Combining WDW + DCL trip. Input, please!

[Infamousmare]

We are annual WDW visitors - odd years with the in-laws, even years with my parents. We typically go in September (we're a homeschooling family, so this works out great!) and next year, in addition to being the year we travel with my parents, my dad will be celebrating his retirement! We want to have a super special Retirement Blowout Celebration for him. It will be my husband, me, our three kids (who will be 9, 7 and 3) and my parents (active 65-year-olds).

We normally stay for 7 days, 6 nights at WDW. However, I was thinking of adding a cruise to our trip to make it super extra special. I assume from what I've read here that it's better to start at WDW, then head off for the cruise. Is that correct? Also, how long do you stay at WDW before departing for your cruise? Is the transportation pretty seamless? (We've always used ME to get from MCO to WDW with pretty good success.)

What cruise(s) do you prefer? I would love to go to Castaway Cay, but is it a "letdown" after being at WDW? Should we try something longer/more exciting? Are there itineraries that are more family friendly than others or are they all touched by Disney Magic?

How does the cruise compare with WDW? We typically do the DxDDP and have plenty of character interaction but we almost NEVER go to any of the parades or shows (mainly because we're too busy eating or riding rides!) - will get to meet/greet characters onboard that we wouldn't get to see at WDW? How are the onboard shows? Do you need ADRs to get seats for those?

Obviously, I have a ton of questions! I would really your input. TIA!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Hi, Fellow Home schoolers!

We went to WDW with cruises twice this year. (We didn't know trip #2 was going to happen at the time.)

The first cruise, we did 2 base WDW days. WE WERE POOPED. (and we have no kids, and it was just the 2 of us!) We drove 13 hrs through the day/night (after working that morning) and got to our hotel at 4:30am (3:30 to us) and still made it at 9:30 to Magic Kingdom! (Guess we are diehards.) The next day, we did base Hollywood and ended the night in Downtown Disney. 2 days was PLENTY for us. So we worked and drove down Wed, did parks Thurs and Fri and Sat we got to sleep in since we were only an hour from port and we were SO GRATEFUL to go on a relaxing cruise. As it happens, my husband cut a business deal, and we had hopper passes waiting for us when we got off 7 days later! By this time, we were rested up and we disembarked the Carnival and did all 4 parks (instead of base like the 2 days were before, since now we had hoppers) and we hopped from 11a-12am again!

So I think it depends on how much MOOLAH you have to spend in the parks. You can do 2 days before but after that the tootsies tend to feel it! (And I'm active and run and workout every day, its just a lot of standing etc.) Then if you want to tack on a day or two after, your tickets are still good (within a 14 day period) and you can go for round 2 (or drive home. That's what we did when we had trip #2. It was a quick impromptu trip so we drove in Tues night, park hopped all day Wed, embarked Thurs on the DCL Dream and were off by Sunday, and made it to work on Monday after a 14hr drive. bleh!)

I think starting the trip off under the fireworks at Cinderella's castle was perfection and magic for our family, and then getting on the Disney boat the next morning. Some people have to plan it in reverse due to schedules, and at least you don't have the 'trip is over' feeling, but I still like to run like crazy before the cruise and then I can eat and relax.

In summary, ANY WDW is good!

EDIT: WOW! CC a let down after the parks?! Um, to us, it WAS Disney's 5th park! Out at sea. Same beautiful scenery and trams and music only this time you could go up to the fruit stand and pick whatever you wanted without paying $5! Same for ice cream and cookies etc. So wow, no way, we LOVE LOVE LOVED CC. It is Disney Island perfection as only they can do! Here are the fish at Castaway:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/934160_133440973524828_580319607_n.jpg ALL THOSE ARE FISH!!! Wow.

Edit again (I guess I need to read the OP in more detail):
We never have time for photos at the parks either, as we are die hard riders. What a treat it was to finally get to be with the characters!
(keep in mind, we have no kids!)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403258_105641966304729_1657710809_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/934700_105641822971410_1239238224_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/481017_105642049638054_743498129_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/543718_105642106304715_1491535524_n.jpg

 

[mmouse37]

DCL and WDW are really two different animals but both give you plenty of character interactions, great service, tons of food and fantastic shows. The only thing the cruise does not really have are rides...the newer ships have the Aquaduck which is the first water coaster at sea.

