Who has actually been on an Illuminations cruise?

[Antonia]

I am going on my first Illuminations cruise in September. Who has actualy been on one and how was it? Could you see Illuminations? How well? Did you encounter smoke blowing across the water towards your pontoon boat? Were snacks provided on the boat? Tell me everything!!!!

 

[copper0426]

We have been on the cruise four times. We have not been though since they have added the drinks and snack. We will be doing that in October. The view was excellent. We only got smoke once, but my DH doesn't even remember it. I am just sensitive. Our boat captain took us to MGM and we watched a bit of the end fireworks from Fantasmic. It was definately worth the $125 for upto 12 people. Now it is $250 and that includes the snacks and we are still going back if that tells you how much we enjoy it. The captains are all nice and on a couple of occassions they brought towels to wrap around you if you got cold.

Diane

 

[paladin]

We went for the first time this past December. We have been to WDW many times, but never tried it before - so naturally we try it after the price went up Anyway, we loved it and we plan on doing it on future trips. We had no smoke at all (I would imagine that it would depend on which way the wind is blowing) and a fantastic view. It was just amazing! They had canned soda, bottled water and bags of chips and pretzels, at least I think so; we didn't pay much attention to the snacks as we had just eaten. It was quite chilly and there were blankets for us to use.

Enjoy!

 

[Antonia]

Appreciate your replies. I am so happy that we are getting to go on a cruise. I think DH will love it! And we are going with a fellow DIS'er and her family. I thiknk it will be fun. Glad to hear that there is a good view of Illuminations.

 

[4greatboys]

I am going on my first Illuminations cruise in September. Who has actualy been on one and how was it? Could you see Illuminations? How well? Did you encounter smoke blowing across the water towards your pontoon boat? Were snacks provided on the boat? Tell me everything!!!!

We had a great view of Illuminations. You are right under the bridge where everyone stands to watch them.
No smoke our way but thats really going to depend on the wind. No we didnt have snacks but you could pay extra to get them. Its my undetstanding they now come with the cruise (and price increase). We did the cruise back when it was $120.

 

[marlynnp]

Me!

Just went on our first a couple of weeks ago. Found a dis'er to share with ~ thanx!

It was fantastic. Great view. No problem with smoke though they do warn you that it could happen. We each had a can of soda and bag of chips/pretzles.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I did this last dec with my kids, parents, and sister. We had a great view and it was a great time. No smoke blew our way and it was windy and cold. They did have a couple of blankets but I also brought one of my own. We had bags of chips, pretzels and popcorn. They also had soda (reg/diet) and bottled water. It was very nice and I am glad to have had the chance to do it. But, I am not in a hurry to do it again. It was lots of money and our boat captain was not the best. Oh yeah, we also paid extra since it was my birthday to have decorations on the boat. That was neat because people all around and on the bridges would yell "Happy Birthday!"

Hope you have a great time.

 

[mking624]

My DH and I went on the cruise last August when an awesome family from Dis let us come on with them (to whom we are very grateful). It was an incredible view and we saw everything really well. Snacks were not provided...you had to pay extra for those. But I believe the price now includes them. Smoke didn't blow our way, but as someone else mentioned, that all depends on which way the wind is blowing. It really was an awesome experience!

 

[J&J]

We have taken one a couple of times no smoke great view. Don't know it the new prices are great for a can of soda and pretzels.

You will love the cruise enjoy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The cruise was the highlight of our one and only family trip, back in '99. My favorite memory, of many. At the time it was $85 if I recall. It was in early December and cold. They had blankets and that also. We had ordered a cake, as the trip, and cruise, was a celebration for DW, Marie's, remission from breast cancer. It was a nice view. No smoke, wind blowing the other way. If wind is blow your way, you will get smoke, but that is wherever you are around the lagoon. The short cruise before and after, around Baordwalk and MGM area was nice too.

Congratulations on snagging one, I presume they are still tough to get.

Since that trip, I have been on two other cruises with folks from here on the DIS.

