You need to call 407-939-7529 exactly 90 days before the date you want to reserve. You can determine when to call by using the DIS's priority seating calculator if you CLICK HEREhttp://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html
Since these cruises are so much in demand, start calling about 6:55 am est. If you get a recording that they are not open yet, disconnect and immediately hit redial. If you get the recording thanking you for calling hit #3 right away, as soon as the second recording begins press #2, when the third recording begins press either your reservation number or phone number and finish with the pound sign. Then press #1, then #2. This will take you to a reservationist, if you have to hold do not disconnect or you go to the bottom of the queue.
When the reservationist answers do not make small talk, immediately tell him/her that you want to reserve the 8PM specialty cruise for such and such date.Do not ask to reserve an Illuminations cruise or you will waste time hearing that there is no such thing. After you get your reservation you can talk all you want, but these cruises are very difficult to reserve and seconds count when thousands of people are competing for only 5 boats.
When the reservationist indicates that you have obtained the reservation, tell him/her that you want to see Illuminations. He/she will then make arrangements for your cruise to depart the marina about 1/2 hour before Illuminations begins.
You will be told that they cannot guarantee that you will see Illuminations. They tell you this because, if Illuminations is delayed for any reason, your boat will still return to the marina at the end of your hour. So far, there have been no known instances where Illuminations was not seen.
Katholyn
Does anyone know if you follow the same "path" as stated above for the WISHES cruises too? We've been on one, but it was reserved by my sister. I'd like to book one for my inlaws. They are going in February and I wanted it to be suprise for their anniversary. I doned it on a specific date so it's imperative, I have right "Path" to press the correct buttons to get to the reservationist. I'd like them to be picked up from O'hana's. Is that possible? They have ADR's that night...
Thanks!!!
Stacie
Does anyone know if you follow the same "path" as stated above for the WISHES cruises too? We've been on one, but it was reserved by my sister. I'd like to book one for my inlaws. They are going in February and I wanted it to be suprise for their anniversary. I doned it on a specific date so it's imperative, I have right "Path" to press the correct buttons to get to the reservationist. I'd like them to be picked up from O'hana's. Is that possible? They have ADR's that night...
Thanks!!!
Stacie
Stacie - I started calling at 6:55 a.m. on the morning I needed to reserve a Wishes cruise and got right in at 7 a.m. (I got a recording about the business hours before then). I told the CM that I wanted to reserve a Wishes cruise for 12/12/07 and that was it. No problems at all. I let her know that I wanted to leave from Ohana's as we have dinner reservations there also, and the type boat and decorations that I wanted. She was very friendly and helpful. If you call the 407-wdw-play number, they'll figure out the exact date that you need to call (90 days ahead of time). Good luck with your cruise and vacation.
Thanks so much!!! I can't call til Nov 3, so wish me luck!!!
LegoJediMom:
Me personally--we've done both and there is something about WISHES that just does it for me... Maybe it's me, being a woman and the castle, I don't know, but they are both awesome and you guys will love either of them!!!
I just LOVE wishes too. If you are in the boat tho is it the same??? I wasn't sure about missing the castle and stuff like that. Can you see it well from the boat. And of course I would only want the one with piped in music!
Any chance that someone needs 2 more for a Wishes cruise on New Year's Eve? Maybe another night from 12/26-30? DD and I are going that week and we have a dinner ADR at Ohana's for NYE and, unfortunately, it just occurred to me that it would have been a nice thing for after dinner. I haven't tried for my own ressie yet. I will tomorrow if no one is interested but I imagine that it will be all booked. Please PM if anything is possible. Thanks! PS DD is 23.![]()