On the cruise you have set dining times and set show times so by going to dinner and then the show (or you can do show first then dinner) you will have time to enjoy your meal and see a fantastic broadway style stage show. There are 3 main stage shows and are worth seeing.

You can do either WDW or DCL first, the choice is yours but we prefer WDW as it is busier and then we tend to relax a bit more on DCL but you can do it either way.

The cruise will be by no means a let down after WDW....you get all the "Magic" and whimsy of WDW but at much less hectic pace....I like to describe the cruise as elegant casual whimsy.

You have your choice of several different itineraries and ports and length of cruise.

You can take DCL transfers but they will cost you $35 per person per leg of trip. You may be better off looking into a towncar service or just rent a car or van for your needs from WDW to port and back to MCO.

MJ

 

[Infamousmare]

Twin Princess Mermaids - Hi back! Always fun to meet fellow HS'ers! As for your vacation - whew! You are brave for doing all that driving! I am normally a road trip kind of gal; however, when it comes to the MK, we fly. My husband can't take that much time off work (2 day drive from Dallas) and, while I do drive solo to see my parents (in Indianapolis) with my kids, I don't think I'd be ready to hit the parks running after 2 days alone in the car with them.

We typically do one park per day - we get there for rope drop, spend the morning hitting all the rides, lunch ADR, back to the villa for naps/swimming, then a dinner ADR, some shopping or just walking around, then watch the fireworks over Cindy's Castle in our jammies. We usually stay at BLT; however, because it's getting so outrageously expensive, I think we'll be back @ SSR next year. The 2-brm villa is key when traveling with the grandparents. Separate bedrooms, eating breakfast at an actual kitchen table and being able to have laundry going while we're getting ready for bed is key!

However, I just wasn't sure we'd be able to handle several days in the park, then a cruise. It *could* work to do a couple of days at the park, then a cruise, then a couple of days back at WDW before heading home. I'll have to price it out...and possibly take out a second mortgage!

I'm glad to know Castaway Cay is so much fun! Loved the pics!

MMOUSE37 - Thanks for that info re: DCL transportation. I had *assumed* it was free, just like the ME from the airport. $35 per person? I think that's a tad high, especially since I pack only one suitcase for myself + kids. I assume some of that cost is also luggage handling...or is that separate?

I think being without rides would be fine; however, having taken only one cruise in my life (and that was part of our honeymoon trip - and it was in Greece, so the amenities are, er, lacking!) I was afraid we might get bored. I should've known Disney wouldn't allow for that!

For both of you: Which itineraries did you sail? Would you do them again? I think I'd really like to do Castaway Cay, but I think of Nassau and Key West as more "adult" places. Does Disney have super special tours? Did you take them?

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I wanted to clone myself several times over in order to fit in what I wanted to do on the cruise. The navigator made my eyes bug out. You will have no problem staying super busy. (Although things get a bit quieter at Midnight. We still stayed up til like 2 anyway! We found interesting CMs from all over the world to chat with and loved the Movies on Demand in the new ships, so you could play, pause and start any of their movies -including non animated ones like Flight of the Navigator, my honey liked that one- at any time. So we made that our late night entertainment and were going to order room service one night but it was a 45 min wait...)

Their cruise was unlike any cruise I have been on. In fact, I'm a little bit over the top obsessed now (clearly) and have made DCLs quite a hobby. It's defintely to Carnival's detriment as they have made me cringe with the cheesy smokey casino style "get 'em on as cheap as you can and then wring every dime from the suckers" business model for cruising. Disney is SOOO different from any other cruise! We were on board for less than two hours, and Twinkie leans over during the first show (Golden Mickeys, it blew us away and ended up being our favorite) and said "We better start planning the next one!"

