Disney World vs Disney Cruise – Costs, Experiences

Vacations to the Walt Disney World theme parks or a cruise on the Disney Cruise Line are both large financial expenses. However, both vacations can make amazing memories for your family that can last a lifetime. The Disney World theme parks and Disney cruises both offer unique experiences, and many families often wonder if one is better than the other. So this leads us to the comparison of Disney World vs Disney Cruise!

We have taken several Disney cruise vacations and visit the Disney World theme parks weekly. In this article we will compare a trip to the Disney World theme parks and a Disney cruise including costs, experiences, dining, accommodations, and entertainment for each. We will weigh the pros and cons to each type of Disney vacation and give our personal opinion on which one we think is best in each category.

Let's get into all the pros and cons of a Disney World vs Disney Cruise. 

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Costs

Although Disney Cruises are usually more expensive than most Disney World vacations, they include other perks that Disney World park tickets do not include. For example, Disney cruise packages usually include food and the cost of your room. Vacations to Disney World require several separate purchases including theme park tickets, hotels, and food which can add up very quickly. However, the positive side to customizing your Disney World vacation is that you can pick and choose how you want to spend your money. 

There are also ways to help make your Disney World or Disney cruise cheaper or more cost effective depending on the length and the time of year you take a cruise. In addition to our favorite reseller Get Away Today, Disney Cruise Line's website breaks down the cost of each cruise depending on length, destination, and choice of rooms. Disney World also has a Special Offers, Deals & Discounts website for various discounts which is periodically updated.

As a price comparison, we will look at a four night stay at a moderate Disney World hotel and a four night Disney cruise sailing to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida, which is about an hour away from Disney World. We will use a family of four as an example with two adults and two children under the age of 18. We will also use the same time frame to compare the cost of each trip during the same period to avoid any upcharges associated with popular times of the year.

Cost of a Four Night Disney Cruise

A Disney cruise sailing between June 3-7, 2024, from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas on the Disney Wish cruise ship would cost $6,942 for the cheapest stateroom. If you wanted an oceanview stateroom, the cost would increase to $7,150, which isn't a horrible upcharge for a better view. The next best room, the Verandah, which is a more spacious stateroom with a private verandah would cost $7,622.

Although the price tag seems high, keep in mind that the cost of the cruise would include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Entertainment and Activities including Broadway-quality shows, fireworks, character experiences and meet and greets, movie screenings in a state-of-the-art theater or on the ship deck, water slides, and more.
• 24 Hour Dining including table service meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as quick-service bites during lunch, dinner, and snacks. Cruises also provide 24-hour room service, unlimited ice cream, coffee, tea, and soda.
• Accommodations including spacious staterooms with a refrigerator, safe, hairdryer, and shower products.
• Kids Clubs for varying age groups including 3 to 10 years old, 11 to 14 years old, and 14 to 17 years old.
• Adult-Exclusive Activities including nightclubs and lounges with live music, an adults-only pool and whirlpool spa, and fitness center.
• Disney's Private Island at Castaway Cay which includes a family and adults-only beach, waterslides and splash zones, beach gear to rent such as towels and chairs, live music, character appearances, and a barbecue lunch.

Although not absolutely necessary, there are several upgrades guests can purchase separately on a Disney cruise. These are not included in the total cost of a cruise but may be considered when booking a Disney cruise. These upgrades include, but are not limited to:

• Wifi
• Adult-Exclusive Fine Dining
• Bottled Water, Alcoholic Beverages, and Specialty Drinks
• Services at Senses Spa & Salon
• Snorkel gear, floats, rafts, bicycle rentals at Castaway Cay
• Port Adventures at Castaway Cay

Cost of a Four Night Disney World Vacation

Although there are several packages and ways to bundle your Disney World vacation, we will simply look at the cost of a hotel, park tickets, and the Disney Dining Plan for each member of the family.

For a four night stay at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, as well as 4-day theme park tickets (one park per day), and the quick-service Disney Dining Plan, it would cost $4,622. This price would include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Theme park tickets for each member of the family. For this package, the family of four would be able to visit one of the four Disney World theme parks per day. Note that this price does not include the park hopper add-on option, which would cost an additional total of $383.40. If you wanted to add the Water Park and Sports option, that would be an additional $298.20 and would allow guests to visit Disney's two water parks as well as play miniature golf and other activities. For an additional $468.60, the family could add the park hopper plus option, which allows guests to park hop between any theme park or water park each day and enjoy any of Disney's miniature golf courses.

• Hotel room at one of Disney World's moderate level resorts. Port Orleans – French Quarter is a very popular and guest favorite resort located near Disney Springs, which has some of the best dining options and shopping. This resort is a fairly less expensive option, but still offers many amenities including a pool, lounge, quick-service restaurant, and a unique New Orleans theme.

