1 day in MK pre or post cruise with 3 and 4 year olds?

[dharma517]

Hi all,

We are going on a 4 night Wonder cruise in December and were thinking of tacking on a night either before or after to take the girls for a one day trip to MK...they LOVE the princesses. So...would you go before or after? We could fly down on Friday evening and stay where? Then do MK on Saturday and stay overnight again (was planning on flying down night before anyway) and then take a limo service early in the morning to head for the cruise ship. So...we are eligible to stay at Shades of Green ...would the girls love that and would it be conveinent enough for a short trip? OR should be do it after the cruise since we would not be going on work on that Friday anyway? Decisions decisions? The girls are going to be 3 and 4 1/2. Thanks.
Jenn

 

[Gupsmom]

My opinion....do it the day before the cruise.

I've done Disney at both ends of a cruise. We have much more energy before the cruise...then you get a good night sleep and enjoy a relaxing cruise. My kids were up late every night on the cruise. We were all tired after. I think with young kids it's expecting a lot to go from partying late to taking in all the sensory overload of Magic Kingdom...almost asking for a meltdown.

Jess

 

[joanb]

This is a good question...we want to do MK on Sunday after 3 day cruise as our flight isn't until 9:30pm. We ae skipping a day of school just to do a three day. How busy will Mk be on April 24? And maybe a Typhoon Lagoon would be a good option just to keep that tropical feeling going. Any input?

 

[Skuba2]

I agree with former poster----I have much more energy and so do my kids before the cruise. It is also a much more relaxing start to the cruise in the morning. We tried going to the Kennedy Space Center after a 7 day cruise and I hated every minute of it. Also, forgot that the hotel room after the cruise won't be ready for you until sometime after lunch which made taking a quit snooze impossible.

DG

 

[MrsMork]

We have done WDW both before and after cruise. Recommend before and yes Shades of Green will be very convenient for MK. Have a great trip!

 

[missmindy]

With little ones, I would head directly to Fantasyland and plan on being there for a good while.

Here is something to keep in mind--you won't be able to get through the entire park in one day, so just look at it as a "sampler" of visits for the future and enjoy the quality, not quantity.

Worth renting a double stroller, too. It will keep them contained for getting through the crowds and provide a spot for a cat nap when parked in the shade. It'll save you wear and tear since you won't have to pick them up as much, either. Also serves as a backpack holder as you move along to give your shoulders a rest. Leave something sticking out of the back pocket of the stroller when you park it or tie a bandana to it to make it easier to find later on. Folks are less likely to accidentally grab yours that way, too.

Get Fast Passes for your group for your favorite ride right away (grab the map that indicates which rides have them as you enter the tunnel after the entry turnstiles--it's also the stroller rental area to the far right) when possible, too. That'll save you time in lines.

Here is our favorite respite for an early lunch-- Pinnochio's Haus in Fantasyland. You can sit in air-conditioning, eat whatever you may have brought with you, and have the option buying of sides, drinks or meals sold inside.

It's a Small World is a good attraction to catch with little ones if it's open-- was closed in December for renovation. Long lines move quickly through it.

If you get tired of waiting in lines later on, you can use the sort-of-hidden sidewalk that takes you from Fantasyland/Toon Town (back of race car area) to Tomorrowland. I'll let you in on our secret fave for re-energizing-- the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) ride. Rarely a long line as it moves along so well, you go up to the cars and jump in. Takes you through the interiors of the major Tomorrowland attractions and is a little ride in itself. It's awesome when it's hot out or raining, too, as it's covered and goes thru AC. Be prepared that one part is dark-- it goes thru Space Mountain- but tell them they'll be seeing "nightime" at Disney and to look for stars and the people on the roller coaster! The other easy-to-get-into attraction is the Carousel of Progress, across from TTA. You sit in upholstered chairs, enjoy the AC and watch an animatronic show. My 8 year old DD has been hooked on it since age 3. In December, I just shut my eyes for a few minutes to relax as DD and DH watched it for what had to be the 20th time in 5 years.

One last thing... keeping everyone hydrated, rested and fed is a huge factor in making the day go well. Bring along snacks in ziploc bags (keeps things in when they drop them), pre-chill juice boxes (bring along a softsided lunch box for these items-- stuff it into a backpack) and make then wear hats/visors in the sun. Splurge on a Powerade later on. They have twist tops and will get liquids back into you quicker than water-- only because you'll drink more since it goes down so much faster than water!

 

[diznefan76]

My opinion....do it the day before the cruise.



Jess

I completely agree! In 2001 we did the Land/Sea on the Wonder and did the land part before the cruise, then we decided to stay a couple extra days after the cruise back at WDW....I'm an adult and was completely exhausted after the cruise. Definently do the MK before the cruise!

 

[mshinrockford]

I completely agree with the previous posters who said to go BEFORE your cruise. We went after our 4-night cruise a couple of years ago, and I would never do that again. You get so pampered and are relaxed on your cruise--plus you are eating complete meals. I'll never forget ordering 3 hotdogs and 4 drinks in the MGM studios, and having the "tab" be $21!!!!!! I realize we had prepaid for our great meals on the cruise, but it was a bit of "culture shock" to have to hand over that kind of cash for some hotdogs! Definitely set the stage for your cruise by going to the parks before!

 

[dharma517]

So what do you think of this plan...and feel free to fill in the blanks. We arrive in Orlando Friday early afternoon....get to the Shades of Green resort (how do we get there?), hang out at the pool and downtown disney and eat at the Poly...Ohana(sp?). Next morning....hit the Magic Kingdom and do CRT breakfast if we can get PS. Spend all day at the park and then what for dinner? Where can we catch some fireworks? Spend our second night at Shades. Then we will do a limo from Shades of Green to the cruise ship and then after the cruise back to the airport. How does all of this sound? Still have to figure out the transportation...we will have 4 adults and 2 children. Woohoo...but hey...I think i just added about 750 bucks to cost of our trip..lol...at least! Oh well...
Jenn

 

[missmindy]

This is just "mho", but I'd skip trying for a character breakfast on your MK day if you are going to try to stretch the day out for 9pm fireworks. They have a "fairy-ly" new fireworks show that can be enjoyed almost anywhere in the park at 9pm most nights, but locate yourself near the entrance to get out ahead of the crowds. Keep your stroller at the ready for comfy seating for them, plus they may fall asleep waiting for it!

I'd save the breakfast money for a sit-down dinner at the Magic Kingdom. Get reservations first thing that am. Seriously- pack a fresh shirt for the kids and yourselves in your daybag if you stay from am to night. Bring a package of Dove wipes or something along that line, too. As an adult, I was exhausted & felt grimy after a full day and couldn't stand another minute without a shower by dinner time if we were going ot eat inside. If I had brought the quick change, I would have been ready to stay. I think you can rent lockers by the front if you think you'll be carrying too much.

 

[mickeyboat]

This is just "mho", but I'd skip trying for a character breakfast on your MK day if you are going to try to stretch the day out for 9pm fireworks.

Plus, won't you have a character breakfast on the Wonder as well?

Denae

 

[mketting]

As the previous posters have said definitely go to the parks first. A visit to MK was the perfect beginning to the trip for us and then the next day we got on the ship for a 4 night cruise.

Last year my 6 year old fell asleep at the breakfast table our last morning on the ship and we all crashed once on board the plane home. There is no way we would have had the energy to visit the parks after the cruise.