Cruise Drama- HELP!

[mmackeymouse]

So myself, my parents, my sister, BIL, and new baby nephew have been going round and round on this for several months. We wanted to do either a full cruise or a land and sea. We finally settled on a date in October. There is the excitement of Halloween, Food and Wine, fall weather. It just hit on all cylinders, and my sister's heart is SET on this particular cruise. With the cruise running M-F, it doesn't leave a ton of time for park days. Our thought was maybe doing a split thing, going down Friday evening or Saturday morning, for a couple of days, then the cruise, then F-S for park days as well.

Our plans just got blown out of the water, finding out my cousin is getting married about 9 hours from us, on 10/29. We were going to drive to/from the wedding, but now...who knows. The suggestion was made that now we would need to fly to the wedding, then fly to MCO. Mom is against that, probably for expense reasons, but also just the...rush rush rush of it. Plus, we would lose the days before the cruise...at least one, probably 2. So, we would really have only one full day in the park. Or...we'd all...all 5 of us, have to be able to get an additional day or two off. Which I don't think will happen.

My dad can't switch his weeks at work...we could travel a different week he has off, but none of it matters because, as I said, my sister's heart is set on that particular week, and mine too, a bit. Missing the wedding is not an option (I checked.)

Our next option is scrapping the cruise altogether and doing an all-land trip. Hello, I'm on the cruise board. We all know how amazing DCL is. This is obviously a last ditch scenario.

This a huge family vacation that we have been planning for a while; if you were in our shoes, what path would you choose? Or do you have another plan that you think would work?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So myself, my parents, my sister, BIL, and new baby nephew have been going round and round on this for several months. We wanted to do either a full cruise or a land and sea. We finally settled on a date in October. There is the excitement of Halloween, Food and Wine, fall weather. It just hit on all cylinders, and my sister's heart is SET on this particular cruise. With the cruise running M-F, it doesn't leave a ton of time for park days. Our thought was maybe doing a split thing, going down Friday evening or Saturday morning, for a couple of days, then the cruise, then F-S for park days as well.

Our plans just got blown out of the water, finding out my cousin is getting married about 9 hours from us, on 10/29. We were going to drive to/from the wedding, but now...who knows. The suggestion was made that now we would need to fly to the wedding, then fly to MCO. Mom is against that, probably for expense reasons, but also just the...rush rush rush of it. Plus, we would lose the days before the cruise...at least one, probably 2. So, we would really have only one full day in the park. Or...we'd all...all 5 of us, have to be able to get an additional day or two off. Which I don't think will happen.

My dad can't switch his weeks at work...we could travel a different week he has off, but none of it matters because, as I said, my sister's heart is set on that particular week, and mine too, a bit. Missing the wedding is not an option (I checked.)

Our next option is scrapping the cruise altogether and doing an all-land trip. Hello, I'm on the cruise board. We all know how amazing DCL is. This is obviously a last ditch scenario.

This a huge family vacation that we have been planning for a while; if you were in our shoes, what path would you choose? Or do you have another plan that you think would work?

If the wedding is a definite "don't miss", then I'd probably just do the wedding and a smaller land-based trip this year. And cruise another year.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Or do the cruise and do a land based trip next year.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'd miss the wedding but in my family itnisnt an expectation that you change plans and/or travel 9 hours for a wedding.

 

[dyson0715]

I'd skip the wedding......but that's just me, lol. Sorry I don't have any real advice, their are 4 other people, no matter what you do someone won't get their way. I missed several wedding for less..

 

[hanscarlet]

sounds like it's a 4 night Dream or 5 night DCL magic/wonder option... I'd give up the land in a ny minute... nothing says relaxation after a wedding than a cruise...

 

[Bella29]

I would either drive to the wedding and pick another week to cruise/do Disney, or I would fly to the wedding, then fly on Sunday to Orlando and go on the M-F cruise, then do 2 days at Disney. Or I'd skip DisneyWorld altogether because I don't like it LOL!

 

[bethy]

I would either drive to the wedding and pick another week to cruise/do Disney, or I would fly to the wedding, then fly on Sunday to Orlando and go on the M-F cruise, then do 2 days at Disney. Or I'd skip DisneyWorld altogether because I don't like it LOL!

