Atlantis vs. Cruise?

[justme0729]

If fiances weren't considered, for 2 23 year old adults, would you recommend doing WDW for 5-6 days with 3 night bahamas cruise to see atlantis and castaway cay OR just doing Atlantis the whole time?

I have seen quite a few bad reviews of Atlantis which makes me nervous to stay there only but the cruise would only allow for a short time to see Atlantis. Can anyone share whether they felt the cruise gave them enough time to do many of the slides, sit on the beach for a bit, do the river Rapids etc?

 

[Tink1010]

I personally would do WDW with the cruise. That's what we did! We did the Atlantis excursion and to be honest the few hours we were there was enough. We loved it but couldn't see staying there for a vacation. The reasons are: 1. CROWDED!!! 2. Bahamas for one day is enough for us and 3. We loved Castaway Cay! I was chatting with an Atlantis guest who basically said the resort is crazy busy when the ships are in. I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money for that! I say enjoy the variety that WDW and cruise can offer you and do an Atlatis excursion!

 

[ml sumner]

I second the opinion above. We have done Atlantis for the day the sip was there and it was enough time for us to do the water park, go through the dig, go to the beach, tour the casino (did not gamble) and just wondering around looking. We had a blast for just the day, glad to get back on the ship though.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Actually, I'd do 4-5 days at WDW then a 4-day cruise. The 3-day cruises are too short to enjoy the ship. The 4th day would be at sea, so it would give you more time to enjoy what the Dream has to offer.

 

[bakerworld]

For 2 23yo - book a room at SSR, ask for Congress park - don't even bother buying a park ticket - just explain how to catch a bus to the ESPN club - between DTD: Splitsville, Fork 'n Spoon, Raglan Road, Paradiso, Blu's they'll be set. My 26 yo and her friend went to SSR (Congress Park section - quick walk to DTD) for her Birthday last year and had a terrific time spending time at ESPN (SuperBowl weekend) and then closing the night at the Raglan Road

 

[mmmears]

I'd do WDW and the cruise. We spent the day at Atlantis and it was more than enough time. I found it crowded and loud (although my DD did really enjoy the waterslides). I also know many people who stayed there and complained about it, and only a few who loved it. Just my 2¢ though...

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

When my wife and I got married we really wanted to go to Atlantis for a week. Wedding budget got a little out of hand and we ended up honeymooning at an AI in Puerta Vallarta instead followed by 4 days st DL. Skip ahead 15 years to 2011 and we finally got to Atlantis for a day on our 3 night Dream cruise. I was plenty happy we didn't spend all the money and a week there back in 1996. We enjoyed it for a day but that was plenty, did the big slides, pool and lazy river. Slides were great but the lazy river was FANTASTIC, food was mediocre at best. I can't say enough great things about the lazy river but it's not worth a week there.

I agree with everyone else, I would do WDW and a Dream cruise, and especially JDB in AZ, do 5 days at WDW and do the 4 night Dream cruise. Instead of 4 nights of water slides at Atlantis you can enjoy 4 nights of the Aquaduck.

For what it's worth my wife and I were 26 and 27 when we got married. Just my $.02

 

[jk123]

There's an excursion on the cruise where you can go to Atlantis with certain tiers of what you want to do I think. The thing about Atlantis is the added on price for everything where if you go on a cruise most stuff is included. I'd suggest the cruise and WDW

 

[mevelandry]

Not my own opinion but friends of mine stayed at Atlantis once and they do not recommend it because they thought it was really crowded.

If you really want to see it, you can book the excursion.

 

[lilangels]

I would do the cruise and Atlantis for the day so you can enjoy the other stops and have other things beside the slides and pools to do. We just got back from a cruise on the Magic with a stop there and the day was enough. We also saved a lot of money (about $400 for a family of 5) by booking a room at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island across the street which allows you full access to Atlantis instead of doing the Disney excursion. It was so easy!