WDW or Cruise the best value?

[Hawkeyegirls]

I had planned on doing a 6 night WDW trip this Sept with the hope that Free dining will come out. We Love Character meals! If it comes out it will come to approx. $2900 for us including park tickets, food, MNSSHP and photo pass.

I am a value shopper, and like to get the best deal and value for my money. So I like doing 6 park days since its a "better deal" than 2.

I recently looked into going on a 3 night Disney Dream cruise now as well as 3 nights at WDW value hotel, 2 park days and MNSSHP would be approx. $3100 (not including food at WDW). I wish I hadn't had considered this since now I cant decide which one!

I don't know if we will miss not having as many park days, and not have 6 character meals for more money. But the cruise sounds different and fun to try.

Anyone else constantly go over budgets and trying to get the best deal?

Which one would you choose?

 

[havaneselover]

I don't do wdw anymore. I'm a single parent and it's not relaxing. I love Disney Cruise Line. I did the Dream in 2015 for four nights right after Easter. It was cheaper than 4 nights in a moderate with park tickets and the dining plan. Imo accommodations in any dcl stateroom are better than at a moderate.

Next summer we are doing a seven night on the Fantasy. Cruise fare was $3600. Seven nights at a moderate plus seven day tickets and dining plan (with no discounts) costs $3,870.

Of course you can stay offsite, go to the campgrounds, score free dining, get room discounts, etc. To me, the value just isn't there. The cruise is very inclusive except for tips and the service is much better and more personal.

 

[Ngwira]

Why not do both? We are doing a land and sea in August and can't wait. That way you get the best of both worlds.

 

[caitcance]

I am considering this as well but seeing as we are about to have baby #4 it looks like our only option for a Disney cruise is to get two staterooms. Does anyone know a way to make this affordable? My initial research had me paying over 6,000 at low season. Yikes!

 

[aprincessatlast]

I am a deal hunter. WDW is always cheaper for us. However DCL is a way better value and much preferred. It is a vacation for the whole family and it has it all for us. We have done a wdw/dcl trip and for our first cruise, it is fantastic but be warned it will leaving you wanting more cruise time!

 

[ktate82]

I am considering this as well but seeing as we are about to have baby #4 it looks like our only option for a Disney cruise is to get two staterooms. Does anyone know a way to make this affordable? My initial research had me paying over 6,000 at low season. Yikes!

Have you looked at two inside rooms? A lot of times that is the cheapest option.

 

[havaneselover]

I am considering this as well but seeing as we are about to have baby #4 it looks like our only option for a Disney cruise is to get two staterooms. Does anyone know a way to make this affordable? My initial research had me paying over 6,000 at low season. Yikes!

Not really we are a family of three and I try to stay at $500/day so $1000/day for six is decent.

 

[caitcance]

Not really we are a family of three and I try to stay at $500/day so $1000/day for six is decent.

Yeah I see what you're saying but given that one is a baby and one is a toddler it doesn't seem like a good value. WDW would probably be the way to go. When they're all older and eating more food, using the kids clubs etc then the cruise would probably make more sense.

 

[havaneselover]

Yeah I see what you're saying but given that one is a baby and one is a toddler it doesn't seem like a good value. WDW would probably be the way to go. When they're all older and eating more food, using the kids clubs etc then the cruise would probably make more sense.

I think fares are reduced under three. But unlike wdw 11 years old are children (but can eat off the adult menu). Honestly I went with a toddler and a baby in 2006 and it was a lot of work. I'd wait until everyone is old enough for the pool and kids club.

 

[jenf22]

Did you also add in the price of mandatory tips and optional port excursions to your cruise option price? I suppose since it's just a 3-night tips won't be too bad. One of your ports has to be Castaway Cay and there's really no need to spend anything there (maybe $6 for an inner tube). I would do the cruise option, even with the extra expense. We started with a 5-night Magic cruise and we all LOVE cruising now. It's such an awesome way to see new places. I'm not really a "beach" girl, but I adore Castaway Cay. There is seriously something magical about that island. Good luck in your decision.

 

[havaneselover]

Did you also add in the price of mandatory tips and optional port excursions to your cruise option price? I suppose since it's just a 3-night tips won't be too bad. One of your ports has to be Castaway Cay and there's really no need to spend anything there (maybe $6 for an inner tube). I would do the cruise option, even with the extra expense. We started with a 5-night Magic cruise and we all LOVE cruising now. It's such an awesome way to see new places. I'm not really a "beach" girl, but I adore Castaway Cay. There is seriously something magical about that island. Good luck in your decision.

Inner Tubes are $10.75 now!

I'm the same way about Castaway Cay. I don't love the beach, but that place is something special.

If you're a Costco member and book through them you get a cash rebate after the cruise which should cover a decent portion of the tip.

 

[Shanti]

I had planned on doing a 6 night WDW trip this Sept with the hope that Free dining will come out. We Love Character meals! If it comes out it will come to approx. $2900 for us including park tickets, food, MNSSHP and photo pass.

