Ahoy, Linda! Thanks for sailing over to planDisney with your question. I’m happy to help. It sounds like you may be getting ready for a Bahamian cruise!
While arrival times can vary a little by itinerary and ship, Disney Cruise Line ships typically arrive back in their home port around 6:00 AM. Disembarkation doesn’t begin right away, though. The ship must first be cleared by local authorities, and that usually happens between 7:00 and 8:00 AM.
If you’re hoping to be among the first off the ship, you can use Express Walk-Off, which allows you to bring your luggage with you and start disembarking as soon as clearance is given. Guests who place their luggage outside their stateroom the night before will begin disembarking shortly after Express Walk-Off guests. No sign up ahead of time is needed. You'll just follow the debarkation day instructions to participate. You'll find all the details about debarkation listed in your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app the day before, and you can also hear in on your stateroom TV.
If you’re thinking about return flights, Disney Cruise Line generally recommends flights no earlier than 11:25 AM when sailing into Port Canaveral and heading to Orlando International Airport (MCO). A noon or later flight is always the safest choice, giving you extra buffer for travel time, traffic, and customs. You can also use Express Walk-Off even if you’re using
Disney ground transfers. You’ll just bring your luggage with you directly onto the motorcoach, and buses to the airport run continuously in the morning.
I hope I interpreted your question correctly, Linda! If you’d like more specifics, feel free to send us the name of your ship or your sail date and we can give you more tailored advice.
Sea ya real soon,
Eean