WWYD: To cruise or not to cruise?

[FinnFogg]

Setting the stage:
- We are a DVC family of 5 (kids 12, 10 and 8) living on the West Coast
- We own at AUL, OKW and AKL, and we spend most of our time at AUL, we have done many trips to WDW (BCV, BWV, OKW, AKL, VGF) and DL (VGF).
- We have done 2 DCL cruises to date (Dream (Nassau and Castaway Cay) 2019 and Wonder (Alaska) 2022
- We are taking my mid-70s parent (who live on the East Coast) to WDW in April for 10 days….it’s their first trip…will be mostly a resort stay for them
- I’ve booked adjoining verandah rooms on the Wish for the last 3 nights of our stay (still have our DVC villa booked those nights as a backup).
- This would be my parents first DCL cruise.
- I’ve also booked them to join us on a repeat of our Alaska cruise on the Wonder in August.

Here is the dilemma…I would REALLY like to go on another DVL cruise in April, but I am concerned about bringing my parents on a 3-night Wish cruise as their first DCL experience. I’d it was a ship I knew, I may be less concerned. The money really isn’t an issue, but I do wonder whether we will be getting the value ($10k) our of it in less than 72 hours. There is also the potential re last minute health issues with my parents.

So the questions is…
- Do we go on the Wish for 3 nights at the end of our stay in April, or just hunker down and enjoy our 10 nights at WDW and let my parent have their first DCL experience on the Wonder on August???

 

[auntlynne]

Setting the stage:
- We are a DVC family of 5 (kids 12, 10 and 8) living on the West Coast
- We own at AUL, OKW and AKL, and we spend most of our time at AUL, we have done many trips to WDW (BCV, BWV, OKW, AKL, VGF) and DL (VGF).
- We have done 2 DCL cruises to date (Dream (Nassau and Castaway Cay) 2019 and Wonder (Alaska) 2022
- We are taking my mid-70s parent (who live on the East Coast) to WDW in April for 10 days….it’s their first trip…will be mostly a resort stay for them
- I’ve booked adjoining verandah rooms on the Wish for the last 3 nights of our stay (still have our DVC villa booked those nights as a backup).
- This would be my parents first DCL cruise.
- I’ve also booked them to join us on a repeat of our Alaska cruise on the Wonder in August.

Here is the dilemma…I would REALLY like to go on another DVL cruise in April, but I am concerned about bringing my parents on a 3-night Wish cruise as their first DCL experience. I’d it was a ship I knew, I may be less concerned. The money really isn’t an issue, but I do wonder whether we will be getting the value ($10k) our of it in less than 72 hours. There is also the potential re last minute health issues with my parents.

So the questions is…
- Do we go on the Wish for 3 nights at the end of our stay in April, or just hunker down and enjoy our 10 nights at WDW and let my parent have their first DCL experience on the Wonder on August???

I‘d make Alaska their first cruise. I think you know the WOW factor it brings.

One trip WDW. One DCL.

Best of luck deciding.

 

[AgentMama]

Are your parents going to have enough to do on a 10 day resort stay? In the end, you know their activity levels and interests best, they both sound like great trips whichever you choose.

 

[Flying Fish]

Was your Dream cruise a 3 night cruise as well? What did you think of that cruise and how do you think your experience would jive with your parents' personalities? I think AgentMama asked a great question about your parents being stuck at WDW for 10 days. That's a long time to be essentially resort bound.

Having been on the Wish, I cannot say I was impressed and do not want to hurry back. BUT, if I had never been on the other ships, I think I would have enjoyed it. It's shiny and new and lot of the common complaints might not affect your parents so much. Sure the Alaska cruise has more wow factor, but have you ever wished you weren't on a DCL cruise?

Are you going to be happy for the last 3 days of a stay at WDW knowing you could be on a ship that's about an hour away?

I'd go for the cruise.

 

[kmedina]

We started our cruising life with a 3-day Disney cruise. I did not want to start with anything longer only to find out I hated it. Turns out, we all love it, and now I would rather cruise than visit the parks none times out of ten. Just in case one or both of your parents hate it, I think you would not want to have them stuck on a longer cruise, especially one as expensive at Alaska. Besides, a cruise is a great way to unwind from a trip to the parks. Even if they spend most of their time in the room, they could be exhausted by the end. DisneyWorld can be a lot at any age, but is generally more taxing on the really young and older crowd. My Dad found it really tiring as did my kids when they were really young.

That said, if there are potential health issues, I do not know if I would cruise with them at all. You do not want one of them to need urgent care and try to get it on the ship. They have a medical team, but they are pretty limited with what they can handle.

As a DCL fan, I think you should consider the Wish, even if your parents do not go. Lots of new things to do and explore on a new ship. Not knowing the ship is half the fun!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Tom and I are Platinum DCL and also DVC and we are mid 70’s and we would much rather do Alaska than a three night Wish cruise. Alaska has such beautiful scenery to look at as well as some shore excursions if they want those experiences.

 

[dreamer17555]

Have your parents ever cruised before? if not 3 night might be a good test cruise to see how they enjoy it. If there are health concerns, excellent travel insurance is a must. 10 days at a resort would be too long for me personally.

 

[FinnFogg]

Setting the stage:
- We are a DVC family of 5 (kids 12, 10 and 8) living on the West Coast
- We own at AUL, OKW and AKL, and we spend most of our time at AUL, we have done many trips to WDW (BCV, BWV, OKW, AKL, VGF) and DL (VGF).
- We have done 2 DCL cruises to date (Dream (Nassau and Castaway Cay) 2019 and Wonder (Alaska) 2022
- We are taking my mid-70s parent (who live on the East Coast) to WDW in April for 10 days….it’s their first trip…will be mostly a resort stay for them
- I’ve booked adjoining verandah rooms on the Wish for the last 3 nights of our stay (still have our DVC villa booked those nights as a backup).
- This would be my parents first DCL cruise.
- I’ve also booked them to join us on a repeat of our Alaska cruise on the Wonder in August.

Here is the dilemma…I would REALLY like to go on another DVL cruise in April, but I am concerned about bringing my parents on a 3-night Wish cruise as their first DCL experience. I’d it was a ship I knew, I may be less concerned. The money really isn’t an issue, but I do wonder whether we will be getting the value ($10k) our of it in less than 72 hours. There is also the potential re last minute health issues with my parents.

So the questions is…
- Do we go on the Wish for 3 nights at the end of our stay in April, or just hunker down and enjoy our 10 nights at WDW and let my parent have their first DCL experience on the Wonder on August???

Thank you all for your feedback. Still on the fence as to what to do, but in response to some of your questions:

- My parents will be travelling from Newfoundland., so the Dlorida weather in April will be a welcome change. We will be staying in a two bedroom villa at OKW. They will have minimal park time, but I think the are looking forward to a resort stay at OKW, taking the boat to Disney Springs etc. It will be their first trip to Florida/WDW, so I don’t expect them to be too bored.
- They have cruises once before…non-DCL high-end Mediterranean cruise about 5 years ago.
- Our first cruise in the Dream was a 4 night cruise. It felt really short, which I guess is why I am concerned about the 3 day wish sailing.
- However. the last 3 days of our stay (the days we may potentially cruise) is Easter weekend. I’m guessing the parks will be nuts, so maybe best to be in the ship?
- as someone above mentioned, it will probably drive me nuts knowing I could be on a shiny new cruise ship those last three nights!