OMGosh!! OMGosh!! OMGosh!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
OMGosh!! OMGosh!! OMGosh!!!
9
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 7:13am

On a whim, for whatever unknown reason, I decided to see if I could get an IllumiNations Cruise for this trip. I didn't really think I would, they're so hard to get, but guess what??? I called this morning, got the "sorry we're closed" message twice, but the greeting sounded weird, so I looked and I had dialed the wrong #. Got the # right, got straight through the first time with no problem, and I got the cruise!!! Not for the ideal day, but who am I to complain??? People should tell me about things that are hard to book, I take it as a challenge!

Now I have to decide if we need to cancel anything else. I think I'm going to wait until closer to time, but we have the Family Magic Tour (missed it last two trips with the boys), we got the boys into the Pirate Cruise at the GF, and DH wants to do the Behind the Seeds tour with DS6 (I think it's cheap tho, and DS will absolutely love it). Decisions, decisions! Someone needs to take away some of my planning time, or this trip is going to turn into 3 weeks long, with everything imaginable.

I'm about to burst already! I can't tell DH, it's a surprise for him, and he loved it so much the last time. Can I keep my mouth shut for 90 whole days????? Umm, probably not. So don't tell guys!!!

~Steph




Edited 2/25/2007 7:23 am ET by bigbabyblues
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2004
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 11:28am
Congratulations!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 1:54pm

Congrats!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 2:15pm

I lucked into one in 2005. I had tried and tried, 90 days out, several calls, no luck. Then I called one day about 10 days before our trip and got one; I guess someone canceled.

There used to be either 4 or 5 boats for "regular" people, I don't know now. There aren't many. I know the Breathless is still out of commission and likely will be for sometime, as it hasn't gone for repair yet.

The # to call is 407-WDW-PLAY--my #1 tip is to figure out what PLAY is, as I was calling the wrong # this morning and getting WDW but a weird sounding department.

Same as it used to be for CRT. Start calling about 6:58-6:59 until you don't get the "we're closed" message. The options are 3, then 2, then you put in your phone# or reservation # followed by (#), then it has that stupid survey thing. Press 2 to skip through that as soon as it starts the "You have been selected...." spiel, and I got straight to a person. N time for being polite, I said "Illuminations Cruise May 26 party of 4" and she said, "Congratulations, you got it!". Now was time to be nice while she took my info!

It is $275 plus tax (I think, don't remember for sure about tax), which is a lot more than I paid in 2005. Definitely worth it though, at least to us. You get "snacks and sodas", but I'm really thinking about splurging for a cake from the YC bakery; in 2005 a boat beside us had one and they kindly shared, and that thing was incredible!

If you don't get one, keep calling back. I read somewhere that they release the boats that start out for the Premium Plan (and other things, don't remember what now) people about 2 weeks out. Also, call 48 hours and 24 hours out, cancellation is 24 hours. If you get a chance too, stop by (or find the phone # for) the marina at YC/BC, I've read that sometimes if people cancel, they don't immediately go back into the pool to WDW-PLAY.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions, I'll try to answer!

Steph

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2004
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 2:24pm
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 next post.

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. The cost is $150 plus 6% tax for the boat (this includes the pilot). 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. The cost is $175 plus 6% tax. 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.

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.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2004
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 2:28pm

Specialty Fireworks Cruises


All Cruise reservations can be booked by calling


1-407-WDW-PLAY (except where otherwise noted)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 8:59pm
I just wanted to mention that the price for the Illuminations (and I think Wishes too) Cruise has been raised to $275 from $250.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Mon, 02-26-2007 - 10:08am

Thanks for all the info!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-26-2007 - 5:19pm

It was soooo worth it in 2005, but it was *only* $120 or $150 then, I don't remember for sure. I'm thinking about trying to share ours, but then again, you don't know if people are reliable, etc.

The way I defended (for lack of a better word, I'm paying, lol) it to DH, is we're going Memorial Day week and I'm thinking it would be a long wait for a good spot, and IllumiNations is our favorite fireworks show!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Mon, 02-26-2007 - 5:26pm
Congrats, Steph!!! That is sooo cool! I would love to do either an Illuminations or Wishes cruise but haven't figured how to fit it in (that plus the anxiety of getting one!)

Val, Co-CL Disney Vacations