Illuminations Cruise really is now $250!

[Aisling]

I was all psyched to call for this tomorrow morning, but as other posters have been saying, the price is now $250! It's for 10 people and includes soda and chips/pretzles. I asked the CM if it would cost less if I opt out of the snacks and drinks, but she said no, it's automatically included in the price, and if I don't partake, I still have to pay the $250.

I think this is terrible. I realize it's a very high demand thing, but for disney to raise the price like that just makes me wonder why. People are falling over each other, getting up at the crack of dawn, using calling strategies to get a boat, so they know they'll be guaranteed their $$. Is it just greed? Is it price-gouging? When did this happen?

Well, I'm really sad to say that there will be one less person to beat making that call tomorrow morning. I'm so disappointed.


edited to add...
I just called back to ask about the MK specialty cruise (the Wishes Cruise), and it's $200 for up to 8 people. I remember 2 years ago both cruises were $120 and seated up to 12.

 

[Tink10]

I believe the price changes took place late last fall.....(Please correct me if I'm wrong)

All things considered, I think that the Illumination cruises were an amazing bargain at the old price. I really don't blame Disney for raising the price because the demand for the boats warrented the price increase. Even at the new price of $250, they're still a bargain if you have a larger group or are celebrating a special occasion. We've done 4 or 5 cruises so far & have 2 Breathless cruises reserved in June & I think that even at $250 + tip, they're very much worth it.....No waiting for a viewing spot, comfy seats, a really fun ride, snacks & drinks & I can order champagne!

If Disney offered reserved seating for Illumination that included snacks & drinks for x number of dollers per person, I have no doubt that it would sell out nearly every night.

They're a business & they're going to charge more for things that have the most demand.

Can't wait til June!

 

[Aisling]

I believe the price changes took place late last fall.....(Please correct me if I'm wrong)

All things considered, I think that the Illumination cruises were an amazing bargain at the old price. I really don't blame Disney for raising the price because the demand for the boats warrented the price increase. Even at the new price of $250, they're still a bargain if you have a larger group or are celebrating a special occasion. We've done 4 or 5 cruises so far & have 2 Breathless cruises reserved in June & I think that even at $250 + tip, they're very much worth it.....No waiting for a viewing spot, comfy seats, a really fun ride, snacks & drinks & I can order champagne!

If Disney offered reserved seating for Illumination that included snacks & drinks for x number of dollers per person, I have no doubt that it would sell out nearly every night.

They're a business & they're going to charge more for things that have the most demand.

Can't wait til June!

Darn it, I'm going to try for it anyway!

 

[lizanne]

We've done the Illuminations Cruise probably 4 or 5 times and Wishes once, because my husband really enjoys the boat and made the ressies.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd rather be in the park.

 

[WDW TRIP NUT]

Good to hear from your Asling! I shared the Illuminatiions cruise with you, your DS's, and Mom a While back. Yes, It has gone up. I just did the cruise again this past Dec. While it was fun (I shared with some great Diser's and we had the same Capt. as our cruise.) I just really don't think it is worth so much $$$$ The drinks are just can cokes and the snacks are small bags of chips. I might do this again, but don't feel that it is a must do every trip.

 

[bicker]

I think it's long overdue. We were unable to book an Illuminations Cruise for our last trip because they were sold-out. With the price increase, maybe we'll have a better chance next time we bring the kids.

 

[PoohHappens]

We did a wishes cruise in October right after the price increase, Oct 3rd to be exact. The price changed after we booked it. This was for my mother's birthday and her husband was paying although I booked it. I was embarassed to have to call him about the price increase. Thankfully I found out ahead of time or it would have been VERY embarassing. THere were 8 of us and it was a surprise, my mom had no idea. Honestly, it was one of our best memories from the trip. It was so peaceful and we had a great captain. It was a long ride and then the fireworks. My mom loved it. We figured it was 25 a head and a great experience for that cost (in disney pricing) Still it is a lot of money and not something we will be doing every trip. It was a spendy birthday, we all ate a Kona about 350 plus the cruise 200 and we had spent the day at Epcot. Of course for us it was a bargin, my mom covered the trip for the whole fam (all 8) I made all the ressies and got in on the free DP deal for us all (so we did not really pay for Kona) and her hubby paid the cruise. My sisters fam and ours split the tip so our days cost was $20. Needless to say we have thanked my mom a million times for the trip--it was full of memories.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We took one the second week of March. It was $234, plus tax, which made it $250.00.

I managed to get another very nice family to join us by posting on the DIS and they split the cost with us. Maybe you can do the same thing?

It really was one of the highlights of our trip. Our driver (Wally) drove us all over the waterways and even let the kids drive the pontoon boat.

It was very nice and very relaxing. Not something I'd do every trip, but since it was for my daughter's 16th b-day, it was worth it in my opinion.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Yes, it really is $250. We did it last year in October and the price increase went into effect October 1.

We shared with 2 other groups of folks from the DIS and we had a terrific evening. We didn't need the snacks at all because most of us met for dinner at Yachtsman before the cruise, but we had some of the soda.

I guess the increase was pretty steep, but since it was our first time we knew going in how much it would cost. DS and DH are probably going to do a fishing excursion in August and those are $230 for a maximum of 5 people. I guess as long as people are willing to pay then Disney isn't losing anything.