Are we crazy to try and do a park the day we get off the Magic??

[BABYJOSIE98]

We sail on the 10-15 sailing and get off the ship on Sat Oct 22nd. It is always so sad when you step off the ship....
So we booked an evening flight for Sat so we can spend the day in Orlando.

If we get off the ship and get our rental car by 8:30....Could we make it too MGM or AK for the day and get our money's worth???

Our flight is at 6:20 (SW) and we have a 2 year old so we automatically get to pre board at the airport...So that saves us from getting there too early.
I was thinking we could stay at the parks till atleast 4:00-4:30??

Is this crazy???

Any other ideas??? Maybe Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk???

Thanks for any ideas....

 

[disneynutsss]

IMO if you have the strength, go for it!!!! I know it takes about an hour to get from DCL to WDW. You would have about 6 hours in the park. If you are not up for a park, then definitely go to Downtown Disney, or maybe a character meal, or the Boardwalk - but definitely Disney related!

 

[mrp4352]

If you have a rental car, then I would think you could probably get a couple hours in, especially if you make an effort to get off the ship quickly. I would recommend leaving for the airport by 4, though. Even though you get to preboard, if security is running slow that day, you could have a hard time. I believe SW recommends being at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight.

Have fun!!

 

[christinou]

Last time we got off, we were off the ship beofre 8:00 a.m. and in downtown Sisney by 9:30, so you certainly have time to do it.....

 

[3xthecharm]

If you want to do something disney, I would also recommend BW or DTD.

I'm not sure it would be worth it to do a park. If you would plan on one day passes, it would cost about $127.

8:30 get car.
8:45 settled in car with carseat and luggage.
9:45 arrive.
10:00 in MGM or AK.
3:30 head for car.
3:45 on the road to airport.
4:45 arrive at airport.
This leaves about an hour and a half to return the car, check luggage, go throught security and reach the gate.

Remember the amount of time it takes to walk from place to place, deal with carseats, strollers, potty breaks or diaper changes. You even need to count on the possibility of being stopped by security or bad traffic. You do not want to miss your flight after a 8 day cruise and a rushed day at the park with a two year old.

Best case you would have 5 to 5 1/2 hours in the park.

 

[DonnaDuck]

I say "Go for it!!" We did this in November, except we stayed a few days. But we were in the parks by 10 am. It didn't take long to get there at all...Have a great time!

 

[Sammy]

The security lines at MCO are notoriously long. Even with guaranteed pre-board you would want to allow plenty of time to return the rental, check luggage, go through security, then get over to the gates.

We cruised on RCCL this past February; we made sure we were in one of the first groups to get off the ship (8:15/8:30), took shuttle to Budget to pick up rental, went back to the cruise terminal to pick up the rest of our party (7 people), and were checking into OKW by 10:00. We were staying overnight, so didn't have the pressure to leave at a certain time that day. If you head right into a park from the cruise terminal, you could have approx. 5 hours (10:00 to 3:00) of playtime.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

We did a four day cruise in 2-03. Went to Typhoon Lagoon the day we disembarked. I agree you'll have
time (we got off the boat fairly quickly) but may want something more low key (and cheaper.)

 

[dizneefreak29]

We were on the Wonder this past June. We didn't go to Disney but we did go to Universal for the day. We were at the park by about 9:15....we were able to stay until almost 4:00 and did both parks. It was a lot of fun!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

If the ticket cost isn't a problem, I say definitely go to the park! If you do anything else, you'll just be wishing you were in the park!

 

[Ozymoe]

Just a suggestion...

...if I had a 2 year old, and she was a hardy soul (by that I mean a pretty laid back child, not easily upset by noises or unfamiliar things)...I think I would take that day after the cruise and go to DownTownDisney. There I would shop (I am not a shopper, but many of you are...maybe you are one?...if so, you will soooo be in heaven from what I understand)

...even if you are not a shopper, or if you are a shopper and DH is not, he and DD could explore while you indulged your shopping gene (they could visit world's largest kalaidascope, Ghiradelli's samples, Lego sculptures...don't forget throwing some 25 cent food to the ducks [do they still have that?]..etc...)

I'd spend the park dollars on a great late lunch at RainForest Cafe and a few souveniers if I felt so inclined...$120 (for a couple with a 2 year old) can be quite a bit of lunch and souvies...and you would still have a sooooo special experience at Disney.

