Really dumb ticket question...

[KateMW]

I know this is dumb, but I have a question...

We are planning on doing a combo Cruise and WDW trip for Spring Break March 2017. I would like to fly in Friday morning {24th}, do WDW that day and then Saturday, then the ship leaves PC on Sunday the 26th, returning the morning of the 30th. Then we would do more WDW from the 30th-1st and leave the evening on the 2nd/Sunday. It will be my 3 year olds first trip to WDW and both of ours first cruise {my husband and daughter are actually on the Fantasy right now and have both been to WDW before} so I thought splitting it up will give up a little more time to see the highlights without going crazy. Anyway, how do I buy tickets for this?! I mean I'm sure there is an answer that makes sense but in my head right now it doesn't. LOL Also, I've read that taking the Disney transpo from the parks to PC is VERY slow. Anybody know how it is back? Should I plan on a car service both ways to speed things up and get maximum time on the boat at the start and in the parks at the end?

Thanks!

 

[KateMW]

Speak slowly and go easy of me...I promise to only ask a couple of dumb questions.

 

[Lesverts]

1) Buy regular tickets, they have a 14 day use by date from first use. So if you buy your tickets and use them first on March 24 you have until April 6 to use all of your entitlements
2) It sounds like you are a family of 4, so doing a car service might be the better value for you. Disney charges for cruise transportation. Plus even if car service is slightly more expensive, it gives you more choice and freedom to do what you want in a timely manner so in you case I think it would be worth it.

 

[KateMW]

1. Ok so I just buy the amount of days I need, which by my calculations would be 6 days with park hoppers. Then I'd just do a room only reservation for the two stays? I think I might have to use a TA for this trip, since I'm already confusing myself.

2. Where would I go on the boards for car service recs? Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't see how using a TA would make things less confusing. Just read a bit more and you'll get it. This is a cruelly a rather simple trip.

The transfers aren't necessarily slow; they just leave later than some want. And at $35 per person each way, it's not cheap.

Taking the transfers back to WDW are better because the buses leave as sol as each one fills, and they start early. The difference is luggage. Going to the port they take your luggage from your resort room and you see it next onboard in your stateroom. But going back to WDW you take it to the bus (I personally recommend hiring a porter in the Customs building and let them handle it) and then you have it once you're at your resort. It's not as much service.

Transportation and Disney Cruise forums here have recommendations.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

1) yes 6 day tickets, two room only ressies... Check www.undercovertourist.com and www.parksavers.com for cheaper tickets

2) I use www.mousesavers.com for coupons and recommendations but also ask on the dcl forum here farther down the page http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-cruise-line-forum.9/

 

[KateMW]

I swear I feel like the more I read the most confused I am. LOL Thanks for the help!

 

[mernin]

We are doing very similar in Feb 2017. We have 2 nights before a 4 night cruise then 2 nights after (we rented DVC points for our stays). 3 parks days. I bought our 3 day ticket (we added hopper) that we'll use 1 day before and 2 days after. I agree, making the land portion is quite simple to book on your own. We used a TA for the cruise portion just to get the onboard credit.

We have the shuttle booked right now, but am thinking we'll do a one way car rental possibly instead. Or maybe a car service. It's cheaper (4 of us), we can go earlier and make a stop at the store before the cruise. Haven't decided if we'll do the same back or use the WDW transfer.

Good luck in your planning!

 

[TeamH5]

Just a word of experience (not that I have much. Lol)
We did a cruise with a then 3.5 yr old and two 5 yr olds. We didn't do the parks, but did Downtown Disney and SeaWorld before getting on the boat.
Let me tell you, by the time we were done with the 4 day Cruise, I was wondering how people were heading to the parks. Lol
My kids ran the clock out at the kids club on the cruise, staying until midnite most nights and back again at 8 or 9 the next morning. They LOVED the kids club, even the 3.5 yr old was hanging without a nap.. BUT, that meant no other parks or touring after we were done. We went to the hotel and all slept for the rest of the day, got up and flew home the day after.

Might want to plan all your park time for before the cruise, or do a better job than I did of making your kids take a mid day break/nap.

 

[KateMW]

We are doing very similar in Feb 2017. We have 2 nights before a 4 night cruise then 2 nights after (we rented DVC points for our stays). 3 parks days. I bought our 3 day ticket (we added hopper) that we'll use 1 day before and 2 days after. I agree, making the land portion is quite simple to book on your own. We used a TA for the cruise portion just to get the onboard credit.

We have the shuttle booked right now, but am thinking we'll do a one way car rental possibly instead. Or maybe a car service. It's cheaper (4 of us), we can go earlier and make a stop at the store before the cruise. Haven't decided if we'll do the same back or use the WDW transfer.

Good luck in your planning!

I wish we could do all before but it just doesn't work out that way due to school schedules, so fingers crossed! What TA did you use? I keep hearing people say they got onboard credit using a TA, but my parents used one for the cruise my DD and DH are on right now and I don't think there was any credit??

Just a word of experience (not that I have much. Lol)
We did a cruise with a then 3.5 yr old and two 5 yr olds. We didn't do the parks, but did Downtown Disney and SeaWorld before getting on the boat.
Let me tell you, by the time we were done with the 4 day Cruise, I was wondering how people were heading to the parks. Lol
My kids ran the clock out at the kids club on the cruise, staying until midnite most nights and back again at 8 or 9 the next morning. They LOVED the kids club, even the 3.5 yr old was hanging without a nap.. BUT, that meant no other parks or touring after we were done. We went to the hotel and all slept for the rest of the day, got up and flew home the day after.

Might want to plan all your park time for before the cruise, or do a better job than I did of making your kids take a mid day break/nap.

We'll just have to make a nap work, because we can't do all the park before due to school. My daughter is in all advanced classes and can't miss any/that much school. So we're just making it work.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Dreams Unlimited sponsor the boards and give an onboard credit. I used www.themouseforless.com and got a credit

 

[mernin]

We used Dreams Unlimited Travel.

 

[TeamH5]

Same here DU booked my cruise and my last WDW trip. We're not using any this time due to using SALUTE tix and Shades of Green.