Hi Brandy,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage is a great way to enjoy some tasty desserts, meet several characters and enjoy Happily Ever After.
Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage is not considered Character Dining and is not included as part of the Dining Plan. It is a separate event, held at Disney's Contemporary Resort. During this special event, several characters stop by to spend time with guests throughout the evening including Captain Hook and Smee.
When we have experienced Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage, we were asked to arrive an hour prior to the evenings scheduled Fireworks start time. Times are subject to change, so I would recommend confirming your time a few days prior to your scheduled event. We enjoyed the dessert selection and character appearances for around 45 minutes and then we were led to the boats by "Patch" our pirate guide. Once on the boat, we enjoyed a tour of Bay Lake, listened to some fun stories told by Patch and tried our hand at some trivia.
After the fireworks we were taken back to the dock at Disney's Contemporary Resort where a special guest was waiting for us. All in all we were on the boat for around an hour.
We first experienced this event when my daughter was just over two years old, and she fell asleep on the boat. She enjoyed the dessert party and the characters, although I have seen some younger children scared of Captain Hook. Personally, I think this is a great experience for toddlers. The fireworks close up can be very loud and the crowds can sometimes be overwhelming. Being on the boat with only a small group of guests make Happily Ever after much more enjoyable.
Stephanie