First cruise. 3 day Wish vs 5 day Fantasy WWYD?

[VGCgroupie]

I currently am booked on a 3 day on the Wish going to Nassau and Castaway.

We watched a YouTube video last night of somebody doing a 3 day on the wish and we were totally excited and thinking we should’ve talked more than 3 days! I quickly looked to see if I could extend the cruise without changing my travel dates and I can do the same departing date on the Fantasy for 5 nights going to both islands and Nassau.

Some info about our trip we will land in Florida and spend a couple days at WDW until our a AP expiration date. Then board our cruise. Cruise comes back Monday but we were staying at WDW and doing resort days (expired AP) and a DVC after hours event on Wednesday. So if we switch to the 5 night fantasy, we aren’t missing anything other than resort days cause we can still make our after hours event.

I think longer will for sure be better, but my biggest question is disembarkation day, is it very tiring? Will we be able to do an after hours event that night?

My last question is, my son watched the video of the Wish and he was in awe over the basketball court, Star Wars area. This is his birthday trip, so I wouldn’t want to take him on the Fantasy if it would be not nearly as exciting as the Wish. But… he is also going to WDW so he will have fun no matter what.

What would you do for your first cruise in this situation?

 

[Marthasor]

IMHO, 3 day cruises are way too short. You barely have time to settle in and, if you plan on getting off the ship each day, not a lot of time to enjoy the ship itself. I would opt for the 5 day Fantasy.

 

[Ensusieasm]

I currently am booked on a 3 day on the Wish going to Nassau and Castaway.

We watched a YouTube video last night of somebody doing a 3 day on the wish and we were totally excited and thinking we should’ve talked more than 3 days! I quickly looked to see if I could extend the cruise without changing my travel dates and I can do the same departing date on the Fantasy for 5 nights going to both islands and Nassau.

Some info about our trip we will land in Florida and spend a couple days at WDW until our a AP expiration date. Then board our cruise. Cruise comes back Monday but we were staying at WDW and doing resort days (expired AP) and a DVC after hours event on Wednesday. So if we switch to the 5 night fantasy, we aren’t missing anything other than resort days cause we can still make our after hours event.

I think longer will for sure be better, but my biggest question is disembarkation day, is it very tiring? Will we be able to do an after hours event that night?

My last question is, my son watched the video of the Wish and he was in awe over the basketball court, Star Wars area. This is his birthday trip, so I wouldn’t want to take him on the Fantasy if it would be not nearly as exciting as the Wish. But… he is also going to WDW so he will have fun no matter what.

What would you do for your first cruise in this situation?

Five days is better than three.
I’ve cruised on both ships. My only two Disney cruises were Fantasy 7 nights in 2013 and Wish 4 nights in 2023. I do like the Wish better, but 3 days is too short. I’ll be on the Fantasy for 5 nights in 2026 and again in 2027 because of the 5 nights length, which I think is just right.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Five days is better than three.
I’ve cruised on both ships. My only two Disney cruises were Fantasy 7 nights in 2013 and Wish 4 nights in 2023. I do like the Wish better, but 3 days is too short. I’ll be on the Fantasy for 5 nights in 2026 and again in 2027 because of the 5 nights length, which I think is just right.

Thanks!’ I am strongly leaning that way. Binging you tube videos on the Fantasy now.

 

[Ensusieasm]

To answer your question about disembarkation day. In 2023 I used Disney transportation and was back at my Disney resort checking in at the front desk at 10am.
So plenty of time to rest up for your after hours event.

 

[hardcorestitch]

I currently am booked on a 3 day on the Wish going to Nassau and Castaway.

We watched a YouTube video last night of somebody doing a 3 day on the wish and we were totally excited and thinking we should’ve talked more than 3 days! I quickly looked to see if I could extend the cruise without changing my travel dates and I can do the same departing date on the Fantasy for 5 nights going to both islands and Nassau.

Some info about our trip we will land in Florida and spend a couple days at WDW until our a AP expiration date. Then board our cruise. Cruise comes back Monday but we were staying at WDW and doing resort days (expired AP) and a DVC after hours event on Wednesday. So if we switch to the 5 night fantasy, we aren’t missing anything other than resort days cause we can still make our after hours event.

I think longer will for sure be better, but my biggest question is disembarkation day, is it very tiring? Will we be able to do an after hours event that night?

