Bonjour Charles-Olivier and welcome aboard planDisney!
From the sounds of it, you're like many fellow Canadians who choose to stay at accommodations that aren't necessarily
Disney Resort Hotels - and despite having lived and worked at sea for years I've always wondered whether it was possible to book
Ground Transportation through Disney Cruise Line when staying at a neighbouring property to get to and from
Port Canaveral. Luckily I was able to put this to the test this past year, and though offerings and policies may always be subject to change without prior notice, I'm happy to share what my experience was like with you:
- The Disney Cruise Line representative however did mention that it was possible to book ground transportation to and from a Disney Resort Hotel without necessarily being a guest staying there, as long as you are willing and responsible to ensure that you are present to check in before the motorcoach is set to depart. (The risk with this in my experience, is that without being a guest of that particular location, they will be unable to call or reach you in the event of any scheduling changes.) Though we were able to do so easily, I recommend confirming again directly in case there have been any recent changes to this!
One of the biggest perks of using Disney Cruise Line ground transportation from a Disney Resort Hotel to get to your ship is having your luggage magically whisked away early in the morning only to appear outside of your stateroom on board - which won't be quite possible without being a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guest. On the other hand, the journey itself did take quite a bit of additional time as we had to stop to pick up guests from other Disney Resort Hotels so that may be something to keep in mind; despite this we were still among the first guests to embark.
It's also important to note that if you've make your cruise booking through a travel agent, it's always best to have your transportation arranged through them if possible. I hope you find the method of getting to the Port that works best for you Charles-Olivier, and
don't hesitate to come back to planDisney again for any other tips or advice before you set sail!
Wishing you all the best on your upcoming ocean adventures!
Prince