Skipping pirate night activities?

[Chandra C]

We are first time cruisers and are going on the shortest cruise, 3 nights. Traveling with kids ages 11, 7, and 2 years old. I've read that the best part is the fireworks. I'm just trying to decide if I should purchase pirate attire or if it's even worth it. Since we have limited time on the ship, I'm just want to make the most of it. Clearly I know this is pure opinion but I'd love to hear from others who have went to the pirate festivities. Thanks

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We completely skipped it on our first cruise, our kids were 10 and 11 and couldn't stay awake for the fireworks. Haven't missed them since though. My daughter and I are the only ones who dress up though, wife and son are in regular clothes.

 

[Sytrace]

As this is your first cruise, I would highly recommend taking part in the pirate show (before fireworks) and also watching them. They are beautiful. The dance party afterward is pretty fun too and the buffet is crazy busy but something you really might want to try as well.

As for dressing up...that is something we did once on OUR first cruise and have not done since. My husband and kids don't care either way and we still enjoy the fireworks and party.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We love it all, no matter how many times we've seen it and we still get plenty done on the ship too!

 

[Staceroo]

I did palo on pirate night for dinner. My little girl, 4 at the time had taken a nap in the afternoon and made it to the fireworks and show. We went to bed right after though. As for outfits, I cut up some white tshirts, brought red yarn as a belt and packed some glow sticks which my daughter loved. Kept it really simple. Disney will give you a bandana and eye patch.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are first time cruisers and are going on the shortest cruise, 3 nights. Traveling with kids ages 11, 7, and 2 years old. I've read that the best part is the fireworks. I'm just trying to decide if I should purchase pirate attire or if it's even worth it. Since we have limited time on the ship, I'm just want to make the most of it. Clearly I know this is pure opinion but I'd love to hear from others who have went to the pirate festivities. Thanks

If it's your first cruise, I'd suggest you do it. There's really no need to bring full on costumes, unless someone really wants to wear them. You don't really need to buy anything special, as you might have enough pieces to put together a pirate-type outfit from what you already have. For my son we used a striped mock turtleneck sweater of mine, some old khaki pants that I cut off, a piece of rope for a belt, and a knit cap.

For my husband I cut out a vest from some felt, put some rick-rack braid on it and called it a day. He wears it with a white unbuttoned shirt, black pants and shoes.

If you're cruising on the Dream, there are 2 pirate shows. One family-friendly (Mickey and group) between the two dinner seatings. And a second Jack Sparrow-type show after the second dinner seating followed by the fireworks.

There's really not much else going on during the time that the Pirate activities are happening, so you might as well check it out.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I think it depends on your family's personalities. Being first time cruisers, I'd encourage you to dress up and enjoy the night. A lot of people will be wearing their pirate costumes at dinner. There are plenty of people who really enjoy it, otherwise it wouldn't be so crazy busy. DD and I usually get dressed up for it, although I now refuse to wear the full pirate dress I purchased because it's just a cheap costume from a Halloween store and it's really scratchy. Last time, I just wore tan capris, a white ruffled shirt and the pirate bandana DCL provides. It's fun to take pictures with the characters in their pirate garb. We're to the point where we don't bother watching the stage show and only go on deck for the fireworks, but I'm glad we have seen the stage shows.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Don't buy anything special. They give you bandannas. Tie them on, watch some fireworks and don't stress.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The pirate activities are a blast and I would try to go to the deck party and the fireworks. You absolutely do not need to dress up. We didn't on our last cruise a few weeks ago and I'm so glad. I just didn't want to go through the stress of buying and packing costumes. As a PP mentioned, they give you pirate bandanas. I wore a black dress and wore mine as a "cumberbund" around my waist and I tied my DS8"s around his head. Instant pirate, tons of fun!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wore a black dress and wore mine as a "cumberbund" around my waist

Not sure how long ago your cruise was, but the bandanas are extremely small triangle shapes now. Barely large enough for a child's head. Definitely couldn't go around most waists.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

The Mickey show and the Jack Sparrow show later on are each only about half an hour, so not much of a time investment, and a lot of fun! I know a lot of people like to get there early to get the "best" spot, but on our recent trip, I found we could all sit on the deck in the middle of the main area without any advanced arrival. It is a great place to be in the "middle" of the action and if your kids are tired, they will appreciate being able to sit. I suppose on some cruises everyone stands, but on our trip everyone in the middle section was sitting on the floor and looking up at the show.

As for the costumes, many people go all out, others don't do anything. I enjoyed looking at the people even though we weren't decked out much more than the bandannas that they give out.

 

[dcassetta]

We are first time cruisers and are going on the shortest cruise, 3 nights. Traveling with kids ages 11, 7, and 2 years old. I've read that the best part is the fireworks. I'm just trying to decide if I should purchase pirate attire or if it's even worth it. Since we have limited time on the ship, I'm just want to make the most of it. Clearly I know this is pure opinion but I'd love to hear from others who have went to the pirate festivities. Thanks

I enjoy the fireworks, but only go to the shows if someone I am with really wants to see it. Many people do not dress up for pirate night, so you will not be out of place in regular clothes. My pirate costume consists of a t-shirt that says "Yes, I am a Pirate".

