Edie
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 55
Sorry I didn't reply - the jet lag and head cold are still playing havoc with me.
Anyway, the Breathless is special because she's the only one Disney owns. She's a replica of a 1930s speedboat and entirely made of mahogany. If you want to see a picture try here http://www.wdwig.com/illum.htm. I'm not a boat person so please excuse my ignorance about these things but the boat captain told us that it's top speed is roughly equivalent to 50 mph. This seems pretty fast when you're whizzing about on the lake. The captain also told us that Disney paid about $80,000 when they bought her but they estimate she's now worth somewhere in the region of $200,000!!!
Of course the other major benefit is that you don't have to stake out your position for Illuminations in advance and you get an uninterrupted view across the lagoon which is fantastic. We were also lucky because our captain dropped us off at MGM to get the bus home, meaning that we didn't have to fight the Illuminations crowds in Epcot and the MGM Fantasmic crowds had already disappeared.
To me it was worth every penny. Of course you also get to feel like Lady Muck as you watch the fireworks from your padded leather seats whilst all the mere mortals have to stand!! Not that I'm a snob
! It just depends on what you like to spend your dollars on.
One word of warning, the Breathless seats 7, although I would say it would only seat 5 adults comfortably. If there's a crowd of you, you'd be better of with one of the pontoons (equally as comfortable but no where near as flash!).
Edie
Anyway, the Breathless is special because she's the only one Disney owns. She's a replica of a 1930s speedboat and entirely made of mahogany. If you want to see a picture try here http://www.wdwig.com/illum.htm. I'm not a boat person so please excuse my ignorance about these things but the boat captain told us that it's top speed is roughly equivalent to 50 mph. This seems pretty fast when you're whizzing about on the lake. The captain also told us that Disney paid about $80,000 when they bought her but they estimate she's now worth somewhere in the region of $200,000!!!
Of course the other major benefit is that you don't have to stake out your position for Illuminations in advance and you get an uninterrupted view across the lagoon which is fantastic. We were also lucky because our captain dropped us off at MGM to get the bus home, meaning that we didn't have to fight the Illuminations crowds in Epcot and the MGM Fantasmic crowds had already disappeared.
To me it was worth every penny. Of course you also get to feel like Lady Muck as you watch the fireworks from your padded leather seats whilst all the mere mortals have to stand!! Not that I'm a snob
! It just depends on what you like to spend your dollars on.One word of warning, the Breathless seats 7, although I would say it would only seat 5 adults comfortably. If there's a crowd of you, you'd be better of with one of the pontoons (equally as comfortable but no where near as flash!).
Edie
As Edie says, you can get more on the pontoon should you need to, and although they may lack the elegance of the Breathless, they cost less(!), you can move around on them (when stationary), and they sit higher in the water than the Breathless.