Edit again, sorry! I'm ready too fast, I guess I get too excited.
We only had time for a 3 day (cuz it was our second cruise in 2 months!?) so if I had my choice, I would have LOOVVED a sea day. A lot of people don't like Nassau, but BOTH our cruises this year went there and we loved it! Yes, we ordered the Sea Lion Encounter thru Disney at the Blue Lagoon and we can't wait to go back.
Since you like photos:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/601828_110171579185101_1915609687_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/601877_110171732518419_137065311_n.jpg SMOOCHIES!!!! Right on the Kisser!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/923029_110172249185034_522862991_n.jpg Bye Bye Maggie!!!!
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/599435_124340774434848_2006606723_n.jpg <--- Hammocks and palm trees galore!
Not the cheapest, but where else can you take a boat ride through the fancy part of the Bahamas (million + dollar homes) and then get greeted by a dolphin at the dock, get to hug and kiss and shake flippers and pet a sea lions, lounge in a hammock, drink banana drinks (I asked for banana, sis got Mudslide) and eat amazing conk fritters, swim with the fish, swim as a mermaid in the lagoon (I always bring my tail) and then enjoy a nice boat ride back, with enough time to shop down town for basket purses with mermaids on them (obviously, although Twinkie got dolphins on hers) and go to Tortuga to buy rum cakes- all with plenty of time before the all aboard!) We would go to BL again, its like Sea World meets a Tropical Island paradise.

You already saw what we did in Castaway. If you bring your own mask/fins, it's free to snorkel there. We also enjoyed the Volleyball and Pelican's Plunge water slides.

Our next itinerary will come down to price and availability. It will most likely include Castaway...because we thought that day was equivalent of like $100 excursion...

 

[Infamousmare]

HA! So funny you made that comment about being obsessed with DCLs! I was never really a "Disney person" until we made our first trip with kids in 2010. Now my mother and I can't get enough! We said we'd go every other year; however, then my in-laws got in on the action, so my husband is relegated to a WDW vacation every year.

I love the movies on demand feature - and I just got my kids the Flight of the Navigator movie! Woo hoo! I love that I don't have to really worry about that stuff @ Disney, as I'm pretty strict about what they watch.

I only started thinking about DCLs when the kids saw an advertisement on the ME to WDW last year. I wondered if it would be a disappointment after WDW; however, from what I've heard, it sounds like a ton of fun.

Great. As if I didn't spend enough time on ADRs and special experiences and hotels and pin codes and extra magic hours...now I'm going to stay up for hours on end researching cruises. Thank God my husband is a patient man!

 

[tech9798]

Hi there! This is my first post, but I thought that I would give you my plans! Fellow homeschoolers too, so we are taking a cruise in Feb when the prices are low. We may pay for it with cold water, but I'm sure there will be plenty to do on the boat or island!

We will arrive in Orlando on Fri or Sat (driving in), spend Sat hanging out Downtown Disney or whatever (I may do Ohana). We stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort with our timeshare points. Love that place! Sunday will be Magic Kingdom (we have non-expiring tickets, so we will use one day of those). Monday we drive to get on the 4 day cruise on the newly remodeled Magic! Get off the boat on Friday and head home. So, my husband will only take 1 week or 1 week plus one day off work. My husband is not a big parks fan , otherwise I would probably do two days at the parks!

I am hoping that my kids will love the kid's clubs, so my husband and I can get some time to hang out together. That was my big reason for booking Disney, and one way I convinced him to go. I am not booking any excursions. We plan to hang out at the beach at Castaway Cay, and we may get off the boat and walk around Nassau, but we mostly plan on just enjoying the cruise and activities onboard! We are not booking the extra dining at Palo, we will eat in the main dining rooms. I'm sure it will be fine!

We are all super excited. I got the Disney Cruise line DVD free from Disney, and we have watched it over and over!

 

[Infamousmare]

I'm so glad to hear we're not the only homeschoolers who love Disney!

Tech9798That sounds like a super fun itinerary - and I hadn't thought about using points to stay at a non-Disney property this time. My husband is SPG platinum and has tons of points. Perhaps we ought to look into staying at the Swan or Dolphin to cut costs...? I'm so used to getting the meal plan (so much easier when traveling with a group!) that I hadn't considered it.

Have you found it difficult to get to/from the parks on your own? We've been spoiled by Disney transportation.

 

[aan1701]

Here is what we do, no kidos by the way. If leaving from Port Canaveral we always go to WDW before and after the cruise. Living in Los Angeles we hate flying the day we get off the ship. It's such a early day, then to the airport, then flying cross country. Ugh. Since we are DVC members on the back end at WDW we do as little or as much as we want. Not like we are not going back. Also unlike so many others here Castaway Cay is not a deal breaker for me. As I mentioned I am from Los Angeles were we have really cool beaches with these things you can ride called waves. Those are not there at Castaway Cay so I call it a over glorified pool with salt water. I do like the place I am just saying I don't think it the end all be all of the universe like so many here. So there you go.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[RunnerMomO]

Hi. We just returned from a WDW and cruise combination trip with our friends from out of state. We had five kids between us ages 13, 11, 10, 8 and 7. We started at the Beach Club and spent to nights there with visits to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios (Star Wars weekend) and EPCOT as well as relaxing time at the awesome pool. Our 4 night Dream cruise departed on Sunday so we got up and had breakfast before heading to the port around 9:30 am. Parking at the port is based on number of nights, so we paid $75 for our cruise...I guess the cruise transfer cost is a little higher if you have a larger party.

