Got my Illuminations Birthday cruise!!!

[Scottish-Helen]

I took an early lunch at work today so I could try and get through on the phone to book and Illuminations cruise for my parents first visit to WDW and my 33rd birthday. I got it!!!!!! I'm so excited


I have to partly thank TourGuideMike as he gave me some extra tips on how to get through

Can anybody give me any feedback on the cruise??

 

[Miffy2003]

Oh well done Helen!!

Can't give you any feedback but we loved our Wishes Cruise and everything I have seen suggests Illuminations is even better ! I am sure it will be a very memorable experience

 

[Frances999]

Congratulations!

We did an Illuminations Cruise last August and it was the highlight of the trip. We had the pleasure of having Captain Ron, who was really friendly and shared some great Disney trivia with us.

Firstly you will tour around the nearby waterways, over near the Swan/Dolphin and Boardwalk areas, before heading over to EPCOT for the Illuminations. We ordered a delicious cake to have on board (well we didn't ourselves, the Polynesian concierge ordered it for us as a surprise for our anniversary) but I would highly recommend you do the same - especially for a birthday trip. You also get coffee/soft drinks and potato chips on board too. There are blankets to keep warm in if it is chilly.

You will have a wonderful time!

 

[KayleeUK]

We did a Wishes Birthday cruise last year Here is the cake we got...

 

[Minniespal]

Well done Helen ~ You will have a fantastic time.

 

[slinky101]

Oh lucky you, we did the birthday cruise last year for my DH 9th birthday it was atotal surprise and she loved it, we also had the cake, I phoned about three weeks before to order that and had the boat decorated with a birthday banner and balloons, as we went around the boardwalk area lots of people were shouting happy birthday to us, it was really special.
Parking up under the bridge to watch the firewoprks was amazing, we felt like royalty with all the commoners on the bridge who had been keeping their spot for hours!
you will have a fantastic time and a birthday you will never forget

 

[Camac]

Congratulations Scottish-Helen.

I would like to do this for my Scottish-husband's 50th when we visit in January. How did you go about booking the cruise and when would I need to start booking for one on 4th January 2007?

Thanks.

Camac

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Camac, here is the link from the theme parks forum http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=560160

This gives pretty good instructions on how to get through. I have to say the I got some extra tips from the TourGuideMike site which I think helped me but as it is a site that you pay for we have to promise not to share the information that it gives.

The most important thing is to start calling 001 407 939 7529 just before 7am 90 days before you want the cruise which would be around the 6th October 2006 (you are advised to call a couple of days before just to make sure of the date)

If you don't manage to get one there is usually an Illuminations Cruise Central post where you can ask if anybody has one available to share.

Hope this helps

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Those cakes look great. I know that if I want one I will have to order it myself as DH wouldn't know where to start, bless him

 

[KayleeUK]

That cake came as part of the package

 

[jns]

Well done

 

[slinky101]

scottish helen, hope I havent confused you, I booked the standard cruise then phonesd up later to add on the birthday package part, if you have booked the illuminations cruise as a birthday package you will get the cake etc hope that makes sense. I think we had a choice of cake and choice of frosting, as its called in the U S of A

 

[Camac]

Hi Scottish-Helen,

Thanks for the advice. Sorry to be dull but I am just a bit confused with this bit:-

I]Since these cruises are so much in demand, start calling about 6:55 am est. If you get a recording that they are not open yet, disconnect and immediately hit redial. If you get the recording thanking you for calling hit #3 right away, as soon as the second recording begins press #2, when the third recording begins press either your reservation number or phone number and finish with the pound sign. Then press #1, then #2. This will take you to a reservationist, if you have to hold do not disconnect or you go to the bottom of the queue.[/I]

Especially the the part about entering my reservation number or phone number and pressing the pound sign. What exactly do they mean?

Many thanks.

Camac

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Hi Scottish-Helen,

Thanks for the advice. Sorry to be dull but I am just a bit confused with this bit:-



Especially the the part about entering my reservation number or phone number and pressing the pound sign. What exactly do they mean?

Many thanks.

Camac

You need to type in 10 digits of your phone number, so if your number has 6 digits type in the last 4 digits of your area code as well. The pound key, that those "cute" americans are talking about, is what is international known as the "hash" key (#).

 

[Camac]

Thanks Richard,

I would have struggled for a long time with that one!

Camac

 

[Bekki]

Hi,

Does anybody know the food option levels on these Cruises, do they do one with Deserts etc?

Thanks
Bekki

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi,

Does anybody know the food option levels on these Cruises, do they do one with Deserts etc?

Thanks
Bekki

Hi Bekki,

Found this for you, does it help? I would have thought you could ask for desserts only if that's what you want (though you will have to pay the private dining option of course)

ILLUMINATIONS BASIC CRUISE -

-$250.00 tax included for up to 10 guests. Price includes pontoon boat, driver, water, soda and bagged snacks

-Guests may order Private Dining to be delivered to the cruise

ILLUMINATIONS CELEBRATION CRUISE -

Same as Illuminations Basic Cruise plus decorations.

-$275.00, tax included

-Guests may order Private Dining to be delivered to the cruise

 

[mark&sue]

I would really like to book one of these and have registered with tourguidemike yesterday. However I can't find anything new on this website that I didn't already know about this cruise. Perhaps I need to look more thoroughly!!!! My party is fairly big so will not be able to share as sadly me and Joh (wilma bride) have already looked into this a few weeks ago when researching these cruises.

I don't need to start trying until July which coincides with school holidays which might make it easier me to get the time off work to make these phone calls.

Hope everyone that wants one can get one!



Susan

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Sue have PM'd you