Disney World or Disney cruise??

[Holly Quinlan]

I thought I had all the basics planned out for our vacation next November. Then I asked my 4 year old what he wanted to do. I guess I should have said while in Disney. His response "lets go to the beach mommy and swim in the ocean" he is now obsessed with the idea So now I'm tossing around the idea of a cruise. DH is not onboard and I know nothing about cruising so I'm not sure what to choose. Any tips on why we should cruise and skip the World? TIA

 

[drb116]

I thought I had all the basics planned out for our vacation next November. Then I asked my 4 year old what he wanted to do. I guess I should have said while in Disney. His response "lets go to the beach mommy and swim in the ocean" he is now obsessed with the idea So now I'm tossing around the idea of a cruise. DH is not onboard and I know nothing about cruising so I'm not sure what to choose. Any tips on why we should cruise and skip the World? TIA

Lots! We cruise a couple of times a year and hit the parks about once a year. While at the parks, we love the experiences more than the rides (I.e. Shows and the slow rides like backlot tour). With that in mind, we really prefer the cruises.

On the cruise, you will find a much more personal experience. For example, we were walking down the hall and ran into Peter Pan. My shy 5 yo quickly hid behind me, however Peter stopped and got down on his knees to talk with DS. After spending about a minute talking, DS and Peter posed for a great picture and on our way back, DS said I forgot that Peter Pan was my favorite character (which he isn't usually). I have had 4 or 5 similar experiences on the boats, but never something anywhere close in the parks.

You will also find the cruise ships more relaxing. While you may walk a lot all over the ship, you are never far from your room if you need something and most kids spend some time in the kids club, giving you time for yourself.

Activities on the boat range in variety, but they give similar Disney like experiences, such as animation classes, Disney Junior experiences, etc. The evening shows are near broadway caliber and tug at the heart strings for both kids and adults.

The best part for us is Castaway Cay! We love the day at the beach with all the food, ice cream, and drinks just steps away. The beaches are great, the waters are warm and calm, and they have slides and platforms for the kids to play on.

I hope that helps, but I would also pose your question on the Disney Cruise Forum.

 

[Manders77]

I can or cannot say you'd enjoy it, since that type of vacation isn't for everyone. I love cruising and would choose cruising over any type of vacation. If a cruise won't work for you, how about WDW then going to Cocoa Beach or some other beach and spend a few days. A 4 year old would be happy with that too. My 2 kids loved the beach when we lived in Orlando and we went for the day. Many options to consider.

For me a cruise would be a no-brainer but I have to consider my kids and with my DS3 who has multiple developmental delays, he would not be ready by 2015 most likely when we plan our next family vacation. We don't see him being potty trained by then and when we vacation he'll be 4 1/2 -5. But as a 3 yr old he doesn't talk except he says all done, and signs please and more. That's it. So we'll be push our cruise back another couple years from 2015.

 

[Footnotegirl]

WDW and DCL are two very different vacations. I have been to both, and I would say this. WDW is a more exciting go go go vacation. DCL is much more relaxing. My husband was also not too excited about our first cruise, but he's been the eager instigator of every cruise thereafter, because as he said, the cruise was the first time that he has ever gotten back from a vacation and not felt that he needed a day off to recuperate from his vacation.
WDW is pretty much non-stop excitement, and you have to kind of be on your toes, and there's a sense of time crunch (or at least there has been in my experience). It's a very active vacation. Lots of choices to make and things to see and do and making your own plans.
DCL is much more laid back. Yes, you have a lot of things you can do, but you can also choose to just do nothing at all but sit on the deck with a book and watch the waves go by. There are people there to take care of you, pamper you. You don't have to rush to any busses or wait in interminable lines. You will have relaxed meals and perfect beaches and your kids will have fun things to do and you will get to have time alone with your partner.
Honestly, if you can't choose, they do still offer the Land and Sea option, don't they? Split the difference, do both.

 

[squirrel]

I can or cannot say you'd enjoy it, since that type of vacation isn't for everyone. I love cruising and would choose cruising over any type of vacation. If a cruise won't work for you, how about WDW then going to Cocoa Beach or some other beach and spend a few days. A 4 year old would be happy with that too. My 2 kids loved the beach when we lived in Orlando and we went for the day. Many options to consider.

For me a cruise would be a no-brainer but I have to consider my kids and with my DS3 who has multiple developmental delays, he would not be ready by 2015 most likely when we plan our next family vacation. We don't see him being potty trained by then and when we vacation he'll be 4 1/2 -5. But as a 3 yr old he doesn't talk except he says all done, and signs please and more. That's it. So we'll be push our cruise back another couple years from 2015.

I saw a post from a CM that works in the kid's club. Your son would be allowed into the kid's club with pull-ups and they require you to check in every so often as they aren't allowed to change the children. So if you want to go in 2015 you can and still have some alone time while he's in the kid's club.

 

[lizzyb]

Love both but if I had to choose just one I would go with the cruise.

P.s. Everyone in my family would agree.

 

[sapdaddy2]

My family (DW, DS16 & DS14 at time of trip) are going to do both in the summer of 2015 So far plans are drive to WDW and stay for 2 week drive over to DCL and relax on the ship for a week then drive home. It will be our 30th anniversary.

 

[squirrel]

My family (DW, DS16 & DS14 at time of trip) are going to do both in the summer of 2015 So far plans are drive to WDW and stay for 2 week drive over to DCL and relax on the ship for a week then drive home. It will be our 30th anniversary.

Sounds like a great vacation.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Every family is different, but if mine had to choose, we'd pick the cruise every time. Having said that…we're cruising twice this year, and we've managed to turn both trips into Disney World and Disney Cruise vacations. After missing our annual Disney World Christmas trip this past year, we're in withdrawal. As previous posters have stated, Disney World can be a "go-go-go" vacation that requires a recovery period after the vacation, if you're not careful. We leave the ship, however, feeling like we've spent a week at the spa. Quite lovely!

 

[Holly Quinlan]

We have decided on the cruise . Looking to go in November of next year just have to wait until they are released and decide if we want a shorter cruise on the Dream or Fantasy or a longer one on the Magic?