Tell me about Land and Sea

[PurpleKomodo]

My family is thinking of attempting a Land and Sea vacation in 2017 (or maybe 2018). I have been to the parks several times, but have never done a Disney Cruise. I have some questions...

First, a preliminary run of the numbers is daunting. For my family of four, I am looking at $9,000 for a 4 night cruise and 6 night Disney stay. For our accompanying extend family, it will be another $7,000-$8,000 for their portion. I can't run the numbers for a Land and Sea package online. Has anyone done this? Are there many deals or discounts for booking Land & Sea together or are we essentially stuck paying in full for 2 vacations at once?

Next, if we travel in 2017, we will have a just under 1 year old and an almost 5 year old. How are these ages for cruising? Would we be better off to wait until 2018 with an almost 2 year old and almost 6 year old? How are the staterooms with small children? Are they super cramped?

Last, does a 4 night cruise and 6 night Disney stay sound like a reasonable amount of time. I can't imagine having less than 5 full days in the parks if we are going to do the parks. But, if we were willing to cut out some stuff, maybe we could condense down to 3 or 4 park days.

Clearly, we are in the very early stages of planning, but being a cruise newbie and the cost, I feel like we will have to start planning/saving pretty early to pull it off. Any help is appreciated.

 

[lanejudy]

Most people price out and reserve the 2 parts of Land and Sea separately, rather than booking together. You can book a combined trip through DCL, though I think there may be limitations on how many nights for the land portion. You can get rough estimates of 2017 or 2018 land prices by looking at similar time periods this year. Discounts and special offers won't be released until a few months prior. When my family does a combined land/sea vacation, we don't do a full parks vacation -- usually a 4 night cruise with only 1 or 2 parks with a couple of days tacked on before or after the cruise. We prefer land first, but sometimes that simply doesn't fit the schedule. A longer cruise and/or a longer parks vacation just don't fit together for us. We prefer to keep the longer parks vacations as just parks and spread them out so we aren't rushed. Land&Sea we plan as a shorter time, concentrate on just one or two parks and the favorites there.

You may be able to adjust your cruise pricing a tad by changing stateroom category and/or dates. Some dates are more expensive than others due to holidays or big school vacation times. Cruising in the off-season is typically much less. Also, the further out you book usually the lower the fares, so if you book when 2017 dates get released this spring. There CAN be last-minute discounted rates, but unless you have flexibility in travel plans that may not work for a larger party planning land & sea.

By booking the 2 parts separately, you can take advantage of whatever WDW offers are available, and that part usually doesn't need to (or can't) be booked as early as the cruise.

Your little one will be in the Nursery while your older child will be the right age for the Oceaneer Club/Lab. They won't spend time in the kids' clubs together except if you take them during Open House. Each will go to their respective location for drop-off. The Nursery includes an hourly charge; the Club/Lab are included in the child's cruise fare.

Feel free to ask more questions as you are planning and enjoy your cruise!

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am having a hard time letting go of the longer parks vacation for several reasons. It is what I know and love, we don't go all that often, and my extended family that want to travel with us have never been to the parks. I am thinking a minimum of 3 park days. A whole day for MK, a whole day for EPCOT and a day to split between AK and DHS. The prices I found for the cruise were in the cheapest stateroom option. We have historically had trouble with DS in hotels that are 2 beds in the same room. It is unclear how that will work with kid number 2 since they are not here yet. Has anyone had trouble sleeping a family of four with young kids in the interior standard stateroom?

 

[Ravenne]

We did land/sea on our last trip. My advice is to book them separately. I booked our night before cruise room through DCL and it was such a pain. I initially called WDW about it first, they told me to go through DCL because they often have discounts. Well, DCL didn't have any discounts, but I figure since I was already on the phone with them, why not? It never showed up in MDE because DCL was basically the TA for the room so I would have to link it to my account, but they didn't give me a separate reservation number for the room. It was lumped into my DCL reservation. DCL said they can't help me with online check in for the room because it's a WDW thing. WDW couldn't help me because DCL is the TA. Round and round I went until I finally found someone competent enough to tell me what my room reservation number was so I can link it in MDE to check in. Never again. Plus if there ends up being any WDW discounts, you're going to have to try to get DCL to apply them for you, which in of itself is a pain if they can even do it. Nope. Book them separately.

