Is there anything as magical as getting to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom at the end of your day?
Fireworks in Magic Kingdom!
Well, what would you say to watching them from a private boat while floating on the lagoon with snacks in hand and zero crowds? Yeah, possible, and yes it’s a splurge — but if you’re looking for something extra special (and I mean really special), this might be one of the best-kept Disney World secrets. For $449, you can book a fireworks cruise that gives you front-row views of Magic Kingdom or EPCOT’s nighttime spectaculars—from the water. We recently did one and we’re already thinking about when to book it again. Let’s talk details.
So, What Is a Fireworks Cruise at Disney World?
It’s exactly what it sounds like. You board a private pontoon boat with your group — up to 10 guests — and cruise around Bay Lake or World Showcase Lagoon before settling in for a jaw-dropping view of the fireworks. You’re not in the parks, but trust me, that doesn’t take anything away from the magic.
Pontoon Boat for Fireworks Cruise
You can book this through the My Disney Experience app or by calling (407) 939-7529. You’ll want to plan ahead: Bookings open 60 days out and tend to fill up fast, especially around holidays or peak vacation weeks. Oh, and if you’re celebrating something — a birthday, anniversary, whatever — let them know! Your boat can be decked out for the occasion.
Pontoon Boat for Fireworks Cruise
You get to choose between viewing Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom or Luminous: The Symphony of Us at EPCOT. Now, we’ve actually done both, and while EPCOT’s show is beautiful, there’s something about seeing the castle glow from the water during Happily Ever After that hits different.
What You’re Paying For
Yes, it’s $449 (plus tax), but let’s break that down. The boat fits 10 people, so if you’re going with friends or family and splitting the cost, it comes out to about $45 per person. For a private boat, snacks, drinks, and an uninterrupted view of Disney fireworks — honestly, that’s not bad.
The snacks
Our most recent cruise left from the Contemporary Resort’s Boat Nook Marina. You can also be picked up from a few other deluxe resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon or Crescent Lake, depending on which show you’re viewing.
The Experience
You can bring drinks (just no glass), and the cruise includes water, sodas, and pre-packaged snacks — plus a cooler to keep everything chilled.
Drinks
The boat ride before the fireworks is a whole vibe. You cruise around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, passing by old-school Disney landmarks like the abandoned Discovery Island. If you want, you can even connect your phone and play music via Bluetooth during the ride.
On the pontoon boat
When it’s showtime, your captain anchors in a perfect viewing spot where you can see the castle and the fireworks. They even pipe in the show’s soundtrack so you get the full experience. And yes — Tinker Bell’s flight is totally visible from the water. It’s magic, plain and simple.
Views of Magic Kingdom from the water
Depending on timing, you might also catch the Electrical Water Pageant float by — which is one of my favorite nostalgic Disney moments. Let your captain know you’d love to see it, and they’ll do their best to make it happen.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the thing — Disney is already a splurge. But this feels like one of those experiences that actually gives you something unique. No crowds, no jostling for a fireworks spot, no stress. Just a quiet boat, a drink in hand, and a sky full of magic. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want to end your trip on a high note, this is one Disney extra you’ll want to keep coming back to.
The fireworks!
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This sounds like so much fun! Is this an occasion where tipping the Cast Member Captain would be a nice thing to do?
My Favorite Cast Member is a sometimes boat captain for the fireworks cruises. Most of the boat captains enjoy the cruises partly because they love the fireworks, but mainly the interaction with the guests. As you might imagine, guests are not always at their most pleasant when they are spending lots of money and things are less than perfect. “What do you mean the pool is closed because there is lightning in the area? You have ruined my entire vacation!”
On the cruises, the guests tend to be happier. Some would prefer to be left to themselves, but most enjoy interacting with the boat captain. The boat captains have some basic information about the guests, so they know about special occasions and where they are from. They never expect, but always appreciate, tips. They know in advance if their guests are from a country where tipping isn’t part of the culture, so they are rarely disappointed if there is no tip, but extra grateful when there is one.
Anybody know of a place to go to maybe split this kind of thing? I am going with a party of 4…2 adults and 2 17 YO and though maybe another family would want to do it at same time? We are staying at Polynesian July 8th for 7 nights and I would assume the boat would pick us up there? I’ll probably end up trying to do this because it sounds great but figured I would also see about splitting it with another family.
I would really enjoy doing this, if there was a way to accommodate food allergies. Given the price, I really don’t want to have to bring in my own snacks and drinks.