Split wdw/cruise?

[MumsieDonsie]

Hi, currently in planning mode and thinking of adding a cruise into the holiday.
Thoughts initially would be:
Book entire duration at wdw once free dining releases (if released) in April 19 for a stay in Oct 2020.
Once the dates for the cruises are released contact Disney re changing the accommodation needs so hotel -cruise - hotel

Thinking of doing it this way so if the dates for the cruise don’t suit at least we have our accommodation sorted for our full stay.
Has anyone ever done this before and encountered any issues?
Any suggestions of a better way of doing it?

[minnie29]

We’ve changed ours a few times. First we booked 3 night Disney Cruise followed by 14 nights AKL in May. Then cancelled the cruise and changed hotels a few times. Now, our final itinerary is 10 nights AKL 26/03/19 with free DDP, then 3 nights Disney Dream Cruise, then back to AoA for 2 nights without free DDP then fly home

Edited to add: just remember that once you start your stay at hotel and park tickets - the free DDP ends once you check out and you’d have to purchase park tickets, along with hotel again to get free DDP. That’s why we are doing cruise towards the end of holiday and then opting for cheaper hotel for the last 2 nights of our trip

[Doowop]

We fly out, having a day at KSC, then onto the cruise and then down to Disney, husband said no more than 2 weeks this time so have a lot to fit in 😁

[MrsBC]

We booked the cruise (4 nights) as soon as DCL released them - it was the latest cruise date on that release, then added WDW for after the cruise once the free DDP offer came out. We fly in the day before and are just staying at the airport hotel and getting the DCL bus to the port next morning.

[magickate]

We're doing 10 nights Disney then 4 nights cruise to make the most of the free dining. If we had cruised in the middle we'd either have to pay for food ourselves for the 2nd hotel stay or buy tickets again neither of which made financial sense. I didn't want to cruise at the start in case we have a significant flight delay or bad jet lag.

[MumsieDonsie]

Thanks for all of the help!
How far in advance are cruises released?

[darsch1982]

I am waiting for oct2020 hoping to do 1 night in disney 3 night cruise and then 10 night cbr with ddp