Pirate cruise at the GF

[jockey]

We are thinking of doing this on our next trip. We are staying at the Gf but wondered should we do it from here or one of the other locations?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

My DS8 has done the one from GF and YC and, while he enjoyed the YC one more, I would do the GF one since it's so convenient for you.

 

[jockey]

My DS8 has done the one from GF and YC and, while he enjoyed the YC one more, I would do the GF one since it's so convenient for you.

Thanks ..do they get off the ship to hunt for treasure

 

[disnut8]

I would recommend the Grand Floridian one just because my soon to be granddaughter, at the age of five, did that on her first trip to Disney World and loved it. She had just been introduced to her new family (her mother is now my daughter-in-law) and we surprised her with the trip. It was just her and no siblings (she now has a brother and a third sibling on the way) so her mother was very anxious. The entire process is relatively painless for the adults and yes, the kids do get off the ship to hunt for treasure. However, before any pirate gets on the ship, they are matched up with a fellow pirate and those two will do things together. For my granddaughter, since she was on her own, she was matched up with a similar pirate also on her own and about the same age. When they got off the ship, those two were friends so nothing bad there. I can't tell you too much about the actual adventure because our granddaughter just smirked and said "all pirate have secrets" but my daughter-in-law and I did the monorail ride around while the adventure was taking place since my daughter-in-law was nervous about letting her, at that time, one and only, go off by herself. So, we did see when the ship docked and then my daughter-in-law, on her first trip Disney World, gave a huge sigh of relief and said, "I knew I could trust Disney".

One note - the kids, er, pirates, cannot exit the ship unless a parent/adult is there with the receipt so make sure you are back there in plenty of time for pickup and, er, um, just be there early and be ready to film when the ship backs into the dock. That's all I will say about that part of it.

 

[jockey]

Great guys thanks!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure if you have seen this, might be helpful.

http://allears.net/btp/spcruise.htm

Our grandsons did the Albatross out of the Yacht Club. They were 4 and 6 at the time I think. They absolutely loved it. When they were leaving, the 4 year old was a bit reticent. By the time they returned a few hours later, he was smiles ear to ear. And yes, be back at the dock when they return.

My daughter and I had breakfast at the Captain's Grill and enjoyed a few hours of quiet.

 

[gtpoohbear]

One note - the kids, er, pirates, cannot exit the ship unless a parent/adult is there with the receipt so make sure you are back there in plenty of time for pickup and, er, um, just be there early and be ready to film when the ship backs into the dock. That's all I will say about that part of it.

OK I have to ask, because I've seen this hint several times. And had seen it before my kids did the cruise in 2014. Which was why I RAN, in a dress and flip-flops, all the way through the grounds at GF to make it back in time. And was so relieved when I did.

But then it was rather anti-climatic....The boat docked, kids got off, wandered around some more...and that was that. Was I really racing back for THAT?? Or was something else supposed to happen?

In any case, my kids both really enjoyed it. Being 7 years apart, we knew there would only be a short window in which they could both go together, so I was glad it worked out this year. Even if they were the youngest and oldest on the boat, lol.

 

[got15]

My DS5 did it as a surprise birthday present while staying at GF. He had the best time and talked about it for the whole trip to anyone that would listen to him. They gave him a little snack and some water and they sailed around the seven seas lagoon and stormed the beaches of the hotels. There were a few other kids with him and he would do it again in a heartbeat. I missed the disembark(had a spa date) but the pics DH took were priceless. He was smiling ear to ear. I say go for it!

 

[Shroog]

I'm interested in booking this for my 6 year old DD and my 7 year old nephew. We are staying offsite, so can do any of the locations. Just wondering which one is the best or all they all good, just different? We haven't seen any of the resorts, so it will be nice to walk around and explore while the kids are on the cruise.

 

[frisbeego]

OK I have to ask, because I've seen this hint several times. And had seen it before my kids did the cruise in 2014. Which was why I RAN, in a dress and flip-flops, all the way through the grounds at GF to make it back in time. And was so relieved when I did.

But then it was rather anti-climatic....The boat docked, kids got off, wandered around some more...and that was that. Was I really racing back for THAT?? Or was something else supposed to happen?

In any case, my kids both really enjoyed it. Being 7 years apart, we knew there would only be a short window in which they could both go together, so I was glad it worked out this year. Even if they were the youngest and oldest on the boat, lol.

I'm with you. I had heard "be back on time with your camera." When I asked the CM at GF, she said they no longer do "that." My experience (in January 2014 and 2015) was the same as yours. Kids came off the boat one-by-one directly to their parents. Nothing camera-worthy.

Perhaps this differs by location and/or CM.

 

[ajwolfe]

We did the one that leaves from POR and our experience sounds a little different. The kids get off the boat - without a parent - walked to a central location (the lobby of the hotel) and opened the treasure chest they found out while they were scavenging around. My youngest ds was the one that got to open it the day they went and was thrilled with this!! At that point they all received their treasure and then were released to the parents. If memory serves I think they sang a pirate song as they marched from the boat into the lobby.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We did the one that leaves from POR and our experience sounds a little different. The kids get off the boat - without a parent - walked to a central location (the lobby of the hotel) and opened the treasure chest they found out while they were scavenging around. My youngest ds was the one that got to open it the day they went and was thrilled with this!! At that point they all received their treasure and then were released to the parents. If memory serves I think they sang a pirate song as they marched from the boat into the lobby.

Our experience at the Yacht Club also.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

My grandkids did it years and years ago ... 12 years this coming summer to be exact and all three had a wonderful time ... they would have been 10, 9 and 7. The nine year old did it alone when he was 7 or 8.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

We're also interested in this...I have it booked for the Yacht Club one.

My kids are DS11 and DD9 - for those whose children have tried it, does that sound too "old" for it? My son (the older one) loves Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and got really into it, and generally is up for most things, so running around Epcot sound fun, but not sure...

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think your 11 year old will do okay. But that would probably be the last year for him. I am confident that he will like it.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I think your 11 year old will do okay. But that would probably be the last year for him. I am confident that he will like it.

Thanks! Sounds fun to me!

 

[ajwolfe]

We're also interested in this...I have it booked for the Yacht Club one.

My kids are DS11 and DD9 - for those whose children have tried it, does that sound too "old" for it? My son (the older one) loves Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and got really into it, and generally is up for most things, so running around Epcot sound fun, but not sure...

My oldest was 10 the year they did the pirate cruise and honestly I think he was getting a bit old for it at that point in his mind. He enjoyed it but I couldn't have seen him doing it again at 11. And I think in his mind he was there more to keep an eye on his younger brother. lol. Admittedly when we watched the kids unload he was definitely one of the older ones on the boat. So you might talk to your 11 yo and see how he feels about it.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

My oldest was 10 the year they did the pirate cruise and honestly I think he was getting a bit old for it at that point in his mind. He enjoyed it but I couldn't have seen him doing it again at 11. And I think in his mind he was there more to keep an eye on his younger brother. lol. Admittedly when we watched the kids unload he was definitely one of the older ones on the boat. So you might talk to your 11 yo and see how he feels about it.

I can definitely see that - I will chat with him (and his sister!) about it and let them decide - thanks!

 

[polyqueen]

Our son did his first pirate cruise in 1998 from the GF and was truly sad when he got too old to participate in 2007. He did many from the GF and a few from the YC. The pirate leader at the Yacht Club was the wonderful, wonderful CM Raouf who made the experience magical for the all the little pirates. I believe he is still there (we saw him in December with the recreation staff)! Our son participated in some wonderful activities at the GF--Alice's Tea Party, a cooking class--all wonderful memories.