Disney’s Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage

Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage is one of the special Walt Disney World experiences my family has enjoyed. It is perfect for all ages!  This is truly a magical experience from beginning to end! 

If you like sweet treats and scallywags, the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage is the place to be! This special experience allows you to enjoy the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the Bay Lake area, fun Disney treats, and a special character opportunity with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and Peter Pan!  I am excited to share our experience with you!

What is the pirates and pals fireworks Voyage?

The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage is an opportunity to see the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from outside the park. It makes a GREAT arrival day, or non park day, experience. It includes a dessert/snack party beforehand. The food is VERY plentiful!  We had access to a stocked freezer with Mickey bars, tables of salty and sweet snacks, as well as non alcoholic drinks. 

During the “pre party”, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee visit guests, along with a MemoryMaker Photographer for photos and autographs. After they visit, it is time to sail away! The cost for the party is roughly $75/adult and $45/child. 

Where is this experience Located & How Do I Book a Reservation?

The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage departs from Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The event starts about one hour before the fireworks that evening, and we arrived at 7:30 for a 9PM fireworks show. Guests need to check in on the lower level of the Contemporary Resort. Here your family is assigned a pirate boat, and offered coloring sheets and a nice area to wait. 

Pirates and Pals can be booked online, via the My Disney Experience website.  Bookings typically open 180-days in advance.  The sailings do not take place EVERY night.  

What to Expect Before Your Voyage:

Upon checking in, you are given a pirate bandana for everyone in your party.  You can wear these as a headband, tie it around your neck, on your park bag….you choose! These make a super cute souvenir, too!  Then, they allow you into the party room for the food.  Guests are given plenty of time to snack on desserts, salty snacks, and non alcoholic drinks. You can also take the bagged snacks and drinks with lids with you on the voyage.

Captain Hook and Mr. Smee greet guests beforehand in the party room.  There is also a MemoryMaker photographer, which is really nice! 

While I would not consider this a “dessert party” in comparison to what you would find at the Happily Ever After and FROZEN Dessert Parties, there is still plenty of variety.  We personally appreciated the option of desserts AND snack foods. We did not eat a big dinner ahead of time. 

The Pirates and Pals Voyage:

After you have enjoyed snacks and time with the characters, your captains {Patch and Patch} lead you out to the Seven Seas Lagoon. From here, you board your assigned boat.  Patch leads guests in pirate songs, jokes, and even makes sure to celebrate any birthdays or anniversaries. Be sure to tell them ahead of time! As you sail around Seven Seas, you certainly get some impressive views of Magic Kingdom and the neighboring resorts! 

Shortly before the fireworks begin, they anchor the boat in a central area so you can see the fireworks.  Keep in mind, with Happily Ever After, the castle projections REALLY are a huge part of the show. However, if you have seen this from inside the park, or those are less important to you, this experience is GREAT!  They pipe the soundtrack into the boat, so you don’t miss a thing!

When the show is over, you make your way back to the dock, to be greeted by none other than Peter Pan himself!  There was another chance for a photo, as well.  This is a “surprise” guest, and makes a great ending to the party!

Tips for Enjoying the Pirates and Pals Voyage:

Book this experience on a “non park” day, or even on arrival  night! It makes a fun start to your trip.  And, it does take place kind of late at night, so having a relaxing day leading up to it is really nice.

Consider booking a Pirates’ League experience at Magic Kingdom before embarking on the voyage.  The Pirates’ League services children and adults, so that would be fun for the whole family!

Plan a light dinner, perhaps a Quick Service dinner, before hand.  As with all the Disney World dessert parties, you have access to so much food before hand! 

Make sure you use the restroom before embarking.  The CastMembers make this point multiple times, and there are last minute restrooms right before you board.  You are out on the water for a little while, and there are no restrooms.

There is a lot of value in this experience.  It does last for about two hours. There is plenty of food and drinks beforehand. Plus, you get a nice view of the fireworks, and entertainment.  The characters are rare~ you will not find them often in the parks ~ so that makes it “worth it” as well!

What special experience have you enjoyed at Walt Disney World?