Which is better ~ cruise first, then parks, or vice~versa?

[chrisn]

This is what we do and what we are doing again next February. We are Theme Park Commandos and love the cruise to unwind after an exhausting week and a half in the parks. Can't wait!

 

[mlj'smom]

Wow, thanks for all the opinions! We drive from Ohio, this will be in August. So if we do the parks first, then it would mean getting off the ship and driving directly home. Isn't it terrible to have to make such tough decisions?

 

[d'Isigny]

every situation is different. I'd vote for what is best for your entire vacation.
We've done both...enjoyed and will plan again to do the parks first - cruise second. For us, it's a 5 hour + flight west. Having Sunday to unpack and...(this may sound wierd) watch the videos we took on our trip. We try for a late afternoon flight and spend some time at DTD or have lunch at one of the resorts.

 

[videogal1]

I know the problem!

I signed on for a 4-day land/sea vacation and, as I couldn't decide this very question, decided to tack on a few resort days onto the both ends of the package... now I have a land/land/sea/land where I will be doing resort/parks/Wonder/resort. In all the times I visited WDW I never really got to enjoy the activities that the resort I was staying at offered so now I fold the resorts into the mix, too without feeling so rushed. This obviously won't work for those who hate to move around but if you pack light you only have to move dirty clothes and can get acquainted with the laundry room at different resorts, too.

 

[hmneal]

Just returned this afternoon and confess we did both! We went to WDW for 2 nights, then 4 night cruise, then back to WDW for 3 nights! But if I had to choose, I'd do the parks first.

This was our first cruise. We got so attached to our servers (Darko & Renee') that my three girls (ages 15, 12 & 10) cried as we drove from the port back to WDW! They were blue all day! Even the next day, being back on dry land was a let down even though we spent it at MGM!

And we're from Ohio too!

 

[brack]

Call me crazy but I love before and after. This last trip we did two park days before, two weeks on the DCL then three days at the park after.

I still could have stayed longer but I have to work to afford to go to either.

 

[jwann]

Oh, just my 2 cents.....

I concur with most of the posters - do the parks first. But I have another reason why...
We have small kids (4 in our group under 8 years old) and during our entire park visit, we didn't have to waste any time waiting in lines to see characters. Then, when we got on the ship, we got LOTS of character experiences. After the kids couldn't get within 100 feet of a character in the parks, they were shocked that they had them almost "to themselves" on the ship! It was priceless to see our kids trapsing after Goofy just like on the commercials.

Note: there are no Pooh characters on the ship so if your kids are into Pooh - you may want to do your visits/autographs in the parks.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by mlj'smom
Wow, thanks for all the opinions! We drive from Ohio, this will be in August. So if we do the parks first, then it would mean getting off the ship and driving directly home. Isn't it terrible to have to make such tough decisions?

Hmm, driving back afterwards..... that is a little different than doing parks, then cruise, then flying home...

In that case I'd probably do more of the parks before, then cruise, then maybe a day at the parks, stay overnight (preferably onsite IMO) and then leave at your leisure the next day (ie: not up at the crack of dawn- not even as early as you'd have to get up to get off the cruise either!).

That's what I'd do!!!

 

[mdlinda1]

When we went on our cruise we decided to go to the parks after, and I am glad we did. On the last day we went to the buffet for breakfast and were greeted by a bunch of people having breakfast with blank looks on there faces. I was curious and inquired why? These people had a planes to catch and could hardly believe ther vacation was over. We were excited and looking forward to the visting the parks. And after our visit was over we were glad to be heading home.

 

[HYM8TNNCE]

I completely agree! We did parks after our cruise last time and we're doing the same this year! We were all exhausted after getting off the boat (cruise is very busy for us-LOL) so we took a day to rest at the pool then DTD for a movie! The next 3 days we did the parks. At least on the morning of debarkation we can ease our sadness by saying "We're going to Disneyworld!"

 

[westjones]

What I 'hope' to do next year is fly into Orlando on Friday afternoon, rent a car, drive to Disney's Vero Beach and stay there Friday night and Saturday. On Sunday, board the Wonder for 4 days. On Thursday go to WDW for 3 nights. Fly home on Sunday.

This is for 2005 (and plans are subject to change ). This year we are doing the 7 day cruise, so I only have us booked for 1 night at WDW! Boo Hoo!

I wish we lived closer to Florida. It is a 17 hour drive from Indiana (my part of Indiana anyway), and that is very tiring!

DJ

 

[nicki dahling]

Thanks for this thread. Originally we were going to be doing the parks and then the cruise, but circumstances are forcing us to take a earlier cruise and than do the parks. Now that I think of it, with my teenagers to have to drive home after getting off the wonder would have been a let down. And because it will be in early December I am not worried about heat or crowds. Never would have seen both sides if it wasn't for this thread. Will make my family happy also , because now we will still be home for Christmas.

Cyndi

 

[bairdbeth]

We are taking our first cruise in July. We will cruise first and then spend 6 nights at WDW. I chose this for 2 reasons. Many still feel the "motion of the ocean" after getting off of the ship. I am a single parent and did not want to drive to Atlanta while I'm still "rockin' and rollin'" Also, I figured it would be better to have something to look forward to after the cruise so as to not have such a big letdown.

 

[CACruiser]

I am going on my second "cruise first". I think it depends on your approach to the parks.

If you stroll and leisurely soak it all in....parks after would be just find.

If you do the parks commando style (like my husband) then I would really have prefered cruise after.

The last night of the cruise seems to be an "all-nighter" kind of time. We were SOOOOO tired and spent our first day of our parks after time just sleeping!

I noticed that many people who did commando style parks before were too tired to enjoy their cruise OR some were really sunburned and never enjoyed their outside time.

I agree with another post; not all travel plans are created equal. Look at your needs/wants and decide from there.

Although I am personally doing another cruise first....I would like to try it the other way. Parks first is a leisurely manner, cruise to my heart's content, and fly home happy and tired.

Oh, the only reason I am doing parks after this time is because we are only going to Epcot and just doing our faves.

LisaCA

 

[makaylee]

I would cast my vote for going to the park after you get off the ship. I was so depressed when I had to get off the ship I cried. I think it would have been alittle better if I atleast had a couple days at the park ahead of me. I won't be so depressed leaving WDW. This is definatly what we are doing next time.

 

[chrisn]

We all have Disneyitis and LOVE both parks and cruise so for us leaving either place at the end is very depressing nomatter which place that happens to be. I just follow in others footsteps and relieve the VOB's (vacations over blues) by researching, planning and booking the next one!