Need help deciding on cruise length

[To the honeypots]

We will be first time cruisers. Our party will be myself, my five year old and my mom. We have two options.

1. 5 nights at Kidani followed by a three night cruise on the Dream.

2. Four nights at Kidani followed by four night cruise on the dream and then back to either Beach Club or Boardwalk for a night.

I kind of like the second option, but is this too much moving around? I am concerned the three night cruise might be too short. We were planning to split the Disney days due to use the least amount of vacation time

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We will be first time cruisers. Our party will be myself, my five year old and my mom. We have two options.

1. 5 nights at Kidani followed by a three night cruise on the Dream.

2. Four nights at Kidani followed by four night cruise on the dream and then back to either Beach Club or Boardwalk for a night.

I kind of like the second option, but is this too much moving around? I am concerned the three night cruise might be too short. We were planning to split the Disney days due to use the least amount of vacation time

With those choices, I'd have to go with #2. But, I'm really in the "longer is better" camp. Our preferred length of cruise is, at a minimum, 7-10 days.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I would do the 4 night. The 3 night goes really fast. We did a 3 night and since we did ports, we never got to see the whole ship.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'd definitely go with the 4 night. The 3 night cruises are just too fast.

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

I am no help, but I just want to say I am in the same situation-also going with my mother and my 5 year old! We were going to do nights at WDW, but just now I am researching switching to the 3 night dream and nights at AKL!

 

[MagicMe]

I would only do a 3-night if that is the only length you can fit in or afford. For those trying it out I always recommend the 4-night to give you the best taste of what cruising is like. The four night gives you the day at sea and most longer cruises have one or two days at sea (to get from departure port to first destination port).

 

[To the honeypots]

Sounds like 4 nights is the way to go. Now to convince my mom.

 

[To the honeypots]

I am no help, but I just want to say I am in the same situation-also going with my mother and my 5 year old! We were going to do nights at WDW, but just now I am researching switching to the 3 night dream and nights at AKL!

Originally we just planned all at Disney too, but we have done that a couple times. We always dreamed of a cruise and are staying on DVC points this time so we thought why not! I hope you have a great time with your trip.

 

[FairyGrandmother]

The Dream is a very large ship with a lot to do and I think that a 4 night cruise would be your best bet. I have only been on 2 three night cruises (the first was a B2B, the 2nd one a very short vacation over fall break). It wasn't nearly enough time to enjoy the ship. My granddaughters never spent much time in the clubs but that was probably because they were older when we took them on a cruise. They also liked to spend a lot of time together and because of age difference in ages that was not possible in the clubs. On their next cruise they will be 19 and 23. 4 nights on board will give you a chance to experience a full day at sea and all the actives onboard. Go for it you will like it.

 

[Shanti]

We will be first time cruisers. Our party will be myself, my five year old and my mom. We have two options.

1. 5 nights at Kidani followed by a three night cruise on the Dream.

2. Four nights at Kidani followed by four night cruise on the dream and then back to either Beach Club or Boardwalk for a night.

I kind of like the second option, but is this too much moving around? I am concerned the three night cruise might be too short. We were planning to split the Disney days due to use the least amount of vacation time

#1 will be most fun and relaxing. The 2nd option, one night at the resort after a park/cruise combo, will likely be more tiresome than enjoyable. We did a 3-night cruise last week and loved it.

 

[xlxo]

I picked 4... 7 is optimal and 4 was the closest.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I'd do the 4 for sure. Sea days on the ship are the best. We generally ho back to WDW for a day after the cruise, (even 7 days on the Fantasy), just to hang out, repack and ease our way back to reality.

As a side note, DCL has easily surpassed DL and WDW as our favorite Disney fix. We live 5 1/2 hours from DL so we will continue to do that at least 2/year but if money and time off weren't an issue we'd easily do 2-3 DCL cruises every year. All the fun of the parks without the fatigue afterwards. Just my $.02