Hi Rita!
From one Marylander to another, welcome to planDisney! Let me start by saying there is no wrong way to combine a visit to Walt Disney World Resort with your Disney Cruise Line vacation. I've visited the parks both before and after cruises in the past. A Land and Sea vacation gives you the best of both worlds - no matter which order you plan it in!
Rita, with that in mind it's truly your choice to consider what will work best for your family. Having done both, my family prefers to visit the parks before our cruise when possible. Days at Walt Disney World Resort can be busy and packed full of attractions and entertainment as we make the most out of our days by starting early and continuing until fireworks at the end of the night. The relaxing days on the cruise ship lounging by the pools and enjoying the beautiful beaches of
Disney Castaway Cay are the perfect way to rest our tired feet!
When you're ready to book your stay, you can either
call Disney Cruise Line directly for assistance or book on your own through the
Walt Disney World Resort website. Either way, Disney Cruise Line can provide transportation to or from any of the
hotels in the Disney Resorts Collection to Port Canaveral for an additional cost. If you don't book your hotel room through Disney Cruise Line, be sure to call them at least seven days before your cruise to let them know of your hotel plans and
make ground transportation arrangements.
If you have just a few days at Walt Disney World Resort, I suggest considering a resort that has close proximity to the theme parks so that you can easily see and do everything you want during your stay. I really like
Disney's Contemporary Resort which has great dining and easy access to Magic Kingdom Park via the Walt Disney World Monorail and a walkway. You can also take the monorail to EPCOT. Disney's BoardWalk is also home to several hotel options, including
Disney's BoardWalk Inn, that are within walking distance to both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You'll also find FriendShip boats available at these hotels to take you between these destinations too. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, you may also want to check out
Disney's Pop Century Resort. The larger-than-life theming is super fun and you'll have easy transportation to both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios thanks to the Disney Skyliner!
Rita, I'm sending happy thoughts and pixie dust your way as you continue to plan what I'm sure will be an amazing vacation! I'm so excited about the
Disney Treasure and can't wait to see and learn more in the weeks leading up to the maiden voyage of this new ship. Not only does the Treasure look gorgeous, but there are so many new spaces to check out on this ship including
The Haunted Mansion Parlor! Even if I sail on 999 Disney Cruises, I think I'll always have room for one more!
Don't forget that you have a friend in me here at planDisney and I hope you stop by to see us again if you have any other questions!
Happy Planning!
Kristi