I took a $500 fireworks cruise during my Disney World vacation. I’d do it again to avoid Magic Kingdom crowds.

Watching fireworks from the center of Magic Kingdom is not always magical. There, I said it.

I know it’s the highlight of so many Walt Disney World vacations — including ones I’ve taken in the past.

But it takes effort to enjoy the show.

You have to stand in massive crowds that squeeze tighter than any roller-coaster seatbelt. Saving a spot can take more than an hour. If the children around you aren’t conked out, they’re probably screaming. And the surplus of phones in the air makes you wonder if you should’ve just watched the show on YouTube.

Luckily, I’ve found a solution: a $500 private fireworks cruise.

It’s a pricey add-on, but it’s worth the cost, especially when you get to ride with some of your best friends.

A bachelorette trip fit for a princess

My lifelong best friend, Christina, decided to have her bachelorette party at Disney World ahead of her 2025 wedding.

While planning the trip, she mentioned a video she’d seen posted by Disney influencer Jordyn Sothen, who took a private fireworks cruise with her family before getting married.

Christina and I instantly agreed that it would be a fun activity for our group. It offered something for everybody.

The five “Disney adults” on the trip could experience the beloved spectacle in a new way, while our four non-Disney-obsessed friends could see the destination with a luxury twist.

Disney offers private cruises to view its Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks shows, starting at $450 per ride.

Each trip lasts about an hour and a half, and the boat can accommodate up to 10 passengers.

As is standard for Disney, you have to book the experience in advance because it might sell out. You can do so starting 60 days before your vacation.

Christina booked our cruise and said her experience was seamless. It followed the same steps as getting a Disney dinner reservation — you can call or use the theme park’s app.

From there, she simply had to choose a pickup location (one of five Disney resorts), share the number of people she was traveling with, and pay.

Magic Kingdom fireworks with an extra side of luxury

Our group arrived at the Wilderness Lodge, where our boat was waiting for us, around 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. That gave us about an hour to explore the resort and grab some food before our trip.

Once it was time to check in, we walked to the on-site marina, where we found our captain, Angelo, and a boat decorated with purple balloons.

The pontoon was simple but luxe. It had cushioned benches, small tables, a mini ice cooler for drinks, complimentary soda, and a basket of snacks.

We left a little after 7:50, and the ride was stunning. We watched the sunset, learned some fun Disney facts from Angelo, and took in the tranquil surroundings of nearby resorts.

There were also opportunities to make the trip our own.

You can bring select drinks on board, so we popped a bottle of sparkling wine. We also took turns sharing sweet messages with the bride-to-be, and Christina played her favorite music across the boat’s Bluetooth.

After less than an hour of sailing, we reached the front of Magic Kingdom. The fireworks began about 30 minutes later, and everyone was instantly transfixed.

Not only did we have a perfect view of the fireworks and lasers, but the soundtrack played from our boat, so we could hear the show crystal clear.

Even some of the smaller details — like projections across Cinderella Castle and Tinker Bell flying across the park — were visible from our viewing spot.

Though another boat was next to us, we hardly noticed the company. It was like we were in our own floating Disney World.

It’s expensive, but what Disney experience isn’t?

Christina and I have been talking about visiting Disney World together since we met in kindergarten.

After decades of daydreaming and a canceled girls’ trip in 2020, we finally got to make our wish come true in a way that was better than we imagined.

The private boat ride was the cherry on top of a fun and sentimental vacation, especially because we enjoyed it with loved ones ahead of an exciting milestone.

Sure, it was expensive, costing around $500 for our trip. When divided by nine people, though, that comes to $55 per person — a price we’d all be happy to pay again.

Each girl stepped off the boat with a smile on their face and dozens of photos and videos on their phone.

Our friend Paige, who had never been to Disney World, even asked if anyone wanted to stay at the theme park for another day. She wanted more.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a crowded Main Street again. I’ll only do it if I can’t convince a few friends to splurge on another boat ride first.

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