Ahoy Dawn!
It is so exciting to hear you're not just planning your first Walt Disney World Resort vacation, but a magical land and sea vacation with the added fun of Disney Cruise. I think this is a marvelous idea. In fact for our first Disney Cruise vacation, we decided to add a few Walt Disney World Resort days to really enjoy ourselves. It was amazing.
It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but planning the two is totally doable and will be so much fun. You'll want to first look at the
different cruise itineraries available for the time-frame you are looking to visit. Choosing one that departs from the Port Canaveral, Florida port will make transportation to or from the Walt Disney World Resort the easiest. Once you have a possible cruise selected, you'll need to decide whether you would like to stay at the Walt Disney World Resort prior to or after your cruise. I prefer before, but after is lovely, too. From there it's much like booking them separately other than the transfers to or from which Disney Cast Members will be happy to help you set up.
Your 12-year-old will love spending time in
Edge, the tween-exclusive area available on all four Disney Cruise Line ships. Some days it was difficult to get my kids to leave their Youth Clubs, they were having so much fun!
Happy planning, Dawn, and if there is anything at all we are able to assist you with in the process, please throw us another line. We are all EARS!
Magical Wishes,
Lauren