Disney Cruise..Have you done it? And what did you think?

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Hi, Just thinking about adding the Disney Cruise to our trip. If you went, i would love to hear expereinces, as well as what you thought of it, and how old your kids were when you went. Was it worth the money, or would you have just taken your kids to WDW, and then done a cruise seperate on a different vacation through another cruise line?

Just looking for thoughs and ideas.


Thanks
Nicole

Background info:
(if we went on the cruise this vacation, we would extend the vacation by 4 days, do the 4 day cruise, added to our already booked Dec. vacation.)

 

[PatricenPete]

DH and I did the Land and Sea package for our honeymoon. We had a GREAT time - the ship is magnificent. However, as much as I liked it, I don't know that I would take a Disney Crusie again. It was just SO expensive, granted we had a room with a veranda, but even so, the interior staterooms are still pretty expensive. We are going on a 4 day cruise with Royal Caribbean in November and for FOUR people we spent what we would have spent on ONE person at DCL. Also, I was a little disappointed with the food selections on DCL - IMO, it wasn't what you hear is "the norm" on cruises (ie the HUGE buffets, midnight chocolate bars, etc.) If you didn't go to your sit down dinner each night, you had a choice of getting pizza or chicken fingers.

One huge plus for me was Castaway Cay which is just absolutely spectacular. The water and beaches were just pristine. We had a great day there and the BBQ (which is included) was delicious.

So, IMO, I would probably not do the Disney Cruise again. I would take a vacation in Disney a million times over and then take a cruise with another cruise line. (Royal Caribbean is aces in my book!) Don't get me wrong, the DCL was GORGEOUS and we did have a great time - I just didn't feel that it was worth the cost, but I am sure that you will find 325868334 people here that do.

Hope that helps!

 

[RobertsMommy]

Did the 4 day Disney Wonder Cruise last July with my husband and 5 year old son. We all loved the cruise. Worth the money absolutely. Had such a great time. We only stayed in disney world over night and then off to the cruise. We do go to disney world every year so to us it didn't matter how long we stayed in disney world before the cruise. If you have never been to disney world then I would recommend you should do disney world first and then perhaps go on the disney cruise at a later time. However, if you can afford to do both the cruise and disney world back to back I would say to go for it but it may be very expensive and a little overwhelming. Good Luck.......... Jeneen

 

[savs]

We had done a 7 night cruise 2 years ago. My ds were 6 and 4 and they both had such a great time. When we ask them what they would liek to do for the vacation this year, they always respond take another cruise. They say they love that more then going to the parks. Don't get me wrong they love the parks too, but there is something about the cruise that is so magical.

Hardly any lines for the characters, the loved the kids clubs, playing in the Mickey pool and going down the slide, playing on the different beachs, eating cookies and icecream any time you want and for Free!!!

We take a Disney vacation every year, so they have been to the World many times and I think this was a fun way to still have the magic without standing in long hot lines

 

[crisi]

We loved our four night Disney cruise, and have a seven day booked. But I wouldn't do a land sea. I think the vacations are too different, packing becomes a real pain (you won't believe all the stuff that gets packed for a cruise!), and you loose most of one day of vacation in transition. Three days on the ship is too few, four days in Disney too few, and I don't think its enough days to do either justice. Our kids were four and five.

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Thank you everyone for your advice..and experiences..I think we will stick to our land vaca. this year with Disney, and next year we will go back to Royal Carribean for a nice Southern Carribean cruise..then back to Disney again! lol

Thanks for all your help.
Nicole

 

[dizprincess27]

Crisi - you are soooo right about not mixing the vacations. I wish I had know that before going. It was me and my just turned 12 yr old dd and we had 4 bags between us. We packed up before we left and unpacked at the Poly (not entirely but still) and then we packed up to go to the ship and then to leave the ship and then we went back to Disney for 4 more days HUGE MISTAKE so we had to unpack and pack up once again. Way too much work!!! Never again. Since I don't get to Disney that often, I would do maybe 3 nights before a 7 night cruise but then live out of a large overnight bag or one overnight bag each and leave the luggage for the cruise seperate. Also, I would never add days onto the end of a cruise b/c I wasn't near as relaxed as I thought I would be and we were both so exhausted to truck back to the parks although we did the best we could.

I like the parks better anyway although I loved going to an Island and experiencing the beauty of the water, etc.

 

[Melissa]

Did one last may, loved it going again Next May. DD was 6 at the time she loved the clubs and can't wait to go back. I think if your kids have the right personality( not shy) for it it is the perfect family vacation. Lot's of fun family time and mom and dad get some relaxing grown up time too. I love the parks so I think a cruise then off to the parks is perfect.

 

[scrapperjill]

We went on a 7 night western cruise (DCL) last Sept...and had a BLAST. DH, DD5, DD11 and myself. Everyone had a wonderful time...and can't wait to go back (Oct. 22, 2005 ) This year were including a couple days at the world before the cruise.... But as you can see from the photos in my signature line..we all had a good time.

As for the food....I haven't been on any other cruiseline...but IMO the food aboard the ship was good...I also don't know if you could always go to topsiders/beach blanket buffet for dinner if you didn't want to attend your regular dinning room..but you can now...so your not stuck with just pizza and hotdogs. For that matter there is always Palo's also....which is WONDERFUL.