Ahoy, Deanna!
Planning a pre-cruise night is a must for me. It really does get you and your whole family well-rested before embarkation day. That means -- you'll have a pumped up family the following morning, ready to hop and skip over to the port to get onboard.
I love staying at
Disney's Yacht Club Resort or the
BoardWalk Inn for a 1 night stay before we set sail the following day. The pool is awesome and my kids love dining at the
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, just so that they can devour the best desserts. Try the Kitchen Sink if you guys love ice cream. Yum! They have a great selection for entrees too, and just in case you decide to eat something else - there's a number of restaurants within walking distance.
Ground Transfers are easiest when booked through Disney Cruise Line. It includes luggage handling, and you'll get a reminder letter in the evening to let you know that your check-in luggage will be picked up by bell services in the morning (ours usually gets picked up at 8am). You'll need to have a day bag with your travel documents and any other essentials, since you won't see your check-in luggage at your stateroom until later than afternoon. There will be a meeting location at your hotel lobby and you will board the motor coach that will whisk you away to Port Canaveral!
I hope this helps, Deanna. Let us know if you have additional questions or need additional recommendations on hotels or restaurants for your pre-cruise stay.
Happy planning!
~ Dolly