I am a value shopper, and like to get the best deal and value for my money. So I like doing 6 park days since its a "better deal" than 2.

I recently looked into going on a 3 night Disney Dream cruise now as well as 3 nights at WDW value hotel, 2 park days and MNSSHP would be approx. $3100 (not including food at WDW). I wish I hadn't had considered this since now I cant decide which one!

I don't know if we will miss not having as many park days, and not have 6 character meals for more money. But the cruise sounds different and fun to try.

Anyone else constantly go over budgets and trying to get the best deal?

Which one would you choose?

How often have you been to WDW? If more than twice, I recommend the park/cruise split, as you'll still have fun at the World (just prioritize your favorite parks & meals), & also get the new experience of the cruise.

 

[jenf22]

Inner Tubes are $10.75 now!

I'm the same way about Castaway Cay. I don't love the beach, but that place is something special.

Wow! Still not too bad if that's all you need for the excursion there. Sadly, I doubt we'll ever go to Castaway Cay again because I just can't justify the price difference now that I've tried other lines. But I'll probably still be online opening day to check out the prices!

 

[neatokimmo]

Does it have to be six days, and in sept?

I was wondering if you move it to the last of oct, you can double dip when they decorate it for Christmas.

Free dining was offered during that time, we were able to take advantage of it.

If you ditch mnsshp, that will give you a couple more value nights and might get you back into free dining criteria.

Then do the cruise, because that would be awesome

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

Does it have to be six days, and in sept?

I was wondering if you move it to the last of oct, you can double dip when they decorate it for Christmas.

Free dining was offered during that time, we were able to take advantage of it.

If you ditch mnsshp, that will give you a couple more value nights and might get you back into free dining criteria.

Then do the cruise, because that would be awesome

I chose Sept because we did Christmas last visit and have never been during Halloween. Also cruises are a lot cheaper in Sept over Oct. But we are open to all fall if we do only WDW and if prices are the same.

How often have you been to WDW? If more than twice, I recommend the park/cruise split, as you'll still have fun at the World (just prioritize your favorite parks & meals), & also get the new experience of the cruise.

We have only done 1 Big trip Christmas time 2014. Otherwise its been since I was a kid. So that's why Im not sure if I will fill "satisfied" with only 2 park days!



My other consideration is this year doing WDW and then winter 2017 doing a cruise only.
But it seams like so far away to be thinking about 2017 when looking at cruises now.
But then we would get more time at each and able to do each one to the fullest (ie splurging on dining).

 

[havaneselover]

I chose Sept because we did Christmas last visit and have never been during Halloween. Also cruises are a lot cheaper in Sept over Oct. But we are open to all fall if we do only WDW and if prices are the same.



We have only done 1 Big trip Christmas time 2014. Otherwise its been since I was a kid. So that's why Im not sure if I will fill "satisfied" with only 2 park days!



My other consideration is this year doing WDW and then winter 2017 doing a cruise only.
But it seams like so far away to be thinking about 2017 when looking at cruises now.
But then we would get more time at each and able to do each one to the fullest (ie splurging on dining).

I vote for waiting. Go for seven days on DCL. I've done three 7 days and one 4 day and they are very different. I doubt I'll do another short one because the atmosphere is different and Nassau is not my favorite place.

Winter 2017 seems far away but prices are generally best if you can book opening day. And if you are a planner it will give you lots of time to learn how to get the most out of your cruise.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I haven't taken a DCL cruise since I was six and the cruises are different now, but I do take Royal Caribean cruises quite often. I have been on 3, 4 and 7 night cruises. The shorter cruises feel short. I went last May on a 4 night cruise for my bachelorette. It was really fun and I had an awesome time but I much prefer 7 nights because you go to more interesting ports of call and you have more time to enjoy all of the onboard activities.

You have to also consider that 3 nights on a cruise is really only 2 full days. The first day is only a half day and the last day all you do is disembark. If you are splitting your trip, then there will be travel from Disney to the cruise or the cruise to Disney so 3 nights at Disney is likely to be just 2 full days as well. So instead of getting 6 full days at one or the other, you are really just getting 4 full days with some half day activities on each end.

 

[hsmamato2]

If you're a Costco member and book through them you get a cash rebate after the cruise which should cover a decent portion of the tip.

???? Really? what is this? I would love to know more....

 

[KKB]

I just hate to move for just 3 nights...and 3 nights on a cruise is really just 2 days...you will really lose much of a day of vacation transferring between the ship & WDW.
I entirely disagree that a cruise cabin is better than a moderate resort at Disney! (you get about 100 more square feet at WDW))
If you want to cruise, I recommend a cruise for 7 nights--and as much as we enjoyed our DCL cruise, the 30% higher price tag over other cruise lines cannot be justified, imo. I recommend looking into Royal Caribbean or Norweigan.

 

[havaneselover]

???? Really? what is this? I would love to know more....

My cruise was a transfer and I will get 7% of the fare back after traveling. I do think dcl is cutting back ta commissions so maybe it's a little lower than 7%.