There’s so much to love about a Disney vacation, and whether you’re setting sail with Disney Cruise Line or heading to Walt Disney World Resort for the ultimate theme park experience, you’re bound to have an amazing time.
Why not double the fun and enjoy the best of both worlds? Port Canaveral is just an hour away from Disney World, making it easy to adventure by land and sea – all in one trip. Here are some helpful tips to add a Disney World visit to your next Disney cruise.
Pack your best Disney fits – including a MagicBand+.
When combining a park visit with a cruise, you’ll want to pack an array of outfits, like a snazzy bathing suit, walking shoes, attire for any themed nights, comfy shorts and maybe even matching shirts for your group. My top tip for your Disney fit though is to bring along a MagicBand+.
Your Walt Disney World Resort MagicBand+ can be used onboard all Disney Cruise Line ships, allowing you to unlock the door to your room, enter our park gates, easily make purchases and enjoy special interactive experiences – all with a quick tap.
Stay in “vacation mode” and leave the driving to us.
Whether you’re visiting the parks pre- or post-cruise, traveling between the cruise port and our parks is a breeze. Disney can add a transfer to and from Port Canaveral, Walt Disney World and Orlando International Airport to your itinerary for an additional fee.
Once at Walt Disney World, you can easily zip around our parks and resorts thanks to the many fun, quick and complimentary transportation offerings available. My personal favorite is a ride aboard the Disney Skyliner.
Turn your cruise into a full-week trip with a Disney Resort stay.
Turn your trip into a full-week vacation by adding a few nights at a Disney Resort to your three- or four-night cruise on the Disney Wish.
This gives you plenty of time to explore the parks, relax by the pool and enjoy the same legendary detail, service and storytelling of a Disney cruise at the resort of your choice. Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select resorts for the rest of the summer and early fall.
Store your bags as soon as you arrive and hit the parks.
No matter the length of your stay at Walt Disney World, make the most of your day by starting early. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, you get early entry to the parks and you can store your luggage with Bell Services before your room is ready. They’ll even deliver your bags to your room later in the day so you can focus on your park adventure.
Don’t miss out on the great entertainment options on land and sea.
One of the best parts of a Disney trip is that there’s no shortage of great entertainment options. With a land and sea vacation, you have double the opportunities to catch a spectacular Disney production – or multiple! Between live music, Broadway-caliber shows, fireworks, parades and more, there is something for everyone.
My top recommendation at Walt Disney World is “Festival of the Lion King,” where you can catch dancing, acrobatic hijinks and classic tunes from “The Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Sit down and dive into a delicious meal at a Disney restaurant.
If you’re a foodie like me, your vacations always revolve around what you’re going to eat. I especially love to grab a meal at a sit-down restaurant, trying new ones on every trip. Disney has some of the best restaurants out there, like themed, rotational dining included in your cruise fare, and adult favorites like Palo and Remy on the high seas.
There are many incredible options at Walt Disney World too – including immersive picks that put you inside Beast’s enchanted castle, a Harambe marketplace, along Sunset Boulevard and even amongst toys in Andy’s Backyard. Use the My Disney Experience app to view dining availability at any given Disney World restaurant for multiple days at a time in one single search.
Take lots of pictures – including with your favorite Disney pals.
Photos are a great way to turn special moments into timeless memories, but sometimes it’s too easy to forget to snap a picture when you’re on the go and having a blast. This is your reminder to take lots of pictures on your next trip – including with your favorite pals.
There are tons of opportunities to meet many different Disney characters on a land and sea vacation, and if you want to stay focused on the fun, we’ll handle the photos. With Disney PhotoPass Service at Walt Disney World and professional photo packages on Disney Cruise Line sailings, we’ll capture every hug, high-five and smile for you.
Ready to set sail for the ultimate Disney vacation? Combine high-seas adventure with theme park magic by booking a Disney cruise and a visit to Walt Disney World. These tips above can help you get the best of both worlds on your next trip. Bon voyage and “sea” you real soon!