still podering about off site-b4 or after DCL???

[crabbie1]

Well I have decided to do cruise on 10th november for 3 nights as have decided that with what we want to do onland and it probably being my moms last trip due to her health and the flying. We are doing the cruise in the middle so will be doing 5 nights before and 6 nights after.Now my problem is.Do we stay off site for the 5 nights before as want to do DC IOA, and BG OR do WDW onsite with free DDP for 6 nights before then do off site for 5 when we return from cruise?
How do people feel when they return from the cruise? Do you wish you were going back to the world or would doing off site be appealing as long as not going home?
The reason I have chose to do DCL in the middle is for my mom.A break in the middle will suit her and after you guys said it was nice to look forward to a few more days.
Also is it best to hire a car and drive down to PC then leave the luggage in the car we dont need ? We are having 2 cabins but dont know if we can take all our luggage.Plus it will be more economical to pay for a weeks car hire than transfers to and from the cruise and all our trips to DC BG etc.
was going december but due to free dining and saving a little by doing this now going november.
TIA

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Well I have decided to do cruise on 10th november for 3 nights as have decided that with what we want to do onland and it probably being my moms last trip due to her health and the flying. We are doing the cruise in the middle so will be doing 5 nights before and 6 nights after.Now my problem is.Do we stay off site for the 5 nights before as want to do DC IOA, and BG OR do WDW onsite with free DDP for 6 nights before then do off site for 5 when we return from cruise?
How do people feel when they return from the cruise? Do you wish you were going back to the world or would doing off site be appealing as long as not going home?
The reason I have chose to do DCL in the middle is for my mom.A break in the middle will suit her and after you guys said it was nice to look forward to a few more days.
Also is it best to hire a car and drive down to PC then leave the luggage in the car we dont need ? We are having 2 cabins but dont know if we can take all our luggage.Plus it will be more economical to pay for a weeks car hire than transfers to and from the cruise and all our trips to DC BG etc.
was going december but due to free dining and saving a little by doing this now going november.
TIA

I am not sure what is the most economical - but do you need the car while you are at WDW??

The reason I ask is, we are doing wdw onsite before our cruise this year and then going offsite afterwards. I had the same questions as you and I made my decision like this....

We knew that we wouldn't use the car at WDW, so we decided to get the free magical express bus from the airport. We then opted to pay for the DCL bus transfer from the hotel. I liked the idea of the transfers to the port, as you can leave your luggage outside your hotel room and then you don't see them again until they arrive at your DCL stateroom - perfect!!! (The return transfer isn't so good as you would have to collect your luggage at the port terminal and take it to the bus - so nothing gained that way!!)

I have then arranged to collect a car at the port - previously we have driven to the port and paid for parking, but I really hated wasting money to hire/ins/park a car that I wasn't using!!! So then you'd have the car for the last offsite bit of your trip.

Anyway, thats just what we decided - so hope it helps a little!! (Oh and I definitely agree with having the cruise in the middle - its definitely my ideal way of doing things now!!)

 

[crabbie1]

Thanks Amy that does help. I do have a question.Do you take all your luggage onto the ship with you? We will have 5 cases and to be honest for 3 nights will be a lot to move around. I was thinking the same as you to do WDW first. May even stay at pop the last 5 nights ,pick up the car from LBV/Disney so can still pop to Disney after the non disney parks. Food for thought.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

If you end up staying at Disney both ways, then they will store some of the bags for you.

As we are not going back to WDW after the cruise, we are taking all our luggage with us (in our case our one stateroom will have 2 large holdalls, 1 small holdall, 2 cabin trolleys, a rucksack & my large hand luggage bag - as well as Steve, myself and the two children!!! - It will be undoubtedly cosy!!!)