Cruise or Disney World first??

prfctlyximprct

prfctlyximprct

Well-Known Member
My friend and I are looking to do a Disney cruise (neither of us have ever been on a cruise before!) so we decided to the Disney Dream since it will only be 3-4 days onboard. My question is, do we plan to go to the parks before we go on the cruise or when we get back? What is everyone's experience with this? I am assuming I must call to link the two together.. the cruise bus will pick you up from a resort, right?

Thank you so much. :) :)
 
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englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
prfctlyximprct said:
My friend and I are looking to do a Disney cruise (neither of us have ever been on a cruise before!) so we decided to the Disney Dream since it will only be 3-4 days onboard. My question is, do we plan to go to the parks before we go on the cruise or when we get back? What is everyone's experience with this? I am assuming I must call to link the two together.. the cruise bus will pick you up from a resort, right?

Thank you so much. :) :)
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Why not do both before and after? :P

Yes, the DCL bus will pick you up from any Disney Resort Hotel. They can also drop you off at any Disney Resort as well.

I bookended my trip with one day at Disney, a cruise on the fantasy, then a stay back at Disney for a few more days. It worked well..but, if I had to choose WDW before or after only...I would say do it before the cruise. No particular reason outside of the fact that you will be so relaxed after the cruise that the sometimes hectic nature of WDW will get to you (at least it did to me)... Before is better as you can use that to build anticipation.

I'd check out the wdwmagic unofficial girls cruise trip reports, because many of them did a similar style of trip to what you are proposing.

Good luck, and have a great trip!
 
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prfctlyximprct

prfctlyximprct

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
englanddg said:
Why not do both before and after? :p

Yes, the DCL bus will pick you up from any Disney Resort Hotel. They can also drop you off at any Disney Resort as well.

I bookended my trip with one day at Disney, a cruise on the fantasy, then a stay back at Disney for a few more days. It worked well..but, if I had to choose WDW before or after only...I would say do it before the cruise. No particular reason outside of the fact that you will be so relaxed after the cruise that the sometimes hectic nature of WDW will get to you (at least it did to me)... Before is better as you can use that to build anticipation.

I'd check out the wdwmagic unofficial girls cruise trip reports, because many of them did a similar style of trip to what you are proposing.

Good luck, and have a great trip!
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Thanks so much!! I'm so excited :) Looking to do 3 days in Disney and a 4 day cruise! I can't wait!!!
 
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Billy6

Billy6

Well-Known Member
prfctlyximprct said:
My friend and I are looking to do a Disney cruise (neither of us have ever been on a cruise before!) so we decided to the Disney Dream since it will only be 3-4 days onboard. My question is, do we plan to go to the parks before we go on the cruise or when we get back? What is everyone's experience with this? I am assuming I must call to link the two together.. the cruise bus will pick you up from a resort, right?

Thank you so much. :) :)
Click to expand...
Sounds sweet! Any DCL questions, write to @Disneyfalcon (Tammy), she has all the answers! My opinion would be to go to DW first, that way you are there, and something awesome to look forward to. Also, logistical reasons too, if you're flight gets delayed on embarkation(get on the boat!) day, etc etc.
 
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englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Billy6 said:
Sounds sweet! Any DCL questions, write to @Disneyfalcon (Tammy), she has all the answers! My opinion would be to go to DW first, that way you are there, and something awesome to look forward to. Also, logistical reasons too, if you're flight gets delayed on embarkation(get on the boat!) day, etc etc.
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This. :inlove:

That is the best reason to do WDW before hand. You don't want to risk missed / delayed flights and it's not like Disneyworld where arriving a few hours late isn't a huge deal...if you miss the boat, you MISS THE BOAT!

Also, there's a benefit to using the DCL transportation in that once you board the bus you are considered Disney's responsibility. If anything went wrong (traffic, accident, bus broke down), the onus is on Disney.

While I am fairly sure they won't hold the boat for you (boat departures are very strict on time frames and are filed with the Port Authority and other agencies), Disney would be far more likely to take care of you.

Note, however, the DCL transit is not free. It's $35 per person per trip (so, $70 to get from the resort to the ship and back to the airport).

You can use the complimentary Magical Express when you arrive at MCO to get to your resort, so no reason to pay for that leg. Just from the Resort to Port Canaveral and back to the Airport (assuming that becomes your plan).

Also, a Thurs - Thurs trip is a nice round week (Thurs / Fri / Sat at WDW, Sun - Thurs on the Dream)

Cheers!
 
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ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
We are taking our first Disney cruise in June and based on my husband's schedule we booked WDW before the cruise. This way we could spend more time at Disney World. I think it will be relaxing to do the cruise afterwards anyway.
 
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