We are experienced Disney cruisers, but this was our friends first cruise. Our kids love the cruises and have been to Alaska, Western Caribbean and Bahamas all with Disney. We had cabins that were next to one another with Verandahs. The older three kids were allowed a little freedom to check themselves in and out of the kids clubs. Since Disney doesn't have gambling, that space on the ship is where they have the magical kids, Tweens and teens areas. Our kids of course spent a bit of time at the pools and riding the AquaDuck. We also like to participate in Fish Extender exchanges on board...we had 23 cabins in on it for this cruise...so many fun surprises waiting for us each day!

We hadn't planned to get off in Nassau since we have seen it before, but Disney adds and updated some of e shore excursions and there was one to the Graycliff hotel chocolate factory. We took our two boys and the dad and one son went with us too (other kids had nut allergies). My kids had a blast learning about how they made chocolate and then getting to make their own. I can overhear them right now in their room making a chocolate factory out of Legos.

Castaway cay is my absolute favorite...just leave me there all week.. We snorkel, swim, and just enjoy the island.

I know some of the fellow fish extender folks were going back to Disney world after the cruise, but I liked doing the order we did. We were tired in Thursday after we got off the ship and nearly everyone of us took naps. Good luck and let me know if I can answer any other questions. We are lucky to live here in Florida near the Port and Walt Disney World.

 

[Ofinn]

We are doing our 4th land /sea adventure this September. We do a few nights before and a few nights after. Mk resort before cruise and Epcot resort after seems to be our MO. The cruise is always the highlight of the trip. In no way shape or form is the cruise a letdown. If anything WDW is a let down after the cruise.

Nice to see lots of homeschoolers on these boards.

 

[darkwing818]

We are presently hitting the pool at BCV after our 7 day Fantasy cruise (debarked this past Saturday & will be on the road to Tennessee this coming Wednesday morning. We came down a couple days prior to the cruise to do the Studios (finally dined at the Brown Derby, it was ok).
When we took our 1st cruise (DW, 2 DDs & me) we drove straight home from the port, trust me 11 to 12 hours in the car directly after getting off the ship was no picnic, so for our next 9 cruises, we added time at WDW after the cruise as well. Works great for us.

 

[CTdaizy]

We have talked about this for our cruise next summer- stay a full week before, or some before and some after. We took our first cruise last summer out of NYC, but we have taken the kids to WDW 5 times and once to DL before ever setting foot on a cruise. I also was a part of the college program at DL back in the day, so combined we have lots of Disney parks experience but only one cruise. DS was 11 and DD was 9 on the cruise, and they LOVED it. We had an 8 night sailing, it was perfect. By about the 4th day, the kids were asking when we would be able to go back on another Disney cruise. We have plans to spend the week of Thanksgiving at WDW this year, and a cruise planned for next August, the kids only talk about the cruise! I don't think you will be disappointed AT ALL with the cruise. I would say make sure you do at least a 4 night sailing, so you get one day at sea.

At Nassau, we did the dolphin encounter at the Atlantis- came with lunch and waterpark admission. If we could do it again, we would swim the dolphins, but skip the waterpark (it was very crowded). At CC, we all went parasailing, LOVED it, want to do it again. We also rode bikes all over the island, very fun- and hung on the beach swimming in the afternoon rain.

We had a stop at PC, with one day park hoppers as part of the cruise, so the crazy die-hards that we are, we started in HS, hopped to AK, on to E then to MK.. rode rides in each park and collapsed on the bus back to port! The best part of being back to the ship was that it felt like home, and they had the buffet set up for a late dinner!

You really can't go wrong with a cruise, you will love it!

My question to all of you is about homeschooling- traditional school is getting in the way of all the things I want to do with the kids, like a Panama Canal cruise, or a transatlantic.. but school is in during those itineraries. I'm afraid my kids won't be disciplined enough to start homeschooling now- any thoughts?