• Disney Dining Plans for each member of the family. There are two different dining plans to choose from, and this price includes the less expensive option, known as the quick-service dining plan. The quick-service dining plan includes two quick-service meals, one snack or non-alcoholic drink, and one resort refillable drink mug per person per day. For $470 more, you have the option to upgrade to the Disney Dining Plan. This plan includes one table service or character dining meal, one quick-service meal, one snack or non-alcoholic drink, and one resort refillable drink mug per person per day. Guests using either dining plan receive their meals and snacks each day until the day of checkout. Any unused meals or snacks will over over day to day and expire at midnight on the day of checkout.

There are several other Disney World vacation expenses that you will want to consider purchasing separately. There is the obvious merchandise expenses which will vary from family to family. Some do not purchase any souvenirs at the theme parks, but this is very unlikely as you will probably want to purchase at least a few things to remember your trip.

Other purchases for a Disney World vacation include:

• Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane, or “fast passes,” must be purchased separately and can add up quickly for a family of four. Genie+ ranges anywhere between $16 and $39 per person per day. Individual Lightning Lanes range between $10 and $20 per person per attraction. Although you may not need Genie+ for every park and every ride requiring Individual Lightning Lane, it may be convenient. Disney World advertises that Genie+ allows guests to skip the standby line of at least 2 or 3 attractions per day. In our experiences, if you use Genie+ effectively you can probably book up to 5 or 6 Genie+ reservations per day. Whether or not you plan on purchasing Genie+, check out our full guides for Disney World theme park early entry strategies for Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios for more tips on how to get the most of your park day. Additionally, check out our full guide on how to purchase and use Genie+.
• Disney Photo Pass Digital Downloads, known as Memory Maker, allows your family to download digital copies of all photos taken on select attractions and locations throughout the theme parks. If purchased in advance, the Memory Maker package costs $185 and saves all photos taken on your vacation for a 30 day time period. If you do not purchase the Memory Maker before your vacation, it will cost $210. Memory maker is a great way to remember your vacation for years to come and we recommend purchasing in advance to save on the $25 upcharge.

Overall, the cost of a Disney cruise package will likely be more expensive, but when considering all of the additional add-on purchase for Disney World vacations, it could come out to be a very similar price range. Keep in mind that these prices do not include any potential discounts that may make a big difference. Make sure to check out our full guide on finding discounted Disney World tickets here. Besides purchasing a package through our favorite Disney-verified re-seller Get Away Today, you may also be able to find cheaper tickets through Florida resident, military, AAA, Costco, or other discounts. This is all helpful information to know when considering Disney World vs Disney Cruise.

Discount Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Tickets

Whether you choose to visit Disney World or take a Disney Cruise, we highly recommend checking out our favorite Disney-verified ticket reseller, Get Away Today! Save money and have a magical vacation with the lowest Disney World ticket prices and you can find. You can also find discount tickets for other Orlando theme parks as well! Get Away Today can not only help you plan your Disney World vacation, but save you the most money possible.

Additionally, for a limited time only, if you book your next Disney Cruise through Get Away Today you'll be eligible for a $400 onboard credit. This credit can be used for fine dining, merchandise, workout classes, and more during your Disney cruise. Get Away Today also offers up to 50% savings on cruises with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival Cruises. It's never too early to book a cruise, and Disney cruises in particular are in high demand. Therefore, we highly recommend snagging these deals before they are gone.

Get Away Today has been working with Disney for over 33 years, so you can depend on their long history of knowledge and customer service to get the best deals.

Let Get Away Today provide you with a free vacation quote today! Based on your specific vacation needs, their excellent customer service team will provide the best possible pricing and experiences to help make your vacation stress free and memorable.

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Experiences

The experiences on a Disney cruise compared to a vacation at Disney World are extremely different and honestly hard to compare. The experiences are both unique in their own right and is likely based on your personal preference. The positive side to experiences on Disney cruises is that they are all very easy to access, whereas at Disney World you usually have to drive or walk a fair distance to experience a lot of what Disney World property has to offer. However, since Disney World is so large, they have more experiences for guests to enjoy.

In this section, I will compare the various experiences between Disney World and Disney Cruises including character meet and greets, excursions and recreational activities, as well as the overall atmosphere of each.

Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Character Meet and Greets

For those interested in meeting characters, you will definitely have your fill at both Disney World and on a Disney cruise. Although there will obviously be more opportunities and unique characters throughout Disney World, Disney cruises are very unique because you can have more personal and up close interactions with characters more often.

Disney Cruise Character Meet and Greets

The characters on Disney cruises mostly depends on what ship you are sailing on, however you can count on meeting the classic Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald during any Disney cruise. Disney cruises also have special meet and greets with characters from various Pixar and Marvel movies.

