Need your input about...

[videoman]

Can you please tell me your experience doing the 4 day land and 3 day sea vacation...
Is it worth it or should you just spend all the time on land or sea

Where did you stay while on land?

Thank-you

 

[AnnMorin]

We stayed at the polyneasian and it was GREAT. DS had never been to Disney so I never regreted doing the combo, he would have enjoyed more days in the parks but I have been there several times so four days was enough park running for me. The three day was perfect to see how DS did with cruising. Beleive it or not some people actually don't like it. Better to find out on a short one that a long one if you are not a "cruise person". I personally like the long cruises, even seven days is not enough for me, some day I plan to do a back to back seven day then I think I will be REALLY happy but for now once a year for a week is a slice of heaven.

 

[clori]

I did the land/sea for my honeymoon staying at Dixie Landings. We had a wonderful time on both parts. We knew ahead of time that we might not cover everything we wanted at the parks but just figured we would return at some point in the future (we did). We did do the parks commando style to some extent then relaxed more on the ship. We could easily do a week at the parks, cruise or combo and would be happy. In addition to the parks we spent a half day at a waterpark, looked around downtown disney and did bikes etc at our resort but we did skip PI.

 

[NCRedding]

We did the land/sea 2 years ago just to see if we were"cruise people" We stayed at the Poly and had a great time at the parks--I added a room the night before the land sea started, so we were able to get to the parks at opening time on the first day to benefit from the UPHs. I felt that we got a good deal at the time because I had always wanted to stay at the Poly. We decided we are cruise people after all, and just fininshed our 4th disney cruise, with a RCCL cruise thrown in for good measure.

 

[gdulaney]

When we did the land/sea, we stayed at the Swan (it was being offered as an upgrade). We did 4days on land and 3 at sea... (my husband wasn't sure if he was going to like cruising).

Like clori we hit the parks commando style... and then we tried to cram as much as possible into our on-board time. It was great to be able to do both (the parks and the ship), and if you're unsure as to whether you'd like to cruise or if you still want some of the park "magic" the land/sea is a great way to get it.

Hope you have a great vacation!!
Ginny

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We don't purchase the Land/Sea package, we usually book them separately on our own to save money. We've done the 4-day cruise with a stay at the Dolphin. Also, next month, we're going on the 4-day cruise and staying at the Boardwalk Villas.

We plan the WDW portion for before the cruise because we like to wear ourselves out running around parks and then veg out and relax on the cruise. Our first time around doing all of this, we did the 7-day cruise and then a week in the park and really do wish we did it the other way around. It's just our preference.

 

[tigger53]

i'm with CRSNDSNY, we book the land and sea separately, its way cheaper. we usually do some park time before the cruise and stay at the port orleans riverside, if you belong to AAA you can get a great rate for the por, and then just book your cruise either on your own or with AAA, i know that july 10th is a AAA cruise and i had already booked with disney and was going to be in a cat 11 room and when i changed the reservation over to AAA i got the cat 8 room for the same price as the cat 11, it was a great savings, not to mention all the perks you get when you sail on a AAA trip, especially the soda mugs that they include.

 

[RagamuffinMom]

We did the land/sea last year (4 days land/3 sea). We loved it but if I had it to do over again I would just have done a 7 day cruise.

But that is primarily because of the age of our kids. At the time they were 5 and 3 and I was 5month pregnant. The kids loved WDW but it was definately not relaxing!!! It was fun but in an intense, constantly moving type of way.

On the other hand the cruise was heavenly. Very relaxing, very low stress and perfect for the kids at that time in their lives.

 

[rae519]

Our first cruise was a land/sea combo - we stayed at the Contemporary Tower - great view of MK and lagoon. The 3 nights at sea were wonderful, but ended much too soon. Hence, we have tried the 3 night land (staying at the Poly) and 4 nights at sea (Freeport) - but it's the 7 nighters that have captured us!!!
We like the Eastern best due to the amount of time at sea.

Enjoy!
Rae

 

[Griggle]

After a disatrous first time cruising with another line - DH consented to trying a 3 day....so, we did 4/3 land sea package and stayed at the Grand Floridian this past May.

For us, at that time with a 6yo and a 20 month old it was great. We rented a car and I packed so that we had one suitcase for the parks and one suitcase for the ship, and one that was "shared" between the two. Whatever suitcase we weren't using, stayed in the trunk. Worked out.

We're going for the 7 day in May 2005 with maybe one day either at the beginning or end at a park.....

Whatever you pick, have a great time!!

 

[WIcruizer]

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, it's a matter of personal preference. In our case, we got to WDW every year. We figured if we were going to cruise, might as well make it the full 7 night cruise. And I think that's what we'll continue to do, DCL every 2 or 3 years.

Also, and again this is personal preference, we like to feel "settled in" on vacation. If it was split up like that I would feel like this: Rush to the airport, rush from MCO to WDW...get unpacked and relax...cram WDW in..get packed again and rush to the Port...get unpacked again...and relax...oh oh...vacation is almost over!

 

[rae519]

WIcruizer -
I hate to fly after a harrowing experience two years ago with an flight - so this time I said, "Hey, I'll drive!" Well, no offense to the higher speed limit, the new exit numbers along the route or the multiple drivers from ALL over the USA - but that was the longest 2 days of 11 hour driving I've ever had! We wanted to do soooo much in so little time (we left a week before the cruise)

It was great thought to get off the ship and be on the road early with just a relaxing ride ahead of me.

Don't think I'll ever move South but maybe I'll try horseback next time!!!

Rae

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We just returned from a "land-sea" booked separately. We were at WDW 10/31 - 11/5 and on the Wonder 11/6 - 11/9.

Of course, a longer cruise would be great, but it was really to have even three days after running around the parks! I recommend it.