WDW B4 or after DCL?

[Disneyhenry]

Right now our plan is to stay at AKL and visit WDW Feb 5th - 11th and head off on DCL Feb 12th, I have been kinda thinking about doing WDW after our cruise, any pro's con's to this? That also happens to be Presidents Day weekend, will the parks be that busy? Will they be busy the entire week?

Thanks

 

[MoranClan]

I say Before, WDW can get a bit hectic, and it will ruin the relaxation of the cruise.

We always goto WDW before.

 

[DLBDS]

A lot of folks say to do WDW first and then relax on the cruise. We're the opposite. We think getting off the boat and going home is soooo depressing so we want to follow it up by heading to WDW after the cruise. Not sure 'bout the crowds but Feb is a great time to be at WDW!

 

[mmouse37]

I think there will be big crowds over Presidents Day/Week......we like WDW before as it is always hectic and love relaxing on the cruise after...but I would certainly do and have done WDW after the cruise as well.....but in this case I would go before to avoid President's day.

MJ

 

[spacy9]

We've done it both ways. Our first time we did the cruise first and then the parks, we thought the parks were much more hectic and the cruise was so relaxing that we needed a vacation after the parks The next two times we did the parks first and at the end of the 2 weeks we felt relaxed still.

People say it's depressing to go home after the cruise, but it is also depressing going home after the parks, so having a nice relaxing cruise to look forward to after the parks has its plusses.

 

[dragonfly08]

We were on the Wonder at the end of August, and did a day at MK after disembarking. A lot of people recommend dong WDW first since it can be more hectic, and I'll admit that I wanted to plan it that way, but the timing didn't work out to add days at the start of our trip.

In the end, I think WDW was a wonderful way to end the cruise. As much as we loved the Wonder, our family as a whole had a better time in MK and I felt much more relaxed and happy after that day. While I'll definitely cruise again, especially with DCL, I think I've discovered that I love WDW more!

 

[paceyswife]

It's winter break here in Western New York President's week and we considered going down to WDW but after hearing how crowded it gets, we opted for the cruise two weeks prior. If you notice, all the Disney offers (free dining, KSF) are not available that week.

 

[stefsko]

You will definetly run into crowds over Presidents day. WE've been there then and were surprised how crowded it was. But think of it this way, a day at crowded WDW is better than a day at work!!!

 

[dllocals]

I say Before, WDW can get a bit hectic, and it will ruin the relaxation of the cruise.

We always goto WDW before.

That's what happened to us. We did the 2008 EB Panama cruise and entered the hectics at WDW. But, while on the ship we loved the fact that our Disney vacation wasn't over after we got off the ship. It felt lier we were enbarking on a second vacation. Next time we cruise out of Florida, we will do WDW first, so we can end our trip more relaxed.

 

[chefct]

We are doing WDW after our cruise. DW, DS, & I are flying to Orlando and meeting DW's parents who are driving down. We are doing the 4 night on the Dream sailing 4/10. We are then spending 7 days at WDW at BLT. Then we are all driving home together, taking a leisurely 4 days to get back to central NY, with stops at the DVC on Hilton Head Island, and Rehobooth Beach Delaware.
I Love Traveling with My In-Laws

 

[idieh]

We actually did WDW then DCL in January of 2006 and thought the "extra" travel day was a waste of time. We arrived at WDW on Thursday (travel day 1) then had to wait for the bus to DCL on Sunday (travel day 2) arrived on DCL at about 2ish and then had to debark on Thursday (travel day 3) and go home in the AM!!!!! This year, actually in 16 days, we are heading to DCL and then to WDW. We figure that on debarkation day we will be off the boat at about 9ish and at the parks by noon. A lot more time to enjoy WDW and DCL in our opinion.

Hope this helps,
Heidi

 

[skiingfast]

I think there will be big crowds over Presidents Day/Week......we like WDW before as it is always hectic and love relaxing on the cruise after...but I would certainly do and have done WDW after the cruise as well.....but in this case I would go before to avoid President's day.

MJ

I'd really agree with this based on your dates.

There are plenty of reasons why somebody would otherwise want to cruise first or second. But I wouldn't let that overide the crowds you will find in park because of the dates.

 

[CruznLexi]

We like to do the parks first and then ship even non disney ones too. It puts us in the Disney mood and after 3/4 nights of the parks we are ready to relax.
Lexi

 

[mmmears]

We split our park days so that we had a few before and a few after the cruise. It worked out really well since we needed the relaxing break in the middle! Plus, like a PP suggested, we were so sad to be leaving the ship, but really excited to be going to the Poly that day! Most of the other people leaving the ship looked a bit depressed.

 

[leelip1982]

A lot of folks say to do WDW first and then relax on the cruise. We're the opposite. We think getting off the boat and going home is soooo depressing so we want to follow it up by heading to WDW after the cruise. Not sure 'bout the crowds but Feb is a great time to be at WDW!

Agreeeeeeeeeee we are getting married on nov 6 7 night then another 7 night at wdw

 

[ClubDis]

Or how about both?! Do a DCL to Bahamas, then like 3 days at WDW, then back to DCL for a Carribean? Just thought of that and we just might do that in 2012.

 

[BealsRwe]

I vote before, especially since your after is President's Day weekend. You will enjoy far fewer guests in the parks when it is a non-holiday. WDW is generally at its busiest when the kids are out of school.

 

[Anal Annie]

Not only is it more relaxing to do the parks first but President's week is a VERY busy week at WDW as a lot of the New England schools have the whole week off. DVC even raises the points starting that week to a higher point category than the week before.

Check out this Disney link which lists Presidents week as one of the highest crowd weeks:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQOtherPage

 

[TwingleMum]

We did Harry Potter at Universal a few days before the cruise and 5 days at WDW after the cruise. I couldn't not go to the parks after the cruise too depressing and a big tease. Plus the kids and DH would mutiny.

 

[gabrieltorres]

we've done both. Prefer WDW after the cruise. When we did WDW before, our kids would not stop asking when the cruise started. The after option has worked better for us