Adding a few days at WDW after cruise. Yay or Nay?

[BZMomNJ]

Hi fellow cruisers!

Please bear with me on this long post. I could really use some input please! My family is booked on our 1st Disney Cruise for 4/8/17- the PC Eastern Caribbean w/ SWDAS. We were originally going to drive down basically all day on 4/7 from NJ, but I'm having second thoughts. Our plan was to leave NJ around 3-4am on Friday morning and drive straight through to Jacksonville to stay with family Friday night. We'd make the final drive to PC from Jacksonville Saturday morning for the cruise. We have 2 children (ages 4 and 6 at this time of travel) and they are pretty good on long car rides. We had a test run to North Carolina a few months ago and they handled it like champs. But thinking back to that trip, we hit horrific traffic in VA and I'm worried our driving plan will have us hitting rush hour traffic Friday morning. I'd prefer not to drive through overnight on Thursday as my husband will be doing all the driving and I always get nervous with him staying alert and not being completely exhausted by the time we actually arrive for the cruise. And the thought of driving 16+ hours home after the cruise just seems so depressing now.

Unfortunately, the flights around that time are all astronomical because its spring break/Easter. I'm trying rationalize that if we are going to pay a boat load of $ for flights for the 4 of us, we may as well get creative and tack on a day or two in WDW after the cruise as well. I've done some research and 2 nights at a value hotel and 2 day (non hopper tickets) will only be a few hundred more than flying in and out the days of the cruise, or even flying in a day earlier.

So the best option financially to incorporate all of these wants would be to fly nonstop from NJ at 7am Saturday morning. This would put is into MCO at about 9:49am. We'd be using miles for 1-2 of the flights to offset the cost. Is this cutting it too close if we need to take the Disney shuttle to PC? I've read horror stories about flying the day the cruise departs so I'd like your honest input.

Once the cruise arrives back to PC we're hoping to take the shuttle directly to WDW. Does anyone know if we can have them drop us right off at Magic Kingdom and have the bags go straight to the hotel? Or do we need to be there to claim bags/check in first? We'd like to spend all day Saturday and Sunday (which would be Easter) in Magic Kingdom, then fly home Monday morning. I've heard that the crowds may be insane at this time, but honestly is there ever NOT an insane time these days?

I know there is more to WDW than Magic Kingdom, but we went to Disneyland in November 2015 so we got to see a lot of rides in California Adventure that are divided up between Epcot, Hollywood Studios, etc. We really want to get on Space Mountain (which was being refurbished when we visited DL), and see some of the things that DL doesn't have (7 Dwarfs Mine Train, Rapunzel's tower etc.). We may decide to do 1 day in MK and 1 day in Epcot if we can get most of what we want in on the 1st day.

Am I trying to pack way too much into the time frame and are my travel plans just unrealistic? Help!

 

[Dug720]

Personally I would never fly in the day of the cruise - WAY too many things can happen - weather here, weather where the flight originated, maintenance issues, the crew coming in too late the night before and delaying because of their mandatory rest, etc. If that was the absolute ONLY option, I would definitely book DCL transportation so that once you are on it they know you are coming. (I don't think they'll hold it for a flight though unless there are people who booked the flight through DCL on the flight, then you'd get lucky.) Are there NO options that get you in the night before?

I also don't think two days at the parks AFTER the cruise - ESPECIALLY Easter weekend - would be relaxing. I'd be all relaxed from the cruise and then WHAM still on vacation but stressed out with crowds, crowds, and more crowds. But that said, no the cruise line busses will NOT drop you off at the park. You'd have to go to your resort first and get checked in before going to the parks.

 

[BZMomNJ]

Personally I would never fly in the day of the cruise - WAY too many things can happen - weather here, weather where the flight originated, maintenance issues, the crew coming in too late the night before and delaying because of their mandatory rest, etc. If that was the absolute ONLY option, I would definitely book DCL transportation so that once you are on it they know you are coming. (I don't think they'll hold it for a flight though unless there are people who booked the flight through DCL on the flight, then you'd get lucky.) Are there NO options that get you in the night before?

