Getting ready to celebrate a special occasion? Have loved ones visiting you in Central Florida? If you’re looking for a unique Disney-related experience with them, consider a Disney Fireworks Crusie.
What is a Fireworks Cruise?
Paul and I were fortunate to recently be invited on a fireworks cruise to celebrate our friend, Jeff’s 40th birthday. Fun side fact: we met Jeff, and his husband, Dan, (who invited us) from the Moving to Orlando group. The cruise was a birthday surprise for Jeff and we were excited to be a part of this occasion.
Fireworks Cruises start at $399 (prices can vary by season). You can choose a cruise of either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT fireworks starting from a variety of marina locations. Cruises include a captain, assorted snacks and soft drinks, festive banners and balloons (if requested), and can seat up to ten guests. Also, you can bring your own snacks and drinks (alcohol as well, just no glass bottles). If you have ten people, this really isn’t a huge per person cost. This is especially true when you compare it to the costs of fireworks dessert parties in the parks (currently $114 per adult). Plus, let’s be honest, the main purpose of the parties are not the desserts, but premier seating to the show. Obviously, the fewer people you have on a cruise, the more you are paying per person, but the potential value is there.
The Cruise Experience
The whole experience from the time you step on the boat until you disembark is around two hours. In those two hours, you will take a ride through both the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake where you’ll pass The Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and the other Magic Kingdom resorts. Our captain told us lots of interesting facts about the resorts and previously existing Disney areas (like River Country) while on this cruise. The cruise was full of beautiful scenery and the ride was very enjoyable.
Once you are positioned in front of Magic Kingdom, you realize you’re going to have an amazing view few people get to experience. The music to the show is piped into the boat. Even though there were other boats just like us on the water enjoying their fireworks cruise, the area didn’t feel crowded and we had a front-row seat to the fireworks action.
After the fireworks ended, the captain took us closer to Grand Floridian to enjoy a close-up view of the Electrical Water Pagent. This is definitely the closest guests will get to the water pageant and it was nothing short of magical.
Overall, I felt the cruise offers a great value for what you receive. It is a private space to watch the fireworks for just you and your guests. The view was peaceful and unobstructed. You aren’t surrounded by crowds of people. You’re not trying to watch the fireworks over kids on shoulders or through someone’s iPhone. This is a great special occasion experience for visitors and locals alike. We can’t wait to do it again.
To book your cruise, you have to call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529.
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We are considering this for Sept trip but we will have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. Will they like it?