Don't go on Disney cruise unless.........

[rere30]

You are ready to be spoiled by it.After cruising Disney we are finding it hard to do another cruiseline.We have done Carnival and Royal Caribbean and had a good time but nothing compares to the cruise we just took on the Wonder WOW!!!! Now we are so spoiled I cant imagine doing anything else.The problem is how can you afford another cruise we are a family of seven but got a really great deal off season.I have looked into a cruise during the summer and the prices are a lot higher but we will figure a way I'm sure .I have heard so many good things about Disney Cruises now i know they are all true

[travelgyalrox]

well, you only made me more excited about trying it:D

[metrowon]

It's not surprizing that you all, had a Great Time. And sometime in the Future, you will all go again. It takes alot of financial planning to do a vacation like you had. You'll figure it out, same as my Mom did, to get us , the 7 of us us to Wildwood NJ., in the 60's. So Glad you are considering another one. There'sno time like Now! Metrowon

[Kenzibell]

I am looking into a Disney cruise for October 2008 for my family (husband, two small daughters, and myself.) We normally cruise on Carnival, but since our girls are going to be 3 and 5, we figured Disney would be more fun for everyone involved. My question is, other than booking off season, are there anymore little tricks to help ease the financial blow it causes. I know it will be well worth it, but it is going to be tough to pull it off. Sorry to cry and whine. I have been doing so much research online, I guess I just needed a place to vent. The local TAs are pricing it much higher than what I am finding online. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening!:D

[Juliah40]

I had numerous people tell me that once you go on a Disney cruise, you'll never do another. We just got back from the Disney Wonder today and had a great time. However, our experience on the Carnival Glory was beyond compare (maybe because it was our first cruise...sort of like a first love). I had such high expectations of Disney after hearing this so much, but there wasn't anything about Disney that wowed me any more than Carnival. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, but they were entirely different experiences. Some things we liked better on Disney, others on Carnival. I think for the Disneymaniacs, the Disney ship will never compare to another. For us, both were good, just different experiences.

[kaykels]

I have a deep love for Disney cruises. I took 4 of them and it was my first love. But the prices are getting higher, the ships are getting older and with younger ships with rock climbing walls, bowling alley's, flow riders, mini golf, casinos, etc. etc. etc. I started shopping around. Go look at the rates for NCL ships over Thanksgiving! They have 9 night cruises starting in the 5's! They have 7 night cruises starting at 399 and these are 5 star ships !

 

I can't justify spending over 5000. on two inside cabins on Disney when I can spend 2000.00 on Pearl for a balcony suite with conceirge and an inside cabin. I dunno........... I can cruise twice on another ship or once on Disney, that's a tough one!

[CP3o]

I am looking into a Disney cruise for October 2008 for my family (husband, two small daughters, and myself.) We normally cruise on Carnival, but since our girls are going to be 3 and 5, we figured Disney would be more fun for everyone involved. :D

 

This is your best opportunity to sail Disney at the least expensive times, while your kids are young, before school is a big concern. Sail off season, in a Cat 12, and book early and hope to get bumped up. Not in your room much anyway. Save the balcony for another cruise when kids are older and you have to sail another line in regular season. These are my tips, anyway, for making it more affordable. Rebook onboard the next one even if you aren't sure you want to go again, locks in place the 10% off and OBC and is fully refundable. Consider the per day cost, you might prefer to do a 7 night instead of a 3 or 4 for the best value.

[cruiserbryce]

Disney can have that affect on people...but at the same time, when I'm on other cruise lines like say Royal Caribbean...its easy to remember that for the same cost of the Disney Cruise I am going on that one, my excursions and drinking quite a bit of liquor

[MrPete]

I had numerous people tell me that once you go on a Disney cruise, you'll never do another.

 

I personally had not heard that, and was very excited about our first Disney cruise. Loved it so much more that it was DD4's first cruise. As expected, it was everything Disney. Unexpected was that the service and the ship exceeded our expectation. Unexpected was the food, which was WAY below our expectation.

 

But afterwards, we had a been there, done that feeling.

 

Sometime later, we ended up deciding to sail with extended family, and returned to Disney. The experience was different due to us being a group of 10, as opposed to 3, but the dreaded "been there, done that" came over us as expected.

 

Except that the food was a bit better second time around.

 

But, all in all, it's just a DIFFERENT cruise experience for us. We just find that "regular" cruises are more well rounded.

 

I don't gamble, but have always found the casino to be the heart of the ship. On the Disney ship, I never found that heart.

 

But still, we may even go back a third time.......eventually.

 

And I do recommend that EVERYONE do at least one Disney cruise.

[NancyIL]

I'm a big Disney theme park fan, but haven't cruised with Disney...yet. I'll finally go on a 4-day Disney cruise with my mom in January. My very first cruise was on a HAL ship with my mom in 2004, and I swore I would never cruise with my mom again! I've had 4 great cruises since then - so I hope to truly enjoy the DCL experience - in spite of my traveling companion!

[chasekenslee]

I have to agree with Juliah40... My husband and I have sailed on RC and Carnival, with Carnival definately being our first choice. We decided to splurge and take the kids on a Disney cruise. We were so excited. We were on the Wonder this September and had a great time.. but...I was not blown away. The ship was definately nice and it was fun to see the characters but I could not see the money difference. The shows and the Dumbo tron were the only things that I thought were better on Disney. I am glad we tried Disney, and we had a great vacation, but my past vacations on Carnival were awesome and I guess it was hard for me to compare. Would I do Disney again, maybe. But I think the next family cruise will be on Carnival. Would I recommend Disney, yes. I think everyone should try different lines.

