Fireworks Cruises-Worth the $$$???

[disneyfan61]

I would like to know anyone out there that has done these cruises-Is it worth the money?? Can you tell me about your experiences? I'm thinking about doing
one in April but I'm not sure. Anyone-Thanks!!

 

[ougrad86]

I never took the cruise, but I prefer the experience of standing in front of the castle to watch Wishes. I saw it from a couple other vantage points, being by the castle always was the best and most magical.

 

[woodlandsparty]

I was wondering the same thing. I think I might like to do it for the Epcot fireworks, but not the fireworks at MK. We always stand at the tomorrowland bridge for the MK fireworks so that we can get a close up view of Tinkerbell when she comes down!

 

[paladin]

We haven't done the Wishes cruise, but did the Illuminations one last December and just loved it! It was a highpoint of our trip. We plan to do it (or at least try to get one) on our next trip too. It is, of course, very expensive, so only you can decide if that much money is worth it to you.

 

[Tiltowhirl]

We did the illuminations cruise and we thought it was wonderful. One of the highlights of our trip!

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

We've done Wishes by the castle (which I do love) and, of course, everyone knows how magical that is! But, we loved loved loved the Wishes Fireworks cruise too! You meet your pirate guides before the cruise begins ( Captain Hook and Smead were there, too) and they have a huge dessert buffet set up. Our pirate guide was very much in character and was hilarious! Once onboard the cruise, our pirate guide did a Q&A with everyone (who's celebrating a b-day? and such) and then tested our Disney trivia knowledge, passing out prizes to the winners. We viewed a special show right next to the boat (lit-up whale, dragon, etc..sorry, don't exactly know how to describe it! lol) and then Wishes. In my opinion, it was well worth the extra $$!

Gotta Get To Disney!

 

[saschab]

We love the Illuminations Cruise. We've done it 3 times. That being said, the price increase seems a bit much for us, and we won't do it again.

If the price increase doesn't bother you, then go for it, especially if it's a special occassion.

And if you snag one, and don't mind sharing with another family, you can always post spots available on the Share a Cruise Threads, and split the cost.

 

[hismattjesty]

Posted by GottaGetToDisney!: (lit-up whale, dragon, etc..sorry, don't exactly know how to describe it! lol)

That was the Electrical Water Paegaent you were talking about. Truly a piece of WDW history, and one of the most overlooked things in my opinion.

As for the cruise, my wife and I had a chartered boat for out anniversary in 2005. The cost then was $150, and the Wishes! music was piped onto the boat for the show. In 2006, the cruise went up to like $200, and $250 or $275 if you wanted the music piped in. It was SPECTACULAR to say the least when we did it, but you have to weigh the cost against your own personal entertainment value. Having done it in 2005, I did not feel the price increase, as well as the upcharge for music was worth it.

I do highly recommend that everyone do the cruise at least once, as I honestly believe that the fireworks were designed to be viewed specifically from this vantage pioint. It truly is magical!

 

[MomtoGKC]

I hope it's worth it because we just booked a Wishes cruise yesterday. The price for the premium cruise (fits 10 people and has the music piped in) is about $250 for a one hour cruise. We're paying a little extra for balloons and a Happy Birthday banner so it's $281.69 with tax. I don't think I would have done it if we were alone because it's too expensive, but we'll be there with our best friends so we're splitting it. Also - my husband doesn't love Disney so this is my present to him!

 

[cobbler]

I did the Illuminations a couple of times. But at the new price tag I am going to opt out more as they are getting too expensive.

 

[LizAgna]

I'm seriously considering one of the cruises for our June trip...if you are lucky enough to get one do you put a deposit down or do you pay at the time of your cruise?

thanks!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I've done the pontoon boats twice and the Grand Gathering Wishes cruise once. It's worth every penny! I just love being able to experience Wishes without people talking all around me through the whole thing, worrying if my dd can see or not, moving out of other's path as they walk out of the park in the middle of it, etc. Not to mention not having to fight the crowds after it's over! We just did one on Sept. 28th (the pontoon one, we actually had two boats for our group of 20). We did the premium cruise, which includes the music piped in, snacks and drinks. The cost was $275+tax. Without the music and snacks it's $250+tax. You can book them 90 days in advance, and they require a credit card guarantee. The card will not be charged until you get there, or, if you're splitting it, you can pay your half at the marina. (Our group split it and just paid the drivers when we got to the dock). Hope that helps!

