Firework cruises

[dossie]

Hi all - just joined this great site in anticipation of our third visit to WDW next August (2007) - not that I'm very excited or anything.

Has anyone taken a firework cruise at either Epcot or MK?
It will be our 10th Wedding Anniversary and thought it might be romantic

Ta
Dossie

 

[mushumadness]

I have done both cruises

We prefer the wishes cruise, it is very romantic especially if you just have the boat to yourself

They are quiet hard to get though

 

[dossie]

Thanks for that - just trying to get a plan together - with a few surprises.
One last thing - how do you get the countdown on yourprofile?

 

[dossie]

Thanks for that. Also, trying to get used to this site - how do you get the countdown thingy up on your profile?
Ta

 

[AlanUK]

Hi Dossie,

Welcome to the DIS

We have also done both cruises and whilst both are enjoyable I would disagree with Anna and say that we enjoyed the Illuminations Cruise at EPCOT more

The reason for that is mainly because the Illuminations cruise is a more immersive experience, you are within the park under the bridge between the UK and France and as such have a fantastic view, as well as being able to hear all the music that goes with the show.

With the Wishes cruise you are outside of the park, don't necessarily have a good a view as you get within the park if you stake out a spot early, and you can't hear any of the music It's still a nice thing to do but of the two I would pick the Illumations cruise over the Wishes cruise

Hope that helps.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi dossie and welcome to the Dis

I have only done the Wishes cruise and it was a fantastic experience! It is quite pricey so we chose to share with some friends who were in Orlando at the same time to share the costs

 

[mousette]

Hi,

Me and my other half done the Illuminations cruise last year in the "Breathless" which is a reprodution cruiser, very beautiful.

We left from the beach club dock, had a nice leisurley cruise around the lake, and then parked up under the bridge to see the fireworks.
We had a fantastic view and the fireworks were amazing.

When they were finished we then headed back to the dock and the captain asked if we wanted a quick burst at full speed around the bay.
My husband wanted to but I said NO!!!

All in we were on the boat for just over an hour and it was fantastic, pricey but hey you are on holiday!!

 

[dossie]

Is it easy to get from the dock back to your hotel by bus after the cruise - (we are now staying at AKL)??

 

[Miffy2003]

Is it easy to get from the dock back to your hotel by bus after the cruise - (we are now staying at AKL)??

From MK yes, just head back to the MK and grab a bus from there
From the Epcot area you have two choices. You could boat or walk from the dock into Epcot, and then walk through the whole of Epcot (looooong walk ) to get a bus. Or, what I would do, from the boat dock get on a boat to MGM and then get right off there onto a bus to AKL

Actually thinking about it there is another option which would be to get a bus to DTD from the resort where the boat dock is, change buses at DTD and get on one for AKL

I would do the resort dock - MGM by boat dock- bus to AKL personally.

 

[dossie]

Miffy - thanks so much - you have been really helpful and I will definately attempt to book this now. Let's hope I'm lucky!!

 

[foxylady]

We've got back yesterday and this year we were lucky enough to share a Wishes & Illuminations Cruise. Both were booked by other people and then they advertised on this board, (and another one!) for people to share. This was a great way for us (only 3 of us) to afford either.

Of the two I have to say Illuminations was great and although both were excellent, Illuminations was better because you are closer to the action - so to speak! If you book an Illuminations Cruise, ask for Captain Ron - he was brilliant.

Having said that Wishes is romantic. As we stopped to watch the fireworks, there was a young English couple in the next boat, who had literally just got engaged that evening. He had used the cruise to propose - how romantic is that?

 

[maleficent_man]

I've done the Illuminations one and it was ace.....you get such a fab view - the only problem might be if the wind is strong and blowing the wrong direction.

I've watched Wishes a few times from the Cali Grill and you can see all the boats sitting on Seven Seas Lagoon and to be honest it doesn't appeal to me as much as Illuminations. At Epcot, you can feel the heat from the barges!

You'll enjoy it whatever happens I'm sure.

 

[richard_andmel]

Of the two we like the Wishes cruise much more. It's important to do it after you have seen Wishes in the MK on a previous night, it's much more enjoyable that way I think. Also if you go for the premium boat, the music is piped in.