Day at MK before/after cruise or not at all?

[PlutoIsHerFav]

We are booked on a 5 night double dip the end of June. Our daughters will be 5 and 1; neither have been to Magic Kingdom (or any of the parks). We're considering going to MK the day before or after the cruise. Obviously the 1 year old won't get much out of it, but I think our 5 year old would love it. The downside is it adds a hefty price tag on an already expensive cruise vacation! So, thoughts...

• Day before or after cruise? Originally we thought after as it wouldn't require an extra vacation day, but we're thinking the park before the cruise would be a better order. Plus, it'll be July 4th weekend.
• Would you stay at a Disney resort hotel (AofA maybe)? Or prefer the Hilton at Disney Springs? Better option? We'd be looking at the night before and after the park, and then getting up the morning of the cruise and driving to the Port. I imagine that's a better plan than driving to the hotel near the port after a long day at the park? If we go the day after, we won't need a hotel as we're going to stay with my dad regardless, but about 1.5 hours from Orlando.
• If we go the day before and come in Friday, we'd arrive early enough to have the afternoon. So, we'd want to stay somewhere with either a fun pool, or we'd head to Disney Springs. Unless...is there an option to buy an afternoon entry ticket only to the park to try and split it up?
• Or would you just skip MK and save it for a trip on its own? (keeping in mind we can only travel at peak times)

Thanks in advance!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are booked on a 5 night double dip the end of June. Our daughters will be 5 and 1; neither have been to Magic Kingdom (or any of the parks). We're considering going to MK the day before or after the cruise. Obviously the 1 year old won't get much out of it, but I think our 5 year old would love it. The downside is it adds a hefty price tag on an already expensive cruise vacation! So, thoughts...

• Day before or after cruise? Originally we thought after as it wouldn't require an extra vacation day, but we're thinking the park before the cruise would be a better order. Plus, it'll be July 4th weekend.
• Would you stay at a Disney resort hotel (AofA maybe)? Or prefer the Hilton at Disney Springs? Better option? We'd be looking at the night before and after the park, and then getting up the morning of the cruise and driving to the Port. I imagine that's a better plan than driving to the hotel near the port after a long day at the park? If we go the day after, we won't need a hotel as we're going to stay with my dad regardless, but about 1.5 hours from Orlando.
• If we go the day before and come in Friday, we'd arrive early enough to have the afternoon. So, we'd want to stay somewhere with either a fun pool, or we'd head to Disney Springs. Unless...is there an option to buy an afternoon entry ticket only to the park to try and split it up?
• Or would you just skip MK and save it for a trip on its own? (keeping in mind we can only travel at peak times)

Thanks in advance!

I think just a day (or half a day) at a park before the cruise just isn't enough. There isn't an "afternoon only" pass that I'm aware of.

If you do opt for that, I'd suggest a hotel that's closest to the park you want to go to. That way you won't be wasting time on shuttles to/from hotel to park.

We've gone to Animal Kingdom the day we got off the ship (had a late flight that day), but we had unused tickets, so didn't have to pay for a new ticket.

 

[mevelandry]

MK the day before (and then you relax during the cruise). I think with a lot of research and the FP+ you can make the best out of a single MK day. Pick whatever you think your family will enjoy the most.

I like WDW hotels because you can book a shuttle (35$/pp each way) that will pick you up around noon to go to Port Canaveral (with videos playing, similar to what you get with the Magical Express but regarding Disney Cruise Line). It's more expensive but stress-free.

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

I think just a day (or half a day) at a park before the cruise just isn't enough. There isn't an "afternoon only" pass that I'm aware of.

If you do opt for that, I'd suggest a hotel that's closest to the park you want to go to. That way you won't be wasting time on shuttles to/from hotel to park.

We've gone to Animal Kingdom the day we got off the ship (had a late flight that day), but we had unused tickets, so didn't have to pay for a new ticket.

My husband and I have done just one day at MK a few years back and felt "satisfied". However, we weren't with kids. Do you think our 5 year old would feel disappointed or we would just be too rushed? I was sort of thinking she doesn't really know what she's missing so if we pick our FP right, we might be okay, but I can see the other side.

