[Angie]

I am so excited! This morning, I secured our illuminations cruise for our May trip. For anyone who is planning this, I called Sunday for May 10: no luck, Monday for May ll: no luck, Tues same thing, but today I got it. And the best part is It is for the date I wanted in the first place. I called right at 6:00 am (central time)the other mornings and they were taken by the time an operator got to me. Yesterday, I asked what more I could do. She told me the exact time that there clocks were set to so I could set mine and not be off by even a minute. Then I asked her about calling a few minutes before opening and just holding on and she said if you call more than 2 minutes early, you will just get a recording and you won't get through at all. At Exactly 5:58 am I dialed as fast as I could. I got the we aren't open yet recording. I hung up immediately and dialed right back. I realized that I was "in" so I hit option 5 right away. Then I got to listen to Jungle Book songs for a good 4 or 5 minutes. Finally, the sweetest girl came on and helped me. So I have the res. Cost is 120$ but if you turn it into a birthday cruise or some other food included celebration you have to add 100$. If you just want decorations, only add 20$
Hope this helps anyone who is interested.

[trishb]

Great Job, Angie!

While Dh and I were walking to Epcot for Illuminations one night (from the BoardWalk) we saw pontoon boats under the bridge between the UK and France. On the boats were the Illuminations cruisers. One boat had balloons. What a fantastic spot! Hope you enjoy it!

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally posted by Angie
I am so excited! This morning, I secured our illuminations cruise for our May trip.

You are so lucky. This is the one thing I really want to do on our July trip. I want more than anything to surprise my inlaws with this. I am ready to start calling 90 days out and then every day after that to get it. Wish me luck!!!

[mickaholic4077]

I hope you'll both enjoy your cruise. You'll have to tell us all about your trips when you get back.

[ilvminnie]

Angie, is that for the pontoon? And how many people can you have? I'm still wanting to do a birthday one for my DD's 18th b-day. I'll take your advice on calling. Thanks for all the info, and congratulations.

[Angie]

Thanks everybody, I am pretty proud of myself there...
ilvminnie- yes this is for the pontoon boat and it holds up to 12 people. You are not combined with anyone else. Just your group. You can have as few people as you want or all 12 and the price of 120$ stays the same because it's not per person. There is also the Breathless boat (i think it's being refurbished right now). It's more of a speedboat and a little fancier but more expensive and less space. ( I've only read this, I don't know firsthand). The balloons trishb saw are 20$ more but a whole b-day bash with refreshments and a cake is 100$ more. You can't bring any of your own food or drinks on board. If you want it for your DD's Birthday, i recommend calling 90 days ahead of each day of your trip and take the first day that you get one. Then try again on her actual birthday. this way, if you don't get your first choice of days, you will have a back up plan. If you get your first choice day after you have booked it another day, just cancel the other one. Also you have to cancel 24 hours ahead or you are charged full price.

[trishb]

I have seen Breathless in dry dock at the Yacht Club. It is beautiful and romantic. 12 people would never fit on board...only 2.:love:

[Angie]

I did read that the area for people was much smaller but I didn't realize that it would only hold two. How romantic can you get? Maybe next trip I can talk DH into it.;)

[ilvminnie]

Thanks Angie for your info. I can't wait to start trying for her birthday. She doesn't have a clue that I'm thinking about doing this & even if I do get it I'm not planning on telling her.

[melanie18]

We did an Illuminations cruise in Sept 01 and had a great time - you will enjoy it!

[grammy]

We did the pontoon boat in October 2002. It was wonderful! We had been at MGM during the afternoon. While we were on the bus traveling to meet the pontoon, it rained and got a little chilly. When we got to the pontoon, the driver had warmed towels in the dryer and placed them on the seat bottoms and backs and there was a large stack of warm towels neatly folded but handy for us to dry ourselves and wrap-up in! What service! We felt so pampered! There were 6 of us and there was room for 20 on the boat. On the way back to the dock, the driver asked my granddaughter (7) if she had ever driven a boat. He let her drive! He stood back at "parade rest" with his hands behind his back. She drove for several minutes. Then my grandson (5) had a turn! We had to use a wide angle to get their smiles in the photo! Me, too! :D :)

The boat ride was only $120 and the driver got a big tip!

It's a must if you can afford it!

[Angie]

Grammy,
that sounds like such a wonderful experience! Our kids will be 5 and 7 when we go and I hope they get a chance to drive! Thanks for sharing such a great memory
Angie

[grammy]

I wish I could remember the driver's name for you so that you could request him. He was wonderful. Maybe my husband can remember his name!

I took my own kids to WDW several times a year when they were young. Truthfully, I never enjoyed it as much as I did when I took my grandkids. There's just something about being a grandmother! AND I suspect that all the folks here helped me prepare for and plan a much better vacation!

Enjoy your trip, Angie!