Did you have your camera set to something other than automatic? I never get good night pictures, and it's probably because I don't know what I'm doing! Those pics are awesome.
We were there for the August 24th party last year. The one that got totally rained out with all the lightning. I, of course, forgot our rain ponchos as you can tell from the picture. We went to meet Captain Jack and it was well worth it. He even tease our girls, asking them if they just escaped from the Kraken.