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Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage – a Night of Adventure on the High Seas!

A few years ago, we took our oldest son (who is now 12), on the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage. It was an absolutely magical night. The character interactions were wonderful, the Electric Water Pageant was great, and watching Wishes from the water was perfect. It was one of those unforgettable Disney nights that we still talk about, years later.

This year, when we decided to celebrate our youngest son’s fourth birthday at Walt Disney World, we knew that this would be a perfect way to celebrate! We booked our tickets, got the birthday boy a Captain Jake costume, and we were all set to sail!

The Pre-Party

The adventure begins at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We arrived early and were checked in by Cast Members and then given a scavenger hunt to complete in the lobby of the resort while we waited for the event room to open. Once completed, our little buccaneer got to pick out a small prize. At this point, we were given our pirate bandanas and allowed to enter the party.

Check-in area – the main room was blocked off until party time!

There were lots of food and drinks to choose from – ice cream bars (Mickey’s ice cream sandwiches and popsicles – I was disappointed that there were no Mickey bars!), fruit (bananas, oranges, and apple slices), small bags of pretzels and popcorn, chips and salsa, and two kinds of cake. There were also chocolate doubloons and cotton candy, which many people were taking to snack on later. The drink selection included lemonade, punch, coffee, and tea. I wasn’t super excited about any of these options – I would’ve loved a soda!

The kids thought the cotton candy was better than treasure!

Healthier options – fruit, pretzels, and popcorn.

Captain Hook and Smee soon made their appearance! They posed for pictures with a backdrop (and there was a PhotoPass photographer), then roamed around the room, interacting with the kids. Everyone had ample opportunity to take pictures and get silly with the pirates. The first time we attended, I remember the characters playing games with the kids, but this time, they just walked around and interacted.

After about 30 minutes, the guests were rounded up and prepped for heading out to the boat. Our pirate guide, Patch, was excellent! They chose a couple of kids to carry flags and the characters led us outside. After a quick group photo with all of the kids, we arrived at our boat!

The Cruise

Each family was assigned a row on the boat. I have no idea how the assignments were made, but I would strongly suggest trying to request a seat on the left-hand side of the boat when you call to make your reservation! The view on that side was much better.

It was just approaching twilight, and it was absolutely beautiful out on the water! While we cruised toward our destination, Patch entertained us with Disney trivia, a sing-along, and lots of jokes. He made sure everyone was laughing – it was a festive party atmosphere! It was so cool to see familiar landmarks from a new perspective!

We reached our destination just a few minutes before the fireworks began. This was my first time (but certainly not my last!) seeing Happily Ever After. The music was played on the boat, and we had a spectacularly unique view!

The only negative thing I can say about the entire experience is that there were times when our view was blocked by railings on the boat. The people seated on the left hand side wouldn’t have had this issue, but we still had a really cool view! I found myself leaning up and almost sitting on my knees to get a view above the railings.

Once the show was over, we headed back to shore for one more surprise. We didn’t get to see the Electric Water Pageant this time, so I’m guessing that doesn’t always coincide with the time of the cruise. But, even better, Peter Pan was waiting for us on the dock! He led us to a spot at the end of the dock where he took time to meet everyone and take pictures. It was a great ending to a fun night!

The cost of the fireworks cruise is currently around $72 for adults and $43 for children under 10. It’s a pricey adventure, but if you’re looking for a special way to celebrate a special occasion or just add a little extra magic to your trip, I think this is a great way to do it. You get fireworks, desserts, characters, and a boat ride – this seems like a better value than just going to a dessert party. It’s an evening that can be enjoyed by the entire family, and one that I would definitely do again.

Pirates League-Mermaids, Makeovers and More!

Ahoy there, Mateys! Is your child obsessed with all things pirate? Are you? Are you jealous you missed Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disneyland recently? Me, too! Pirates League is a fun-for-all-ages experience found in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom…and will turn any landlubber into a fearsome pirate or mesmerizing mermaid!

Mermaid makeover photo op at the castle!

