Does anyone else feel like...

[sweetpee_1993]

...their Disney cruise has killed the parks for you? Lemme explain. We're still at the Yacht Club until 9/24. We did 5 nights at the Wilderness Lodge then our very first ever cruise, 3-day Disney Dream. After we got off the ship everything seems to pale in it's shadow. We got to the Yacht Club after debarkation and while being escorted to our room on the 5th floor I leaned over to the hubby and whispered, "Is it just me or is this place dumpy compared to what we just left?" Meals are killing us, too. I've dumped almost all our character meals. Let's not go into the Yachtsman because that was utterly pathetic. Everything seems so lack-luster now. I guess I'm worried that the Dream spoiled us so much that we're now 'over' the parks/resorts of WDW. Or does the WDW parks/resorts really pale that much in overall quality???? I never pegged myself a cruiser. Heck, I don't even like the beach. Very surprising that I enjoyed it so much! Lol!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

...their Disney cruise has killed the parks for you? Lemme explain. We're still at the Yacht Club until 9/24. We did 5 nights at the Wilderness Lodge then our very first ever cruise, 3-day Disney Dream. After we got off the ship everything seems to pale in it's shadow. We got to the Yacht Club after debarkation and while being escorted to our room on the 5th floor I leaned over to the hubby and whispered, "Is it just me or is this place dumpy compared to what we just left?" Meals are killing us, too. I've dumped almost all our character meals. Let's not go into the Yachtsman because that was utterly pathetic. Everything seems so lack-luster now. I guess I'm worried that the Dream spoiled us so much that we're now 'over' the parks/resorts of WDW. Or does the WDW parks/resorts really pale that much in overall quality???? I never pegged myself a cruiser. Heck, I don't even like the beach. Very surprising that I enjoyed it so much! Lol!

Yes!!! That is definitely the case for me. I still love Disney World and I'm sure we'll never stop going, but cruises have definitely passed the parks for me.

The food, the service, the accommodations - those things beat the parks every time.

I'm so glad you loved the cruise by the way!!! :sohappy:

 

[RobnRachal]

We definitely felt like that after our first cruise in December 2009. We were constantly comparing the service we received in the restaurants on the ship to the service we were receiving at the restaurants in the parks. (my mom would say "it's ok, but not like on the cruise") Then we realized we weren't really being fair. They are completely different experiences. We love WDW for certain things and don't expect the same kind of service we received on the ship (although it would be heaven, wouldn't it!) We adored the cruise which is why we're going back..71 days ..BUT we're also going back to WDW after our cruise and we are completely excited about both parts of our trip.
Just seems wrong to fly all the way down to Florida and NOT do WDW My family would think I'd lost my marbles :hammer:

 

[mickeysshoes]

We really enjoyed our cruise and I am ready to take another one BUT I do not feel like you. I felt we (on average) spent more money on the boat then we do on land and we are not buffet people so it makes the food on the boat just ok. Yes, the service was great on the boat but at points I felt it was way over the top. I want to choose where I am having dinner and what I want and on the boat it is very limited. And I also have a hard time with the cost of the boat compared to land...you get so much more for the $$ on land and that is real hang up for me. Yes, we will cruise again...2013 to Alaska without the kids and a slight change we may spend Christmas out to sea on the West coast next year...still way up in the air. But overall cruising was fun!

 

[patricia27]

We had our first cruise this summer--on The DREAM--what an amazing experience!!
Then we went to OKW --I think of them as two totally different experiences!!
Memorable in differing ways!!

 

[ChuckElias]

I can honestly say DCL has not "killed" WDW for me and my family. There are so many things that we absolutely love to do at WDW that are simply not possible on a cruise.

As far as the level of service goes, I think you have remember that you get what you pay for. On the ship, you pay a hefty premium for the amenities and services that you get. (Which is totally worth it, don't get me wrong.) So you have to accept that you are going to have to pay a premium for that level of service on land. When we want cruise-level service with a meal that is above cruise-level, we go to Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm sure there are other examples in WDW, but that's probably our favorite. (And I can't speak to "premium" lodging, b/c we never stay on-property.)

DCL couldn't kill WDW for us any more than walking down Main St, USA and seeing Cindy's Castle could kill DCL for us.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks for the feedback, gang. Yeah, the Dream sure does spoil ya in ways you don't even think about when you're there. Lol!

I can honestly say DCL has not "killed" WDW for me and my family. There are so many things that we absolutely love to do at WDW that are simply not possible on a cruise.

As far as the level of service goes, I think you have remember that you get what you pay for. On the ship, you pay a hefty premium for the amenities and services that you get. (Which is totally worth it, don't get me wrong.) So you have to accept that you are going to have to pay a premium for that level of service on land. When we want cruise-level service with a meal that is above cruise-level, we go to Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm sure there are other examples in WDW, but that's probably our favorite. (And I can't speak to "premium" lodging, b/c we never stay on-property.)