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

My question to all of you is about homeschooling- traditional school is getting in the way of all the things I want to do with the kids, like a Panama Canal cruise, or a transatlantic.. but school is in during those itineraries. I'm afraid my kids won't be disciplined enough to start homeschooling now- any thoughts?

Trying to type on my phone...
We went thru elementary public school. After we were due to start middle school (dads big concern for peer pressure) we had our own text books like English and social studies. We also had a college teacher who came once a week to the house for science and math. About 2-3 hrs with her and she scheduled tests and weeks homework. We also had experiments and group lessons with other homeschoolers quite a bit. I remember a Spanish class from a native speaker or about 3 or 6 months one yr. For high school, we had all the same credit hrs we had to log as other high schoolers. Even gym! We are still avid exercisers! Ran a 5k a week ago Sunday. We also started vocational training for administration in office with other high schoolers at 16. An office job at 16 making $8 an hour! We have worked all our lives off that class and job experience. After that yr, we all had to take two more vocational yrs for electronics with the boys. Lotta math and calculating ohms and resistance. We soldered and built robots! Before graduation, we had to submit an entire essay exit exam and all our class hour credit logs and books including government etc.

All thru the yrs, we have been public speakers all our lives and very avid readers of Nancy drew and Victoria holt. We would absorb books like water. That teaches good grammar and spelling. We would write our own stories too. I forgot to mention our music lessons! From age 5, it was piano for at least 7 yrs. After that, as teenagers, we could branch out. I was drawn to my mothers flute, and twinkie picked up bass guitar then acoustic and electric and voice lessons. Twinkie still plays and sings for hire and tips at a restaurant every week and has for 4 yrs.

I would also like to mention that they took us to England to see roman Bath and Tower of London and real history. For graduation, Barcelona to Portugal. Diving reefs in st Thomas at age 11.5 (almost 12), and again at 17. Lots of Sea World and Dad loovvveess the hall of presidents! I think he cries at the civil war scene every time! (If that's the MK one, I can never keep em straight)

Aren't we fortunate for our upbringing? I know we are! All of us are successful. Twinkie has more work than she can shake a stick at. Other sis has built such a real estate empire, she now employs a ton of people we know just so she can have any sort of life! I had my own business for a while but now I work in broadcast agency radio sales (Arbys campaign order came in today.) We are self made girls! I think that is one helpful thing about it. We were driven before to pursue things that enriched and interested us, not just tests. We also got real job experience. I also went to college for 1.5 yrs, studied business writing, web and digital graphic design, Japanese I and II and played in their college symphony for 4 seasons!

I think if you have kids that already love to read books, homeschooling is very doable. If not, its not impossible but takes a lil more prodding on your part. I know two boys who turned in all their assignments early and started working in machining at age 17 and now can work anywhere. So I hope that helps! Sorry if its long.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We are annual WDW visitors - odd years with the in-laws, even years with my parents. We typically go in September (we're a homeschooling family, so this works out great!) and next year, in addition to being the year we travel with my parents, my dad will be celebrating his retirement! We want to have a super special Retirement Blowout Celebration for him. It will be my husband, me, our three kids (who will be 9, 7 and 3) and my parents (active 65-year-olds).

We normally stay for 7 days, 6 nights at WDW. However, I was thinking of adding a cruise to our trip to make it super extra special. I assume from what I've read here that it's better to start at WDW, then head off for the cruise. Is that correct? Also, how long do you stay at WDW before departing for your cruise? Is the transportation pretty seamless? (We've always used ME to get from MCO to WDW with pretty good success.)

What cruise(s) do you prefer? I would love to go to Castaway Cay, but is it a "letdown" after being at WDW? Should we try something longer/more exciting? Are there itineraries that are more family friendly than others or are they all touched by Disney Magic?

How does the cruise compare with WDW? We typically do the DxDDP and have plenty of character interaction but we almost NEVER go to any of the parades or shows (mainly because we're too busy eating or riding rides!) - will get to meet/greet characters onboard that we wouldn't get to see at WDW? How are the onboard shows? Do you need ADRs to get seats for those?

Obviously, I have a ton of questions! I would really your input. TIA!

