Should first DCL cruise be 3 days?

[Mto3]

I agree that you should do what is right for your family. We did the 3 night cruise this past November sandwiched between days at Disney before and after (10 days total with the cruise). It was the kids first cruise so I wanted to be sure they would enjoy it. Enjoy it they did. They were ready to book a 7 night cruise as soon as we got off the ship. It also allowed us to travel to the parks with our extended family who could not do the cruise and parks. Whatever you decide, you will have a blast!

 

[Sunshine2U]

I recommend 4-day over 3-day for a lot of the reasons stated above. Also, you will have much more time to be together as a family than in the parks. Imagine everyone rushing over 4 parks to do the things that are important to them. Putting the focus on the cruise makes more sense to me. You can all have dinner scheduled together and a set time and place to meet for breakfast for those who want to get up and meet. If someone does not show up, it is not an expense or missed reservation to worry about. I don't know about your family but in mine it's about sure that once I get outside my little family nucleus, people aren't going to be where and when you plan. It just seems easier to manage or let it go on the ship.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I would not take a 3nt cruise. Wayyy too short. We have done two 7nt and one 4nt. I felt like 4nts was even too short.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Frozen2014]

Never done 3 day cruise, but we did our first 4 day one last August (Royal, not Disney..but still a cruise). We went into the cruise knowing that it would be quick BUT it would be an amazing few days filled with activities, shows and good food. For us as well, we stayed on board for one of the stops (Nassau) so we could enjoy the ship. Would a 7 day one have been better? Sure...but this is what worked for our budget, and time before school for our kids, and vacation days for DH and I.

We loved the 4 night one so much that we've booked more. For the next few years, we have 7 night in March followed by 4 night in August (and one of them we are thinking of adding a couple days at WDW).

SO if a 3 night is what works best for you , especially with many families and wanting to mix the park,then I saw go for it. It will let you test the waters too, and see if a Disney cruise (or other line) is worth trying again.

 

[remlap]

It's easy to tell people how to spend their money but I'd vote for a 4 night over a three. A four night gives you a day a sea which is very nice. A four night also lets you dine at Palo and still have dinner in each the four dining rooms. (recommend an earlier dinner on Pirate night so you for sure get the "show" in each of the other three nights)

 

[OKW Lover]

Just to add to my negative comment about a 3-night cruise above; any cruise is better than no cruise.

 

[mevelandry]

Just to add to my negative comment about a 3-night cruise above; any cruise is better than no cruise.

So true.

What stood out for me in the original post is that they can have more people (who could not afford it otherwise) coming with them if they go for a shorter cruise.

I can understand the FOMO but you can absolutely have a great cruise if you pick your priorities and let go of the rest.

It's not the amount of time you get that is important but what you chose do with it (this applies in life in general).

 

[Dug720]

Even on a longer cruise, you're never going to be able to do it all. As long as you go into it knowing that, you should be ok, even with a 3-night.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

What about a 4-night? Could still be affordable, and offer 2-3 days at WDW before or after. Because the Dream sails 4-nights on a Monday-Friday, schedule, you could fly down to WDW on a Friday, visit the parks Saturday and Sunday, and then board the cruise Monday morning. Flying home Friday would then give you the weekend to recover, unpack, etc.

 

[TheSpooph]

Any cruise length that works for you and your family is a good cruise
If you want a short cruise to see how it goes, definitely try it and see. We have done many different cruises and they are all great!

I think you are right. The more I think about, the more excited I get to have my siblings along for the ride. I know they will love playing with their nieces and nephew, no matter how short or long.

 

[TheSpooph]

If more people can afford the 3 days cruise with a pre-cruise stay at WDW, then I'd pick the 3 days (although I would check because sometimes the price difference between 3 and 4 is not much). It seems to me that good company is so much more important than anything else.

I've done 3, 4, 5 and 6 nights. The shorter the cruise, the more you focus on your priorities. Just be in the moment.

You are absolutely right about priorities. We always have fun together... I just need to make sure I’m not rushing everyone from activity to activity. I just need to go into the cruise knowing I can’t do everything - and be ok with that.

Maybe this will be a good chance to just slow down and enjoy the little things.

 

[TheSpooph]

IMHO, no. You only really get 2 days on a 3-day cruise. The embarkation day is hectic with checking in, finding your cabin and getting your luggage. By the time that all happens its close to time for dinner or a show. The day you leave the ship, you'll be off by 9 am so there isn't time to do anything that day but have breakfast.

Just to add to my negative comment about a 3-night cruise above; any cruise is better than no cruise.

I agree to both posts. I think I just need to be happy with a family cruise and not stress about the length. We have t had a big family cruise in forever, so it’ll be really fun having all of us together.

 

[TheSpooph]

I agree that you should do what is right for your family. We did the 3 night cruise this past November sandwiched between days at Disney before and after (10 days total with the cruise). It was the kids first cruise so I wanted to be sure they would enjoy it. Enjoy it they did. They were ready to book a 7 night cruise as soon as we got off the ship. It also allowed us to travel to the parks with our extended family who could not do the cruise and parks. Whatever you decide, you will have a blast!

