Ahoy there, Jaime, and welcome to planDisney! It sounds like your Disney Cruise adventure is just around the corner, so let’s get you all set to sail.
I’m glad you asked about port arrival times, because that first day can feel like a whirlwind of excitement and logistics all rolled into one. If you’re like me, you’re probably wanting to arrive at the port as early as possible on embarkation day. But if your Port Arrival Time (PAT) is listed as 1:30 p.m., you should plan to arrive at the cruise terminal right around that time. Disney Cruise Line utilizes staggered arrival windows to ensure a smooth and stress-free boarding process for everyone.
Guests who arrive too early may be asked to wait outside the terminal until their scheduled time. Once you arrive, you’ll go through security and check-in, and then you’ll be ready to hear those magical words announcing your family’s name as you step onboard. (Make sure your video is rolling; it’s one of my favorite moments of every sailing!)
If you’re traveling internationally from Canada, I recommend double-checking your
required travel documents and giving yourself plenty of time to get from your hotel or airport to the port if you haven’t pre-arranged your
Ground Transportation through Disney. Speaking of travel documents, make sure to keep them, along with any medications or items you'll want to access as soon as you step onboard, in a carry-on that you keep with you, since it can take a couple of hours for your checked baggage to be delivered to your stateroom.
Before you know it, you’ll be dancing on deck and hearing the ship’s horn play, “When You Wish Upon a Star”. And if you think of any other last-minute questions we can help with to make your vacation even more magical, I hope you’ll sail back to us here at
planDisney!
SEA ya real soon,
Sami