Transportation is pretty seamless. It is about an hour ride from port to WDW. DCL and Castaway Cay were amazing. They will NOT be a disappointment after WDW DH and I often said how the friendliness and service on the cruise is far better than at WDW. Personally, we liked doing WDW AFTER the cruise. If we would have had to exit the ship to go to the airport and go home, that would have been a huge letdown after an amazing week on the Eastern Caribbean cruise. We did 3 nights at WDW after a 7 night cruise. That's just us though, I know lots of people feel differently. Either way, you will have a great time

 

[mmouse37]

I love all the itineraries...we have done Bahamas, Eastern and Western Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, etc. loved them all.

It is easiest for us to fly to Florida to pick up a cruise but it was super easy when DCL was in NYC last summer...had to take advantage of DCL being 30 minutes from our house so we took 3 cruises from NYC last summer. 8 day Bahamas, 2 night cruise to nowhere and a 4 night Canada cruise.

We were on the maiden voyage of the Magic (DCL's first ship) so we have pretty much been with DCL since the very beginning. It just keeps getting better!!! We are up to 29 DCL cruises with a bunch more planned.

MJ

 

[River Country]

Just did 5 days in WDW and did the 3 nights on the Dream. I started small with the cruise to see how my DD 6 would like it and we booked another one while on board lol she loved it

We rented a minivan there was 5 of us me dw dd and my parents active 65 year olds and they loved it.

Renting a car for me was the best way to go we parked right at the port and weren't rushed to be at a transfer spot

 

[yaddakal]

We did Epcot( arrival day), MK( all day), HS ( until 3 then pool at hotel), then downtown that night, then day four rented a car, did SeaWorld and hotel pool, day five drove car to port caneveral, my husband dropped us off and returned car...Alamo was easy and very quick. He came right back and we did the three night dream. It was amazing and not a let down at all!
If we had the time, and I had the knowledge I would have added a day at AK and made it a four night dream.
Good luck!

 

[caven553]

We like going down to the parks for either a day or two where we don't do the parks and just do DTD/Miniature Golf/Water Park type things, or we do a week before the cruise at the parks. Then, as long as you are staying at a Moderate Resort on up, you can arrange for the cruise bus to just pick you up at the resort - luggage will already be taken care of.

One nice thing about doing the crusie after WDW is it is time to relax and wind down after the frantic pace most people maintain at the parks. Also - there are so many character meeting opportunities on the crusie that you can skip waiting in the lines for the charcters in the parks if you so choose.

I would highly recommend a week long cruise though if you can. The 3/4 days are just too short

 

[Zeppelin]

We are annual WDW visitors - odd years with the in-laws, even years with my parents. We typically go in September (we're a homeschooling family, so this works out great!) and next year, in addition to being the year we travel with my parents, my dad will be celebrating his retirement! We want to have a super special Retirement Blowout Celebration for him. It will be my husband, me, our three kids (who will be 9, 7 and 3) and my parents (active 65-year-olds).

We normally stay for 7 days, 6 nights at WDW. However, I was thinking of adding a cruise to our trip to make it super extra special. I assume from what I've read here that it's better to start at WDW, then head off for the cruise. Is that correct? Also, how long do you stay at WDW before departing for your cruise? Is the transportation pretty seamless? (We've always used ME to get from MCO to WDW with pretty good success.)

What cruise(s) do you prefer? I would love to go to Castaway Cay, but is it a "letdown" after being at WDW? Should we try something longer/more exciting? Are there itineraries that are more family friendly than others or are they all touched by Disney Magic?

How does the cruise compare with WDW? We typically do the DxDDP and have plenty of character interaction but we almost NEVER go to any of the parades or shows (mainly because we're too busy eating or riding rides!) - will get to meet/greet characters onboard that we wouldn't get to see at WDW? How are the onboard shows? Do you need ADRs to get seats for those?

Obviously, I have a ton of questions! I would really your input. TIA!

last year we did a 7night WC cruise then four days at WDW...this year we are doing a 7ngth EC then four days at WDW....

i highly recommend the cruise 1st, especially if you've never done a DCL cruise before...

1) leaving the cruise is pretty depressing- but knowing you'll be going to WDW afterwards is a big plus...

2) some people claim the cruise is relaxing after a few days at WDW- i disagree as the Cruise can be non-stop go, but regardless- after the cruise then WDW you'll be vactioned out and ready to tackle the real world again!!

3) Castaway Cay is one of the highlight of any DCL cruise...