Oof - cost of adding on a park day or two prior to cruise

[Princesca]

Wowzers. We booked a DCL cruise for next year and I was thinking about doing 1-2 days at the parks before embarkation.

Last month, because he was free (under 3), we paid roughly $2750 to go to the parks for six days and spend 7 nights at a value resort for two adults.

To add just two park days and three nights at the resort prior to our cruise, for the three of us, it adds $1650 to our trip budget. Granted, spring 2024 dates aren't out yet, so it's an estimate, but wow. That extra ticket cost is killer. And roughly $1000 of that is just the park tickets. When I look at that cost to spend just two days in the parks, it's a bit of a gut punch, and I think we're probably not going to do it.

How do those of you with kids do it? Or those who just want to pop in for a day or two? Or both? Both of those factors seem to up the pain level quite a bit. I can swallow $3600 or whatever for a full week in the parks with resort, but $1600 for just two days/three nights is rough.

I guess I'm hoping someone will talk me into it since I am talking myself out of it. LOL.

 

[tinkerjo]

Well, my DD is in the same boat. (Haha figuratively.) She has a 4 day cruise scheduled next spring and wanted to add 3 nights, 2 days to her cruise at WDW and is having a hard time justifying it. Her DD will still be 2 so free. Not sure how long the cruise is but a 3-4 day cruise is just not quite long enough to get your Disney fix. Also you can get Disney transportation to the port and have an early PAT which would be beneficial. Discounts will come out, they usually do. I tried to talk DD into a value resort just because it’s such a short trip and DGD is so young, but they aren’t a fan of the values so…..but for 2 days in the parks I would do a value over not going at all. If you can swing it, I would do it!!!! I dont think you will regret it

 

[Princesca]

Well, my DD is in the same boat. (Haha figuratively.) She has a 4 day cruise scheduled next spring and wanted to add 3 nights, 2 days to her cruise at WDW and is having a hard time justifying it. Her DD will still be 2 so free. Not sure how long the cruise is but a 3-4 day cruise is just not quite long enough to get your Disney fix. Also you can get Disney transportation to the port and have an early PAT which would be beneficial. Discounts will come out, they usually do. I tried to talk DD into a value resort just because it’s such a short trip and DGD is so young, but they aren’t a fan of the values so…..but for 2 days in the parks I would do a value over not going at all. If you can swing it, I would do it!!!! I dont think you will regret it

I highly suggest POP or AoA for people traveling with strollers. It was SO NICE to be able to get on the Skyliner without having to break everything down for the bus and half the time end up standing, carrying your kid AND all the gear. We joked that we might never go to MK or AK again because the Skyliner doesn't go there, we loved it so much.

 

[dreamer17555]

Unless you need to fly to Orlando (where saving the cost of flights might be worth it) I almost always suggest trying to keep vacations separate. Disney tickets go down significantly for per day cost the longer you are there. I also recommend keeping Universal trips separate from WDW ones because they often run great deals for longer trips as well and staying on site there can give you extra parks, and some hotels include express pass. I can understand the urge to go to Disney but I would just focus on the cruise and let it be it’s own vacation - unless you’re flying, in that case it might be time to re-look at the math.

 

[robinb]

Ticket prices for less than 4 days have been shockingly expensive for a very long time. NOW they are charging more per day for a 3-4 days than for 1-2 days. It's terrible.

You may want to look into Annual Passes if you are planning to do WDW once a year. Resort and merch discounts are a real plus.

 

[Princesca]

Unless you need to fly to Orlando (where saving the cost of flights might be worth it) I almost always suggest trying to keep vacations separate. Disney tickets go down significantly for per day cost the longer you are there. I also recommend keeping Universal trips separate from WDW ones because they often run great deals for longer trips as well and staying on site there can give you extra parks, and some hotels include express pass. I can understand the urge to go to Disney but I would just focus on the cruise and let it be it’s own vacation - unless you’re flying, in that case it might be time to re-look at the math.

