Has Anyone Cruised Without Going To Parks?

[mom23]

I have 3 children ages 6,7, and 9. Dh and I are planning to take them on our first ever Disney Cruise in October. We have been to Disney World and associated parks twice before with them so we thought that we would try Universal this time. Basically, we thought we would arrive 4 days early, spend 2 days at Universal, one day at NASA, and then do a 4 day cruise. It is making me a little nervous that we are not going to Disney World while we are there but I feel like the kids will love Universal and the cruise is so expensive that I feel like we will get the "disney experience". Has anyone gone on the cruise without going to Disney? Were you satisfied with the trip?

Robin

 

[UGAFan0829]

Yes, we just got back from the Jan. 13 Wonder, and didn't go to Disney. Actually, the DH has never been to any of the Disney parks, and I've only been to Epcot and MGM. And we still had a fabulous time. I think that you will be fine doing just what you have planned, or even if you just took the cruise alone. There's enough Disney on the ship that you don't have to go to the World to get your fix!

 

[DOCTORRICK]

I have done the same thing once before, and am doing a universal/cruise combo in april. How much you will like universal, will depend on the kids. If your kids like fast "thrill" rides, they will love universal. That's not all they have, but I would definitely say they are more geared toward the thrill ride lovers.

Disney's strength is the character and the "disney magic" If you have girls who love the princesses and dream about cinderella castle, they will be disappointed by universal.

Just my 2 cents.

Have fun!

 

[*Fantasia*]

We did just that this past Dec. We cruised, then went to stay at WL for one night and never went to any parks. We did not miss any parks, we've done many times.

Your family will enjoy Universal. If you can stay on-site you can take advantage of FOTL (front of the line).

 

[deedz]

Hi there. I too am sailing without the Parks. DH has never been to the Parks nor would he care too, unlike me who brought DD this past summer. We did MK and MGM, and perhaps in the future we'll get DH to Epcot! But immediately after this Cruise, I have a day to spend in Downtown Disney before the airport, and I think that'll be fine! Especially since there are so many Characters onboard, and the whole ship is Disney, every room, every soap, everything!!!

 

[ivanova]

Yup, this last cruise (nov 2004) we never got near WDW and it was just fine. And for the Aug 2005 repo cruise we won't go to WDW either....

 

[chasbos]

That is our plan for for next week! We are flying in on Friday and heading straight to the Port and then sailing on Sunday and spending one more night at the Port before flying home on next Friday. We did 7 days at Disney 2 years ago and see no point in going again so soon - we are looking for relaxation and calmness! My girls can play by the pool and on the beach for hours.

I had originally thought of staying at at WDW hotel the last night but my TA thought it would be too much hassle for only 1 night.

We are planning on going to KSC one day though.

 

[TheWog]

We did 7 day cruise and no parks. I have been once back in the 70's as a kid, but other than that no Disney. DS7 really wants to go though. So soon I think we will be heading there.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yep. Of course I probably don't count.

 

[mmouse37]

Yep....we just came off the Jan 6th Wonder and were in Delray Beach a few days before and spent a few days in Clearwater after the cruise...did not go to the parks at all, but did hit Downtown Disney for the evening before our cruise since we were staying in an airport area hotel and wanted to do something other than hit the mall.

We have been to WDW 50 plus times with the kids and they have no problem missing them...we all really enjoy the cruise so much more now!!!

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

We flew down from the Pacific Northwest and got in late in the evening on a Friday, made it to the hotel - it's restaurants just closed, didn't feel like catching a cab and going out somewhere else. Just Crashed. Got up the next morning and had to hurry to catch the shuttle back to the airport to catch the DCL bus to the port. Got to the airport, got on a bus, made it to the port around 11:15. Still no dinner, and no breakfast either. Got on the ship and pigged out - it was kinda wonderful not having to worry about getting too much food from the buffet.

7 days later got off of the ship, caught the bus to the airport, checked in - REJECTED!!! Since 9/11 you can only check your luggage within 4 hours of departure. Rented a car and drove to Downtown Disney via driving up to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot, over to look at the Animal Kingdom, past MGM, past EPCOT (hey, did all four parks in 15 minutes ). Had lunch at Wolfgang Pucks (you know ease yourself back into reality, had some ice cream and choclolate at Ghirardelli played at the Lego store a little, wandered around the World of Disney store and many of the other shops then back to the airport for the long stinking flight home.

So, no, we didn't do any of the parks when we went for the cruise, and it was one of the hardest things we ever had to do - so close, yet so far.

 

[DCLgodess]

I have cruised twice without going to Disney and I have felt very satisfied with the trip.

 

[tvguy]

Sadly, we flew cross country just for the cruise. Getting more than a week off at a time from work is tough....but frankly, there is no way we could afford to do both a cruise and any disney park in the same year. Would like to see how WDW is different from Disneyland.....we try to get down to Disneyland every couple of years and need 4 or 5 days for that and California Adventure, I think I'd need 2 weeks to do everything in Florida!!!

 

[mom23]

Thanks for everyone who responded! I feel much better about my choice. Dh and I have been to Universal without the kids and we think that the kids will enjoy the characters and Dr. Suess and such. They are really excited because we bought a video while we were there that does a "tour" of the parks so they sorta know what to expect. (Of course going on the "JAWS" ride before the cruise may not be such a brilliant plan! )After staying onsite at Universal and having FOTL privledges last time we went, I could not imagine NOT staying onsite again. That is worth its weight in GOLD! I am not sure we waited in line for anything while others were waiting 2 hours to ride certain things! Anyway, thanks again!

Robin

 

[princesspumpkin]

I did that June 2003 (and didn't even fly down the night before or stay the night after). Next month, although we will arrive 2 days before and stay at POP, we will be doing Universa for one day before the cruise. DD is 8 and loves the thrill rides. Before reading the Dis, I never even knew that people took such long vacations that included both WDW and a cruise.