Trying to decide between a Disney Cruise or a Disney World trip for your next family vacation? We’re here to help!

While they are both “Disney”, they are different in many ways. Depending on what your travel goals are, there are distinct pros and cons to both trips. The beginning stages of planning any Disney vacation can be overwhelming but fear not. We are breaking down the differences between each to help make your decision on whether a Disney Cruise or the Disney Parks are a better option for your travel party.

Should Your Next Family Trip Be a Disney Cruise or Disney World?

Cost Differences Between Disney Cruise and Disney World

When researching their next vacation, cost is the number one factor on most people’s radar. If you’re spending thousands of dollars on vacation, you want to be sure to get the best value. And Disney vacations in particular are a bit pricey.

Disney vacations cost an average of $4000-$7000 for a family of four. However, the cost of a Disney Cruise Line or Walt Disney World trip can vary tremendously depending on length, time of year, and interests.

Both types of Disney vacations work off dynamic pricing, meaning “off-season” (shoulder seasons) is going to be cheaper than demanding vacation times of year.

Of course, the cost of any vacation is also going to largely depend on the length of the trip. The shorter the vacation, the cheaper the price tag. But where Disney Cruise Line and Disney World differ is the upfront cost when booking the vacation.

Finally, your specific interests will also impact the cost, primarily the cruise cabin or Disney resort you pick. You will also need to consider all the other add-ons associated with each trip.

So, let’s dive a little deeper into the differences between Disney World and a Disney cruise.

Disney World

When planning a Disney World vacation, guests will book and prepay a set price for their resort stay (likely a package that also includes park tickets), but any other associated costs such as entertainment, food, drinks, and souvenirs will be paid for as needed during the vacation. Guests can choose from cheaper value resorts to expensive deluxe resorts.

Once at Disney World, the dining options can drastically vary in price, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact budget ahead of time. For guests looking to stay within a set budget, this could be a downfall of visiting the parks.

When it comes to time of year, Disney World used to have a slow season, but post-pandemic that has seemingly gone away with everyone returning to travel. Typically, months like January-February and October through early November are slower months at Disney World. Thus, resort stays are usually cheaper than during summer vacation or the holiday season.

During the off season, it’s not uncommon for Disney to run specials for discounts on room and ticket packages that result in significant savings. There’s even a chance that you could score a free dining package.

Disney Cruise

On the other hand, budgeting for a Disney Cruise Line vacation is much easier. The upfront cost for a Disney cruise includes your accommodations, 24/7 access to food, soft drinks, and entertainment. (We will break down the details of all these soon, don’t worry.)

There can be additional out of pocket expenses during the vacation such as alcoholic beverages, entertainment upgrades like a spa visit, shore excursions, and souvenirs, but guests don’t have to spend any additional money once onboard to have a great time. This gives Disney Cruise Line the edge for families on a set budget, as guests can completely pay for everything before stepping foot on the ship.

Similar to Disney World, Disney Cruise Line is going to be more expensive during spring breaks, summer vacations, and the holiday season. While hurricane season technically runs June-November, the latter part of hurricane season is where guests can see significant cost savings. August-November cruise fares are usually cheaper vs the summer months.

Don’t be afraid of the term hurricane season, either. Cruise lines go to great lengths to make sure all passengers are safe, yet it is extremely rare that the cruise line will cancel a sailing. The worst case is that the cruise line will change the itinerary and reroute the ship, which just means new places to explore!

Pre-Planning Process: Disney Cruise vs. Disney World

The pre-planning process for a Disney Cruise versus a Disney World trip is quite different as well. So, let’s take a look at how the two vacations differ, including what guests can book ahead of time for each option.

Disney World

For those who want to plan everything day-by-day in advance of the trip, a Disney World vacation might be a better fit. Is pre-planning every detail of your Disney World vacation absolutely necessary? No! BUT pre-planning for Disney World is extremely beneficial and will only make vacation better once you are there.

Guests will have the ability to book advanced dining reservations, purchase park tickets in advance (if not already part of your resort package), plan out which rides and attractions are of interest, and which Genie+ Lightning Lanes they want to reserve while at the parks.

In theory, guests could have a tentative itinerary for every hour of every day before arrival. There is also an ability to control the amount spent, as you can opt for a cheaper resort, cheaper meals, etc. 

Disney Cruise

Planning for a Disney Cruise is less upfront effort, but also more unknown. While there are Daily Navigators from previous sailings all over the internet, guests won’t know what specific activities are offered and when they are offered until actually on board the ship.

Food is included, so there is no need to book dining reservations apart from adult only dining experiences. Dinner and nightly shows are at a set time of either early or late dining, so guests will need to plan their days around this schedule, versus on their own timeline at Disney World.

Another factor to keep in mind with a Disney Cruise is that while it is not required to have a passport on closed loop cruises (cruises beginning and ending in the same port), it is HIGHLY recommended. For guests that don’t already have passports, this could be an additional cost added to the budget.

Dining Differences Between Disney Cruise and Disney World

Guests are sure to find both highs and lows when it comes to dining on a Disney Cruise or at Disney World. Which is better is really a personal preference and also varies based on where you dine and how much additional money you want to spend.

Disney World

Disney World offers a variety of dining options, from quick service fast food locations to lavish signature dining restaurants. As a theme park, the focus for quick service dining is to get guests in and out quickly, offering more time to dedicate to attractions. Signature dining offers a more upscale meal but will cost more and take more time.

There are a ton of quick service dining options at Walt Disney World. So, without a little planning, it’s easy to end up disappointed. Would I recommend Cosmic Ray’s at Magic Kingdom to a first-timer? No way. But I would recommend ABC Commissary or Docking Bay 7 at Hollywood Studios to a first-timer. Yet, they are both quick service “fast food” locations, so at face value it’s easy to think they are the same.

