Pirates!! Arg! Good? or Bad?

[Flowers4]

We are taking our boys (ages 7 & 9) for our first trip to WDW this August . I am looking into the Pirates themed activities since they really aren't into the princesses .

We found the Pirates League and the Pirate Cruises but before we put in any reservations or make a final decission; we wanted to inquire with the experienced Dis'ers that have had first hand experience with one or both of these things.

Can you share
-- How your children liked it
-- How you liked it
-- Tips
-- Is it worth the $$
-- anything else I can't think of now

 

[Minniemouse07]

Dd is almost 10yo. She did two pirate cruises (POR at 6.5yo and GF at 7yo) and will be doing a third (Y&BC w/ her 5yo brother) in August.

She was a totally princess kid but was never interested in BBB (didn't like the hairspray) and totally happy to wear her princess dresses to various meals and do the pirate cruises on our previous trips.

This year she looked into the Pirate's League and point blank told me it was a waste of money (yes she's 10yo!). Said for less money she would rather BE a pirate (on the cruise) than dress like one!

Dd loved the cruises.

The POR cruise ran down the Sassagoula river to POFQ, OKW, & in the waters in front of DTD. The kids followed clues that led them back to the lobby of POR to find the pirate treasure (dollar store pirate stuff).

Here is a picture of the pirate ship they rode on...just before they kidnapped a CM to drive it for them!

The GF cruise went around the Bay Lake area. Similar set up but they had a dedicated pirate ship as opposed to one w/ flag decorations. Dd said they were both great but different...and she couldn't give me details because she was sworn to secrecy!

I don't have access to the GF pictures that are at home right now... but here is one of dd w/ her loot from the POR cruise:

 

[starann]

We did the PL when were were there in Sept of last year (our boys were 5.5 and 6.5).

We heard you can 'buy costumes there, but we didn't want to pay that price, so I went ot PArty City and got them each a Jack Sparrow pirate costume for $20!!! It's hot in WDW, so we kept them in their shorts.

I felt that it was totally worth it. The experience was great (the cast do not break character), the value wasn't bad either. I think I figured out that of we purchaced all the 'goodies' they give you in a gift shop, it would cost jsut $5 less than the package, and with the package you get the face painting and the experience.

They take you into a room when you are done to do pictures, which I think were GREAT! You have the option of buying them. If you purchace them, you can go to the front of WDW and get all the picts added to your CD (we did hte photopass CD).

My son lost his sword on Haunted Mansion (it fell thru the bottom as we were getting out of the buggy) and we went back over to PL and they gave him one for FREEE!!!!

Here is a pict of my boys and Jack (Jack usually isn't there, but the stage show had some malfunction and we were in the right place at the right time!)

 

[Lidian]

We are taking our boys (ages 7 & 9) for our first trip to WDW this August . I am looking into the Pirates themed activities since they really aren't into the princesses .

We found the Pirates League and the Pirate Cruises but before we put in any reservations or make a final decission; we wanted to inquire with the experienced Dis'ers that have had first hand experience with one or both of these things.

Can you share
-- How your children liked it
-- How you liked it
-- Tips
-- Is it worth the $$
-- anything else I can't think of now

We haven't tried the cruise, but we did TPL this year and both kids (DD9 and DS5) had an absolute BLAST! It was MORE than worth the money, and we can't wait to go back! I even enjoyed watching and listening to the Pirates socialize with the kids - and the kids socialize back. It was such an awesome experience. DH didn't care much either way, but I was totally in love with the experience!

We ended up paying $105 for both kids ($30 each), plus pictures ($15 each), plus DD bought the Shattered nail polish ($9), and a hook ($3). It was the best $100 we spent all week.

I admit, that some Pirates (CMs) were better than others, but when we were there, they all seemed to make a big deal about presenting the new pirate (or mermaid in DD's case). Every Pirate we encountered stayed in character, and I really wished I had booked the experience for myself as well.

We didn't have any costumes for the kids, so I do wish I could go back and redo that ... but I felt the costumes onsite were too expensive. Next year, I'll order costumes online or purchase themed shirts for the kids.

 

[ashleym337]

Pirates league was so much fun I DID IT! for $30, you can't beat it. Plus you get a little "treasure sack" with some of the things they used so you get to go home with fun stuff too. My son was 5 when we did it and he just loved every one asking him who he was. Plus, the staff is so patient and fun... were going again in December and will totally do it again! We, also, brought our own costume.... but even if you don't go the whole hog and just do the face, the kids will LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

 

[bjensen25]

I don't know if you have a car but if so we went to Pirates dinner theater. That was a very well performed show. The food isnt too bad either. Our daughter who did care too much for pirates still talks about the pirates and how she wants to go back.lol

 

[mfp]

I don't know if you have a car but if so we went to Pirates dinner theater. That was a very well performed show. The food isnt too bad either. Our daughter who did care too much for pirates still talks about the pirates and how she wants to go back.lol

Not to hijack, but can you post the name and location of the pirate dinner? We'll be going in Dec and will have a car, so can go off site.

