The World vs. The Cruise Line

[normbalko]

I need help!!! Me and my wife took our first trip to WDW in Jan. 2003. It was my first trip there, her second. Anyways, as expected, I have been obsessed with the park and going back as soon as possible!! Our original plan was to go back in Jan. 2005 (only 11 months away!), but now my wife has mentioned that she would really like to go on a cruise, maybe the Disney Cruise. I really have no interest in deterring my trip back to WDW any longer than it already is, and I just cant' fathom how spending all that time on a boat couldn't be more well spent in the parks. Anyone out there who has done both and can give me some feedback (or maybe some amunition for my side of the argument!) Thanks!



http://www.normbalko.com/heresyourtickettowdw.html

 

[Dreamin'Magic]

My family went on the Disney cruise a few years back. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely do it again. There was so much to do on the ship that I never found myself bored. We did one of the land and sea packages where you either spend 3 days at the parks and have a 4 day cruise or 4 days at the parks and have a 3 day cruise. I would suggest you look into that and then you can still go to the parks and your wife can go on the cruise. Hope that helps!

 

[MCO Dreamin]

Unless you live somewhat near WDW the time you have at the parks is limited and I know I always try to get around to as many things as I can in the time I have, but this is not possible most times due to the ever expanding nature of the parks and the crowds, as a result I have to pick and choose what to see and catch others on future trips, anyone that says they can "do disney" in 3 days (and I have had relatives tell me that :hammer: ) has missed a lot.
So I came from basically the same position as you, limited time and wanting to spend it at the parks not on a boat with nothing to do, I had a GREAT time, we did as much as we could at WDW then went to the boat, there was so much to do that there truly is not enough time to do all the activities possible!. First thing sign up for any offshore excursions you want to do, and there are many for all tastes and pocketbooks, then sit back and enjoy the meals, shows, movies, kids programs, topside games, shopping,and lots more just on board!, even the CM's are outstanding making the experience even more magical.
Offship you can pick from several different cruises that will take you to Key West, Grand Caymans, St, Maarten, St. Thomas. Cozumel, Nassau, and all cruises stop at Castaway Caywhich is Disney's own private island. Each stop has multiple acctivities and I guarantee you will not have enough time to see or do all. So go on the trip and enjoy save some of WDW for another time and who knows you may have to take another cruise since you had such a good time, I know i will :sohappy:

 

[Michael72688]

I like the cruise better cause I think it is less stress, and you get to see a lot of really cool places

 

[iluvstitch]

Do you have a certain amount of days for your vacation? If I were you I would get AP's, do a long trip to WDW and then for your next trip do a few days (using your AP's) at WDW and the 7 night cruise. The 3 and 4 night cruises are too short! Have fun! -Stephanie

 

[MCO Dreamin]

Oh, I forgot to add,when the ship docks and departs the ships horn plays, " When you wish upon a star" very nice touch not to be missed.

 

[iluvstitch]

I get chills everytime I hear the horn play that. On my last cruise, when we pulled into Key West in the morning they blasted the horn. I thought "Well, everyone in Key West is awake now!". LOL -Stephanie

 

[normbalko]

Thanks for the help, but it sure doesn't look like anyone's helping my WDW only plan! The cruises are really that great? Please keep in mind that we will, at best, get to Florida for about a week every other year (We live in Michigan). Also, are the cruises usually crowded, and if so, are there better times to plan one to avoid the crowds? Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I need to say that I have not been on a cruise, but I am really looking forward to it. From what I understand they are really fun and up to Disney Standards. The reason we haven't yet is because we have a 2 year old, and another on the way. I think for everyone in the family to really enjoy it the youngest should be at least 4 (since that is when all the ship board activities for kids start, under that you are on your own, also no swim dipars in the pool, so no swimming for babies, no fun at all.) So we are looking at 2008 or later for us!

Having said that I think if you don't have little ones, it sounds like a ton of fun. The combo trips are a good way to try it out. Keep in mind you will go away feeling like you did not have enough time to do what you wanted (on both the cruise and the world.) And you will need to go back. However you will have a better idea if you want a land only or water only trip next time, and it is a good compramise.

The curise can be rather expenisve. Look for some deals (AAA has them and they run them every so often.)


If you could get a few more days out of your land trip, staying at a vaule resort and still do 3 days on thr curise it may be more worth it for you. Since you only fly down once. Where do you fly out of when you live in Maruqette? Do you drive all the way down to Flint or Detroit and go from there? That would make the trip longer. It is only a 2 1/2 hour flight for us, so we make it at least once a year, sometimes more often.




(BTW, if you join DVC and bank an borrow points for every other year you could do both. We love DVC.)

 

[normbalko]

We fly out of Marquette to Detroit, then its like a 2.5 hour flight to Florida. When we went to WDW last January we booked thru AAA and got some great deals. What is DVC?? and what does bank and borrow mean??

