DVCers who cruise DCL ....

[supersuperwendy]

We are thinking about trying our first ever disney cruise!!! I'm thinking a couple of days in WDW would be nice in conjunction. Which is better - two nights BEFORE the cruise or two nights POST cruise?!!!

This would not be a member cruise... so are there any special things (meets, pins etc) for DVC members on regular cruises?

 

[JWG]

Disney first, definitely Disney first. Always cruise last.
The difference in stress free living between land and sea is glaring.

 

[Girlie1]

We are going on the Dream for 4 days at the end of June and we decided we are spending 2 days before the cruise and 2 days after. Best of both worlds if you can do it.

 

[tomandrobin]

parks, then cruise.......

Parks are go, go, go....The cruise tends to be more relaxing and enjoying.

 

[BBG-BLT]

We heard cruising after is the best but we have to go before because we're meeting friends down there after. June 16-20 4 night Bahamas then to land 20-29th

 

[ali in wonderland]

We are going before and after. One full day before due to a great price on flights, and three days after. The cruise will be a nice break in between.

 

[wdwlover25]

We are going before and after. One full day before due to a great price on flights, and three days after. The cruise will be a nice break in between.

This is exactly what we've done a couple times. The cruise is so wonderful it's very hard for us to go back to the airport directly from the port. We just take that relaxed cruise feeling back to the parks and slow down a little. Love that the vacation doesn't end with the cruise. Just need a slower shift back to reality I guess!

 

[myxdvz]

If you can plan it - you'd want to do the cruise last... that way you're relaxed before you go home.

 

[aan1701]

If you can do it, do WDW before and after. This is the way we do it. I hate waking up early the day you get off the ship then flying cross country home. For our upcoming 4 night we are doing 4 nights before and 6 nights after.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[quirty30]

We did 2 nights before (at OKW in a studio) and 3 nights after (at AKV CL in a 1 bedroom.) I probably differ from most people in that the cruise was stressful for me. Loved, loved, loved decompressing on concierge level and getting my laundry done at a leisurely pace in the comfort of my own "home." And we did no park visits before or after - just enjoyed the resorts.

 

[myxdvz]

In general, I'll stand by my first response and say try and do the cruise last. However, the options vary depending on where you're leaving from...

When leaving from Port Canaveral, we've done it where we stay a few nights a WDW before and after, but we don't do any parks AFTER.

Arriving at least a day before your sail date is just smart - you don't have to worry about delayed flights, snow, etc. You can take ME from MCO to your resort, do parks or not depending on how many days before you have... and then take DCL transfer to PC.

After the cruise, I would agree on actually doing a WDW stay, but again, I would advocate - no PARKS. Do laundry, relax, etc. Then you can take ME again to fly out. I don't like hurrying on disembarkation day to catch a flight.


When sailing from Miami - the options differ. For us, we will be flying to MCO and doing some park days. Then we'll drive down to Miami. Ideally, we'd just stay in the Miami area, maybe do Vero before we fly home from FLL or MIA. Instead, we drive back to WDW for MVMCP and flu out of MCO again.



I think the key for me, is the no park (or at least no strenuous park activity) after the cruise.

 

[keaster]

We are thinking about trying our first ever disney cruise!!! I'm thinking a couple of days in WDW would be nice in conjunction. Which is better - two nights BEFORE the cruise or two nights POST cruise?!!!

This would not be a member cruise... so are there any special things (meets, pins etc) for DVC members on regular cruises?

We like to do pre-cruise stays, then we end our vacation on a relaxing note at the end of the cruise

As for stuff for DVC members...they do have a Member only reception on board. When we sailed the Fantasy in March it was in the morning, so we had free mimosas and every member got a hat, a string beach bag/backpack thing, and a nice black leather portfolio.

Also throughout the cruise you could stop at the DVC desk each evening and they'd have some kind of DVC trinket for you (like a small picture, light up bracelet, etc.) And you get a cool DVC "Welcome Home" magnet on your stateroom door.

Oh and cruising is awesome!!

 

[AmyB2006]

Can't help you as far as when to stay.

But as DVC members we didn't get too many perks or extras. Sorry. We got a bunch of lanyards when we checked in as they had someone asking if people were members, probably to sign them up for the sales pitch. When we said we were we got lanyards.

They also sent a thank you package to the cabin with a little "ticket" to come get a free hat. But that was about it. My mom talked to a guide on the ship, and the incentives they have on the ship to add on more points are pretty good. Or at least they were then.

ETA... Oh yes, forgot about the Welcome Home DVC member magnet. LOL We didn't go to any of the other DVC functions, so maybe you get more stuff. Didn't want to waste my time though.

 

[JWG]

I think Disney is moving to only doing some of the DVC "trinkets" and such if you stay on points. We stayed on cash and got the magnet, but I'd heard that if you do that now, they no longer do it - has to be a points stay.

Anyway, we've done cruise then WDW before and it was stressful .
We took the transfer from the ship to the SSR (fine), checked-in and room was ready (awesome), and headed out to Epcot for the day. Not a good idea. After 7 days of a fun, relaxing, slow experience - the hustle bustle of the park, the crowds, the waiting in line for food, paying $20 for lunch, etc. was a bit contrary to the cruise experience.

I agree, if you're going to stay at WDW after, make it non-park activity and relaxing. Golf, shopping, favorite resort restaurant, etc.

 

[dsneygirl]

Disney first, definitely Disney first. Always cruise last.
The difference in stress free living between land and sea is glaring.

Yes. In 2011 we did the cruise first and the 3 crazy, crowded days at WDW after were not fun. I just wanted to be pampered again.

We went to the DVC presentation on board and got a few little things. My mom won a $300 room credit

 

[Sur]

With the way transportation works, we like parks first (same for DL) then DCL. Coming back from port to WDW cuts up the day (unless you have an AP), where traveling from port to airport lets us arrive home at a decent hour, without hassles or rushing.

We actually do both, have APs, and drop off our OL (Owner's Locker), making the trip that much easier. Our cruise clothes (including pirate attire) are washed and packed in the OL, ready for next time (except the kids clothes as they grow out of them too fast).

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

We much preferred doing WDW first then cruise afterwards. We were very relaxed after the cruise. Although we didn't want to leave the cruise to go home, we thought it better to bite the bullet and get back to reality.

I think we will always do it this way.

 

[lisa3635]

We're doing 2 nights before and 1 night after.

 

[CruznLexi]

My time really just depends on how my work schedule works. In Dec we are doing 2 nights at WDW and 2 nights at VB then the cruise.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We usually do a WDW stay before our DCL cruises!

If there's any chance that you can do at least a 4 night cruise, I would do that or at least a 3 night that has a day at sea instead of Nassau.

Bobbi