Just booked 1st Cruise this November!

[Gizmo74]

So excited that I just booked our first family cruise. The kids and I have never been on a cruise before but my husband has a long time ago. I opted and booked with Costco vs travel agent for the higher $$ Gift Card. We decided to do a three day vs 7 day day cruise just in case we are not a cruising family. Plan on doing the parks after the cruise.

I plan on flying in the night before the cruise. Is it best to stay at the airport hotel and catch the Mickey bus the next day to port? Or (DVC member) should I just book a night at Disney hotel and take the Mickey bus to port? If the bus to port doesn't leave until late morning/early afternoon, I might would rather be at WDW to walk around hotel.

Since it's our first cruise, I see I can book restaurants and excursions at 75 days out.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Congrats!

If you are indeed arriving late in the day, I would stay near the airport. There are a lot of good ones for a low price, and when you get in late at night, they will be easy to get to. The next morning you can go back to the airport to catch the DCL bus or rent a car or whatever you like. I wouldn't bother with a WDW hotel if you won't be there long. Plus the hotel buses leave later than the airport buses and a lot of people like to get to the ship earlier than that. If you were getting there early in the day, I'd say stay near the port, so you don't have to drive the next morning.

Have fun!

 

[Sunshine2U]

I agree with PP. Just jumping in to say have fun!

 

[MichelleCanada]

We have a cruise this summer and are arriving the night before as well. We have booked a hotel near the port and have booked a one way rental car from Budget. So $88 for the car from the day before and dropping off morning of cruise. My DH will drop my son and I off at terminal with luggage and then he will drop of car and take the car rental shuttle back to us. This was cheaper than $35/person for Disney transfer. Then we can also pick up water, snacks and wine before we get on board. It will give us the freedom we wanted.

 

[Billinaz]

We did a short cruise on our first cruise. Its too short! We were hooked. Cruise #15 in May and #16 May 2019. The Costco cash card is much larger on the 7 day cruises......

 

[Billinaz]

We have a cruise this summer and are arriving the night before as well. We have booked a hotel near the port and have booked a one way rental car from Budget. So $88 for the car from the day before and dropping off morning of cruise. My DH will drop my son and I off at terminal with luggage and then he will drop of car and take the car rental shuttle back to us. This was cheaper than $35/person for Disney transfer. Then we can also pick up water, snacks and wine before we get on board. It will give us the freedom we wanted.

With a family of 5, the DCL bus was pretty expensive. We stay near the port the night before, so we can stop and pick up whatever we need. I just pile us all on the Avis or Budget shuttle instead of making 2 trips....

 

[MichelleCanada]

With a family of 5, the DCL bus was pretty expensive. We stay near the port the night before, so we can stop and pick up whatever we need. I just pile us all on the Avis or Budget shuttle instead of making 2 trips....

That’s a good way too!! Good to know that it has worked for you! We may reconsider that part!

 

[Gizmo74]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I haven't booked flights yet so I am not sure exactly how late we will be arriving. I guess after that is determine we will see what our best choice for lodging would be. Never considered staying close to the port the night before. Since we are doing the parks after, I might stay at a Disney hotel and leave some our luggage at the hotel while we cruise.

 

[Gizmo74]

We did a short cruise on our first cruise. Its too short! We were hooked. Cruise #15 in May and #16 May 2019. The Costco cash card is much larger on the 7 day cruises......

Yes, I did see the difference in Costco cash card with the 7 day cruise. We were going to first book the 7 day out of Galveston. I was worried about our first cruise being 7 days. I know a three day is very short but I think it will be perfect for us to give cruising a try.

 

[Gizmo74]

We have a cruise this summer and are arriving the night before as well. We have booked a hotel near the port and have booked a one way rental car from Budget. So $88 for the car from the day before and dropping off morning of cruise. My DH will drop my son and I off at terminal with luggage and then he will drop of car and take the car rental shuttle back to us. This was cheaper than $35/person for Disney transfer. Then we can also pick up water, snacks and wine before we get on board. It will give us the freedom we wanted.

Great idea. Might will try this on another cruise. I am planning on arriving late the night before our cruise.

 

[Gizmo74]

Congrats!

If you are indeed arriving late in the day, I would stay near the airport. There are a lot of good ones for a low price, and when you get in late at night, they will be easy to get to. The next morning you can go back to the airport to catch the DCL bus or rent a car or whatever you like. I wouldn't bother with a WDW hotel if you won't be there long. Plus the hotel buses leave later than the airport buses and a lot of people like to get to the ship earlier than that. If you were getting there early in the day, I'd say stay near the port, so you don't have to drive the next morning.

Have fun!

Thanks for your suggestions. I agree, if I arrive late night before, staying at airport would be best. We will most likely take DCL bus since it's our first time.

 

[Billinaz]

Yes, I did see the difference in Costco cash card with the 7 day cruise. We were going to first book the 7 day out of Galveston. I was worried about our first cruise being 7 days. I know a three day is very short but I think it will be perfect for us to give cruising a try.

Its a trap! You will be hooked!

 

[bobbiwoz]

So excited that I just booked our first family cruise. The kids and I have never been on a cruise before but my husband has a long time ago. I opted and booked with Costco vs travel agent for the higher $$ Gift Card. We decided to do a three day vs 7 day day cruise just in case we are not a cruising family. Plan on doing the parks after the cruise.

I plan on flying in the night before the cruise. Is it best to stay at the airport hotel and catch the Mickey bus the next day to port? Or (DVC member) should I just book a night at Disney hotel and take the Mickey bus to port? If the bus to port doesn't leave until late morning/early afternoon, I might would rather be at WDW to walk around hotel.

Since it's our first cruise, I see I can book restaurants and excursions at 75 days out.

Enjoy your first cruise!

 

[taaren]

Yes, I did see the difference in Costco cash card with the 7 day cruise. We were going to first book the 7 day out of Galveston. I was worried about our first cruise being 7 days. I know a three day is very short but I think it will be perfect for us to give cruising a try.

True. If you like it then you can always book an OBB for your next cruise and get the benefits of the OBB plus the extra days. 3 days is too short for most people. We started with a 5 night, then did a 7 night, 3 night, then 5, then 4 again, and have another 4 nighter booked due to trying to match schedules with other family and friends who cruise or particular occasions we wanted to celebrate on certain ships. I like the 5 nighters the best but you never know until you try, and sometimes it depends on who you cruise with and where you are going/what the ports are and how far you have to fly to get there. Most people on the cruise boards like the 7 nights or longer better, but YMMV.
My main complaint about the 3 night is we had to skip one of the main dining options to get Palo in for dinner and there was no Palo brunch option. For my travelling companions and I, Palo brunch has become a must every cruise, but its not for everybody.
You'll have a great time no matter the length, DCL CMs work hard to make sure that is true.