Dvc Before Or After Dcl?

[SheriB]

For those of you who have done DCL and stayed at DVC during the same trip, do you like to stay at DVC before or after the cruise? I'm thinking about the 4-day cruise next year, and was wondering if we should add a couple of days before or after at BCV.

Also, I noticed when we stayed at BCV this June, there was a bus that left on Sunday from BCV with a lot of people on it. I was told it was for the cruise. Does a bus actually take you to port from there?

TIA for any info/comments.

Sheri

 

[tinkgrl]

Sheri,

Yes, a bus can take you right to port, no problem. If you have a car, you can either follow the bus or go on your own. It only takes an hour & you will probably be behind a DCL bus @ some point anyway! The people @ the cruise line desk @ your resort will give you directions. As for going to WDW before or after the cruise. I do know that Disney likes you to do the land first, when paying cash. ot sure if that applies to DVC members?? Anyone? I personally like going to WDW first. You can run around @ the parks & then relax on the ship. JMO! Have fun! I hope this helps.

Allison
Offically DVC 7/23/03
Home Resort: BCV

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I like staying after the cruise if I have to choose but of course the best thing to do is stay before and after.

We are staying at the BWV next February after our cruise (At Universal before). This past year we drove to HHI after our cruise and last year stayed at the Boardwalk after it. The only negative to staying after is that you disembark early in the morning and can be up late the last night of the cruise, so you are somewhat tired out. Plan a day at the pool to just sit and rest. Don't plan a big park day. You will be tired after all that relaxation.

Have fun.

HBC

 

[AnnaS]

When we cruised in July 01, we went straight to the airport. We said next time we are staying a few nights. We just returned and did add four nights at OKW after our July 5 th cruise. When you get off the ship, believe it or not, you have this very sad and down feeling (yet happy). Difficult to explain. Again, after such a great week, we did not want to leave the "magic" - both on the ship and on land. Am I making sense? My kids want to cruise again if possible in two years and if we do, we will definitely do the same thing again.

 

[Luv2Dream]

We are sailing on Disney Magic in April 2004 and we've booked a week before the cruise at our home, VWL. I didn't do this as a preference, it's just that the week before the cruise is Easter Week and my daughter is on school vacation. Personally, I'd like to do the parks before and then relax for a week on the cruise. Just my opinion.

 

[Gigashadow]

Last month we did the 4 day Wonder and then 8 days at our beloved VWL. This was our first cruise and we were very happy to relax after a very exciting and energy draining agenda we did on the cruise - IMO.

Enjoy your Cruise!!!!!!!!

 

[bnlbebes]

I could give you reasons to go to DVC before OR after DCL depending on your personal preference.

DVC Before - In my opinion, there really is no comparison to the service and attention that you receive on the DCL. Therefore, going to a stay at a WDW DVC resort afterward takes a beating in comparison to the pampered feeling you get on the cruise. Also, going from all-you-care-to-eat to "all-you-care-to-PAY-to-eat" is a bit of a letdown. If you tend to be on the go during the cruise and intend to do the same at DVC then doing DVC before may be for you.

DVC After - If you are looking to relax at the DVC (Vero or HH in particular), then I say go after DCL. These resorts are great places to unwind and take things at your own pace. On the cruise it sometimes feels as if you can't sit down because you just might miss something, but DW & I like to relax at those times while the rest of the people onboard are occupied with activities. You may need a time to unwind as recoup from your disembarkation (as AnnaS said).

SO...

It really is up to personal preference. June '04 DW, 2-yr-old DS, and I are going to DVC WDW, then relatives, then DCL. We had done Vero Beach first and then DCL afterward last time we combined trips, and as I said, I probably would switch that around next time.

I'll be curious to know what you decide!

 

[SheriB]

Thanks for your responses. Whether we stay before or after, it would be strictly for the resort-no parks. Just want to relax.
So, if we decide to stay after the cruise, is their also a bus that would take you back to the resort? Or, to rephrase, how do those of you that go to DVC after a cruise usually get there?