 

[Fiveisaparty]

We went Feb 2010. My DD, 6 and DS 3, really loved it. My DS doesn't like things on his face or tatoos so he didn't want his face done, but the CM was great and just talked with him and made him laugh and he had a great time. DD loved her CM and her makeup. It was so much fun with the pirate name and the treasure and all of fun they have with the CMs. I agree with PP that the costumes are overpriced. I am pretty sure when we went it was $50 each and the pic was included. I signed us up for it again Sept 2011 and it was $30 each but the pic was separate. I would say it is totally worth it. My kids loved it and my youngest is finally old enough to participate too...I think you won't be disappointed.

 

[Flowers4]

I don't know if you have a car but if so we went to Pirates dinner theater. That was a very well performed show. The food isnt too bad either. Our daughter who did care too much for pirates still talks about the pirates and how she wants to go back.lol

We will have a car since we are driving down there; this sounds like a ton of fun..where is it located at?

 

[Flowers4]

Not to hijack, but can you post the name and location of the pirate dinner? We'll be going in Dec and will have a car, so can go off site.

You aren't hijacking . That was actually the same question I had since we actually do have a car.

 

[northeast_minnie]

Thanks for the advice - we are taking out 6 year old son to WDW for the first time and we are definitely looking at doing TPL for him - after reading the posts on here will definitely be booking it before our trip and taking a costume with us for him as thought the prices onsite were extremely expensive.

We are doing MNSSHP and were planning on doing TPL on the day of that so costume sorted.

Tracey

 

[Magic Mom]

DD11 did pirates league at MNSSHP this year. She loved it and so did we. She got the line of eyes painted on her face and it looked very cool.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

When we were there in February, my son, his two boys and his daughter did the Pirate League. They LOVED it! Really had a great time through the whole process, and they got compliments all day long about how great they looked. My older grandson also did the Pirate Cruise and it was one of his all-time favourite things. Definitely worth doing for pirate-loving kids (and a pirate-loving dad).

Teresa

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Both are great and we definitely felt that they were worth the money! If it's in the budget I would definitely do both!

 

[mitsybella]

We did the Pirate makeover and later the same day we were booked on the pirate fireworks cruise, both were well worth the price and a great experience I got the costumes on disney.com after halloween and from ebay much less expensive to purchase before you go...

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[bjensen25]

Sorry for the late reply, I didnt know if I can post websites or not but here it is


http://www.piratesdinneradventure.com/index.php?page=Pirates-Dinner-Adventure-Orlando-Florida

the address is

6400 Carrier Drive • Orlando, FL

I am pretty sure it is close to universal Studios. We found the drive there at night pretty nice with all the lights Wonderworks upside down buildings, Ripleys sunken building in the ground..etc.

If you need more info on it or pics we took a few!!

 

[audeodream]

My DS has done the Pirates League on 3 different occasions. The first time was in 09' when it had first opened and was pretty expensive. I still think the money I spent was worth it. We traditionally go during the Fourth of July and the heat and sweat make for a short-lived "pirate-walking-through-the-park-experience" most of the time (as the payee the short time period of him being an actual pirate can sting a bit) but his enjoyment of it makes up for it. As a 9 year old he was fine with other kids/people pointing and making Ooh/aah comments on his make-up. The second time he went and I paid for a costume (they were running a half-price special at the time) The bulk of the costume was stripped off before we made the dock to go to Epcot after walking through the park because he felt so self-conscious about people looking at him. As a 10 year old he liked to do it but the costume part was not something he was that interested in. The next time we go he has assured me he wants to do it again and he is now 11 (so in boy-years the Awesomeness factor still holds great appeal). I would definitely recommend the experience!

 

[nicki.momof3]

We have done both.

Pirate cruise:
1. POR - our kids LOVED this one. They had an amazing time. I would highly recommend it.
2. GF - kids thought this one was OK but not as cool as POR. I think they liked treavling down a river not on an open lake that they could see eveyplace they were going.
3. Great value in my opinion - would do again

Pirats League:
Cute and kids had fun. I bought costumes ahead of time and brought them. Only thing is the makeup gets itchy after it drys and the kids wanted it off within a hour. Lots of $$$ for a short time. Would do again.

 

[Flowers4]

Sorry for the late reply, I didnt know if I can post websites or not but here it is


http://www.piratesdinneradventure.com/index.php?page=Pirates-Dinner-Adventure-Orlando-Florida

the address is

6400 Carrier Drive • Orlando, FL

I am pretty sure it is close to universal Studios. We found the drive there at night pretty nice with all the lights Wonderworks upside down buildings, Ripleys sunken building in the ground..etc.

If you need more info on it or pics we took a few!!

This looks REALLY AWESOME! On the last day of our trip to DW is when we are doing the pirates cruise in the morning....and then we are going to migrate towards Universal for a couple of days; so this is a perfect transition for dinner from WDW to Universal. Thanks for the info!!

 

[CdnCarrie]

How much are the costumes at the pirate league?