Land + Sea Days Allocation (Polls)

[wellow]

Hi,

I am new to DCL and cruising since I live in another continent which DCL is not currently sailing. After having my daughter, I become quite fascinated by Disney especially seeing it through my daughter's eyes when we go to the Parks.

So I have planned to visit the States for my daughter's 3rd birthday this upcoming October. I thought it would be a great deal to get all the perks just before she turns 3. However, I am torn between going on a 3 days Bahamian Cruise or 4 days Bahamian Cruise.

We are currently booked on the 3 days cruise. It was more logical to be on the cruise on the weekends so my husband would not need to pay for the internet since he needs to contact with the office on the weekdays. It is also more convenient to be on the cruise after WDW so we can adjust with the jetlags on land so that we can enjoy our time more on the cruise ship. And our WDW schedule is more relaxing as well as it will fall on the weekdays. Well if we decide on the 3 days cruise, we might not even venture out at Nassau.

But I desperately want that Day at Sea! I want my Remy brunch as well as a few more hours with my daughter at the Nursery or Kids Club. However, if I am going to go on the 4 Days Cruise, it will mean that (1) I will have to fly from NYC directly on the day of the embarkation. (2) We will still be adjusting to the jetlagged (I'm afraid we won't be up for the show, which my daughter really loves!). (3) And we will have less days in WDW. (4) What I hate most is that our WDW days will fall on the weekend, and going to the parks with a toddler on busy days are going to be less pleasant.

Well the schedule for the 3 nights cruise should be:
1st Day: Morning Relax at Beach Club Resort + HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
2nd Day: Check in to Wilderness Lodge ANIMAL KINGDOM
3rd Day: Morning Relax at Wilderness Lodge + MAGIC KINGDOM
4th Day: EPCOT: Snack Epcot + Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge + Point Artist (D)
5th-7th Day: 3 Nights Disney Cruise
8th Day: Celebrating my daughter's birthday at Animal Kingdom Lodge

If anyone is confused why I have another extra day at WDW on disembarkation day at 3 days cruise, it's because the day we disembark is my daughter's birthday, so I plan to have a relaxing day at Animal Kingdom Lodge! Well the purpose of this trip is to celebrate her birthday after all.

For the 4 nights cruise:
1st-4th Day: 4 Nights Disney Cruise
5th Day: Disembarkation + Relaxing at the Wilderness Lodge + HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
6th Day: MAGIC KINGDOM
7th Day: EPCOT: Snack Epcot + Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge + Point Artist (D)
8th Day: Checking in at Animal Kingdom Lodge + Kidani Pools + Tusker House (D) + Fireworks
9th Day: ANIMAL KINGDOM: Morning at the Park + Flying Out

I am considering adding another night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at the end of the 4 nights cruise trip, but that will take one night away from meeting my friends in Atlanta (where I used to live a few years ago) and my daughter will be quite tired as we will probably get a morning flight then go trick or treating in the evening as this falls on the 31st.

I will probably go on another Alaska cruise in 2019 (but no Remy on Wonder), but probably would not go back at WDW until 2020.

Honestly, my brain says go for the 3 nights cruise, but my heart really wants that 4 nights cruise. Help!

 

[MomOTwins]

I think you answered your own question. You identified some actual bad things that will happen on the 4 day, mainly, having to fly in on embarkation day (and risk missing the cruise if there are flight delays, on top of the jet lag), having to deal with WDW weekend crowds, and your husband having to work during the cruise (been there, and it is a nightmare). But for the three day, nothing actually bad will happen, you will just miss out on some good things that come from having an at sea day. We just got back from a 3-day cruise where we stayed on board at Nassau and didn't feel like we were missing out on anything, especially given how scary the crime rate in Nassau has gotten.

Better to miss out on a few perks than risk having your vacation ruined by flight delays, jet lag, crowds, and work if you ask me.

 

[Intr3pid]

While a 4-day cruise is preferred to a 3-day one, I would do the cruise at the end.

For our family, the parks are the touristy exhausting places (though not necessarily bad), while the cruise is where the magic is. We treat the cruise as a prize for all that hard work in the park!

 

[wellow]

Thank you MomOTwins & Intr3pid! I am leaning towards the 3-day one now.

Do you think 4 days at the park would be enough?

 

[dcassetta]

You said the primary purpose of this trip is t celebrate your daughter's birthday. So, I would choose the plan that best meets that requirement. Remy will be there the next time you sail on a DReam class ship. Your daughter turns 3 only once.

 

[starvenger]

While a 4-day cruise is preferred to a 3-day one, I would do the cruise at the end.

For our family, the parks are the touristy exhausting places (though not necessarily bad), while the cruise is where the magic is. We treat the cruise as a prize for all that hard work in the park!

Would agree with this. But I'm kind of cruise-biased at this point, so more time on a ship is preferable to me. Please take that into account.

