ILLUMINATIONS CRUISES-What they are--How to book--FIND ONE TO SHARE

[knelson]

The illuminsations crusie starts abotu 830 but you have to be at the dock no later than 8:00pm. Last about an hour will after teh fireworks are finished.

We have a 5:40 PM dinner reservation at the California Grill for Christmas Eve - I was trying to debate if we had time to have dinner and get on the illuminations cruise. I am not sure if I am trying to do too much.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

We have a 5:40 PM dinner reservation at the California Grill for Christmas Eve - I was trying to debate if we had time to have dinner and get on the illuminations cruise. I am not sure if I am trying to do too much.

It can be done, but I think you will have little room for error. One benefit, IllumiNations is at 9:30pm during Christmas to avoid interfering with the Candlelight Procession.
I always figure a comfortable 2 hours for a good, sit-down dinner. Assuming you are seated promptly at 6pm, with 2 hours you will leave around 8pm. If you have your own transportation, you could drive down World Drive and get to the Yacht Club well in advance of the 8:30pm check-in time. If you need to use Disney transportation, your best bet would be to walk to the busses at the Magic Kingdom, so you can get a direct bus to the resort.
So, yes it could be done, but if I was spending the $$$ to dine at California Grill, I would not want to rush this rare experience. I would not want to be dining with one eye on my watch, or as my mother would say, getting "agita" over the stress and worry.
Just my humble opinion.......

 

[geomacey]

Question for someone then (based on Crazy Hakim's response....)
We have 6:10 reservations at the Coral Reef on the 30th. I've already spoken to Debbi and have everything in place for the special surprises there. Then yesterday I was lucky enough to get a cruise.
WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME????????
I don't want to give up either of these fantastic memory-makers!
Thanks.

 

[spookysarah]

We are a family of 7 from Scotland and have space for 3 more. There is me, DH, DD10, DD8, my mum, my dad and my sister. My mum, dad and sister are first timers to WDW and this is my sisters first visit to the USA! We would love to share our cruise and culture with an American family / couple. (Hope that does not sound too deep and meaningful, LOL!) We are hoping to have a fun night!

Wishes Cruise on 1st October.The cost of the cruise will be $32.50 per person. Please PM me if you are interested.

Thanks for all the interest - we have now found a family to share with.

 

[therealgoofy]

The price of $150 needs to be updated on the first post of this thread. They are now $250.

Check that....$275.

It would be helpful to everyone if that price was changed in the first post. I made the arrangements with our friends based on the $150 price in the original post. Once I booked I felt like a jerk telling them the price had basically doubled so my wife and I just paid the difference.

Having done the cruise before I think it's worth it for a couple, but I don't think it would be worth almost $150 for a family of 5. My .02

 

[geomacey]

Sarah you did it! Congratulations!!!!!

 

[spookysarah]

Sarah you did it! Congratulations!!!!!

Thanks! I am soo excited. Just a shame it didn't work out for us all with dates etc. (not changed you mind have you? LOL ) Have fun on your cruise and enjoy Fantasmic!

 

[Lilo's Mom]

Hi all!
I am looking for an Illuminations Cruise to share on Friday August 17th or Saturday the 18th. We are a party of four adults, Myself, DH, DS, who is celebrating his 21st birthday on this trip, and DSGF. If anyone out there would be willing to share, please PM me.

Thanks!

 

[CharleyUK]

I still have room for 6 people on our illuminations cruise on sept 27. email or PM me if intrested
STEVERL44@COMCAST.NET

Hi
I've sent you a PM

 

[mdwade]

do you have to have the parkhopper option if you book one of the Wishes cruises? For example, if we are in AK but want to do a Wishes Cruise, would we have to have the parkhopper option?

I don't know where they board. I'm sure it in here somewhere, but I'm kinda new and haven't found it yet.

We will be at WDW Sept 15-21 and I am trying to see what we can do. Thanks.

 

[jen_uk]

Hello! I am still looking to share an illuninations cruise between the 6th - 19th August, its just me and dh.

 

[CharleyUK]

do you have to have the parkhopper option if you book one of the Wishes cruises? For example, if we are in AK but want to do a Wishes Cruise, would we have to have the parkhopper option?

I don't know where they board. I'm sure it in here somewhere, but I'm kinda new and haven't found it yet.

We will be at WDW Sept 15-21 and I am trying to see what we can do. Thanks.

Hi

We did a wishes cruise in November- you don't need a park pass. We boarded at Wilderness lodge but i'm pretty sure they go from GF as well.

Hope it helps

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Hi Everyone!

I have a Premium Wishes Cruise booked on September 17th its My mom 50 something (she refuses to tell me the real number) and myself 25.

We have space for 8 more people. It is leaving from the Contemporary and the cost would depend on how many actually decide to join us.

PM me for details or to reserve a space?

I hope i am doing this correctly.

 

[fajaragirl]

Hi there,
looking to share any of the cruises 2nd or 3rd September
Mother and daughter age 10
well behaved and fun
thanks a lot
PM me if you have space
Thanks a lot

 

[GrumpySteve]

do you have to have the parkhopper option if you book one of the Wishes cruises? For example, if we are in AK but want to do a Wishes Cruise, would we have to have the parkhopper option?

I don't know where they board. I'm sure it in here somewhere, but I'm kinda new and haven't found it yet.

We will be at WDW Sept 15-21 and I am trying to see what we can do. Thanks.

The boats usually leave from one of the resorts so incase i ammistaken there is no park admission required. SOmeone correct me if i am wrong

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

I have 4 spaces left for my Wishes Cruise on the 17th of September.

 

[Nickymouse]

Quick question. Are there any updates on the steps you should take to get an Illuminations cruise. I realize that on page 1 of this thread, they go through the steps, but that page hasn't been updated in over 3 years. I thought there might be an update somewhere in this thread, but this is way too many pages to read through. So, is the info on page 1 still accurate? TIA

 

[Cherbear013]

The info on the first page is all relevant. Everyone says it is very hard to get a cruise, but I called one time and got the date that I wanted. But do call early in the morning as they get very busy later in the day.

 

[knelson]

It can be done, but I think you will have little room for error. One benefit, IllumiNations is at 9:30pm during Christmas to avoid interfering with the Candlelight Procession.
I always figure a comfortable 2 hours for a good, sit-down dinner. Assuming you are seated promptly at 6pm, with 2 hours you will leave around 8pm. If you have your own transportation, you could drive down World Drive and get to the Yacht Club well in advance of the 8:30pm check-in time. If you need to use Disney transportation, your best bet would be to walk to the busses at the Magic Kingdom, so you can get a direct bus to the resort.
So, yes it could be done, but if I was spending the $$$ to dine at California Grill, I would not want to rush this rare experience. I would not want to be dining with one eye on my watch, or as my mother would say, getting "agita" over the stress and worry.
Just my humble opinion.......

Thank you for your opinion.... I did not realize the California Grill was $$$ but I have a reservation so I guess I will have to pay the tab.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Thank you for your opinion.... I did not realize the California Grill was $$$ but I have a reservation so I guess I will have to pay the tab.

Well, I guess it's a matter of opinion:
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