Help me decide: WDW or DCL

[cruiser21]

I can't agree with this. Disneyland has its charm and fun, but it's located right off a freeway and its castle is underwhelming compared to MK's. The Magic Kingdom, by contrast, seems to be a whole other world. Definitely a must-do experience.

However, let's not derail the thread by getting into a WDW vs. Disneyland debate, which is not what the OP is inquiring about.

I was comparing just the two parks not the whole experience. I would agree WDW is a better overall experience. No it's not a debate between the two parks, but someone mentioned OP should spend a day a MK if she'd never been. I personally wouldn't waste my time going to MK in Florida if I had the option of a cruise and had already been to Disneyland. If the OP was asking should she spend a week at WDW or a week on a Cruise I'd probably have a different opinion. With three days I'd go with the cruise.

 

[cruisehopeful]

1) DCL 3 night Bahamas on the Magic. Pro: Easy, done, relax Con: Will get off on 10/30 have to kill a couple of days and if I take kids, what to do on Halloween?
2) WDW Figure about the same 3 days at the park. Pros: choice of dates Cons: this just sounds more tiring to plan and it will come out slightly more expensive.

I go with 1.) because it is easy and less expensive.
I have only visited WDW once and only had 3 days like you will have. It really isn't enough time. Then, you have the extra money and the extra work involved. Take it easy and kick back on the Magic and allow yourself to be served. You are already going to be working for the other part of your business trip.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I know Halloween is a fun tradition, but would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating? They're on a great vacation. I know it's not just the candy, but also the fun of dressing up and the freedom of the experience, but still, you could do dress-up for Pirate Night (do they have that on your cruise?) or just for the parks. They're still young enough. You can always buy a big thing of candy for the house for after your trip, as you won't be home to give out any to your neighbourhood, anyway.

If you really wanted the traditional halloween (no flames, please, just throwing this out there), you could find an Orlando neighbourhood and take them over to trick-or-treat there for an hour. But really, is it that important to the kids, compared to everything else they'd get to do instead?

 

[amberwc]

I know Halloween is a fun tradition, but would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating? They're on a great vacation. I know it's not just the candy, but also the fun of dressing up and the freedom of the experience, but still, you could do dress-up for Pirate Night (do they have that on your cruise?) or just for the parks. They're still young enough. You can always buy a big thing of candy for the house for after your trip, as you won't be home to give out any to your neighbourhood, anyway.

If you really wanted the traditional halloween (no flames, please, just throwing this out there), you could find an Orlando neighbourhood and take them over to trick-or-treat there for an hour. But really, is it that important to the kids, compared to everything else they'd get to do instead?

Probably bigger in my mind than it will be in theirs. We REALLY don't need the candy, they do a trunk or treat at church before Halloween and get plenty there. Just wondering about the experiences at Disney on Halloween.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I know Halloween is a fun tradition, but would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating? They're on a great vacation. I know it's not just the candy, but also the fun of dressing up and the freedom of the experience, but still, you could do dress-up for Pirate Night (do they have that on your cruise?) or just for the parks. They're still young enough. You can always buy a big thing of candy for the house for after your trip, as you won't be home to give out any to your neighbourhood, anyway.

If you really wanted the traditional halloween (no flames, please, just throwing this out there), you could find an Orlando neighbourhood and take them over to trick-or-treat there for an hour. But really, is it that important to the kids, compared to everything else they'd get to do instead?

I mean the following in a NICE way. Not flaming you at all. If anything, I am seeing the flaws in myself, and chuckling.


I read the PPs battle over DL vs MK, and I thought, isn't that funny how some people have such strong and opposite opinions on things.

Then I read your post. "would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating?"

My first thought wasn't even words. It was primal. NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!? Then I laughed at myself.

You are right of course. It isn't a big deal, and the alternatives you suggested (dressing up for pirate night, buying candy for home, trick-or-treating in Orlando) are perfectly reasonable, well thought-out alternatives. Plus the kids are on a cruise or at WDW, so how could they complain?

But none of that could over-ride the little light in my head that was still flashing: NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!?

My mom always made our costumes and from an early age I really got into it. By the time I was 8 or 10 I would bike around the neighborhood and map out a route with loops so that I could go back to the house periodically and so that I wouldn't cross back past houses I had already done. I did that set of routes for years. Friends would come to my neighborhood to do it with me. We would start right after school and go until we were forced to stop. The costumes, the freedom, the adventure, the candy. I never told any of that to my sons, but they were just as into it as I had been. They still go out now, even though they are in High School. (Don't flame me for that. I tell them it is OK as long as they have good costumes, and if people don't want to give them candy, that's fine.) They just LOVE the process, just as I did.

