Instead of B2B, anybody done a Cruise-Park Day/Night-Cruise?

[kittylady1972]

We are planning out a potential cruise trip in the fall using our cruise credit and deposit from our October cruise. We should have had 2 credits technically, but I'm not going to get into that.

So we are thinking of doing a 7 night Cruise on the Fantasy, then we would have a day/night at Walt Disney World before taking a 4 night cruise on the Wish for the first time.

Anybody done something like this? Pros/Cons?

I'm thinking we would use that non-cruise day to do laundry from the 7 night and repack clean clothes for the 4 night cruise.

We contemplated our first B2B but this one seemed like fun and a chance for us to check out the Wish for the first time and complete our Disney Cruise Ship Superfecta (it will be our 2nd cruise on the Fantasy...we've done all 4 ships so far once, and have done the Dream twice...10 years apart).

 

[rainbowredpanda]

The only main 'con' I can think of is that you'd need to travel from Port back to WDW only to go back to the Port the next day. If you're not going to visit the parks, I don't know if I'd recommend going back to WDW. You could likely find a closer by hotel if you just want a quite night, laundry ect.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I'm doing a back to back on the Dream (2 times 5n Marvel)later this month, driving from Miami to WDW. Having dinner at Chef Mickeys, spend the day at WDW on Friday (hopperticket) and then doing a 7n Pixar on the Fantasy the following day.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

The only main 'con' I can think of is that you'd need to travel from Port back to WDW only to go back to the Port the next day. If you're not going to visit the parks, I don't know if I'd recommend going back to WDW. You could likely find a closer by hotel if you just want a quite night, laundry ect.

I agree with this. Paying for a WDW resort room to do laundry and have a WDW meal, sandwiched between trips from and back to Port Canaveral doesn’t sound like a great use of time. I would rent a car at the port for a one-day rental, drive to a convenient hotel nearby that would have self-serve laundry facilities, and find a nice place to eat that evening. You might even be able to avoid the car rental by staying at a nearby hotel and using ride share and/or hotel shuttles to get from and back to the port.

Another factor in doing a WDW night between the cruises is room availabilty when you arrive at the resort. We’ve done WDW stays after cruises a number of times. Our rooms have seldom been ready at the late morning times we typically arrive from Port Canaveral after a DCL cruise, so we have lunch and then do a park while waiting. If I needed to get into my room right away to start doing some laundry, room readiness might become a factor that works against my plan.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So we are thinking of doing a 7 night Cruise on the Fantasy, then we would have a day/night at Walt Disney World before taking a 4 night cruise on the Wish for the first time.

Anybody done something like this? Pros/Cons?

We did a 4 night Dream/WDW/B2B 7 night Fantasy combo. We prefer longer cruises, but wanted to try the Dream. Doing this it felt like a longer cruise, with a couple of overnighters off the ship between the Dream & Fantasy.

We were 2 or 3 nights at WDW, however, between the cruise portions.

 

[kittylady1972]

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this one. I hadn't considered the room not being ready part...but that could be a problem at any hotel even near port and we'd end up dragging luggage around. We usually rent a car in Florida anyway, though we'd probably only do it for the 2nd/3rd portion so as not to pay parking for that first cruise time.

We do have DVC so the room would likely be whatever we can get on points, so free to us essentially. We have a little better luck sometimes with those rooms being ready early, but not always.

I'll have to give it some more thought as we plan this out I guess.

 

[jimmymc]

I would also do a beach day near the port, rather than head all the way to WDW.

 

[holula]

We did this back in 2014. We sailed on the Fantasy, disembarked, went back to WDW, and then sailed on the Magic on Monday.

We had to go back to Orlando anyway as had to pick my parents up from the airport and we had a great day in Epcot in between!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this one. I hadn't considered the room not being ready part...but that could be a problem at any hotel even near port and we'd end up dragging luggage around. We usually rent a car in Florida anyway, though we'd probably only do it for the 2nd/3rd portion so as not to pay parking for that first cruise time.

We do have DVC so the room would likely be whatever we can get on points, so free to us essentially. We have a little better luck sometimes with those rooms being ready early, but not always.

I'll have to give it some more thought as we plan this out I guess.

Since you are DVC members, and if the parks are not important for the one night stay, consider Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. We have stayed there prior to cruises. In fact, we have a 3-night stay starting a week from Friday prior to a 4-night/3-night b2b on the Wish, followed by 7 nights at BWV (our home resort). VB is a pleasant drive along A1A to/from the port if you’re not in a hurry (in which case, take I95).

 

[gatordoc]

Not exactly what you’re thinking of, but several years ago we did a 7-night Eastern on the Fantasy, disembarked and spent the morning at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, went to Dixie Crossroads for lunch, then drove over to MCO and flew to San Juan that afternoon. Stayed in the airport hotel that night, then boarded the Wonder the next morning for a 7-night Southern. Flew back to MCO after that cruise and drove home from there. Still one of the best trips we’ve ever done.

 

[Clarkson U]

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this one. I hadn't considered the room not being ready part...but that could be a problem at any hotel even near port and we'd end up dragging luggage around. We usually rent a car in Florida anyway, though we'd probably only do it for the 2nd/3rd portion so as not to pay parking for that first cruise time.

We do have DVC so the room would likely be whatever we can get on points, so free to us essentially. We have a little better luck sometimes with those rooms being ready early, but not always.

