My family went on a $6,000 Disney World vacation and a $5,900 Disney Cruise, and the latter was a much better deal
Kari Becker
- My family of four recently went on a Disney World vacation and took a Disney cruise.
- On the Disney cruise, we got to see different places and explore new countries.
- The vacations cost about the same amount of money, but the cruise was a better value.
As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels, clients often ask me if I prefer Disney cruises or Disney World vacations.
My family did a split trip where we spent four days at Disney World and four days on the Disney Wish, which gave me a great insight into the differences between the two options.
Here's why I think the cruise was a much better value.
Kari Becker
While in Orlando, we stayed at our favorite resort, Yacht Club, which has easy access to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Throughout the trip, we explored all four parks by purchasing park-hopper tickets, and my family had a blast riding our favorite rides, eating with characters, and shopping for souvenirs.
It was a jam-packed four days, and they were long. We woke up early to get to the parks and returned to our hotel late after the nighttime shows.
After factoring in our hotel stay, park-hopper tickets, and all our meals, our total came to $6,000.
We loved the theme-park vacation as much as always, but we were excited to get to the next part of our trip.
Kari Becker
Stepping aboard the Wish for the first time was breathtaking.
As Disney's newest ship, it's filled with exquisite designs and unmatched attention to detail. It also looked impeccably maintained and offered classic Disney service.
As we settled in and explored the ship, characters greeted us around every corner, which added to the magic.
Our four-night cruise in a deluxe family ocean-view stateroom with a veranda cost $5,900, including meals.
Kari Becker
Disney Cruise Line has an app named Disney Cruise Navigator that shares all the daily activities. Most are complimentary, and there's always something to do.
My kids hung out in the kids' clubs, saw movies, and played at the pool and gym. As a family, we saw Broadway-caliber shows, participated in family trivia, and ate at fun restaurants (including a Marvel dining experience and "Frozen" dinner show).
Kari Becker
The kids were supervised when they hung out in the club, so my husband was able to do a fun beer tasting, and we both loved doing a wine tasting.
My favorite adventure was enjoying a massage at the Senses Spa, followed by a great glass of wine at the Rose Lounge.
There's also the adults-only Quiet Cove Infinity Pool, where you can have a drink or read a book, and adults-only brunch and dinner available at Palo or Enchanté.
At Disney World, it's almost impossible for us to appreciate adults-only activities when we're with our kids.
You can hire a babysitter or seek out the kids' club at Camp Dolphin inside the Dolphin Hotel. But these services aren't included in your stay, and I find them much more difficult to arrange.
Kari Becker
Disney Cruise Line has itineraries all over the world including Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. On this trip, we visited Nassau in the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.
We also took a day trip to the Atlantis resort, and my kids had a blast at the water park.
Castaway Cay offers a relaxing and fun beach day. We snorkeled, built sand castles, ate a delicious barbecue lunch, and basked in the sun.
Kari Becker
A Disney Cruise might look pricier on the surface, but after we factored in the cost of meals and drinks at Disney World, the value of the cruise was more apparent.
Plus, the number of activities offered — for both kids and adults — made for a relaxing and fun experience.
If you haven't experienced a Disney Cruise, I highly recommend it.
This story was originally published on October 19, 2023, and most recently updated on January 19, 2024.
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