Disney World Prior to Cruise

[Kpercyman]

We are hoping for a Southern Caribbean cruise in November/December 2021. We would like to maximize our time in Florida by going to Disney World before the cruise. How many days should we plan? My son is autistic (he will be 9 then) and we know he loves the cruise so if Disney goes bust he has that to look forward to. Would you recommend the VIP experience?

 

[cvjw]

We did the southern Caribbean 8 night cruise this October. We did a day at Disney before and two days after. We were ready to be home after the cruise. We got to Disney and it was so crowded that it wasn’t that enjoyable!

 

[Marc D]

If you can afford a VIP tour, it will certainly make some things easier, especially if you’ve never been. How long to stay depends on many factors. Some do a few days, some a week and some even more. Figure out how much time you can afford and start planning from there.

 

[Karin1984]

I would suggest asking this question on the WDW Strategy board.
But what I have read about VIP tours that it can be quite tiring because you do not (/hardly) wait in line. You can do more and the guides take you at a high speed around the park(s) to do as much as possible. If your child needs a break or if the best decision is to leave the park entirely for the rest of the day, there is a fee involved to cancel the tour within 48 hours. I assume that if you cut your tour short, you lose the full amount.

I would suggest to better spend the money of the VIP tour on more days and take things slower. WDW is a wonderful magical place, but also with a lot of stimuli, not every child handles this well. With more days you can visit the parks in the morning, have a break in the afternoon, go back to the hotel, time out, relax, have a swim. And then go back to the parks in the evening for more park time. With less days you will try to do as much as possible get your time/money's worth.

We have been to WDW before and will do 4 full park days before the next cruise, so we can visit each park. We already know it's going to be too short, we have to make choices on what we see.

 

[dclpluto]

If you can afford a VIP tour, it will certainly make some things easier, especially if you’ve never been. How long to stay depends on many factors. Some do a few days, some a week and some even more. Figure out how much time you can afford and start planning from there.

VIP tours cost 425 to 600 dollars an hour. Seven hour minimum. So 2975 to 4200 dollars for the seven hours not including tip probably not even the tax. You can bring 10 people thou.

 

[Marc D]

VIP tours cost 425 to 600 dollars an hour. Seven hour minimum. So 2975 to 4200 dollars for the seven hours not including tip probably not even the tax. You can bring 10 people thou.

I know. That’s why I said ‘if you can afford it’. Many people do them. We saw at least 5-10 per day during our last visit. I assume OP did her research before considering it.

 

[MomOTwins]

I would also recommend checking out the boards here for more info on the disability access pass, which I understand is sometimes available for autistic guests. I have never used it personally, but it is a return time system that allows you to wait and do other things outside the queue during the standby wait time and then enter through the fastpass entrance. I hear it can be great to avoid all the sensory issues that come with being cramped up in a line. And unlike the VIP tour, it's free