Extra Week at Disney World or 7 Day Cruise

[starvenger]

I would vote cruise as well. We actually just did something similar in October, spending 5 days in Orlando (stayed offsite) before going on the DCL Fantasy. It was actually kind of nice, being able to chill out on the cruise after being on our feet for seeming hours at a time in Orlando.

 

[rwcmath]

I would pick the cruise too! I would pick the Magic to see Tangled, or the Fantasy to see Alladin!

 

[tlynk]

I would definitely do the cruise! You'll get the best of both worlds!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think I would rent a car and explore another area of Florida and stay at an upscale resort - a Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island. Or even fly to Cancun and stay at one of the beautiful resorts on the Riviera Maya - Rosewood or Grand Velas. If you are die-hard Disney fans, maybe try the cruise. I personally would choose a different cruise (like Celebrity) over DCL if DH and I were alone. Or, if you want to stay at WDW, I would do some eat at some signatures and perhaps some tours that you couldn't do with your 2-year old.

 

[cruisingtwins]

Another vote for a non disney cruise. I would probably choose the Oasis if the dates are right.

 

[ZerasPride]

Another vote for the cruise! DH and I are empty nesters and just enjoyed our first 3 night cruise. We can't wait to go on a 7 night next year. My not so Disney loving husband has been talking about the cruise and the good times we had. Very high praise trust me!

 

[starvenger]

Another vote for a non disney cruise. I would probably choose the Oasis if the dates are right.

I'd probably do Oasis as well, but it's entirely a preference thing, and I believe the OP indicated doing DCL...

 

[JTBE]

The cruise would be so relaxing and we love it. Never went on DCl without our kids though. There are a lot of family oriented activities on DCL as well as some adult activities such as the spa and Palo which we love. Adult pool area and serenity bay at CC. But going on a Disney cruise without my elementary kids (who love Disney) I would inevitably see things on the cruise that my kids would have absolutely loved and as a mom would just feel bad not bringing them on a Disney cruise with us. My adult friends who chose to go on a cruise without their kids selected a non Disney cruise such as the Oasis and felt there were more options for adult activities. Those friends went in both DCL with kids and non DCL without kids and found the non DCL to be more fun for adults. We just went in the cruise and the guys went out in the evening one day and the moms went out another evening after the kids went to bed but I would say that the adult night life at the adult areas after 10 pm or so wasn't that active or very lively on DCL which was a little disappointing.

 

[masylimed]

What about staying at WDW for a day or two to enjoy it at your pace then maybe take a shorter length cruise. Maybe you can stay at a nicer hotel for a night or two on WDW property for those extra nights.

 

[gambit985]

We are actually DVC members so staying on property is not a problem and from a cost standpoint the cruise would of course be more expensive since we would be using pts for the resort. The biggest concern has been what some people have mentioned which is seeing things on the cruise and then wishing we would have waited to do it and brought our son. I appreciate all the responses and definitely taking all of them to heart with making this decision.

 

[jrabbit]

yea, but he's a two year old. EVERYTHING is new a cool to them. The "harsh reality" is that there's nothing on the ship that a 2yo will care about more than their normal life. You might have some pangs of regret that your son is not there experiencing the cruise with you, but on the other hand if you are "constrained" by your little one, you will have regrets.

I am really sorry about sounding like Debbie Downer in this post. I do remember the first time we went away for a weekend by ourselves and left the kiddo with some friends (closer to 3yo). At times we were really sad and felt like "bad parents" for "abandoning" our child. But most of the time we had more fun than we have had for quite a while - and we were not even at Disney.

 

[gambit985]

Its not that we would feel like bad parents because we didn't bring him. It is more along the lines of seeing other families and their children enjoying the cruise and that we would be miss not having the experience with him. Such as waiting another year when he is able to enjoy it with us.

 

[AndreAggie]

One other thing to remember (not trying to be negative, just a reality)...on a cruise, communication with those at home is really difficult. We went on a 7-day cruise when our son was 18 months old. We were only able to text with the grandparents without paying out the wazoo for wifi. And forget facetime....not enough bandwith. So you'll likely go a week without talking to or seeing the little one. For some it's fine because they're in good hands and in the event of an emergency, you can be reached. For others it's quite a challenge.

 

[ayz75]

Its not that we would feel like bad parents because we didn't bring him. It is more along the lines of seeing other families and their children enjoying the cruise and that we would be miss not having the experience with him. Such as waiting another year when he is able to enjoy it with us.

I totally get what you mean! We have never gone anywhere without my daughter, but if we did, I wouldn't feel like we're bad parents (parents deserve breaks too) but DCL cruise feels different, I know for a fact that if I saw other kids dancing to the music in the atrium, I'd think to myself "omg, if my child was here I wonder what she would dance like!" or, if I saw kids screaming after princesses and characters, I'd think "I wonder what her reaction would be like!". To me, there's just too much fun stuff going on in the cruise ship that'll make me go.. "hmm I wonder how my daughter would react...". Whereas, if I did a culinary trip with DH and went to nice fancy restaurants, I would NOT wonder what my daughter would do because I know she won't eat anything and will just want to get out of her seat.. and not something I'd "miss" and "wonder" about, lol!!

the above poster raises a good concern over communication at sea though.

 

[ldo]

I know that feeling. When we did a no-kid trip, I kept thinking how great it woudl be for my kids to see X and Y. So much so, that we repeated a lot of that same trip a few years later with the kids.
One question would be will your parents babysit at night while you are all together, or will you dine in the room, quick service? If you do'nt have a few nights on your own @ WDW, then I would say stay at WDW and then cruise when he is 3 or 4. DH and I did a no kids trip to AKV last year and it was great. We relaxed by the pool, did a few rides, went to a waterpark and just vegged, rode bikes, and then each evening ate at our fav restaurants--pretty much a "land cruise." DCL is great, and lots to do for adults, but without kids, you have lots of other options. Next year, we are opting for a non-kid Celebrity cruise (as we are foodies, and like Celebrity food).
OTOH, if you will have a few nights to dine around at WDW alone, then you might be bored with a 2nd week at WDW. In which case, I would pick a cruise.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

yea, but he's a two year old. EVERYTHING is new a cool to them. The "harsh reality" is that there's nothing on the ship that a 2yo will care about more than their normal life. You might have some pangs of regret that your son is not there experiencing the cruise with you, but on the other hand if you are "constrained" by your little one, you will have regrets.

I am really sorry about sounding like Debbie Downer in this post. I do remember the first time we went away for a weekend by ourselves and left the kiddo with some friends (closer to 3yo). At times we were really sad and felt like "bad parents" for "abandoning" our child. But most of the time we had more fun than we have had for quite a while - and we were not even at Disney.

I totally agree with this. A 2 year old can't do much and won't remember anything.