What is the best way to do the cruise/land

[abbyndrewmom]

I'm am trying to digest all this info. Does anybody have any ideas about the cruise land package. We are going the first week of september. If we go on the cruise it would most likely be the 4 night leaving 09/08. but that only gives us 3 nights at Disney. but to do the 3 night cruise we would have to get there on the 09/02 and cruise 09/06 which doesn't fit in our schedule. We have to be in West Palm until 09/05. I've probably given you all way too much info. We want to stay on property, perferably at the wilderness we also want the park hopper pass.

I just can't get over how much is out there.

 

[PamCo88]

You might want to ask this question on the Cruise board. Ton's of knowledge over there

 

[kiddisney]

hi - just a couple of our choices (we've done the cruise three times)

first DCL doesn't do the cruise from the wilderness - so unless you want to do cruise only you won't get that package (we tried) -

but there are a lot of other questions you need to look at -

how is your transport going to go - are you taking disney - your own - if you're going it by yourself then you could just book cruise - i know a lot of people go crazy for their own to the port - but we enjoy the bus w/the video & room to room luggage service -

next for lodging - if you go i would recommend not using the carribean resort because that's the largest & get's the most people - we liked port orleans (again we couldn't get it on our second cruise but won't cruise unless we get it next time)

lastly - i would recommend cruising at the end of your package - it's so relaxing you'll really enjoy it after running around the worlds - so try to see how you can manage a cruise at the end - we've gone on both 3 & 4-day cruises & the 4 day was good - but if you don't do Nassau you'll have your day on the boat anyway - (we went to Nassau many years ago and when we went on the DC we didn't want to take the kids - but on the last cruise my sister insisted that she wanted to go - she said that I was cranky by not going - telling me that it's because i didn't want to haggle w/the vendors - so we went anyway - and though she didn't say that i was right - she said that she'll not go there again when we cruise again - so being on the ship while in port is kind of like your day at sea)

good luck & enjoy - any plans will work out

 

[minijeanie]

We did cruise last year. Do 4 day cruise, 3 day land. I think you will enjoy it more. If you want to spend more time in the parks, fly out earlier.

I would recommend using Tiffany Towncar Service to bring you from your hotel to port. You get there earlier than the bus, is much more comfortable and get to your room quicker. You can set your own time when to leave for the boat. With Disney you have to be packed and ready when they tell you It takes about 1 hr to the boat from hotel. We stayed at BC. I would also recommend staying in a deluxe room. Kids are same price for cruise if you stay at moderate or Deluxe. I found it great. With only 3 days to stay in the parks pick which is most important to you, then stay on that side. We are MGM/Epcot people so we chose BC. You can walk to Epcot within 5 minutes or boat to MGM. Great location.

Cruise is outstanding. I agree that you should check out the cruise threads. They are filled with great information and tips. If you want, you can e-mail me direct and I will try to answer any questions you may have.

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Actually, WL is now one of the options for the DCL land/sea package. DCL removed BWI as a hotel option and replaced it with WL - this was done recently.

I would book the stays separately to save money since you don't get much of a discount with the packages. By booking separately you can get a DC or AP discount on the rooms and take advantage of any DCL promos on the cruise.

We rented a car in Orlando from Avis and droppped it at the Radisson just by the port for no additional charge. Great to have a place to secure a car seat and be on our own schedule all for $60 total a day.

Happy cruising,

 

[abbyndrewmom]

Thanks for all the info. We decided since it was the kids first trip to Disney we would save the cruise for a future trip and spend the extra time at Disney this time.