If I had to choose a park, I would choose...you know what, after thinking about this for a long time...I wouldn't choose to do a park with my DH and DD2 after a week on the Magic...unless she was almost three and not running on sensory overload from the cruise...and even then, I think...

...it is you yourself who needs the day...and if that is the case, you should plan it to suit yourself...what would make you the happiest girl in the world at the end of this vacation?

You mentioned AK and MGM...if this will keep you going until your next Disney vacation...do either...if your hubby is a Disney nut too, it will be great. If he is a bit of a (I want to do what will make my wife happy) person...then you might want to balance a RFC dinner against a park experience day, since you are still going to be torn by having to leave a park early...maybe?

 

[Katesdad]

My personal experience on this, you don't have time to do the park justice for the price of admission. Go to Downtown Disney and enjoy the shops and fun activities there. You'll have just as much fun and you won't feel as rushed to get back to the airport to make your flight.

Great idea though, we've found it hard to adjust after our Disney cruises and the day at Disney was just the ticket.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Go ahead - Just decide that you can change your mind when you arrive at your resort if you just don't feel up to it. I have hopped to all 4 in one day before with a group of 8 (Me, DH, DS, DD, Best Friend, her DH, DD, DD), but we all think alike and had AP's plus have been to DW too many times to count!

 

[Stitches]

I think it's a great idea. At that time of year the parks are not very crowded, so you'll be able to do alot in the time you have available.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

I'm not sure if I would attempt it if I were flying out that night. We did this after our 7 day Eastern in January but stayed the night at POFQ. My kids (DS(and DD5) were so tired after getting off the ship and spending all day in the MK that they were falling asleep in their pizza at the food court that night around 9 pm.

My DH was also EXTREMELY tired and cranky, I might add!

 

[*Fantasia*]

You don't think you'll have a rocking motion after the sailing? I did after a 3 night Wonder cruise! After the cruise, we stayed one night at WL. I bought 3 one day park hopper ticket... and guess what... we never made it to the park. I had the rocking motion after the cruise. It wasn't fun. It took me 3 days to get over it. But anyways... sounds like you will have time to hit the park. I say go for it! Have fun!

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Fantasia-

I still had my "sea legs" three days after disembarking! But it didn't affect me in any way on any rides (even spinning ones or rollercoasters.) Just my experience though!

 

[HappyMommy2]

LOL, Fantasia, I'm glad I'm not the only one who had that issue! I never felt seasick on our 4-night cruise but boy did I feel weird for about 48 hours after we got off...in fact I actually told myself that day that as much as I loved the cruise, I would not cruise again due to how weird it felt to still be rocking for 48 hours! (I've since changed my mind and would gladly cruise again)

Anyhow, to the OP, though the rocking will probably not be an issue for you (I see from your sig that you are an experienced cruiseer), I would recommend Downtown Disney for your last vacation day. It's such a great solution to that partial-day problem! I think that's what I would do. It would be much less stressful than trying to make a park "worth it" and would still give you that one last Disney fix. Have a great trip!

 

[Michelle2]

I hope it isn't crazy, because we sure are doing it! We will be getting of the ship and going directly as soon as possible to WDW too. Except we will get to be there for 3 days...But I say go for it! Sounds like fun, we will be about a month after you!

 

[*Fantasia*]

LOL, Fantasia, I'm glad I'm not the only one who had that issue! I never felt seasick on our 4-night cruise but boy did I feel weird for about 48 hours after we got off...in fact I actually told myself that day that as much as I loved the cruise, I would not cruise again due to how weird it felt to still be rocking for 48 hours! (I've since changed my mind and would gladly cruise again)

Well... you should have seen me on my way to the hot tub! I was walking with my refill mug and then I just started swirving sideways... I think the man in the hot tub thought I was drunk! And oh yeah... when I was walking towards the front desk to check in... the CM notice that I wasn't quite walking straight. I tried to act cool and try not to swirve. I just had to tell him that I just got off the Disney cruise and that I am going through the rocking motion ("sea legs").. I just didn't want the CM to think I was drunk. And he just said.. "OH I SEA!" BTW... that was our very first cruise! And it sure made a big effect on me! I will do Disney cruise again...I don't know if I can handle the Magic (7 nights) We all enjoyed the Wonder!