Add0n days before and After at the World? Opinions Please!

[poohfriend]

We are staying at the World for 3 days after Christmas and then taking a 4 night cruise with my family (my siblings, spouses, children, and my parents).

Your opinion and reasons are appreciated. I really need to book air travel this week...I've put off the decision as long as possible!!


My own family of 5 is considering tacking on two additional days at the World after (Jan 2-4). Here's our reasons in favor:

1. January is Value season and the crowds will have diminished
2. (like 1) our December days will be crowded in the parks we may not get to see or do all that we'd like.
3. we'll have all those other opinions to deal with during the first 3 days, the January days would be more laid-back -- and good for our family
4. We have the money for the extra nights hotel on-site. (Parents are paying for the cruise) Add the fact that a few extra days to a MYW ticket are almost nothing -- it's a fairly cheap "mini vacation after the reunion"


Our reasons against:

1. 10 days away from home
2. the post-cruise let-down -- will we really enjoy more World?
3. packing and unpacking,packing and unpacking, packing and unpacking (3 different stays)
4. (like 4) will this be too much back and forth with our children (ages 7, 4, and 2)

 

[poohfriend]

Here's some information I should have included. My kids have all been to MK for 1 day (last October).

We're planning to try and visit MK during the Holiday crowds, and 1 day at AK.

 

[kcashner]

I trust that you can't add your "more days" before the cruise? WDW, then cruise, then WDW sounds like a lot of "moving around."

Other thoughts--kids get very used to "free" treats any time, call room service, get waited on, etc. on the ship. I've frequently been caught saying, "Do I look like Micho?" and following it with, "Then get up and get it yourself!" Mine really does get spoiled. That's another reason I like parks first. It's easier to get back into the normal routine at home. I don't like to go to WDW and be saying that you can't have ice cream 3 times a day....or it isn't dinner time yet...or pick up your own stuff. Back home, they seem to slip into "normal" mode more easily.

The WDW Christmas stuff will come down right after New Year's. The Osborn lights take a couple days...the rest will end right away.

I'd really look at a couple more days up front if possible. I know they'd cost a little more, but that might be worth the hassle.

 

[poohfriend]

we simply cannot go for more days before (we need to have Christmas at home for a lot of reasons) and we are already leaving the 26th.

It still sounds like your advice is that for the kids sake, we really should come home after the cruise. THANK YOU.

 

[muskokaV]

Hi,

We are leaving in 10 days for our Land/Sea WDW vacation. My family was thrilled when I added two additional nights stay at WDW after our cruise. I am looking forward to being able to do WDW at a more relaxed pace, now that we have added these days. I was worried that after our long drive from Canada, we would wear ourselves out trying to see and do everything at the parks before we got to the cruise. For us, returning to the parks might mean a day to relax at the resort pool or Typhoon Lagoon without feeling that we are missing a park.

By the way, about returning right before school starts, we are doing the exact same thing. We will be returning home the day before school starts, both for the children and myself, as I teach. I am planning to be prepared for the first day of school, before we leave.

I also understand what you are saying about the parks being less busy in January (been there, done that, it is awesome to walk on to everything with few lines), but beware; this year the children in our region (as well as other surrounding regions) do not return to school until the 9th of January. I think a lot of people are thinking about packing up and heading to Disney after Christmas, so the parks may not be as slow as they usually are at this time.

Enjoy whatever you decide to do.