Magical Fireworks Cruise??

[Kimber1963]

Please tell me your experiences with this. Is it really worth the money? I have to convince the other family that we're travelling with that it is!!

 

[Kimber1963]

Anybody??

 

[taximomfor4]

I can always let you know when we get back, we are going on 8/12. I hope it's worth it -- it's not cheap for us (we are a family of 6.)

Beth

 

[Kimber1963]

Yes, please let me know how it is!

 

[Kimber1963]

Anybody else??

 

[J&J]

Are you asking about the fireworks cruise in Ecpot or MK?

 

[Kimber1963]

I'm asking about the one for the Grand Gatherings. It leaves from the Contemporary and you watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes.

 

[4evr@dzny]

There are two packages for this - the premium which I think is $250 and the basic which is $200. The premium is for a slightly larger boat and seats about 10, the basic seats about 8. You get chips and soda with either cruise.

Recommendations?? This is coming from my daughter who is a CM and actually pilots the smaller boat on Bay Lake. She says the view of the fireworks is great from either, but --- on the larger boat you have the music, whereas the smaller boat does not. Althought a lot of times she will get her smaller boat near enough to the larger boat to hear the music, you should be aware that the smaller boats do not have speakers on them. She suggests, if you are going to spend that much anyway, going with the premium package.
Advantages to the cruise are a great spot for Wishes and no crowds.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

You definitely want to do this We did it in '04 and it was SO worth the money! You meet at the Contemporary on the shop level floor and they have a private area roped off to begin your dessert buffet. The whole thing is sponsored by Nestle and many of the dessert items feature Nestle products. There is coffee, tea, water, and pop available as well as fruits. The dessert tables are decorated in a strong pirate theme, with skulls and treasure. After checking in and starting the dessert buffet, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee arrive and spend TONS of time taking pictures, pretty much all the pictures you'd want with them. They really work the room well and spent a lot of time playing with the kids in all of the Grand Gatherings groups. You then make your way down to the marina with your pirate captain (they used 2 boats when we did it) and load onto your boat. They ask that your entire party sit together so no one gets left off. On the cruise over to the Wishes viewing area, the Captain and his First Mate lead the group in some pirate singing and everyone learns a proper "AARRRGGHHHH!" There was also a pirate trivia game for assorted plunder (swords and hooks) with most questions geared toward the kids onboard, although adults are allowed to answer. When you arrive at the Wishes viewing area, the PA on the boat changes over to synch with MK's PA and you get the full effect of Wishes. It was completely awesome and so beautiful to see the fireworks from another vantage point. More pirate discussion ensued as we boated back to the Contemporary and as we disembarked, we were greated by Peter Pan! The children all received a copy of the storybook version of Return to Neverland with 3 Nestle recipes inside. Peter Pan then posed for pictures, although not in as interactive a manner as Captain Hook and Mr. Smee had at the dessert buffet. Oh, everyone in the party receives an exclusive Magical Gatherings Fireworks Cruise pin, too, which is very pretty. If you have any questions, please PM me and I'll be happy to answer! Definitely book this~it's well worth it!

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

bumping for OP.

 

[cjsmom5]

We didn't do the grand gatherings ones but did do the premium Wishes Cruise. It was okay. Unfortunately, the speaker system on our boat kept going in and out. When I returned to the dock they credited us the $50 difference.

The view, though, is spectacular and the fireworks are lovely. That said, you can sit on the beach at the Polynesian and get the music as well as see the fireworks.

As far as the boat goes, they take you on a cruise around the lake prior to the fireworks. They provide different drinks and chip/pretzels, etc. If it is cold they give you blankets. If you like the idea of being on the water at night to watch the fireworks then this is perfect. I agree that if you are going to do it you should pay the extra $50 for the music... it is worth it. Also, remember that a tip for the driver is not included in the price of the boat. Since we typically tip 30% this adds another $50 to the cost.

We did it once but probably won't do it again. The Polynesian beach is perfect ... and the crowds are typically minimal.