I'll have to give it some more thought as we plan this out I guess.

I have never done this but I actually think this is a great idea. You have DVC and you have a rental car. Worse case scenario luggage stays in rental car until room is ready - other they hold it at the BellHop until your room is ready - WDW resort hotels do this all the time (hold luggage). Best case scenario room is ready early. You could also go to Disney Springs for the day and worry about the room later.

Laundry can be done anywhere and might be easier on the ship to be honest with you - especially if you do it early or late one night and you can get notifications on the app of when the washer and dryer are done so you are not sitting there the whole time. The WISH has an awesome laundry room, very big, easy to use.

Don't overthink it and just go for it. It's a little over an hour from DCL port to WDW and so go and enjoy and do whatever you want. I am not sure there is a downside that would be a dealbreaker.

 

[auntlynne]

I like the overall idea, especially since the only new aspect is the Wish. I wouldn’t suggest this to a Disney park newbie.

I’d also say do the laundry on the first cruise, towards the end of the week. Pack what you need for park day and Wish embarkation in a separate suitcase.

Don't bother with trying to get into your room (other than making sure you don’t pay parking at the room and the park (or will you catch resort bus/ Skyliner to parks?). Just head to the park and start the fun.

You know how much your family can handle. Is a park day from ~10 or 11 to close worth it and doable for your gang?

 

[MomOTwins]

Since you are staying on dvc points, I would do vero beach. We did it for a night post cruise and loved it! Very chill and laid back with a great pool, beach, mini golf, nice food, and not too far from port.

 

[kittylady1972]

I have never done this but I actually think this is a great idea. You have DVC and you have a rental car. Worse case scenario luggage stays in rental car until room is ready - other they hold it at the BellHop until your room is ready - WDW resort hotels do this all the time (hold luggage). Best case scenario room is ready early. You could also go to Disney Springs for the day and worry about the room later.

Laundry can be done anywhere and might be easier on the ship to be honest with you - especially if you do it early or late one night and you can get notifications on the app of when the washer and dryer are done so you are not sitting there the whole time. The WISH has an awesome laundry room, very big, easy to use.

Don't overthink it and just go for it. It's a little over an hour from DCL port to WDW and so go and enjoy and do whatever you want. I am not sure there is a downside that would be a dealbreaker.

Thanks for the support...and the idea about doing laundry on the ship. I hadn't considered that option. Sadly WISH would be our second part of the cruise...first would likely be Fantasy.

I like the overall idea, especially since the only new aspect is the Wish. I wouldn’t suggest this to a Disney park newbie.

I’d also say do the laundry on the first cruise, towards the end of the week. Pack what you need for park day and Wish embarkation in a separate suitcase.

Don't bother with trying to get into your room (other than making sure you don’t pay parking at the room and the park (or will you catch resort bus/ Skyliner to parks?). Just head to the park and start the fun.

You know how much your family can handle. Is a park day from ~10 or 11 to close worth it and doable for your gang?

Point taken on the laundry on the cruise idea. As for my gang...it's just us two 50+ year olds so what we can handle...hard to say. If we stay on DVC points the parking fees aren't an issue at the resort or at the parks.

Since you are staying on dvc points, I would do vero beach. We did it for a night post cruise and loved it! Very chill and laid back with a great pool, beach, mini golf, nice food, and not too far from port.

This is another good idea. We've only done Vero once but it's bee a while. Definitely that will be a consideration now...thank you!

 

[John VN]

Thanks for the support...and the idea about doing laundry on the ship. I hadn't considered that option. Sadly WISH would be our second part of the cruise...first would likely be Fantasy.


Point taken on the laundry on the cruise idea. As for my gang...it's just us two 50+ year olds so what we can handle...hard to say. If we stay on DVC points the parking fees aren't an issue at the resort or at the parks.

This is another good idea. We've only done Vero once but it's bee a while. Definitely that will be a consideration now...thank you!

If you plan to travel to WDW or VB or ??? *what if the vehicle breaks down or an accident or ????*

Stay in Cocoa Beach, short UBER to lodging, do laundry, chill on beach soaking up sun, have a great dinner, get a good night's sleep and the ship is 5 MINUTES AWAY IN THE MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST.

Have a GREAT VACATION how ever you do it.

 

[DCLMP]

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this one. I hadn't considered the room not being ready part...but that could be a problem at any hotel even near port and we'd end up dragging luggage around. We usually rent a car in Florida anyway, though we'd probably only do it for the 2nd/3rd portion so as not to pay parking for that first cruise time.

We do have DVC so the room would likely be whatever we can get on points, so free to us essentially. We have a little better luck sometimes with those rooms being ready early, but not always.

I'll have to give it some more thought as we plan this out I guess.

I think it’s fine you are only an hour each way. If your not in rush to get back on even better. If you show up around one or two boarding is pretty seamless. I’d get a room at SSR and have a nice day and evening at Disney Springs.

I would be bored sitting around the port area all day. I don’t need a day to relax after a relaxing cruise. You can do laundry on the ship if that’s a concern. Fantasy’s laundry room are fine.

Free hotel room is always good.

 

[DCLMP]

If you plan to travel to WDW or VB or ??? *what if the vehicle breaks down or an accident or ????*

Seriously?

 

[kittylady1972]

Seriously?

Yeah I had no response to that one myself.