Pirate Cruise vs Pirate's League

[scmbaby]

Our family went for the first time last year and had a blast at the Pirate's League. It was probably one of our best memories. We are going back this year and want to do something similar, but didn't want to redo Pirate's League. We hear a few of the resorts offer a Pirate's Cruise for kids to go on a treasure hunt without the parents. Has anyone done this, and what are your thoughts......better or worse than Pirate's League?

 

[Drusilla99]

We haven't done pirates league, but my girls did do the pirate cruise out of bc a few years ago when they were 4 & 7. They loved it! They went around the lake on a pontoon boat looking for "treasure." They even got lunch, just uncrustables, but they were happy. Like I said, it was a few years ago, some things nay gave changed, but it was an enjoyable experience.

 

[mwebb10]

My family really enjoyed the Pirates & Pals Cruise that leaves from the CR. Many people (not us) dressed up in their pirate garb... but everyone was given a pirate bandanna upon arrival. We had wonderful snacks (salty snacks, cake, ice-cream, popcorn , candy, etc.) & then Captain Hook & Mr. Smee arrived for a good meet-n-greet with photos and signatures. After that there were some games led by our captain before heading to our boat . We headed out & the Electrical Water Parade went all around us... pretty cool perspective. We then went across the lagoon and anchored with a very good view of the Castle for Wishes (with music piped in, too). When Wishes was finished we headed back to the CR while playing Disney trivia while our captain (Patch ) gave small prizes to "winners" of the game. Then, Peter Pan was waiting for us on the dock when we returned for a really neat meet-n-greet. My kids aged (7 & 3 at the time) really liked the evening and still talk about it to this day.

 

[scmbaby]

Thanks so much for the info on Pirates and Pals, but I am specifically speaking about the Pirate Cruise that is just for kids (no adults allowed). It is located at 4 different resorts (POR and Beach Club...can't remember the other 2)........I think it starts about 9:30am and is a 2 hour treasure hunt "cruise" for the kids. Just trying to figure out if it will be just as good....but different.....than the Pirates League. Thanks for your input!!

 

[wmoon]

My ds did both the pirates league and the pirate cruise from the grand Floridian last year. He is 6 and I asked which he would like to do this and he has chosen the cruise although this time it will be from the yacht club. He said his cruise was one of the best things of his holiday. Oh and dh and I had a lovely breakfast at the grand Floridian cafe whilst waiting on him.

 

[imthemamahere]

We hear a few of the resorts offer a Pirate's Cruise for kids to go on a treasure hunt without the parents. Has anyone done this, and what are your thoughts.....

Haven't done it yet, but I've heard good things, so we've got our 5 year old signed up for the one that leaves from Yacht Club (and goes through World Showcase in EPCOT!) during our upcoming trip this fall.

I'm sure it depends, in part, on the age/general personality of your kid - a 4 year old who's shy and clingy would probably be terrified of the separation from mom and dad, while a 12 year old who's got a jaded, too-cool-for-school attitude will probably think it's cheesy. A kid who's adventurous, not afraid to step away from his/her parents, and has a love of make-believe and magic should enjoy it... or so I hope!

 

[tinktinktink]

What are the age requirements?

 

[ajwolfe]

My boys have done both. While they enjoyed both of them (PL twice and the cruise once), I think they had more fun on the cruise. It was a fun experience and they loved that they got to be independent of us for a couple hours. We loved that we got a couple hours to ourselves to wander. Price wise I think they are a comparable value, so it really just depends on if you think your kids will like it. Oh, and they did the one that left from POR.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

What are the age requirements?

age 4-12.

I'm trying to talk my older one into going by herself. She is very shy. Her sister is too young, but would love the adventure.

 

[ElizabethG]

My kids both love it. We go to WDW once per year and they have been on it 4 times now. We have done the one from GF each time. It stops at all of the resorts in the MK area where they go looking for treasure.

They are doing their 5th and final cruise this year (DS is now 12 and still wants to go). We are doing BC this time.

They don't get lunch anymore, so feed them something in the morning before you go. They just had a snack, like goldfish.

It can be a nice quiet time for the parents. We always hopped a boat to Poly and ate breakfast at Kona. This year we will walk to the Boardwalk Bakery.

 

[Happiest mommy]

we are doing the Pirates league for the first time this year but the cruise sounds fun too, can anyone tell me what the difference is when leaving from different ports thanks!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I highly recommend the Pirate Bayou cruise for kids out of POR.

Our boys loved it ! They went on it when they were 6 & 7 and they had a wonderful time.

To me, it seems less "hoity-toity" than the one out of Grand Floridian.

They loved every minute.

 

[ElizabethG]

we are doing the Pirates league for the first time this year but the cruise sounds fun too, can anyone tell me what the difference is when leaving from different ports thanks!

The story they get about their journey is different. We have just chosen based on where we were staying. The WDW website has some info.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/pirate-adventure-cruises/

 

[ColonelHathi]

DS (then 7) and DD 5 did the pirate cruise out of GF. I hit Senses for a massage while DH dropped them off and relaxed at GF, his appt followed the cruise and I took the kids to ride the monorail and have lunch at CR. It was a fun non-park day for us. They enjoyed the cruise, but DS didn't enjoy being out in the sun so much. They took the boat out in the lagoon and Bay Lake, stopped to search for treasure near Poly, CR, FW, WL, so they really got around quite a bit. DS also did PL and I think he enjoyed that experience better, but that's also more laid back vs. active which is his style. DD had a blast with the cruise.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Our DGK did both. Left from GF and had snacks...they still have their treasure out. Boys were 5-7 and gals were 4-7. Perfect ages. We enjoyed pool time while they were gone