I also don't think two days at the parks AFTER the cruise - ESPECIALLY Easter weekend - would be relaxing. I'd be all relaxed from the cruise and then WHAM still on vacation but stressed out with crowds, crowds, and more crowds. But that said, no the cruise line busses will NOT drop you off at the park. You'd have to go to your resort first and get checked in before going to the parks.

Thank you! I appreciate the honest response. And I agree with you, I just needed to hear the answer from someone else. Back to the drawing board.

 

[FigmentSpark]

If I were in your situation and didn't want to fly in, I would break up my driving. Stay in NC or even SC for the night, then drive in. But if I was opting for flying, I would go the night before, if possible. Just as bad things can happen on highways, bad things can happen for airline schedules. The last thing you'd need is a surprise spring blizzard (and you know they exist) to shut down your airport or the airport your flight originated from.

If you want MK at Easter, make sure you have a good plan and are willing to hit RD, or close to it. Crowds get craziest after lunch, in my opinion. Oddly, Easter Sunday, Apr. 16 is only a very manageable CL 7 (right now), but Easter Monday is the CL 10. Also, it may be that MK has early magic hours on Easter Sunday, which would allow you extra time at the park, if you're staying on site. Totally doable, if not relaxing.

It's a whole different type of vacation. Accept and embrace that and you'll be fine. We're doing a MK day after our cruise, too. I'm not worried about it. Remember, you don't have to stand in character meet and greet lines in WDW, if you've done them on the ship.

 

[Laundress]

Just an idea to consider ....
Have you cruised before? Do you already know how your body reacts to sailing? I discovered on my first cruise I get terrible land sickness and would never be able to survive the parks after a cruise.

 

[Dug720]

Thank you! I appreciate the honest response. And I agree with you, I just needed to hear the answer from someone else. Back to the drawing board.

You're welcome! I understand the feeling - you have an inkling but aren't sure and want a sounding board. Good luck!!

 

[ldo]

I live in Northern VA. That Friday will be a bear, as it is school break for many and many parents in this area will leave Friday AM to get on the road. If at all possible, leave Thursday night and drive to the other side of Fredericksburg to spend the night. There will be little traffic after 7:30pm around the DC area and Baltimore to DC is a reverse commute.
I might risk flying in day of the cruise (with trip ins) for April for an early AM flight. Low risk of AM bad weather and plane is likely at the airport from the night before or only 1 short hop away, and you have at least 4 hours of delay time before you risk missing the ship, IMHO.
If flying, I would add 2 days @ WDW for small price difference. You can just make FP+ for later on Sat. It's insanely crowded, but we'll be there (again) for Easter week.
Another option is to fly down and then do a FL drive out special on a rental car. They're not announced yet (usually around Feb), but every year, you can rent a car for about $10/day, minivan $20 with no drop fee to the NE. We did this last year for $42, including taxes for 2 day minvan rental from FL back to DC area, getting our car on Sat and dropping off the day after Easter. We usually rent a car at regular rate as a backup, then canx when the deal comes out--they have had the same deal for at lesat 10 years.

 

[BZMomNJ]

Just an idea to consider ....
Have you cruised before? Do you already know how your body reacts to sailing? I discovered on my first cruise I get terrible land sickness and would never be able to survive the parks after a cruise.

That is a good point! My husband and I have both cruised a few times before and have been fine. But this will be the 1st time for the kids. So that is also something to consider. Thanks!

 

[BZMomNJ]

I kept searching and found a way to combine airline miles and found an even better deal. How do we feel about this:

Fly to MCO Wed 4/5 and stay 3 nights. Would give us the option to spend 2 full days in the parks (4/6 and 4/7) without travelling from the cruise ship. Then we can take the DCL transfer from the resort on 4/8 to PC. Only issue is flight home from MCO when cruise returns on 4/15 inst until 8:30pm. We may be miserable sitting in the airport all day. Thoughts?

