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There is a debate that happens in almost every household when planning a vacation: Do we want the high-octane thrills, castles, and character meets of a theme park trip? Or do we want the sun, sea, relaxation, and world-class service of a cruise?
As experienced Disney travel agents, we have the perfect solution: Do both.
Combining a Walt Disney World (WDW) vacation with a Disney Cruise Line (DCL) voyage is the ultimate "Land and Sea" experience. It allows you to get your adrenaline fix at the parks and then immediately transition into total relaxation mode on a ship. It is, quite literally, how you achieve "Best Day Ever" vacations.
However, planning two vacations in one week requires strategy. You aren’t just looking at a Disney World property map; you are coordinating transfers, two different booking engines, and a lot of moving parts.
In this guide, we will break down the ideal 7-day strategy, answer your burning questions, and show you how to budget for this dream trip.
Before we dive into the itinerary, let's address the most common question a Disney travel agent gets: Which should I do first?
The Answer: Always do the parks first.
Walt Disney World is magical, but it is physically demanding. You are walking miles a day, waking up early for rope drops, and navigating crowds. If you cruise first, you will leave the relaxing ship and arrive at the parks feeling post-vacation blues while trying to march 20,000 steps a day.
By doing the parks first, you expend your energy on the rides, and then you "earn" your relaxation on the cruise. It is the perfect psychological arc for a vacation.
Disney regulars might pick and choose their favorites, but right now we are addressing the family who wants to experience EVERYTHING in one week. For a 7-day total trip, we would allocate the weeknights to Disney World and 3 nights to a weekend Cruise. With the full week on land, you visit parks on the less crowded days and can take your time in each park. Given this, we generally recommend sticking to one park per day rather than buying the Disney Park Hopper add-on. Saving that money helps pad the cruise budget!
We often stay at one of the Disney World moderate resorts like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Port Orleans Riverside. These offer a balance of cost, theming, and proximity to the parks. There are also plenty of great off-property options that are budget-friendly.
However, there is one perk that can make your week and justify the splurge... Extended Evening Hours. Pick the right week, and you'll find these at EPCOT on Monday and Magic Kingdom on Wednesday. If you're staying at a Disney World Deluxe hotel or select other select hotels, you will have a short period at the end of the night where every ride is literally walk-on. Use it wisely, and it can change your entire day by avoiding the longest waits.
Since this is the ULTIMATE itinerary, we will assume both parks have their extended hours. That means we're staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel for the week. A perfect home base for the following park plan...
Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO) as early as possible. Head to the Dolphin and check your luggage, then a walk across the scenic Boardwalk (or a quick boat ride) will have you in EPCOT before lunch.
Spend your morning riding the less popular attractions toward the front of the park. Spend your afternoon eating festival foods and drinking your way around the World Showcase. Pick a "quiet-ish" moment and consider waiting in line for Frozen Ever After to knock out one top-tier attraction. When Extended Hours begins, you'll enjoy the fireworks while the final crowds clear. Then you'll head up front, and quickly get a double-thrill on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track. Your walk home will take you right by Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and you'll walk right on (as many times as you can) before exiting and heading to your room.
For your second day, we are taking a leisurely boat ride from the hotel to Hollywood Studios. This park is heavy on thrill rides, and lines can be long. Your park strategy will depend a lot on your tolerance for fear and your love for Star Wars. But if you want to experience it all, this is the day we might consider an extra budget for Lightning Lanes (because of the Extended Hours we will have at MK).
Stay strong, because this is the last LOOOOONNNNGGGG day at the parks. This is the classic Disney experience, and you're going out on a magical note. And because rides are very near each other, this is where the Extended Hours will really pay off.
For your last park day, we begin transitioning into relaxation mode with Disney's Animal Kingdom. It offers incredible immersion, but a slightly more relaxed pace than Magic Kingdom.
This is the pivot point. You are moving from Central Florida to the coast. For any combo trip, you are likely heading to Port Canaveral to board the Disney Wish, Disney Dream, or Disney Fantasy. For our itinerary, we are heading to the Disney Wish for a 3- night sailing.
Transfer Options:
Once you arrive at the port and see the ship, the stress of the "real world" melts away.
Cruising is distinct from the parks. You don't need a map; you need a deck plan. We always recommend our clients study the deck plan before boarding. The elevators are well-marked, but knowing how to find the adult-only pool or The Oceaneer Kids' Club can save you a lot of walking!
The ports of call for Disney Cruise Line on these short itineraries usually include Nassau, Bahamas, and the crown jewel: Disney's Castaway Cay (their private island).
If you’ve been looking at cruise pricing, you might have seen a line item for OBC. We often get emails asking about the "on board credit meaning."
Combining these trips is an investment. However, you save money on airfare (you only fly round-trip once for two vacations).
Note: Prices vary wildly by season.
When you start Googling, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by information that doesn't apply to your specific trip.
1. Confusing Coasts
Make sure you are looking at the right guides! You don't need a Disneyland planner or a map of Disneyland for this trip—that’s for the California parks. If you see search results for maps of Disneyland and California Adventure, you are looking at the West Coast. WDW is in Florida.
2. The "Other" Parks
We love all theme parks, but for a seamless "bubble" vacation, we recommend sticking to Disney for this combo. Trying to squeeze a visit to Universal into a 4-day Disney leg is stressful.
3. Career Curiosity
This kind of trip is so magical that many parents come home and ask how to become a Disney Travel Agent. If you love planning logistics, analyzing the Disney World property map, and keeping up with Destination D23 announcements, it might be a great side hustle for you! Reach out to us, and we are happy to share our journey and help you get started!
Planning a 7-day combo trip involves synchronizing two massive booking systems, arranging transfers, and navigating park strategies. That is why we believe in using Disney Travel Agents—and our services are free, plus any Onboard Credits offered (Disney pays us, you don't!).
Whether you are looking for Disneyland Paris packages for next year, a Disneyland planner for a West Coast trip, or this Ultimate Florida Land & Sea combo, we are here to help.
Your Next Step:
Don't let the logistics overwhelm you. Reach out today. Let us handle the disney dream trip, the deck plan analysis and the resort bookings so you can focus on counting down the days until you are eating a Mickey Bar on the high seas!
jason@jasonsvoyages.com
941-404-5598