Is a Land and Sea trip too much to cram into a week?

[Bethany10]

We're looking at a three day cruise out of Port Canaveral next May, then 2 days at Universal on the back end. This trip started as a 5 day WDW trip, but when I got into what we'd actually do I felt like the on the go we'd need to be doing wasn't the right fit for our family. I feel like by mixing the boat and the parks we're getting a little of both worlds. Relax on the boat, let the kids do their thing (12 and 9 at the time of the trip so I'm comfortable giving them some freedom) with the parks providing a less relaxing (but still fun) time.

Dh thinks it's too much, and wants to cut costs and just stay on land or cut Universal and go out of a different port to get us a different RCCL ship for a longer trip.

My thing is if we just stayed in the Orlando area we'd do way more than just Universal and I lose my relaxation time. (not to mention the mickey bar I've wanted to try for years) I did look at Royal Caribbean, as the cost for the Disney boat is higher, but the only one that runs the itinerary we'd need is Majesty of the Seas, and I'm not convinced it has the amenities that make it comparable to the Dream.

My questions are these.

Have those of you that have done a land a sea trip is it too much activity for one week?

Am I wrong about the Majesty? Our kids are old enough that the characters aren't a driving force for us. My biggest concern is that they have enough to do if they don't want to do the offerings in the kids clubs.

 

[travellingmom1983]

We did 5 days last year land and sea with our 2 year old. Did one day at Magic Kingdom and hung out at All star Movies. From there did a 4 day cruise from Port Canaveral, when we docked back in Orlando spent the day at Disney springs before flying home. I found it to be the best of both worlds. In fact, we leave in 2 days for a 8 day land and sea trip! Doing the same sort of thing, staying at Art of Animation for 4 nights, hitting up a few parks then sailing on the Fantasy for 4 days. When we visit the parks we focus on the rides, shows and parades because for the most part we will meet all the characters on board with no waits! The activities look awesome on the boat too with or without the kids club, I would think your kids would love them. There are theaters showing 1st run movies, lots of stuff on the Lido deck, family karaoke. Not to mention Castaway Cay is truly amazing. I have sailed on many cruise lines, and Disney by far has been the best.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Funny, trying to figure out the logistics for our trip next fall now that the cruise itineraries have been released. We're in California so travel takes time out of our vacation. But plan is red eye Friday night, hotel day Saturday, parks Sunday-Wednesday and cruise Thursday-Sunday.

Personally, I think even ours is cramming it in so I'd say yours is even more crammed than ours. But you also have a different family dynamic than ours which might make it work better for you. We will have a 10, 7 and 1 year old when we go.

My husband and I are having differences of opinions as well but since I plan it he doesn't put up much of a fight. He'd like a longer cruise but based off the sail dates and our school schedule it may not work. He also wants at least 4 days at WDW - he's not the one planning out the logistics of it all so he'll do what I say lol.

I say, whoever does the planning, gets to choose! Ask him to set a budget and see what you can do with that budget. Check out the Budget Board for ways to get everything you want (within reason).

Best of luck!

 

[DisneyPups]

I agree with a mix of the PPs. If you are far away, and traveling a ways, it's pretty short and you won't be very relaxed. Also, the 3 night cruise is really only 2 FULL DAYS plus the half day depending on when you embark. I would actually suggest doing the 2 days at Universal first if you can, that way you're already in Florida. If you have to fly in the day of the cruise, it can be stressful, if you have to fly in the night before, it's an extra unnecessary expense of one night. We usually do the parks first, then head to the cruise, then head for the airport straight from Disembarkation. Let your kids play play play at Universal for 2 days and then head to the cruise to relax by the pool, watch some movies, eat unlimited food if they want and then head home after the cruise...

 

[tlprice]

I did 3 days Universal, 4 day Disney cruise, 6 days at WDW my first cruise with an 8 year old. I did 2 days WDW, 7 day Disney cruise, 3 days Universal my 2nd cruise with a 9 year old. Definitely not too much. If I'm taking the time to go to Orlando, I'm going to spend as much time as I can afford!

 

[MSPeeler]

For our family, it was too much We did a 5-night Bahamian cruise, and stayed 6 nights in Orlando off-site with another 2 days WDW & 1 day Universal. We stayed off site and did a park every other day and my daughter still got sick (heat exhaustion/dehydration) twice at two different parks. I think it was too terribly hot (June) and after almost a week on a calm soothing boat, the parks and heat were just too much to handle.

IF you decide on land and sea, I highly recommend LAND first and THEN sea!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds great IF you're staying onsite at Universal. That will keep the relaxed vibe going, especially if you stay at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino, since those include both the early entrance to wizarding world AND the unlimited Express Pass.

 

[cdoc29]

Keep in mind the experience I am sharing is with a 3 and 5 year old.............

Our last cruise we did 3 nights at WDW followed by 7 nights on the cruise. We found it chaotic to try and pack for the trip with so many different things that were required for visiting parks vs going on a cruise. The parks are very busy activity days and it took us two to three days to relax and get our bearings on the cruise. From here on out we plan to do them separately, either parks or cruise.

If you arrive the day before and go to the parks from one day I am sure the experience would be different as that would be an add on as opposed to two different vacation types back to back.

 

[Bdunn]

4 days at WDW then 3 nights on the Dream was great for us a few years ago (family of 5).

 

[Bethany10]

Keep in mind the experience I am sharing is with a 3 and 5 year old.............

That's bravery right there. NO way would I have considered this type of trip when my guys were that young. Heck going to Target with both of them at that age was an event.

 

[MSPeeler]

Keep in mind the experience I am sharing is with a 3 and 5 year old.............

Our last cruise we did 3 nights at WDW followed by 7 nights on the cruise. We found it chaotic to try and pack for the trip with so many different things that were required for visiting parks vs going on a cruise. The parks are very busy activity days and it took us two to three days to relax and get our bearings on the cruise. From here on out we plan to do them separately, either parks or cruise.

If you arrive the day before and go to the parks from one day I am sure the experience would be different as that would be an add on as opposed to two different vacation types back to back.

This is probably why my trip was not the best either.... 3 kids, 20 months old, 7yr and 9yr, LOL. What were we thinking?

 

[nenglim]

we did this spring break 2016, 4 days on the Dream and 3 days at the VGF. My kids were 16,12, and 6. The best thing i think is the FP+. We rode the rides we want, on the times we wanted. We didn't bother or stress about rides or shows that we would miss. My kids love staying for closing at MK and we did that one day. We are doing it again this summer, this time we are doing Land-Sea-Land and we are 56 days away!!!

 

[mernin]

We did 3 nights WDW, 4 night cruise & 2 nights WDW for our first cruise with my dd4 & dd9. If wasn't too much for us - but we want to maximize our time here due to the flight costs. We have a 7 night cruise booked for next year and I'm trying to figure out if we could add time at the parks after!

 

[justafigment27]

We did 5 nights at WDW followed by a 5 night double dip on the Dream a few years ago when my kids were 10 & 8. I don't know that it was too much, but I think the kids would have had just as much fun if we did one or the other instead of both (and it would have been a lot easier in the packing department!). Personally, I was really looking forward to the cruise and found myself spending my time at WDW sort of waiting for it to get over so we could get on the Dream. I think my preference is one or the other, not both.

 

[cariann77]

Last week we did 2 park days followed by 4-day cruise. Terrible idea!!!! With only two park days, we rushed and crammed. We were all already exhausted by the time Monday rolled around. (kids are 5, 10, 11). I would consider putting it on the back end of a cruise though. Overall, I had wished that we booked a 7-day cruise instead of doing land/sea.