by Disney Magic Diva
Walt Disney World Resort is the perfect place to celebrate! Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, wedding, graduation, reunion, retirement, promotion, or just being with your family; you can count on Mickey to add some magic to your vacation.
My family has enjoyed many celebrations at Walt Disney World Resort, and each time we try to find a new activity to cross off our Disney Bucket List. One that had been on my list for quite some time was Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise. When my sister and I planned a “girls trip” which coincided with Mother’s Day, I knew it was time to book this special event.
The cruise begins to the left of the Ferryboat launch at the Ticket and Transportation Center. If you are arriving by car, park in the Magic Kingdom parking lot. We checked in about an hour and fifteen minutes before fireworks began, and were given a special light-up lanyard with magical viewing lenses. (More on that later.) Since it was Mother’s Day, we were also presented with a beautiful pink rose! I’ve been at Walt Disney World Resort on previous Mother’s Days, and knew moms were given carnations as they enter the parks, but I was pleasantly surprised to be handed a lovely pink rose, complete with a water tube attached to keep it fresh. We felt very pampered!
Drinks and hors doeuvres while we wait to board
After we checked in, we made our way to the beverage station, where we had a choice of beer, wine, or assorted soft drinks. There were also some cast members mingling among the guests offering hors d’oeuvres of carrot and celery sticks with hummus and mozzarella/tomato/olive skewers.
To keep the little ones entertained, there was a table set up with markers and coloring sheets. The area was covered, had benches and cocktail tables, restrooms nearby, (which you will want to visit since facilities are limited onboard) and overall was a delightful way to spend some time while we waited for all the guests to arrive.
Once it was time to board our ferry, (about 50 minutes before fireworks were scheduled to begin) we were led to the ship by a cast member. We boarded on the lower level of the General Joe Potter, and we chose to head upstairs. We were a little concerned we might be bothered with exhaust fume smell, but we never noticed it at all!
Diva Tip: We chose a bench to the right as we boarded the ship. This turned out to be fortuitous, as when the ship anchored for the fireworks show we discovered we were on the correct side of the ship to have a perfect view right from where we were sitting!
On board it never felt crowded!
I was concerned the ship would feel crowded, but that was certainly not the case. There was plenty of room to move about, and since we were toward the front of the boarding group, we had no problem finding a place to sit. I never had the impression, though, that anyone had trouble finding a seat. There really was lots of room onboard so everyone could have a great view.
The desserts were ready and waiting for us! So many scrumptious choices! Each dessert was named with the fireworks theme in mind. Choices included Sparkling Night Sky Blue Velvet Whoopie Pies (one of my favorites!), Red, White, and Boom Cupcakes, Cherry Bomb Pie Tarts, Sky Rocket Sugar Cookies, Firework Cheesecake Tarts, Roman Candle Assorted Eclairs, and No Sugar Added Mango Panna Cotta Pizazz. 
There was also a selection of cheeses, fruit, and breads for those who don’t have as much of a sweet tooth. Naturally it was too hard to choose, so we had to sample them all. In the name of research, of course!
Diva Tip: As with any Disney Dining experience, if you have allergy concerns, let them know. When I booked our reservation and when we checked in, the cast members asked if anyone had allergy issues. Luckily, we didn’t; but if your family does, just let Disney know! They always have options! (You can read more about allergy-friendly tips at Walt Disney World from Canadian Diva here and from Allergy Mom Diva at Disneyland here.) 
Although there were dessert tables scattered on both the upper and lower decks of the ship, the beverage stations were all on the lower deck. So after securing our dessert plates, I headed downstairs to check them out. Again, you had choices of beer, wine, and soft drinks; but there were also specialty drinks. The Grand Finale consisted of Passion Orange Guava Juice with Wild Strawberry Syrup and topped with Prosecco or Beer. (I chose Prosecco since I’m not a beer fan.) The Firecracker Fizz was Pineapple Juice, Sprite, Blue Curacao, Grenadine, and Rum. My favorite of the two was The Grand Finale because I found the Firecracker Fizz to be a little strong. (In all fairness, though, I’m not a fan of strong alcoholic drinks, and Disney is often generous with the alcohol.)
While we were enjoying our drinks and dessert, the Captain was sailing our ferry around the Seven Seas Lagoon, giving us a marvelous narrated tour. We sailed by the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Wedding Pavilion, and The Polynesian Resort. Simultaneously, a PhotoPass photographer was roaming the ship, happily snapping photos for guests to commemorate the occasion. The photographers made a return visit to everyone during the fireworks show, so we were able to have a photo with the fireworks in the background!
As it grew close to the time for the fireworks to begin, the Captain found the perfect location to anchor the ship and we settled in for the show. While we waited, a magician roamed the ship, entertaining everyone (and especially the kids!) with his tricks. The Captain announced when it was almost time for Happily Ever After to begin, and everyone moved to the correct side of the ship for the best view.
The music is piped into the ferry, so we were able to hear everything. I was a little worried about being able to see the projections on Cinderella Castle, since it is such an integral part of Happily Ever After. While the view of the Castle projections isn’t as perfect as it may be if you were standing on Main Street U.S.A., you still are able to get a pretty good impression of the projections. The overall panoramic view of the fireworks, Cinderella Castle, Main Street U.S.A, and the reflections off the water make it a spectacular show! This is where our special lanyards were really useful. If you held up the Mickey lense to the light, you could see lots of little Mickeys! Everything about the evening made it truly an unforgettable experience!
When the fireworks ended, we slowly cruised back to the dock. As we exited, we were in for yet one last surprise – a special Happily Ever After Rice Krispie Treat to take home! A sweet end to a magical experience!
Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise was something I had long wanted to try, but had been apprehensive due to the price. At $99 for adults and $69 for children, I wasn’t sure it would be worth the price, even with the Passholder discount that is available. While it is certainly not going to be in our budget every trip, it is something I would absolutely consider again for a special celebration. It is available Friday and Sunday nights by booking online or by calling (407) 939-3463. (Note: Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise will be closed from July to mid-October 2018.) Reservations are highly recommended since space is limited. Wheelchairs and EVCs can be accommodated. We were a little concerned about weather since it was a rainy evening, but Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise sails even in inclement weather. You should be aware, though, the fireworks may be cancelled, and the event may be modified in extreme weather conditions. Even all of Mickey’s magic can’t control that Florida weather!
So if you’re celebrating on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation, think about ending your day with Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise. (Another fireworks cruise option that may be a little more kid-friendly is the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage. We have reservations for that cruise on an upcoming trip with the grandkids! Meanwhile, you can read Tinker Belle Diva’s review here.) Patricia at All for Dreams Travel can help you plan all your celebrations, along with any other reservations you need to make your vacation magical! We absolutely loved our fireworks cruise – it was a fabulous way to end our day with some extra Disney Magic!
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