 

[Wishes]

Well . . . first let me say - Oh my gosh - because my husband surprised me last summer with a Wishes Cruise and I had no idea how much it cost! All I can say is that it was worth every penny he paid for it because it was one of the most magical nights we've had as a family at WDW! We took a little private pontoon boat. Our driver took us all around the two lakes. We drove past Wilderness Lodge and the old River Country water park. We watched the Electric Water Parade before heading over to the Seven Seas Lagoon and finding the perfect spot in line with the castle to watch the Wishes show. I can't explain how special it was to be out there on a beautiful summer night - just the four of us celebrating our anniversary together! I will treasure the memory of that night forever. I would highly encourage anyone who can afford it to do it!

 

[disneyfan61]

Thanks to you all for the responses. I worry about booking it & then having it
rain that night. It is a lot of $$$ if it's not a good night. I still have time but I will give it some thought.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

We have done the Illuminations cruise several times and always enjoy this. It make for a very special evening. Now that the prices have increased, we will be standing on the bridge by international gatway.

 

[FigmentGuy]

Also - my husband doesn't love Disney so this is my present to him!

I did this for my DBF too! I wanted to suprise him! We went in December 04. I think thats when they were starting Wishes or Wishes cruises. I tried booking an illumiNations cruise and they said "all booked, would you be interested in a Wishes cruise?" haha.. Well I did the birthday cruise. Ordered a cake, banners, balloons, drinks etc.

About a week before our trip I called to confirm this cruise. They were like "Im sorry MVMCP is to take place that night. There will be no cruises that day, and we don't have any available during your length of stay" AHHHHH I was so upset and pleaded for them to do ANYTHING to help me. Well I got put on hold for a 15 mins and then was told "show up at the dock on my scheduled night and they will see what they can do".

We showed up and there was a pontoon totally decked out and our captin was smiling away. She went out of her way to make sure we got a cruise! She gave us the executive pontoon boat that the "higher ups" use. This thing was a huge boat and VERY nice condition. She had blankies for us even! She felt so bad for what happend to us and wanted to make it "right". So she took us out for a tour on the two lake areas, filled us full of neat triva about MK and the area. So we drop anchor and waited for MVMCP fireworks. She pulled out the cake and got us comfy in our leather couch seats.

She then went to the back of the boat to hide while the 4 of us sat there and happily waited. Then we called her up to join us. She was reluctant at first, but soon joined us. She didn't want to invade on us!!! hahaha We made her eat some cake, wrap up in a blankey with us in the comfy couch/bench thing and wait for fireworks. After talking with her for a while she told us she had worked 15 hours that day and was due back first thing in the morning! We were shocked! She stayed to make sure we had our cruise. She was a college/intern student living in an apartment etc. She then told us that we were the most enjoyable group she had delt with in her past year of working the marina.

So after all this occured my boyfriend was so happy with his suprise birthday cruise. Enjoyed that he was able to do it with his family, and was totally thankful for our captins kind heart. As we left he said "Let me tip her..." He gave her $60 tip! HA! she was like "No no no no" He said "You gave me one of the best nights, and this is the only way I can thank you". We made sure to get her name (which as you can tell has escaped me) and we called guest services to make sure it was noted how much we appreciated her.

This all happened on my first WDW trip. Right then I knew WDW was a special place . ( I think its special because of the "everyday" people who make the magic happen. I love those CMs!) When booking the trip I was nervous that the cruise was like $300. After the cruise I felt EVERY penny was well spent.

Sorry for the long post, but it is one of my best WDW memories.

