Which is better, a Disney Cruise or a trip to Disney World?
I’m going to breakdown the costs for both, the activities, and the overall vibe of both so that we can put this to rest, once and for all.
And as a comparison, I’m going to use a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral verses a 4-night stay at Disney World.
Jump to:
Planning Process
Let’s compare the planning process for a cruise versus a trip to Disney World.
Disney Cruise
- simple and straight-forward
- all you need to do is choose your stateroom category
- booking excursions and onboard activities is so easy
- can be a little difficult to get a cabana at Castaway Cay
Disney World
- can get pretty stressful as you’re planning your days inside the park
- Multi Pass can still get pretty annoying to use compared to the old FastPass+ system
- some dining reservations are impossible to get
- a lot more steps when planning since there is SO MUCH to see and do
Winner: Disney Cruises
Costs
Depending on your vacation style, the costs between the two can vary greatly.
I’m not going to breakdown the cost of going on cruise vs going to Disney World here because I have two great guides that already do that. Instead, I’m just going to focus on what you’ll need to purchase for both trips.
Disney Cruise
- stateroom price includes all food, soft drinks, shows, pools, movies, and most onboard activities
- additional activities are not THAT expensive
- adult-exclusive dining costs are very reasonable
Disney World
- must book a hotel
- must buy park tickets
- food is not included
- drinks are not included
- more ways to save money
Total Price Example
Here’s a quick breakdown of a budget-friendly 3-night Bahamian cruise for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) in an Inside Stateroom compared to a similar Disney World vacation staying at a Value Resort.
- Disney World Vacation Price = $3,509
- 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket
- 3 nights at Pop Century
- 4 days of food costs
- Disney Cruise Vacation Price = $3,231
- 3-night cruise on the Wish from Port Canaveral
- everything else is included
- no additional premium activities
Winner: Disney Cruise
Attractions and Entertainment
Disney World is the clear winner. That’s all I gotta say.
Disney Cruise
- a nightly Broadway style show
- onboard game shows
- movie theater with first-run movies
- deck parties
- private beaches
- unique water slides
- amazing Port Adventures
Disney World
- 4 theme parks and 2 water parks
- 4 mini-golf courses
- 3 Disney golf courses
- so many rides and attractions at each park, many of which are one-of-a-kind
- parades
- fireworks
- Cirque du Soleil
- there’s honestly so much to do that it’s hard to list it all here
Winner: Disney World
Food and Dining
Now time for the important stuff.
Disney Cruise
- the food is good, not great
- the adult exclusive restaurants are amazing though
- unlimited and all you can eat
- buffets
- nicely themed restaurants
Disney World
- endless dining options for every palette and budget
- character dining
- cool restaurants
- a lot more buffets and family-style options
- most signature dining options are good, but not as good as the cruises
- there is the Disney Dining Plan, but it’s been getting increasingly difficult to get your money’s worth
Winner: Disney World
Characters
Both will give you plenty of opportunities to meet characters.
Disney Cruise
- shorter lines to meet character
- character choices are more limited compared to WDW
- can only meet certain Star Wars and Pixar characters during select cruises
- Marvel characters
Disney World
- you can literally meet or see almost every major character
- more opportunities to meet seasonal characters
- some lines are long
- some characters can only be seen during parades and shows, and you can’t meet them
- no Marvel characters
- only Pixar characters you can meet are the Incredibles
- character dining
Winner: Disney World
Relaxation
Relaxing and Disney World can never go in the same sentence.
Disney Cruise
- insanely relaxing
- no planning necessary, just rest and relaxation (and eating and drinking)
- not much walking
- can have pretty empty days doing nothing but still have fun
- go with the flow
Disney World
- you’ll need a vacation after your vacation
- lot of walking
- days are generally pretty filled
- plan, plan, plan
Winner: Disney Cruise
Service
The service on Disney Cruises is always top notch. I swear they are just happier on the cruises.
Disney Cruise
- insanely attentitive
- everyone is so happy
- concierge is miles above Club Level at WdW
Disney World
- can vary greatly
- hit and miss
- that said, you will have some great service and interaction with Cast Members
Winner: Disney Cruise
Final Thoughts
There’s no wrong answer when it comes to comparing a Disney Cruise vs Disney World.
At the end of the day, it all depends on your vacation style and budget.
If you prefer a more relaxing trip where everything is just a few steps away, then cruises are the way to go.
If you want to actually go on rides and experience amazing attractions, Disney World is the way to go.
If you want to see the world and experience unique cultures, cruising will allow you to do that.
Both will be very different but the two things will always remain the same between the two – the magic and world-class service.
