WDW before or after a 7 day trip on DCL?

[Canesfan3234]

Topic speaks for itself. what do people enjoy more? we will be driving up from Miami so I am not really worried about the travel aspect of it, more about what is more enjoyable/flows better for a combined trip.

 

[disneyholic family]

this past august, we did WDW before..

the times before that, we'd done before and after....(4 days before and a few days after)..

it all works for me...

in august, we were at WDW for 3 weeks, then did 3 short days on the disney dream....that was actually the most painful part...having to get off the ship after only 3 days....

i cried....real tears.....

if i had to choose one? i'd probably do WDW first and then DCL....

.

 

[Canesfan3234]

this past august, we did WDW before..

the times before that, we'd done before and after....(4 days before and a few days after)..

it all works for me...

in august, we were at WDW for 3 weeks, then did 3 short days on the disney dream....that was actually the most painful part...having to get off the ship after only 3 days....

i cried....real tears.....

if i had to choose one? i'd probably do WDW first and then DCL....

.

how was 3 weeks at WDW? I feel like you would run out of things to do after about 10 days. also thanks for the advice. going to do my WDW stay before.

 

[disneyholic family]

how was 3 weeks at WDW? I feel like you would run out of things to do after about 10 days. also thanks for the advice. going to do my WDW stay before.

way too little time...
there are an infinite number of things for us to do at WDW.....we never ever have enough time for everything....
over the years, most of our trips have been 3 weeks....shortest 2 weeks....just not enough time..

we live overseas, so it's so hard to get to WDW, it only makes sense to stay for a long time..


.

 

[wl1117]

We've done both, however I prefer before. Mainly because I always feel the earth move for at least 3-4 days after cruising and I find I don't enjoy the rides as much if we go to the parks after cruising. Also, the cruise is more relaxing, so I like to end my vacation as relaxed as possible.

 

[TrishaK]

I'd do the craziness of the parks first. Then relax on the cruise.

 

[Canesfan3234]

looks like I am going to do before then. thanks all

 

[YawningDodo]

I did a two night/one day stay in WDW after my cruise from Miami and I don't think I'd do it that way again. When I got off the ship I honestly felt kind of ready to just go right home -- I felt refreshed by the trip and I felt ready to reconnect with the world after having disconnected from the internet, etc., for most of a week. I had a good time in WDW and can't say I really regret it, but it took me longer than usual to get into the spirit of it on my first evening there and I kept finding myself missing the ship and missing the way I'd slept in almost every morning of the cruise as opposed to my up-and-at-em' approach to WDW; I think it'd be much more relaxing to do it the other way around. Then again, part of what stressed me out was that I had to drive up from Miami to Orlando and I'm not used to dealing with that much traffic (and didn't adequately prepare entertainment for the drive), so if you're a.) semi-local and used to it and b.) have to drive back to Miami after the cruise either way, maybe a night or two in Orlando would actually be an easier, less stressful transition. Idk, it's subjective.

But yeah, overall I'd support the conclusion you've already come to. If I do a combined WDW/cruise trip again it'll be WDW first and straight home after the cruise.

 

[JoAnnPan]

My sister & I did a week in WDW after our Dis Cruise - fantastic feeling knowing we didn't have to go home!!!! Getting on magical express was the best! Seems to be personal preference really.

 

[LizGirl]

Another vote for before!

 

[Shanti]

Topic speaks for itself. what do people enjoy more? we will be driving up from Miami so I am not really worried about the travel aspect of it, more about what is more enjoyable/flows better for a combined trip.

I prefer after, because leaving the ship is depressing when heading straight for the airport, but it's fine when going straight to WDW.

Also, the DCL bus from the resorts to the ship always arrives relatively late, and we prefer to board as soon as possible.

On debarkation day, it's nice to have a relaxing breakfast in the MDR rather than anxiously hustling to get to the airport, so I prefer the more laid back vibe of just going to WDW.

Bonus: All the walking at WDW is a good way to burn calories accrued during the cruise.

 

[GPaLarry]

Did a week at WDW first with daughter and her family then week-long cruise. Worked great for us with DCL handling all transport from resort. I felt like I was getting a vacation from my vacation...lot less walking and searching for food an the Fantasy.

 

[shoes99]

We are doing 3/7/3 starting this Thursday. We are from the northeast so we always plan on getting out of the snow in February. Our cruise on the Wonder is Sunday.

 

[undertheradar]

We have done both ways, as well as wrapping a night or two around a cruise. Before is the only way we would do it in the future. After the calm of a sea or two, the hustle of WDW is just not fun. Besides, after enjoying all of the included foods on the cruise, buying WDW food/snacks would just not be the same.

 

[5lilfish]

In our experience, we definitely prefer before. 2 main reasons for us... (1) We like to end with the more relaxing cruise. We have found that after later nights on the cruise and a relaxing schedule, we don't enjoy switching gears and ending with the structure and non-stop action of the parks. We'd rather do all that first (enjoy it) and then end on the ship. (2) With kids, we found that it's a little hard for them to make the leap from free and basically unlimited soda and ice cream and/or ordering whatever they want off of the cruise menu to us saying no to buying 5 kids ice cream twice a day (or soda or saying no to the expensive adult food choices). So if we start in the park, the kids haven't gotten used to being able to get whatever they want and then having us shut that door abruptly on day 8. Don't get me wrong, my kids are good (not bratty), but when they were little it was confusing as to why ordering appetizers and deserts was ok for the first 7 days and then suddenly being told to enjoy the chicken tenders on the kid's menu and soda and ice cream isn't free-flowing anymore.

Jess

 

[5lilfish]

We have done both ways, as well as wrapping a night or two around a cruise. Before is the only way we would do it in the future. After the calm of a sea or two, the hustle of WDW is just not fun. Besides, after enjoying all of the included foods on the cruise, buying WDW food/snacks would just not be the same.

Exactly!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I would want to do cruise first, WDW second.
I find it so so sad to get off the ship and go home
We don’t tour the parks at WDW from dusk til dawn, always enjoy ample time relaxing at our WDW resort so to us it’s still a relaxing time. Call me crazy but I find the parks soothing
Every trip we take now I try to soak in the little details, walk around the world show case a little slower, take our time at the restaurants, enjoy a whole day lounging pool-side etc.
Every time we get off the ship, I am so jealous of everyone heading to WDW while I head for the airport

 

[kenthanson]

WDW first. There is no greater feeling than walking down main street at Magic Kingdom and I want that feeling to start my vacation. We just did that a couple of weeks ago, we hit the parks hard, doing all 4 parks in 2 days so after hustling that hard the cruise was nice and relaxing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Usually we do WDW first, cruise after, but in January we went on the cruise first. It worked either way!