Illuminations Cruise vs. Fireworks Cruise

[cindycviper]

Hi, Can anyone tell me about the Fireworks Cruise and the Illuminations Cruise? Has anyone ever done one or the other or both? Is it worth the price? I am going in July with my 3 children (ages 4, 5, and 8) and my husband and we are trying to figure out if we should spend the money on one of the cruises. Is it worth the money? Which cruise is better? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[bekkiz]

I am really impatient and hate to stand in one place for a long time. On our first visit to WDW/Epcot, I could not bear to wait around so that I maybe could catch part of a glimpse of Illuminations through 20000 heads. The second trip I made a reservation for a private cruise so that I could finally see the show. My fiance and I LOVED it. For us, who love to really explore the parks and see all the small details, it was so worth it to hop on the boat and have an up close view of the show. We went our last night, which was good for two reasons.
1) we weren't nervous about trying to see the show because we knew we'd have to watch it. No squeezing it in anywhere
2) the build up was great. We spent many evenings at Epcot, but we promised not to take any sneak peeks so that we could be totally suprised on the last night

I can't help with the fireworks cruise, we've never seen the fireworks at WDW (we have at DL a number of times). My gut feelings is that b/c they're up in the air, it's easier to see from anywhere, where Illuminations involves stuff close to the water...it's key to have a good seat

hope this helps

 

[Bete]

I've been on bought cruises and I find the MK fireworks cruise too far away from the action. After seeing it close up at the castle this seems to be a dissappointment to me. What I do like about this cruise is at the end of MK's Fantasy in the Sky the boat goes over to see the Electric Pageant in the water.

I've seen Illuminations to many times too mention. I've seen it from so many different view points and nothing beats the cruise. I think it has something to do with an unobstructed view and the fact that you are on the same, water level as where the action takes place. I go away with a tear in my eye each time. To me it's a very emotional experience.

Now, I will say by sharing the cruises it becomes very affordable to do both. I like the advantage of not having to wait hours by land to see either show. That's my best suggestion for you. There are threads here to tell you how to go about doing this option.

It is easier to book the MK cruises. Lately, it hasn't been too hard to book either one but it's still not easy and you have to catch the early worm to do it.

 

[DVCPAT]

I recently booked our second Illuminations cruise in the past three years. I think its worth the money although we had a party of 11 on the first cruise and 10 people on the upcoming cruise (split cost) . We planned a dinner at Cape May before the cruise and it was a great way to end the evening. I recorded some of my familys best video/photo's as we cruised at sunset before the fireworks show.

I've never been on the MK fireworks cruise. The lake seems alittle distant although I could be wrong.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I have done both and think they were wonderful. Our first birthday boat was the fireworks cruise at the Magic Kingdom. We did this in the summer and took a boat from Wilderness Lodge. I think the boat ride is much better in the fireworks cruise than the Illuminations cruise. We rode up to the water parade when it was near the Wilderness Lodge and that was very cool. We got to tour Bay lake and then went by the hotels in the Seven seas Lagoon. It is a longer and more scenic ride than the ride at Epcot. We pulled up in front of the Magic Kingdom( castle) for cake and fireworks. The cruise itself is better here. However the Illuminations cruise is nice for the fireworks. The cruise itself is nothing special or at least it wasn't to us because we stay at the Epcot resorts all the time so there was nothing special about the ride itself but the fireworks were spectacular!!!! You will enjoy either one!

ps. Sometimes they cancel the fireworks at the MK but the cruise still goes so watch the weather and cancellations.