When your family starts talking about taking a Disney vacation, what’s the first destination that comes to mind?
For a lot of families, it’s Walt Disney World.
But before you automatically book the theme parks for your next vacation, there’s another Disney experience we think every family should price out:
A Disney Cruise.
And you might be surprised by what you find.
Depending on your family, travel dates, sailing and the Walt Disney World vacation you’re comparing it to, a Disney Cruise may be more affordable than you expect—especially once you consider everything that’s already included in your cruise fare.
But price isn’t the only reason to consider it.
If you’re a parent who loves Disney but wants your next family getaway to feel a little more relaxing, Disney Cruise Line could give you the Disney magic you’re looking for in a completely different way.
Let’s break it down.
Don’t Just Compare the Initial Price
This is one of the biggest things families should consider when comparing a Walt Disney World vacation with a Disney Cruise.
Don’t simply look at the initial price on the screen.
Look at the total vacation experience you’re getting for that price.
A Walt Disney World vacation can involve your Disney Resort hotel, theme park tickets, meals and snacks, transportation to Orlando and other vacation extras.
Depending on how your family likes to vacation, those costs can add up.
With Disney Cruise Line, many of the major components of your vacation are bundled into your cruise fare.
That makes it important to compare the vacations as a whole rather than looking at the price of a cruise and assuming it’s automatically the more expensive option.
So, What’s Included on a Disney Cruise?
This is where Disney Cruise Line starts to get especially interesting for families.
Your Disney Cruise fare includes much more than your stateroom.
You’ll also have access to many of the dining, entertainment and activities you’ll experience throughout your vacation.
That can include things like:
- Your stateroom
- Rotational dining
- Many additional food options throughout the day
- Broadway-style Disney entertainment
- Character experiences
- Pools and water activities
- Kids clubs for eligible ages
- Family activities
- Adult-exclusive spaces and activities
- Entertainment throughout the ship
There are certainly extras you can spend money on during a Disney Cruise, but families can also enjoy a huge amount of what’s happening onboard without pulling out their wallet every few hours.
And there’s another major advantage:
It’s all in one place.
Imagine Not Having to Plan Every Minute of Your Disney Vacation
We LOVE Walt Disney World.
But let’s be honest: a Walt Disney World vacation can be a lot.
You might wake up early, get everyone ready, travel to a theme park, walk thousands of steps, navigate attractions and dining, stay for nighttime entertainment and then make your way back to your resort.
And then wake up and do it all over again.
For some families, that’s exactly the vacation they want!
For others?
They want Disney magic with a little more time to slow down and relax.
That’s where a Disney Cruise can feel completely different.
Your Food, Entertainment AND Bed Are All Steps Away
One of the best things about cruising is the convenience.
Want lunch? It’s onboard.
Ready for a show? Walk to the theater.
The kids want to go to the kids club? It’s onboard.
Your little one needs a nap? Your stateroom could be just a few minutes away.
Want to go swimming? Head to the pool deck.
And when everyone is tired at the end of the night, there’s no long trip back to your resort.
You’re already there.
That convenience can completely change the way a family vacation feels.
Parents Can Actually Relax, Too
This might be one of the biggest perks of Disney Cruise Line for parents.
Your vacation doesn’t have to revolve around entertaining your kids every second of every day.
Disney Cruise Line offers dedicated youth spaces and programming for eligible ages, giving kids the opportunity to have their OWN adventures.
And that means parents can have some time to themselves.
Maybe you sit by the pool.
Maybe you visit an adult-exclusive area of the ship.
Maybe you enjoy a date night.
Or maybe you simply sit somewhere quietly with a drink and realize nobody has asked you for a snack in 20 minutes. 😂
You can have incredible family time together while also building in opportunities for everyone to enjoy the vacation differently.
You Only Have to Unpack Once
Here’s another underrated cruise perk.
Unpack once.
That’s it.
Your stateroom becomes your home base while the ship takes you to different destinations.
Instead of constantly worrying about how you’re getting from one place to another, you can wake up and discover you’ve arrived somewhere new.
Your hotel is essentially traveling WITH you.
For families, that’s pretty hard to beat.
You Still Get the Disney Magic
Choosing Disney Cruise Line instead of Walt Disney World doesn’t mean giving up the things your family loves about Disney.
You’re just experiencing them differently.
Disney Cruise Line brings Disney storytelling to sea with characters, entertainment, themed dining and experiences designed for families.
You can meet Disney characters, watch incredible Disney entertainment and enjoy special dining experiences—all without leaving the ship.
It’s still Disney.
It just feels like a very different kind of Disney vacation.
Is a Disney Cruise More Affordable Than Disney World?
The answer is:
It depends.
And that’s exactly why we want families to price out BOTH.
Your total vacation cost can vary based on your travel dates, number of nights, Disney Resort, theme park tickets, stateroom category, cruise itinerary, departure port, number of travelers and the extras you choose to add.
There will be situations where Walt Disney World costs less.
There may also be situations where a Disney Cruise is closer in price than you expected—or offers more of what your family wants for the money you’re spending.
Instead of assuming one vacation is automatically more affordable, compare them.
Think About VALUE, Not Just Price
There’s also a difference between asking:
“Which vacation costs less?”
and:
“Which vacation gives our family more of what we want?”
Maybe your family wants to spend every day riding attractions and exploring theme parks.
Walt Disney World might be exactly what you’re looking for.
But maybe your priority is having plenty for the kids to do while the adults get to relax, enjoying meals together, seeing Disney entertainment and visiting different destinations without constantly planning what’s next.
A Disney Cruise might be a great fit.
Neither vacation is automatically the right answer for every family.
That’s why your vacation should be planned around YOU.
Let an Academy Travel Agent Price Out BOTH Vacations
Before you automatically book your next Walt Disney World vacation, here’s what we’d recommend:
Let an Academy Travel agent price out a Disney World vacation AND a Disney Cruise for your family.
Give us your:
✨ Preferred travel dates
✨ Number of travelers
✨ Kids’ ages
✨ Approximate budget
✨ Vacation length
✨ Must-do experiences
✨ And what matters most to your family
Then let one of our vacation experts help you explore your options.
Maybe Walt Disney World makes the most sense.
Maybe Disney Cruise Line does.
Or maybe you discover that the Disney Cruise you’ve assumed was out of budget is more attainable than you thought.
You won’t know until you compare.
And Our Academy Travel Agents Are Completely FREE to Use!
You don’t have to spend hours researching cruise ships, itineraries, stateroom categories, Disney Resorts and theme park tickets yourself.
An Academy Travel agent can help you compare your options and plan your vacation at no additional cost to you.
Our agents know Disney and can help you find a vacation that works for your family’s needs, budget and travel style.
Because the goal isn’t simply to book you a Disney vacation.
It’s to help you book the RIGHT Disney vacation for your family.
Before You Book Disney World… Ask Us to Price Out a Disney Cruise
If you’re starting to plan your next family vacation, it’s worth knowing ALL your Disney options.
You might discover that you want the excitement and nonstop action of Walt Disney World.
Or you might realize you’re ready for a Disney vacation where the food is nearby, the entertainment is onboard, the kids have plenty to do and Mom and Dad might actually get to RELAX.
Either way, we’ll help you figure it out.
Get connected with an Academy Travel agent. Ask us to price out Walt Disney World AND Disney Cruise Line for your family—and see which Disney vacation makes the most sense for you.
