Cruise or WDW for 30th - Really need help

[Garyjames220]

hey everyone

Me and my partner both late 20s with no kids keep changing our mind about what to do for my 30th in 2018

In 2015 we done the one week med cruise was great and In Dec 2015 we done 11 nights in the parks and stayed at the Hilton. We really loved both so...

In Feb 2017 we are going the weeks western carribean cruise and five days in the parks, can't wait and plan in getting engaged on this trip

However we need to start saving for our holiday in 2018 now and it's between

1 - doing the med cruise again and having a few nights in Barca, 10 nights total, we wouldn't do somewhere else in Europe as it would not be hot enough for us, its cold enough here in Scotland lol and going anywhere further makes the airfare to much

2- 14 nights in a Disney mod hotel, and Probley get the free dinning and do things we haven't done on previous trips like, sea world, Disney water parks etc and Probley go at a lot slower pace lol

Beleive it or not by the time we stay a few nights in Barca, transport, excursions, etc both trips are coming to about the same price, doing both land and sea again is defo not possible as it's addded up to way to much for us to ever do again

We keep changing back and for, as we love both, the cruise is so special and we love been at sea, but the parks and staying in a Disney hotel this time with the free dinning and going for longer as going long hal seems really good too

We are totally stuck and we really not to stop messing about and just pick one lol however what do you think ?

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

I vote cruise! A cruise is more relaxing and luxurious.

 

[dclpluto]

Since you are on the cruise board most of the answers here will be cruise. If you ask on the theme park board or whatever it's called most of the answers will be wdw. Since you are asking here you are probably leaning towards a cruise. Enjoy your cruise

 

[Flossbolna]

I would do WDW. By 2018 Pandora will be open, so you have a whole new land at AK. Also, you have already done the Med cruise and all those ports are easily doable as a city break from Scotland as well. I think two weeks in Orlando doing things that are new to you and staying on property at Disney will be a more exciting vacation than repeating a cruise.

 

[Garyjames220]

I would do WDW. By 2018 Pandora will be open, so you have a whole new land at AK. Also, you have already done the Med cruise and all those ports are easily doable as a city break from Scotland as well. I think two weeks in Orlando doing things that are new to you and staying on property at Disney will be a more exciting vacation than repeating a cruise.

Hmm mybe you are right, as we haven't ever stayed in a Disney hotel, which is a new experience too

What is pandora going to be like, is it going to be big, not herd much on that

 

[Flossbolna]

What is pandora going to be like, is it going to be big, not herd much on that

two new rides (one ride sounds similar to Soarin and the other is a boat ride), restaurant, shops, lots of themed land around it. Looks beautiful in concept art. This is the latest announcement on it: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...avatar-set-to-officially-open-summer-of-2017/

 

[Garyjames220]

two new rides (one ride sounds similar to Soarin and the other is a boat ride), restaurant, shops, lots of themed land around it. Looks beautiful in concept art. This is the latest announcement on it: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...avatar-set-to-officially-open-summer-of-2017/

Wooo that looks good

It's so hard to pick. Wish I had the money to do both but mybe WDW would be that bit more special staying at Disney and doing things I haven't ever done before

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Do one of the cruises out of NY and you can do both. They have a day at Castaway Cay and a day at WDW

 

[Garyjames220]

Do one of the cruises out of NY and you can do both. They have a day at Castaway Cay and a day at WDW

Yeah I seen that but the airfare is so much more when I add in New York. Right enough it is temptening, do u think they will do New York in 2018

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Yeah I seen that but the airfare is so much more when I add in New York. Right enough it is temptening, do u think they will do New York in 2018

What about train option to NY? I would think they would do NY in 2018.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

14 nights at WDW would be my pick. I love, love, love cruising however, if you're young, and can handle the walking - the parks are great when you're able to relax. And with the dining plan, you can pick a few nice places to celebrate with an awesome dinner.

 

[Karin1984]

If you do get engaged, do you plan to get married in WDW or on a cruise or in CC in either 2018 or later? If the answer is yes, I would use your 30th trip to also have planning sessions, explore restaurants and wedding locations. (See Wedding Board for more ideas)

Either way, if you get engaged, I would select a cheaper cruise / shorter stay to put money aside for the wedding.

