First-Time Cruisers! (Plus parks, oh my...)

[Princesca]

Hi everybody! Just wanted to thank everyone in advance for all your DCL wisdom. I've never ventured into this forum because I've never imagined being a 'cruise person' but here we are!

We are planning to take our first cruise on the Wish in April 2023. We'll be going four nights, then going on to the parks for six days. It will be my longest Disney trip ever, but we haven't had a vacation since January 2020, and the past couple of years have been *rough*, to say the least, so we're splurging. I feel like I'm pretty good at parks planning (though G+ and ILL provide new reading material) but I'm a total novice at cruises, so here to glean all the wisdom I can from the veterans.

Hopefully might see some of you on the high seas!

 

[Mommb]

Welcome to the cruise forum!

I find that planning a cruise is much easier than planning a trip to the parks, because there's plenty to do that doesn't require advance decision making. Yes, if you want shore excursions, adult dining, alcohol tastings, or a few other special events you need to book in advance, but you can just think about whether you're in the mood for bingo, or a movie, or trivia, or a craft activity as each day goes on. If you're good at park planning, you'll be a great "cruise person."

Happy planning!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

@Mommb is spot on. I do not like the planning REQUIRED for WDW months in advance and constantly as the trip arrives (just did the 60 dining resv Saturday). Your 4-night cruise on the Wish will be magical with relatively (compared to WDW) little planning. Just enjoy the ship. Your dining time may be already assigned, so just read over the menu and the dining room staff will take good care of you. The cruise director will have entertainment, broadway shows, movies, bingo, comedians, vocal groups/bands, cooking demonstrations, etc. all planned so just look over the daily Navigator. No Lightning Lane 7 a.m. reservations required. Relax and enjoy the cruise. Then, get off and get back into the 6-day crazy-packed WDW world. We do the Parks first and then relax on the cruise.

 

[Princesca]

We do the Parks first and then relax on the cruise.

We wanted to do that but we worried about chances of getting COVID in the parks then not getting to cruise, if policies by then are still the same.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We wanted to do that but we worried about chances of getting COVID in the parks then not getting to cruise, if policies by then are still the same.

True, no one knows the state of the world a year from now. We have a one day at EPCOT in May and a 4-night cruise. Then in July, the family is meeting at WDW for 4 days (only 3 days for us then we depart for the 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise). It's the risk we are willing to take.

 

[loislane]

Welcome to cruising! I was going to also suggest parks first and then cruise - but totally understand the covid concern. For our first cruise, we did a 3-night followed by a week in WDW and in hindsight would've done it the other way. We just did WDW in September - right before Genie+ launched - so it was just get in line for whatever you wanted to ride. It was so nice not having our days all planned out other than whatever TS meals we wanted to do. I didn't miss booking FPs in advance, etc. That's why this upcoming vacation in August is just a cruise. Can't wait to relax!