 

[Flossbolna]

Even though the conventional wisdom here on the DIS is to not do parks after cruise, we have always done that because it was just the way it worked out for us and we now prefer this. We love having something to be excited about after the cruise.

However, I think you might be setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment. While I have not been there during that time frame, Easter is supposedly worse than Christmas. I know that every year the MK does close to capacity during the Easter break period for a number of days. After a relaxing cruise to me that just sounds like a nightmare!

Your other option sounds much much better. First of all, the week before the cruise should have lower crowds. You also avoid the flying in the day of the cruise. For the day you fly back there are number of options: Get a day room at the Hyatt at the airport, rent a car instead of Disney transfer (for four people that should even save you money as the transfers are 35$ per person) and either go to Disney Springs, some of the resort hotels to explore, stay at the beach in Port Canaveral, visit Kennedy Space Center, visit any other Orlando attraction.

 

["Got Disney"]

YAY...we always fly in at least 3 days before the cruise and do WDW...and if we dont go into the parks we stay and enjoy the resort.......we never ever fly in day of the cruise...takes a few days to get your Disney on and if you get on the cruise it takes a few days to unwind than the next thing you know your getting of....sometimes we do 2 days before and 2 days after if we dont do a full week....

 

[FigmentSpark]

I kept searching and found a way to combine airline miles and found an even better deal. How do we feel about this:

Fly to MCO Wed 4/5 and stay 3 nights. Would give us the option to spend 2 full days in the parks (4/6 and 4/7) without travelling from the cruise ship. Then we can take the DCL transfer from the resort on 4/8 to PC. Only issue is flight home from MCO when cruise returns on 4/15 inst until 8:30pm. We may be miserable sitting in the airport all day. Thoughts?

I think if it works for you financially, you should go for it. It'll take a lot of travelling stress off you. Yes, you'll be sitting at the airport on your last day, but wait, you don't have to just sit there. As someone said, rent a car for the day and hop over to Disney Springs or somewhere else that interests you. Besides, between now and then, that flight might adjust itself into something sooner and then you won't have all that extra sitting around time.

If you do the 6th and 7th, Touring Plans is predicting a crowd level of 9, but as I said, go with a plan, get there for Rope Drop and you'll have a couple of great days. Anytime that month is going to be peak season, so either time will work.

 

[BZMomNJ]

We booked our airfare and hotel last night.

Flying in Wed 4/5. Can you believe the day before cruise airfare was so expensive for our family of 4 that 3 nights at AoA and 2 days of tickets was only like $400 more? So excited to add even more fun an already highly anticipated cruise!

Thanks for your input!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Fly to MCO Wed 4/5 and stay 3 nights. Would give us the option to spend 2 full days in the parks (4/6 and 4/7) without travelling from the cruise ship. Then we can take the DCL transfer from the resort on 4/8 to PC. Only issue is flight home from MCO when cruise returns on 4/15 inst until 8:30pm. We may be miserable sitting in the airport all day. Thoughts?

I think you've made an excellent choice! Two days at the park ahead of time, then use the cruise to relax/recover afterwards.

I also agree with the PPs that if you aren't flying home until 8:30 PM you should rent a car from the port area and drop it off at the airport that afternoon. That gives you practically the whole day to do whatever you want. (Remember, you will be off the ship by about 9AM). I wouldn't go to the theme parks that day, but there is plenty to do in Orlando. We rented a car at the port and drove back to the airport. It is cheaper than Disney transfers for your family and gives maximum freedom. The rental car company will have a free shuttle at the port to their location and the drop off place for many of the rental companies in MCO is right in the parking garage across the street.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We always drive from the tippy top of IL and drive straight through into FL. If we are not doing a cruise, we stop in St. Augustine for a couple of beach days before and we ARE doing a cruise we go straight to WDW for a park vacation, then we board the ship and do 2-3 take it easy park days AFTER the cruise. These are more for just fastpass only rides, shows with no lines, shopping and enjoying all the little details and we close with a character meal before the drive home!