Illuminations and Happily Ever After Cruises - Find One To Share

[Mrs. Pirate]

Would be interested in sharing a Wishes or Illuminations cruise between Feb 24 and Feb 28. We are mom and 2 daughters (9 and 5).

 

[SFMommy]

Three of us (me, DH, DD9) would love to join an Illuminations cruise sometime between 5/1-5/7. Let me know if you have room!

 

[MMS1125]

Still have room on an Illuminations Cruise March 1 Let's fill it up!!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Solo,
Looking to join an illuminations cruise on Mar 2 or 3.
Darn darn darn, can't do Mar 1!
(Could also do Feb 24, Feb 28, Mar 4).

 

[MMS1125]

Solo,
Looking to join an illuminations cruise on Mar 2 or 3.
Darn darn darn, can't do Mar 1!
(Could also do Feb 24, Feb 28, Mar 4).

I am thinking of calling and swapping to the 2nd if you are interested. Drop me an email michelles1125 at gmail.com if so

 

[Askimos]

Anyone doing an illuminations cruise March 9? Fiancé and I aren't going to be in the parks this time, but still hoping to watch our favorite show. . It'll be just the two of us!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I am thinking of calling and swapping to the 2nd if you are interested. Drop me an email michelles1125 at gmail.com if so

(Sent you an email same day, hoping you got it? My answer was YES! Thanks)

 

[MMS1125]

(Sent you an email same day, hoping you got it? My answer was YES! Thanks)

They didn't have one available but going to call again Monday. WIsh you could do the 1st I was able to get 4 more (so 6 people) and one or two more would be fantastic!

 

[MMS1125]

(Sent you an email same day, hoping you got it? My answer was YES! Thanks)

Dropped you an email today I was able to get the 2nd so I'm hoping to find a few more people for that night!

 

[wendybeth75]

Hello! My husband and I are looking for anyone who has 2 extra spaces on an illuminations cruise for April 13, 14, or 16. Thanks!

 

[dsongdahl]

I'm looking for 2 extra seats for my 11yr old son and I on April 2nd, 2016 for my 40th bday. TIA​

 

[mousegear]

We would love to join illumination cruise. We are mom and 12 y/o son and we will be at Disney from 3/19-3/25. PM me please~~

 

[MarionH]

We are a group of 6 going 4/16/16 - 4/23/16. Have room for a few more if someone wants to split.

Hello, I am interested in this if it is still available.

 

[old feller]

Joining in

 

[MandM3]

Looking to join someone on their Wishes or Illuminations cruise on any of these dates -

May 8th - 14th
May 16th - 18th
May 22nd

There's just the two of us, DH and me. Fingers crossed!

 

[ToniClifford]

Looking to join someone for a Wishes or Illuminations cruise on any of these dates -

May 8th - 14th
May 16th - 18th
May 22nd
May 25th

There's just the two of us, DH and me. Fingers crossed!

If you find anyone else for May 25th we could share, there are 3 of us

 

[MandM3]

If you find anyone else for May 25th we could share, there are 3 of us

That would be great!

If you find anyone else for May 25th we could share, there are 3 of us

I'm sorry, I got my dates wrong, the last day possible should be the 22nd. I forgot we'd booked Boma on the 25th. But I really hope you find someone. I hope we both do!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Illuminations cruises are a fun and special way to view the Illuminations fireworks at Epcot. These cruises are very popular and require some advance planning in order to get a reservation.

You will tour seven seas lagoon prior to the beginning of Illuminations and be entertained, by your boat's pilot, with Disney trivia and views of the Boardwalk and other resorts, then you anchor beneath a bridge for an unobstructed view of the fireworks. One of the things we enjoyed the most about our Illuminations cruise was being able to just get off the boat and go to our car without fighting the huge crowd that was leaving Epcot afterwards.

Illuminations cruises are technically called "Specialty Cruises". There are 3 levels and prices for these cruises and you can read about them HERE.

There are only 5 boats available for this activity and they depart either from Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach Club Marina:

Pontoon Boats: Only 4 pontoon boats are available for this cruise. Each pontoon boat will accommodate up to 10 adults or 12 passengers if some of them are children. The cost is not determined by the number of passengers, so sharing a cruise is good idea if you want to reduce cost.

The Breathless: This is a reproduction of a 1930's ChrisCraft Runabout. It will accommodate a maximum of 7 passengers. This boat departs only from the Yacht &Beach Club Marina. This vessel has more speed than the pontoons.

In addition to the basic cost of the cruise, you should allow a gratuity for the Captain. We had 4 passengers on our cruise and tipped our Captain $25. He did a great job and paid special attention to my 6 year old nephew, my dh says now, that he wishes he had tipped him more, because he just made the whole experience wonderful.

How to book an Illuminations Cruise:


You need to call 407-939-7529 exactly 90 days before the date you want to reserve. You can determine when to call by using the DIS's priority seating calculator if you CLICK HERE

Since these cruises are so much in demand, start calling about 6:55 am est. If you get a recording that they are not open yet, disconnect and immediately hit redial. If you get the recording thanking you for calling hit #3 right away, as soon as the second recording begins press #2, when the third recording begins press either your reservation number or phone number and finish with the pound sign. Then press #1, then #2. This will take you to a reservationist, if you have to hold do not disconnect or you go to the bottom of the queue.

When the reservationist answers do not make small talk, immediately tell him/her that you want to reserve the 8PM specialty cruise for such and such date.Do not ask to reserve an Illuminations cruise or you will waste time hearing that there is no such thing. After you get your reservation you can talk all you want, but these cruises are very difficult to reserve and seconds count when thousands of people are competing for only 5 boats.

When the reservationist indicates that you have obtained the reservation, tell him/her that you want to see Illuminations. He/she will then make arrangements for your cruise to depart the marina about 1/2 hour before Illuminations begins.

You will be told that they cannot guarantee that you will see Illuminations. They tell you this because, if Illuminations is delayed for any reason, your boat will still return to the marina at the end of your hour. So far, there have been no known instances where Illuminations was not seen.

If you have flexibility in your WDW itinerary, it is best to try to reserve a cruise for the first night you have available. That way, if you don't get the reservation, you can try the next day and the next, if necessary.

If you are unable to secure a reservation for an Illuminations cruise, do not give up. Cancellations happen every day. Keep calling and trying for that reservation, even when you are in WDW. I was told by a captain of one of these cruises that his boat has often sat idle because someone cancelled. You can snag a cancellation. I know, because I was lucky enough to get a cancelled cruise only 6 weeks before our trip last year.

You can also sometimes find someone who has a reservation already and is willing to share the space and cost of his cruise with you. The Illuminations Cruise Central posts on the Theme Parks board are there to help people match up for these cruises. There is an Illuminations Cruise Central for each month, beginning 3 months ahead of time.

If you want to try to find a cruise to share, or if you have a reservation for a cruise already and are willing to share with others please post to thread.

Good luck getting a reservation for an Illuminations Cruise, I hope this information is helpful to you.

Katholyn

Does anyone know if this info is,still accurate? I know the Breathless is out of commission... Are the phone directions still correct? TIA...

 

[kellyepp1]

Anybody have room for 4 adults for IllumiNations on May 8 or May 11?

 

[SFMommy]

Still hoping to join an Illuminations cruise sometime between 5/1-5/7.
Three of us (me, DH, DD9). Let me know if you have room!