I'd do most anything to get out of going to a wedding . If that's not an option I'd fly to the wedding, then fly directly to the cruise port the night before embarkation. That alone would probably be enough hustle for me and I'd save the parks for another trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd totally skip the wedding. 9 hours away and you're expected to be there? I love cousins and all, but wow. I think I had 1* out of a gabillion cousins at my wedding, and I've never been to a cousin's wedding as far as I can recall. We're all too scattered, and 9 hours is scattered.


*oh I had two. But they are sisters. I also had a cousin once r over because one of them brought her baby, yay! But given how many cousins I actually have, percentage-wise that's almost none of them.

I'd give up the land in a ny minute... nothing says relaxation after a wedding than a cruise...

I like it.


The parks are fun but they aren't a necessity. Just forget that Orlando is in Florida, and go on a CRUISE vacation.

 

[Amunet]

I would like to chime in that I support missing the parks in leu of the cruise.

Think of it as another goal for a family vacation
Remember, you don't have to do everything at once.

For the wedding, unless I'm in the bridal party or they are paying for my travel costs, I wouldn't do it. But again, that's just me.

You can always split it up too. Make the cruise be the family trip and then each family unit can decide on park or wedding attendance, depending on each schedule ^_^

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

I would skip the parks as nothing has really changed in a while and you could do it in a few years after all of the construction is done. Plus, the baby in the parks can be a bit much because even in October, it can be way too hot outside. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jon84]

Depends how close you are to your cousin?

Several of my SIL's cousins just didn't turn up to her wedding, no RSVP or anything.

As long as it won't cause a massive family situation for years to come!

 

[Otimon]

Seems like the wedding plans came out AFTER you had made all the plans and expectations for the cruise, parks, etc.

Personally speaking, would not expect my cousin to give up such plans just to watch me walk down an aisle.

Enjoy the plans you've made. If you can, visit the couple afterwards, share each other's joy (don't forget a wedding gift) and then return home.

 

[JJsmama]

Agree with the others. You have been planning this for a while. Skip the wedding. Your family has to do what works for you. Your cousin has a whole other group of people to support her. The hardest part will be saying NO. After that, you all probably won't be missed at all. (The wedding is about the bride and groom.)send a nice gift, which you would have done anyway... If possible, Host or go to a shower/ party in the weeks leading up to the wedding. No one can hold that against you (or your mom, mostly likely.)

 

[party-of-five]

Looks like you're getting plenty of advice regarding attending the wedding... Just wanted to chime in about the scenario of a couple days at parks, cruise, followed by a couple of days at parks. Ick! We did this in September and I felt like we were constantly moving. We had a great time and the 4 night cruise was perfect for "trying it out". But if I had it to do over, I would do park first, followed by cruise, and leave it at that. Or even just go on the cruise and forget the parks - especially with a with little one and all their gear in tow.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great vacation.

 

[jmpurdy]

Cruises/most vacations have to be booked several months in advance. You can decide for yourself if you can miss the wedding. If parents won't miss it, then maybe they have to bow out this time. Or they may have to decide to fly (more money) to make it work to join you for cruise. Sounds like there are some options, it may just be different for each family.

 

[c todd]

I'd do just the cruise and safe the parks for another time. One, it's easier to schedule the park, it's always there. You can pick any date, soon or far in the distance and there's no booking issues to go to the park. With a cruise, you have much less of a scheduling flexibility. And, as others have said, the parks aren't that great for a baby. Most of the time they will just be in a stroller waiting with one person while others are on rides. If you have to do the wedding, just focus on the cruise.

 

[dreadpiraterose]

I would skip the parks as nothing has really changed in a while and you could do it in a few years after all of the construction is done. Plus, the baby in the parks can be a bit much because even in October, it can be way too hot outside. Just my 2 cents.

Exactly. Do the cruise now, and save the parks for after some of the construction finishes in a few years.

 

[Partyof4LA]

DH's brother had been engaged for over a year and had no solid wedding plans. My family booked a cruise with 2 days at seaworld and a MK day prior. We had plane tickets purchased and got beyond our PIF date, and then they planned a very last minute beach wedding at the same time as our trip. We had our plans made long before theirs, they knew our dates, our kids were beyond excited for this trip, and we still would've lost 25% of the nonrefundable parts of our trip even with cancel for any reason insurance. We apologized, bought a nice gift, and wished them well but we did not cancel our trip. They were obviously upset that we did not go, but understood that we already had plans that were difficult to change. We still have a great relationship with them so no long term harm done.
So with all that being said, I would miss my cousins wedding with no hesitation and keep your trip as you originally planned.

 

[Skiton]

I would skip the wedding.