Ahoy Samantha!
Congratulations on booking your very first sailing with Disney Cruise Line! I cannot wait for you to be introduced to
all the magic that's included on a Disney cruise. Prepare to be wowed with deck parties, fireworks at sea, Broadway-caliber musicals, and beloved Disney characters. A 4-night sailing on the
Disney Wonder to Cozumel is my idea of pure bliss...in fact, it was my last voyage with Captain Mickey (only we sailed from New Orleans).
So you've asked the quintessential question: to fly or to drive? It truly is a matter of personal preference. Some Guests enjoy arriving by plane and then use
Disney Cruise Line ground transportation to travel to Galveston from the airport. Others would rather be road trippers that go door to door (or in this case door to ship) entirely in their vehicles.
In this case, since you are a four hour drive from Galveston, I say, “Life is a Highway” and would recommend driving from San Antonio to the port instead of flying. FYI: Galveston does not have a commercial airport, and the next best choice would be one of the airports in Houston. Disney Cruise Line recommends Guests cruising from
Galveston use George Bush International Airport. When you factor in getting to the airport hours ahead of your flight, the one hour flight itself, and then transportation from a Houston airport to the port (over one hour), that will likely take more like 5+ hours. Lightning McQueen always feels the need for speed, so he votes with me on this one!
If cost alone is the deciding factor, then driving three adults would probably be your better bet compared to three airline tickets. I suggest checking online for prices on flights and then compare that with how much fuel would be if you drive. Then you should factor in the cost to park your car at the port versus the transportation costs from the airport to the port. The Port of Galveston offers discounted pre-paid parking, which would be $55 for a 4-night cruise like yours. Compare that to flying: airport transfers via Disney Cruise Line are approximately $45 per Guest one way. Hope this helps you make your decision, and then you can drive or fly in style. Ka-Chow!
Drive back over to planDisney anytime to ask more cruise planning questions. We are happy to be a “pitstop” (as Guido would say in the movie
Cars) as you chart a course to your WONDERful Disney Cruise Line vacation!
Sherry