Cruise or Parks?

[Typhoon]

We are going on a Cruise. I have heard from some people that have done the 7 day land/sea vacation, that if they could pick just one thing they would pick the Cruise. How many others would pick the Cruise over the parks and why?

 

[iluvtink]

How many people in your party ... any kids and what ages? Have you ever been to a Disney park before?

Kim

 

[lbgraves]

We had never done anything Disney before our trip in November. We arrive at the ASMovie Wednesday morning & spent the day exploring & went to DTD. Thursday was MK and by 4 DH & I had decided to change our plans from Sea World on Friday to just staying at the resort & going to DTD for a little bit. It was an EXHAUSTING trip & there were no crowds according to everyone we have talked to. The 7 day cruise...OMG! It was heaven! DS loved the club. DD loved the pool. I got to have free time to meet with DISers without any kids. We were waited on hand & foot. I only had to do laundry one morning. I didn't have to keep pulling out the CC. Hands down the cruise is much better for a mommy IMO. We rebooked for this December but will not return to the parks for another 2 years at least. My kids are 3 & 5. The 3 yo is too small to ride everything that she says she wants to & DS didn't want to go on ANYTHING!!! Not exactly a stressfree vacation.

 

[lillygator]

ummmm....both!!!

 

[Typhoon]

I know the cruise is better for my family. I just wondered what everyone elses thoughts were thats all. Price vs. value. ect.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I used to have a hard time picking one over the other, but as of this year, we've decided to retire WDW for a few years and just do the cruise only.

The customer service at WDW is wonderful, however, the cruise is so relaxing. The nonstop food 24 hours per day, the fun of dressing up for formal and semi-formal night, and sleeping in most every morning vs. waking up for early entry to the parks are part of the reasons we've decided to wait two years before visiting the parks again.

Either way w/Disney however, is a vacation that's in a superior category all its own, IMHO.

 

[lbgraves]

Originally posted by Typhoon
I know the cruise is better for my family. I just wondered what everyone elses thoughts were thats all. Price vs. value. ect.

Now we went during the value season in November but for us it was VERY worth the 2800 it cost us with tips to take the 7 day. I talked to some people while waiting for the parades & fireworks at MK after the kids told everyone we were going on Mickey's boat. LOL! They were all amazed that we were doing the cruise for under 3000 for 7 days. Each person said they were spending more than that with their families of 4 at WDW for 5-7 days.

For me the extra attention the characters are generally able to give the kids on the ship is also very worth it. Cinderella called DD by name after meeting her on Sunday morning. We saw her at least 10 times that week. Having her friend call her by name made DD's life to this point...at 3 yo. LOL! She wants to send her an invitation to her birthday party this year.

This was the best vacation DH & I have taken since our honeymoon. He has a very stressful job & this is the first time in 3 years that he has had a picture taken where he was smiling. He smiled the entire trip.

 

[rsjj]

originally, when i was looking into this vacation, we booked a 7 night land & sea package. (4 night at WDW, 3 night cruise) the more we thought of it, the more we thought it wasn't a good idea. (for our family, anyways.) we have 2 boys, 2 & 4. whenever we go to disneyland here, we want to get there first thing in the morning, and be the last to leave, so we won't miss anything. and being at WDW, i'm sure i'd feel that way too! and we know it'd be hard on the boys. too much stimulus, way too much walking. can't imagine doing everything in 4 nights. so we decided on a relaxing 7 night cruise, and we're saving WDW for another time. gives us a reason to go back to florida. of course, i've already told my DH that we're rebooking on board, and we'd have to do WDW when the boys get a bit older. so we've got to be back twice, if not more!

 

[clh2]

Hands down - the cruise wins! I just don't like crowds, I don't like lines. In the parks, our family needs to stick together - on the cruise we were able to do things together or not.

We spent 3 days in the parks last fall, just after a 4-day cruise. While we didn't see everything in the parks, I also don't feel the need to go back to experience anything.

The cruise is a totally different story - I would go back in a minute if I could talk DH into it!

