Woo Hoo... Got my first Illuminations Cruise!

[twinmomplus2new]

After trying about the last ten trips to get an Illuminations cruise I was finally successful this morning. I have done the Fireworks cruise lots of times but have never gotten the coveted Illuminations boat!!!!

 

[athenna]

Wow congratulations! Have a great time, that sounds like a lot of fun!
I'll do a little dance for ya!

 

[Deesknee]

Congrats!!

Speaking of firework cruises....

This is probably a dumb question but, do they charge per person or per cruise? I saw one of the rates were $120 ( If I rememeber correctly), is that per person?

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Actually the cost is one price that includes boat and driver for about an hour. It was 120 then a 20 25 tip depending upon the driver. However this morning I was told the price had gone up. I was quoted somthing over $140. ( Not including tip)

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Congratulations! Me and DH treated my parents to an Illuminations cruise to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. His birthday was in Feb but we took the cruise in May. It was a total surprise for him. We had dinner at Flying Fish (great!) then strolled around the lake. As we got to the marina Dad started looking at the boats. Then we told him! It was a great surprise for him. He doesn't like thrill rides but he does like boat trips.

DD was 11 months old, the captain put a life jacket on her, we snuggled up under a blanket and she slept throughout the show. The cruise was awesome. I thought it was great value too. I know lots of people share the boat and cost but having it all to ourselves was magical. I hope my Dad remembers it as fondly as I do.

We sure make great memories at WDW!

Have a great time and well done!
Mandy

 

[carol1231]

I am very interested to know how the cruise was! I am planning to book one for our next trip in June. Did you choose any of the extra options, such as food or drink?

 

[TinkTatoo]

Well done - you will love this. we did one last August and it was one of the highlights of our holiday

 

[QuiltTeddy]

I haven't heard of this cruise. Can you direct me to the information, or post it?

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi Carol
No we didn't have any extra options. Food and drink was pricey to have sent onboard (think Room Service plus some) and we knew we would be stuffed from our meal at Flying Fish. We parked next to other boats during the show and some of them had cakes and food on board- it looked great but after a 3 course meal at Flying Fish we really didn't need it. We took a couple of Buds and a couple of diet Cokes on board, plus milk for DD to send her to sleep!!!

The cruise itself is awesome enough. The driver was a lovely lady (forgot her name) It is a fab experience!

Mandy

 

[wdwstar]

congrats on your cruise ! i do have to say after many of times calling for the Illum. cruise we have never gotten it either. while we were staying at the BWV it must have been thurs. jan. 6th we were down by the pool around late afternoon and while i was getting a drink at the lunar side pool snack bar there was a sign stating " fireworks cruise available please ask for details" so i did and it was one Illum. cruise left, i said the epcot one ? the $120 something one ? and the cm said "yes" . i asked dh and he said "no" we can always get one next time, besides he said didnt you enjoy the SSR new years eve fireworks sitting right under them, lol.lol. i just cant win them all, and this shows you to always check when you get there .

keep in mind that we had a wishes fireworks cruise for christmas night and it poured all day all night and very cold, until 8:15 pm it stopped raining but by then i had areadly canceled the cruise, because no one wanted to sit on a pontoon boat in the rain.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have had to Magic Kingdom cruises that were iffy right up until departure due to lightning. so far we have had luck!!!! The Epcot boats are always not available. I read there are only 4. Compared to MK's 12.

I have done the party package on the MK boat.. It was a huge chocolate Birthday cake, (That everyone said was the best cake they ever had,) Paper goods, and a cooler full of soda and water. Candles were not allowed for the cake, No fire? So we used little light sticks, I just happened to have. I will go to Seashore sweets and get some treats and bring them with us!


For specialty Cruise information/ Booking.... It is 407-wdw-play 90 days prior at exactly 7am!!!!!

 

[carol1231]

Ohhh, thank you for adding the 7am tip. I would have called at 9 and been out of luck. I had no idea this was such a popular event.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We got our Illuminations Cruise this morning for April 15. Thanks for the reminder twinmomplus2new. So now we will be cruising Crescent Lake before we go on our 7 day cruise the next day.

HBC

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Happy Birthday Cat! Congratulations!
Have you ever gotten an Epcot boat before?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Happy Birthday Cat! Congratulations!
Have you ever gotten an Epcot boat before?

One time a few years ago. We had such a great time we wanted to do it again. We have some friends who are meeting us at the BCV for a couple of nights and thought this would be a fun way for them to see Illuminations.

I'm really grateful you posted this yesterday. Usually we are planning fools but since we are only at WDW for 2 nights before we go on the cruise (which we have planned down to the minute), we almost forgot about priority seatings and the Illuminations Cruise.

Thanks again.

HBC

 

[TammyNC]

You will be so happy that you got this and congrat's. We did this in Dec. 2003 as a treat from my Mom. We also just took the cruise this past Sunday after the 1/2 Marathon. It is so relaxing and couldn't be a more perfect view. The cost is $120 plus the recommended tip of $20-$25 as others have stated. I can't remember the exact number that the boat will hold, but want to say 10 people. It might hold 12 if there are children.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Congratulations on the cruise. I hope you enjoy it even 1/2 as much as I do-then you'll love it! That's right about capacity. We had 7 adults on it last time (1/3-last night before cost went up-how lucky!), and we might have had room for a few(2-3 more), but really the 7 was fine.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Just an FYI according to the girl yesterday.... The price has gone up a basic cruise is now $140. So now with tip your looking at $160 to $165 depending on how you tip. Still worth it in my opinion. But higher in any event.

 

[kathleena]

I was watching Illuminations from the bridge in Dec. There were 6 pontoon boats and Breathless underneath us!

I would love to do it too, but with asthma, I'm so very concerned that we will get a night when all the smoke comes over to the bridge area. I've been on the bridge with that happening before and it was very unpleasant!