WDW stay and Cruise ?'s

[joandegennaro]

Asking for advice from all of you who have combined a DVC stay with a DCL cruise. Thinking of doing this in the next year or so. Plan to pay cash for cruise as not best use of my limited points at this time. So, since we would be driving down and staying at OKW what would you recommend. A OKW for a few days/cruise/OKW for a few days before heading home to Ontario? Where could we store our stuff while on cruise and our car?

any advice is very much appreciated.

 

[Brancaneve]

We live in California, so we find it best to stay at a DVC property before and after the cruise before heading home. The last time we were in Florida, we stayed at our home resort, then went on the cruise, and then drove to Vero Beach where we slept, and slept and relaxed. It's also a wonderful way to get all of our laundry done before heading home.

It just seems that getting off the ship around 9:00 is not conducive to rushing to the airport within that same day and then getting home very late(especially for us in CA). Unwinding after the cruise is always a great idea!

Since we always rent a car, I don't have advice for you as to what to do with your own car while on the ship. But best of luck and have fun!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As far as where to store your stuff and your car. If you are driving over to the port there is a parking lot for you to park your car. There is a fee of course for parking in the lot.

 

[Crystal_27]

We always, always, always cruise last. Even though our pace has slowed a bit since buying into DVC, the parks are not a relaxing vacation. So, for us, going from the hecticness of the parks to the total relaxation of a cruise is *the* way to do it. Couldn't imagine doing it the other way around...I would need another cruise on the back end.

 

[CruznLexi]

We do the parks first. Gets us in Disney Mode and then the cruise. Many hotels at the pier offer free parking with a 1 night stay.

 

[Muushka]

Parks first, cruise last.

When we have done 7 night cruises out of Port Canaveral, we usually stay at a hotel there at the port the night before and get the free parking and transportation to the ship. We always make sure that we don't have food left in the car, ants are pretty hungry pests. If it is a shorter cruise, we just park at the terminal.

Have a great time!

 

[mocha1193]

We have just book our first Disney cruise. We have taken many other cruises but this will be our first Disney one. Our son, who is a huge Disney park fan, just turned three and this was his reward for becoming potty trained. We live in Florida so we don't have to do the hotel thing. Can't wait.

 

[joandegennaro]

We would be driving down from Ontario and thinking is this: 3 or 4 days at OKW/ Cruise 4 days/ 3 or 4 days OKW. No park days planned at all unless the mood strikes us to go in to dine. So this is where I am curious about our belongings and car. Would we be able to park our car at OKW or in an overflow parking area and take Disney Transport (paying what ever fee is required) to and from the ship? Not really worried about perishables as we would just buy enough for the few days prior to cruise and then the same after purchase enough to get us though the remaining days. Would most recommend taking our own car to the port or use Disney Transport?

 

[goofy4tink]

Next April, we are doing 2 days at US/IoA, then driving over to Cocoa Beach for the day and night before our 4 night cruise. Then, 3 nights at BWV for Flower and Garden and then home.
We usually do parks first then cruise and then sometimes drive to Tampa to visit family.

 

[Muushka]

Check the prices of Disney transportation to the cruise ship. It is pretty costly, which is why we don't take it. I am not sure why you want to break up your DVC vacation with a cruise? That would mean 2 check ins, 2 times waiting for your room to be ready. I can't answer your question about leaving your car at the resort. Good luck!

 

[extremesoccermom]

You may want to check the prices. I started looking at this last year when we started planning and were deciding whether to drive or fly. If I remember correctly and prices haven't changed to much. It was $35.00 pp each way to take the bus from WDW to Port and $35.00 pp return trip. The parking at port was $15.00 a day. For a 4 day cruise I would drive and pay for the parking at Port.

 

[joandegennaro]

You may want to check the prices. I started looking at this last year when we started planning and were deciding whether to drive or fly. If I remember correctly and prices haven't changed to much. It was $35.00 pp each way to take the bus from WDW to Port and $35.00 pp return trip. The parking at port was $15.00 a day. For a 4 day cruise I would drive and pay for the parking at Port.

Thank you this is exactly what I was hoping to find out on these boards. Will plan to park at the port given the cost factor.

As for spliting up my vacation...not sure if DH will enjoy the cruise so I want to make sure that he has something before and after in case he hates it. It really isn't any different than those who do split stays at 2 different resorts or 2 different types of accomodations. We travel pretty light and if the room isn't ready then off we go to DTD for a while.

 

[Alexander]

We always do several days before the cruise, but also stay at least 1 more night after the cruise. The saddest thing in the world is getting off that ship! I am dead serious--it is soooo depressing. However, with a night's stay at the BCV for me to look forward to, I feel much better about leaving the ship.

DS and I cruised twice before we convinced DH to try a Disney cruise. He LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. He loved it more than me, and that is something! I'm sure your DH will enjoy the cruise very much. However, having those nights after you disembark takes the sting out of getting off the ship!

If you rely on DCL transportation, you are also at the mercy of their schedule. I recommend getting to the port when it opens (around 10) so you can get onboard early and enjoy the ship.

 

[realfam]

We have done 3 cruises with DCL (a WB,EB & EBTA), and this August will be the first time we will have combined a DVC stay(AKV for 6 nights) and a cruise. We have also planned a similar holiday in August 2011 where we will do a DVC stay and then 2 back to back cruises on the new Dream.
We also alway pay cash for the cruise portion. We don't think its good value to use DVC points

 

[Muushka]

Thank you this is exactly what I was hoping to find out on these boards. Will plan to park at the port given the cost factor.

As for spliting up my vacation...not sure if DH will enjoy the cruise so I want to make sure that he has something before and after in case he hates it. It really isn't any different than those who do split stays at 2 different resorts or 2 different types of accomodations. We travel pretty light and if the room isn't ready then off we go to DTD for a while.

Sounds like you are all set. For us, we like to get off the ship and just jump onto I95 and go home. But whatever floats your boat!

 

[mocha1193]

Our next Disney trip is in Sept and we decided to do a cruise after a few days at Disney. We thought about leaving a car at the resort and taking the transportation. We just called and they told us $70.00 per person to include our three year old. So we are going to drive and pay $15.00 per day parking at the terminal.

 

[honeymo78]

We are doing 1 night before our Sept cruise then 8 nights after. We are also driving but taking a car service to the port. We are cruising with another group and there isn't enough room for all of us to fit in the available cars so we are taking a van since that is cheaper than disney transport. OKW told us we could leave the car there during the 4 night cruise (called OKW direct number twice, as did our friends to confirm), just to ask for the longer parking pass at checkin and ask security where they would prefer us to park our car (not leaving it in front of our villa).

 

[joandegennaro]

We are doing 1 night before our Sept cruise then 8 nights after. We are also driving but taking a car service to the port. We are cruising with another group and there isn't enough room for all of us to fit in the available cars so we are taking a van since that is cheaper than disney transport. OKW told us we could leave the car there during the 4 night cruise (called OKW direct number twice, as did our friends to confirm), just to ask for the longer parking pass at checkin and ask security where they would prefer us to park our car (not leaving it in front of our villa).

This is exactly what I was hoping to hear. We may end up cruising while our DD's stay in the studio, not sure yet if older DD will be able to travel with us so if she can that would be an option as I believe you must have a legal adult in the room and she would be at that time.