My daughter loves Princesses and everything sparkly, but after two makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella Castle, she was ready for something new! Pirates League offered all kinds of makeovers, for both boys and girls, kids and adults! This was perfect, as we also have a son with autism, and wanted to find an experience that he could participate in, too!

Planning and Preparation

Like many of Disney’s experiences, Pirates League makeovers can be booked 180 days in advance. Since they are only open 9:00-4:00, there is no opportunity to book a pre-park opening appointment, so think about how it will fit into your day. (Right before your Splash Mountain Fastpass may not be ideal! LOL!) At 180 days out, they had no problem accommodating both children at our preferred time, so book early if you want first dibs!

Next, we had to choose a package. For girls, you can choose a Mermaid or Empress (female pirate) package. Boys can choose between First Mate Pirate packages or Captain Hook himself! Younger boys (ages 3 and up) also have the option to be made up as Jake from the popular Neverland Pirates Disney Junior show! Most packages also had a “deluxe” option, where for $15-$55 more you could add a themed costume or costume T-shirt! (Clothes were only provided in “youth” sizes…adults are out of luck!)

For our daughter, Lola, we chose the basic Mermaid package for $39.95. (The packages range from $39.95-$99.95!) It included hair, nails and make-up, and we already had scored an adorable mermaid dress off of zulily, so we didn’t feel we needed to upgrade to the Deluxe Package. (And I think we got off pretty easy…The Captain Hook Deluxe Package will run you just about $100!)

For my son, Luke, we had some different criteria. Being on the spectrum, he had some sensory issues, so we brought a familiar pirate T-shirt from home. Though he agreed to and was excited about the makeover, we also weren’t sure just how long he’d be willing to sit, so we wanted to keep his simple. We ultimately booked the First Mate package. That meant we still had to choose between a Ghosted Pirate, Zombie Pirate, Captain Hook, Blackbeard and Black Eyed Jack! We chose Blackbeard because it had minimal make-up, and we still wanted him to look handsome! (Okay-that’s just me! I wasn’t ready to see my baby looking like a ghostly skull or zombie pirate yet!)

Swearing In Ceremony

As requested, we showed up 15 minutes prior to our appointment time to check in. The location was easy to find…right between Pirates of the Caribbean and the Plaza del Sol Bazaar in Adventureland. The check-in area had awesome theming…ships’ wheels, leather trunks, all kinds of loot and pirate flags flying!

Both kids were checked in, and then my pirate-to-be was asked to spin the ship’s wheel to find out his pirate name.

He spun it twice, once for the first name and once for the last.

Ship’s wheel to determine his pirate name!

It turns out his pirate name was Jamie Barrelwalker! The oath (signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself!) was read, and Luke…I mean Jamie…was sworn into the Pirate’s League! Within just a few minutes both kids were invited in to start their makeovers!

We got to take this home as an awesome souvenir!

Mermaid Makeover

Lola’s Mermaid Master was very engaging-telling pirate jokes and stories and keeping her at ease! She got right to work painting Lola’s nails after covering her mermaid dress with a cape to stay clean. Just like at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the unused makeup goes home with you in a little bag!

Next she started right in on her hair. The hairstyle is simple, but very pretty! The hair is twisted around her face and secured with a flower clip that responds to temperature, with a dusting of glitter. (Of course!) In the air-conditioned space, it was white. Once out in the hot Florida sun, you will see it turn purple!

(Much better behaved than when I try to do her hair!)

Now the fun part-makeup! I loved the palette of colors they use, and it matches the nail polish perfectly! (I’m a sucker for matchy-matchy!) I could not wait to see how they added the special “scales” effect for the mermaids-but my timing was off! I looked away for a second to check on my son, and as soon as I turned back her scales had been added…so the mystery remains unsolved!

Once complete, they removed the cape for the big reveal! Lola was so excited to see her reflection! She was also given a Pirate’s League sash and a shell necklace, which I held onto because she was already wearing one from home.

Finally, Lola posed with her awesome Cast Member before she was allowed to enter the hidden chamber…shhhhhh!