Yeah, we're flying. We usually fly SW and it's about $1000 per trip for airfare. We thought since we'd be down there anyway, we could get the bit of extra time we missed at EPCOT this past trip.

 

[Princesca]

Ticket prices for less than 4 days have been shockingly expensive for a very long time. NOW they are charging more per day for a 3-4 days than for 1-2 days. It's terrible.

You may want to look into Annual Passes if you are planning to do WDW once a year. Resort and merch discounts are a real plus.

I hadn't thought of that... we probably wouldn't do WDW annually, but if that changes, will definitely look into that! It is pretty crazy to think that the cost of the two-day add-on I'm considering could pay for an annual pass for one person.

 

[lanejudy]

Disney tickets go down significantly for per day cost the longer you are there.

This! Ticket prices are front-loaded, so a 2-day ticket might be more than half the cost of a 6-day ticket. It also depends on time of year.

It is pretty crazy to think that the cost of the two-day add-on I'm considering could pay for an annual pass for one person.

An Incredi-pass AP costs ~$1500 including tax. There is no 2-day ticket, or even 10-day ticket, that matches that AP pricing (and I don't think you are FL Resident for a discounted AP). Adding the 3rd person increases your ticket prices by 33% over your 2023 trip. It's just a fact of life as your child grows up and is no longer "free" for many things. Good luck!

 

[auralia]

The only way we have gone for one or two days are on single day military tickets. With the military a one day base ticket to any park outside of Christmas time is 130$ no tax so a bit over 500$ for one day. I own a small Dvc contract so lately it’s a couple days at Disney parks with 3 resort days and some universal. Our kids have been to Disney enough the only thing they haven’t done is what ever is new…. So like last time we just did Epcot for guardians. Sometimes we will do a one day ticket and a water park day too. The military 4/5 day tickets are great deals but we find the trip more enjoyable with more down days at the resorts. My Dvc is at old key west but usually stay at wilderness lodge, bay lake tower, boardwalk, or animal kingdom lodge

 

[wanderlust7]

We did one park day pre-cruise last time because DS really wanted to go on Guardians. The one day ticket is really expensive!

I used Disney gift cards I had stored up from various Amex and Chase offers plus stacking with shopping portals. Usually I'd buy tickets from Undercover Tourist because it's cheaper, then save the gift cards for something else. But for the one day tickets, the price is the same, so I bought direct and used up some GC. It took some of the sting out lol!

 

[robinb]

This! Ticket prices are front-loaded, so a 2-day ticket might be more than half the cost of a 6-day ticket. It also depends on time of year.


An Incredi-pass AP costs ~$1500 including tax. There is no 2-day ticket, or even 10-day ticket, that matches that AP pricing (and I don't think you are FL Resident for a discounted AP). Adding the 3rd person increases your ticket prices by 33% over your 2023 trip. It's just a fact of life as your child grows up and is no longer "free" for many things. Good luck!

Yes, but if you make 2 week long trips on the AP you will often save money. Many people will book a trip late in one month and then early in the same month of the same year. The discount on resorts, meals and merch is gravy. The OP won't save money on 2 3-day trips but if they decide to take a week long trip per year it's certainly something to consider.

 

[Genie+]

I felt your pain. We did our first short trip about a month ago and it was $320 for each 2 day non-hopper ticket. Nuts!



2 day Hopper was over $400 with tax. Vendors do not have a 2 day ticket cheaper than WDW directly.

We’re going back in December. We usually buy somewhere between 5-8 day hoppers, and prices really dropped starting from Day 4 and Days 6+ would each be just another $10 or $15. Not so much any more.

For Dec we wanted 6 day hoppers. $850 X 4 people = $3,400 Photopass another $200.

We looked around and bought UK tickets that electronically attached into our MDE. For $650 each. And a better ticket. It’s 7 day hopper plus option and includes the photopass, saving us $250 per person. $1,000 total savings.

