Has anyone been crazy enough to do this???

[Feckless]

I am playing with plans for 2014 (I know that some here share my insanity, so I feel I can share!!! LOL) and I was wondering if anyone had done a split stay coupled with a 3 or 4 day Disney cruise. We have never cruised before, and want to do a short one for our first since they are so expensive, in case we don't like it. We just got back from 10 awesome days at the BC, but at a dinner at Boma, DD fell in love with AKL and I'd like to try AKL CL after reading up on it. However, we would not want to spend all of our stay at WDW at AKL, so I thought a split with BC would be good.

I wanted to put the cruise at the end of the stay and head straight to the airport, but I'm concerned about making it to the airport in time for an international flight that wouldn't require an overnight stay in an airport hotel. We live are a considerable distance away, and to get home by midnight with short stopovers we have to leave by at least 2 p.m. Obviously, a 2 p.m. international flight on the day the boat docks would be cutting it way too close. Also, there is a DIRECT, non-stop flight from our town that will cut about 4 hours from our travel time, but it only flies on Sundays so we will have to go for 2 weeks (13 nights) if we use this flight.

So, I've been toying with this:

AKL CL for 3 nights (4?)
Disney Cruise for 3 nights (4?)
BC CL for however many nights brings us up to 14 days

Does this sound insane???? Has anyone done anything like this?

Thanks for all input.

 

[vicki_c]

I don't think that's that uncommon among those that are cruising and doing the parks.

In 2010, we did 2 nights at AKV-Kidani, 4 night DCL, 3 nights at BCV. It was great.

 

[DVCMikey]

About 2 years ago we stayed one night at OKW and then did a 3 day cruise, followed by about 5 days at SSR. It was a blast. We basically just stayed the first night to be down there, than after that we enjoyed the cruise and then days at disney world.

 

[fredtom]

I don't think it's uncommon either. We did two nights at AKL, four nights at Poly and 3 night cruise on the Wonder.

 

[spokanemom]

I have done it; hotel, cruise, hotel. I think it was great. Since I was already all packed up to get off the ship, it really was no biggie to just have my stuff go to another hotel instead of the airport.

I liked having that time between the cruise and going home to just enjoy. I was going slower on the 3rd leg of the trip, but I really enjoyed that.

Have a fun time!

 

[wdwfan1]

I am playing with plans for 2014 (I know that some here share my insanity, so I feel I can share!!! LOL) and I was wondering if anyone had done a split stay coupled with a 3 or 4 day Disney cruise. We have never cruised before, and want to do a short one for our first since they are so expensive, in case we don't like it. We just got back from 10 awesome days at the BC, but at a dinner at Boma, DD fell in love with AKL and I'd like to try AKL CL after reading up on it. However, we would not want to spend all of our stay at WDW at AKL, so I thought a split with BC would be good.

I wanted to put the cruise at the end of the stay and head straight to the airport, but I'm concerned about making it to the airport in time for an international flight that wouldn't require an overnight stay in an airport hotel. We live are a considerable distance away, and to get home by midnight with short stopovers we have to leave by at least 2 p.m. Obviously, a 2 p.m. international flight on the day the boat docks would be cutting it way too close. Also, there is a DIRECT, non-stop flight from our town that will cut about 4 hours from our travel time, but it only flies on Sundays so we will have to go for 2 weeks (13 nights) if we use this flight.

So, I've been toying with this:

AKL CL for 3 nights (4?)
Disney Cruise for 3 nights (4?)
BC CL for however many nights brings us up to 14 days

Does this sound insane???? Has anyone done anything like this?

Thanks for all input.

Sounds like a good plan to me. A little of everything!!!Enjoy

 

[Feckless]

Thanks all! For those who have done it, would you put the large part of your Disney stay at the front or back of the cruise? What was the transportation like? Could you leave some stuff with Bell Services and take a smaller suitcase on the cruise?

Looking for as many specifics as anyone has time for or is willing to share!

Thanks so much

 

[Lisa71]

JEALOUS already!!

 

[gr8vthsfam]

Hi! We have not done it yet, but will this December. (DH doesn't know it yet though because the cruise is a surprise which he will find out about the night before as an anniversary gift!!)
We are staying at the GF for three nights, then a four night cruise on the Dream, followed by three nights at YC. 10 days total.
I read somewhere once upon a time, that often three nights were the minimum for several discounts, so we have that in place in both locations should a discount come out for our dates. I figured I would put the cruise in the middle, so DH could have some R & R from the parks. Before I came up with putting the cruise in the middle, I had decided that at the end of WDW would probably be best as I thought the cruise would be a more relaxed pace and a better way to end the vacation. But alas after hanging out on the DIS boards, I decided a four night cruise would be more satisfying than a three night cruise, so it just worked out that the cruise is in the middle.
Good luck and have fun with the planning!!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Not crazy at all. We are actually planning something similar in 2014 too!!!

My niece graduates from High School in 2014, and her parents want to plan a Disney trip/cruise for that summer before she starts college. We are just talking about it now, but the plan is to spend 4 nights at the Poly, then a 4 night cruise, then 2 or 3 nights at Universal. We are also playing with the idea of throwing in a few nights at Vero beach too. I think it will be an amazing trip. Have fun planning it!

 

[*Fantasia*]

No big deal.. It's very common to do split stays between the WDW and DCL. I heard people do the WDW and then the DCL and back to WDW parks again. You're not insane at all.. If anything, you're very adventurous! I've done it where we did the cruise and then at WL after the cruise. There is no way we could possibly stay away from staying on Disney since we are there already in Orlando.

