I got the boat

[kstinw19]

I am so excited!! I started calling at 6:58 a.m. this morning and was able the get the last boat for the Illuminations Cruise in September. I am so so excited!

I have always wondered who those people were that got to be on the lake during Illuminations and now I will be one of them. Yippee!!

Those of you who have done this, how is it and do you have any tips?

Thanks

 

[Jrabbit910]

Hi K,
I have never been on the boat but I wanted to do the happy dance for you! Hope you have a great time! The only thing that I read about it was that it was beautiful!

 

[J&J]

We have taken this cruise a couple of times it is so wonderful. Enjoy

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Well done, it's very exciting isn't it. We did the illuminations cruise in May for my birthday and we really felt special as you will too

 

[tacomaranch]

How wonderful! Good on ya mate~

 

[01Sweetpea]

We did this cruise in 2004, and had a great time.

The only tip I have is if you want to cut down on the cost, share the boat with some of the DISers on this board. The boat is fairly big, and comfortably holds 10 people.

We did this and had a great time metting some other DISers.

 

[McKelly]

Did you call 90 days from the day you wanted it, or were you able to book it 90 days from the start of your vacation for a later date into your trip?

 

[kstinw19]

Did you call 90 days from the day you wanted it, or were you able to book it 90 days from the start of your vacation for a later date into your trip?

I called this morning, which is 90 days from the day I wanted it. I didn't try to book it at 90 days from the start of the vacation, but I really don't think that I would have beena able to. The CM I spoke to really double checked that today was the 90th day, and at first told me that 90 days would have been tomorrow...I panicked but knew I was right.

He told me that I got the last boat which I find strange since I got through at literally 6:58 a.m. So maybe they do book them ahead of time...who knows?

And as for the 10 passenger, friends who live in Florida may come to WDW that day and join us for the cruise, so I will wait and see if they do. If not, I will open it up to Dis'ers.

 

[J&J]

I have had that also called starting at 6:50 get someone at 7:00 then find out all boats taken. When I asked one girl she was rude and said

I don't think so Disney would not paid for that many people just to answer the phones for the boats.

 

[aengus]

Congrats!!! You will love it, I have been a few times now and the view is so incredible and no crowds to fight or hours to wait for that spot!

What always works for us is we have 4 adults calling, all starting at 6:55 at exactly the 90 day mark. I call the day before for a dry run LOL, make sure all the prompts are as expected. I print out a sheet for them all as a bullet list (i.e. hit #1, hit #3, enter phone #, I want to book a fireworks specialty cruise for xx/xx illuminations).

Using this method we have never failed, and we usually have 2 out of the 4 succeed, so we cancel a boat after the fact. Last trip we kept the breathless cruise and I highly recommend that also!

 

[Mimi Q]

I was supposed to call yesterday but didn't- oops. Congrats to you. We have done it several times and really enjoy it.

 

[kj2mom]

I am soo excited for you. I am a couple weeks away from my 90 day window and I am soo hoping I can get a boat. Did you use the method in the sticky thread? Do you have any additional info that might be helpful? It is my twins birthday and I am sooo anxious to do this and get one!