 

[justafigment27]

We just got back from a 4 night cruise on the Wish. We spent 2 days pre-cruise at Boulder Ridge. The closer the trip got, the more I wanted to add a park day at MK or DHS. But it was going to be $800-ish for the four of us for just one day, so we decided against it and had a resort/pool day with dinner at Steakhouse 71. It was actually kind of nice to have a day off to relax after our travel day and before the cruise.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d pass on such a short trip, couple day tickets are murder.

 

[auralia]

I felt your pain. We did our first short trip about a month ago and it was $320 for each 2 day non-hopper ticket. Nuts!

View attachment 759406

2 day Hopper was over $400 with tax. Vendors do not have a 2 day ticket cheaper than WDW directly.

We’re going back in December. We usually buy somewhere between 5-8 day hoppers, and prices really dropped starting from Day 4 and Days 6+ would each be just another $10 or $15. Not so much any more.

For Dec we wanted 6 day hoppers. $850 X 4 people = $3,400 Photopass another $200.

We looked around and bought UK tickets that electronically attached into our MDE. For $650 each. And a better ticket. It’s 7 day hopper plus option and includes the photopass, saving us $250 per person. $1,000 total savings.

Not sure if you are a uk resident but they may require you to show proof of um residency to use the ticket… they may not…

 

[Genie+]

Not sure if you are a uk resident but they may require you to show proof of um residency to use the ticket… they may not…

It’s already in MDE so no need to be activated. Should just work when we show up. I hope lol. Seriously though, I looked around quite a bit into other people’s experiences and nobody has had an issue. so far.

 

[Disneylover99]

I could never justify the cost of one or two day tickets at Disney for my family of 4.
So it’s either 10 day tickets or AP’s for us. Still extremely painful to the pocketbook, but much more relaxing and enjoyable.

I’d just relax by the pool, go to DS and/or tour some resorts if you don’t want to spring for tickets.

 

[georgina]

Fortunately I am usually solo. Bought a MVMCP ticket and 1 day at Epcot last December ( was staying at the Swan for 2 nights). Definitely pricey. Was looking at ticket for this September, it was so cheap to go from a five day hopper to 7 days, went for it!

 

[lanejudy]

it was so cheap to go from a five day hopper to 7 days

Yes, 5 days to 7 days isn't a particularly pricey jump. Adding a couple of days to say a 2 day ticket up to a 4 day is almost double in cost. That's the front-loaded ticket pricing. Once you get to about 5 days the incremental cost to add an another day drops considerably.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wowzers. We booked a DCL cruise for next year and I was thinking about doing 1-2 days at the parks before embarkation.

Last month, because he was free (under 3), we paid roughly $2750 to go to the parks for six days and spend 7 nights at a value resort for two adults.

To add just two park days and three nights at the resort prior to our cruise, for the three of us, it adds $1650 to our trip budget. Granted, spring 2024 dates aren't out yet, so it's an estimate, but wow. That extra ticket cost is killer. And roughly $1000 of that is just the park tickets. When I look at that cost to spend just two days in the parks, it's a bit of a gut punch, and I think we're probably not going to do it.

How do those of you with kids do it? Or those who just want to pop in for a day or two? Or both? Both of those factors seem to up the pain level quite a bit. I can swallow $3600 or whatever for a full week in the parks with resort, but $1600 for just two days/three nights is rough.

I guess I'm hoping someone will talk me into it since I am talking myself out of it. LOL.

Back when our kids were still cruising with us, we had old non-expiring 10-day tickets. They were great for short trips. We'd do 1 day at MK or Epcot and then cruise the next day, and save the ticket for another trip.
Now that they don't offer non-expiring tickets, we just cruise. We refuse to be gouged. Also, dh is too parked out to do a full week at any of the parks. He did tolerate a week there once we both got covid vaccines and I couldn't wait to get travelling. By the end of the week, he was parked out again and really has no desire to return until someday if we ever have grandchildren.
This last park trip was before the start of the Genie system and I haven't heard anything about it that makes we want to return either. We do still love sailing on DCL though.