5-Night Magic or 4-Night Dream + WDW/Mickey's X-Mas Party

[stickeymouse]

I'm torn between the following 3 options:

Option 1

5-night cruise on Magic (Miami, Cozumel, Castaway Cay, Miami)

Pros: Simplest and probably cheapest option; longer cruise; wanted to try Magic (already been on the Dream); cruise goes farther south (bring on the heat!).

Cons: Only 5 nights of Disney.

Option 2

WDW + 4-night crusie on Dream (PC, Nasau, Castaway, PC)
Because of awkward Monday cruise departure, 2-night stay before and after cruise (4 total) at WDW with Mickey's Christmas Party

Pros: Bonus time at WDW and X-mas party
Cons: Shorter cruise; already sailed Dream

Option 3 (Hybrid)

Cruise from Option 1, driving from Miami to Orlando (is this a crazy idea?), 2 Night stay at WDW with Mickey's Christmas Party
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Which one would you choose?

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Personally, I would do four nights on the Dream and the Christmas Party. I have never been on the Magic, but the videos and pictures of it don't appeal to me as much as the Dream. I wouldn't be that interested in Cozumel right now, and I loved the Christmas party last year. Just my two cents

 

[LongingfortheKingdom]

We are trying to make the same decision! I tried to work our schedule so we could do a 5 night on the Magic and then a 4 night on the Dream but I can not get the schedule to work out. I love WDW at Christmas so I am leaning toward toward the Dream and MVMCP.

 

[cindyzig]

I'm torn between the following 3 options:

Option 1

5-night cruise on Magic (Miami, Cozumel, Castaway Cay, Miami)

Pros: Simplest and probably cheapest option; longer cruise; wanted to try Magic (already been on the Dream); cruise goes farther south (bring on the heat!).

Cons: Only 5 nights of Disney.

Option 2

WDW + 4-night crusie on Dream (PC, Nasau, Castaway, PC)
Because of awkward Monday cruise departure, 2-night stay before and after cruise (4 total) at WDW with Mickey's Christmas Party

Pros: Bonus time at WDW and X-mas party
Cons: Shorter cruise; already sailed Dream

Option 3 (Hybrid)

Cruise from Option 1, driving from Miami to Orlando (is this a crazy idea?), 2 Night stay at WDW with Mickey's Christmas Party
_______________________________________________
Which one would you choose?

I think I am biased because we are already doing a version of your Option 3 (Hybrid) plan. We started by booking the 5-night Magic cruise on leaving 11/29. We are not using DVC points for the cruise and realized we have some we could use ahead of time during the week of Thanksgiving. So, we are going to drive up to DW for a few nights that week after flying in to Miami, then hit Vero Beach on our way back down to Miami for a few days to wind down, then off on our cruise. I figured I had most of the week of Thanksgiving off from work anyways. We wanted Christmas at DW and on the cruise.

 

[stickeymouse]

I think I am biased because we are already doing a version of your Option 3 (Hybrid) plan. We started by booking the 5-night Magic cruise on leaving 11/29. We are not using DVC points for the cruise and realized we have some we could use ahead of time during the week of Thanksgiving. So, we are going to drive up to DW for a few nights that week after flying in to Miami, then hit Vero Beach on our way back down to Miami for a few days to wind down, then off on our cruise. I figured I had most of the week of Thanksgiving off from work anyways. We wanted Christmas at DW and on the cruise.

That is the exact cruise we are considering! Let me know if you decide to go to WDW after the cruise, and we can perhaps coordinate travel plans.

It's tough to decide among the three. Hopefully the answer will become clear soon enough.

 

[cindyzig]

That is the exact cruise we are considering! Let me know if you decide to go to WDW after the cruise, and we can perhaps coordinate travel plans.

It's tough to decide among the three. Hopefully the answer will become clear soon enough.

Will do. I am pretty certain we are staying at DW during Thanksgiving week though because I don't have to take more vacation days. We were at the Halloween party last year at DW, which is not my favorite holiday or party, and we realized we would have had so much more fun at the Christmas version. We are super excited for the cruise!

 

[houdmorg87]

I vote 4 day Dream, and WDW Christmas party. I will be doing the same thing. (Nov 30th sailing on the dream) The Dream is said to be 40% bigger than the wonder and magic. so even though the magic has been redone, it seems to me the dream has way more to do. 4 days is still a good amount of time. Second, the Christmas party at WDW is GREAT! It says to start at 7, but they let you in at 4, so it gets pretty crowded in that in between time. but aside from that, we seriously did most of the park in under an hour and a half because they kick out all park goers without a ticket around 6pm. Its a cheaper ticket, and you get less time, but its worth it to have a less crowded park during that time. (Woke my son up early, tired him out at the pool in the am, made him nap, got up for the christmas party, he lasted until about 5 minutes after close and had to carry him from the tram to the car but was perfectly ok with that because he lasted through all the fun without any bit of crabbiness. Hope that helps in any decision making!

 

[Melissa S]

I would do option 1 or 3. I love the Magic and 5 night is the perfect cruise length. Cozumel is also a much better port than Nassau. We sailed from Miami twice. Both times we flew into Orlando to visit my family. The drive isn't that bad and the one way car rental was very cheap.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I'd do option 2. Go on the ship and see WDW at Christmas

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

You didn't mention the dates, but I assume November or December. I would choose the Magic because she is my favorite, 5 nights is the perfect length to cruise, and Cozumel is more likely to be nice and warm. What a terrible decision