 

[Quellman]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am having a hard time letting go of the longer parks vacation for several reasons. It is what I know and love, we don't go all that often, and my extended family that want to travel with us have never been to the parks. I am thinking a minimum of 3 park days. A whole day for MK, a whole day for EPCOT and a day to split between AK and DHS. The prices I found for the cruise were in the cheapest stateroom option. We have historically had trouble with DS in hotels that are 2 beds in the same room. It is unclear how that will work with kid number 2 since they are not here yet. Has anyone had trouble sleeping a family of four with young kids in the interior standard stateroom?

I'll first start with a cruise thought. You sound like a prime candidate based on your travel requirements to want to use a travel agent who specializes in Disney, there are many out there, and I'm sure you can find many recommendations, including the owners of the DIS.

You might need to stalk some trip reports about those who have cruised in inside rooms with little ones. The rooms are usually set up a little bit differently than standard rooms since there is not a window or balcony door. The oldest can be on the sofa (that converts easily to a bed without taking up extra space).

I will mention that in 2017-2018 you will have Avatar likely open at Animal Kingdom, and potentially some new things at Hollywood studios. Not trying to get your hopes up, but those will be big draws if they open close to your travel dates and may increase park attendance.

 

[JWigs]

We did a Land and Sea last year. We flew into MCO and took the disney (paid) shuttle to the Port and then did the 4 day cruise. It was nice (so many touches of Disney everywhere) and then we took the shuttle back to BLT.

The only downside is would say is that I should've gone to parks first and then relaxed on the boat.

But that being said, Disney does not have "free" cruising for kids. They charged us for our 2 yr old. It wasn't that much but I think something to keep in mind for your age question.

 

[jcemom]

We did land & sea (booked separately) with four park days before a 4 night Dream cruise, and two park days after. We found that we really did not want to be in the parks so much after the cruise, so if possible I would put the parks first. After all the relaxation and meals included onboard, standing in lines, in the heat, on pavement, and paying Disney food prices was a bit of a let-down.

However, we did like returning to Disney after the cruise, and we're planning to do it again this year. We just won't plan heavy park touring for after this time, only before. This time we're putting three park days before the cruise and after we'll only do Disney Springs and MVMCP. Just a "little something" to look forward to after leaving the ship instead of going straight home.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We haven't done land and sea, but we have done land and sea on its own . Several times each. We are planning a land and sea vacation for 2017 as well.
From what I've researched, it's better to book things separately as others have said. That goes for air too if you need it. We will also be with an almost 1 year old in 2017 or 1 and a bit depending when we go. My preference is to go when the baby is under 1 than just under 2 for a couple of reasons. I think the baby will be more "portable" meaning possibly not walking yet, or barely walking so in the stroller a lot. At age 2 they are much more active and not wanting to be tied down to a stroller and so I would find it much harder to run after them in the parks or the ship. It depends on the kids though, I guess I'm speaking from experience. The younger my older child was the easier it was to travel. I suppose many will say the opposite. Having said that, a 6 year old might do better in the kids clubs on the ship and some rides than a 5 year old. I would ask myself what you want out of the vacation? How tall is your older child?
Our friends who traveled with us on one of the cruises had an interior room with 4 people, 2 kids age 6 and baby and it was tight but they didn't really complain. It was more me that was shocked they all fit in there
Lastly we plan to book our cruise as soon as the rest of the 2017 rates come out and then adding WDW in 2017 once those packages roll out. Although we may book hotel earlier and then try to change if a deal such as free dining comes out.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We did land & sea (booked separately) with four park days before a 4 night Dream cruise, and two park days after. We found that we really did not want to be in the parks so much after the cruise, so if possible I would put the parks first. After all the relaxation and meals included onboard, standing in lines, in the heat, on pavement, and paying Disney food prices was a bit of a let-down.

However, we did like returning to Disney after the cruise, and we're planning to do it again this year. We just won't plan heavy park touring for after this time, only before. This time we're putting three park days before the cruise and after we'll only do Disney Springs and MVMCP. Just a "little something" to look forward to after leaving the ship instead of going straight home.

I like your idea! We thought we would prefer the cruise first then WDW because I hate going home after the cruise and always stare at the buses heading to the WDW resorts
Do some parks touring before and just mostly relax at WDW after! The only negative I can see with that is packing and unpacking 3x. Something to consider though.