[cruiserbryce]

the last line in the post above sums it up pretty good...everyone should try different lines so they can compare what they favor or dislike...we went on Disney for our first cruise...we loved it but after trying Princess and RC as well we have found that we enjoy ourselves the most when we are on RC...different strokes...

[Host Mick]

I don't gamble, but have always found the casino to be the heart of the ship. On the Disney ship, I never found that heart.

 

I wouldn't consider the smelliest, loudest, tackiest place on the ship to be it's heart.

On the Disney ships, it would be the Mickey pool for most, the engine room for me.

[cruiserbryce]

casinos are likely in the middle and on a ver accesible deck b/c thats where the most foot traffic is...I guess Host Mick doesnt like casinos:confused:

[Host Mick]

casinos are likely in the middle and on a ver accesible deck b/c thats where the most foot traffic is...I guess Host Mick doesnt like casinos:confused:

 

I could do without them. I usually get gambler's remorse thinking that I could have got something tangible rather than a few hours in a noisy casino playing a game in which the odds are against me.

The space that was originally supposed to be a casino on the Disney ships is now Diversions. It's a much better use of the onboard space.

[ILUVSCOOPS]

I am looking into a Disney cruise for October 2008 for my family (husband, two small daughters, and myself.) We normally cruise on Carnival, but since our girls are going to be 3 and 5, we figured Disney would be more fun for everyone involved. My question is, other than booking off season, are there anymore little tricks to help ease the financial blow it causes. I know it will be well worth it, but it is going to be tough to pull it off. Sorry to cry and whine. I have been doing so much research online, I guess I just needed a place to vent. The local TAs are pricing it much higher than what I am finding online. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening!:D

 

The best time to sail for pricing is during hurricane season. Disney's lowest prices on their regular itineraries will be the early booking savings. So, choose sometime in September of 2008 or 2009. Good luck. It is worth it. We go as a family every year and the grandchildren love it.

[Kenzibell]

Thanks for all of the input! Now I have yet another question. Which is better. land/sea packages, or 7-day cruises? I found a company offering what seems to be a reasonable (for Disney) price, but I worry because I have been getting the same price from everyone, except this agent. If anyone knows of an agent, or if you would feel comfortable letting me in on hoew cheap is too cheap, I would geatlt appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if that would be easier!:)

[MrPete]

Although I enjoy the land/sea package, I HATE that meals are is not included in the land part.

 

For that reason only, if I ever do Disney again, it will not be land/sea.

[andismom]

I gained 12 pounds in 7 days on my last cruise - and thought I was watching what I ate! - I am doing the land/sea package in Jan and am HAPPY the land part includes no food! I will make up for a few days of light eating on land when I get on that ship!

[Frankiesmom]

Just to let everyone know you can now add the dining plan onto the land part of the land/sea packages!:)

[cruisingCooks]

I am looking into a Disney cruise for October 2008 for my family (husband, two small daughters, and myself.) We normally cruise on Carnival, but since our girls are going to be 3 and 5, we figured Disney would be more fun for everyone involved. My question is, other than booking off season, are there anymore little tricks to help ease the financial blow it causes. I know it will be well worth it, but it is going to be tough to pull it off. Sorry to cry and whine. I have been doing so much research online, I guess I just needed a place to vent. The local TAs are pricing it much higher than what I am finding online. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening!:D

 

Just for comparison, check out the Sept 1, 2008 5 night cruise on the magic, with a "double dip" in Castaway cay. Yes, it is a Bahamas trip, but Castaway Cay is the best stop of any itinerary.

Try cruisecheap.com or cruise.com, they offer good prices and are reputable. Besides, it takes a $500 down payment with the rest due in June.

[CaliforniaMama]

Although I enjoy the land/sea package, I HATE that meals are is not included in the land part.

 

For that reason only, if I ever do Disney again, it will not be land/sea.

For 2008 you can add Disney Dining Plan to your land stay on the land/sea! We're going in Nov. 08 on the Land/Sea package. Still undecided if we want to do the dining plan part, or not.

[Kenzibell]

I would really appreciate it if you could pm me a web address. I really want to do the land sea. I was going to do 3 days on land since my girls are going to be so young (3,5). We will probably only visit Magic Kingdom and maybe Animal Kingdom. I pray we can find a way...my girls would have a blast. Thanks again for all of the help!

[viciouslysh]

I am looking into a Disney cruise for October 2008 for my family (husband, two small daughters, and myself.) We normally cruise on Carnival, but since our girls are going to be 3 and 5, we figured Disney would be more fun for everyone involved. My question is, other than booking off season, are there anymore little tricks to help ease the financial blow it causes. I know it will be well worth it, but it is going to be tough to pull it off. Sorry to cry and whine. I have been doing so much research online, I guess I just needed a place to vent. The local TAs are pricing it much higher than what I am finding online. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening!:D

 

I do not know if I'm allowed to post other sites, but I THINK the deal I got was good. The Wonder 3nt, 4 ppl, Gaurantee Cat 11 for $1500 on the (EX...website. It was cheaper to call it in) And all the Reservation info is on the disney site already.

[Kenzibell]

Please feel free to email the site to me. Kenzibell0305@comcast.net Thanks.