These character meet and greets include, but are not limited to:

• Meet Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf from Frozen during the Arendelle dining experience on the Disney Wish
• Meet your favorite Marvel characters on the Disney Magic during Marvel Day at Sea on the Disney Magic or the Worlds of Marvel dining experience on the Disney Wish
• Join Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald on at Mickey's Sail-A-Wave Party on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder
• Meet your favorite Pixar characters from Toy Story, Up, Monster's Inc. and More at the Pixar Pals Party on the Disney Wonder
• Meet your favorite Disney characters in pirate-themed costumes on Pirate Day on all cruise ships – Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish

Disney cruise guests will receive a schedule of when and where you can meet and interact with these favorite characters.

Disney World Character Meet and Greets

Although there are a lot more character meet and greets throughout Disney World theme parks, resorts, and restaurants, they are not as easy to get to compared to the Disney cruise ships. However, with proper research and planning everyone in your party is sure to meet one of their favorite characters. Below we will list all of the permanent character meet and greets throughout the Disney Work parks, however, there are other character dining experiences at resort restaurants as well. Check out our full guide on Disney World character dining here.

Guests can meet the following characters at Magic Kingdom:

• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
• Meet Characters from Aladdin in Adventureland
• Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Daring Disney Pals at Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Slideshow
• Meet Dashing Disney Pals at Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Sideshow
• Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
• Meet Mirabel at Fairytale Garden
• Meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at The Thotful Spot

Guests can meet the following characters at Hollywood Studios:

• Meet Ariel at Walt Disney Presents
• Meet Disney Junior Pals in Animation Courtyard
• Meet Disney Stars (Mickey and Minnie) at Red Carpet Dreams
• Meet Edna Mode at the Edna Mode Experiences
• Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
• Meet Pixar Pals at Pixar Plaza
• Meet the Toys in Toy Story Land
• Meet BB-8, Darth Vader, and Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay

Guests can meet the following characters at Animal Kingdom:

• Meet Favorite Disney Pal at Adventures Outpost (Mickey and Minnie dressed up in Safari costumes)
• Meet Moana at Character Landing
• Roaming characters- DiVine and Kevin from UP!
• Boat Cavalcades with various characters such as Russell and Dug from UP!, Pocahontas, Meeko, Launchpad McQuack, and Scrooge

Guests can meet the following characters at EPCOT:

• Meet a Friend from the Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh) in the United Kingdom
• Meet Alice in the United Kingdom
• Meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus
• Meet Belle in France
• Meet Disney Friends near EPCOT Main Entrance
• Meet Donald in Mexico
• Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Disney and Pixar Film Festival
• Meet Joy and Figment inside ImageWorks
• Meet Mulan in China
• Meet Princess Aurora in France
• Meet Princess Jasmine in Morocco
• Meet Snow White in Germany

Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Excursions and Recreational Activities

Disney cruises offer lots of fun activities both on and off the ship. Notably, there are many types of adventures families can enjoy called Port Adventures, which are on shore excursions that have been specially selected by Disney Cruise Line. No matter where your cruise ship takes you, you are sure to find an amazing excursion for the family. These excursions include private adventures, culinary adventures, and location-specific adventures such as horseback riding, ziplining, or wildlife expeditions. Although a lot of these adventures cost additional money, it is an awesome way to make your Disney cruise more enjoyable. 

Although most of Disney World is focused on the incredible theme parks, there are a ton of other recreational activities for guests, especially seen throughout some of the Disney World resorts. A lot of these activities are even free, and include some of our favorite activities to enjoy at Disney World.

Overall, the unique excursions on Disney cruises win this category due to the unique locations that each cruise takes their guests. From Castaway Cay at Disney's private island, to unique experiences in Alaska, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Europe. 

Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Overall Atmosphere

As you can see so far, the biggest differences between Disney World and Disney cruises are the overall size and unique experiences. Disney World theme parks are unlike most theme parks in the entire world. There just isn't a way to match the world class rides and attractions, dining, and entertainment. It is rare to find someone who doesn't find at least one thing to enjoy during a day at Disney World.

Although the parks are a great way to spend a vacation, the biggest downside is the logistics. For many, Disney World is almost too big to enjoy. There are no hotels that are within walking distance to each park, making transportation inconvenient for most hotel guests. Guests must almost always take a bus, boat, Skyliner, monorail, car, or Uber in order to visit each park. Additionally, many guests walk at least 20,000 steps per day in order to experience each park as to offer. Many joke that you need another vacation after they return from their Disney World vacation. 

Therefore, if you are looking for a more relaxing and stress free vacation, a Disney cruise is probably better in terms of overall atmosphere. Although you don't get to experience the incredible attractions at Disney World theme parks, you will still get a true Disney feel both on ship and on their private island. 