OK. I'm done laughing at myself. I guess we all have little things that just make so much sense to us, it is hard to see it any other way.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I mean the following in a NICE way. Not flaming you at all. If anything, I am seeing the flaws in myself, and chuckling.


I read the PPs battle over DL vs MK, and I thought, isn't that funny how some people have such strong and opposite opinions on things.

Then I read your post. "would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating?"

My first thought wasn't even words. It was primal. NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!? Then I laughed at myself.

You are right of course. It isn't a big deal, and the alternatives you suggested (dressing up for pirate night, buying candy for home, trick-or-treating in Orlando) are perfectly reasonable, well thought-out alternatives. Plus the kids are on a cruise or at WDW, so how could they complain?

But none of that could over-ride the little light in my head that was still flashing: NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!?

My mom always made our costumes and from an early age I really got into it. By the time I was 8 or 10 I would bike around the neighborhood and map out a route with loops so that I could go back to the house periodically and so that I wouldn't cross back past houses I had already done. I did that set of routes for years. Friends would come to my neighborhood to do it with me. We would start right after school and go until we were forced to stop. The costumes, the freedom, the adventure, the candy. I never told any of that to my sons, but they were just as into it as I had been. They still go out now, even though they are in High School. (Don't flame me for that. I tell them it is OK as long as they have good costumes, and if people don't want to give them candy, that's fine.) They just LOVE the process, just as I did.

OK. I'm done laughing at myself. I guess we all have little things that just make so much sense to us, it is hard to see it any other way.

I applaud your organization, particularly as a child.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I applaud your organization, particularly as a child.

Yeah, I guess I was destined to grow up and plan cruises! I could never understand why anyone WOULDN'T plan out their T/T route. You mean you just head off in one direction? When do you stop? How do you get home? What happens if you get to an area you already did? You backtrack? I didn't even like crossing the street back and forth (too time consuming). Most of my routes did one side of the street at one time and the other side of the street later. Maybe I should have become a postman. Missed my calling? Besides? What else did I have to do after school in October? I don't know if I still have any of the maps I drew, but I can see them in my memory for sure.

 

[Trip planner]

I missed Trick or treating when I was 9 due to a vacation (we actually travelled home on 10/31) and I was VERY upset.
I would go to WDW and do MNSSHP. We went a few years ago and it was one of our fav WDW experiences. Your kids will get a chance to TT, even if it is not on Halloween (10/31). If cost is an issue, Maybe you can do the cruise and just the party. (If the stars align and the dates work out)

 

[scrappinginontario]

Then Disney World! Look into POP. Buy tickets for the Halloween party.

Exactly this! If the tickets for the Halloween party are out of budget, a day in the MK the same day as a party is often less crowded than other days. At least until 4pm when party guests begin to arrive.

 

[mmouse37]

If your 3 day cruise is one of the Halloween on the High Seas cruises...which it should being that close to Halloween....then they do dress up and trick or treating on board. Many groups form their own trick or treating with other guests as well.

We just got back last night from 5 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge savannah view and did all the parks with six adults and two 18 month olds. The weather was perfect for touring the parks but even so it is exhausting, even with mid day naps. The babies were great but I would still opt for the cruise. So much less planning and so much more relaxing.

And, I absolutely hate the MDE app. We had trouble with MDE even before we left for the trip. All the pre planning got messed up and the app hardly ever worked in the parks or at the hotel. We also had many glitches with our reservations. Took us over an hour to check in as they had linked the wrong MB's to the wrong reservations. With 3 rooms it took forever to sort out.

I love WDW but hate how much planning has to go into now. It can be logistical nightmare.

MJ

 

[crabbygal902]

I'd do the 3 night cruise then go to WDW. Stay at a great hotel, and let my budget be the deciding point: Pop, POFQ, or AKL. Hang out at the pool, enjoy the amenities, and have a nice dinner somewhere. On the 31st, I'd to to Disney Springs and/or play mini golf (the WDW courses are really fun). By 4 pm, I'd go to the Halloween Party at the MK and spend the evening there.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

...

Then I read your post. "would your kids really be disappointed about not getting to go trick-or-treating?"I

My first thought wasn't even words. It was primal. NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!? Then I laughed at myself.

You are right of course. It isn't a big deal, and the alternatives you suggested (dressing up for pirate night, buying candy for home, trick-or-treating in Orlando) are perfectly reasonable, well thought-out alternatives. Plus the kids are on a cruise or at WDW, so how could they complain?

But none of that could over-ride the little light in my head that was still flashing: NO TRICK OR TREATING!?!?!?

