Major disappointment - pirates and pals wishes voyage

[disneyfam31]

I'm very happy so many others have had great experiences. I really think we must have just had an "off" night and sounds like our night was an exception to the norm. It just wasn't the same Disney experience we experienced everywhere else. It happens sometimes.

 

[MermaidMommy]

I'm very happy so many others have had great experiences. I really think we must have just had an "off" night and sounds like our night was an exception to the norm. It just wasn't the same Disney experience we experienced everywhere else. It happens sometimes.

Other than the rain, your night wasn't a exception -- that's how the party always is. There's no decoration of the room; PP just meets on the dock with no backdrop; the desserts are just a very simple cake, bagged cotton candy, ice cream, etc. It's been pretty much just the same for years now.

People who enjoy the party -- and I'm one of them -- like it for the view of Wishes and, the opportunity to meet characters, and the great interaction with the pirate captains. If you were thinking that there would be a themed, decorated space and dessert-party level treats, your expectations were just different than what the party actually offers.

 

[CaliTex]

DisneyFam31, I'm sorry your experience was not what you had hoped. It all sounds rather bleak, quite frankly. Peter Pan in a stairwell, lol. Party in a hallway. And it just shows how things--experiences, perceptions---can vary from person to person. EX: My DH and I dined at Victoria and Albert's and we were very underwhelmed. My DH especially--he still rolls his eyes and shakes his head every time that place is mentioned. We also didn't care for the GF--he swears NEVER AGAIN! and these are two places other people rave about. So are we wrong? Are others wrong? Neither! Just different! Viva la difference!

Thank you for your review, do not apologize for being honest about *your* experience--and I do wonder why they didn't have a better selection of treats; Disney does them so well---maybe themed cupcakes at least?

 

[AngiTN]

DisneyFam31, I'm sorry your experience was not what you had hoped. It all sounds rather bleak, quite frankly. Peter Pan in a stairwell, lol. Party in a hallway. And it just shows how things--experiences, perceptions---can vary from person to person. EX: My DH and I dined at Victoria and Albert's and we were very underwhelmed. My DH especially--he still rolls his eyes and shakes his head every time that place is mentioned. We also didn't care for the GF--he swears NEVER AGAIN! and these are two places other people rave about. So are we wrong? Are others wrong? Neither! Just different! Viva la difference!

Thank you for your review, do not apologize for being honest about *your* experience--and I do wonder why they didn't have a better selection of treats; Disney does them so well---maybe themed cupcakes at least?

For whatever reason, they do a themed cake instead of cupcakes which is more the Disney norm. I do think cupcakes would be easier to eat. You don't need a plate to eat a cupcake. Otherwise, they provide treats to eat there or take on the boat. That's why the rest are packaged.

But the party is in a meeting room, not a hall way. And yeah, it does lack decorating. It is awfully fun to yell Tick Tock to Captain Hook though

 

[megster1123]

Maybe it was just an off night. The kids enjoyed meeting the characters and they were all very friendly / into character. I don't mean to sound so negative, but this was the only paid event over the course of our trip I felt was overpriced for the value.

Thanks for the report, it's really too bad the tour was a bust for you. I've heard similar from a family friend that went last spring - just not the disney experience they expected. Rushed at times, desserts underwhelming, character interaction subpar. I've been on the fence about booking for this fall - I think the experience is heavily dependent on staff working that night or attendance perhaps? Just seems like it's night and day between what kind of experience you get.

 

[CaliTex]

But its not like the other desert party treats I have seen on here? Aren't most of them fairly elaborate? Or is that more for private events? Some of the desert party stuff I have seen---oooh la la! I'd go for that, be like, "Oh--is Captain Hook here? Let me just finish these eclairs first."

A "meeting space"--sounds like Captain Hook was the guest speaker at a symposium on "Pirates in the 21st Century--How Technology Has Changed Swashbuckling"

It sounds as if it is the characters themselves that really make the party. Maybe they were having an off night. Peter Pan and Captain Hook got in a tiff backstage...the crocodile stuck his nose in...things turned ugly...

But either way, it stinks for OP.

 

[RJstanis]

I agree with both good and bad reviews. We did this Labor Day last year, and although we had a good time as a family, it's not anything we're looking to do again. To finally be able to watch Wishes together as a family was worth the price for me (usually one of us is running for cover as my youngest isn't a fan of the close proximity noises of fireworks). I don't think it's a great experience for adults, even more so adults not doing this with kids, but I know my kids absolutely loved it and both still talk about it today (they're 5 and 3). Unintentionally we were the last to meet Pan in a courtyard between the docks and CR, so it made for a late night but still enjoyable. The desserts/snacks are nothing special, and I could easily see where one would be disappointed, but the portability of most of the snacks was a huge plus for me, and helped me feel like I was recouping some of the cost. The decorations are simple at best, but my kids cared less, and only wanted pictures with the pirate statues in waiting area. Personally the background behind Hook/Smee was good, just wish it was a bit bigger. The Patch(s) entertainment was done very well, very corny, but kept kids engaged with a parent chuckle from time to time.

So IMO, if you have kids, especially ones who like Peter Pan/Capt Hook as much as mine did, then it's worth to do at least once. From there, you have to decide if it's worth repeating, but I could see where some could be a bit disappointed as well

 

[AngiTN]

But its not like the other desert party treats I have seen on here? Aren't most of them fairly elaborate? Or is that more for private events? Some of the desert party stuff I have seen---oooh la la! I'd go for that, be like, "Oh--is Captain Hook here? Let me just finish these eclairs first."