Although we think the overall atmosphere is better at Disney World, many will likely disagree since a Disney cruise takes guests to beautiful locations in a stress-free and relaxing environment. 

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Dining

Similar to experiences, the dining comparisons between Disney World and Disney cruises is difficult to look at side by side. Although Disney World offers over 200 restaurants and lounges, the Disney cruise dining is all inclusive, 24/7, and located steps away from each of their guests' staterooms.

Disney Cruise Dining

The upside to a Disney cruise is that guests have unlimited access to meals, snacks, desserts, and drinks without any added expenses. Disney cruise guests even have 24/7 room service which is rare at any hotel you can find inside or outside of Disney World.

In addition to having food included with your cruise package, Disney does an amazing job with the service of each meal. Especially for families with young children, it is very convenient that servers will take care of your children's meals before you are served your own. This way, by the time the adults' meals are served, the children are already digging into their meal and don't need additional help from their parents. This type of service proves why Disney service is top notch especially compared to other cruise lines.

Disney World Dining

The obvious upside to dining at Disney World is that there are hundreds of restaurants and different types of food to choose from each day. Not only are there amazing restaurants within the theme parks, but there are also top tier restaurants at the Disney World resorts as well as Disney Springs. 

Overall, although the Disney cruise packages conveniently include meals, snacks, and drinks within their inclusive package, the quality and variety of food at Disney World theme parks is a much better option.

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Entertainment

Disney World always has entertainment available throughout each of their theme parks. From street performers, to the Dapper Dan singers, and Broadway-quality shows such as Festival of the Lion King. Some of our favorite shows and entertainment at Disney World include:

• The Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom
• Happily Ever Fireworks at Magic Kingdom
• Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom
• Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Hollywood Studios

Despite not having any many shows available, Disney cruises also have amazing Broadway-quality shows for guests to enjoy as they cruise. These shows include:

• The Little Mermaid Live Show on the Disney Wish
• Live Jazz Music at the Soul Cat Lounge on the Disney Magic
• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure on the Disney Wish
• Disney Seas the Adventure on the Disney Wish
• Beauty and the Beast Live Show on the Disney Dream

Although our favorite entertainment can be found throughout the Disney World theme parks, the Disney cruise shows are amazing considering the lack of space they have compared to Disney World. These shows give guests another taste of Disney magic and are a great perk to Disney cruises. 

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Accommodations

Disney World has dozens of incredible resorts for guests to choose from ranging in value, moderate, and deluxe level pricing. Each resort has it's own unique themes and transports guests into the world of Disney. Although there aren't any Disney World resorts we would not recommend, you can check out our favorite Disney World hotels for each visit type here. There are also so many perks associated with staying at Disney World resort, including:

• Early Morning Magic Hours which allows resort guests to enter any Disney World theme park 30 minutes early
• Extended Evening Hours which allows deluxe resort guests to enjoy extended evening park hours on select days
• Free transportation between your resort, Disney's theme and water parks, and Disney Springs

Disney World accommodations are definitely more impressive and enjoyable than the accommodations on Disney Cruise Line ships. However, the staterooms on Disney cruises are some of the best compared to any other cruise ship. Additionally, you have the extreme convenience of being closely located to all of the activities on board the ship. As mentioned previously, logistically it is difficult for guests to travel between their Disney World hotel and each of the four theme parks. Disney Cruise accommodations are much easier to travel between and are still worth the price. 

Walt Disney World vs. Disney Cruise – Which is Better?

Now for the biggest question – is a vacation at Walt Disney World or a Disney cruise better? Well, as you can probably tell by now it really is up to personal preference. It's extremely hard to compare both as they offer very different and unique Disney experiences. Both are awesome vacations for families who are lucky enough to take them.

However, we believe as a total vacation for a family, a Disney cruise is the better option for a vacation with the family. Not only are Disney cruises more relaxing, but the excursions and activities for every member of the family cannot be beat. Parents also have the abilities to enjoy many activities on their own without having to worry about their children with the accessibility of the Kids Club. Therefore, although guests won't have access to the best rides and attractions in the world, Disney cruises can be much less stressful and enjoyable for the whole family.

Plan Your Next Disney World or Disney Cruise Vacation

For more information on Disney World and Disney Cruise vacations, be sure to subscribe to our FREE newsletter with the most up-to-date vacation planning information. From dining recommendations to special events at Disney World and other theme parks, we can help take the stress off of planning your next trip. This newsletter also includes exclusive deals and the lowest ticket prices anywhere. Additionally, make sure to check out our other guides related to Disney World vacation planning below:

• FREE Things to do at Walt Disney World
• Find Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
• Walt Disney World Genie+ Guide
• How to Find Discounted Disney Gift Cards
• Disney World Packing List – Everything You Need to Bring

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