IllumiNations Cruise ?

[njprincess601]

Hello everyone!

I hope to book an IllumiNations Cruise for our trip in May, but I have a few questions...

1. Since the ADR booking dates are moving back to 180 days, can I book the IllumiNations cruise 180 days out too?

2. What time/where do you have to be to get on the boat?

3. What kind of snacks to they provide?

TIA

 

[zenshome]

1. You can use the following link for your Reservation dates: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html
2. Boardwalk
3. Snacks are potato chips and sodas. At least they were for our trip.

A cool ride with some interesting information about Illuminations and the resorts. Very nice view of Illuminations. Good luck on your reservations!

 

[njprincess601]

Thanks!

 

[MartinaC]

Hi there,
We did the illuminations cruise while there in july. Chips and sodas were our snacks as well.
Just and fyi, have you been on the MK fireworks cruise? We have done both. We enjoyed the MK fireworks alot more. It is a longer cruise and you get to see much more area's.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

1. You can use the following link for your Reservation dates: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html
2. Boardwalk
3. Snacks are potato chips and sodas. At least they were for our trip.

A cool ride with some interesting information about Illuminations and the resorts. Very nice view of Illuminations. Good luck on your reservations!

We were able to get our Illuminations Cruise from the YC marina. We loved it!
They had sodas and bottled water, and chips,pretzels etc.

 

[njprincess601]

Hi there,
We did the illuminations cruise while there in july. Chips and sodas were our snacks as well.
Just and fyi, have you been on the MK fireworks cruise? We have done both. We enjoyed the MK fireworks alot more. It is a longer cruise and you get to see much more area's.

No, I've never done a fireworks cruise of any kind. I figured we would like the IllumiNations cruise better, simply because we like IllumiNations better, but I would consider a Wishes cruise. What other area's did you get to see?
Where did your boat leave from?

 

[Doingitagain]

We have done both Illuminations and Wishes. Family vote showed preference for Wishes.

Get there as soon as the marina opens that evening and they will generally take you out early and drive around on the water.

For Illuminations, we left from Yacht and Beach Club Marina. Walked over from Epcot.

If you do Wishes, I recommend getting the music piped in (all have this except for the smaller boats). Also, if the timing is right they will take you out to see the "light show parade" that performs in front of each of the waterfront resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, etc.) about 9:00 each evening. If you are staying at any of these resorts, head down to the dock/beach to watch it if you are in that evening. For Wishes, we left from Grand Floridian. You can take the resort monorail from MK.

Each cruise had soda and water. Snacks were chips, pretzels, etc. You can cater in a meal through them if you like (we didn't, we usually have an ADR before).

They also offered anniversary decorations (balloons and such) for $25, but we declined so I don't know what they are like.

Since these leave from a waterfront resort rather than a park, you don't need park tickets. Might be an option for one of your "off" days. Also since there is a fixed price for the boat, you can invite friends who live in the area to join you at no additional cost since they don't need a park ticket (just make sure you know how many the boat holds). When they say the boat holds 10, it is probably a pontoon. Comfortably fits 8 adults, but you can fit 10.

 

[Doingitagain]

P.S. Remember to bring cash to tip the driver. They wouldn't let us put it on our credit card or room key.

 

[njprincess601]

Wow! The Wishes cruise really does sound a lot better!! If everything works out with dates, will I be able to get the boat from the Poly? If not, I'm staying at the Wilderness Lodge, can I get it from there?

 

[Doingitagain]

Wow! The Wishes cruise really does sound a lot better!! If everything works out with dates, will I be able to get the boat from the Poly? If not, I'm staying at the Wilderness Lodge, can I get it from there?

I can't recall all the pickup locations, but you can put in a quick call to the recreation department and ask. There are several for each specialty cruise.

One thing I forgot to mention is that they can drop you off whereever there is a dock...so you could get dropped off at Polynesian (and walk to transportation center) even if you left from Grand Floridian.

Another benefit is that after you book your cruise, the CM can help you get ADR's (although I still recommend going online at 3:00 am EST first) and tours so you don't have to call another number and get in another queue. The recreation line opens at 7:00 just like the dining number.

 

[njprincess601]

Wow! Thanks for all of your help!

 

[travelin' tigger]

2. Boardwalk

Actually, all Illuminations Cruises leave from the YC marina, but they will drop you off at the Boardwalk AFTER the cruise.

 

[Befferk]

We've done both cruises. I prefer Illuminations over Wishes. I am also hoping to get one in May too! What are your dates?

 

[popsynic]

Actually, all Illuminations Cruises leave from the YC marina, but they will drop you off at the Boardwalk AFTER the cruise.

When I booked this recently the CM asked if I would like to start my cruise from Boardwalk or YC

 

[popsynic]

P.S. Remember to bring cash to tip the driver. They wouldn't let us put it on our credit card or room key.

How much do you think for a tip (average?)

 

[njprincess601]

We've done both cruises. I prefer Illuminations over Wishes. I am also hoping to get one in May too! What are your dates?

May 11-17! If I'm reading your ticker right, we'll be there at the same time! It's just my mom and I so I'm definitely looking to share if you're interested!

 

[Doingitagain]

How much do you think for a tip (average?)

We had a great guide who thought of all the "little things" (towels on the seats, a towel to shutter a light nearby) and was very entertaining. I think my cousin tipped him $50, about 15%.

 

[Befferk]

May 11-17! If I'm reading your ticker right, we'll be there at the same time! It's just my mom and I so I'm definitely looking to share if you're interested!

We're leaving home on 5/13, arriving 5/14 staying through 5/23. Did you have any nights in mind that you are looking to do a cruise? They still have a cruise share thread on here as well in case our dates don't match up, so we can check that out when it gets closer. We've shared boats (with DISers) on both the Illuminations and Wishes cruises before and it worked out great and we met some very nice people

 

[travelin' tigger]

When I booked this recently the CM asked if I would like to start my cruise from Boardwalk or YC

Sorry - this must be something new. Still I can't imagine them handling the actual reservations for the cruise at the Boardwalk when the office, boats, etc. are all based at the YC marina...

 

[njprincess601]

We're leaving home on 5/13, arriving 5/14 staying through 5/23. Did you have any nights in mind that you are looking to do a cruise? They still have a cruise share thread on here as well in case our dates don't match up, so we can check that out when it gets closer. We've shared boats (with DISers) on both the Illuminations and Wishes cruises before and it worked out great and we met some very nice people

Ideally, I was looking to go on May 15, but I'm flexible. And, yes, I was going to check out the cruise share thread as it got closer and things were a little more definite. But thanks for the tip!