DCL couldn't kill WDW for us any more than walking down Main St, USA and seeing Cindy's Castle could kill DCL for us.

I totally agree about getting what you pay for. The cruise was pricey and it felt just heavenly. When planning I thought we'd be okay transitioning back by saving the Yacht Club Regatta Club for post cruise. And the Yachtsman for our first dinner back on land. Nope. Not even close. Lol! I have been giving it more thought and I think the heat is a big contributor in the overall return to land. On the water it wasn't so hot plus the air always seemed to move. Back here it's been hot, stiffling, & still. Ick. We live within 5-10 miles of the gulf coast. We get heat & humidity in big doses but we don't go outside in it. I think the fact that we've always done WDW from mid-November to early February has us spoiled. We don't enjoy it as much when fighting the heat. Ugh!

Still, totally fab long trip. Lots of new little lessons & experiences. Ready to cruise DCL again anytime....parks in the hot months is a big NO.

 

[Crush Dude!]

I'll chime in and give my 2 cents:

This year was our first DCL cruise and our first ever cruise, we never thought we would do one as DCL seemed very dear but we had been looking at cruises too soon to leaving plus i thought i might get bored after trips to wdw!!

Well were we ever mistaken, fabulous service, amazing food, amazing cast/crew members, loads to do and we were quite simply blown away by everything DCL had to offer!!! I had thought we myt do another cruise again in a few years and actually ended up booking the Fantasy for next year while onboard!!!!

Now DCL was AMAZING but nothing could take from WDW for me! It is such an escape from real life! We love both aswel as DLRP so over the next 10 months we are doing them all Halloween at DLRP paris and then a few weeks at WDW in August (we love the heat) followed by a week on the Fantasy to relax!!!

PERFECTION :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[Crush Dude!]

Thanks for the feedback, gang. Yeah, the Dream sure does spoil ya in ways you don't even think about when you're there. Lol!




I totally agree about getting what you pay for. The cruise was pricey and it felt just heavenly. When planning I thought we'd be okay transitioning back by saving the Yacht Club Regatta Club for post cruise. And the Yachtsman for our first dinner back on land. Nope. Not even close. Lol! I have been giving it more thought and I think the heat is a big contributor in the overall return to land. On the water it wasn't so hot plus the air always seemed to move. Back here it's been hot, stiffling, & still. Ick. We live within 5-10 miles of the gulf coast. We get heat & humidity in big doses but we don't go outside in it. I think the fact that we've always done WDW from mid-November to early February has us spoiled. We don't enjoy it as much when fighting the heat. Ugh!

Still, totally fab long trip. Lots of new little lessons & experiences. Ready to cruise DCL again anytime....parks in the hot months is a big NO.

Firstly, so glad you loved your cruise esp after all the build up :wave:

And yeah wdw and dcl are so different its amazing! When u first come off the cruise its hard for anything to beat it but, i find you come to cherish both for their different perks and reasons!!

2 AMAZING vacations :sohappy:

Cant wait to read/see trip reports :wave:

 

[Edisto Pluto]

I really disagree. We were on the Dream the first week of September. It was a good trip and the ship is beautiful. We felt the CM's on the Dream were on par but not better than in the parks. BTW we were at the BC before and after our cruise and had great stays. The Yachtsman is my favorite place to dine at WDW and they did not disappoint on this trip. Castaway was by far the best part of the cruise for us. Glad you had a good time.

 

[erstwo]

I am so glad you loved your cruise! :sohappy:

But nope, no way did the Dream kill the parks for me. As a matter of fact, if I never cruised with Disney again, I'd be just fine. Shocking I know! I found the cruise to be boring. All the trivia games, comedians, pools, bars, buffets, etc. in the world don't add up to the fun of the parks - rides, streetmosphere, etc. ETA - I seriously almost died on our 'at sea' day when I saw the boat was all but standing still. We were just a few miles from Florida. If I could have piloted one of those yellow boats, I would have totally lowered one down and set sail for land and WDW! LOL!

This is a total case of 'different strokes for different folks!' And thank goodness, because if all the people who crowd into the parks each year tried to all hop on a Disney cruise, there would be a waiting list years long!

We'll cruise again, as my husband and kids thought it was the greatest trip of their lives, but it will be quite some time (I'm the one who plans the vacations.......... ..............)

 

[tiaragirl]

Ah, Kelly - the good news is, you apparently LOVED the Dream (I can't wait to see what shenanigans you all got up to!).

Usually, when we do Disney/Cruise combos we do the parks first and finish off with the cruise. It's not that one is better than the other, they're just better for different reasons - food vs. attractions, etc.

The good news is, Disney atmosphere is always around! Stay magical, don't let the luxury of the prettiest ship ever get in the way of the most magical place on Earth =)