Disney World Vs. Disney Cruise: Magical Experiences Await
We went on our first Disney World vacation for Christmas 2020, and I have returned three times since then. Our most recent visit was a quick overnight stay to prep for our five-day Disney cruise. So, which one would I choose- Disney World vs. Disney Cruise?
Well, it’s all a matter of what you are looking for. Let’s dive in a bit deeper.
Disney World vs. Disney Cruise Staff
I have never had a bad experience with anyone who works at Disney. My mom was given the title of “honorary citizen” of Disneyland because of her exceptional style. A cast member at Disney World has gifted me a handmade drawing of Figment.
Onboard the cruise, we knew the names of our servers (even the room steward) because we saw them so regularly and had conversations with each of them. My girls will periodically comment, “I wonder what Ollie’s doing right now”.
Disney World vs. Disney Cruise Meals
I have had four high-end dining experiences at Disney World: eating at the Biergarten Restaurant on our first visit, O’Hana and Be Our Guest on our second visit, and Chef Mickey’s Breakfast on our third visit. These were all wonderful, as were any of the convenient restaurants – again, nothing disappoints – but the ability to eat all day (and night) is pretty spectacular.
That all said, it’s a double-edged sword. When it comes to Disney World vs. Disney Cruise, they both have their advantages. The dinners on the cruise were outstanding. By day five, we were all getting worn down, though. We tend to be the split-food-between-two-people type of family, so this was a lot of food. Additionally, the more casual food (pizza is what I’m referencing) was bland.
The ice cream was on par, though. Ah.Maz.Ing stuff. Additionally, they had the classic vanilla and chocolate options on one machine, and they switched them out on the other. And it was nice to be able to get food whenever we were hungry.
***The lattes are extra but worth every cent. So much better than Joffery’s. I said what I said.
Being Connected to the Outside World
If you are on land, your phone has cell service and the option to use Wi-Fi. We went to the Bahamas and even had cell service when the boat was docked, but outside of that, it cost an additional $150 for onboard Wi-Fi if you chose to opt for it. Since I am in graduate school, I was the only one who did, and it was worth it for me. My mom enjoyed having the downtime without her phone ringing off the hook!
The girls and my mom had enough Wi-Fi that we could text each other over the cruise app, and if you have an iPhone, you can send iMessages to others outside the ship.
There is Always Something to Do at Disney World
The first two times we visited Disney World, we stayed from sunup to well past sundown. The third time was a bit more relaxed since I was with a friend my age who goes regularly. Anyways, you can stay busy between the parks, Disney Springs, and even events at your hotel.
On the cruise, it seemed like there was a bit more downtime. That’s not to say there weren’t things to do, but since it was our first experience, we wanted to take in all the other aspects of the ship. Plus, the girls often went and did things without Mom and me, which wasn’t that scary since the crowds were not as bad.
Disney World vs. Disney Cruise Crowds
The crowds were much smaller on the cruise. We only had to wait in line for dinner, to see a few of the characters, and to go down the slides, but I promise you that the maximum time we stayed was half an hour to meet Stitch. Worth it- plus we met the lady behind us because she was talking about her son playing Gaga ball in the kids’ area. The fact that he knew what Gaga ball was meant only one thing- they were from Texas (and sure enough, they were)!
I will say, though, I don’t mind waiting in lines at Disney World because it’s so immersive, I forget where I am!
Disney World vs. Disney Cruise Costs
The cost of going to Disney World vs. Disney cruise for us was actually about the same. I’m basing this on our 2023 trip, when we went with my mom, Brandon, me, and the girls. This trip was with everyone from the same group, except Brandon.
In 2023 we:
- Stayed one night at the Polynesian (deluxe) resort
- Stayed four nights at the Art of Animation (family suite- value resort)
- Went to all four parks, twice to Magic Kingdom
- Ate at O’Hana and Be Our Guest
- Ate all lunches inside the parks
- DID have breakfast in the room all but one day
- After breakfast day 1 we decided this was an expense we didn’t want, so we went grocery shopping
For the cruise we took, we were on the Magic, which is their oldest ship, built in 1998. During peak time, it costs around $7,500, plus gratuity.
Disney World vs. Disney Cruise: It All Boils Down to Vacation Experience
Are you looking for an action-packed experience where, for the most part, everyone stays together? Then hit up Disney World.
If you’re looking for something more laid-back and all-inclusive, where people can go and do their own thing, then check out where the cruises are headed.
Either way- you can’t go wrong. It’s Disney!
