Cruise before or after Disneyworld stay

[joech]

I can't believe we are planning another trip back home so soon. We just came back on Jan3, 2013 after a 11 nights stay at Kidani and had a great time as usual.

Our up coming trip is from Oct 12-26 and we are considering doing a 4 night Bahamian on Disney Dream. Two cruise itineraries are availabe ( Oct 13 & Oct 20 ) and I am not sure whether to go at the beginning of our trip or wait till the end.

 

[toniosmom]

I recommend putting the cruise at the end.

We did a 3-day on the Dream in November 2011 and did the cruise first. It cost me more because we flew down the day before (spending $$ for an overnight in a hotel) then after the cruise went to BWV for 4 days. I felt like I was never anywhere long enough and that I was always traveling somewhere and not settling.

This year, we are spending 5-days at BLT then a 4-day on the Dream, going straight home after the cruise. I'm hoping I don't have that same experience this time around.

Also, after running around the parks for several days, it's nice to relax on the cruise afterward.

Have a great time!

 

[arthur06]

I would do the cruise at the end.

Nice to hit the parks, do your running and rides. Then hit the Dream for a few relaxing and carefree days at the end. Really relaxes your before you go home.

We did a DCL cruise in December 2010 and did the cruise at the beginning. I wish we would have done it the other way. We still had a great time.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I would do the cruise at the end.

Nice to hit the parks, do your running and rides. Then hit the Dream for a few relaxing and carefree days at the end. Really relaxes your before you go home.

We did a DCL cruise in December 2010 and did the cruise at the beginning. I wish we would have done it the other way. We still had a great time.

We are seriously thinking about doing a cruise next year (we want to do a 7 night cruise) and then stay at WDW for 4 or 5 nights. However, you got me thinking that we should do it the other way around....I am liking the whole relaxation feeling after being at the parks thing .

 

[CruzTerri]

As an avid cruiser, I would put the cruise last, it's more relaxing. In fact, our first WDW visit (and first DVC visit) will be November 2013 before we take a 7-night cruise. My husband and I both believe that we can crash on the ship after exhausting ourselves in the parks.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I agree with all the pp that say cruise last!

I just did a 7 night Christmas cruise on Celebrity and then did NYE at the parks. I was nice to get off the cruise ship knowing I had more fun coming, but then we went home exhausted from the parks.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I vote for the end as you need a vacation after Disney.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We usually do the cruise after WDW!

 

[taaren]

I'll be the sole dissenter who says going to the parks after the cruise is better, simply because it makes getting off the ship less depressing. (And if you're DVC, going to a villa after being a stateroom makes you appreciate the space since in your stateroom you feel )

I've done cruise first, park after, and cruise sandwiched in the middle of the stay so far.

The other thing I would keep an eye on, OP, is if you're the type that can wing it, you could potentially make *loose* plan to go on the desired cruise (eg. have a back up plan) and wait to see if they release any IGT/OGT/VGT rates about 60-70 days out from the cruise. I kind of wish I'd moved my dummy date out a little further to see if I could have nabbed a better rate on my cruise, and sure enough, they released several *GT's right after the PIF date. The best discounts are often the first day pricing, but since you haven't booked yet, if it looks like there are a lot of staterooms, waiting for a last-minute rate might be a way to go. (Better stateroom/less $$)

 

[rmcildw2m]

I agree with the others cruise at the end and rest up .

 

[Harlemgirl720]

Most definitely cruise at the end. Went last Christmas. Took a few days of doing nothing. Started the parks on Christmas Day and then the 5 night cruise for New years. Much needed relaxation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Right now, I'm at VB. I came right after the Member Cruise, which was great!. Between the cruise & Vero, I'm now ready for some more WDW activities.

I was at WDW before the cruise too. This year, I have my relaxing time sandwiched between WDW excitement. It was the driving that determined the schedule. Port Canaveral is sort of on the way to VB.

I do prefer to relax after.

 

[joech]

The reason we are thinking doing the cruise first is because we have been to Disneyworld 6 times since 2007. We no longer doing the commando since we joined DVC in 2008. We will be staying in a 1 bedroom savanna view in Kidnai after the cruise for 9 nights to relax and hit the parks whenever we feel like.

I booked the cruise 2 days ago and I believe it is still the first day pricing for the Oct 13 itinerary. (Thanks for Disboards for listing the 2013 pricing when they were released ) Not sure if my DW want to wing it in case the price is no better or the cabin is not ideal with their discount rate.

The last time we took a cruise to Alaska through Royal Caribbean and we ended up paying more at the 60 days mark since there weren't too many cabins available.

What is IGT/OGT/VGT and PIF?

I'll be the sole dissenter who says going to the parks after the cruise is better, simply because it makes getting off the ship less depressing. (And if you're DVC, going to a villa after being a stateroom makes you appreciate the space since in your stateroom you feel )

I've done cruise first, park after, and cruise sandwiched in the middle of the stay so far.

