Before or after the parks???

[mikkiblueeyes]

Would you go on a 3 day cruise before or after you visit the parks and why?

thanks
Michelle

 

[nikkistevej]

I would go to the parks before, so you can rest and relax on the cruise.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Would you go on a 3 day cruise before or after you visit the parks and why?

thanks
Michelle

I tend to go on longer cruises 7 nights when in Florida, My schedule is often in August and as follows:-

Universal one week, on site,
Disney Magic a week
WDW Polynesian a week.

In 2009 it will be

3 nights Contemporary
Cruise
Then villa 10 nights.

I try to do WDW Last as the parks are less busy at the end of August, Universal I get the first in line so it doesn't matter when I go.

I put a cruise in the middle as with the parks you hit the 'wall' soon and need a rest.

 

[AmyM]

In my opinion, I like to cruise at the end of my vacation. Much more relaxing than walking several miles every day. The first time I cruised, we did a week at Disney and then 3 nights on the Wonder. My only regret was that I wish we would have done the 4-night instead of the 3-night. The time goes sooooo fast on a 3-night cruise, but hey 3 nights is better than none.

So now that I have given you this advice, this October we are doing the 4-night first followed by 3 nights at BWV. Like I said I really like the 4-night and it works best for us to travel on the weekends. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Hobbitmomma]

We cruised after the parks. It was nice to relax after all of the running we did in WDW.

 

[misslissa]

It is also good to arrive in Orlando and stay before your cruise just in case there are flight delays, or bad weather. You need to be in the area before a cruise anyway, so why not spend time at WDW first.

 

[HiddenMickeys]

Well, to play devil's advocate here (although I agree it would be nice to cruise after lol), the only downside to cruising after would be your feet. I know after a week in disney, my feet are hurting and I waddle around for a couple days lol. Don't know if i'd want to waddle around the ship, but if I cruised then did the parks, I wouldnt have hurting feet until i was back home. Also, if you "happen" to get sunburned in the parks/hotel pool/etc. that "could" make your cruise a little miserable. (not much of an argument is it? lol)

 

[luvmygoofyguy]

I know DCL is different from other cruises, but from my experience of it, I like the idea of cruising first. It gets me all detoxed from the stress of my life & work, happy and relaxed. That way I can start my WDW portion of the trip energized and ready to hit the parks with gusto ...I've also had s couple friends tell me they wish they'd done this, saying that having the cruise last made them extra sad it was ending, since it was the last thing, and made it harder for them to enjoy their last day onboard (they're drama queens anyway, though ).

 

[Lisabell]

On our first Cruise (3-day) we did all of our park time before the cruise. That last morning of the cruise is pretty chaotic and we lost track of our travel companions so we didn't get to say good-bye. Besides being sad that the cruise was over we were driving to the airport not having a proper send off with our friends I ended up crying all the way there.

Now we arrive in WDW a couple of days before the cruise to properly get out of "work mode" and then get on the ship. Then, after the cruise, we'll spend as much time as we can at the World.

We've found this works because going from being completely pampered on the ship for days and then being dumped at Airport is entirely TOO MUCH of a shock to the system. With a few days of friendly WDW Cast Members after the cruise you are eased back into "reality" a bit easier.

Our next land/sea schedule will likely be:
Fri-Sun AM at the World
Sun-Thurs AM on the Wonder
Thurs-Monday AM at the World.

 

[Tinkerchele]

Our next land/sea schedule will likely be:
Fri-Sun AM at the World
Sun-Thurs AM on the Wonder
Thurs-Monday AM at the World.

I really like the sound of a cruise sandwich! It's like having 3 vacations in a row

 

[tparbs]

I've also had s couple friends tell me they wish they'd done this, saying that having the cruise last made them extra sad it was ending, since it was the last thing, and made it harder for them to enjoy their last day onboard (they're drama queens anyway, though ).

I definitely vote for the cruise AFTER! That's what we're doing. The cure for the debarking blues is to stay another day or two at WDW, which is also what we're doing! That way you have another day or two to look forward to after the cruise!

Also, if you're looking to save some $$$$ on the extra day or two after, book a value resort for the after portion.

 

[tparbs]

Ooops...I wanted to add it's extremely cheap to grab the park hoppers for an extra day or 2! It's only like 3 bucks a person, my TA said!

 

[frdeb1999]

We prefer doing the parks prior. It is wonderful to finish up the WDW vacation with a disney cruise!

 

[tinytink]

I have not done the land/sea but I would do the parks first then the cruise because you might not get your land legs if you do the cruise first and that could affect your time at the parks. I have cruised a few times on Disney and once on RCCI and I have always felt like I am still on the ship even thougth I have been on land for a few days. It's not bad but just not good. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[swilphil]

The cruise is the most important part of the trip for me, so I want to do that first. If I've done several days at the park, I will be exhausted when I get on the cruise. There is so MUCH to do on a cruise, especially a 3-day, that I would hate to be too tired to miss anything. Plus the whole time I'm at the park, I'd be looking forward to the cruise instead of enjoying where I am.

At the end of the cruise, I get a little anxious that it's almost over. If I have a park to look forward to, getting off the ship doesn't seem quite as bad. I'd hate to have to get off the ship and head to the airport. The ideal would be to do some time at the park both before and after the cruise, but if I can't do that I will continue to do the cruise first.

 

[mikkiblueeyes]

I like the cruise sandwhich which is what i think we're going to end up doing.

 

[bz8bls]

We are staying 5 days at SSR (we are DVC members) first then 3-day Wonder, then two days at VWL.