By: Coleen Gomez, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Hi and welcome! So you’ve landed here because you are trying to make the ultimate decision on where you want to take your family for your next vacation. You want to go to Walt Disney World, but you’ve always dreamt about going on a Disney cruise. For now you can only pick one.
Well, I’m here to give you some insight as I recently spent my last week at both Walt Disney World and sailing aboard the Disney Dream. This post will educate you on the similarities and differences between Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World so you can make a decision that best fits your travel needs.
For the first part of my week while I was in the parks, I stayed on site at the Pop Century hotel, and had 2-day park hopper tickets. I was in the parks from opening to closing, and we walked well over 9 miles each day! On Thursday I transferred hotels to Art of Animation. The Nemo family suite is gold by the way, and would be a good option should you pick a park trip.
On my hotel transfer day I had time to rest, so I spent my afternoon at Disney Springs. I mostly relaxed and did a little (or a lot) of shopping. I had dinner that evening at T-Rex and it was way better than expected as far as food quality. The atmosphere was cool even for adults, I highly recommend it! Early the next morning, we took a private car to Port Canaveral where we set sail on the Disney Dream’s 3-night Halloween on the High Seas itinerary which sailed to Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.
When picking which trip you want to take, the most important decision you need to make is what kind of vacation your family wants and needs. A lot of factors will help you determine whether a Disney Cruise or Walt Disney World trip is right for your family. The age of your children (if you have any), how much everyone likes to see and do, and your COVID-19 vaccination status could all play into your decision (check out this article). Currently everyone 12 years of age and older are required to be fully vaccinated. Children under 12 need to take a test between 3 days and 24 hours before sail date. Additionally, everyone in your party will take a test when you arrive at the terminal, before you can board the ship.
As of September 2021 the only Covid requirement for Walt Disney World is masks are required indoors for everyone 2 and up. Additionally, you’ll need to wear masks while on rides or in line. When going into a restaurant masks are also required until you are seated at your table. I highly recommend bringing a lanyard so you can keep your mask around your neck. It can go on and off frequently. It was annoying for me to take my mask in and out of my pocket or backpack each time.
If you decide to take a Disney Cruise, everyone two years of age or older is required to wear a mask indoors on the ship, including the kids clubs, in the shows and while walking the halls. They are not required for anyone outside on the decks, while eating in the restaurants, and of course they are not needed in your cabin. I had a lanyard for my cruise and I’m really glad I did this time. Everyone will be tested the day of sailing at the terminal and anyone who tests positive will be denied boarding.
If you want to “do it all” while at Disney World, I recommend no less than 4 days in the parks and a rest/pool day in between. The two most important decisions when choosing a park vacation will be which resort you want to stay at and what days you plan to visit each park. Reservations are currently required for the parks each day. Your travel agent will help with securing dining reservations, especially if you want to enjoy any character or exclusive dining restaurants. Reservations for the more sought after restaurants such as the new Space 2020 or Cinderella’s Royal Table can be extremely hard to get. Be sure to discuss with your travel agent well in advance what locations you are interested in. While at the Magic Kingdom, I ate at “Be our Guest” and I had one of the best Filet mignons I’ve ever had! Try to snag a reservation here! If you are more “go with the flow” type of family, the parks can be a better option for you. I had a great time in the parks but by the 4th day I was ready to get on the ship and RELAX!
Disney Cruise Line currently assigns travel parties strict port arrival times. This means you need to plan your flights carefully, or consider staying at a hotel near the cruise port on the night before your cruise departs. Once on the ship however, that’s it! Just relax and enjoy! Throughout my time on board the ship, I never waited in line once! Your dinner time and locations are set each night and your servers are assigned to your group throughout the cruise. Shows-times are arranged each night at the opposite time of your dinners. They are convenient to get to (no running across a park to try and get a good seat), but still make sure to get to the theater early. Due to social distancing requirements, space can be limited. Additionally, you can choose to eat at the quick service restaurants like Cabanas, Flo’s Cafe, Eye Scream Treats, or even order room service. This was great and there is no mobile ordering required or time frames required.
Now since I just brought up food, I might as well dive right into it. You can and probably will eat a ton of food on the cruise. I often find myself pushing through my hunger when I’m at Disneyland or Disney World because my main goal is usually to get on as many rides and take as many pictures as possible. You won’t be hungry when you are on a Disney Cruise! Never before have I eaten so well in such a small amount of time. Each day breakfast consisted of a few cups of coffee (or my Minnie latte), orange juice, a warm croissant, and a wide range of breakfast items (I loved the southern hash). There are fresh eggs available, awesome bacon, sausage and, of course, Mickey waffles! Our first dinner at The Enchanted Garden was outstanding! The second night we ate at the Royal Palace and all I can say is wow! I ordered the Chateaubriand and a glass of wine. For dessert I had a chocolate brownie sundae. The food and the desserts are truly top notch on the Cruise! Whichever vacation option you choose, just know you’ll be able to find amazing high quality food and great quick service options as well.
At this time in my life, and after many Disney parks trips with and without my little ones, I am 200% sold on taking my family on more Disney Cruise vacations. They just make everything so easy yet still fun for everyone. There are plenty of characters to see all around the ship, and so many activities for families and adults. Kids can hang out at the Oceaneers club for younger kids or Vibe for teens. There are family games like bingo and trivia, and there are also adult’s only sections and lounges for you to get some one-on-one time with your spouse, while the kids are safely playing with new friends and awesome cast members. For me this is important because after over a year of being at home with my kids 24/7, my Husband and I could really use a break together. And the best part about being able to do this for a few hours, is that we can walk down the hall, pick up our kids, and all go have an amazing sit down dinner together, or go watch a movie. A Disney cruise really is a wonderful option for everyone.
Please reach out to Coleen, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
