Hi, Shannon!
As far as a "surf & turf" Disney vacation goes, there are steadfast believers in each of the plans -- cruise and parks or parks then cruise. As a matter of fact, my wise and well-traveled predecessor, Disney Cruise Mom Karen, would advise you to begin with a Disney Cruise and end with time at Disney Parks. She has some great points on her
Surf & Turf Video. In addition, I think that if you have small children, you can spend time with the characters on the cruise and not feel obligated to take photos with them at the parks later.
For me and my family, our kids are a little older than Karen's, and we hit the parks full speed for several days -- spending almost every moment together. Then, we take relaxing on a Disney Cruise very seriously! We enjoy our time together in the ports during the day and at dinner or the shows each evening. Yet, my husband and I use our time at sea to relax and unwind before heading home, and our teenagers don't mind spending time without mom and dad. They will even volunteer to play games with their younger siblings or take them to see a movie. A Disney Cruise is just what we need on our vacation before we head back to reality!
As far as planning your vacation, you can visit the
Pre- or Post-Cruise Packages Page to view the offers. Plus, call your travel agent to find out possible incentives for booking a Disney surf & turf vacation. I hope this helps you plan!
Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation. Bon voyage!
Andi