Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise: What to Know

We’ve done two Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruises in the last few months and have learned a few things about how to prepare and what to expect. Here are the basics if you’re considering booking this Enchanting Extra.

What’s Included in a Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise

You’ll get a private cruise from the Contemporary Resort Marina to the Seven Seas Lagoon to see fireworks from the comfort of your own boat with up to 9 of your family and friends – that’s 10 guests total. Now that Happily Ever After is later in the evening to accommodate the Disney Starlight Parade starting July 20th, Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruises will include a close-up view of the Electrical Water Pageant. Here is a high-level list of what is included in the price:

• Private pontoon boat for up to 10 guests
• Boat Captain
• Onboard snacks and drinks. You’ll find cans of Coke, Diet Coke, & Sprite, and bottled water. Snacks include chips, cookies, and a few gluten-friendly options.
• Onboard audio for Happily Ever After
• Outstanding views of the Electrical Water Pageant and Happily Ever After

Booking a Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise

The My Disney Experience app states that cruises start at $449 plus tax, depending on the day of your cruise. Obviously, busier times of year will cost more. Annual Passholders are currently eligible for a 10% discount. We paid $430.37 after tax for the night of March 1, 2025, and $531.44 after tax for the night of July 6, 2025, with an Annual Pass discount. You’ll need to pay in full when booking, but you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance without penalty.

You can check available dates and prices on the My Disney Experience app or by calling (407)WDW-PLAY up to 60 days prior to your desired date. (The 60+10 rule applies if you are staying at a Disney World Resort.) Important note: when your booking window opens, the official word is that new reservations become available no earlier than 6 am. But our team’s experience, and that of others, is that booking opens at midnight.

If you’re already on property, you can check for cruise availability at the Contemporary Marina. Same-day booking is only an option in person at the marina.

Before Your Cruise

A day or so before your cruise, you’ll receive a call from a Walt Disney World Recreation Cast Member to confirm some details.

• Number of guests. The Cast Member will confirm that you won’t have more than 10 people total. This includes children and infants. Don’t panic if you only have 2 people confirmed when you get the call and suddenly decide to add 8 friends at the last second. As long as you’re at 10 people or under, you’ll be fine.
• Celebration? You’ll be asked if you’re taking the cruise to celebrate anything in particular. Make sure you have something – a birthday, anniversary, 75th trip to WDW, whatever! – so that you get a celebration banner and balloons on your boat.
• Guests with Wheels? Guests in wheelchairs / ECVs must be able to walk down the dock and board the boat unassisted.
• Full count of children in your party. The Cast Member calling you in advance of your cruise will verify the number of children of any age and explain the life vest rules.  Children 12 years old and under must wear a Disney-issued life vest for the entire cruise. Your Captain will fit each child with a life vest at the marina just before you board. They will stress that the life vest cannot be removed until you return to the dock and are escorted back to the check-in area.
• Marina location. The default Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise pickup is the Contemporary Marina. However, if you’re staying at the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, or the Polynesian Resorts, you can ask to be picked up there. You must schedule this during your call before the day of the cruise.
• No glass allowed. You’re welcome to bring alcohol and your own snacks and drinks onboard, provided there are no glass containers and the guests bringing and consuming alcohol are of legal age.
• Weather Reminders. Cruises may be cancelled or delayed due to inclement weather, but they will still sail during rain as long as it’s safe. Ponchos are not provided, but there are a few towels onboard.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise Experience

Cruise day! Assuming you’re departing from the Contemporary Resort Marina, you’ll want to make sure you head over very early in case you encounter delays. Check-in is exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes before fireworks. For example, Happily Ever After was at 10:00 pm on July 6th, and the captains started check-in right at 8:45 pm. This process moves quickly, so make sure everyone is ready to sail. There are no toilets on the boat, but there are restrooms at the marina. If you need dinner, you can grab a really decent burger at The Sand Bar, the Contemporary pool bar, just steps away from the dock.

Once you meet your captain, they will remind you to visit the restrooms, gather your belongings, and they’ll fit any children for life vests. Your party will be ushered to your boat in a single-file line down the dock. While this event is likely a celebration for most guests, the recreation Cast Members are very serious about water and boat safety. This becomes evident before your feet hit the dock. They will have a word with every guest in your party to verify the information they were given and to be sure someone hasn’t been over-served alcohol. After you’re on the boat and every guest is seated, your captain will review additional safety rules and show you where the adult life vests are stored.

Loading time to setting sail takes less than 15 minutes. There will be several other cruises, and all of the boats will stay in tandem the entire time. The whole process is complicated-looking, nothing short of a water ballet. It was so impressive to see the fleet of fireworks cruises, Magic Kingdom Ferry Boats, Water Pageant barges, and recreation boats zipping along so efficiently.

Keep your peepers peeped when you first leave the dock because you’ll have the most lovely view of Space Mountain, TRON, and Cinderella Castle. The real sleeper here? Astro Orbiter!!!! The newly refurbished lights are so vibrant and visible from the boat! The boats will take a wide path to the Polynesian and then get into formation just off the shore of the Wilderness Lodge to catch the Water Pageant. On the evening of July 6th, when fireworks were at 10:00 pm, we were in place to see the Water Pageant at 9:30 pm.

Immediately after the water pageant ends, you’ll sail over to your fireworks viewing location in front of the Magic Kingdom. The fireworks cruises will be in the same general area in front of the Castle or Train Station. There are no bad views from the water. Audio on the boat was very clear during both of our cruises, and it was exactly in time with the fireworks. You’ll head back to the marina just as soon as the note of Happily Ever After fades.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise Tips

• Dress for mosquitoes or bring a repellent. You’ll be sitting still much of the time since there are no anchors used.  We were fine during our March cruise, but the July voyage left us with several bites.
• Layers! Even in the warmest months, you’re likely to catch a chill on the water, so plan accordingly.
• Take the snacks when you’re done. You paid for every single drink and snack on the boat, and your captain will likely encourage you to take them. We did.
• Bring ponchos if there is even a slight chance of rain.
• There is a steady wake from other boats and the Magic Kingdom ferries, so be prepared if you’re prone to seasickness.
• Tipping your captain is appreciated but not required.

Have you taken a Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise? What did you think of the experience? Would you do it again? Let us know in the comments!