Disney Cruise Dilemma!!

[Royal Consort]

We're a couple of weeks out from our trip and it seems like my planning is just awful this time around.

We're taking an Alaskan cruise followed by ten nights in a deluxe at WDW. At one point we had a 3 night Disney Dream cruise booked but we cancelled this due to high summer prices. I was fine with our ten nights at WDW UNTIL last week when Disney Cruise Line finally sent me the welcome pamphlet for the cruise I cancelled months ago. They also sent it three times!!! Now I'm torn again. Since it's WDW room only reservation I can amend up to five days before.

I enjoy the DCL service much more than WDW but my family and I just cannot make up our minds with what to do!

Our options are:
1. Stay 10 nights at WDW
2. Stay 2 nights (1 day) at WDW at a Mod, 3 night cruise, then 5 nights at WDW
3. Stay 5 nights at WDW, 4 night cruise, and one night back at WDW before flying out (this works better for the itinerary but is the most costly option).

If we did a 3 night cruise it adds $500 to the cost; if we do the 4 night it adds $1100 to the cost. Although I feel we'd enjoy the cruise more, this is a substantial increase.... We've never done the Dream before so this would be the last ship to sail on but I don't know if it's worth it.

Finally since we're from Australia, I am not sure how long it will be before we head back to Florida. Saying that, we've been to WDW several times before.


So DISBOARDS... we need your help!!!!

 

[Shanti]

We're a couple of weeks out from our trip and it seems like my planning is just awful this time around.

We're taking an Alaskan cruise followed by ten nights in a deluxe at WDW. At one point we had a 3 night Disney Dream cruise booked but we cancelled this due to high summer prices. I was fine with our ten nights at WDW UNTIL last week when Disney Cruise Line finally sent me the welcome pamphlet for the cruise I cancelled months ago. They also sent it three times!!! Now I'm torn again. Since it's WDW room only reservation I can amend up to five days before.

I enjoy the DCL service much more than WDW but my family and I just cannot make up our minds with what to do!

Our options are:
1. Stay 10 nights at WDW
2. Stay 2 nights (1 day) at WDW at a Mod, 3 night cruise, then 5 nights at WDW
3. Stay 5 nights at WDW, 4 night cruise, and one night back at WDW before flying out (this works better for the itinerary but is the most costly option).

If we did a 3 night cruise it adds $500 to the cost; if we do the 4 night it adds $1100 to the cost. Although I feel we'd enjoy the cruise more, this is a substantial increase.... We've never done the Dream before so this would be the last ship to sail on but I don't know if it's worth it.

Finally since we're from Australia, I am not sure how long it will be before we head back to Florida. Saying that, we've been to WDW several times before.


So DISBOARDS... we need your help!!!!

My vote is for Option 3. Coming all the way from Australia, I'd want to do the trip of my dreams.

 

[AussieNSW]

If you are not sure when you will be back. Do the 4 day cruise. The 3 day cruise will leave you feeling like it wasn't enough and you will feel rushed. I am also from Australia and it is a long flight for you to then have some regret at the end of it. Maybe you could down grade your cabin that may help to convince yourself that you should go for the 4 day cruise.

 

[FigmentSpark]

If you can swing it financially, go for option 3. That said, what does your family want out of their vacation?

 

[Royal Consort]

If you can swing it financially, go for option 3. That said, what does your family want out of their vacation?

We are wanting to be immersed in Disney and have some downtime. Its not about the rides anymore but more the dining, lounges, and trying to stay out of the heat during the middle of the day.

 

[FigmentSpark]

On a DCL cruise, you will be as immersed in Disney as you want.

 

[diznymom]

Option 3.

 

[dcassetta]

Option 3 seems like a nice balance with the WDW days between the cruises and a way to end your trip in a really relaxing way.

 

[Bsmitty]

Option 3. No doubt.

 

[TLovesDisney]

Definitely option 3!!

 

[karen4546]

I say option 3. If you change your park tickets to 5 day does that cut any cost? Any scenario is great since it is Disney. I gave been told to cruise after parks though. My first DCL is in 70 days and we are staying at WDW first.

 

[disneycruisegal]

I vote for option three. Decent wdw nights and a four night cruise.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I just want to clarify. You are flying from Australia to Alaska (Vancouver, whatever), taking a week-long cruise there (perhaps on a different cruise line), then flying to Florida and spending 10 days in WDW, and now you are asking if you should covert some of those 10 days to a SECOND cruise.

Is that correct?

Personally, I'd say the Alaskan cruise is enough and rather than crowding your trip up with another transfer (two really) and more driving and unpacking, I'd just stay with the 10 days in Orlando. It's not like you won't have enough to do there, and since you've been to WDW before, taking it slower might be nice too. But that is just me.

Have fun!

 

[amberwc]

I agree with PP, will you constantly comparing 1 cruise to the other? Will you leave feeling disappointed about 1 of them?

 

[aggiedog]

+1, if you are already going on an Alaskan cruise, I'd do 10 days in Orlando, but consider taking time for Universal Harry Potter World, Blizzard Beach, etc. Honestly, I'd love to have enough time at WDW to not feel the need to hit every high point with every available minute. Out of curiosity, which Deluxe are you in?

All in all, I don't love Universal - but it is totally worth it for HP. Get the ticket that lets you hit both parks, so you can ride the Hogwarts Express between parks.

 

[Rabb it]

Gosh, it's hard to not pick option 3 even though it's the priciest!

 

[Royal Consort]

Thank you everybody for your opinions and suggestions. After much discussion we have decided to do the 3 night cruise and five nights at Walt Disney World following that. Although we would love to have done the 4 night cruise we couldn't justify the extra for a day at sea. We feel this is the best of all worlds with some great variation in the trip.

 

[timrousbeastie]

Congratulations, that sounds like a dream vacation!

I was late reading this thread, but I'd actually have gone for option #2: we've done a 3 day cruise on the Dream and the family absolutely loved it. Yes, it is short, but it doesn't have to be rushed if you plan it well. And I'd much prefer at least 3 nights at WDW before that long flight back home (we come from Europe).

It feels too rushed checking in to a WDW hotel and checking out the next day. We've done it the day before our cruise, but that was only as a precaution in case something unexpected happened. And then we stay longer post-cruise. My own experience is that that has been optimal for our family, though every family is different. Option 3 would have made for a more stressful end to the vacation and it would have been an easy decision for me to give up one night of the cruise to avoid that.