Ahoy, there, Arthur! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney where we love to help guests steer their vacations in the right direction!
Arthur, I'm so glad to hear you are planning to arrive a day in advance of your sailing. I always recommend that guests who are flying to their departure port arrive at least one day in advance. The last thing you want is to be like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland when he famously exclaimed,
"I'm late! I'm late, for a very important date!" Last year when my family sailed on the
Disney Wonder out of New Orleans, we took the opportunity to experience a little of the Big Easy before our cruise and it was a great way to ease into our vacation!
Now, let's talk about Port Canaveral. If you'd like to stay close to the port,
Disney Cruise Line recommends the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront. A little over 5 miles from the cruise terminal, you can have a leisurely morning and still arrive in plenty of time for your sailing. To book a stay as an add-on to your trip, you can
call Disney Cruise Line directly and also speak to the Cast Member about transportation options to and from this location (for an additional fee). Please note that this hotel does not offer a complimentary shuttle to the cruise terminal. Depending on the number of people in your traveling party and your needs (for example: car seats, accessibility), you may find that the most affordable option is a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.
Arthur, I hope this helps as you are considering how best to plan the pre-cruise portion of your trip. If you have any additional questions, please come on back to planDisney.
May you have a truly Magical
voyage on the Disney Wish next summer,
Lauren