Help me decide on our vacation: Land/Sea vs Sea

[Kebby]

I am so confused about what to do about our next vaca!! As of right now, we are booked for 4 days at the Poly at WDW followed by a 4 day Dream cruise. It is myself, my hubby and our four kids aged 1,3,5 and 8. My daughter will actually just turn 3 on Oct 13- so this trip was booked for Oct 6 cruise as then we save for her ticket at WDW.

Now, I see the double dip Magic cruise come up Oct 20. I LOVE CC, and so this grabbed my attention. Also, the fact that we could book one of the 1 bedroom suites on the magic as of now... which I would love to do as well. If we did the magic cruise, we would not split with WDW- cruise only.

Which would you chose? for the record, my 8 yr old has been to WDW twice ( the most recent being this past september when we split one day at MK with a 3 day dream cruise). My husband has never done DCL, and neither have my middle kids.

The advantages of the Dream are:
- covered splash area for my 1 yr old
- i have been on the ship and loved it
- can split it with WDW

Disadvantages:
- shorter cruise
-only one stop at CC
- would have to book two interior staterooms.

The advantages of the Magic are:
- concierge
-bigger room that we can all easily fit
-smaller ship
-two stops at CC

Disadvantages:
- small uncovered splash area for the baby.. I am worried he would be hot
- older ship
-flights a bit more to Miami
- no aquaduck

[mmouse37]

Originally Posted by Kebby

I am so confused about what to do about our next vaca!! As of right now, we are booked for 4 days at the Poly at WDW followed by a 4 day Dream cruise. It is myself, my hubby and our four kids aged 1,3,5 and 8. My daughter will actually just turn 3 on Oct 13- so this trip was booked for Oct 6 cruise as then we save for her ticket at WDW.

Now, I see the double dip Magic cruise come up Oct 20. I LOVE CC, and so this grabbed my attention. Also, the fact that we could book one of the 1 bedroom suites on the magic as of now... which I would love to do as well. If we did the magic cruise, we would not split with WDW- cruise only.

Which would you chose? for the record, my 8 yr old has been to WDW twice ( the most recent being this past september when we split one day at MK with a 3 day dream cruise). My husband has never done DCL, and neither have my middle kids.

The advantages of the Dream are:
- covered splash area for my 1 yr old
- i have been on the ship and loved it
- can split it with WDW

Disadvantages:
- shorter cruise
-only one stop at CC
- would have to book two interior staterooms.

The advantages of the Magic are:
- concierge
-bigger room that we can all easily fit
-smaller ship
-two stops at CC

Disadvantages:
- small uncovered splash area for the baby.. I am worried he would be hot
- older ship
-flights a bit more to Miami
- no aquaduck

If it puts your mind at ease thousands upon thousands have young children have used the pool areas on the classic ships over the years with no problems so I would not worry too much about the Magic not having a covered splash area. For the amount of time during the cruise that you will be out there that would not be a factor for my decision at all.

I love the Magic. I love WDW but I much prefer a week cruising compared to a shorter cruise with WDW stay.

MJ

[sambycat]

i can’t speak from the toddler perspective, but i would vote for a different ship, different itinerary and trying concierge over the dream just because it seems like it could work for your family date wise, it’s different and with 2 stops at CC, you will minimally get some great water time with your little ones if the lack of splash area seems daunting. have fun deciding!

[divabydisney]

After doing a land/sea in October 2011, we (me and the kids) all would have preferred just doing the cruise. We stayed at Beach Club when at WDW so it's not like we weren't in the parks or somethig. There was just something about it. My kids are older so not sure if that's going to help you and we were on the Dream. So my vote is doing a B2B or longer cruise.

[samily]

While I am usually in the longer cruise camp, isn't the Magic cruise a 5 night? I think I would go with the 8 night land/sea, rather than cut my vacation short by 3 nights (and this is coming from someone who has a Wonder 5 nighter in a suite booked for next year, but due to DH's school schedule is the longest we can take off). Also, the one bed suites only sleep 5, so you would have to book another cabin (whether you sleep there or not), a two bedroom suite, or one of the Royal suites to get everyone on the ship.

Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have a great time!!

[Kebby]

Originally Posted by samily

While I am usually in the longer cruise camp, isn't the Magic cruise a 5 night? I think I would go with the 8 night land/sea, rather than cut my vacation short by 3 nights (and this is coming from someone who has a Wonder 5 nighter in a suite booked for next year, but due to DH's school schedule is the longest we can take off). Also, the one bed suites only sleep 5, so you would have to book another cabin (whether you sleep there or not), a two bedroom suite, or one of the Royal suites to get everyone on the ship.

Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have a great time!!

Thanks for the advice so far! And yes, I forgot to mention my parents ar coming as well and so one of the kids is "assigned" to thier room even though they won't be in it

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by Kebby

I am so confused about what to do about our next vaca!! As of right now, we are booked for 4 days at the Poly at WDW followed by a 4 day Dream cruise. It is myself, my hubby and our four kids aged 1,3,5 and 8. My daughter will actually just turn 3 on Oct 13- so this trip was booked for Oct 6 cruise as then we save for her ticket at WDW.

Now, I see the double dip Magic cruise come up Oct 20. I LOVE CC, and so this grabbed my attention. Also, the fact that we could book one of the 1 bedroom suites on the magic as of now... which I would love to do as well. If we did the magic cruise, we would not split with WDW- cruise only.

Which would you chose? for the record, my 8 yr old has been to WDW twice ( the most recent being this past september when we split one day at MK with a 3 day dream cruise). My husband has never done DCL, and neither have my middle kids.

The advantages of the Dream are:
- covered splash area for my 1 yr old
- i have been on the ship and loved it
- can split it with WDW

Disadvantages:
- shorter cruise
-only one stop at CC
- would have to book two interior staterooms.

The advantages of the Magic are:
- concierge
-bigger room that we can all easily fit
-smaller ship
-two stops at CC

Disadvantages:
- small uncovered splash area for the baby.. I am worried he would be hot
- older ship
-flights a bit more to Miami
- no aquaduck

The splash area isn't all that uncovered. It's off to the side of the Mickey slide (between the landing area of the slide and the port side covered area. It's pretty shady, IMO.

I'll try to find the picture I took of the area and post it.

[jcemom]

So the choices are 4 nights Poly + 4 nights Dream, or 5 nights Magic? I'd go with Poly + Dream hands down. If the second option was a 7 night cruise I'd choose it, but only 5 nights vacation vs. 8 nights? I'd pick 8 nights every time.

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by PrincessShmoo

The splash area isn't all that uncovered. It's off to the side of the Mickey slide (between the landing area of the slide and the port side covered area. It's pretty shady, IMO.

I'll try to find the picture I took of the area and post it.

OK, so I find that it's a little more open than I recall. We usually sat on that side of the ship, and it didn't seem particularly sunny.

[mmouse37]

Originally Posted by PrincessShmoo

OK, so I find that it's a little more open than I recall. We usually sat on that side of the ship, and it didn't seem particularly sunny.

For a good part of the day the Mickey hand provides shade to that area.

I didn't realize the Magic was only 5 nights....I am all for longer vacays!!!

MJ