illluminations/wishes cruise anyone been?

[lilgurl25]

planning a fireworks cruise for dh 39th b-day. looking into on of the cruises. is it worth the money and how was the experience?

 

[jen2207]

We took a wishes cruise last September. It was great!

We left from the Polynesian, the boat driver was really knowledgable about Disney history and the design and layout fo the parks/ layout and told great stories. Took us for a tour around the 7 seas lagoon before it got dark and then set up for the fireworks. Then after the fireworks the electric water pagent went right by us! There were drinks and snacks available on the boat, but we had just eaten so we didn't have many, but it seemed like there were plenty.

I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing to do, but my husband loved it so much he thinks it should be something we do every time.

The other really nice thing is that it was just our family on the boat - there were 8 of us along on that trip - and it was just a special moment for all of us to be together, to enjoy the fireworks and the boat ride. Although we were in Disney at a low-crowd season, this made it really seem special that we weren't surrounded by others oohhing and ahhing right on top of us too!

 

[yasuern]

We've done both



We prefer the Illuminations cruises but thats just a personal prefference - Word to the wise though - Illumination cruise are HARD TO GET - so exactly at the 90 day window(if on site you can do 90+10 just like dining ressies) call - start dialing at 6:50am EST and keep hitting redial until they are OPEN then follow the instructions to get to the reservationist.

Wishes cruise are a little easier to come by - but would still plan early.


GOOD LUCK

Sue

AND yes we find it well worth the expense - Also boats hold 10? people so you could try to share the cruise to help with cost just post on the theme park strategies forum.

 

[katyjeka]

We loved our Wishes cruise and have one reserved again for September. We also reserved the Illuminations cruise. I called on Monday and had no problem getting either one. I was iffy on the Illuminations cruise, as I've read so many mixed reviews, but everyone wants to try it.

 

[DT83097]

We did the Illuminations Cruise to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. It was awesome. Our boat captain Jody was really great and as we meandered over (from YC) to Epcot she told us some 'little known facts' about things as we passed by. We docked under the bridge next to the other boats and it was a spectacular view and just a great memory for us. It is pricey but I would totally do it again if the budget allowed!

 

[Iceman10]

Did Wishes twice and it is worth every penny!

 

[MickeyJoy]

My husband and I ended up doing the Illuminations cruise for our honeymoon last year and I can say, hands down, it is one of the most amazing things I have ever done at Disney. After reading numerous posts - I saw that most people preferred the Breathless cruise vs. the pontoon boats - so I booked it. Boy am I glad I did! If you get there early (which they encourage) you get on your boat right away and get going on a great scenic boatride all the way to DHS and back around to dock in EPCOT. Number one - the boat is (forgive the pun) breathtaking. It is a beautiful mahogany cigar boat that REALLY moves. In the channel leading to EPCOT - our driver opened it up to show us what it could do - and we left all those in the pontoon boats in our wake. Boy did they look jealous! We truly felt like millionaires! Everyone wonders how you got the boat - people even took our pictures. The best part - since we have the smaller boat - we could dock closer than the pontoon boats - so we had the closest view. I ended up surprising my husband with this - and he still talks about it! Definitely do it!

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Breathless Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrYHYplWVjQ