Best Day Before Cruise Plan With Toddler/Prek kiddos

[Tashamu2004]

We are doing our first cruise next spring, 4-day Dream cruise to Bahamas from Port Canaveral, with a 3 and 5 year old. We are torn what to do with our arrive one day early so you don't miss the boat plan. We have a verandah room so we're already forking out a decent amount of money so we don't want to spend tons on the day before, but we want everyone to be entertained and happy just the same.

Options are:
1. Stay at airport Hyatt, swim at hotel, ride Disney transport
2. Stay at moderate Disney resort, one day of Disney world, ride Disney transport to port
3. Rent car, bring car seats on plane, stay in Port Canaveral, and go to cocoa beach all the day before cruise.

This assumes we'd arrive in Orlando around 9-10am Sunday, day before our Monday cruise. We are pretty frequent Disney World goers, so kids have been there several times for multiple days.

What would you do? Any advice from past cruisers is appreciated!

 

[ktate82]

I think I would stay at a Disney Resort and just enjoy the pool and resort. That would save money over going into the park for a day and if you needed "something" to do, maybe Disney Springs or a waterpark?

 

[DisneyMissy]

I think I would also stay at a disney resort and just enjoy the amenities. We stayed at POR on our last trip and really loved it. The boat ride to Disney Springs is fun if you get bored with the pool.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Ideally, you could stay in Port Canaveral and just enjoy the beach, but if you only need car seats for that one ride, it's really not worth it.

I'd have to agree with staying at a resort, although it probably washes out to stay at the Hyatt, too. Are either of your kids crazy about planes or would the Disney atmosphere go over better. Certainly the air quality around WDW is probably better than at the Hyatt, if that's a concern for one day around the pool.

The other thing about going to a resort is that you can probably use the pool even if your room isn't ready, whereas I don't know if you can check in to the Hyatt early to use the amenities (maybe someone here knows).

 

[Tashamu2004]

Ideally, you could stay in Port Canaveral and just enjoy the beach, but if you only need car seats for that one ride, it's really not worth it.

I'd have to agree with staying at a resort, although it probably washes out to stay at the Hyatt, too. Are either of your kids crazy about planes or would the Disney atmosphere go over better. Certainly the air quality around WDW is probably better than at the Hyatt, if that's a concern for one day around the pool.

The other thing about going to a resort is that you can probably use the pool even if your room isn't ready, whereas I don't know if you can check in to the Hyatt early to use the amenities (maybe someone here knows).

I don't think they're very into planes but they are very into the parks and all things Disney. The day prior and driving to the cruise terminal and back would really be the only time we'd need the car seats.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Don't rent a car, then. Stay at a resort and enjoy it for the day. If you decide to splurge on day passes to one of the parks, then that's always an option, too.

 

[Keira1387]

I would go with option 2. Like others have said you could spend the whole day at the resort. Maybe even go to DS for a little bit.

 

[BigredNole]

If it were me, I would go to a resort. That way you can enjoy the things there, get in the Disney spirit, play the pool games, maybe watch fireworks or Disney Springs.

 

[DisneyMissy]

I always plan a non-park day each trip and sometimes those are there most fun. You can grab dinner at beaches and cream, walk the boardwalk and watch illuminations fireworks from the bridge. One year we were lucky enough to be in the boat from MK to WL when wishes started and the boat driver stopped and we watched the whole show from the boat. The sing-a-long campout at FW is really fun. So much to do without spending much if any money.

 

[Tashamu2004]

I'm surprised it's so overwhelming Disney resort! you have all swayed me. I think we're going to do Art of Animation for a night in a little mermaid room. the kids will enjoy the crazy theming and pools for sure. We'll probably also check out the great Disney souvenir shop at Downtown Disney.