Extra Day after cruise, or head straight home?

[Jo-Anne]

Hopefully SW will come out with their November flight dates tomorrow, and I continue to debate whether or not we should stay an extra day in Orlando just chilling out at a hotel and their pool, or should we just head straight home? We'll be on a 7 day cruise Nov 15-22 and both DH and I will be heading back to work and kids back to school(Gr 2 & JK) on the Monday morning. Is it worth lounging around a bit after the cruise, or will we just feel like getting back home, doing laundry and having the Sunday to get mentally prepared for getting back into reality....or do we extend the vacation a day and get back mid day on Sunday and rush around to get ready for Monday morning. Things I keep trying to figure out....will the weather in Orlando be good for swimming in late November? Is it worth the extra $100 or so for a hotel to scrape out one extra day by a pool....I'm guessing that the kids might not get a lot of pool time at boat since I hear it's so crowded. Anyone have thoughts either way? Thanks, Jo

 

[havinfun1093]

We cruised the same week last year and stayed two extra days post cruise and loved it. My DH found a great deal on line for a house with a pool for $99 a nite. It was awesome and we came home with luggage full of clean clothes!!!!!

 

[jlawall]

We stayed a few days after our last cruise and I wished we would have gone straight home. Nothing compares to the cruise and it is a big letdown. I think getting home is a better idea.

 

[Masonpips]

Stay a day! Stay a day!

We were off the ship and in our rental (one-way from Avis) by 8:50. To AKL by 10 and meeting our friends from Tampa. To WDW by noon and stayed until late (I think they were open until 8? maybe 6? - it was November).

Back to lodge for dinner (at food court) and bed. Headed to AK the next morning and stayed there until about 4. Met another friend who flew in from CA and went to Downtown Disney for shopping/dinner.

left Monday for home (and we had movers who showed up on Tuesday at 6:45 AM to move us 500 miles north). If we made it through all of that, you can handle getting ready for school on Monday (lol).

Stay a day! (or two)

 

[inkkognito]

We like to snare a Downtown Disney area hotel for a very cheap rate via Priceline and stay over the day after a 7-day cruise. If we don't go to the parks, we either shop, visit the hotels, and eat at Ohana or another favorite restaurant, or else go over to Celebration (you can rent Segways there, and they don't confine you to a small area like on the ship).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[dclwdwlover]

The reason is, tho, is that:
(1) Don't want to ruin our 'rested feeling' & end up in crowds & lines again like before the ship
(2) Our teenager is zonked from all of the activities, clubs, etc & ends up sleeping from the moment we hit the car until almost home (24 hrs.). We DO stop @ a hotel & swim & stay overnight, but our teen sleeps right thru it all. He walks like a zombie into the room - sleeps all night & then back into the car to sleep the next day. Makes for a very peaceful ride home!!!

 

[starwood]

Our last cruise we rushed off the ship to hop the bus to the airport only to find our flight delayed 3 hours because of weather. This time since the dog will be in the kennel and we can't get him until Monday anyway we decided to relax getting off the ship and are staying at the Poly that night and DS can go to Epcot and maybe get on Mission Space and hopefully Carousel of Progress and Timekeeper will be open in MK.

 

[BethC1952]

After our first cruise (4-night) we went straight home--very sad.

After our second cruise (4-night), we went back to WDW for two nights (much better--no parks, just chilled out at the hotel and did "resort stuff".

Upcoming cruise-going back to WDW for 6 nights. Should be awesome!

Beth

 

[hydster]

We've done both after cruises and I think they both have advantages and disadvantages! When we went and came home the same day it was yucky coming home but it was so nice to get home and get back to reality slowly having a day to do laundry and get back into cooking again and the grocery store. When we stayed we stayed 2 days afterwards at the POR and it was fun too knowing that when we walked off the ship we werent going right home but by the time we had spent 2 extra days away and at parks with lines and stuff going home felt GOOD finally. We got really tired of living out of a suitcase for that long since we did 3 day land/ 4 day sea and then 2 more days after the cruise before we came home. Personally if it were me I would go home after the cruise and slowly adjust to being home. You do eventually have to go home and no matter how long you stay afterwards the thought of reality is NEVER fun but not having to rush around late Sunday night trying to get everything organized would be worth it to me.

Just my opinion
Heidi

 

[disneygal58]

I always opt for extending a vacation. At that time of year you can find a good deal on a Downtown Disney/All Star or Moderate hotel. If you don't want to go to the parks, you can do a little Christmas shopping at DD or enjoy the gorgeous decorations at the hotels.

Enjoy,
Dawn Hope

 

[maps]

the main reason i'm staying an extra day is because of the airfare cost. it is much cheaper to leave on a monday than a sunday so i'd rather spend the extra money on another vacation day.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

My parents live in Florida so I always try to stay until Sunday and hang out at their pool. I don't think I would like to rush into the parks, but an extra day realxing poolside is always welcome!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Favorite Auntie.

an extra day realxing poolside is always welcome!

Is it any more REAL "x-ing" at your parents? Well, you are over 18...

 

[ADisneygirl]

I definitely think you should extend your trip and stay a day or two at a resort.

Last summer we took our first Disney cruise, three nights on the Wonder, but came home right from the port. We all were sad. This summer we are going on the four night Wonder cruise, and then going to the AKL for three additional nights. We plan on enjoying the resort and relaxing. Plus I know from experience that the only real swimming you get to do on the Disney cruise will be on Castaway Cay, their beautiful island. We never got in the pools on board because the Mickey pool was overwhelmingly crowded. There was no room to get in. (My DS13 did try the slide) The other pool for families is the size of a backyard pool, and was also at capacity. The people were just slipping in and standing there to cool off, then getting out -- no room to move much less swim or play. The adult pool had some room, but I couldn't take the kids in there.

I know we all love to swim, so we will enjoy that at AKL. Can't wait to be there surrounded by all the "magic" again!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We prefer to go to WDW for a day or two pre-cruise. We've done WDW after the cruise and it was so exhausting. We like to tire ourselves out in the parks and then wind down on the cruise.

 

[HookedonMagic]

FYI, it can be quite cool in Orlando in November. Most resort pools are heated, but it MAY be too cold for really enjoying a day by the pool.

That's not to say you shouldn't spend an extra day on vacation (laundry and grocery shopping can always wait!), you just may want to consider alternate plans! You could do some holiday shopping at the Premium Outlets or new Mall of Millenia or enjoy some Park time when the crowds are relatively low!

Whatever you decide, have a Magical vacation!

 

[Fins2TheRight]

We learned our lesson the hard way after our DCL cruise two weeks ago ...

I didn't want to leave for home immediately after the cruise, because I didn't want Saturday and Sunday of the cruise to be so depressing. So, we scheduled three days after in Orlando (AKL and WL) with two parks. I think staying the extra days was a good idea for us, but going to the parks was not. We should have just hung around DD, the BW, or the pool.

The kids were just too tired to enjoy the last three days.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thanks everyone for your insights. I actually booked our SW flights on Thursday, and decided to come right back on the Saturday so we could have Sunday to ourselves to unwind and relax. A couple of factors played into this decision....November weather might not be so great for a day at the pool, kids are not great shoppers (or I definately would have stayed to do the outlets!), didn't want to have to unpack again for one night, we have a 2 hour drive home from airport...I'll let you know if I think we made the right decision when we get back!! thanks again for your opinions! Jo