Disney Dilemma: Disney Cruise vs. Disney World, Surf or Turf?

As many of you know, I was just on my first Disney Cruise in October with friends from Five Star Travel Group. I’m anxious to get back on board, but with my family next time! I struggled briefly whether to make our next vacation at Disney World or on a Disney Cruise. I decided we need to go to Disney World next. We haven’t been there since 2013 so a trip to the parks is long overdue. I finalized plans for our Disney World trip and we’re headed there in February! Stay tuned for coverage of that!

But what about your family? Have you ever thought about which vacation you would prefer? Have you done Disney World over and over? But have you wondered if a cruise would have enough MAGIC for you or would you miss being in the parks? If you go to Disney World – do the crowds and the busy pace leave you feeling like you need another vacation when it’s over? There are some things to think about if you’re deciding between the two. So let’s look at the pros and cons of each to help determine what is the best choice for your next Disney vacation.

The Biggest Difference is Pace

Disney World is made up a 4 theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs. There is a lot to see and do! In order to fit everything in, you’ll be very busy during your stay. While it is completely magical, and my favorite place on earth, at the end of the day and your vacation for that matter, you’ll be pretty tired. You may come home not feeling rejuvenated, ready to conquer life again. You’ll just want to REST.One thing that may help the fast paced Disney World trip, is to consider scheduling down time during your Disney World vacation. Get up early, go to the park, and then head back to your resort around lunchtime when the crowds build up. Go for a swim, shop in Disney Springs, take a nap, and just rest for a little while. Then head back to a park after dinner and enjoy the lower crowds, and (depending when you go) the cooler temps! Taking breaks helps everyone enjoy themselves more and stay in better moods!Now on a Disney Cruise, the pace is a lot different. It’s slower. Unlike the parks, all of your activities are on board a ship. You have shows, restaurants, activities, all within steps of your stateroom. There are character meet and greets, on board parties, shopping, and water activities just an elevator ride away. You can do as much or as little as you like without feeling like you are missing anything and being rushed to see it all. And if you want to go back to your stateroom and just sit on your balcony for a bit, it takes just a few steps, not a bus or monorail to get you back to your room.

Keeping the Kids Busy

In Disney World, you are pretty much in charge of keeping your kids busy (and happy). They are with you 24/7 unless you pay for in room childcare and that costs quite a bit! And why would you want to leave your kids in your hotel room with a childcare provider while you’re out having fun? Hello guilt!On a Disney Cruise, your kids will WANT to be away from you, and it’s free! Kids from ages 3-12 can go to the Oceaneer’s Club which is AMAZING. They enter top notch themed areas such as Andy’s Room, Tinkerbell’s Tree house, and the Millennium Falcon. They’ll play with video games, take part in youth counselor lead activities, dance with Mickey, train with the Jedi, etc! The older kids have clubs too – Vibe is for ages 11-14 and Edge for ages 14-18! I visited each of the youth centers while on board the Dream and even the shyest of kids would have a blast! The teens were loving life and no one was “too cool” to hang out and participate in activities. Each youth center does a great job of providing fun for that age group. There weren’t any kids on board the ship that were bored or having meltdowns because of too much to do. The kids can even stay there for meals, order off a menu, and be served right there!For adults, this means you have ALONE time! There are adult only areas on the ship that you can enjoy while the kids are at the youth centers, including lounges, bars, restaurants, pools, and entertainment. Your kids are just a “wave phone” away (walkie talkie type phones that are free to use while on board). Or if they have smart phones, you can text each other via the Disney Cruise app, all free of charge. Go to one of the bars in The District (adults only area), have dinner at a specialty restaurant, or head to the spa! The kids are good, no worries!

Activities/Entertainment

Of course Disney World wins this one. We all love the rides and attractions at the parks! There’s no place on earth like it!But on a Disney Cruise there are still Broadway caliber shows each evening, themed parties, and fireworks at sea! And let’s not forget you’re on a cruise so you are visiting different ports while you sail! So each port is a new adventure for your family!

Dining

Disney World has every type of dining option you can think of. Plenty of themed restaurants, dining with the characters, and fantastic food!

On a Disney Cruise, you have just a few restaurants, but honestly, the theming is superb and very comparable to a Disney World restaurant, if not better in some cases! And the food is FABULOUS! No “typical cruise food” on Disney Cruises! Every thing from the buffet items, to the cocktails, to the specialty restaurants menu items are absolutely delicious. And the service is what you would expect from Disney – first class all the way. On Disney they have what is called rotational dining. This is where you eat in a different restaurant each night, but your waitstaff follows you. They get to know you. They have things like your child’s chocolate milk on the table waiting for them when they sit down. There aren’t any character meals as of right now, but with new restaurants being added to current ships, and new ships on the way, who knows? And the food is included – no need to say no to dessert!Room service is also free of charge on Disney Cruises, just a little tip is appreciated for the attendant who delivers your goodies. We took advantage of ordering Mickey ice cream bars and chocolate chip cookies!

Planning and Booking

Oh boy, this is huge! Planning a Disney World vacation is a LOT of work! Even when you have your travel agent make your dining reservations and fast passes, you still have a lot to think about and decide upon. Which resort do you stay at? How many days will you visit the parks? Which day do you go to which park? What are your not to be missed rides/attractions? What restaurants are you going to eat in?

For a Disney Cruise, you still have to decide which ship to go on and what itinerary interests you. You’ll need to decide on a stateroom and a couple activities that are best to schedule before you board. As well as any excursions you would like to book. But it’s nothing like planning Disney World.

Pricing

No matter when you choose a Disney vacation, holidays and the summer are going to be the most expensive times to travel. But if you look for discounts, and pay attention to cruise specials, you can make it work. Just be flexible! And honestly, on a Disney Cruise, ports don’t matter much. You’ll be having so much fun on the ship, that you’ll forget you can get off!

Comparing costs per day, Disney World and Disney Cruises are pretty even. The main difference is that unless you do a dining plan while at Disney World, the cost of a Disney Cruise vacation is taken care of upfront. Once you’re on board, you’re not really spending much out of pocket. There are gratuities for the crew at $12 per member of your family per day, but you’re tipping for services just like you would at any Disney restaurant and for Mousekeeping. It’s just hard to swallow that large price tag all at once. Then again, it’s hard to swallow the cost of tickets to the parks and the dining plan too!How to save on your next Disney vacation? Stay in touch with your travel agent. We monitor special promotions and bring them right to you. Let me know you are interested, even if you aren’t ready to book. I can keep watch and share promotions as they are released. Then when you’re ready to book, there are many other money saving tips and tricks I can share with you for your Disney vacation or for your Disney Cruise!

To Wrap it Up

It doesn’t matter which Disney vacation you choose. You will have a blast! If you’ve done the parks over and over and you’re ready for a change, go for the cruise, you won’t be disappointed. If you NEED to see and do the rides and attractions at Disney World, then stick with the land vacation. Or if you are feeling really adventurous… combine the two! Do a few days at the parks, getting in your favorite attractions, and then step on board a Disney Cruise and relax!

Either way, you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime and isn’t that what vacation is all about?