Cruising without WDW Visit

[InstImpres]

I was planning on taking the 3 or 4 day cruise next year followed by a few days at the park. My SIL just told me that 3 or 4 days is short and she will feel cheated, lets go for the 7 day. I have cruised many times and am fine with either. My question is will my DD8 (who is almost as WDW neurotic as I am) and I feel cheated if we don't have time for the parks or will we get our fix with all the characters on the ship?

Sandy

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I agree with your SIL, the 7-day is the best. We are doing the western this week followed by a couple of nights at Vero. This trip is our "non-AP" vacation (i.e. we are taking a year off from buying the expensive (and non-DVC discounted) WDW APs. We know we'll be returning to WDW in the spring, so we don't feel cheated at all.

I think your DD will get her fill of characters on the ship. They make routine appearances all over the boat, and in the kids clubs.

Have fun!!

 

[nisiemouse]

Do you have enough time when you can do a 7 day cruise and a couple of nights at WDW? I understand where you are coming from and I just couldn't be that close without going to WDW at all. We are going to do the 4 day for our first cruise because we are going Dec 2004 and you can't do a 7 day when the kids are out of school (they have the 10 day) and 3 nights at WDW. Next time we will do the 7 day and a couple of nights at WDW. Good luck deciding.

 

[NikSwims]

DH and I went on a 7-night in May and we really did miss the parks a lot, to the point that we are going back to the parks this summer. We didn't realize how hard it would be to get so close to WDW and not be able to go there. I would either do the 4-night with a couple days or a 7-night with a coupld days at WDW if you can afford it. We will most likely do that in the future until we can afford to do a 7-night and a week at the parks all together!!

This is a personal decision for you based on how much you love the parks. The cruise line is magical (or wonderful), but you do not get the same experience as being in the parks.

Just my opinion- you'll have Disney magic no matter what you choose, which is the best part!

 

[SeaSpray]

My DH and I just had this issue to consider. We're doing a 7-night western caribbean Disney cruise next August, with a stay at the Radisson at the Port, the night before. Since our cruise is ending on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we decided to not fly home on Saturday, but instead to spend one night at a Disney resort, and fly home Sunday. I would've liked to stay 2 nights, and fly home on Monday but he likes the idea of flying home on Sunday then having all day Monday to unwind from the trip before going back to work on Tuesday. Guess I can't blame him.

So far we are planning to NOT do the parks, just relax at whichever resort we stay at, maybe ride the monorail, dine at the Polynesian and/or Contemporary, and maybe go to Downtown Disney that night. I'm wondering how it'll be to be RIGHT there, and not go into one of the parks. I'm hoping I'll be content to just be at a Disney resort, and have an extra day to relax before flying home.

If you can afford it, and have the time, I'd definitely recommend a night or two at Disney, after your cruise!

 

[ohiominnie]

We went on a 3 day in September. It was not hard for any of us to be so close to WDW and not go. We knew we'd be going to WDW soon (December) and we were excited to experience the cruise again. Even the kids, 6 and 9, did not feel cheated by not going to the parks.

If I had to give up either the cruise or WDW forever, it'd be a hard choice for me. They are each special in their own way. If I chose to keep the cruise, I'd miss a lot of the attractions WDW has and the feelings I get doing certain things (walking down Main Street USA, watching Fantasmic, etc) If I chose to keep WDW I'd miss being out at sea, sitting on my verandah and having the same servers over and over again.

 

[jrabbit]

Did a cruise once without going to the parks. It was one of the hardest things we have ever done (not really, but really). We had a long time between the cruise and our flight home. We rented a car and drove to all of the parks parking lots to get a glimpse of them, then off to downtown disney to slowly easy our way back into reality.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, DH and I have booked a Carnival 4 night cruise out of Miami 9 months ago. (The deal is awesome, outside cabin total $315 per person.) In the meantime, we bought into DVC, and the thought of being in Florida and not going to WDW gnawed at us until we paid for a change of flights and added on the weekend stay at VWL. As you see from the countdown, this will be our first trip home, and we've vowed never to take a cruise without going home, either to WDW or Vero Beach!

So, I would keep the shorter cruise and go to WDW!

Bobbi

 

[llachance]

My daughter and I have done it twice, once before and once after.

After the Eastern we stayed at the Contemporary one night...and didn't go into the parks. Before the Western we stayed for 3 nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and didn't go into the parks.

 

[InstImpres]

Thanks everyone for all the great advise.

Originally posted by jrabbit
We rented a car and drove to all of the parks parking lots to get a glimpse of them, then off to downtown disney to slowly easy our way back into reality.

You sound more pathetic than me Just a parking lot view! Do you cry when you leave MK for the last time each visit too! (I do)

Thanks again
Sandy

 

[Dancind]

We couldn't do this on our cruise in Oct. '02, so we added on two nights at AKL. Of course, we had AP's. They've expired now. We are still staying at OKW (or maybe WVL) for two nights before a Christmas cruise this December(not DCL, doing that next Christmas). Just had to get close. Luckily, there's a MVMCP the night before we leave, so I bought tickets and we will get a fix. During the day, we will go to DTD and possibly see LOTR 3. We have one night between disembarking and going home, and I have made reservations for California Grill. We'll watch Wishes from there. So, quite a bit of Disney. without much park time! Diana

 

[CRB#33]

Next year will be the first time we head down there without a stop at the world too.

I don't know how we're going to feel, especially because we have no further trips in the works and this is our last big splurge as we start in earnest to heavily save for college for the kids.

I do know that the 7 day cruise is going to be so fantastic because the 4 night one was just way too short.

We'll have to make every moment count with that

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Last year when we took our cruise, we did not have a WDW stay. It was different being in Orlando and NOT going to Disney, but the ship was awesome. Plus, we had spent 20 days at Disney in the 13 months prior to the cruise, so it wasn't too bad.

For our next cruise, we'll probably spend a night before or after the cruise at one of the DVC Resorts. Just a little extra Disney.

 

[jrabbit]

You sound more pathetic than me

Yes we are quite pathetic Since we are closer (much closer) to Disneyland we go there more often than the World. After spending the week on the cruise, then "just" going to downtown disney really wasn't too bad. We didn't have massive convultions or anything but the pull to the parks was pretty strong

 

[patches-4]

We didn't go to the World after or before our cruise in 2001 as DH and DS really don't care one way or the other. But myself and DD really like to go there. This next year we both will get our wish and I am chaparoning my DD Science Club trip to the Disney Institute and WDW and Sea World the end of May and then we go on our cruise as a family the middle of June. I can hardly wait.

 

[goodstarr]

Have done WDW 7 times and did DCL for the first time in June, but did not go to the parks. Even though it was only the 4-day Wonder cruise, I can't say that I even thought about the parks. My DD-7 certainly didn't mention them (expecially while she was hugging Cinderella). Change is good