Table service sit-down dining options are going to offer much better food selections but will take up a substantial amount of your day in the parks depending on your dining style. Guests can expect table service dining to last roughly an hour per meal, so plan accordingly.

Nonetheless, regardless of whether you choose a quick-service meal or a table-service meal, they will both cost you extra money.

Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line also offers a variety of dining options. Like Disney World, the cruise line offers both quick service options and table service dining. While there are many options on the ship, there is no need for pre-cruise research.

Most dining is included in the price of the cruise; therefore, guests can try whatever they want. If you don’t like it, move on to the next! A buffet is offered for breakfast and lunch daily. Poolside quick service dining is available on all ships during the day as well.

Additionally, there is table service dining available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dinner served on a rotational dining schedule. This means that guests will dine in a different themed restaurant nightly, while the service staff rotates with them. Guests even get entertainment during their meal for no additional charge. Further, guests usually highly rate Disney Cruise Line dining when compared to other mainstream cruise lines.

Additional adult only dining is available on each cruise ship for an upcharge, which would require advanced reservations. But this is the only dining you will need to pay for on a Disney cruise.

Entertainment Differences: Disney Cruise vs Disney World

There is so much to do on any Disney vacation that boredom is not an option. However, the types of offerings are very different on a Disney cruise vs. at Disney World, and it’s important to choose the best fit for your family.

Disney World

Disney World is known for its attractions and tends to be a more fast-paced and active vacation. With four theme parks, two water parks, and a mega shopping and dining district, there is always something to do. Ever heard the saying, “I need a vacation from my vacation”? Yeah, that’s a typical Walt Disney World vacation.

There are so many attractions, 173 between all 6 parks to be exact. From the classic It’s a Small World, to the brand-new Tron roller coaster, there are rides for everyone, even the babies! Of course, when paying all this money, you want to make sure you get to experience everything!

Yes, visiting Magic Kingdom for the first time is magical, but it’s not without waiting in line or dealing with crowds. Still, for those looking for thrills and constant entertainment including rides, shows, and immersive experiences, Walt Disney World is the way to go.

Additionally, meeting characters is a large part of the Disney experience, and Disney World gets the edge here. There is a significantly higher number of available character meet and greets at Walt Disney World than a cruise. Although similar to the attractions, there will be wait times associated.

If you want to skip the lines, you can opt for Genie +, but that will come with an added cost as well.

Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line is much more relaxed. Relaxation does not equal lack of entertainment, though! There’s still plenty for those who want to see and do it all. On the pool deck, there are water slides, splash pads for the little ones, and even the first attraction at sea, the AquaMouse, on Disney Wish.

The activities staff on Disney Cruise Line are top notch, putting on entertainment such as themed trivia, cooking classes, silent discos, bingo, game shows, mixology classes, and more. Other offerings include but are not limited to nightly Broadway-style shows, magicians, a full-service spa, and live music.

Additionally, characters are available for meet and greets on Disney Cruise Line almost all day, but there are fewer characters. Guests will of course be able to hug and get autographs from the classic characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and crew. A handful of princesses have meet and greets, as well as Captain Hook on pirate night. But guests looking for a very specific character should do research on availability beforehand if that is on the priority list.

While onboard your Disney cruise, just be sure to check the Daily Navigator for all the entertainment on the ship, including times and locations, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun.

Perhaps the biggest differentiator between the two Disney vacations is the kids clubs onboard Disney Cruise Line. These youth centers are complimentary and are divided by age group, providing age-appropriate care and entertainment. There is even a nursery on board for littles under three, but this does come at an additional charge.

For parents looking to enjoy alone time, maybe a 21+ mixology class or a dining reservation at Palo, this is a game changer for your vacation. Disney Cruise Line youth staff are highly trained and love what they do, so much so that many kids don’t want to leave! A Disney World vacation does not offer any type of babysitting service, so anywhere adults go, the kids will go.

The Destinations

Of course, another big difference between Walt Disney World and a Disney Cruise is the destination. I consider the destination an attraction in itself. A cruise is one of the most economical ways to visit different destinations in the same trip.

Yes, Walt Disney World has four theme parks. Guests can travel from the Star Wars universe of Batuu, to the World Showcase of Epcot, to the African savanna at Animal Kingdom. But guests on Disney Cruise Line can travel to the Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Alaska, and Europe. Disney Cruise Line even has its own private island for guests to enjoy, Castaway Cay.

Which is Better – Disney Cruise or Disney World?

Better is a subjective word, being that interests and expectations are different for everyone. There are pros and cons to both a Disney Cruise vacation and a Walt Disney World vacation. Overall value, I give the edge to Disney Cruise Line. For those who enjoy thrills, Walt Disney World wins hands down.

To summarize, let’s compare the two.

Who should choose Disney World?

• Thrill seekers
• Those without passports
• Guests okay with day-to-day spending
• Families looking for ways to cut vacation costs
• Families wanting to meet specific characters
• Those who enjoy the planning process
• Active guests
• A fast paced vacation style

Who should choose Disney Cruise Line?

• Those looking for relaxation
• Guests interested in world travel
• Families looking for a set budget
• Adults interested in having kid-free time
• A slower paced vacation style
• More emphasis on shows than rides
• Those who don’t want to pre-plan as much

Both Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line are fantastic, once in a lifetime vacations. So, there is no right or wrong answer! But why choose? You could always do both, by combining a 3 or 4-day cruise with some additional days in the Disney parks. That way, you can experience the best of both worlds.

If you’re looking for more Disney World planning tips and advice, visit our newest venture EatSleepDisney.com.

Comments

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