Returning to POR after Illuminations Cruise

[5ofus]

We are heading to WDW in September and are doing an Illuminations cruise one night. I have no idea how we will get back to our resort - POR - after docking back at the Yacht Club. We won't have a car and have three kids; 5, 7 and 9.

Best way to get back to POR?

 

[Robo]

We are heading to WDW in September and are doing an Illuminations cruise one night. I have no idea how we will get back to our resort - POR - after docking back at the Yacht Club. We won't have a car and have three kids; 5, 7 and 9.

Best way to get back to POR?

In this case, call an Uber or cab that seats 5.
Figure $18-30, plus tip.

The "free" trip would be a bus to DS/DTD and transfer to a bus to your resort, but those trips, combined with waiting for the buses, could take an hour or more.
I hate that transfer route at night.

 

[5ofus]

Yep, that would not be fun that late at night. Do you know if we need a booster seat for the 5yo in a cab or uber?

 

[MDIME]

On an aside, how do you book an Illuminations cruise? I was on the Disney website and could not find it? Do you need a park ticket to do it? Thanks!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You can ask valet at YC to call a cab with a booster or use Uber Family. You can also boat over to DHS and take a POR bus from there.

 

[Robo]

You can also boat over to DHS and take a POR bus from there.

Careful.
The OP is going in September.
At least at this point, DHS is set to close at 7:30pm, or 8:30pm or 9:00pm in Sept.

The boat (Friendship) from the Epcot resorts will cease running to DHS after DHS closes.
Since IllumiNations Cruise won't return to the Yacht Club dock until about 9:25 or later, the Friendship will not be in operation.

The OP's family could all walk to DHS, but that might be a bit more tiresome at that time.

 

[5ofus]

On an aside, how do you book an Illuminations cruise? I was on the Disney website and could not find it? Do you need a park ticket to do it? Thanks!

I had to call WDW to book it, which we did at 180 days. Even more frustrating is that it's not linked in MDE so it doesn't show up in my plans. Small annoyance, but annoyance none the less! And no, you don't need a park ticket for it since you leave from and return to the Yacht Club.

It's expensive, but we're sharing with another Aussie family to keep the cost down a bit. It's around $350USD for ten people, but to us it's one of those special things that you've just gotta do once

Thanks for the help on transport. Now to read up on Uber Family - I'd never heard of that!

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

I have a December Illuminations Cruise booked and totally agree about the frustration that the Disney PLAY reservations don't show up on the plan. Nothing booked through (407) WDW-PLAY shows up. I also have a carriage ride booked which also doesn't show --- I've manually added it to the MDE plan but really they should be able to automatically add it to MDE when it's booked.

I'm thinking that the cab or UBER will be the way to go --- but this will depend on the final hours for the parks being released. They aren't finalized at this point so you may still be able to use the other options. If you get to Disney Springs there is also the option of the boat to POR from Disney Springs --- it will take longer than the cab or Uber but might be something to consider as well.

 

[baler31]

We have never had a problem asking the captain to drop us at our destination (within the area). We have frequently been dropped at the Epcot and DHS boat docks after the fireworks cruise. YMMV but if you were dropped at DHS you could just take the bus as the stops are not far from the DHS boat dock.

 

[subtchr]

We have never had a problem asking the captain to drop us at our destination (within the area). We have frequently been dropped at the Epcot and DHS boat docks after the fireworks cruise. YMMV but if you were dropped at DHS you could just take the bus as the stops are not far from the DHS boat dock.

It was about 10 years ago, but we did a fireworks cruise on the Breathless (when they were still offered!). Our captain, who was AWESOME, offered to drop us at DHS after the cruise so we could catch the bus back to Shades of Green. I remember it because my second son and daughter were soaked to the skin because of the spray from the amazing ride our captain gave us before the fireworks. They were sitting in the back of the boat. It was freezing for them on the air conditioned bus! I wish the Breathless was still available...

 

[Keels]

We docked back at YC in January and the gate attendants at International Gateway let us walk back through EPCOT to get to our car in the EPCOT parking lot. I simply showed them my receipt from the cruise.