Land and Sea HELP!

[Shrfleen]

Help, what would you do:

We are looking at going on the Jan. 2, 2018 cruise but we also want to do Disney World for a few days. Would you go December 31-January 2
or
January 5-January 8?
​

This would be an extended family trip with our cousin's birthday on the 31st (turning 2) and me and my twin sister's birthday on January 4th. We have to go sometime after Christmas and before the kids winter break ends.

This would be a first cruise for everyone!

 

[com_op_2000]

I would choose to do the parks first and then relax on the cruise.

 

[Dug720]

Well... I can tell you the parks will be PACKED on the 31 and 1. Like, closing to capacity packed especially on the 31...

And after you would be dealing with the traffic and closures surrounding Marathon Weekend and it's zillion races...

Honestly I would look into seeing if there was a longer cruise - or just do the cruise - this time as opposed to dealing with the parks at that time.

 

[Shrfleen]

I would choose to do the parks first and then relax on the cruise.

That is what we were thinking. I'm just worried they aren't going to have a good time because it will be very busy in the parks. I personally don't want to go then but it's the only time we can go as a big extended family.

Well... I can tell you the parks will be PACKED on the 31 and 1. Like, closing to capacity packed especially on the 31...

And after you would be dealing with the traffic and closures surrounding Marathon Weekend and it's zillion races...

Honestly I would look into seeing if there was a longer cruise - or just do the cruise - this time as opposed to dealing with the parks at that time.

I will look into a longer cruise and see what they say. They want to take the baby for his first trip to WDW but I think he'd enjoy it more if he was a little older. It sucks that we have to go during the peak season. Why won't my cousin just pull the other kids out of school lol just kidding...kinda

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Normally I recommend doing the parks first, then cruise. But given these dates, of the two options, I'd pick going to the parks the 5th through the 8th. The 31st through the 2nd will be a madhouse.

 

[Quellman]

Well... I can tell you the parks will be PACKED on the 31 and 1. Like, closing to capacity packed especially on the 31...

And after you would be dealing with the traffic and closures surrounding Marathon Weekend and it's zillion races...

Honestly I would look into seeing if there was a longer cruise - or just do the cruise - this time as opposed to dealing with the parks at that time.

There are 4 races on Marathon weekend, two are done before the parks even open. Read more about potential impacts HERE.

 

[Shrfleen]

There are 4 races on Marathon weekend, two are done before the parks even open. Read more about potential impacts HERE.

Awesome thank you!

 

[Shrfleen]

Normally I recommend doing the parks first, then cruise. But given these dates, of the two options, I'd pick going to the parks the 5th through the 8th. The 31st through the 2nd will be a madhouse.

Thank you! I know that if they decide to bail I'll have more options lol

 

[Bree]

If you are staying onsite, the weekend after will be cheaper for resorts. There is a super huge markup for NYE. A value resort will cost you over $200 for NYE (providing there are no room discounts offered). The Grand Floridian is over $800 for a garden view room on NYE.

 

[Dug720]

There are 4 races on Marathon weekend, two are done before the parks even open. Read more about potential impacts HERE.

I am well aware there are 4. But they do have an impact on traffic AND crowds.

 

[Rabb it]

Of the two options I would choose the 5th-8th, less busy at the parks. It would be fun to celebrate new years Disney style, but it also sounds stressful to me..

 

[mmouse37]

I will never, ever go to WDW during NYE again. Did it once and that was enough. Crowds were so bad on the 31st, 1st and 2nd that they had park closures due to capacity crowds. We were told at 8:00 am as we entered the park that if we left we would not be guaranteed re-entry later in the day (even as a resort guest). We stayed from 8:00 am to 1:00 AM. Even on the 1st and 2nd crowds were horrible with just walking around the park difficult. There was literally no room to move and all attractions had over 2 hour waits. It was insane. That was our experience.

MJ

 

[Garyjames220]

I will never, ever go to WDW during NYE again. Did it once and that was enough. Crowds were so bad on the 31st, 1st and 2nd that they had park closures due to capacity crowds. We were told at 8:00 am as we entered the park that if we left we would not be guaranteed re-entry later in the day (even as a resort guest). We stayed from 8:00 am to 1:00 AM. Even on the 1st and 2nd crowds were horrible with just walking around the park difficult. There was literally no room to move and all attractions had over 2 hour waits. It was insane. That was our experience.

MJ

We will there for the bells going into the year 2000 and u really don't want to no how bad it was lol

 

[jdb in AZ]

One good thing about the cruise -- the rooms are sold out before the ship becomes overly crowded with passengers. I would vote for a longer cruise instead of fighting the crowds at WDW.

 

[mmouse37]

We will there for the bells going into the year 2000 and u really don't want to no how bad it was lol

I actually had a reservation at the Contemporary for the NYE 2000 and cancelled due to madness of the year before.

MJ

 

[justme0729]

NYE at Disney, although crowded, is also really exciting though! You can see the amazing fireworks and if you are willing to go to parks early and at night, we were never turned down from entry in a park except 12/31 which we watched the NYE fireworks from the Poly. It was the best fireworks show I've ever seen and was a fun atmosphere. We were there from 12/31-1/8 in 2015 and didn't notice a drop of crowds towards the end of the trip so I would do parks first, then cruise

 

[diznymom]

I would normally do the parks first. But, during those dates, I would do the cruise first, and the parks last.

 

[bumbershoot]

They want to take the baby for his first trip to WDW but I think he'd enjoy it more if he was a little older.

Taking a baby for a trip, I'm sure they know, isn't about the baby, but about them. Especially if they have other kids, this likely isn't about the baby.

I'd go to WDW for marathon weekends, knowing that I'd take onsite transportation for the Half and Full days, over NYE *any* time.

 

[scootch]

While I usually say parks first, then cruise.... this is one time that I say definitely cruise first then parks. Parks will be near capacity over New Years and by the 5th, will be so much quieter and easy to manage.

 

[Shrfleen]

I have been on Christmas Day so I know what the crowds will be like lol I don't think they believe me how busy it will be lol

Thank you all for your help! I think we are going to see them again this weekend (if not before Thanksgiving). I'm going to bring my laptop and lay it out for them haha

I'm a planner and they just go with the flow. Hopefully we will get to planning soon!

Again, thank you all for your advice!