To Cruise or to do just WDW

[KevinB]

Help... I know I am asking this on the cruise boards, but I am looking for your objective opinion.....

Here is my and DW's situation. A few years ago we took DW's parents and 9 yr old nephew to WDW for a wonderful 8 days over Thanksgiving. Last year DW and I went on a 4 day Wonder by ourselves and had just a great time!!!!. Well now it is DW's neices turn to go to WDW. So in planning the vacation for Oct/Nov 03 with the 7 yr old neice (who has never been to WDW) we have been thinking about taking the in laws and neice for a 4 day cruise and 4 or 5 days at WDW. Instead of 8 days at the park, I thought why not combine both? I think that the inlaws might really enjoy a short cruise eventhough they have never been on one and FIL is not a real formal dress person or beach person. In-laws are both retired and in their mid 60's and love the only 2 grandchildren they have.

OK....we could go either way..the in-laws have never been on a cruise.

I remember FIL eyes when his only grandson saw things at WDW. I wish the same for his only granddaughter. There is so much that I want inlaws and neice to see at WDW, but the thought of a really nice cruise with the in laws would expand on the Disney experience. Are we going to miss too much at WDW with DWs neice, and feel too rushed with only 4 or 5 days? Are we taking away from FIL experiences with granddaughter at WDW?

We know that we won't be able to see everything in 4 or 5 days at WDW but I am torn. What do you all think... just the parks or the parks and a nice cruise?

We have mentioned all of this to In-laws and they thought the cruise seemed inviting, but could go either way.

Thank you for your advice, help and opinion.

KevinB

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok, you asked so here is my 2 cents worth!

First of all niece is old enough to have some significant input on what she wants to do at WDW. When we were planning our first land/sea vacation (and kids first WDW trip) we picked up the Birnbaum's WDW for/by kids. We did this well in advance and then let them select what was important to them. Our DD (who was this same age then) had pretty simple expectations. And we easily met all of those in 4 days on land (we did 4 land/3 sea that time).

Our second cruise included hooking up with my parents at WDW for 3 land days and then 4 sea days. This was their first trip to WDW so a little different situation. They decided not to try and keep up with us (kids were 10/12 at the time & mom's health wasn't all that great at the time) but we did a LOT of things together. The cruise was really enjoyable for all. In part because in this situation the kids were the old pros showing grandma and grandpa what to do. The pics of them getting in life jackets for the drill are priceless! Especially the one of DD rolling her eyes as grandpa put his lifejacket on backwards! They also liked the idea of eating together every night, being able to do shows and not having to trek cross country from resort to park etc. Again we were dealing with a grandma with somewhat limited mobility.

The point is whatever you do will create irreplaceable memories. Different from the previous trip of course - but irreplaceable.

Deb

 

[sistert]

This is a tough one. If money is an issue, just the park will be more than enough. If money is not an issue, I'd do the cruise too (hey wait, I am!).

I'd say it really depends on how much activity your in-laws can handle. If they're fairly active, they may be able to enjoy the park for 7-8 days. If they like gambling, what better place for them but to spend a few hours at Atlantis in Nassau. We're not beach people either but we love to explore places we've never been. As for your DW's niece, does she even want to go on a cruise? Make sure she's as interested as you are.

As for feeling rushed, if you only have 4 or 5 days in the parks make sure she at least see's the highlights. Go with the mindset that, she'll be back one day. No need to make it a marathon.

And if you do the cruise too, you can use those few days to wind down (yeah right).

I somehow think I may have made things more complicated.

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

If it helps you decide some, the parks are not busy at all right now, and won't be too bad in October, Everyone is pretty much walking on to everything, so you could get a lot done in 4 or 5 days in the park... of course not everything, but you definitely won't be wasting time waiting in line... we don't have hany lines!

 

[Samsma]

All I can say is that I hope someday to have a SIL like you to take me on vacation and worry about what I want to do!

 

[wmackleit]

Cruise and WDW. We went to WDW last Dec. for 10 days and did the 4 night cruise. My kids were 6,10,12. This was all of ours first trip to WDW so I was alittle reluctant to book a cruise on top of all the madness. Guess what.....It was EVERYONES favorite part of the trip.......not to say that they did not love WDW......because we did.....but it was also our first cruise and it was WONDERFUL......DO BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to do it again.....but next time we are doing 7night land and 7 night sea.

 

[disneyholic family]

i consider myself the WDW expert on this board (3 weeks every year for the last 30 years).....
and i agree with everyone else....do both.....
either the 3 or 4 day wonder cruise (we did the 3 day cruise and loved it.....though i know we would have also loved the 4 day cruise)....and then 4 or 5 days at WDW...
i don't know if you said when you're going.....if it's over thanksgiving, i would do the cruise druing thanksgiving weekend (when the parks are more crowded) and then do the parks after that, when they're half empty.....(that's what we did over the 4th of july.....went on the cruise during the weekend of the 4th, when the parks are suicidally packed and then went to WDW after that...albeit for 3 weeks, but the concept of not being in the parks during a major holiday is the point).....

i'm sure your in-laws will adore the cruise......as will your niece...
and 5 days at WDW after thanksgiving weekend is over is plenty of time to cover all the big things.......(during the first two weeks of december, WDW is as close to a ghost town as you'll ever see it....you'll walk right on all the rides...)

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

BOTH! My DW, four children (current ages 11, 7, 6 & 3) & FIL & MIL are doing 4 or 5 days at WDW followed by a 3 day Magic cruise which I believe leaves on 11/6/03. Maybe we'll run into each other!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

BOTH! My DW, four children (current ages 11, 7, 6 & 3) & FIL & MIL are doing 4 or 5 days at WDW followed by a 3 day Magic cruise which I believe leaves on 11/6/03. Maybe we'll run into each other!

 

[TinkerBellPixie4GOAL]

I say do both to.

MANCHURIANBROWNBEAR:3 day Magic cruise? The magic only sails the 7 day cruises. Do you mean Wonder?

 

[KLDESQ]

I've been to WDW over 100 times and absolutely LOVE the parks. Having said that, we went on our first Disney Cruise last year (4 night coupled with 3 night at WDW--Grand Floridan).

Here's my .02: The cruise was amazing compared with the parks. The parks were crowded and hurried. The cruise was (on cat 3--conceirge deck 8) uncrowded and relaxful. The restaurants were AMAZING on the ship.

Overall, I would definitely go with the cruise. We are going on a 7 night Western in Nov and are spending two days on our own before boarding the Magic running around the parks. The parks will doubtless be fun--but the Magic doubtless will be NIRVANA!

Enjoy.

Kyle

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

TinkerBellPixie4Goal,
Thanks for correcting me! Obviously, I depend heavily on my DW to get me to the right place at the right time!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

TinkerBellPixie4Goal,
Thanks for correcting me! Obviously, I depend heavily on my DW to get me to the right place at the right time!