Ahoy there, Jeff!
Welcome aboard planDisney! With just a few days to go until your sailing, it definitely sounds like you’re in full final-checklist mode making sure everything is ready for embarkation day! That excitement in the final days before a Disney cruise always starts building fast, especially once the suitcases come out and the countdown gets real.
If my Disney detective skills are steering me in the right direction, it looks like you and your crew will be
sailing aboard the Disney Fantasy out of Port Canaveral. Once you arrive at the terminal during your Port Arrival Time, you’ll begin the embarkation process with a wonderful Cast Member who will verify your travel documents, complete your check-in process, and activate each Guest’s DisneyBand+. Once your DisneyBand+ is activated and linked to each Guest, it currently
cannot be transferred to another person. That’s actually a pretty nice security feature because it helps ensure the band stays tied to its rightful owner.
Since activation happens at the terminal, you’ll definitely want everyone in your crew wearing their
DisneyBand+ on embarkation day. It makes the whole process much smoother once everything is connected and ready to go.
Staterooms are usually not ready until around 1:30 PM, although that timing can always shift a little, and checked luggage may not arrive until later in the afternoon. Because of that, I always recommend keeping anything important with you in your carry-on bag. My family usually packs swimsuits, sunscreen, medications, travel documents, chargers, and anything else we may want access to right away after boarding. We’ve learned very quickly that nobody wants to stare at the pool deck wishing their swimsuit had arrived already.
And if this happens to be your first Disney cruise with
kids heading to Edge, bringing along lanyards is still a great idea. Even with DisneyBand+, there are times where the kids may still need their Key to the World card for club access, so having an easy way to carry it around can make life much easier for them while they bounce around the ship enjoying all the activities.
I hope this helps as you get ready for your Disney cruise adventure! You’re getting very close to hearing that magical welcome announcement and stepping aboard for the start of an unforgettable sailing.
Sea ya real soon with warm air, calm seas, and a ship that always feels like home,
Dustin