Trip to Disney World and a Disney cruise combined?

[ilovedolphins]

I know, once again I am asking for advice on a trip - but this one my son and I are booking this weekend.  I still have to venture on my own for a trip but that is coming within the next 6 months.

So....we want to go to Disney World for 3 days and then do a 3 day Bahamas Disney cruise.  Is there anyway this trip can be booked together as one trip does anyone know?  We were going to book them separate but someone said they may be able to be booked together. 

If we take the free complimentary Disney shuttle from the airport how long will it take to get to our resort?  Do they stop at all the resorts or just a few?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I know that this is a place to get good travel information from money wise people.

[justme]

I'm pretty sure there's an option to do that if you book through Disney. If you're trying to not use Disney's site I'm not sure there's a way.

ETA: I'm also pretty sure the shuttle isn't free. Magical Express, right? Last I knew it was something like $12/person each way. It is nice though because you put the tags on your luggage and it gets diverted from the plane so you don't have to deal with your baggage.

ETA2: disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/packages/land-and-sea/ It seems you have to add on the package after you book it? Or maybe book the whole thing on the phone? I see the Disney buses going between the parks/airport and the cruise terminal all the time so you probably get transportation in the package too.

[973beachbum]

In case this needs to be said you are going to YM hell.

AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP is probably the best person to help on this.  Have a great trip!

[sesfw]

'In case this needs to be said you are going to YM hell.'

Sounds like heaven to me ............ LOL

[ilovedolphins]

Sept 20, 2013 17:08:43 GMT -5 justme said:

I'm pretty sure there's an option to do that if you book through Disney. If you're trying to not use Disney's site I'm not sure there's a way.

ETA: I'm also pretty sure the shuttle isn't free. Magical Express, right? Last I knew it was something like $12/person each way. It is nice though because you put the tags on your luggage and it gets diverted from the plane so you don't have to deal with your baggage.

ETA2: disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/packages/land-and-sea/ It seems you have to add on the package after you book it? Or maybe book the whole thing on the phone? I see the Disney buses going between the parks/airport and the cruise terminal all the time so you probably get transportation in the package too.

Thanks for the link.  I don't know how I missed it before.  I will have to check on the Magical Express.

This is what I found:

Your best option to get to select Disney Resort hotels from the Orlando International Airport is via Disney's Magical Express transportation. Disney’s Magical Express transportation is a complimentary roundtrip service that whisks you and your luggage between Orlando International Airport and select Disney Resort hotels via a deluxe motorcoach.

[ilovedolphins]

Sept 20, 2013 17:09:15 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

In case this needs to be said you are going to YM hell.

AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP is probably the best person to help on this.  Have a great trip!

It sounds like a fun trip.  We want to go the first part of December when it is all about Christmas.  I love Christmas so I think this will be a great stress reducer.  We just guesstimated and came up with around $1700 per person for a better resort then we went to last time and a balcony room on the cruise.  We will see what it actually comes to when we are done.

And we have the money saved for it so it won't go on a credit card.

[constanz22]

Sept 20, 2013 17:47:58 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Sept 20, 2013 17:09:15 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

In case this needs to be said you are going to YM hell.

AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP is probably the best person to help on this.  Have a great trip!

It sounds like a fun trip.  We want to go the first part of December when it is all about Christmas.  I love Christmas so I think this will be a great stress reducer.  We just guesstimated and came up with around $1700 per person for a better resort then we went to last time and a balcony room on the cruise.  We will see what it actually comes to when we are done.

And we have the money saved for it so it won't go on a credit card.

If you are going in December, get tickets for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. There are dinner and show packages, price depends on which restaurant you choose, but if you've never been, it is a must see . You will have to make reservations ASAP though.

[ilovedolphins]

Thanks for the tip constanz22.  I have never heard of it and will definitely check it out.