 

[lanejudy]

We have historically had trouble with DS in hotels that are 2 beds in the same room. It is unclear how that will work with kid number 2 since they are not here yet.

There is one queen bed and a sofa that converts to a bed (not a typical sofa bed, twin size and doesn't pull-out) and a bunk that drops down from the ceiling. Your 5/6 yr old could use either. For the little one, DCL will provide a pack-n-play unless s/he can sleep on the sofa bed with a bed rail added. It will be tight, but some families don't mind. Other families prefer more space and book connecting rooms or a larger room (higher category). Just depends on your family's preference for togetherness.

Enjoy your land and sea vacation!

 

[jcemom]

I like your idea! We thought we would prefer the cruise first then WDW because I hate going home after the cruise and always stare at the buses heading to the WDW resorts
Do some parks touring before and just mostly relax at WDW after! The only negative I can see with that is packing and unpacking 3x. Something to consider though.

Yes, the packing and unpacking is a pain, but we felt it was worth it.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Alright, so from the replies it sounds like booking separately is the way to go and probably try to do the parks first. Tell me about babies on cruise ships. Can you bring a stroller? Did you use a carrier? How much would you have them in the nursery since it costs extra?

 

[dreadpiraterose]

Alright, so from the replies it sounds like booking separately is the way to go and probably try to do the parks first. Tell me about babies on cruise ships. Can you bring a stroller? Did you use a carrier? How much would you have them in the nursery since it costs extra?

I definitely recommend cruising after the parks. The parks wear us out and the cruise is so relaxing by comparison.

 

[JWigs]

Alright, so from the replies it sounds like booking separately is the way to go and probably try to do the parks first. Tell me about babies on cruise ships. Can you bring a stroller? Did you use a carrier? How much would you have them in the nursery since it costs extra?

We brought both stroller and carrier. In some instances with elevators it'd be easier to carry baby if you were going somewhere quick and not needing stroller since it takes up so much space.

We didn't use nursery but I think you can do a multiple day plan and it wasn't extremely over priced

 

[Lulubelle17]

We did 2 Disney cruises before our first time in the parks, and it's certainly a much more relaxing vacation. We loved it and we'll be back when the budget allows it. I agree that you should plan on going to the parks first and then end with the cruise.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Not an expert here, but we are doing land & sea for the first time in April (first cruise ever!).

We booked each portion separately and are doing 2 nights at WDW, 4 nights on the cruise and then 2 more nights at WDW. I did this because I can't imagine getting off of the ship and just going home.

Our kids are 11, 9 and 1. It will be quite the experience!! But we are looking forward to it!

 

[dyson0715]

5 full days in the parks with a almost 1 or 2 year old....no thank you. I have an almost 3 year old, and we did 2 full days at a different theme park (when he was like 20 months) and no way he would of made it 5 full days. We are doing land and sea in 2 months, 2 days before cruise, (1 park day) 4 night cruise then 2 days at AOA no park days. 10 daysof go go go, would be a lot for a 2 year old, just in my experience. Good luck...I also have a 7 year old.

 

[jcemom]

5 full days in the parks with a almost 1 or 2 year old....no thank you. I have an almost 3 year old, and we did 2 full days at a different theme park (when he was like 20 months) and no way he would of made it 5 full days. We are doing land and sea in 2 months, 2 days before cruise, (1 park day) 4 night cruise then 2 days at AOA no park days. 10 daysof go go go, would be a lot for a 2 year old, just in my experience. Good luck...I also have a 7 year old.

Just wanted to mention, you don't have to do full park days open to close. I have been taking DD to Disney since she was 1 1/2 and we normally stay 10 days with 7-8 park days. We still don't stay in the parks open to close and she's a teenager now. We have never found the NEED to be in the park for 12 hours each day. We normally do half days or 3/4 days. Some days we do rope drop until mid afternoon, and other days we go lunch time to closing. If it's hot weather we may do rope drop, swim break, and then back into the park for evening entertainment but that is no longer my preferred schedule as I don't really like going back and forth, in and out of the park.

 

[Flossbolna]

We have always done parks after the cruise, just because it worked out that way, not by choice. But now I love it that way and would not want to turn it around. But we always take the parks easy anyway and don't rush around from rope drop to park closing.