Wishes Cruise - Too far away?

[peevuto]

Has anyone here taken the Wishes cruise that could help clarify how far away the boat is during the show?

I have the Wishes cruise booked for my DD bday, but now am thinking maybe it was too much $$.

I thought you got a up front, preferred viewing of the fireworks, but from looking at maps, it looks like you are quite a ways away, outside the entrance to MK.

Is this true... that you don't get very close? Doesn't that ruin the experience, being so far away?

I am confused about paying over $200USD for a 1hr cruise where you get worse seats than most everyone else.

Thanks,

 

[bizeemom4]

We did this once. It was $120 - not $200. It was beautiful - you can hear the music from the water and no one stands in front of you and blocks your view. We got to see the Electrical Water Parade from the water before the fireworks. Although it was nice, I've been there, done that. I want an Illuminations cruise for our next trip.

 

[peevuto]

Thanks for the reply... ours will be $206 because we are getting the b-day package (thought it was a once in a lifetime thing, so it would be worth it)

When you look at maps, it looks like the castle over a mile away from where the boat will stop... is it really that far?

 

[llij]

We did the WISHES birthday cruise for my dad last December. In my opinion, it was worth every penny! You aren't on MK property but out in the seven seas lagoon on a pontoon boat. The view is spectacular and we were lucky enough to hear the music perfectly. The best part was that we didn't have to fight the crowds after WISHES was over.

We loved it so much that we are doing it again. Enjoy and good luck with your decision!

 

[Lizzybee]

I don't have a lot money and wouldn't have even gone on our WDW trip if my mom and dad didn't take us. I saved up and surprised my family with a Wishes Cruise and it was the highlight of our trip. We LOVED it! It was more like an hour and a half trip and yes you are far away but it's the most INCREDIBLE view of the fireworks. I think it was completely worth the price, it was breath-taking. Hope you love it as much as we did!

 

[Pocahontas1]

I've never taken a Wishes cruise, but would like to when the kids are a bit older. Anyway, I have seen the fireworks from inside MK, Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian. In my opinion, some of the fireworks are best appreciated from outside MK. Inside it was just "oooohhhhh cool fireworks". Outside it was more like "ooohhhh cool....look its a _________". I don't want to give anything away.

I'd do the cruise. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity. Either way hope you have a great time at Disney.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

We just got back from WDW yesterday and the WIshes cruise was one of the HIGHLIGHTS of our trip there. Yes, you are farther back, BUT you can see the fireworks and their reflection in the water, hear the music, and it's magical. I would do it again, and were actually getting a cruise for my parents when they go down in August simply so they can have the same experience. Get there early and your guide will probably take you out early too. Our captain was GREAT! Ron was relatively new and had only been at WDW for 25 days, but he was VERY knowledgable, took us out on the lake early, and gave us a tour of all the different islands, the shoe tree, Discovery island and showed us all the wildlife on the shore and identified them for us, and the place was simply amazing! He told us so many fun facts, was entertaining, frequently stopped to let us get pictures of things, and it was well worth it!

 

[GUNER]

We did one earlier this month and it was the hightlight of the trip. What a great way to watch the fireworks. We had an awsome boat guide who showed us everything around the lake. We saw the electrical water parade as well. In our opinion it was worth every penny plus more. We will definetly do it again. Don't miss out on what we feel was the hightlight of our trip.

 

[zurgswife]

If your bothered by the extra cost of a bday cruise...change it to a regular cruise and bring a cake or some special treat on yourself....

 

[peevuto]

Thanks to everyone who responded....

I figured the cruise would put you front row... but what I am hearing is you are back row, and its better back there? Kind of like in a movie theatre.

Thanks, now I know what to expect, and that it will be a good show.

Cheers!

 

[Tinkaroo]

To the original OP - it sounds like you may have the IllumiNations cruise "seating" confused with the Wishes cruise. On the IllumiNations cruise, you are anchored on the edge of the World Showcase lagoon, where the show occurs.

I just did the IC in April as a suprise for DH's 30th birthday. Although we were thrilled to get it (and it took me trying every morning 90-days out for our entire 8-day stay, and my parents calling, too, to get it), I don't know if I'd do it again, purely for the viewing of the show. Although it was nice not having to "hold down a piece of concrete" (instead getting a cruise around Crescent Lake beforehand), we had a better viewing spot earlier in the week outside of Italy.

I've heard good things about the Wishes cruise, but I worry about getting a boat without the music. Plus, this is a show that I just absolutely love seeing from Main Street!

 

[Lizzybee]

We were actually in a boat without the music piped in directly and there were enough boats around us with the sound systems on board that we could hear it perfectly. Actually it was just the right volume for my son who has sensitive ears for once he didn't have to cover his ears. I was worried before the trip about if we'd see it ok, if we could hear the music, etc. I'm soooo glad I didn't let my concerns cancel our cruise. It was the primo pixie dust on our trip!

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We love the Wishes cruise! When you are in the MK you really can't see all of the fireworks. There are trees and buildings all around. When you are in the lagoon it is like the show is being put on just for you! It feels like you are watching a 3-D movie. On another note, I don't think the park maps are drawn to scale.

 

[Simba's Mom]

May be slightly OT here, but does anyone know if the Wishes Cruise is less difficult to get than the Illuminations cruise?

 

[Lizzybee]

I was able to get my Wishes Cruise ressie less than two months before our Spring Break trip. I got it for Easter Night, it was great. I don't know though if it's easier to get or there was a cancellation or everyone had "other plans" for Easter Sunday.

 

[Tinkaroo]

May be slightly OT here, but does anyone know if the Wishes Cruise is less difficult to get than the Illuminations cruise?

Simba's Mom - it is significantly easier to get a Wishes cruise than one for IllumiNations! There are only 5 pontoon boats (if memory serves) for IllumiNations, plus the Breathless. They literally book within the first 20 seconds of calling on the 90-day mark.

I had a Wishes cruise reserved until I got the IllumiNations cruise, and the CM told me there are so many more boats for those. I think anywhere from 3-4 each depart from the CR, WL, Poly, and maybe even the GF for Wishes cruises.

You should probably still call as close to the 90-day mark as possible, but it's not that "CRT-like" experience. (Of course, you can always keep calling to see if someone cancels, too.)