Breaking up the trip so different people can go to different parts sounds like the best compromise for us too! I’m glad it worked out so well for your family.

I keep thinking about booking a cruise while on board. Maybe I’ll keep saving my pennies and look into that on the ship. I’m not sure if it would a big family trip again, but it would be nice to have more days the next go around.

 

[Geomom]

Breaking up the trip so different people can go to different parts sounds like the best compromise for us too! I’m glad it worked out so well for your family.

I keep thinking about booking a cruise while on board. Maybe I’ll keep saving my pennies and look into that on the ship. I’m not sure if it would a big family trip again, but it would be nice to have more days the next go around.

As far as booking another cruise on board--you can book a 'placeholder' for a $250 deposit and decide which cruise to take at a later date. (Helpful when you want to book farther out than Disney has released.) You have 24 mths to the day to sail with that placeholder and if you don't, you'll get your deposit back. The placeholder (or booking a new cruise while on board) gets you 10% off the rate and either $100 (cruise under 7nts) or $200 (cruise 7 or more nts) on board credit. The 7 nt cruises also get you 10% deposit vs. the usual 20%.

 

[TheSpooph]

I recommend 4-day over 3-day for a lot of the reasons stated above. Also, you will have much more time to be together as a family than in the parks. Imagine everyone rushing over 4 parks to do the things that are important to them. Putting the focus on the cruise makes more sense to me. You can all have dinner scheduled together and a set time and place to meet for breakfast for those who want to get up and meet. If someone does not show up, it is not an expense or missed reservation to worry about. I don't know about your family but in mine it's about sure that once I get outside my little family nucleus, people aren't going to be where and when you plan. It just seems easier to manage or let it go on the ship.

That’s true - especially since we only have a few days in the parks. I think most everyone wants to go with the flow but I hate ‘bossing’ everyone around if they really want to go do something different.

At least on the ship, they can’t get too far away!

 

[TheSpooph]

I would not take a 3nt cruise. Wayyy too short. We have done two 7nt and one 4nt. I felt like 4nts was even too short.

Good luck and have fun!

I think that too, but I think the fact that the 3 night cruises are over a weekend is very appealing to some. Less vacation to take and all that. But I think giving everyone a 4 night option is smart - everyone has made really good cases in why that extra night is worth it.

 

[TheSpooph]

Never done 3 day cruise, but we did our first 4 day one last August (Royal, not Disney..but still a cruise). We went into the cruise knowing that it would be quick BUT it would be an amazing few days filled with activities, shows and good food. For us as well, we stayed on board for one of the stops (Nassau) so we could enjoy the ship. Would a 7 day one have been better? Sure...but this is what worked for our budget, and time before school for our kids, and vacation days for DH and I.

We loved the 4 night one so much that we've booked more. For the next few years, we have 7 night in March followed by 4 night in August (and one of them we are thinking of adding a couple days at WDW).

SO if a 3 night is what works best for you , especially with many families and wanting to mix the park,then I saw go for it. It will let you test the waters too, and see if a Disney cruise (or other line) is worth trying again.

Thanks for the encouraging! I’m glad that you’ve been in my shoes and it all worked out. I think a combo trip might work out the best for us too. And, I’m not sure our littlest will be all about the nursery - so waiting to do a longer cruise might be a good idea.

 

[TheSpooph]

It's easy to tell people how to spend their money but I'd vote for a 4 night over a three. A four night gives you a day a sea which is very nice. A four night also lets you dine at Palo and still have dinner in each the four dining rooms. (recommend an earlier dinner on Pirate night so you for sure get the "show" in each of the other three nights)

We would definitely like an earlier dinner time with the kids. The last time we cruised we had 1 kiddo and she was about 18 months old. We ended up using the buffet several times for dinner. Since we don’t have that as an option in DCL, I’m interested in early dining with a show for the older two. Of course.... we are a little late to the game for early dining for all of us for a May cruise.

 

[TheSpooph]

So true.

What stood out for me in the original post is that they can have more people (who could not afford it otherwise) coming with them if they go for a shorter cruise.

I can understand the FOMO but you can absolutely have a great cruise if you pick your priorities and let go of the rest.

It's not the amount of time you get that is important but what you chose do with it (this applies in life in general).

I couldn’t agree more. We did a family wedding cruise a few years ago - it was great. Having so many friends there really made it special.

 

[TheSpooph]

Even on a longer cruise, you're never going to be able to do it all. As long as you go into it knowing that, you should be ok, even with a 3-night.

Exactly. Like what they always say on the Dreams podcast... ‘manage exoectations’. Luckily, it’s mainly me that needs managing. Everyone else just goes with the flow.

I think that is why I’m on here - I’m managing my expectations early!!