 

[TXMICKEYFAN]

DVC=Disney Vacation Club
Bank and Borrow I have no idea. Anyone?

 

[DisneyPhD]

Sorry DVC is Disney Vacation Club. It is kinda like a Disney time share program. You buy in at a certin number of points (we have 170, the mimimun is 150). You use these to "rent" different size rooms at a number of DVC resorts around WDW (Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and OKW, soon Saratoga Springs) Bigger rooms cost more, and they are more on weekends.

Anyway one way to get more from your points is not to use them every year, but save them up by banking them, or you can borrow from the next year too. You can use up to 3 years at one time (by banking one year and borrowing from the next.) This can get you more points for a special thing.

You buy in at 1st (ours was around 12,000) then you pay dues every year (ours is around 600 a year) It does pay for its self in a few years and makes it afordable to stay at really nice resorts, instead of value. It is a big purchace and commitment up frount (you can sell it later if you no longer want it. You also can rent your points yearly to people for cash and they can use the room. (there is a certin amont of risk with this.)

You are not locked into any dates, or places. We own at Villas Wilderness Lodge, but that only means we have an advantage booking there. We can book 11 months out, all other resorts only 7 months out.

For many people who love Disney it is a good way to get your trip in every year, or every other year.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

If you want to go and do a WDW only trip and your wife wants a cruie, then I would suggest the 4nights in the Resort and 3 night cruise pkg. You will get the best of both worlds then.

They do run specials from time to time and they also offer an early booking discount.

If you need any help in booking your cruise/resort stay, please feel free to contact me. I am a cruise speicialist. I am also a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge program for travel agents.

Pam

 

[HebeJebe]

I love Walt Disney World and I love the Disney Cruise Line, however, I do not love the Land & Sea combinations. You really miss out on a big part of the cruise, the on-board activities, when your cruise is less than 7 days.

My advice to you is to talk to your wife and decide which years are cruise years and which years are WDW years. My family alternates every other year. This year is the 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruise and it's also my wedding.

Costco currently has the cheapest rates. It is $918 per person per Category 10 room, love the divided bath, and AA is $1,000 per person per Category 10 room.

As for being crowded there is a limited number of guests on board and the ship is huge!

 

[normbalko]

So, you don't suggest a 3 day WDW and 4 day Cruise package? I think 3 days would be good to get my disney fix. But you really need more than 4 days on a Cruise to make it worthwhile?? Anyone out there ever do the 3day/4day package and regret it???

 

[Mr. Tom Morrow]

Ok normbalko here goes; I was much like you once upon a time! I couldn’t imagine being on a boat in the middle of an ocean and not going out of my mind. Disney World was the place for me. However, when my wife and I were married at Disney World in February, 2001 we had three weeks to visit. We decided to give a Disney cruise a try booking the 3 day cruse due to my apprehension. Well let me just say, as soon as you enter the cruise terminal you know your still with Disney! And then when you get to your state room and have a look at the ‘Navigator’ (newsletter) you quickly understand that there is no way you’ll have a chance to experience everything planned on the cruise. By the end of the cruise we vowed to take another Disney cruise but this time a 7 day cruise, which we did April last year. We’re actually starting to get the itch to do the 7 day western cruise now! Say, what we did last year was we flew down to Orlando on the Friday and stayed in WDW. The cruise (7 day) takes place Saturday to Saturday, and then we returned to WDW and flew home on the Monday. So in this case we got 7 days on the ship, 2 full days in WDW and 2 partial days at WDW. In any case, go on the cruise you won’t be disappointed.

 

[DDuckFan130]

I have a question for some of you disney cruise experts :lol: ...what are the crowds like as far as...is it all families? couples? singles?...I think you get the idea...because I believe they have the teen programs on the Disney cruise but when they say teens do they really mean "tweens" or those in between 13 and 16 or 17...How would someone my age (18 almost 19) enjoy the cruise with my cousin or best friend who is the same age?

 

[HebeJebe]

The teen area is for 13-17 year olds. My 16 year old brother had a good time when he went, 1 and 3 years ago. I believe you as an 18-19 year old would be able to enjoy the adult areas of the pool. And by adult I mean 18+, please this is Disney.

The kids have almost a full floor and you really don't see them too often other than at the family and kid pool.

There are mostly families on-board. I don't thin you will find too many singles on board other then those who came with their parents.

 

[TIGGER-FAN]

Hey Norm, it's your cousin Kevin. Sandy and I have been to WDW several times in the past few years and are hooked also. Being only 6.5 hours away helps. We are going on a cruise over this coming Christmas with Carnival to the Western Caribbean. Why don't you guys join us! Sandy is E-Mailing you via your web-page! Funny seeing you on these boards (small world) now I will have that song in my head all day.:lol: Take care, talk to you later!

 

[normbalko]

Hey Kevin! Wow, this is kinda weird! How are you guys? If I lived that close to WDW I would probably make the trip every weekend! Where do you guys live again? Looking forward to Sandy's email!

Norm