Illuminations Cruise: No guarantee??

[Aisling]

I just read that if you are lucky enough to get the 8:30 PM ressie for the "Specialty Cruise" pontoon boat, which we all call the Illuminations Cruise, there no guarantee you'll actualle see Illuminatyions.
What does this mean? What time does Illuminations begin? If you have the boat for 45 minmutes beginning at 8:30 PM, will that be enough time to see Illuminations?

Has anyone ever had an Illuminations-intended ressie and NOT seen Illuminations for whatever reason?

 

[Dan Murphy]

When you call, ask for one that would be for Illuminations. Use the help thread stuck at the top of this board. Illuminations is normally at 9 PM, and 9:30 during holidays when Candlelight is playing. When they talk about no guarantee, I think they are referring to cruises you would book earlier in the day.

 

[DebbieB]

I think they are talking about a delay or cancellation due to weather or technical difficulties. If Illuminations is delayed or cancelled, you still just have the boat for the specified time.

 

[mickeysaver]

I had tried to book an Illuminations cruise, but they are about as hard to get as CRT ressies. But, they did have the MK Specialty cruise. So, I booked that. With the Specialty cruise, there is no guarantee that there will be fireworks. It could turn out to be only a 1 hour ride in the night on a pontoon boat over to MK and back again. I personally would not want to spend $120 + tax and tip on the cruise without fireworks. We were lucky enough to find 8 other people from the internet to come join us on the boat. I can't wait! Maggie

 

[nativetxn]

Debbie is correct, if Illuminations is delayed or cancelled you may not get to see Illuminations during your cruise time.

I have never heard of a case where that has happened, yet. It is just a disclaimer Disney uses, just in case.

While Fantasmic is often cancelled Illuminations cancellations are very rare.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by mickeysaver
I With the Specialty cruise, there is no guarantee that there will be fireworks. It could turn out to be only a 1 hour ride in the night on a pontoon boat over to MK and back again. I personally would not want to spend $120 + tax and tip on the cruise without fireworks.

The CM recommend I book several days in a row (these are MUUUCH easier to come by than Illuminations). As it got closer and the schedule was tight, I cancelld any night not having fireworks, than cancelled again a few days before for weather forcast.,

Again, I would never have booked so many but the CM offered the idea and highly recommended it.

Sandy

 

[Ted and Holly]

I am not sure if it is still like this, but it used to be if you called and asked for an "Illuminations Cruise", they pretended not to know what it was. What you were booking was a specialty cruise that happened to be at the same time as Illuminations. You can book the same cruise at a different time and they just cruise the lagoons.

I am not surprised that there is a clause that states that there is no guarantee. Waiting for the perfect bench to watch Illuminations, only to find out it is delayed or canceled in one thing, paying for a cruise and finding out is another.

Ted