Land and Sea... Which First?

[goofy4prez]

I saw this question asked on one of the FB Disney Cruise postings and thought I would ask it here on the DIS. Which do you all prefer, spending time in WDW first or after your sailing?

My wife (39 and holding), DD (soon 21) and myself (54) will be sailing on the Fantasy for 7 nights to the Western Caribbean in June 2019. Right now I only have the cruise booked but I'm planning on adding 5 nights in WDW as well. I'm leaning on doing WDW prior to the cruise and then spending the time on the cruise afterwards to relax. I appreciate the opinions.

 

[mevelandry]

Land. Then you can relax on a cruise.

 

[sabrecmc]

For us, definitely land first, then cruise. It's so hot and tiring doing the parks, it's really nice to finish that up and get on the cruise and relax.

 

[MichelleCanada]

Another vote for land You want to arrive at least a day before your cruise anyways. Like others have said - parks are awesome but tiring - cruise is relaxing!

Enjoy!!

 

[All about me]

Land, then sea. Way less exhausting.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We were debating the same thing, but when the itineraries came out, and we choose the 8 night June 2019 eastern itinerary, the decision was made for us; we couldn't take vacation the week prior to the cruise, so we'll be doing WDW after.

However, prior to that happening, we were leaning towards cruise first, anyway. This will be our first Disney cruise, and is really the highlight of the trip. We've been to WDW 8 times, and we felt that if we did WDW first, we'd be spending a lot of the WDW time looking forward to the cruise, instead of being in the moment for WDW.

Also, I'd be worried that wdw is so exhausting, we'd be too tired for the cruise! We don't just relax on a cruise (have been on 4 carnival cruises). We are up early on port days for excursions, and up late for shows and other activities.

 

[MichelleCanada]

We were debating the same thing, but when the itineraries came out, and we choose the 8 night June 2019 eastern itinerary, the decision was made for us; we couldn't take vacation the week prior to the cruise, so we'll be doing WDW after.

However, prior to that happening, we were leaning towards cruise first, anyway. This will be our first Disney cruise, and is really the highlight of the trip. We've been to WDW 8 times, and we felt that if we did WDW first, we'd be spending a lot of the WDW time looking forward to the cruise, instead of being in the moment for WDW.

Also, I'd be worried that wdw is so exhausting, we'd be too tired for the cruise! We don't just relax on a cruise (have been on 4 carnival cruises). We are up early on port days for excursions, and up late for shows and other activities.

You will have a great time no matter what! I get more tired standing in lines than I do being on an excursion and doing something. I found on our cruise we could get away from crowds easier. I think it’s those two things that make a cruise more relaxing for us.

Have a great time!!

 

[Franrose]

I think ideally, sea would come second, but I've done it the other way around and it was not a problem at all. Our next trip will be the same thing - land after sea - and I'm not the slightest bit concerned we're doing it 'wrong' kwim. I'm happy we're saving about $5,000 though lol.

 

[chrisnb]

Hello-
we always do the opposite of most and do cruise first then disney world, being from the west coast it gives us a lot more flight options for return trip, and when me land at MCO the night before the cruise we stay the Hyatt that is in the airport, cant be much easier then getting bags and walking straight to hotel.
chris

 

[3monkeys4me]

For us, we prefer to do a land vacation first then the cruise. We usually extend our time one day post cruise if possible.

Our next cruise will not be a Disney cruise or vacation in anyway and we are doing something a bit different. We have 5 days pre cruise, the 8 night cruise and then another 4 days of vacation before heading home. It is just how it worked out with flights and time off with work/school. I am really looking forward to the cruise as a way to sneak some downtime (we have 5 sea days) in while we travel. While we are busy on port days and do tend to fill up sea days, we do like to sleep in and have a somewhat lazy money which is a complete departure from our normal vacation behavior.

 

[darnheather]

We had a day at Disney World in the middle of the last cruise. I needed the rest of the day to get over it. Land first 100%.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Land

 

[Neptune's Fork]

We had a day at Disney World in the middle of the last cruise. I needed the rest of the day to get over it. Land first 100%.

Yes, that sea day following WDW was really nice.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Definitely land first but there’s nothing wrong with hitting the parks again for a few days after the cruise.

 

[hcox31]

We are doing land first in two weeks.

 

[JoAnnPan]

My sister and I (both in our early 50's) prefer land after the cruise - it was a great feeling getting on magical express knowing we had a whole week to look forward to in WDW. Too depressing to get off a cruise and go home for us. We do not find the parks that exhausting as it is just us two; we take our time - have a plan - no running from ride to ride. Enjoy!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We've always done land first, (2-3 days ahead of the cruise just in case of airline delays). Enjoy the fast pace of the Parks and all the things to do then relaxing on the ship.

 

[Quellman]

I have done it both ways, and honestly. There isn't terribly much difference. A slight edge to before because once you get on the cruise everything is "included" and "magically appears" without you needing to do much. The pro for going after is that it keeps your vacation going longer in the Disney bubble.

 

[Girl of the South]

Disney used to offer a "Land and Sea" package - like 4 days at the park and 3 days at sea. Very seamless which it probably still is. We did the park first and then a short cruise to see if we liked it. We DID! Even more than the park! But that had to do with it being multi generational. My nieces were young and excitable and my Mom was starting to get tired walking around too much. But the cruise IS a lot more peaceful than the park.

Although there is truth to the cruise ending early in the morning and you're standing on the dock, sleepy eyed with crumbs of your last Mickey waffle on your chin . . . and all that's left is the flight/drive home.

 

[islandsnoopy]

The first time we did the cruise then went to the parks and we said never again. After spending time relaxing on the cruise, we were in the hot and humid weather of Orlando standing in lines. Since then we've always done the parks then the cruise.