First cruise-MNSSHP night before or after cruise?

[peaches0313]

We are booked on our first ever Disney cruise this fall. Just a 4 night. Staying at WDW the night before, and the night after the cruise. Probably doing pool/ MK both those days. Would you do MNSSHP the night before or after the cruise? I was thinking after.. maybe just head back to resort, do pool all day, then party. Thoughts? I figured the night before the cruise we wouldn't want to be up super late. Thanks!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I agree, I think a MNSSHP would be a great end to that vacation!

As far as not being up super late the night before, I do not think there's any reason to get up super early the morning of a cruise. My reason for not going the night before is just to give me a happy reason to willingly leave the ship!

 

[squirk]

I say "before".

Embarking on the cruise is a great way to relax after cranking it up to 11 the night before at the party. Personally, I would have a hard time getting all zen and chilled out on the ship knowing I was going to have to kick it into high gear as soon as I got off.

@bobbiwoz is right - there is no need to get up early on embarkation day. You can sleep in, get to the port around noon, walk onto the ship and your cabin(s) will be ready for you.

Also, don't forget that on debarkation day, you have to get up pretty darn early, especially if your dining is first seating. That makes for a very long day if you are going to lean hard into the party that same evening.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We are booked on our first ever Disney cruise this fall. Just a 4 night. Staying at WDW the night before, and the night after the cruise. Probably doing pool/ MK both those days. Would you do MNSSHP the night before or after the cruise? I was thinking after.. maybe just head back to resort, do pool all day, then party. Thoughts? I figured the night before the cruise we wouldn't want to be up super late. Thanks!

I totally agree with @squirk, debarkation day is an early morning I wouldn't want to do MNSSHP that night.

 

[Flossbolna]

I think it rather depends on your group.

Since there is no reason to have a very early morning on the day your cruise departs, going to the MNSSHP the day before would be a nice way to start the vacation. If you take Disney transportation to the port, you will not leave early in the morning anyway. And even if you have private transportation or your own car, you can set your departure time at WDW as you wish. It is a little over an hour to the port, so leaving at 10am would still get you to the port early enough. I personally like arriving around noon as the first morning crowds have already disappeared and it is easy to get through the terminal.

I like the idea of party after the cruise, too. This will give you something exciting to look forward to after the cruise and it will make getting off the ship less sad. However, the last night of the cruise usually is a short one. Even if you skip breakfast (or just get a few things from Cabanas) you will not be able to sleep later than 7am as usually around that time the announcements start. So, depending on your group, adding a late night that day might be too much. If your group is good at taking naps, I would think it is very doable though!

 

[peaches0313]

Thanks all! I will have to think about it. If we do it the night before the cruise, that is also a very long day as we will be up VERY early to catch our flight that day to Orlando. Much earlier than 7 am. So, night after the cruise (even if wake at 7 to disembark) may actually be less of a long day for us.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

If you are doing a cruise in the fall are you sure that the cruise is not a Halloween on the highseas cruise? If it is you get lots of events and spooky goings on there!

If not then I would do it post cruise. I always like to go out with a bang! Plus not having to buy a park ticket that day. Just a party ticket. Sweet.

 

[peaches0313]

If you are doing a cruise in the fall are you sure that the cruise is not a Halloween on the highseas cruise? If it is you get lots of events and spooky goings on there!

If not then I would do it post cruise. I always like to go out with a bang! Plus not having to buy a park ticket that day. Just a party ticket. Sweet.

My quotes exactly! It IS a halloween cruise, BUT we LOVE Halloween in this family. Also, 3 years ago my youngest was supposed to go to the MNSSHP but got severely injured and spent 8 hours in the Orlando Children's hospital... so, want to do the party again for her as well

 

[Dug720]

Also to my knowledge party dates have not been released yet, so do you know for sure both are an option?

 

[peaches0313]

Also to my knowledge party dates have not been released yet, so do you know for sure both are an option?

Looking at past years, both likely will be. Looking at a Sunday and a Friday.

 

[Dug720]

Looking at past years, both likely will be. Looking at a Sunday and a Friday.

Just something to consider. Things can change sometimes.

 

[peaches0313]

Just something to consider. Things can change sometimes.

Good point though... you gave me the good idea to maybe book the dinner we want to do on the non-party night (either before or after the cruise) both of those nights in case they only offer the party one of those nights. Then we would still have our favorite dinner booked the other night, if that makes sense

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

My quotes exactly! It IS a halloween cruise, BUT we LOVE Halloween in this family. Also, 3 years ago my youngest was supposed to go to the MNSSHP but got severely injured and spent 8 hours in the Orlando Children's hospital... so, want to do the party again for her as well

How great it is a Halloween cruise. I am there with you re Halloween. We have also done both the cruise and party. Sorry your DD was injured. I hope she enjoys it!

 

[Flossbolna]

Thanks all! I will have to think about it. If we do it the night before the cruise, that is also a very long day as we will be up VERY early to catch our flight that day to Orlando. Much earlier than 7 am. So, night after the cruise (even if wake at 7 to disembark) may actually be less of a long day for us.

I think party after cruise is better in this case than party after long travel day.

Do you have main dining or second dining? If you have main dining, you will be assigned a very early time for breakfast that last day. I would recommend skipping that breakfast. There is breakfast available at the buffet where you can eat at a later time than one you were assigned.

 

[peaches0313]

I think party after cruise is better in this case than party after long travel day.

Do you have main dining or second dining? If you have main dining, you will be assigned a very early time for breakfast that last day. I would recommend skipping that breakfast. There is breakfast available at the buffet where you can eat at a later time than one you were assigned.

Main dining.. so totally fine with skipping assigned breakfast. Is room service an option morning of last cruise day?

 

[Dug720]

Main dining.. so totally fine with skipping assigned breakfast. Is room service an option morning of last cruise day?

No.

 

[peaches0313]

No.

Ok, buffet it is!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Main dining.. so totally fine with skipping assigned breakfast. Is room service an option morning of last cruise day?

No. You can have one person run up to Cabanas to bring back a plate with muffins and such though. Or order food from room service the evening before and just put it in the fridge over night. People are reporting that the carafes with coffee and hot water for tea keep their content hot quite well. So if you order them just before you go to sleep, you might still have hot drinks in the morning. Of course the drinks station has hot drinks as well.

 

[peaches0313]

Thanks everyone! Been to Disney many times but new to cruising.. so much to learn! I can see us grabbing QS stuff like that every morning actually, or room service. Totally not morning people! Will be off bright and early for any excursions or Castaway Key but adding a breakfast before that is a bit much for us- LOL!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We did the party the night before a cruise a few years ago and I really regretted it. We did have 2 kids who were 6 and 8 at the time. They were OK, but I was exhausted the day we got on the ship. I think I'd feel differently if they were teens or if it was a group of adults though.