How to Watch the Disney World Fireworks WITHOUT the Crowds

Fireworks have officially returned to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, but so has something else…the crowds!

With the return of fireworks came those big crowds of people all trying to get the best view before the fireworks begin and all trying to exit the park once the fireworks end. So, how could you see the fireworks WITHOUT the crowds?

Well, there are a number of ways that you can see the fireworks without the crowds. One of those ways is to book a specialty fireworks cruise! Recently, we shared that fireworks cruises have officially returned to Disney World and can be booked once again.

During a specialty fireworks cruise, you and your friends/family will board a boat at select locations to watch the fireworks from EPCOT or Magic Kingdom from the water.

No crowds will take your place in the boat. You won’t be surrounded by hundreds of (sometimes sweaty) fans. And you won’t have to face the crowds in attempting to leave the park once the fireworks are done. It’ll just be you, your friends/family, your boat captain, and the water.

Sounds pretty great right? So what are the pros and cons of doing a specialty cruise? We’re breaking that all down for you here.

Pros

We’ve already gone over some of the pros above, but truly one of the best benefits of these fireworks cruises is that you don’t have to deal with the crowds. You won’t have to go through the stress of rushing to get to the park in time for the show, trying to find a spot well ahead of when the fireworks begin, or having to leave the park with hundreds of your new friends all trying to walk in the same space.

Instead, you’ll hop on the boat and just get to relax! Another benefit is that you don’t need a park ticket to watch the fireworks from these cruises. Of course, you don’t need a park ticket to watch the fireworks from other places on property (like a hotel restaurant with a fireworks view), but it’s still a benefit.

The cruises also include a selection of snacks and soft drinks. You can also get festive banners and balloons if requested ahead of time, and these will also be included in the cost.

Another benefit is that you can truly sit back and relax. Each boat comes with its own captain so you don’t have to do any of the work.

During the fireworks cruise taken by Plan Disney Panel Members, a small tour of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon was provided during the Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise. It also looks like the members who went on the EPCOT fireworks cruise got a little tour of Crescent Lake. Be sure to check that this tour is included in your cruise when booking. This tour gives some added value to the cruise overall.

Each cruise can sit up to 10 guests, so if you’re traveling with friends and family or celebrating a special occasion, you could bring a decent number of people on the cruise and split the cost to help with that a bit (more on the cost in a second).

During the Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise, you can generally get a pretty great view of the Electrical Water Pageant, which again adds some more value to the experience overall.

And finally, the last “pro” of these cruises is that they’re a unique experience. If you’re celebrating a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary, engagement, graduation, family reunion, etc. this could be a great way to add some extra magic to that trip. It’s likely something you and your family will never forget.

Cons

But, nothing is perfect. The fireworks cruises come with their own set of cons. First and foremost, as you probably expected, these cruises are PRICEY! The fireworks cruises aboard Disney’s 25-foot boat start at $399 plus tax. Again, note that the price says “start at,” so cruises could be more expensive depending on a variety of factors.

If you split this between 10 people or even a few different groups, it could make things better. The cost is essentially $39.90 per person (without tax) if you fill the boat with 10 people. That is less than a park ticket and likely less than a nice dinner with a fireworks view. But, it’s still a decent cost, particularly if you aren’t going to split the cost with others, and that’s something you have to consider.

For the Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise, you are a decent distance away from the fireworks and Cinderella Castle. Here’s a peek at what the view looks like as shared by the Plan Disney Panel.

If you simply must get that up-close and personal view of the fireworks from inside Magic Kingdom, or you absolutely must see the projections on the Castle that are part of the show, then a fireworks cruise might not be for you. You’ll be further away from the Castle and the fireworks on the cruise. It’s still a spectacular view, but it’s not as close as it would be if you were in the park.

The view at EPCOT is different though, and you will get a closer view there, just as if you were in a fantastic viewing spot in the park, so that’s something to consider.

The boat only fits up to 10 people, so if you are traveling in a larger group that could be a problem. Also, the boat is not equipped with full-size dining tables, just a cocktail table — so you’re just a bit more limited in terms of dining space.

In order to go on these cruises, you will need to arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before fireworks time, so that just requires an extra level of planning to make sure you don’t miss your boat.

Finally, the boats only leave from select resort hotel marinas. If you aren’t staying at one of these hotels, you’ll need to figure out how to get there. That might involve using a rideshare service or taking a bus to a theme park and then another bus to the hotel. It’s not a dramatic issue, but something you just need to keep in mind.

And that’s our list of pros and cons for the fireworks cruises. They are unique experiences that could make for some great memories, but they’re not exactly cheap! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more unique experiences you can participate in throughout Disney World and let you know what we find.

Have you ever taken a fireworks cruise? Do you feel like it’s worth it? Tell us in the comments below!

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