Disney World Land and Ocean Cruise - package deal for everyone

DisneyWorld, Orlando Week of December 15th-We had a package deal, 3 day land cruise and a 4 day Ocean Cruise to the Bahamas on the Disney Cruise. We rented a car instead of Disney transportation and it was probably a good thing. There is a nice outlet shopping close to DisneyWorld if you want to shop and get some alternative fast food.

We were quite beat by the 2nd day. Nice "Mickey Christmas" @ Magic Kingdom in the evening, for which special
tickets need to be bought. Good thing is if you end up staying late @ this Mickey Christmas, you can
get all the rides with not much wait.

The breakfast with the Stars was a bit too hyped up. We had reservations all 3 days. After the first day we cancelled the others. Snow on Main Street was nice...lots of Christmas shows all over.You definitely need to see the Xmas lights. We should have skipped Magic Kingdom as it is pretty much the same as Disneyland which we have been to numerous times. Epcot Center - our kids are too litle to enjoy it, and we breezed by it. MGM has a few things from California Adventure. Animal Kingdom was just right for us. We were always rushing and missed couple things.

Cruise:
We were 2nd floor AFT and it was very noisy the morning we got back to Port Canaveral.We were on the Starboard side and the food loading happens right there.2nd floor was just fine, as everything on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floor.Do not take the sea sickness medication for 4 day cruise. The cruise ship covers a short distance, and there is no need to pick up high speeds. Plus the cruise ship apparently has negated 90% of the potential sway - helping avoid sea sickness. I took the medication and was very drowsy, kinda like taking a cold medication. The ship does not pick up too much spped on this 4 night outing (except first night) and we are just fine.It is better to get the kids eat early and pick the late night dining option.

Dining is sitdown (a tad formal) and the kids might not like it.Diningi is formal in Tritons and if you go to Paolo. We skipped Paolo after booking it.Make sure you get the Paolo, spa reservations as soon as you board the ship.They get taken very quickly.Take the later dinner option, (you get to get up late on the 4th day), and the kids have eaten and in kids club, when you go for dinner. Our 3 year old didn't like the kids club too much inspite of much prepping.

Do not book the excursion tour, easier to get out on your own. We didn't like them, don't get value for $.
It is better to leave the passport in the locker in the ship, and get out at Nassau.take a cab and cruise the city. This is what we would did it again.There is shopping close to the disembarkation point in Nassau right where we exit from the ship.

If your kid is used to a stroller, you might want to take one, especially for the ship.We rented one at Disney World for both kids, which was VERY good, they were not tired - me the coolie got tired though :-(

Pictures, you may want a package like 10 pictures. They all add up very fast.Plan to build an itinerary for the day - it gets quite busy.The pace is very hectic on the ship. We loved the movie theatre in the ship and the shows in the Walt Disney Theatre were VERY nice.

Watch out for your $$, it flows like water on the ship.The ship is great, very immaculately kept, service is Fantastic, but food could be better, we felt. We are not meat eaters and veggie choices was limited. But can't expect too much anyway. We also requested desi food andwe got it, but it was just average, so we skipped the desi food next time. But the ship is lap of luxury.

We rented a car instead of Disney transportaiont and it was probably a good thing. We had to catch a late afternoon flight back and we went to Melbourne beaches. We were torn between the Kennedy space center and the beaches, but we love that stretch of the beach.



Have fun.