GF Pirate Cruise or Family Magic Tour?

[triplefigs]

We are staying at the GF the first week in December. I was planning to do the GF Pirate Cruise for my triplets as one of my DS is a HUGE Captain Hook (see photo below) fan and thought "pirate cruise". Well, after researching the pirate cruise I'm worried they will not enjoy it as much (when I mentioned a 'pirate cruise' he thought he'd get to ride on the Jolly Roger with Hook, Smee, and Peter Pan)! Also, my other DS has special needs, and I'm a little worried about how he would react to a 2 hour boat ride... And DH is such a "mother hen" and is worried about them with "strangers" on a boat for 2 hours (I know they'll be in good hands but it's hard convincing him).

So, I started reading about the Family Magic Tour at MK where you search for Captain Hook's missing gold hook. I was wondering if they (especially my CH fan) would enjoy this activity more since it specifically involves the story of Captain Hook and Peter Pan? And I know they would all three love getting to go on a special ride with a character at the end! It just sounds like a fun family event.

We only have money for one special event. Which one do you think they would enjoy more~ especially since they want to focus on Captain Hook/Peter Pan?

ETA: does the FMT *ALWAYS* involve the same story (with Captain Hook)? I would hate to book it and then it NOT!

Thanks!

 

[wuv tigger]

Our 2 dd's (5 & just turned 3 on the trip) LOVED it!

I won't give away the "secrets" of the tour ... it's great !

Our dd who's 3 sat on Wendy's lap for the show.

HTH,

Judy

 

[triplefigs]

Our 2 dd's (5 & just turned 3 on the trip) LOVED it!

I won't give away the "secrets" of the tour ... it's great !

Our dd who's 3 sat on Wendy's lap for the show.

HTH,

Judy

My DD would die if she lucked out and saw Wendy! I also read that one family got Sleeping Beauty at the end. I think they'd be thrilled with any character!

 

[MECH8T7]

Family Magic Tour. No contest! Great character interaction and something you can enjoy as a family.

Given that you are staying at the GF, the only downside I can see is that your kids may see the other kids departing on the Pirate Cruise wearing their Mickey Mouse ear bandanas from the GF marina.

 

[Connor' Dad]

Are 3 yos allowed on this? Wea re going in Sep.-Oct. and my son does not turn 4 until Dec. He would love to go on this, as he also is a huge Capt. Hook fan.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We're doing Pirate Cruise, Family Magic Tour, Grand Adventures in Cooking and Wonderland Tea Party in July. I'll let you know when we get back how it goes. My 4 year old did the Pirate Cruise and Wonderland Tea Party last year and loved them. It's our first time doing the Family Magic Tour and the Cooking Adventures so we'll see how it goes.

 

[HIHO...HIHO]

What is this? I have not heard of it before? Does anyone know where it is done and what times? Sounds great, since I could not get the pirate cruise - already booked up the week we are there!

 

[triplefigs]

It's a 2 hour tour in the MK for families and children. Captain Hook's golden hook has been stolen by Peter Pan. Unless the children follow the clues and find it, CH will take over the MK! It's supposed to be a fun and silly time. It gets great reviews. At the end of the tour a special character meets the kids and takes them on the ride of their choice.

It is from 10am-12pm. Here's a link to Deb's site.

http://allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#fmt

 

[sanibelover]

I think the Family Magic Tour sounds like a lot of fun. My boys (5 1/2 and 8 at the time) did the Pirate Cruise and like it, but didn't love it. Actually, I never heard them even talk about it unless I asked questions. I would pick Family Magic!

 

[rob'n]

The FMT sounds like so much fun and it is something you could all enjoy as a family.

My DS did the Pirate Cruise last year but the weather was stormy so they did not go out on the boat. They had a scavenger hunt around the GF. He seemed unphased by the whole adventure and he has never talked about it since.

We are going to try the Family Magic Tour this year.

Have fun with whatever you decide!

 

[triplefigs]

Thank you all for your replies! DH and I have decided to do the FMT instead. I agree it sounds like a blast, and my Hook fans will love it! I'm really looking forward to us getting a break to act silly and run around the park. And I know the kids will be thrilled when a character (and they won't care which one) surprises them at the end!

Thanks again!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

One more question for the FMT: How big is each group? Are there sometimes too many kids in each group? I read on the above link that the kids get to pick which ride to go on. Is it then which ride gets the most votes?

 

[MinnieM3]

I'm curious about this too!

 

[triplefigs]

One more question for the FMT: How big is each group? Are there sometimes too many kids in each group? I read on the above link that the kids get to pick which ride to go on. Is it then which ride gets the most votes?

From everything I've read the groups are about 20-25 people total (with about 15 kids or so). I'm sure that can vary, but I think this is the average.

It appears as if the surprise character will "suggest" a ride to go on at the end, but I'm sure the group could also pick. The 3 rides I've seen mentioned are Philharmagic, Small World, and Peter Pan.

HTH, but I'm hoping someone who has done the tour will answer.

 

[MECH8T7]

One more question for the FMT: How big is each group? Are there sometimes too many kids in each group? I read on the above link that the kids get to pick which ride to go on. Is it then which ride gets the most votes?

Our group was 15, of which 7 were children. I've heard that 20 is the max. I don't think they try to control what the composition of the group is vis-a-vis adults and children. When we initially signed up about 45 days in advance, we were only able to get spaces for two of us and we kept checking right up to the day of the tour for additional spaces. Fortunately for us, when we checked-in for the tour, they told us that there was room to add the other two. So, I think the only thing they control is the maximum size of the group.

The characters asked people to tell them which rides they liked and our characters suggested that we all do Philharmagic together...it's not like we did a vote -- at least in our tour -- but I assume that, if people said they hated Philharmagic, we would have done something different. (Actually, our son does hate Philharmagic -- the darkness and 3-d effects scare him -- but he was nodding his head when it was suggested). Philharmagic actually works really well as a ride to do with the group. Because there is some waiting time outside the theatre before the show starts, there's a good chance for more character interaction with the kids -- the members of the tour lined up outside the handicapped entrance instead of waiting with the rest of the crowd. Also, all the kids feel as if they are experiencing the attraction with the characters together rather than just the lucky ones who would be riding with the character in one of the rides.

Hope this helps. The FMT was great fun.

 

[Janet2k]

We attended the Family Magic Tour last year. It was wonderful. I wrote about it in detail in my trip report, and also included links to many photos of the event. Click here to go to the page where I describe the tour (look for the post on that page entitled, "Day 2: Grand Floridian (Part 2)").

I have read that the tours can have different characters on them. We had Peter Pan and Wendy on our tour.