 

[mickeynut1]

We haven't done it yet, but are doing it in June 2013 . We are going for 9 or 10 nights with a Disney stay before and after the cruise......3 nights Disney resort/3 night cruise/3 or 4 nights Disney resort .

 

[Epcot650]

I'm jealous! We did 4 days followed by a 3 day cruise and were sad to leave. It would be amazing to come back and spend more time at WDW after that!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Putting the cruise in the middle makes sense to me. Unless you've got a rental car, Disney doesn't help you get from hotel to hotel on a regular split stay. This way, you can use Disney transfers to/from the airport and cruise.

I've done a land/sea before. Cruise at the end. There's thread after thread out there comparing land/sea and sea/land but I think I like the chance to relax after our typical commando land portion.

Have a great trip!

 

[goherdibg]

One of the downsides to doing a WDW/DCL/WDW trip is the loss of close to 2 days in the parks due to travel from/to WDW. Since you are doing a 14 days it may not matter much, however.

If you put the cruise at either the beginning or the end you would only lose 1 day of travel - assuming your arrival and departure times remained the same.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Unless you've got a rental car, Disney doesn't help you get from hotel to hotel on a regular split stay. This way, you can use Disney transfers to/from the airport and cruise.

Disney actually will move your bags from one hotel to another with a split stay. We always have our car so we move our bags ourselves, but I know tons of people that do split stays and Disney moves the bags all the time. That won't be an issue.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I am playing with plans for 2014 (I know that some here share my insanity, so I feel I can share!!! LOL) and I was wondering if anyone had done a split stay coupled with a 3 or 4 day Disney cruise. We have never cruised before, and want to do a short one for our first since they are so expensive, in case we don't like it. We just got back from 10 awesome days at the BC, but at a dinner at Boma, DD fell in love with AKL and I'd like to try AKL CL after reading up on it. However, we would not want to spend all of our stay at WDW at AKL, so I thought a split with BC would be good.

I wanted to put the cruise at the end of the stay and head straight to the airport, but I'm concerned about making it to the airport in time for an international flight that wouldn't require an overnight stay in an airport hotel. We live are a considerable distance away, and to get home by midnight with short stopovers we have to leave by at least 2 p.m. Obviously, a 2 p.m. international flight on the day the boat docks would be cutting it way too close. Also, there is a DIRECT, non-stop flight from our town that will cut about 4 hours from our travel time, but it only flies on Sundays so we will have to go for 2 weeks (13 nights) if we use this flight.

So, I've been toying with this:

AKL CL for 3 nights (4?)
Disney Cruise for 3 nights (4?)
BC CL for however many nights brings us up to 14 days

Does this sound insane???? Has anyone done anything like this?

Thanks for all input.

Yes, we have done this twice! First recommendation, do the 4 night cruise!!!! The 3 night is too short. I'd also recommend putting your heaviest amount of park days prior to the cruise. We have found that DCL caters to you so much that when you come back to WDW, it is just such a big let down. They are two totally different styles of vacations and DCL spoils you tremendously! when we did trips this way it made them about 11 or 12 days long.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[stitchlovestink]

One of the downsides to doing a WDW/DCL/WDW trip is the loss of close to 2 days in the parks due to travel from/to WDW. Since you are doing a 14 days it may not matter much, however.

If you put the cruise at either the beginning or the end you would only lose 1 day of travel - assuming your arrival and departure times remained the same.

I must disagree on this one. We got off the ship, took the shuttle to pick up our rental car and were in WDW in our hotel lobby by 10:30. We were in the park at 11:15 which is about the time we normally go in maybe a bit earlier. You don't lose the whole day on disembarkation day, just a couple of couple of hours as long as you don't drag your heels!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[Missytara]

My first three trips (2000, 2002, and 2004) I did the land/sea package. At that time, you booked the trip together, did the parks first and the cruise last, but you always checked into the Cruise line desk. You booked by category levels, based on resorts and cabins.

So like I got a moderate resort, with an interior stateroom on level 5. It used to be everything was covered under one reservation number.

Now you have to book it as a cruise with a land package and then you have to book transfers if you want to use their transportation and have them transfer your luggage as well. But the advantage is you can stay at any level resort and cabin you want; so I like that flexibility.

 

[padawans]

I am playing with plans for 2014 (I know that some here share my insanity, so I feel I can share!!! LOL) and I was wondering if anyone had done a split stay coupled with a 3 or 4 day Disney cruise. We have never cruised before, and want to do a short one for our first since they are so expensive, in case we don't like it. We just got back from 10 awesome days at the BC, but at a dinner at Boma, DD fell in love with AKL and I'd like to try AKL CL after reading up on it. However, we would not want to spend all of our stay at WDW at AKL, so I thought a split with BC would be good.

I wanted to put the cruise at the end of the stay and head straight to the airport, but I'm concerned about making it to the airport in time for an international flight that wouldn't require an overnight stay in an airport hotel. We live are a considerable distance away, and to get home by midnight with short stopovers we have to leave by at least 2 p.m. Obviously, a 2 p.m. international flight on the day the boat docks would be cutting it way too close. Also, there is a DIRECT, non-stop flight from our town that will cut about 4 hours from our travel time, but it only flies on Sundays so we will have to go for 2 weeks (13 nights) if we use this flight.

So, I've been toying with this:

AKL CL for 3 nights (4?)
Disney Cruise for 3 nights (4?)
BC CL for however many nights brings us up to 14 days

Does this sound insane???? Has anyone done anything like this?

Thanks for all input.

Yes we have done it. BW before and BC after cruise. We are doing it again next year Poly before cruise and BC after. It's a great vacation. Not crazy at all.