In any event, we did something similar back in 2015 where we spent a few days at the parks (still using some no expire passes) and then a week on the Fantasy. We were able to keep up high energy at the parks, then chill out on the boat.

The kids... well, that's another story.

 

[masylimed]

I would recommend doing the cruise after your WDW park days. We have only been on one cruise back in 2014, and it was a 3 night with 3 teenagers + DH. We stayed one night before the cruise at POR (resort only - no parks) and went to Downtown Disney to kill time on disembarkation day because we had a late flight. I was surprised how difficult it was for me to adjust to back to my "land legs" after the cruise. Walking around Downtown Disney was very weird for me because my body still felt that it was on the boat. We are doing a 7 day cruise this fall and have purposefully put our WDW days before the cruise in case I have the same experience. The rest of the family seemed to adjust to the land better than I did - but all of us were pretty tired overall after the cruise.

Our 3 night cruise seemed over way too soon, but it made us excited for another trip in the future to do it again. I think the short cruises are like being in the parks for just a few days. You have to accept that you can't do and see it all in that short of time so just enjoy the moments that you do have.

I know that you will have an absolute BLAST no matter what you decide, and it will be very magical to experience it through your daughter's eyes!

 

[starvenger]

Our 3 night cruise seemed over way too soon, but it made us excited for another trip in the future to do it again. I think the short cruises are like being in the parks for just a few days. You have to accept that you can't do and see it all in that short of time so just enjoy the moments that you do have.

It's not just the short cruises. I take 7 day cruises and I accept this fact. Sure, you can do more, but for me a cruise is about shifting down to first gear and doing everything at a relaxed pace versus the frenzied pace of Real Life... and theme parks.

 

[Sunshine2U]

I don't know if another trip to the states/WDW is in your future but I'm going to assume it is. I agree the 4 day land and 3 day cruise sounds best for your situation.

 

[Intr3pid]

Thank you MomOTwins & Intr3pid! I am leaning towards the 3-day one now.

Do you think 4 days at the park would be enough?

All up to you and your kids. And what your next trip will look like. We normally only spend a day or two at the parks before the cruise (been there, done that). Our kids prefer Universal's parks, so typically, it's a day at each - checking out the new rides - and then the cruise.

The time of the year will also matter. Busy or holiday times = need more time at the parks. If you will return in 2020, maybe pick 2 or max 3 parks the first time around.

And - regardless - try not to over-plan as you don't yet know what your kids will really like.

 

[FSU Girl]

I would do the 4 night cruise, but would flop the dates so you do the cruise at the end. Flying in day of a cruise is always risky since there could be delays, Disney World will still be there if you show up late, but the cruise will leave you. I prefer the longer cruises and sea days are really fun.

 

[Geomom]

Your post describes your reasons for your current plans--they all make complete sense to me. I would keep your plans as they currently stand. Going to WDW midweek is definitely less crowded than the weekends--and going before she turns 3 means she's free at the parks, etc. I would skip Nassau and treat it as a sea day. Normally I would have suggested the 4 nt cruise over the 3 nt just to have more days on the ship--but I really think you have valid reasons to do the 3 nt instead. I also wouldn't fly in on embarkation day, just too stressful!

 

[kiford]

It was more logical to be on the cruise on the weekends so my husband would not need to pay for the internet since he needs to contact with the office on the weekdays.

It will depend on what he needs to do as to whether it will cost or not. If you sign up the first day you get 50MB free. Once DH used up the 50MB in the first hour or so using it to Skype to some people at work. We were in Dover and they were in California - it lasted about 20 minutes or so. Other cruises, he just uses it to check his e-mail and respond and it will last for a 7-day cruise.

 

[Jenlynn3]

I would do wdw first then the cruise. DCL does a nice job of making birthdays special

 

[tink1970]

I changed my vote after reading your reasons for doing the 3 day cruise. A family vacation is best if it works for everyone and your original itinerary looks great for your husband and DD. I also agree with pp with slowing down with a cruise after the parks.

 

[Weedy]

FYI: children can’t go to the kids clubs until they are 3 years old and potty trained. There are Open House times available when you can go and stay with her.
But as you noted the Nursery is available (but there is a $$ charge)

 

[Dug720]

FYI: children can’t go to the kids clubs until they are 3 years old and potty trained. There are Open House times available when you can go and stay with her.
But as you noted the Nursery is available (but there is a $$ charge)

Also the kid can't go in the pool unless potty trained. No swim diapers allowed in the pool. There's a splash zone for that.

 

[Kate_45]

Your original itinaries looks great for you guys.I would probably not do fort wilderness on the Epcot day as it would feel too rushed, but you know your family best.

You will get cruise lovers on this part of the board who will put extra days above most things, whereas on the park part of the board you will get the opposite response I'd imagine. I think in your case the sensible option (3 nights) will be the more enjoyable. Treat Nassau as a sea day and just relax.