Do the shuttles to/from the park add a lot of time? If so, are there any close to MK that are reasonable??

If we go the day before, we'd come in around lunch time on Friday, so would plan to get up and be there when the park opens on Saturday. We'd stay as late as the little ones can tolerate! However, I know it'll be hot and crowded... Just trying to determine if it's worth the extra $$.

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

MK the day before (and then you relax during the cruise). I think with a lot of research and the FP+ you can make the best out of a single MK day. Pick whatever you think your family will enjoy the most.

I like WDW hotels because you can book a shuttle (35$/pp each way) that will pick you up around noon to go to Port Canaveral (with videos playing, similar to what you get with the Magical Express but regarding Disney Cruise Line). It's more expensive but stress-free.

I thought about the Magical Express too, but we'll have our car with us and will be heading in a different direction after the cruise. I like the idea of stress free, though!!

As for research, do you mean how to navigate the park and what FP+ to pick? I obviously am not a well-seasoned WDW-goer!!!

 

[chttyangel]

We are going to the Park after (doing Universal before). I know that is not the most popular choice since the cruise is more relaxing but it just worked better for our schedule. We struggled too on if the extra cost was worth it; but I am spending allot to fly and being that close I just couldn't pass it up. We actually gave up the veranda and got a porthole room which saved $400 and justified the Park time in my eyes. Yes a veranda is nice but for us on a shorter cruise we could do without and we got one of the front of the ship rooms that has allot of extra room.

I have been to WDW twice; once with kids and once without. You will not see everything you want in a day, we usually stay the week, BUT if you pick the Park you want to visit most and utilize FastPass+ you can see enough to enjoy yourself and be pumped for next time.

 

[steph12]

I would really think about how hot and humid it will be in June/July. If you are only there for one day you probably won't want to take a break during the day, but it may be really miserable for little ones in that hot weather. Also, if you go July 4th weekend I'm sure the parks will be very busy. I would just let them have fun at the hotel pool. If you can only travel at peak times, I would choose a peak time that isn't so hot. This week is going to be hot and busy, which could lead to a miserable day.

 

[CamColt]

I have done the parks both before and after cruises and I feel both ways have their pros and cons. Either way, I would suggest staying onsite. With such limited time you will want to get in as much in the parks as you can.

 

[Bree]

I'd rethink a first trip to MK being on a hot and humid summer Saturday. Saturday is hands down the busiest day of the week and you are adding summer vacation crowds now that many schools are done for the year. I have an annual pass, live 3 hours away and avoid MK like the plague on Saturdays. A 1 day ticket is very expensive and I'd feel like I'd have to spend the day from park opening to closing to get the value out of that ticket.

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

I would really think about how hot and humid it will be in June/July. If you are only there for one day you probably won't want to take a break during the day, but it may be really miserable for little ones in that hot weather. Also, if you go July 4th weekend I'm sure the parks will be very busy. I would just let them have fun at the hotel pool. If you can only travel at peak times, I would choose a peak time that isn't so hot. This week is going to be hot and busy, which could lead to a miserable day.

I'd rethink a first trip to MK being on a hot and humid summer Saturday. Saturday is hands down the busiest day of the week and you are adding summer vacation crowds now that many schools are done for the year. I have an annual pass, live 3 hours away and avoid MK like the plague on Saturdays. A 1 day ticket is very expensive and I'd feel like I'd have to spend the day from park opening to closing to get the value out of that ticket.

I totally get this and why we're questioning it. However, we don't live very close and won't do a full week at the park until the youngest is a few years older. Money aside, I feel like it'd be a great surprise & so much fun...but I also don't want it killing the little ones (heat, crowds, exhaustion) before the cruise even starts. We wouldn't be trying to see characters or doing character meals that day, just simply the park. Are we really crazy? That's why I posted...I need the truth....lol

I also don't know WDW with kids. I went in grade school and then once as an adult, that's it! So, I guess I won't be riding Space Mountain over and over this time! What are the "musts" for the littles - and can the 1 year old do much of anything?

 

[havaneselover]

We did one day at MK before our Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy last summer. It was awesome but exhausting (we hopped from MK to Epcot and ended our day waiting 2 hours for Frozen).