I also have to consider the points usage. Since we would be going on a 4 day cruise, I'd have to use weekend points either before or after, so I could only do 1 or 2 days on either end (unless I do a studio).

Thanks for all your help!

Sheri

 

[Gigashadow]

SheriB, We flew into MCO the day before the Cruise to avoid weather problems that we encountered on a previous flight - The Ship will leave basically on-time no if's and or but's. We were gonna do the Hyatt in the airport and take the DCL bus (was $50 PP roundtrip and I think went up a dollar or so) But since we were staying for another 8 days, we rented at National a full size car for 12 days for $285 (DCL was gonna cost us $200 - They will bring you to the Ship and back to the BCV) Then we booked a room at Raddission at the Port which included leaving our rental onsite for free during our cruise. They also had a passenger van bring us to the Wonder and back to the Raddission - very nice and comfortable. We use the rental to goto surrounding parks, Disney resorts and food shopping for in-room dinning so it was just more convienent for us. The drive from MCO to the Raddission was 40 minutes - the same as driving from MCO to VWL, both are 1 straight road to and from.

The 4 day Wonder departs the port on Thursdays and returns on Sundays, so that leaves you Sun-Thurs for weekday point use to extend your trip. It's the 5 Day Wonder that leaves port on Sunday and returns on Thursdays.


Look at the DCL web site for dates, quotes and staterooms -
DCL WEB PAGE

This is the Raddision
Raddission at Cape Canerveral

Hope this helps!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Gigashadow

The 4 day Wonder departs the port on Thursdays and returns on Sundays, so that leaves you Sun-Thurs for weekday point use to extend your trip. It's the 5 Day Wonder that leaves port on Sunday and returns on Thursdays.

The 3 day Wonder departs on Thursdays...............the 4 day Wonder leaves the port on Sundays.

 

[Gigashadow]

4 Day Wonder

5 day Wonder

A lot of people do the same thing - It's either the 4day/3night or 5day/4night Wonder Cruises avaliable. Otherwise my 4 day Wonder Trip last month would have felt even shorter then it did.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Gigashadow
[BA lot of people do the same thing - It's either the 4day/3night or 5day/4night Wonder Cruises avaliable. Otherwise my 4 day Wonder Trip last month would have felt even shorter then it did.
[/B]

 

[Peter Johnson]

For our one DCL cruise, we spent four days before at OKW and four days after at VWL. In the future, I think I'd cruise first, then do DVC. After spending four days in a 1-BR, the two of us found the cabin (er, "stateroom") slightly small

 

[SafariTigger]

Although I wasn't a DVC member at the time, last summer my DH and I took a 4-night cruise followed by 6 nights at POR for our honeymoon. We had to book these seperatly since Disney likes you to do the land portion first, but I wouldn't have changed the order. The cruise was amazing and it was a little sad to leave, but knowing that I didn't have to leave Disney right away made it better. Also, after eating a TON of food for the first few days, I needed to slow down a bit which was good since we were now paying for what we ate.

 

[reneesam]

You can get a lot more info on the cruise line board as well. The majority of people who use the DCL buses have booked both land and sea through Disney, and have transfers included as part of the package. Buying DCL transfers for a whole family is very expensive and the buses may not even go to your resort (e.g. OKW.)

My favorite way to do it is:

Arrive in Orlando the afternoon before the cruise. Rent Avis car, drive to Radisson at the port. (Since you have a car you can go to Ron Jons for sand toys, eat at Grills (Yum!)etc.) In am, drop off Avis right at the Raddison, take Avis shuttle to ship (much less crowded than Radisson shuttle.) You can check in before the DCL buses start rolling in!

On the way back, you can rent again or take a limo service (still cheaper than DCL buses) to start your stay at DVC resort.

OOOOHHHHHHH, it sounds so good that I want to go! Have fun!
Renee

 

[AnnaS]

As far as transportation, we did exactly as Renee. There are five of us and it just did not make sense paying all that money for transfers just to be dropped off. We arrived early Fri. am - day before cruise - and had car for 24 hours for only $50. Shuttles back and forth (Avis or Radisson) and picked up shuttle again (either one) to Avis.