My mom always made our costumes and from an early age I really got into it. By the time I was 8 or 10 I would bike around the neighborhood and map out a route with loops so that I could go back to the house periodically and so that I wouldn't cross back past houses I had already done. I did that set of routes for years. Friends would come to my neighborhood to do it with me. We would start right after school and go until we were forced to stop. The costumes, the freedom, the adventure, the candy. I never told any of that to my sons, but they were just as into it as I had been. They still go out now, even though they are in High School. (Don't flame me for that. I tell them it is OK as long as they have good costumes, and if people don't want to give them candy, that's fine.) They just LOVE the process, just as I did.

OK. I'm done laughing at myself. I guess we all have little things that just make so much sense to us, it is hard to see it any other way.

Yes! I totally get this!! My first response was OF COURSE they have to go ToT'ing! It's not just about the candy! ** MNSSHP would be perfect if the crowds are bearable for OP!

**Kind of like even though I'd love to be on a Merrytime cruise on Christmas Day, I can't resolve not having Santa have visited us down the chimney at home...

 

[mevelandry]

Wow you guys are awesome! For clarity, DH and I have been to WDW, just not the kids. I can't believe how expensive it is! I was thinking we could do what a PP suggested and tack on 2 days/nights, and just focus on one park - like Epcot or the Hollywood Studios since kids love Star Wars. We need to plan and save for a DL or another WDW big trip after StarWars Lands open. I am curious about the kids trick or treating in Disney Springs or staying out of the chaos of Halloween... If I start saving, I think we can do both.
I was looking at Art of Animation because the family suite is cheaper than the deluxe resorts. And I found a Navigators Verandah for the Magic. Still an expensive trip, but airfare for DH and I is covered by the business trip.

Wouldn't two connecting rooms at a moderate hotel be cheaper than a suite at AOA?

I'm asking because I made the switch from 1 AOA suite to 2 connecting CBR rooms for our next Land and Sea trip and we saved about 150$.

 

[amberwc]

Wouldn't two connecting rooms at a moderate hotel be cheaper than a suite at AOA?

I'm asking because I made the switch from 1 AOA suite to 2 connecting CBR rooms for our next Land and Sea trip and we saved about 150$.

The suite was $318/night, the cheapest Moderate was close to $250 night...

 

[mevelandry]

The suite was $318/night, the cheapest Moderate was close to $250 night...

We're not in promo yet. Sometimes the price difference is impressive when the promo is released. That's what happened for us.

 

[Shanti]

We're not in promo yet. Sometimes the price difference is impressive when the promo is released. That's what happened for us.

Discounts make a big difference, especially with deluxes being 25% or more off the original price. These tend to come out a few months in advance.

 

[Shanti]

One thing to be aware of is that sometimes the cheapest rooms for a given resort are not displayed on the "All Resorts" availability results page. For example, standard rooms at both Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary are much, much cheaper than their higher category rooms (Savannah-View and Tower Rooms, respectively), but the standard room prices typically are not the ones displayed next to the resort name when you pull up availability for all of the resorts at once for your dates. I always click on Animal Kingdom Lodge to see if the cheaper standard rooms are available, and they often are, at rates which, with the discount, are only slightly above some non-discounted moderates. Same with the Comtemporary.

 

[seacruise]

In your situation I would probably do the 3 day cruise. Definitely much more relaxing and simpler to plan. WDW is a pain in the butt to plan and i'm not sure it's worth it for 3 days. Plus DL/DCA are better anyway so you aren't really missing anything. ;0

At WDW we prefer the Contemporary for being able to walk to MK and monorail access to Epcot. I hate the busses so try to avoid that as much as possible. We don't really spend that much time in the resort so proximity and ease of transportation is the biggest factor for us in choosing.

 

[disneydreamer781]

I would almost always choose WDW over DCL primarily because I'm a DVC member and DCL is very expensive. The 3 night cruise is the least expensive of course but I'm not particularly fond of that itinerary. Also, for me, cruising is OK but I'm not a huge fan of cruising. DH and I will be taking a cruise this November, after not taking one since 2000, just for a change of pace and the fact that it cruises of our NYC. But for me personally it will always be WDW. It's hard to speak for someone else but I would much prefer the MNSSHP over any Halloween festivities happening on DCL.

 

[amberwc]

THANK YOU ALL! Decision made. We will be at WDW! I am excited as I have something to plan! It's my distraction from thinking about work 24/7.
Will continue to watch for promos and prices to shift as we get closer, but we have a deposit down and now working to keep it a secret from the kids for the next months. That's where the real challenge lies!