Ahoy there, Ashley! Thanks so much for sailing on over to planDisney - we're so glad you're here. A voyage on
Disney Cruise Line is always a great idea, and I'm happy to help with your question to make debarkation day a breeze. Since you'll be setting sail next week (hooray!), let's dive right in and track down the information you need.
Debarkation day is an early morning - as you noted, Guests are asked to vacate their staterooms by 8:00 AM so the hardworking crew members can begin preparing the ship for its next sailing. If you choose the Express Walk-Off option, you will take your luggage with you to breakfast and can exit the ship more quickly following your meal.
Ashley, if you don't want to worry about your bags, you can place the luggage outside of your stateroom door on the final night of the cruise. The crew will collect the bags and transport them to the cruise terminal, where you will retrieve them after you disembark. This process may add a little time, as you need to wait for confirmation that you can get your bags before leaving the ship. Once you leave the ship, you'll pick up your luggage and clear customs. After that, you can board ground transportation to your next destination.
A note about breakfast - you can choose between the buffet, where there will be a limited selection, or a sit-down meal. You will be assigned to one of the onboard restaurants based on your dining rotation. I always go for the sit-down meal and get plenty of coffee to fuel me for the long day of travel to get back to Michigan!
And one additional tip to keep in mind while you're onboard - Guests can book a placeholder for a future sailing with Disney Cruise Line. The first time our family cruised, we absolutely loved it and we used the placeholder for a second vacation about 18 months later. You will receive a 10% discount on a cruise within 24 months of booking, as well as a reduced deposit for cruises of 7 nights or longer.
I hope this information is helpful for your planning purposes, Ashley! Please don't hesitate to stop by planDisney again if we can help with any other questions to make your trip smooth sailing. Wishing you a wonderful vacation!
SEA Ya Real Soon!
Susan