We arrived two days before the cruise, stayed at Pop, and spent one day at Disney Springs. The next day was spent in the parks then we drove to the port that night.

I definitely wouldn't end my cruise with a day at WDW--it's just not relaxing and my life is too crazy to end my vacation being exhausted.

All in all so glad we did it and we'll do it again next time we cruise out of port canaveral.

 

[hanscarlet]

we're doing 2.5 days before this time but I can see doing something after, maybe Epcot or something, just so it doesn't feel like you're trip is over.... we may try WDW after next year

 

[mevelandry]

I thought about the Magical Express too, but we'll have our car with us and will be heading in a different direction after the cruise. I like the idea of stress free, though!!

As for research, do you mean how to navigate the park and what FP+ to pick? I obviously am not a well-seasoned WDW-goer!!!

I mean: take a look at the list of attractions of MK and watch youtube videos of the different rides and attractions. You'll know right away if an attraction is good for your family or not. I saved a lot of wait and a lot of time by doing a little research.

 

[Quellman]

I totally get this and why we're questioning it. However, we don't live very close and won't do a full week at the park until the youngest is a few years older. Money aside, I feel like it'd be a great surprise & so much fun...but I also don't want it killing the little ones (heat, crowds, exhaustion) before the cruise even starts. We wouldn't be trying to see characters or doing character meals that day, just simply the park. Are we really crazy? That's why I posted...I need the truth....lol

I also don't know WDW with kids. I went in grade school and then once as an adult, that's it! So, I guess I won't be riding Space Mountain over and over this time! What are the "musts" for the littles - and can the 1 year old do much of anything?

Lots for little tots to do. For WDW specific questions you might want to spend some tome over on the Theme Parks board.

 

[mjackson]

Your kids will most likely be too tired after the cruise to enjoy the park. Go before.

 

[NCVA]

We ended up doing an unplanned last minute MK afternoon/evening before our 3 day Bahamas cruise (they overbooked our before cruise 1-night stay at AKL and I agreed to move to Contemporary if they gave us tickets for MVMCP). It was my Mom, Sister and 4.5 year old daughter. It was great BUT it was really tiring (we still called it a night at 9ish) and I do think it set my daughter up for being a tired on the cruise. I'm not sure your itenary but if you plan to hit the cruise hard off the bat then I'd think carefully about how tired you and your kids might be with travel/park day/cruise embarkation. We definitely missed out on some cruise stuff befcause we were all tired. That said, some of my best memories of the trip were at MK, so it was worth it for us....

 

[mernin]

We just did 2 days before and 2 days after our 4 night cruise in Feb. I think the 5 year old is at a great age for MK but I don't find 1 day enough there. I also agree that you don't want to star the cruise exhausted...but a day at .MK is almost a better day than anywhere else!

 

[nycdisneygal]

We had a really great 1 day at MK the day before our cruise one June. It was great. Since we have to fly in anyways, I figured it would be worth it. We even stayed for fireworks... It was the best vacation ever.

 

[DisMommyTX]

We did a MVMCP the evening we got off our cruise, and it was wonderful! And, since we had just spent days visiting with all the characters, we were able to skip most of the standard character meets at the parks. I'm sure the reverse would have worked as well. If we had seen all the characters at the parks first, we wouldn't have had to wait in so many lines during the cruise. We were exhausted going home the next day, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I think before or after will work, just decide which one fits your schedule best!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We just did this My Mom and StepDad wanted my niece (6) to go on a DCL cruise so I did my firm, but nice TA nudge and highly suggested since we were going to stay at on-site Disney hotel, we at least do Magic Kingdom so my niece could be experience that for a day. We arrived last Wednesday afternoon, stayed at Port Orleans Riverside (in the Royal Guest rooms), then went to Disney Springs for dinner, then did the Magic Kingdom the next day on Thursday. Friday we boarded the Disney Dream and they don't regret any of it. My Mom is 72 and like a trooper (they all did), they did a lot of walking but I slowed it down for them. I think my Mom had 19,000 steps They agree among the top highlights of the whole vacation was my niece watching Wishes - she LOVED that!

If you can find the time (and energy!) it's nice to do the parks or a park before the cruise, then try and relax a little more on the ship.

Have fun!
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