 

[chamonix]

I have been on two Illuminations cruises, one before they included the snacks in the price, and once since (thanks to a wonderful DIS family). The snacks/drinks are as mentioned upthread. (bottled water, soda and small bagged snacks like chips and pretzels). You can arrange for all kinds of food, cakes, drinks, champagne, beer, etc etc for extra $$. The decorations can be arranged as well. It's really nice to have the decorations, and a cake and champagne.

We never had any smoke. When it was cold, they provided warm blankets.

I am in the minority on this, but I don't think the view is the greatest. It's nice, but the show is much better seen from other vantage points around the lake. There is an island that blocks the whole view around the World Showcase (for example, you really can't see all of the buildings light up, or all of the cauldrons). It's a really nice view, but not "the best" view you could have. The show was designed to be seen from the front of the lagoon, not the side where the boats park. It's still a really fun thing to do and we would (will!) do it again in a heartbeat!

It's unfortunate they can't park the boats somewhere that really gives you a "perfect" view. You know, come to think of it, I think what makes the view nice is not having to "fight" the crowds and stand elbow to elbow during the show!

Also, my one other complaint is that they basically boot you off the boat afterwards--as soon as they drive straight back to the dock after the show is over. I would prefer to continue cruising and relaxing on the boat for awhile, or at least until the crowds have gone away, lol. But, then again, we love boating and water, and we would take this cruise even without the fireworks, lol!!

 

[scoolover]

I hate to get on here and and give negatives but I must say that the pontoon cruise was one of the most lame things that I have done. I really enjoyed getting there and the tour of the rivers but illuminations its self was lame. Bad view. I was wishing that I was standing on the bridge above where we were so I could see. I hope you like it better.

 

[dizfam4]

We went on the Illuminations pontoon cruise last September (before they added snacks and price increase). I have to agree with some of the OP's. The view was just OK. Unfortunately, we were there when the wind was blowing towards us. The "captain" of the pontoon was very nice and was prepared for this. She gave us all hand towels to hold over our faces...yes it was that bad! Not just smoke, but chunks of hot black ash floating everywhere. On the bright side, it was nice to cruise the area of BW and MGM before and after. It is also nice to watch Illumniations without the crowds. I am sure the experience would be a lot better for my children, DH, and I if the wind hadn't come into play. Have fun.

 

[cabloom]

We did the Breathless back in May and it was nice, but not something I'd do again for the price. The view is fine, but the best thing about it is not having to stake out the spot an hour or more ahead of time. No smoke the evening we went (but we did get some stray popcorn dropped on us from above ).

Our captain was great - we cruised to MGM and back around the BW before the show, and then afterwards he zoomed us back to MGM and pulled a number of power turns before waiting to see the conclusion of Fantasmic. No "booting us off the boat"! We have a boat ourselves so while that was fun, I would expect that kids or people that never get to go boating would think that part of it was a blast. The Breathless is a fast boat!

 

[erikthewise]

We have! We we lucky enough to get on a cruise Dec 2004, before the price increase. We paid $15 a head which was well worth it. Our two boys were the only preteens on board so they each got to steer the boat for a while. The view is good and unobstructed but certainly not the best available. The people above you on the bridge have a better view but they had to be there at least an hour in advance to get that view.

BTW for "ordinary" cruises (not "Breathless) the price doubled from $120 to roughly $240.

 

[slp87]

We also did it before the price increase. We too shared with some others DISers and just paid $10 each. I agree that the view was okay. Unfortunately the wind was blowing toward us and we got pelted with soot. I'm glad we did it once, but we don't feel the need to do it again. We go in March when it's not too crowded anyway, and now we've found a perfect spot that we love to watch from.

 

[subtchr]

We also took a cruise on the Breathless just a few weeks ago, and it was such a blast! I have a long description of it and some pics in my trip report (Day 2). Here's a link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1160683

Cabloom, was your captain Kenny? He was so good, we plan to do it again next time and ask for him!

 

[J&J]

sorry to hear so mkany were not happy with the cruise. We love it the only we don't like now is the price. The view we found was great and no crowds. :love