Wishes Cruise - Would you do it again?

[dtuleya]

Last visit we did the Illuminations cruise and loved it! We decided to book the Wishes cruise leaving from the Poly. Now I'm having second thoughts. This is our first time viewing Wishes and I was wondering if we'll be missing alot. I know we won't see Tinkerbell, but I thought we might be able to sneak over another night just to see a glimpse of "her". Will we be missing the "Magic" by sitting on a boat? I just don't want to pay all that $$$ and be disappointed.

 

[kamehameha]

I thought the Wishes Cruise was very magical. We arrived early, so they gave us a tour around the lake. We caught Polynesian Resorts parade display before the Wishes Cruise began.

I have never been to the Illuminations Cruise, so I would probably see that before doing the Wishes Cruise again.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We'll be taking our third Wishes cruise in Sept. We love it, there just isn't a better way to view the fireworks! No pushing crowds, nobody talking through the narration, no fighting to leave the park afterwards. And, you CAN see Tink fly, although she looks a little small she is visible if she's flying that night. You won't be disappointed!

 

[delauzons]

We did the Wishes cruise for the first time in October for my daughter's 7th birthday. We had 12 on the boat and everyone said it was their favorite thing of the trip. We were all dissappointed that we couldn't get it for our August trip. It is so relaxing! I loved that they dropped us off at our hotel also!

 

[Mary Anne]

We loved it and saw Tink Fly! I would do it again if I could.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We saw Tink fly too! I loved it, DH wasn't happy, he thought it was too far away to appreciate it all.

Bobbi

 

[bethbuchall]

We thought that our Wishes Cruise was absolutely wonderful! I seriously thought about booking another for this trip. The prices are higher now, though, so I decided against both Wishes and IllumiNations cruises. We have never done the Illuminations cruise.

I would definitely recommend the Wishes cruise, and I'm feeling a little tinge of regret for not trying to book either.

Beth

 

[Nysie]

We've done the Illuminations cruise. We would love to try the wishes cruise.

 

[ash&abby'smom]

We did the Wishes cruise for the first time in October for my daughter's 7th birthday. We had 12 on the boat and everyone said it was their favorite thing of the trip. We were all dissappointed that we couldn't get it for our August trip. It is so relaxing! I loved that they dropped us off at our hotel also!

How many are normally on a boat? We booked the magical gathering cruise, but they said 100-120 people will be on the boat. I had thought there was smaller boats, I don't know if I was confused or the cm I spoke with. I couldn't get any info on any other cruises. Thanks for the info.

 

[Kimber1963]

How many are normally on a boat? We booked the magical gathering cruise, but they said 100-120 people will be on the boat. I had thought there was smaller boats, I don't know if I was confused or the cm I spoke with. I couldn't get any info on any other cruises. Thanks for the info.

I booked the magical gatherings cruise too but the CM couldn't tell me how many people were on each boat. Can anybody confirm the number of people on the magical gatherings cruise?

 

[dtuleya]

Thanks everyone for all your reviews. I only booked it about 3 weeks ago, and I'm so glad I did! !

 

[PoohHappens]

I booked the magical gatherings cruise too but the CM couldn't tell me how many people were on each boat. Can anybody confirm the number of people on the magical gatherings cruise?

When we booked our wishes cruise we passed the magical gatherings cruise, the two are different. The MG is a large boat with 100-200maybe I am not sure and I would think the number varies per night. There are characters on it, I think Captain hook and Smee. It was interactive and funny, we could lihear all the jokes when we passed. I also think it included dessert or something. This is done with many people "strangers" not just your family. A wishes cruise is a private booking and you pay for the whole thing, even if there are only 2 of you. On your own you can make arrangements to share with someone. Depending on the boat there are 8-12 permitted. THere were sodas and snacks (chips, pretzels) and you can also pay extra for things like decorations, alcohol and food. Have fun.

 

[TomD]

We did the Wishes Cruise in Decemeber and thought it was the best way to see it. We are doing it again this Oct.

 

[halld6479]

we viewed illuminations twice our last visit and thanks to info from here we had planted ourselves at the rope that allowed you into the area that is blocked off till the last minute and had spots allowing front room views for both shows, my question is were was the cruise boats in reference to the great seating spot we had, we are having a MG in Dec 2007 and tring to figure which way to go there will be 12 of us in the group.would we see as well as we did with those seats in your thinking.Also I have read something about renting a spot also if you are having a MG for the show any info would be great.

 

[Lzylitnin]

We did the private Wishes cruise for my partents 45th wedding anniversary last August . We left from the Poly after a wonderful dinner at Kona Cafe. We were asked to meet a CM at the boat dock. They were late arriving (the CM and the boat) due to lightning, but it wasn't a big deal. We still had plenty of time to cruise around a little before the fireworks. We had the boat decorated for the anniversary and a cake on board. It was really nice! You could see tink, although she was far away, you could still see her "flying" from the castle.

The refreshments included water, softdrinks, cake with plates, forks, and napkins. The captain does not serve the food. You must, can be a little tricky without much light and no where to rinse the extra icing off your fingers except the lake or your own tongue.

I would recommend it! We had a great time. We surprised my parents with this. My mom ended up crying she was sooooo happy and surprised. It turns out she had always wanted to do this, but never had the opportunity!

I did good! It was one of our cherished family memories that we will carry with us forever.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We've done the private Wishes cruise and the MG one as well. The "character" on the boat for the MG one is your captain "Patch" who is a pirate. Capt. Hook and Mr. Smee are at the dessert reception at the CR before you board your boat. When we did this one, we were a group of 16, and I think we shared our boat with 3 other families. It wasn't a problem though, we had so much fun! One of the other families was there to celebrate the parent's 50th wedding anniversary, so Patch made us all sing "Kiss the Girl" and everytime we got to the chorus they had to kiss. It was worth every penny! We wanted it again for this trip but it's not available for the night we needed to do it, so we've got 2 pontoon boats booked.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

OHhhhhh, the Wishes Cruise. Just had ours July 15th. We met at the Wilderness Lodge and cruised the lake. Cara was our Captian/Guide. She was VERY knowlagable and did a great job. We seen the electrical water parade from the boat. (10 passenger) and seen the Loud and Joyful MG boat full of LOTS of people!!

Veiwing Wishes from the lake actually gives you more of an overall veiw of the fireworks, and the privacy is fabulous. It's just so wonderful. I hosted a Wishes Cruise for my friends from my work. We were in Orlando for a conference and on the night before everyone had to fly back home, I gave this as my gift to the friends from work. They all know how crazy I am about Disney, only one other person had ever even been to Disney before, so the gift of Disney that I gave to them will be a memory like no other that I have ever had. As I sit here and recall this, tears still come.

After the fireworks and music ended, we all just sat there a coulple of seconds so we could take deep breaths before anyone started to talk and to thank me. I was crying, they were crying, it was beautiful! I don't think I'l ever have a more magical Disney experiance, Unless of course I get chosen to be the guest who will stay in the Castle during the Million Wishes Celebration that's coming up.

 

[phyllisnnj]

we viewed illuminations twice our last visit and thanks to info from here we had planted ourselves at the rope that allowed you into the area that is blocked off till the last minute and had spots allowing front room views for both shows

Wow, where is the roped off area for both shows?

 

[mrstbalt]

How was the Illuminations cruise and was it worth it?? How much? Thanks

 

[Kimber1963]

We wanted it again for this trip but it's not available for the night we needed to do it, so we've got 2 pontoon boats booked.

Keep checking back!! They told me they were all booked up too but I kept checking with them and VOILA! someone had cancelled.