As a bit of a surprise for our kids having done most of Disney over the last ten years we decided to try the Wishes cruise. This leaves from the Marina at Contemporary Resort and goes out onto Bay Lake and Seven seas Lagoon which is the large lake you cross by Paddle steamer to get to Magic Kingdom..We had booked a 10 seater boat with our own skipper for $140 so invited my daughters friends and family to surprise her.
Our skipper Jeff was really nice and very knowledgable about Disney as he had been skippering there for 16 years.We set off at 8 pm with thunder in the air and hoping we would not be back on the dock if lightning was around. We toured around the lake before crossing into Seven Seas lagoon a completely manmade lake excavated by Disney by crossing over the road by aquaduct something us and very few according to Jeff realised was there.
As we approached the Polynesian resort Jeff told us of the wave machine originally put in to send waves up the beach similar to the one in Typhoon Lagoon. Unfortunatly it kept washing the sand on the beach at the resort away and has not been operational for years .Also the Disney fairy Tale wedding chapel where the large arch window is in line with Cinderellas Castle for those all important wedding pics had a disaster a couple of years ago . You will remember when the castle was decorated for the Centenary celebrations somewhat differently, well everyone cancelled their weddings as they wanted the original castle in the pics. Jeff positioned the boat right in front of Magic Kingdom at the ideal time and the fireworks and Wishes began. The boat was immediately surrounded by others the smaller ones getting close to listen to the Wishes music being piped aboard.There must have been 50 boats who seemed to have slipped quietly onto the lake without us noticing.This was Special and we watched the show in awe from the ideal spot.
On the way back we were showed the smallest piece of Disney property which is basically a tree protruding from the lagoon near to wilderness lodge. On nearing this tree we noticed it was festooned with old trainers(sneakers) caps , hats etc. Apparently its tradition that anyone who works on the boats on the lake tosses their shoes in this tree as a lasting memorial. Neat!
I would do this again as its brilliant but be warned its very poular so book early!!
Our skipper Jeff was really nice and very knowledgable about Disney as he had been skippering there for 16 years.We set off at 8 pm with thunder in the air and hoping we would not be back on the dock if lightning was around. We toured around the lake before crossing into Seven Seas lagoon a completely manmade lake excavated by Disney by crossing over the road by aquaduct something us and very few according to Jeff realised was there.
As we approached the Polynesian resort Jeff told us of the wave machine originally put in to send waves up the beach similar to the one in Typhoon Lagoon. Unfortunatly it kept washing the sand on the beach at the resort away and has not been operational for years .Also the Disney fairy Tale wedding chapel where the large arch window is in line with Cinderellas Castle for those all important wedding pics had a disaster a couple of years ago . You will remember when the castle was decorated for the Centenary celebrations somewhat differently, well everyone cancelled their weddings as they wanted the original castle in the pics. Jeff positioned the boat right in front of Magic Kingdom at the ideal time and the fireworks and Wishes began. The boat was immediately surrounded by others the smaller ones getting close to listen to the Wishes music being piped aboard.There must have been 50 boats who seemed to have slipped quietly onto the lake without us noticing.This was Special and we watched the show in awe from the ideal spot.
On the way back we were showed the smallest piece of Disney property which is basically a tree protruding from the lagoon near to wilderness lodge. On nearing this tree we noticed it was festooned with old trainers(sneakers) caps , hats etc. Apparently its tradition that anyone who works on the boats on the lake tosses their shoes in this tree as a lasting memorial. Neat!
I would do this again as its brilliant but be warned its very poular so book early!!