days if you have a WDW reservation - like dining. But you can only get it by calling 407-WDW-PLAY, starting at 7AM.

Definitely not 60 + as I have an OKW reservation and was told it was not available to book, yet. I am under 60 days.

 

[BigOnDis]

Definitely not 60 + as I have an OKW reservation and was told it was not available to book, yet. I am under 60 days.

Would love to know what the booking window is. We want to do this for our anniversary next spring.

 

[VAtink]

I feel like the last time we booked the cruise they dropped reservations about 2 weeks after our 60 day window opened, which was a tad annoying since by then our 10 day trip advantage was gone . By the time they opened reservations, of our 10 day trip, only one night was available, so once those reservations drop book quickly!

Also a heads up, the cruise will not run if there is lightning in the area, we had that happen last time, even though the storm had moved past and looked far away on the radar, they still cancelled the cruises that evening.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We've done the cruise several times over the years, as recently as this past January. Booking for our Jan, 2023 cruise was definitely 60+ days out. I'm almost certain it was 60 days for previous cruises, as well. No idea why they wouldn't be releasing the dates that far our right now - perhaps something to do with the transition of fireworks shows at EPCOT? This situation is one of the most frustrating with Disney, when they set up rules for booking, and then don't provide the option to book.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

We've done the cruise several times over the years, as recently as this past January. Booking for our Jan, 2023 cruise was definitely 60+ days out. I'm almost certain it was 60 days for previous cruises, as well. No idea why they wouldn't be releasing the dates that far our right now - perhaps something to do with the transition of fireworks shows at EPCOT? This situation is one of the most frustrating with Disney, when they set up rules for booking, and then don't provide the option to book.

Nor could the CM give me a date...frustrating.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I’m trying to book R&C fireworks package, am at 60 days today. Nothing was available For the whole week we are there. I did book a rezzie for 8:50. what are chances of converting this to fireworks package? I’m assuming all tables outside would be reserved for fireworks dining package.

Got all my other rezzies cept for Sunday at Boathouse (arrival day). We are going to do shopping, check out DS and we will just grab something to eat while there.

oh…and Brown Derby…no rezzies available there all week. Does it drop later too?

This is all so foreign to me, vastly different than 15 years ago. Rezzies we’re very easy to do back then and YOU COULD JUST CALL AND DO IT ALL AT ONCE!
Those were the days….

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m trying to book R&C fireworks package, am at 60 days today. Nothing was available For the whole week we are there. I did book a rezzie for 8:50. what are chances of converting this to fireworks package? I’m assuming all tables outside would be reserved for fireworks dining package.

Got all my other rezzies cept for Sunday at Boathouse (arrival day). We are going to do shopping, check out DS and we will just grab something to eat while there.

oh…and Brown Derby…no rezzies available there all week. Does it drop later too?

This is all so foreign to me, vastly different than 15 years ago. Rezzies we’re very easy to do back then and YOU COULD JUST CALL AND DO IT ALL AT ONCE!
Those were the days….

I tried dining outdoors at night during the fireworks in Nov at R&C and was told all outdoor tables with a view of the lake were now fireworks package only. If that’s still true I don’t see how they could convert a normal ADR to a fireworks dining package.

We ended up eating on the patio by the door to the inside, definitely no view. I was disappointed as previous trips I’d been able to get a normal spot out on the top level balcony when the packages were seated on the lower level. If I paid package prices I wouldn’t be happy with that upper level view at R&C because the awning blocks aerial views.

I wouldn’t worry about Brown Derby, sounds like the dining glitch where random restaurants aren’t available until closer in. Set a dining alert, TP offers 2 free alerts but I know there are others too.

 

[stevelle]

We booked a rose and crown dinner, not package, while we were in the park on our Epcot day back in August. We were seated outside under the awning and they removed umbrellas in front of us prior to fireworks. The package seating area is lower down. When we asked about watching the fireworks our waiter said we would be able to see ‘most‘ of them from our table but if we wanted to step to their viewing area away from the awning to watch to let him know and he would hold our food order until after the fireworks. We chose to stay put which in hindsight was a mistake as we could not see all that we wanted. I would definitely do the regular dinner reservation again but this time ask to watch fireworks from the viewing area they have if you are at all under the awning. Also I had wanted a boat cruise, called right at sixty days and almost weekly after that and nothing was ever available. We’ve done the cruise several times and loved it. But it was unbookable this time around. An 830 rose and crown reservation I booked at 7pm that day WAS possible instead.