Trip Planning / Illuminations Cruise

[mushumadness]

Hiya

I am doing some more planning, today I have booked my room at the hilton for the night before we fly, and have reserved my two weeks parking there, they wanted a car registration number but were understanding when I explained I get my new car on 1st september!! woohoo cant wait

I am wanting to have an illuminations cruise at epcot and mk, one on the 28th november (illuminations pending) and one on december 4th
when should i call and does anyone wanna share?

Also I am looking for something as a special treat for my boyfriend who has been a star this year and deserves a suprise.

anything else i need to plan

anna

 

[disneyholic family]

i don't recall how much in advance you can reserve illuminations cruises, but if it were me, i would call on Thursday and ask them exactly when is the first day you can reserve each one (since they're different days, they will have different days you can call)....
and then i would call exactly on that day, the moment the phone lines open (ask them what time when you speak with them)..
illuminations cruises can be difficult to book....there aren't that many of them available....
it might be 6 months in advance, so you should call now to find out...or it might only be 3 months in advance....but if you call now, you'll get the exact date you should call back....

we did the epcot cruise....it was ok, but nothing special......but i say that as someone who hates fireworks...
i do love wishes however, so maybe the MK one is better...

well actually, we were kind of shortchanged on our cruise....
the speed boat (i forgot what it's called) broke down and our boat went to pick up the passengers from the speedboat....it was a family of 4...
they stayed on our boat (we are also a family of 4).....well considering there are only 4 good seats on the boat for viewing (the other ones have blocked views), and the other family had the nerve to sit in the good seats on OUR boat that we were paying whatever it was we were paying........
we pretty much couldn't see anything...

i was not a happy camper.....paying as much as we did for the priviledge of seeing the backs of this other family's heads....

our driver offered to have us come back for another ride on another night, so of course i stupidly tipped him big (as i have a tendency to do)....then of course, it couldn't be arranged....as i should have realized would be the case....
that was one very expensive and very disappointing night..
i don't mind spending a lot of money, but not when there is no value associated with it...

i should have complained to a higher authority at the time..
WDW is excellent at taking care of things, if you complain high enough and exactly when it happens...otherwise, it's basically tough toenails....

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

lluminations Cruise has to be booked 90 days in advance at 7am Florida time to be in with a chance. They are known as Speciality Cruises. I was lucky enough to get one for my October trip. I phoned 8 times with no luck and on the 9th day I got one. Can't wait - we had a cruise last year and it was fantastic. i would highly recommend it. We boarded from the Boardwalk last year, this year we're boarding from the Yacht and Beach Club. Good luck when you phone.

 

[UKDEB]

The IllumiNations Cruises can be hard to get. Click here for a thread explaining how to go about it. For the 28 November, you will need to phone at 7am EST (12 noon GMT). If you're not lucky, there are always threads running on the Theme Parks forum where you can try to hook up with someone who has managed to book one. We've done this 4 times now. Obviously there isn't one for December yet as no-one will have been able to book yet.

The Wishes Cruise is usually easier to secure. The earliest you can phone for 4 December is 5 September.

 

[squitty]

Hi

Just to say that I followed the instructions that Deb has provided in the link above to and got a Illuminations Cruise the first time I tried
It is 90 days out that you can ring.
Use the PS Calculator Here to get the date you need to ring.

Good Luck

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Yup...we did too we got one for 20th September sharing with another two couples and single lady

No money paid up front the Captain of the boat takes the money on the night (plus a tip for him)

I can't wait as I have never been to Epcot (visited Magic Kingdom & Disney Studios before many times) So we are spending the day at Epcot having a Princess Storybook Breakfast first then the cruise in the evening

We are SO excited

Good luck booking your cruise too

Karon

 

[allie5]

Karon, dont forget you dont pick the boat up from Epcot, but from the Yacht & Beach Club resort. If you are driving, then I would strongly suggest moving your car to the resort at some point in the afternoon, as it will be a LOOOOONNNG walk from the Y&B club back to the Epcot parking lot! We ate at the resort before our Cruise last year, and found that quite convienenant. We will do the same this year (if we are lucky enough to get another one).

Have fun everyone!

Allie

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Originally posted by allie5
Karon, dont forget you dont pick the boat up from Epcot, but from the Yacht & Beach Club resort. If you are driving, then I would strongly suggest moving your car to the resort at some point in the afternoon, as it will be a LOOOOONNNG walk from the Y&B club back to the Epcot parking lot! We ate at the resort before our Cruise last year, and found that quite convienenant. We will do the same this year (if we are lucky enough to get another one).

Have fun everyone!

Allie

Hi Allie thanks for that because I did wonder if that s where the cruise left from

Do they allow you to park In the Yacht & Beach club if your not staying there?

 

[allie5]

Yes, they will let you park there. We have never been given a permit, but sometimes they give out 3 hour permits. Just check its long enough to cover your cruise. They dont seem particularly strict on parking here (considering its within walking distance to Epcot) and we have parked here several times with no restriction (for meals at Y&B or Boardwalk). If you have a Cruise booked then I very much doubt you will be given a timed permit.

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Thanks alot Allie!



Cant wait...can you tell

Karon

 

[Miffy2003]

Originally posted by allie5
We will do the same this year (if we are lucky enough to get another one).

Positive thinking Allie!!!!! It will happen!!!

 

[sharon78]

We've been very lucky,another Disboard user managed to get a cruise booked,it wasnt for the date that we all agread so she managed to swap it with another dis user for the date that we did want.Their will be 3 dis family's on our cruise,ourselves and 2 American family's im really looking forward to meeting them.
I just hope that it's a nice night,not too many clouds.