Planning a Disney Land and Sea Vacation

A Walt Disney World vacation or a Disney Cruise Line vacation? Why not both!

The close proximity of Walt Disney World to the Disney Cruise ports at Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral make a two-part trip easily within the realm of the possible. In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of a combo “Land and Sea” vacation, discuss the best order for your trip, and provide strategies to help you plan a multi-part adventure.

Is a Land and Sea Disney Vacation a Good Idea?

There are several reasons why you may want to plan a Land and Sea vaction:

• Best of both worlds: You get to experience the thrills of the theme parks and the relaxation of a cruise in one vacation.
• Extended Disney magic: Immerse yourself in the Disney experience for a longer period, transitioning seamlessly from parks to cruise.
• Variety: This combination offers a diverse range of activities, from rides and shows to beach days and on-board entertainment.
• Family-friendly: Both parts of the vacation cater to all ages, ensuring everyone in the family has a great time.

On the other hand, a Land and Sea trip does have some drawbacks:

• Cost: Combining both experiences can be more expensive than choosing just one.
• Packing challenges: You’ll need to pack for two different types of vacations.
• Time constraints: Trying to do both might mean rushing through either the parks or the cruise. Will you be able to maximize either experience?
• Potential to be overwhelming: Some travelers, especially first-timers, might find the combination too much to take in at once.
• Transition challenges: Some people (particularly children) may have difficulty transitioning between different environments.

Which Order is Best?: Land First or Sea First?

The prevailing wisdom among Land and Sea vacationers is that the Walt Disney World segment of the trip should come before the Disney Cruise segment. Here’s why:

• Wind down after park excitement: Theme parks can be exhilarating but exhausting. The cruise offers a more relaxed pace to recover.
• Built-in anticipation: Having a relaxing cruise to look forward to can help you push through any park fatigue.
• Ease into vacation mode: Start with the more structured park experience before transitioning to the laid-back cruise atmosphere.
• Weather considerations: Florida’s weather can be unpredictable. If you encounter rainy days at the parks, you’ll still have the cruise to look forward to.
• Practical travel logistics: Many people want to be near their cruise embarkation port a few days prior to sailing. Flying to Orlando and enjoying WDW for a few days is a logical way to make this happen.

Of course, as with any Disney situation, there are counter arguments to this plan and some travelers prefer to start with the cruise. Here’s the reasoning:

• Relaxation first: Begin your vacation in a relaxed state, feeling refreshed for the park adventures ahead.
• Avoiding post-cruise blues: Ending with the high-energy park experience can help stave off the letdown some feel after a cruise.
• Building excitement: Use the cruise to build anticipation for the parks, especially for first-time visitors.
• Pacing for children: Younger children might do better with the more structured cruise environment before tackling the sensory overload of the parks.
• Price considerations: In some cases, cruise-first might align better with off-peak times at the parks, potentially saving money and avoiding crowds.

Ultimately, the best order depends on your family’s preferences, travel style, and specific circumstances. Consider factors like your energy levels, children’s ages, and overall vacation goals when deciding.

Steps for Planning Your Land and Sea Disney Vacation

If you are planning to undertake a Land and Sea Disney trip, here are steps you’ll need to take to get your on your way. A Disney specialist travel agent can help you put these pieces together.

Determine Your Timeline

Decide how long you want to spend in each location. A typical split might be 4-5 days at Walt Disney World and a 3-4 night cruise, but adjust based on your preferences, budget, and available vacation time. Factor in that your travel day between the land and sea locations might not be able to accommodate much in the way of fun activities. Also consider that if you have less than a week for vacation, it may make more sense to stick with just one aspect of the trip rather than trying to jam both a cruise and a parks visit into one tiny vacation.

Choose Your Cruise

Walt Disney World is open 365 days per year; you can visit any time, for any length of time. On the other hand, Disney Cruise Line depart only on select days and most sailings last 3, 4, or 7 nights (there are exceptions).
And of course Disney World is in a fixed location, but DCL sails to many places.

Given these limitations, it often makes sense to choose your cruise before selecting components of a Disney World stay. Consider which ports of call interest you most, the time you have available, and the prices of various sailings. Then choose your cruise.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Visit

Based on your preference for parks vs. sea first, decide how long you’ll stay at Disney World and what your dates will be. Take a peek at hotel availability and ticket prices before finalizing your decision.

Book Your Trip

Disney offers official land and sea package deals, which can sometimes offer slightly better value than booking each half of the trip separately. That said, many travelers like booking their land and sea trip as two separate vacations because it gives them more control over the nuances of their vacation. Again, consider using a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations to help coordinate all aspects of your trip.

Plan Your Transportation

If you’ll be flying to Florida, consider which airports make sense for each half of your trip. For example, if you’re cruising from Fort Lauderdale, a combination of Orlando and Fort Lauderdale flights may make sense. Then consider how you’ll be traveling from the port to the parks. If you’re the doing parks first, look into Disney’s transfer bus service to Port Canaveral. Or if you’re cruising first, look into transfers from the port to your WDW hotel.

Consider whether you’ll need a rental car for any portion of your trip. There are rental agencies at the ports, at the airports, and at Walt Disney World.

Download and Get Familiar with Tech Tools

For a land and sea vacation, you’ll need to download both the My Disney Experience app and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Play around with both so you understand how they work before arriving at your destination.

Plan Your Park Experience

Familiarize yourself with deadlines for booking meals and ride management tools like Lighting Lane Single-Pass and Multi-Pass. Look into special events happening during your visit, like after-hours park events or holiday celebrations. Plan your must-do attractions and shows in advance. Set reminders for key dates and times.

Plan Your Cruise Experience

Familiarize yourself with opening windows for online check-in and for booking things like port adventures, adult dining activities, or spa experiences. Set reminders for key dates and times.

Stay Vigilant

Disney does change things with some regularity. For example, park hours can be modified and weather can impact cruise schedules. With a multi-part vacation you’ll need to be on the ball to catch possible updates that may alter your plans. In the months leading up to your trip, be sure to check your emails (including your spam folders) and the WDW and DCL official websites to make sure that everything you’ve booked is still in order. Also check in with your airline to make sure your flight times are still accurate. And be sure to note whether there have been any tweaks to Disney’s health and safety guidelines at either location.

Consider Packing Strategies

Will a two-part trip mean two suitcases? Can you use packing cubes to separate park clothes from cruise clothes? Can you leave some items in your car when you’re on the cruise? Do you need a day-bag strategy for your first afternoon on the ship? Will luggage constraints play a factor in the selection of your activities? (For example, maybe you don’t have room for your daughter’s poofy princess dress so a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique isn’t the best choice for this trip.)

A land and sea Disney vacation offers a blend of experiences that can create lasting family memories. While it requires more planning and potentially a larger budget than choosing just one option, the combination allows you to enjoy the best of both Disney worlds. By carefully considering the order of your trip, planning strategically, and remaining flexible, you can craft a vacation that balances excitement and relaxation.

Remember, whether you’re screaming on Space Mountain or watching the sunset from the deck of a Disney ship, the goal is to relax, have fun, and enjoy your vacation.