I want to cruise, but I don't!

[fanofdisney]

We've discussed taking a Disney cruise, which I'm sure I would love. BUT- I would really miss the Disney hotels, the parks, everything! I feel if I'm spending the money to go down there, why go elsewhere? Such a dilemma......

 

[melomouse]

Can you do both????????? If it doesn't HAVE to be DCL - and don't get me started on THAT one....you have options.

A couple of years ago,in my first summer as a single parent, my Mom joined us for her first WDW trip at WL for 5 or 6 days, then I drove the rental to Port Canaveral and picked up a ship for a 4 night cruise. It was terrific and we got the best of both worlds. True, Mom picked up some of the WDW cost, but it was much less pricey than you'd think. Lots of ships sail out of Port Canaveral, and we all had an awesome time!

PM me if you like.

melomouse

 

[VEROFORUS]

We have been on the Disney Wonder 4 day Cruise twice. It was amazing!!! We usually would spend 2 or 3 days at WDW before or after our cruise, because, I was the same way, I love the parks and didn't want to miss them if we were in Florida. However, our entire family, children included, would now choose a Disney Cruise over the parks. The cruises are so magical, and you are surrounded by Disney top quality and service. There is so much for the kids to do(can you say free ice cream the entire cruise?), the shows are incredible, and the food and service is fabulous. And I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful Castaway Cay is! Our next cruise will be a seven day(hopefully with 2 stops at Castaway Cay). I hope you consider the cruise, it is an experience you will never forget!! If you can, do a combo, 3 days at the parks, 4 day cruise. You won't regret it!!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

A couple of years ago we had the same problem, our daughter was working at Disney then and had a great Disney cruise at a super CM discount and asked us if we would go on one. Seeing my wife and I have never been on a cruise and the 2nd cruise price was too good to pass up, we agreed to go. We're from Ohio, and going all that way and not going to the parks didn't sit with me that well. He's what we did, we booked one night at the Caribbean Resort, mainly to provide transportation to the cruise via Disney Cruise line bus. That was a new experience since we never stayed there before and it was great, bus meet us all going on the cruise out front next morning and luggage and what not was all taken care of, just boarded bus, took a seat and motored to Cape Kennedy port, seeing the cruise boat from the bus coming over the last hill got my goose bumps rising. Quick port duty, check in and enter boat in about 30 minutes.
Upon finishing our cruise, we decided, or should I say our daughter, that we spend 3 night at the Contemporary Concerige tower at her discounted CM rate which we did and I'll never forget that trip both the Carribbean Resort, the Disney Cruise or the Contemporary. We purchased AP's earlier in the year since our daughter moved to Kissimmee so park tickets were no worry to us, and we were going to WDW 3 times in a year then. She has now moved back to the Ohio area but we still go back to WDW, not as often in a year, occasionally buy AP's and are contemplating another cruise with Disney but the western one. We took the first one at 7 days, her first cruise was 3 days and she said that was not enough time to fully enjoy the cruise hence our trip of 7 days. Just the right amount of time for us on the boat.

 

[foolishmortal]

they do have the 7 day land and seas package. This is what we did about 4 years ago. He get there on Thursday and spend 3 days in the parks, then you leave Sunday for the boat.

You get to see just as many characters...if not more on the boat, and there is disney everyond on it so you are not missing any of the "magic"

 

[fanofdisney]

Land and sea?

Where do you stay for your land time? And do the cruises have fireworks?

 

[Kirsten77]

It depends on what type of room you want on the cruise and at disney. We stayed at Dixie Landings and had the cheapest room on the ship. You can stay in more deluxe rooms on and off the ship, but of course the price goes up. You will have to look into it more. We did the three day cruise and 4 days at Disney. Yes one night the ship did have fireworks. I have done the land and sea and two just 7 day cruise vacations and I liked all three trips. I've been on other cruise lines (Norwegian and Holland America) and the ships were nice but not nearly as nice as Disney.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We try and add a day or two before or after our cruise when we do a 4 day!

There is nothing like it!! Love Castaway Cay!!

We look for short weeks in the Fall on our DD's school schedule and then book for that week. It is much cheaper in the Fall. We love Oct and Nov.

We did the 7 day in October and it was awesome. We did not make it too the parks that visit,but we did go to WDW and have lunch at the WL and rode the boat to MK after our cruise. Then we headed to the airport to go home that evening.

We always rent a car and book the cruise and our stay on our own.

We had a ball going in October 2003!! We did the 4 day and then went to WDW 2 days and attended the MNSSHP!! Great time!

 

[foolishmortal]

Land and sea?

Where do you stay for your land time? And do the cruises have fireworks?

Like Kirsten said it all depends.

We stayed at Port Orleans on property and had a mid-level room on boat. Ours' didn't have fireworks, but it looks like Kirstens did so that you would probably have to take up with Disney.

The best part is they (disney) transport you from resort to Port, so bags are all taken care of and you get to watch a disney movie on the bus on the way down to the ship.

 

[ntengwall]

Believe it or not, Disney did NOT get ranked the #1 cruise line for kids (taking into consideration activities, food and other kid-important stuff). That distinction went to Royal Carribean. We went on a RC cruise when my boys were 2 and 4 and it was incredible! We are not ones to check our kids into the kids club and then leave them all day, but they did enjoy several activities throughout our cruise and I could tell (having been an elem school teacher) that they were very well organized and had great activities for the kids!

 

[GoofyDad869]

Land and sea?

Where do you stay for your land time? And do the cruises have fireworks?

Cruises are so relaxing for us, while WDW tends to be a more hectic vacation.

The last cruise we went on there were fireworks on "Pirates in the Caribbean" night.

We're DVC so we stay at either Beach Club (our home resort) or Old Key West. We usually drive down so we just pay for the parking at Port Canaveral.

 

[jennyl772003]

We LOVED our DCL cruises, but we just couldn't see being in FL without going to WDW. Our first cruise (wedding) we went all out and did a 7 night cruise and then we added 5 nights at POR. (Don't know if this is true anymore or not, but when I went it was cheaper to book the cruise and WDW stay seperate then buying the Land and Sea package)

The following year we did another 7 night. We were going with a smaller budget then our wedding trip, but we did stay in Orlando an extra day and went to MK. That way we at least got to taste WDW.

The cruise is AMAZING and someday we will go again. Maybe for our 5 year anniversary?