 

[disney3144]

I agree with clh2. The cruise is by far a better vacation. We have been doing WDW for a few years now, but last August we did our 1st cruise. It was incredible!! It was so much more relaxing...and no lines to deal with. Now, don't get me wrong, we will still do the parks, but if I have my way, we will be doing a cruise at least once a year!

Jennifer

 

[WDWLVR]

To me they are each unique enough to hold our interests.

We have no kids so our vacations are for us.

We love cruising and with 5 behind us and one booked for December I don't see that ending any time soon.

We still love the parks too and we're lucky enough that with DVC we can go back to the parks this year as well.

Personally I don't think we will ever get to the point where we only want to do one more than the other.


PS to Lisa - did you ever get my pm about the website?

 

[Jillie]

We have been to the parks 3 times and after our first 7 night cruise our two daughters said ...."forget the parks we love the cruise." So we will be on #3 next April and can't wait.

 

[crisi]

We do the parks alternate years.

We just got off our first cruise, and have a second cruise booked for the year we DON'T go to WDW.

I don't think we will continue that pattern for long, but for a year or two, it will be nice.

They are very different vacations.

 

[westjones]

I like both, but the 7 day cruise is really special. This year we are going on a 7 day cruise and then going to WDW for 1 day afterwards (flying home on Sunday). Next year we are going on the 4 day and spending 3 days at the parks afterwards. Then I thnk we will try to do the 7 day again. For us, we like to cruise every year, and at this point think we will try doing the 7 day every other year. This plan may change as my girls move to the teen club. The 7 day many be too long for them when they are out of the lab. We will cross that brigde when we get to it (in 2006).

This past year we did 4 days in the parks and then went on a 3 day cruise. It was nice going on the cruise after the parks because it was so tiring at the parks. BUT I do like the 4 days on the cruise better than 3, and 7 is the best.

Whatever you decide, you will have a great trip. Anything Disney is always nice!


DJ

 

[Lisa D]

but next time we will definately just cruise! We did 5 days WDW and 3 day Wonder last October. Granted, we have been to WDW 7 times since 1990 and are DVC members, but we all agreed (DH and two DS 11 and 8) that we want to do a 7-day cruise next.

Although you do spend money and the cruise, it's basically a non-necessity type of spending - drinks, pictures and souveneers, etc. Your food and entertainment while on the ship is included in your price. At WDW, you need to purchase food and park passes, PLUS you still do the non-necessity spending also.

I'm just waiting for the 2005 point charts to come out so I can start planning the nexy cruise!

Lisa

 

[HooKooDooKu]

To me they are each unique enough to hold our interests.

So the real answer is that you have to discover your personal interest.

The first year of DCL, we booked a 4 day WDW vacation followed by a 4 day DCL vacation (i.e. we didn't do their package deal). After experiencing both, we've only done DCL ever since. I'm sure we will do WDW at least once when the kids are old enough. But for now, it's DCL all the way.

 

[jrabbit]

We live in the Northwest and getting to Florida is a pain in the backside so the last time we did both - 7 night cruise and 7 nights at WDW. We just cruised once and it was HARD not to go to the parks before or afterwards. Going on a cruise again this year and skiping the parks (I think?!)

lbgraves: You should have taken the kids to Sea World. Yes it's a big place but the shows are SIT DOWN and usually in the shade. So you get 45-60 minutes "rest" between treks to the other exhibits. Also, so cool about Cindy..er I mean Cinderella remembering DD's name. I can see how that has made her life complete (to this point)!! And DS smiling, that's gotta be priceless!


RSJJ: good plan on waiting until the kids are older. Disneyland (and Knotts) is a good place for children their age. WDW parks are HUGE compared to Disneyland.

Jillie: in past threads I have read that many children ages 3 to 12 have said that they would prefer doing the cruise over the parks (I think that it is less stressful on them too.)

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I'm in the minority, but I like the parks better. I like being on the go and having things to do all day long. I love the cruise, and always have a great time, but sometimes there are times during the day when I feel like there is nothing to do and I am bored. I'm not a person who can sit on deck relaxing all day. I love the activities on the cruise, I just wish there were more of them. My family agrees that they like the parks a tiny bit better than the cruise. Luckily we do both-- a few days at WDW followed by the 7-day cruise.