A "meeting space"--sounds like Captain Hook was the guest speaker at a symposium on "Pirates in the 21st Century--How Technology Has Changed Swashbuckling"

It sounds as if it is the characters themselves that really make the party. Maybe they were having an off night. Peter Pan and Captain Hook got in a tiff backstage...the crocodile stuck his nose in...things turned ugly...

But either way, it stinks for OP.

No, the desserts offered at not like other dessert parties. But those aren't designed to be taken off on a boat either. They are designed to be eaten in place, so to speak.
So yeah, they offer different things. And yeah, someone could easily be disappointed if they were expecting similar offerings.
The room is just a room, not quite that bad. It's not decorated full out like say, Club Villain was. It would be a huge benefit if they could give it a permanent home so it could get a good setting. As it shares space what they do is limited.

The characters do indeed have a huge part in the enjoyment of it. And they can have off days for sure.

 

[Dreamin192]

We're going to try it out on our trip, hoping my DD loves it. She's 5 and was sad she didn't get to see Hook on our last trip so we're making this a priority. As someone who is going to have three small children with me I am loving that the snacks are portable, but I can see how that wouldn't appeal to everyone. I really think that Disney offers so many parties, events, etc. and each one isn't going to fit the needs of everyone. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the person or the event in question, just that maybe it wasn't a good fit for them

 

[PSULion]

For the record... This is not in any way advertised as a "dessert party." It's a "fireworks voyage." The focus is on the boat ride and fireworks viewing. The room certainly could be more themed, but again, it's not really what the night is about, and Disney never claims otherwise.

I really think that Disney offers so many parties, events, etc. and each one isn't going to fit the needs of everyone. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the person or the event in question, just that maybe it wasn't a good fit for them

Couldn't agree more!

 

[Julylady]

I think the experience the way it was described by the OP is very normal. Perhaps her expectations were too high? We had the exact same experience as she described and our family loved it! The kids thought they had been let loose in a candy store. In my opinion, no "extra event" at Disney World is worth the extra cost. But we do it anyway without expecting to get a value out of it. We just have fun and don't think about the cost.

 

[Micca]

I'd be interested in taking our DGDs on this, but I can't get them interested in Peter Pan! Oh sure, they love Tink, but the movie is really slow compared to Disney's modern day offerings. Not sure they'd be too impressed with Hook, Pan, & Smee. They're 3 & 4, maybe they'll get into it in another year or two.

I do think Disney could create a back drop for the photo op with Hook & Smee.

 

[Dan Murphy]

but I can't get them interested in Peter Pan

When we did it, Ron, we wound up buzzing right by Peter Pan at the end. He was on the walkway back to the Contemporary from the dock area. We were in somewhat of a hurry to get over to MK for a bus back to the Swan. For me, that might be the only downside of the cruise, getting back to your resort if not an MK resort. You can certainly do it, but you have to think a bit and plan for it.

And here are pictures and description from Kenny. I bet they would love it. Our youngest at the time was 4 1/2.


http://www.kennythepirate.com/2013/01/29/pirates-and-pals-fireworks-voyage/

 

[cutigerlady]

We didn't like this event either. Our experience was ruined when they lost our photos. The one time I didn't have them take a back up photo with my phone! It was super buggy in the boat and I was miserable. We had a pair of adults who haggled with the pirate about where their prize was through the whole cruise!

When they let us in the room with the snacks, it was like the other people had never eaten before! They were stuffing bags of snacks into their bags and eating like they have never had cake before. We tried to get into the event, but we walked away saying never again.

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Sadly we had a bad experience too. Mostly our complaint was time. We didn't understand why they didn't allow people to go into the room after you checked in. They make you wait in the lobby, and by the time we were let in we got maybe 15 minutes to eat AND get pictures, so it was eat while in line for pictures or don't eat. Being on the boat, the captains, and Peter Pan were the best part, but by the time we got to those parts we were already so annoyed that it soured the experience for us.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We did it quite a few years ago, and my biggest complaint was that we encountered fog which then "trapped" the smoke from the fireworks, so we had about a 20% view of fireworks. It was quite irritating since I had paid approx. $360 for us to attend. The kids were older and we were looking for something new to do, so other than the food, which the boys loved, it was kind of a bust.

 

[mom2rtk]

We did it quite a few years ago, and my biggest complaint was that we encountered fog which then "trapped" the smoke from the fireworks, so we had about a 20% view of fireworks. It was quite irritating since I had paid approx. $360 for us to attend. The kids were older and we were looking for something new to do, so other than the food, which the boys loved, it was kind of a bust.

That really would be disappointing. We watched Wishes from inside the park once under those circumstances. We were near the hub and still couldn't see the top of the castle. LOL. But I can laugh now since we didn't spend $360 just for that.

 

[HM]

Maybe it was just an off night. The kids enjoyed meeting the characters and they were all very friendly / into character. I don't mean to sound so negative, but this was the only paid event over the course of our trip I felt was overpriced for the value.

I think you are right to have this opinion. We had the same feeling about the Wishes Dessert party. So many people rave about it, but we found the whole thing fairly underwhelming, particularly the dessert and drink offerings. And the price has risen significantly since we did it a few years ago. I can see very well, the you would have expected more for what you paid. Glad that it wasn't a total dud and you did enjoy parts of it.

 

[KT0191]

Some things are just not for some people. You may have not had an off night..it could be the exact thing that many other people experienced but they loved it while you just didn't. We absolutely adored it last September (doing it again this September) but like I said, everything Disney offers isn't for everyone and that's okay

 

[revdon64]

I think you just had an off night, probably due to the rain. Yes, the snack party isn't full of great deserts, etc. But it's a fun chance to meet two characters that you don't see as often. The pirate captains really make the experience though. Ours was great!