Steve:
We did this last year when our DD was 8. We had enough time for breakfast with an 8 am ADR. The pirate people like to have the kids checked in at 9:15 am. They get a cute Mickey Ear pirate hat, a life vest, and remember to have the kids wear sneakers. Once the pirates left on their pontoon boat, my husband checked his emails at the GF business center and we walked to the Poly. But then we quickly got inside the Poly lobby, as the pontoon boat was docked there while the kids looked for treasure outside. We didn't want a young pirate to think her parents were following her!
The pirate cruise was one of the highlights of her trip, despite my DH's anxiety of sending her on the boat alone.
We are celebrating her 9th birthday at WDW (leaving tomorrow!!) and she is still more pirate than princess, she tells me.
Have a great trip.
JeanBean