Help! 4 night vs. 3 night?

[mbw12]

Ok, need some advice here from all of your cruise experts!

We are DVC members, with two children ages 6 and 4. Needless to say, they go to Disney atleast once a year.

We are now planning our first ever Disney cruise with them! So......what is everyones thoughts: 3 night vs. 4 night? will we feel rushed with the 3 night cruise, but still have 3 days in Disney World! Or should we just do only 2 or 3 days in Disney and do the 4 night cruise! (we drive) OH...the decision, decision, decisions! In one way, I feel like the kids (and us) will feel a little cheated if we only do 2 days in WDW....but on the other hand, I think we might feel a little cheated only doing 3 nights on the cruise, also....it is a vicious circle! LOL!!!!!

Also, what are your opinions on doing WDW AFTER the cruise. I know most people suggest doing the cruise last, but in our situatiion we might only have the choice of doing the cruise first and than WDW.

I am sure I will have loads m,ore questions for all of you as we are planning a MAY 2005 cruise......lots of time to plan and ask many, many, many questions!!!!!!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

3 day is too short 4 days is a tease and 7 should give you the time to play and relax. our first 3 day went by so fast and we tried to do everything. there is so much to do on the DCL ships that you want to try everything. on our 3 day we hadn't yet left the port and we decided to go on a 7 day.

 

[mbw12]

thanks, but the 7-day just really isn't an option for us right now.
I really was interested in some thoughts ont he 3 night or the 4 night?

 

[confal1]

My DD who is now 5 and I have been doing Disney twice a year. My DH does not like to vacation and is a certifiend work-a-holic. That being said we finally got him to agree to one vaca. a year. We did 5 nights at the B.C. followed by a 4 night cruise 2 years ago. HE LOVED IT. and my DD did not feel cheated at all. They have so much to do on the cruise for the kids. At the clubs they had tea with Wendy and visits from some other characters, plus tons of opportunities to have pics and autographs. I would definately say the 4 night and if possible do Disney 1st and then the cruise. Your kids will be so psyched up on the cruise you won't have to worry, plus a huge bonus is that you get time alone. I love my kids, we now have a DS 8 mos. old, but time alone with your spouse is a must. Anyways please ask any other questions. my DH insisted on booking the 7 night and we are going in Nov. on the Western and my DD is very excited to be back on the ship. Also if you do the cruise please do not feel that you have to get off at every port. We got off in Nassau and did not do an excursion and felt it was a huge waste of time. Book an excursion if you want to get off or my suggestion, and what we plan on doing next time, is just to stay on the ship and enjoy the pools and other activities while the ship is basically empty.

 

[MarkRG]

The only difference between the 3 and 4 day cruise is the 4-day has a 'day at sea'. An advantage to this is also if they cannot dock at Castaway Cay on the first try they have an extra day to do so.

 

[howardk613]

The 4 day cruise includes the heavenly day at sea and I would recommend it over the 3 day. Our 1st 2 cruises were 4 day ones and our next was a 7 day. We are counting down to another 7 day. Every day on one of those amazing ships is terrific.

 

[westjones]

We drive from Indiana, and have found that when we only have 1 week vacation, the 4 day works best for us time wise.

--Leave Friday night after work and drive 4 hours.
--Saturday drive 13 hours the rest of the way.
--Sunday board the Disney Wonder
--Thursday disembark and head to WDW (should be able to be in a park for lunch that day).
--Friday enjoy a second day at WDW
--Saturday leave for home
--Sunday finish the drive home


NOW, if you can fly, the 3 day works best (with the DVC points system of more points for weekend stays):

--Sunday fly to WDW
--Monday-Wednesday spend at the parks
--Thursday board the Disney Wonder
--Sunday disembark and go to the airport


On the 3 or 4 day you will get all of the really good shows. On the 4 day you will probably get a movie or variety show one night.

If you have more than 1 week vacation, you will have more options. We have from Saturday one week to Sunday of the next week (9 days) to get in our vacation before DH has to be back at work. Do when driving, we pick the 4 day cruise with 2 days at WDW.

DJ

 

[CheapMom]

The 3 day will save you spending weekend points at WDW and more easily allows you to do the parks 1st, then the cruise.
The 4 day, in my case, was not much more expensive than the 3 day. I booked a 3 day a few months ago and recently switched it to a 4 after reviewing navigators. It just looked like 'so much to do- not enough time'
Good luck

 

[jwann]

We've done both the 3- and the 4-day. The extra day at sea is great! Also, the DISer with the big fish in his post (an accountant) will tell you that the per hour cost of a 4-day is better than the 3-day -- you get more for your money with a 4-day!

 

[Verandah Man]

Hi, It's your neighbor from down the street, Ha! Ha! Yes, mbw12 lives just down the street from me, and her DH and I have the same employer, can you believe that??? We bumped into one another on the DVC board. Anyhow, since I've only cruised once on a 7 day, I would suggest you taking the 4 day, I'm sure you, DH, and the Dkids, will really enjoy it!!!

 

[mbw12]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
Hi, It's your neighbor from down the street, Ha! Ha! Yes, mbw12 lives just down the street from me, and her DH and I have the same employer, can you believe that??? We bumped into one another on the DVC board.b]

And you are now becoming my new DISboard best friend!!! LOL!

 

[Lobstergal]

Just back from the 3 day wonder--4/22.
We kept saying to ourselves that living forever on the ship would be nice--and since that was not an option...definately the day at sea would have been great.

I'd say do the 4 day--for sure. And I'd do the cruise then disney--we liked the idea of not having to 'end the magic' at the end of the cruise, we still had 2 more days to look forward to. (made it a LITTLE easier to get off the ship)