Which basic itinerary would you choose?

[iheartbklyn]

These are the options I am toying with for our next trip. We are visiting Orlando for a few days followed by a cruise. I'd love some input.

 

[MataHari22]

I am not really a cruise person, did the Disney/cruise thing for my honeymoon in '92 and it didn't go well. But I would do 5 nights at the Contemporary and then the cruise. We did only a 3 days at WDW and wished we had more time there. We also stayed at the Contemporary. I think with your first option you could get most everything you wanted to do in the parks and then relax on the cruise.

 

[loves to dive]

I chose the first option just because I'd feel really sad to do such short stays before and after the cruise. I'm a huge fan of split stays, have done 2 and have another booked for Sept/Oct but I just think that might be too little time to settle down.

 

[itchin2go]

I would definitely do the cruise at the end, not the middle. I feel like switching from resort to resort will just be simpler than going from resort to boat to resort.

I voted for the Contemp/AKL/Cruise option.

I have not stayed at the Contemporary, but I have spent a lot of time there. I have, on the other hand, stayed at AKL, and it was my favorite resort stay. I still get the warm fuzzies just entering the place. Love the lobby, the restaurants, the gift shop, the activities. It feels like a magical hideaway in the middle of bustling Disney World.

 

[mchelle77]

From someone who just did this in April/May - do the parks before the cruise. I did it the other way around (due to the way my daughter's school vacation was set up) and, while I loved every minute of it, my husband was wiped out and only came to Epcot with us, skipped MK and DHS. There is WAY more opportunity for down time on the cruise (at least if you do a 7 day like we did), which you'll take advantage of more after a few days of constant walking.

I also voted for one resort ... but that's just my opinion. I'm not one for popping around resorts, I prefer to settle in and be done (especially if you're already going to be leaving for the cruise!)

 

[Disney Kidd]

I have done WDW, cruise, then WDW again. I liked it that way because I was sad to leave WDW, then excited to go on the cruise. I was then sad again when the cruise was over, but excited because I got to go back! Then, of course, I was sad when that was over and HAD to go home.

 

[iheartbklyn]

I would definitely do the cruise at the end, not the middle. I feel like switching from resort to resort will just be simpler than going from resort to boat to resort.

I voted for the Contemp/AKL/Cruise option.

I have not stayed at the Contemporary, but I have spent a lot of time there. I have, on the other hand, stayed at AKL, and it was my favorite resort stay. I still get the warm fuzzies just entering the place. Love the lobby, the restaurants, the gift shop, the activities. It feels like a magical hideaway in the middle of bustling Disney World.

I love the idea of doing a Theme Park View at Contemp. and then a safari view at AKL. Also the lobby of AKL looks GORGEOUS! Among other features of the hotel. I just love what I've seen thus far in pictures and I'm not sure I want to wait for our next next trip to see it all.

 

[Lucius Best]

I like the idea of parks/cruise/parks. This is what we did last year (although it was Universal for 3 nights, then cruise for 4 nights, then WDW 3 nights). But my decision would also depend on flights, and what days of the week your park days would be (would prefer to be on cruise on the weekend, so can go to parks during less busy weekdays).