Timing question- Boma befoer Illuminations cruise?

[bobcat]

On our last evening we are sharing an illuminations cruise and need to be at the Boardwalk by 8 - 8:15. If we had an early seating at Boma could we make it to the Boardwalk in time without being rushed at dinner? I will drive from AKL to Boardwalk. I love Boma but am struggling to try and fit it in this trip since we aren't staying at AKL.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Boy that would be wicked close. I'm afraid I'd have to say no. Too many things beyond your control could happen to delay you and then you'd miss your cruise. Could you try Boma for breakfast, instead? I know it isn't the same, but it is still quite nice.

 

[jiminy14]

The only way I could see you doing this is if you had a 5:00 or 5:30 PS at Boma. You certainly want time to sit and enjoy your meal. Boma is very popular and every time I have eaten there we have always waited a few minutes to be seated. You also need to allow at least 30-45 minutes to get from AKL to BW, park your car and walk down to the dock.
The cruise is a lot of fun (done this twice in the past) and you don't want to miss it. You have a pontoon boat and for the first half an hour, you sail around the BW lagoon and up to MGM and back. The CM will then take you to a spot under the bridge that runs between England and France. You are right on the water so you will miss some of the action that takes place around WS. Depending upon which CM you have, some will take you right back to the dock and others will take you for a couple of more spins around the lagoon near the BW. For your info, due to safety concerns, you do not enter the lagoon at EPCOT at any time.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Originally posted by bobcat
On our last evening we are sharing an illuminations cruise and need to be at the Boardwalk by 8 - 8:15. If we had an early seating at Boma could we make it to the Boardwalk in time without being rushed at dinner? I will drive from AKL to Boardwalk. I love Boma but am struggling to try and fit it in this trip since we aren't staying at AKL.

I think you can do it for a couple of reasons.
1. It's a buffet, you will not have to wait for your meal to be cooked and delivered to the table.
2. The "typical" sit-down meal is between 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour, and that is not a buffet.
3. AKL takes you straight onto Osceola Parkway, make a left on World Drive, exit after the Tower of Terror sign, up the ramp and left at the Swan Resort. Around Epcot Resort Blvd, past Dolphin, and next stop the Yacht Club resort. Park the car, walk straight thru the lobby and yield to the right before you get on the Lighthouse pier. Driving less than 3 miles, walking less than 1 (LOL).
Like somebody else mentions, make an early PS, as early as possible, and also arrive early. If you are seated promptly by 5:50 you should have no problem. And if you arrived and was told there was a long wait, you could opt out and not dine there, then decide to do something quick like Beaches & Cream, ESPN, Spoodles Carry Out Window, Big River Grille all near Bayside Marina.

 

[bobcat]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to try and find another evening to fit this in. My son would also like to do the night vision goggles since we never managed to do that last time we stayed here.