 

[MomtoGKC]

I'm so happy everybody liked it! We're going to order a cake and get some wine too - that way I'll be sure my husband likes it. He doesn't like crowds (hence, not loving Disney), so I thought this was a good solution. The night we're cruising is also my daughter's birthday so we're celebrating two birthdays in one!

 

[disneyfan61]

I did this for my DBF too! I wanted to suprise him! We went in December 04. I think thats when they were starting Wishes or Wishes cruises. I tried booking an illumiNations cruise and they said "all booked, would you be interested in a Wishes cruise?" haha.. Well I did the birthday cruise. Ordered a cake, banners, balloons, drinks etc.

About a week before our trip I called to confirm this cruise. They were like "Im sorry MVMCP is to take place that night. There will be no cruises that day, and we don't have any available during your length of stay" AHHHHH I was so upset and pleaded for them to do ANYTHING to help me. Well I got put on hold for a 15 mins and then was told "show up at the dock on my scheduled night and they will see what they can do".

We showed up and there was a pontoon totally decked out and our captin was smiling away. She went out of her way to make sure we got a cruise! She gave us the executive pontoon boat that the "higher ups" use. This thing was a huge boat and VERY nice condition. She had blankies for us even! She felt so bad for what happend to us and wanted to make it "right". So she took us out for a tour on the two lake areas, filled us full of neat triva about MK and the area. So we drop anchor and waited for MVMCP fireworks. She pulled out the cake and got us comfy in our leather couch seats.

She then went to the back of the boat to hide while the 4 of us sat there and happily waited. Then we called her up to join us. She was reluctant at first, but soon joined us. She didn't want to invade on us!!! hahaha We made her eat some cake, wrap up in a blankey with us in the comfy couch/bench thing and wait for fireworks. After talking with her for a while she told us she had worked 15 hours that day and was due back first thing in the morning! We were shocked! She stayed to make sure we had our cruise. She was a college/intern student living in an apartment etc. She then told us that we were the most enjoyable group she had delt with in her past year of working the marina.

So after all this occured my boyfriend was so happy with his suprise birthday cruise. Enjoyed that he was able to do it with his family, and was totally thankful for our captins kind heart. As we left he said "Let me tip her..." He gave her $60 tip! HA! she was like "No no no no" He said "You gave me one of the best nights, and this is the only way I can thank you". We made sure to get her name (which as you can tell has escaped me) and we called guest services to make sure it was noted how much we appreciated her.

This all happened on my first WDW trip. Right then I knew WDW was a special place . ( I think its special because of the "everyday" people who make the magic happen. I love those CMs!) When booking the trip I was nervous that the cruise was like $300. After the cruise I felt EVERY penny was well spent.

Sorry for the long post, but it is one of my best WDW memories.

Wow-Thank you so much for this post. I love hearing that there are some very nice people out there. We keep hearing how rude & obnoxious people are
but to hear about this wonderful intern gives me some hope that there really
are some generous & caring people in this world!!! And you seemed to make her night as well. It was nice of you to have her join you (I hopefully would have thought to do the same thing). Thanks again for this great experience you had & I am glad it turned out so great for you!!!

 

[mdhkitten]

I went on an Illuminations cruise back in 2003 on Breathless (that's the name of the smaller boat). It was so wonderful and romantic! The driver took us all around the lake by MGM and let it go as fast as it could, and then we finally came to World Showcase and were "parked" underneath the International Gateway bridge. Our driver left the boat (he sat under the bridge), so it was very nice. They had a birthday on the pontoon boat that was near us and he offered us stuff from that. All I can say is that this experience was AMAZING, seeing Illuminations almost privately! Another neat thing is that people would look down and wave at us as if they were trying to figure out who those celebrities were down in those boats! I also must add that our driver was incredible. We had eaten at San Angel Inn before the cruise and I became violently ill on the way to the cruise, almost not being able to make it. He ended up only charging us half price because of my being so sick.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It is a lot of money for 12-minutes of Wishes.
2) Some thought it was worth the bucks, others weren't so sure.