WWYD - Extend Free Vacation or Disney cruise?

[wmjeffer]

Hi everyone! My father in law is gifting my family (myself, my husband, and then 5 year old daughter) a trip to Disney World in December - at the Poly no less! I'm kind of pinching myself over here We usually go cheap, with off-site accommodations, so this is a total treat and not something we would do ourselves.

Here's the question.

My FIL is paying for a 5 night stay ending on a Friday (so four park days), but my husband has off until the next Tuesday (just by chance, not taking extra time). So, since we'll be in Orlando anyway, I was thinking of extending our vacation.

Option 1: Extend our WDW vacation. We would basically do a split stay, so on Friday we would move on to more modest accommodations and visit the parks on Friday and Saturday (possibly Sunday, if hubby could take another day). We would pay the difference on the theme park tickets from the package, so that would be pretty cheap.

Option 2: On our check-out day, there is a 3 night Disney cruise leaving from Port Canaveral. I'd love to do a Disney cruise, but it's much more expensive than I would usually do for such a short cruise (currently about $2300 for the three of us). It doesn't seem worth it, but I'm still undecided. But, one of the Merrytime cruises would be a lot of fun too!

Maybe there's even an option 3 that someone else might think of? lol I'd love to hear your thoughts on my very first world dilemma!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would stay in WDW. We've done 3 night cruises and they are just not worth the effort. Put the money you'll save toward a longer, future cruise!

 

[starry_solo]

stay at WDW for the remaining 3 days and extend the park tickets out. It won't be as much $ either!

 

[ols386]

I would extend the Disney World time. Seems like it might be kind of inconvenient to have to leave the World, and then go to Port Canaveral.
Plus, you would be losing a day, with travel time to PC, getting checked into the ship, and you actually only have two days on the ship.

That’s only what I would do. You should do what will make your family happy.

 

[Rustysmom]

I vote for the cruise, because that's what we're doing this year. I only wanted a cruise this year because I need to relax after a rough year, but the kids wanted Disney, so...I figured oh well, you only live once!

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

Extend the Disney World vacation! We just did a 4 night Disney cruise over Christmas and I was underwhelmed for the high price of the cruise. I would've much rather been in Disney

 

[jo-jo]

I vote for the park. But am I missing some math? You said doing the parks on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday (if your DH can get another day off). If's a three night cruise, doesn't that mean Fri, Sat, Sun nights, getting off the boat on Monday.

 

[wmjeffer]

I vote for the park. But am I missing some math? You said doing the parks on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday (if your DH can get another day off). If's a three night cruise, doesn't that mean Fri, Sat, Sun nights, getting off the boat on Monday.

Getting another day off wouldn't be a big deal for hubby and we're driving home over two days, so if he took Tuesday off as well, we'd stay until Monday morning and drive home over Monday and Tuesday!

 

[JayhawkCruiser]

Disney Surf and Turf vacations are really fun combos and even a 3-day Disney Cruise is (usually) worth the price IMO.
Admittedly, I enjoy longer cruises and 3-days can feel a bit rushed compared to a 7-night or longer, but if you don’t have a baseline then that’s irrelevant anyways. That said, we did our first 3-night last May and still really enjoyed ourselves and didn’t have any regrets.
Which ever way you decide at least you know you can’t go wrong because they’re both incredibly fun options!

 

[loves to dive]

I'd extend the WDW vacation since the tickets aren't really going to be that much more to add on to. Be warned, it's hard to step down from a deluxe to a moderate during a split stay, easier to go moderate to deluxe. I understand you might not have that option but I might see if the Poly reservations can be switched to the end instead of at the beginning. Heck, I might even save more money and start at maybe Pop then move over to Poly.

 

[stsomewhere]

If you have never been on a DCL cruise, I say go for the 3 night. Yes longer cruises are great but you will have a great time and se if DCL is where you want to spend your money in the future. Especially since you have ben to WDW before

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Put me down as if you have never done DCL, I would do the Surf and Turf.

I prefer a 4 day cruise so you have a day at sea, but the 3 day is a good introduction.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would extend the Disney trip. A 3 day cruise doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[DWillowBay]

Just my 2 cents, but ....I'd stay at WDW and save up for a longer cruise. 3 nights would feel rushed and incomplete to me. If you do a cruise, have the time to enjoy it. In the meantime....you could do so much more with the extra time (without feeling rushed ) at a Resort. No matter what you choose, have a great time!

 

[Malestrom Troll]

I've never done a 3 night cruise, but I would think it wouldn't be that relaxing. The first and last days are not fun especially if you have not done a Disney Cruise before.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The cost of a 3 day DCL cruise isn't worth it. Extend the WDW vacation, do something REALLY special like Victoria & Alberts or a private fireworks cruise if you want to splurge.

 

[wmjeffer]

Thanks everyone! I think we're leaning towards extending and we'll try DCL another time

 

[momof2n2]

DCL

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Have a resort only day while at the Poly. Spend more time in the parks while staying at the less expensive resort.

 

[Hook326]

I agree with the extending your trip vs a short cruise. We took a short DCL cruise as a first cruise to make sure we would like cruising and then followed it up with a longer one a year later. I would never do a short one again. With a 3 night, you really only get 2 full days and it just isn’t worth it IMO. Fun but a lot of hassle for the short time. Save up for the longer cruise for the future.

Have fun with whatever you choose!