My last question is, my son watched the video of the Wish and he was in awe over the basketball court, Star Wars area. This is his birthday trip, so I wouldn’t want to take him on the Fantasy if it would be not nearly as exciting as the Wish. But… he is also going to WDW so he will have fun no matter what.

What would you do for your first cruise in this situation?

If it’s your first time… I’d go LONG! 5 days. Plenty of time to accustom yourself to the magic that is Disney Cruise Line. If you’ve been on other cruise lines, this one will most certainly be the best cruise you’ll ever have!

 

[VGCgroupie]

If it’s your first time… I’d go LONG! 5 days. Plenty of time to accustom yourself to the magic that is Disney Cruise Line. If you’ve been on other cruise lines, this one will most certainly be the best cruise you’ll ever have!

First cruise ever.

To answer your question about disembarkation day. In 2023 I used Disney transportation and was back at my Disney resort checking in at the front desk at 10am.
So plenty of time to rest up for your after hours event.

Oh nice! That is great timing.

 

[Joanna71985]

I would do the Fantasy (I prefer the Fantasy over the Wish. Plus- 3 days is just way too short)

 

[cruisehopeful]

My first cruise was a 3 night on the Dream. We got off the ship in Nassau and Castaway Cay. Way back then, the DCL bus from AKL to the ship got us on the ship at 3:30. The next day, we went to Atlantis and the following day, we had a nice day at Castaway Cay. The next day, we were off the ship before 8:30. We seriously only saw about half of the ship. We took the 3 day to find out if we liked cruising. We missed so much stuff.

I've done 3 nights and even a 2 night out of my local port. We treated those like resort weekend staycations and I'll do it again because the port is a 30 minute drive from our house. It would have to be a very special cruise for me to do another 3 night in Florida. There's really just not enough time to do everything.

If you're planning on getting off the ship in the ports, you just have to know that you won't fully enjoy the ship amenities. It is a good way to find out if you like cruising, though.

I've never been on the Fantasy. I see more people mention that it's their favorite ship (if they have been on all or most of the ships) than any other ship. The new ships, such as The Wish, seem to be more Disney forward and the older ships seem more classic cruise ship forward. Being the birthday trip - I would probably tell my own son about the longer option and let him decide after showing pictures or videos.

 

[SL6827]

More days on a better ship, lol. Yes, please.

 

[VGCgroupie]

My first cruise was a 3 night on the Dream. We got off the ship in Nassau and Castaway Cay. Way back then, the DCL bus from AKL to the ship got us on the ship at 3:30. The next day, we went to Atlantis and the following day, we had a nice day at Castaway Cay. The next day, we were off the ship before 8:30. We seriously only saw about half of the ship. We took the 3 day to find out if we liked cruising. We missed so much stuff.

I've done 3 nights and even a 2 night out of my local port. We treated those like resort weekend staycations and I'll do it again because the port is a 30 minute drive from our house. It would have to be a very special cruise for me to do another 3 night in Florida. There's really just not enough time to do everything.

If you're planning on getting off the ship in the ports, you just have to know that you won't fully enjoy the ship amenities. It is a good way to find out if you like cruising, though.

I've never been on the Fantasy. I see more people mention that it's their favorite ship (if they have been on all or most of the ships) than any other ship. The new ships, such as The Wish, seem to be more Disney forward and the older ships seem more classic cruise ship forward. Being the birthday trip - I would probably tell my own son about the longer option and let him decide after showing pictures or videos.

We will get off the ship at Castaway but probably not Nassau this trip.

He saw some videos on the Fantasy and now he is excited. He does think the Wish look a bit cooler since it’s more techy but he is very happy with the Star Wars offerings on the Fantasy he saw.

 

[VGCgroupie]

More days on a better ship, lol. Yes, please.

Glad to know it’s a well liked ship. We have no clue what we are doing so that’s a big plus it’s well liked.

 

[Steelers0854]

Unless you live driving distance to a port, IMO anything less than 7 days isnt worth it. So I would go with the 5 day option if those are the only 2 options.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Unless you live driving distance to a port, IMO anything less than 7 days isnt worth it. So I would go with the 5 day option if those are the only 2 options.

If we did 7 we would miss Moonlight Magic but it could be done. I think we’re okay with 5 and the drive, we shall see how I feel about the drive afterwards.

 

[scrappinginontario]

5 days for sure! You'll have a great time! For me, 3 days would be far too short as you lose some of embarkation day and all of debarkation day.

 

[insureman]

Fantasy 5 days. Better ship.