The other thing I would keep an eye on, OP, is if you're the type that can wing it, you could potentially make *loose* plan to go on the desired cruise (eg. have a back up plan) and wait to see if they release any IGT/OGT/VGT rates about 60-70 days out from the cruise. I kind of wish I'd moved my dummy date out a little further to see if I could have nabbed a better rate on my cruise, and sure enough, they released several *GT's right after the PIF date. The best discounts are often the first day pricing, but since you haven't booked yet, if it looks like there are a lot of staterooms, waiting for a last-minute rate might be a way to go. (Better stateroom/less $$)

 

[taaren]

The reason we are thinking doing the cruise first is because we have been to Disneyworld 6 times since 2007. We no longer doing the commando since we joined DVC in 2008. We will be staying in a 1 bedroom savanna view in Kidnai after the cruise for 9 nights to relax and hit the parks whenever we feel like.

I booked the cruise 2 days ago and I believe it is still the first day pricing for the Oct 13 itinerary. (Thanks for Disboards for listing the 2013 pricing when they were released ) Not sure if my DW want to wing it in case the price is no better or the cabin is not ideal with their discount rate.

The last time we took a cruise to Alaska through Royal Caribbean and we ended up paying more at the 60 days mark since there weren't too many cabins available.

What is IGT/OGT/VGT and PIF?

IGT is Inside Guaranteed, OGT Outside, VGT Veranda Guaranteed. Basically you get that stateroom or better by booking at the last minute (usually between 30-74 days out from the cruise). PIF is paid in full, the date by which most of the cruise customer must pay or cancel to get their deposit back. If you got first day pricing, the difference between that and a *GT rate may only be a few hundred, so sticking with that is probably worth your while.

 

[Husurdady]

I can't believe we are planning another trip .
Our up coming trip is from Oct 12-26 and we are considering doing a 4 night Bahamian on Disney Dream. Two cruise itineraries are availabe ( Oct 13 & Oct 20 ) and I am not sure whether to go at the beginning of our trip or wait till the end.

Hey! do like we did last April in to May. We did OKW, then did a Magic 5 day cruise, went back to OKW for 3 days , then went on the Dream for a 3 day cruise, and then back to OKW for 5 more days for some R & R. IT was Great!
Happy Cruisin'

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

We only have two nights at BLT after our 3 night Dream cruise this year. My family insists we should do MK one of the days. We just did 7 park days in August and the price of a one day pass is insane! But I know from our cruise last January, it's hard to be so close to the "magic" and not go!

I think whichever you do first will be great. Either way you will be exhausted from running around the parks or exhausted from eating so much on the cruise! Just beware we had the strangest day or two after the cruise where you feel like you are still moving on the ship! Don't know if that happens to everyone but I remember thinking I probably would get motion sickness if I was on Its a Small World!

 

[4407mark]

I agree with the majority - cruise after the parks. After the hustle and bustle of the parks (depending on what time of year you go), there is nothing better than 3, 4, or 7 days of sailing on DCL. For me, it doesn't matter whether I'm leaving the parks or the ship at the end of the trip, I always have post-Disney blues. They do seem to be lessened after the cruise however - maybe it's the massage in the spa while onboard?

 

[jpeka65844]

I'll be the sole dissenter who says going to the parks after the cruise is better, simply because it makes getting off the ship less depressing. (And if you're DVC, going to a villa after being a stateroom makes you appreciate the space since in your stateroom you feel )

While, my head says "cruise last" , my heart says that the above made our first cruise experience a little easier to let go of. I enjoyed the boat so much and was so sad to be leaving. Heading to BWV directly after made it all better!!! And it makes that studio was ENORMOUS!!!!

However.......DH and I didn't sleep well on the boat. Nothing wrong, really. DH especially is a notoriously poor sleeper, especially when we travel, and in such a small space, it was hard not to follow his lead. So, neither one of us slept fantastic on our cruise; especially on the last night. Which made the early morning REALLY hard. Couple that with a BWV arrival time of 10 AM and a room not being ready until after 2 and it was a LONG day.

We were so cooked. We hit MK that night and tried to do an EMH but I fell asleep on Small World. That means I'm REALLY wiped.

However, when we cruise again in 2014, our schedule dictates when we can do MK. We only have a small Spring Break window, and as a result, our WDW time has to come after.

Better than not going, I guess!!!!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We are doing this for the first time in March, but we are doing parks AFTER as Taaren said, so it is not so depressing to get off the ship. I think it would really suck to just go straight to the airport afterwards. We are spending 3 nights at Disney post 7 night cruise.

 

[alldiz]

Ahem.....I like to stay 3nights before and After my cruise. 2 different hotels in WDW....feels like 3 vacations. Always WDW before because you don't have to worry about missing your ship. YOu can go commando in parks a little and relax on the ship. Gotta tell ya....getting off the ship is not depressing when you know you are going back to WDW And you get to walk around the parks for 3 days trying to move those extra cruise pounds off your body
Happy planning
Kerri