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

As this is your first cruise, I would highly recommend taking part in the pirate show (before fireworks) and also watching them. They are beautiful. The dance party afterward is pretty fun too and the buffet is crazy busy but something you really might want to try as well.

As for dressing up...that is something we did once on OUR first cruise and have not done since. My husband and kids don't care either way and we still enjoy the fireworks and party.

Do you know that on my last Disney Cruise, which was also my first, aboard the Magic, I never even saw a buffet. I am sure it was there, but somehow I must have waited too long and missed it. Is it always in Cabanas? How long is it there?

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

If you're cruising on the Dream, there are 2 pirate shows. One family-friendly (Mickey and group) between the two dinner seatings. And a second Jack Sparrow-type show after the second dinner seating followed by the fireworks.

This is cool to know. There are two different shows. I love Jack Sparrow, but a part of me would have missed the "Save us Mickey!" LOL Does that mean this is also the case on the Fantasy? Or just the Dream?

 

[Sytrace]

Do you know that on my last Disney Cruise, which was also my first, aboard the Magic, I never even saw a buffet. I am sure it was there, but somehow I must have waited too long and missed it. Is it always in Cabanas? How long is it there?

I have never been on the Magic and the last time I was on the Wonder was in the first year or so (no kids or husband back then) But on Dream and Fantasy the buffet is in Cabanas right after the fireworks are done and it is a mad house. They have turkey legs (if you like those it is worth waiting for) a taco bar, lots of desserts, baked potatos with fixings. We have had late dining the past few cruises, so if I feel like going to the buffet I eat only an appetizer for dinner.

It took me a few cruises before I found it too. lol

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

This is cool to know. There are two different shows. I love Jack Sparrow, but a part of me would have missed the "Save us Mickey!" LOL Does that mean this is also the case on the Fantasy? Or just the Dream?

Yes, it is true on the Fantasy too. Same timing as on the Dream. The Micky show and the Jack Sparrow show were very different shows. Both were fun. Nothing Earth-shattering, but good Disney excitement.

After the fireworks, there is a "pirate dance party" on the main deck. It is at this time, DURING the dance party, that the Pirate buffet happens in Cabanas. The buffet only lasts like 45 minutes, so it is possible people miss the buffet because they stay for the dance party and don't know it is happening.

The buffet itself isn't as extravagant as late night buffets of old on other lines, but it is fun. Lots of desserts. My sons liked the make your own taco bar, though many people got confused by it. The taco shells and meat are in one place, the "fixings" are in the next spot, with some of the desserts. So it kinds a looks like tacos with no toppings, and separately, desserts with guacamole and cheese and sour cream.

I'll also say that I didn't find it to be quite as crowded as I expected. It was crowded, but not crazy, and it ebbed and flowed. So if one part was too busy at a given moment, we ate what we got from other parts of it and then went back to the area that had been too crowded.

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

Yes, it is true on the Fantasy too. Same timing as on the Dream. The Micky show and the Jack Sparrow show were very different shows. Both were fun. Nothing Earth-shattering, but good Disney excitement.

After the fireworks, there is a "pirate dance party" on the main deck. It is at this time, DURING the dance party, that the Pirate buffet happens in Cabanas. The buffet only lasts like 45 minutes, so it is possible people miss the buffet because they stay for the dance party and don't know it is happening.

The buffet itself isn't as extravagant as late night buffets of old on other lines, but it is fun. Lots of desserts. My sons liked the make your own taco bar, though many people got confused by it. The taco shells and meat are in one place, the "fixings" are in the next spot, with some of the desserts. So it kinds a looks like tacos with no toppings, and separately, desserts with guacamole and cheese and sour cream.

I'll also say that I didn't find it to be quite as crowded as I expected. It was crowded, but not crazy, and it ebbed and flowed. So if one part was too busy at a given moment, we ate what we got from other parts of it and then went back to the area that had been too crowded.

Thanks for all of the information! That is great to know. We did stay for the dance party after the fireworks, so that is probably how we missed it on our last cruise. I will definitely head there once the fireworks end on the next one. WHICH....is one year away exactly TODAY!! I can't wait!

 

[Barbydoll8]

I would agree with other posters. If it's your first time, it's fun and silly but I wouldn't buy anything special to dress up unless your family is REALLY into pirates. We do bandanas and eye patches. I have a Jack Sparrow hockey jersey I wear and DH wears a pirate themed T-shirt. We don't do anything else. Some people go all out but it's a personal preference. The shows are fun and the fireworks are really cool to see especially if you've never done them before.
They are not the same size or length as like a Wishes show at MK. You can youtube the party to give you an idea of what to expect but do it specifically for the Dream. The shows are different on the Wonder & Magic than the Dream & Fantasy.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

Pirate night was my girls' favorite night! My middle is not big into taking pictures and it was a struggle the whole cruise to get a natural smile out of her, except on pirate night! The shows were fun while I thought the fireworks were just okay. Still worth the experience especially if it is your first time!