[steph08]

If you stay on Disney property, the Magical Express is free to/from the airport.

i believe you can book combined land/water packages through Disney, and the cruise shuttle will pick you up at your resort and transport you to the ship.

here it is.  disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/packages/land-and-sea/ 

Different celebrities do the candlelight professionals - disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/candlelight-processional/

[justme]

Oh you know what, the price for Magical Express might be coming from when I was looking at Disneyland.

For Candlelight Processional - if you're a bit flexible on dates look to see what celebrity guest is going to be doing it. Not sure whether the official Disney webpage has it listed or you have to find it on some other site, but I do know they have been announced. Everyone raves about Neil Patrick Harris when he does it.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is something to look into if you really love Christmas.

I love Disney during Christmas time. If you get overdone on the parks you can always take the buses to other resorts - some are amazing all decked out.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Is three days enough time at Disney World? We did four days and could have used more.

[ilovedolphins]

I don't know if 3 days will be enough or not.  We were there last year at Halloween but wanted to go and look at the Christmas decorations. 

[zibazinski]

We did it years ago and it was a blast!

[Lizard Queen]

So glad to see you're treating yourself. I hope you have a great time! :-) 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Sept 20, 2013 17:09:15 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

In case this needs to be said you are going to YM hell.

AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP is probably the best person to help on this.  Have a great trip!

Thanks for the hat tip, but I've actually never done the cruise.

[Deleted]

Not sure I would bother with the cruise part of the trip with a younger child.  I think they'd enjoy additional days at the Disney parks far more than a cruise.  If you want a day at a fabulous beach, they are not too far from Disney and are just as good as the Bahamas.  

[steph08]

Sept 21, 2013 18:38:51 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Not sure I would bother with the cruise part of the trip with a younger child.  I think they'd enjoy additional days at the Disney parks far more than a cruise.  If you want a day at a fabulous beach, they are not too far from Disney and are just as good as the Bahamas.  

I am pretty sure dolphin's son is grown and married with kids of his own. 

[ilovedolphins]

My son is an adult and single so we are just going for fun.  We both love Disney.

[sapphire12]

Hey Dolphins!

I don't have anything to add except, Enjoy the trip and time with your son!

[Deleted]

Oh OK - that makes more sense for a cruise then!!

[tractor]

What you are looking for is called the land and sea package. My wife and I did that about four years ago. It used to be a separate package called out on their main page, but now you have to ask for it. I highly recommend it, once the reservations are made, all you do is show up at the airport and everything is taken care of. You can choose to do either the land or sea portion first.

If you have more questions, I will try to answer them, I have been there way too many times, and will be back for a week in February. Can't wait.

Give Disney a call and they will get you set up.

[Deleted]

Sept 20, 2013 19:11:50 GMT -5 justme said:

Oh you know what, the price for Magical Express might be coming from when I was looking at Disneyland.

For Candlelight Processional - if you're a bit flexible on dates look to see what celebrity guest is going to be doing it. Not sure whether the official Disney webpage has it listed or you have to find it on some other site, but I do know they have been announced. Everyone raves about Neil Patrick Harris when he does it.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is something to look into if you really love Christmas.

I love Disney during Christmas time. If you get overdone on the parks you can always take the buses to other resorts - some are amazing all decked out.

I had never heard of the Candelight Processional (then again, I have only been to WDW once. For a day).  Anyhow, here is the tentative schedule for 2013:

The tentative schedule of those who will appear as narrators for performances of Epcot’s 2013 Candlelight Processional, the annual retelling of the story of Christmas that features a mass choir and a full orchestra (subject to change):

11/29-12/1: Gary Sinise
12/2-12/3: Neil Patrick Harris
12/4-12/5: Ashley Judd
12/6-12/7: Whoopi Goldberg
12/8-12/10: Sigourney Weaver
12/11-12/13: Dennis Haysbert
12/14-12/16: James Denton
12/17-12/19: Edward James Olmos
12/20-12/22: Trace Adkins
12/23-12/25: TBD
12/26-12/28: Blair Underwood
12/29-12/30: Amy Grant