WDW pre- and post- cruise suggestions

[kboo]

Hi all! we are going on our very first Disney cruise - and first big boat cruise ever - with DD1 and DD2 next summer (W. Caribbean). DD1 will be 6 and is a Disney veteran (She says she wants to move there when she grows up), and DD2 will be 21 months when we go. We are thinking of spending 3 nights pre-cruise and 2 nights post-cruise and are torn where we want to be. We very much want to try Beach Club and love the convenience of walking to Epcot. Do you all have suggestions of the other resort, and which one to do first and second? (Pre-trip will be Wed-SatAM, post-cruise will be Sat-Mon). Part of this question is about what you think would be realistic with kids that small and what we'll feel like doing before/after the cruise. Like, will we be too tired after the cruise to do much, or not, since we probably won't be able to do much as far as shore excursions with the toddler?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Quellman]

I'll bite with your topic. Before the cruise you'll likely be doing whatever you want as a normal Disney trip. I personally don't understand going to the parks after a cruise unless its the only way your schedule works it. You have just spent a week being catered to, having your meals prepared for you, minimal lines. Now you are thrust back into a hot sticky sea of humanity, some of which missed the personal hygiene memo or its just so muggy that it doesn't help. You have to pay for food and stand in lines. I wouldn't go to the parks after the cruise but wouldn't mind a resort stay. You might want to look at taking some time down at Vero Beach, still Disney, still characters, still awesome. Just short drive south and having a beach and depending on the time of year you can hunt for sea turtle nests.

 

[Runner5]

We're spending a few days at WDW after our cruise. The hotel cost was about the same as the increased flight cost if we didn't stay, so why not?

I love the beach club. It's great pool. Not a lot of dining choices though unless you walk to Epcot. Works for us but kiddo is 9, but when he was little it wouldn't have been our first choice because it's not as convenient to Magic Kingdom.

 

[BCV23]

If it were me, I'd stay at a MK resort for the first stay since it will be weekdays when the MK is less crowded in my experience although even those days can really vary. The Polynesian has the most transportation options but we also love the GF.

After the cruise, BC or YC afford quick access to World Showcase and you can ferry to the Studios. SAB is great if you just want to relax. When we have stayed at WDW post cruise, fatigue hasn't been an issue. Rather we are so relaxed that we don't have a lot of ambition to hit the parks. YMMV.

 

[gingerfeathers]

I'll bite with your topic. Before the cruise you'll likely be doing whatever you want as a normal Disney trip. I personally don't understand going to the parks after a cruise unless its the only way your schedule works it. You have just spent a week being catered to, having your meals prepared for you, minimal lines. Now you are thrust back into a hot sticky sea of humanity, some of which missed the personal hygiene memo or its just so muggy that it doesn't help. You have to pay for food and stand in lines. I wouldn't go to the parks after the cruise but wouldn't mind a resort stay. You might want to look at taking some time down at Vero Beach, still Disney, still characters, still awesome. Just short drive south and having a beach and depending on the time of year you can hunt for sea turtle nests.

On the flip side, I once did WDW pre-cruise and had kind of wished I'd done it after instead. It would have been really nice to have a few days to relax and unwind before hitting the parks for some fun. I suspect it's a personal preference.

I agree with the PP who suggested staying at a MK resort during the week since it'll be less crowded. I'm a fan of the Polynesian, though if you want something a little more budget-friendly you can always go with Wilderness Lodge (no monorail access, but the MK is a short boat ride away). An Epcot resort would be great for after the cruise.

Regardless--you can't go wrong! It'll be a great time no matter what you choose.

 

[puffkin]

We just did 2 days at Disney pre cruise (Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs one day and Chef Mickey's and MNSSHP the next) before heading to the port to do the 4 night Dream. We then spent Friday and Saturday at Vero Beach before flying home on Sunday. My kids are Disney vets at age 10 and 4 but this was our first cruise with them.

While logistically I thought the trip worked really well and we had a nice time, I have to say that I was kind of let down with Vero Beach. It was very nice and we did have fun at the pool/beach, but it was very low key for our tastes. I would have been happier coming back to do Disney the last 2 days but my Mom and DH were fine with Vero. It was a good way to wind down but I was bored silly in the evenings there. But then again, I am not a low key beach person but glad we tried it.

 

[kboo]

We just did 2 days at Disney pre cruise (Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs one day and Chef Mickey's and MNSSHP the next) before heading to the port to do the 4 night Dream. We then spent Friday and Saturday at Vero Beach before flying home on Sunday. My kids are Disney vets at age 10 and 4 but this was our first cruise with them.

While logistically I thought the trip worked really well and we had a nice time, I have to say that I was kind of let down with Vero Beach. It was very nice and we did have fun at the pool/beach, but it was very low key for our tastes. I would have been happier coming back to do Disney the last 2 days but my Mom and DH were fine with Vero. It was a good way to wind down but I was bored silly in the evenings there. But then again, I am not a low key beach person but glad we tried it.

Thanks! I am not a low key beach person, either. And I wonder, since we will be cruising with a toddler, whether we will really do much active stuff and shore excursions on the cruise. And I am really torn about staying near MK - In the last few trips to WDW we have actually spent as much or the same amount of time at Epcot as at MK, just because MK is SO loud and crowded that we reach our limit pretty easily. When we stayed at GF, we usually hit MK in the morning and then hopped to EP later. I am torn because we won't have as much time at the parks as we usually do, and I could see wanting to check out the new stuff at EP since we were last there (Soarin', Frozen - those 2 alone will probably make EP a more favored park than MK for DD). Then again, if we were to really just soak in a resort, it might be worth staying at AKL. We love the restaurants and we love the animals.

 

[Otimon]

Personally speaking if given the choice, would advise to stay at Disney after the cruise. So much has been said about being pampered on the cruise and staying at Disney afterwards would be a letdown, etc.

Nothing could be further from the truth. My guess is, when you return to Port Canaveral, you'll wish you could stowaway on the ship for a longer cruise. Visiting the parks afterwards will give you a little
more Disney time before returning home.

Who says you have to run around the parks in a whirlwind to the point of exhaustion there, even if you've never been before! Visit a favorite park in the morning and early afternoon and then return to the hotel
to take a swim and relax at the resort. Visit another park in the evening if you wish. Same for day 2 if there after the cruise. You control your time and what you do with it!

If you want fast-paced, or relaxation, it's entirely up to you!

 

[Flossbolna]

We have always done parks after cruise because that is what worked best for us.

What about staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Even if you don't get a savanna view room, there are plenty of places to watch animals from. When I stayed there I always got the impressions that a lot of toddlers loved it there. Yes, the bus to the MK takes quite some time, but from my experience staying at the Boardwalk, the bus from there to the MK took nearly as long. But you will be close to AK and might have the time to explore the lesser attractions there, like Rafiki's Planet Watch with the petting zoo and such.

 

[basketlacey]

I think AK is a great idea! It is a very beautiful resort with a fabulous pool area. I adore cruising with DCL and I'm happy to hang out on the pool deck and read, watch movies and people watch but the pools are crazy crowded. I think your girls will love the space in the AK pools after the cruise.

As far as pre-cruise, I'd say BC or WL or even the Poly. We did the Poly last year one night precruise and the only thing that made leaving the Poly even remotely ok was that we were headed to Port Canaveral!