I'd like to pick your brain about 4 day cruise plans...

[beccawes7471]

I am planning a 4 day Magic cruise March 13, 2016 (Sun-thurs) Cant do 7 day cruise due to budget and I will be traveling with just my 6 year old daughter and my sister in law, my husband and son are going to Germany, so this is a girls trip. Dates cannot change as we are going over our schools spring break and travelling the same dates as the boys. I chose the Magic over the Dream due to cost as well ($800 more). Here is where I need help: I want to build in a few days to make it a week long trip, we could fly in on Friday and have Friday-Sat and maybe do one park on Saturday and have a day of just pool time, or we could stay after the cruise (thurs-fri-sat). I know most folks prefer to do parks first then rest on the cruise but I think due to cruise dates it might be better to extend our stay afterwards. I am also considering doing Universal/Cabana Bay vs Disney. Opinions and thoughts recommended? Also esp appreciate any feedback from those who have done something similar. Thanks in Advance.

 

[DISGRL13]

It sounds like staying after the cruise would give you more time. You are off the boat by 9:00am at the latest so really will have all of Thursday. For a 6 year old I would say Disney is a better bet than Universal. The rides at Universal tend to be for older kids. If I was doing this I would maybe spend Thursday at Downtown Disney(Disney Springs) looking around, shopping and have lunch there. There is lots to do and see there. During the day you don't have the crowds you have in the evenings. Then maybe do the Magic Kingdom on Friday and Saturday can be your pool day.

 

[Disneyteachers]

We are actually doing Disneyland for 2 days after our Alaskan cruise since we will be on the same coast. While I know that most ppl do parks before, I'm doing the reverse because it works better from a scheduling/pricing standpoint.

 

[Kimberly1]

I've done before and after. Both are great! I'd do after for more time.

 

[clten]

If it works that you can have more time to spend on vacation by doing the extra days afterward, I'd do that. (We've done both before and after, each has it's pros and cons.) I would recommend coming in the day (or at least night) before the cruise anyway (flying in day of the cruise is too stressful and too many things can cause a delay that might make you miss the ship). If you can't do both the night before the cruise and extra time after, I'd choose to do the extra days before so it's more stress-free overall.

 

[Kimberly1]

Oh yea - I'd always fly in one day before a cruise to be safe. Usually, we fly in the day before and stay at a Value hotel and go do Downtown Disney and/or have dinner at a resort (like Chef Mickey's) to get in the Disney mood.