Specialty Fireworks Cruise: A Value-Priced VIP Experience
Of all the available “Enchanted Extra” add-ons that you can include during your Disney vacation, a Specialty Fireworks Cruise is one of the very best! This starts with an unbelievably relaxing and exclusive cruise through Disney’s lakes and ends with a gorgeous view of the evening fireworks. If you’re already planning on paying extra for an upgraded fireworks viewing experience and have a party of 4 or more people, then you might be surprised to hear that a Specialty Fireworks Cruise is going to be your most affordable option!
For example, if you were planning on booking the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party for your family, that will cost you $99 per adult. A Specialty Fireworks Cruise starts at $399 per night (that varies depending on the season - the number of people in your group doesn’t affect the rate at all) and that price covers a party of up to 10 guests. So, if you have a party of 4, you’ll break even, and the more people you bring along, the cheaper the cruise becomes per person - if you fill the boat to capacity and bring along 10 guests, you could pay as low as $39 per person! The difference is that you’re basically trading the dessert buffet for a private experience (snacks are still included - I’ll go into more detail on that below), so you’ll need to decide what works best for your family.
Reservations can be made by calling (407) WDW-PLAY when you’re 60 days from your desired date (or 60+10 days in advance if you’re staying at an official Disney resort). These do book up pretty quickly, as there are only a few spots available each night, so it’s best to call and book this as soon as possible. Specialty Cruises require pre-payment at the time of booking, and there are two different versions - you can either choose to view the fireworks at Magic Kingdom or Epcot. Epcot cruises will depart from the Bayside Marina at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Magic Kingdom cruises can depart from several different marinas - you’ll be given the opportunity to choose which resort you’d like to depart from. Your options are: Boat Nook Marina at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Seven Seas Marina at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Captain’s Shipyard Marina at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Fort Wilderness Marina & Boat Rental at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, or Teton Boat & Bike Rental at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
If you happen to be celebrating anything during your vacation, be sure to mention that when you make your cruise reservation and the Cast Members will decorate your boat for you. This reservation doesn’t automatically show up in My Disney Experience (you can add a note to your itinerary if you want to include it), so a Specialty Fireworks Cruise actually makes for a wonderful celebration surprise! When you make your reservation, the Cast Member will also inform you that the cruise starts an hour and fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled fireworks time, and it’s best to arrive a few minutes early to go through the rules and get comfortable onboard. Children under age 12 must wear life jackets at all times while onboard - life jackets in several different sizes are complimentary and will be provided before you board.
When you arrive at the marina, you’ll first meet your captain for the evening, review the rules, get the kids fitted for life jackets, and then you’ll board the boat. These pontoon boats are very spacious and feature plush, comfortable seating. You’ll find that your captain has stocked the boat with a big stack of towels/blankets in case anyone feels chilly once you’re out on the lake, and there will also be a cooler full of sodas and water and a big basket full of Disney snacks to enjoy. Note that these are the only food and beverage options included with the cruise, but you’re also allowed to bring your own food and drinks (alcohol is allowed) if you’d like to.
Once you pull out of the marina, your captain will begin by taking you on a cruise around the lake for about an hour. In my experience, the captains have all been really knowledgeable and friendly, and gladly share lots of Disney trivia while pointing out interesting landmarks around the lake. There are beautiful sunset views everywhere you look, and this portion of the cruise is so relaxing and fun!
After your leisurely tour around the lake, your captain will park your boat in the water right in front of Magic Kingdom about 15 minutes prior to showtime, so you can find the perfect view and make sure everyone in your boat can see Cinderella Castle. You do have a distanced view of Cinderella Castle, so you can’t quite see the castle projections in detail, but you have a fantastic wide view of the entire show. If the castle projections are really important to you, then you might want to bring along binoculars (or consider booking a Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party instead, which gives you an up-close castle view).
When the fireworks begin, the captain will sync the boat speakers with the show’s music, so you can hear the entire show perfectly. Everyone gets cozy on the boat and settles in to watch the fireworks. I’ve done this cruise twice, and both times, this is about the time kids tend to fall asleep and cuddle up under the provided towels and blankets. The view from here is just incredible, and it’s one of the most peaceful, lovely experiences in Walt Disney World. It’s a true pleasure to watch the fireworks in such a calm setting, surrounded by your family instead of getting shoved around in that massive crowd in front of the castle!
When the fireworks end, your captain will take you to see one final thing on your way back to the marina - the Electrical Water Parade! Note that you may view the parade prior to the fireworks instead - it just depends on the scheduled showtimes for the day of your cruise. The parade view from the lake is so unique, and you can hear the parade music loud and clear. Watching this classic parade float by is the perfect way to cap off the evening.
This cruise is available to anyone - you don’t need to be staying at the resort your cruise leaves from, and you don’t even need to be staying on Disney property. I think it works out great to pair this cruise with a nice dinner before - there are so many fantastic restaurants at these resorts, so book a dinner reservation and then set up your cruise to depart from the corresponding marina. I highly recommend making the Specialty Fireworks Cruise part of your vacation - it will be the highlight! Each time we’ve done this cruise, it’s been the most memorable part of the trip and it’s something we’ll continue to do over and over again - truly one of the best experiences Walt Disney World has to offer.