First Mate/Blackbeard Makeover

Luke lucked out with the perfect Pirate Master! Knowing Luke had autism, he spent the first few minutes just developing a rapport with him and making sure he felt comfortable. Lots of smiles all around!

The Blackbeard package, like many of the other pirate makeovers, called for eyeliner. Our sensory-sensitive son was a trooper, and allowed it. We were happily surprised!

There was also no fussing when his bandanna was affixed, his eyepatch added and even when a clip-on earring was attached to his ear! He was also given a Pirates League sash and a plastic sword. I don’t know what kind of Disney magic they were dealing in, but it was working!

The only snafu was the facial fair. Blackbeard called for both a beard and a mustache to be added to the face. Luke was going through a phase where no one or nothing was allowed to touch his nose or his upper lip after a nose bleed over the winter. When it was clear this wasn’t an option, I asked about the possibility of just adding the beard. This part turned out to be pretty interesting…since it was a trademarked look, based on Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, they were not at liberty to modify it! Who knew?? Even so, Luke was pretty taken with his new pirate look!

Secret Chamber

After their makeovers were complete, both kids were invited (separately!) into a hidden chamber they referred to as the Treasure Room! A Photopass photographer was there to capture the moment as they spun the over-sized globe and chose a treasure from the chest!

Though it is confirmed that there is no longer a Photopass photographer available inside Pirates League, there is frequently one stationed just outside by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. More interestingly, recent guests report some varying experiences inside the Treasure Room. Some have been invited by Cast Members to take pictures and video, while others have been told it is forbidden. I would suggest bringing your own camera and asking very nicely! 🙂

Park Photo Ops

At the time, Pirates League invited all their guests to return each afternoon at 4:00 for a “Pirate Parade”. They would march through Adventureland with a Cast Member holding a pirate flag, showing off their new looks. We declined, as parades aren’t my son’s thing, but we understand they are no longer doing this.

However, we did have a lunch reservation at Be Our Guest, so after we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, we took our time traveling from Adventureland to Fantasyland! Between our camera and Photopass we got some great shots of the kids dressed up by Cinderella Castle and the fountain, as well as Main Street, USA!

The hair clip changed from white to purple in the Florida heat!

Though the Pirates League makeover didn’t last three days like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique version, it provided a full day of fun for both my little mermaid and pirate! I would even consider joining her myself next time! Yo-ho! Yo-ho! A pirate’s life for me!

A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

Did you know that there’s a place in the Magic Kingdom where you and your little (or big) buccaneers can go on an interactive pirate adventure? Until our last trip, I had always passed it by without a second glance. On a particularly busy park day when I was off at a race meetup, my husband decided to try it as an alternative to standing in another long line with the kids. When I met back up with them, all I heard about was how much fun it was and how they couldn’t wait for me to try it. Everyone loved it – from the toddler to the teen to the grown-up, it was a hit!

On our next day at Magic Kingdom, they insisted we go play. We walked over to the “Crow’s Nest”, located just past the Adventureland sign as you’re heading toward Frontierland. One person in our party went inside, since it’s a fairly small space, and picked a map they hadn’t previously completed. The game is loaded onto your Magic Band, and each child is given their own map. Within just a couple of minutes, we were off!

The maps are really cool souvenirs. There are five different adventures, and they are all contained within Adventureland. Each map has around six clues, each one leading to the next. If you’re familiar with the area, you will probably complete each one within about 20 minutes. When you discover the clue, you tap your Magic Band to activate it. There are some really fun effects! We had a great time discovering each one.

Once you complete the entire map, you can return to the Crow’s Nest and select another adventure. We were given special cards for completing each one, and got an even cooler reward when we told the Cast Member we had completed the entire set. I won’t spoil what that one was, but I will be happy to share if you’d like to know.

When you’re exhausted but can’t bear to let go of your treasure map!

This is one adventure that we’ll definitely be embarking on again! We all enjoyed it, and I’d recommend it for pirates of all ages.