 

[Garyjames220]

What about train option to NY? I would think they would do NY in 2018.

The train is not really an option from Scotland lol

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The train is not really an option from Scotland lol

Oh sorry about that. I should not have assumed you were stateside.

 

[Dug720]

It's more expensive to fly into New York - with three international airports - than Orlando? Seriously?

 

[scottishclover]

Know what you mean about the Scottish weather. We did Norway cruise last year on the Magic and it was just like being at home. But don't write off cruising to Scandanavia because of the weather, the scenery was amazing! When do you plan to celebrate? We got decent price on 5 day DCL cruise from Miami with flights via London next March. Couldn't justify the prices in the summer, even for the Med. DCL is a bit cheaper outside main holiday periods. For what it's worth, we gave our teens the option - back to WDW or another cruise and they went for the cruise. Getting to go to Castaway Cay swung it for them.

 

[Garyjames220]

Yeah the other cruise around Europe that's not the med makes it a lot more and out of our budget

Any other thoughts on what u would choose then

 

[scottishclover]

I would do the Med cruise over WDW. I don't think staying in a mod Disney hotel for 14 nights would top your trip this coming Feb. Cruising out of New York is out of question as the cruises go in Oct and with Scottish school hols then you'll never get a reasonable air fare from Scotland. I would seriously reconsider the 7 nights Northern Cities Cruise as you're getting a new experience. Think prices are more or less on par with Med and you can get flights from EDI to Copenhagen for pennies. Scandinavian cites are über cool and although not guaranteed weather but you'd be unlucky to get terrible weather in Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg in summer. Look at some of the trip reports people have posted. To make DCL affordable I think you just need to be a bit creative with flights and accommodation pre and post cruise to try and bring cost down a bit.

 

[Garyjames220]

I would do the Med cruise over WDW. I don't think staying in a mod Disney hotel for 14 nights would top your trip this coming Feb. Cruising out of New York is out of question as the cruises go in Oct and with Scottish school hols then you'll never get a reasonable air fare from Scotland. I would seriously reconsider the 7 nights Northern Cities Cruise as you're getting a new experience. Think prices are more or less on par with Med and you can get flights from EDI to Copenhagen for pennies. Scandinavian cites are über cool and although not guaranteed weather but you'd be unlucky to get terrible weather in Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg in summer. Look at some of the trip reports people have posted. To make DCL affordable I think you just need to be a bit creative with flights and accommodation pre and post cruise to try and bring cost down a bit.

What makes u think a mod resort in WDW won't be as good as the cruise ?

So we always do the last med cruise in sept and when you look at that price compared to Northern Europe it's 1000+ of a difference which makes it out of our budget

Other issue for us what they cruise is there is more chance of rain and we get enough of that in Scotland so definitely want some sun lol

We are still sooo stuck on what to do

 

[jrabbit]

What makes u think a mod resort in WDW won't be as good as the cruise ?
...
Other issue for us what they cruise is there is more chance of rain and we get enough of that in Scotland so definitely want some sun lol

We are still sooo stuck on what to do

Resort
Unless you are planning on doing more than sleeping in the hotel at WDW, why go for a moderate or higher room? When we go to the world from the Pacific North West (probably a longer travel day than from Scotland ) we sleep at night and if we are there between May and October, we will need to take a mid day nap to get away from the heat and able to stay out until closing time.

Rain
Rain in Orlando - "every day" throughout the summer -- I think its scheduled between 3-6 every day. Hot Humid Rain!! And some times strong winds as well. And in the Caribbean you can get that afternoon rain / downpour as well. In either case the rain will be warmer than your morning shower!!

I will let you know that Big Thunder Mountain during a summer "more gentle" rain (still with the over sized rain drops) is an interesting and somewhat painful experience. Those huge raindrop do sting when they hit and you are moving 30mph!!

What to Do? What to Do
well when I was in my 30's, Disneyland and WDW were no brainers (any time for as long as possible!!). Now in my 50's I still love the parks, but I love cruising MORE.

That being said, how much time to you have? If you are leaning towards WDW, you could split your time between WDW and Universal/Islands of Adventure - and visit the Wizarding World of HP as well.

Final Thoughts
Aren't these "nice" problems to have!!