A Walt Disney World trip combined with a Disney Cruise Line sailing can be one of the most magical, memory filled times for your family. But, planning a combined “land and sea” trip with Disney can be overwhelming for many guests. Where do you stay? Do you cruise first then do the parks or vice versa? What about timing to and from the port? Miami or Canaveral? These and many other questions are on the minds of people as they plan some time in the Disney parks before or after their Disney Cruise Line voyage. So this week, we are going to give you some Disney Land and Sea Vacation Tips, in hopes that your next Disney experience includes both!
Should we cruise first or do the parks first? I think either way, it will be fantastic! However, in my opinion, doing the parks before the cruise is ideal. First, you are in Orlando in plenty of time before embarking on your cruise. If you arrive in Orlando and spend a night or so at Disney, you won’t have the stress of arriving on your sail date. Second, some guests disembark from their cruise and feel like they need some time to get their equilibrium back. You don’t want to be feeling ill or out of it when you go to the parks. Third, a cruise is very relaxing. So after some time in the parks, what better way to relax than on a Disney Cruise?
How do we book a land and sea trip? Disney Cruise Line does offer “land and sea” packages. However, they aren’t always the best deal when it comes to the parks portion. The best way to book a “land and sea” Disney trip is to find the sail date you prefer and book your stateroom. Then, book your Disney Parks package before or after the cruise. Since the sail dates are set in stone so far in advance, you don’t have a lot of flexibility. It is also a good idea to book them independently because the cancellation policies and booking parameters are very different.
Where do you recommend we stay for our Disney Parks portion before cruising? I think that staying at a Disney Resort with a water theme is always a fun way to kick off a cruise. For example, a Pirate Room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Yacht or Beach Club Resort, or a Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo Suite at Art of Animation would be perfect! If you are just doing one or two nights at Disney, that could be a great time to try a new resort!
If we choose to visit the parks after our Disney Cruise, what time can we expect to arrive at our Disney Resort? Depending on when you eat your last breakfast onboard, you will be eating early around 6AM or around 8AM. After that, you will begin disembarking the ship and you will need to take the Disney Cruise Line motorcoach to your resort, or another mode of transportation if you have chosen something different. You will probably arrive at your Disney resort a little before noon or maybe a tad earlier.
What is the ideal timing for a land and sea vacation? Most families like to get away for 7 nights. In my mind, the ideal is a 3-night stay at Walt Disney World and then a 4-night cruise out of Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral is only about 45 minutes from Orlando, making it an easy drive and very close. I think that splitting your stay this way gives you a taste of the parks, and then a nice cruise length if you want to experience both.
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