Ahoy, David! Welcome to planDisney and thanks for bringing us your Disney Cruise Line question.
If you are sailing from
Port Canaveral and arranging your own independent air travel from Orlando International Airport, then Disney Cruise Line
recommends an earliest departure time of 11:15 AM Eastern Time on debarkation day. The travel time between Port Canaveral and Orlando International Airport is approximately one hour, depending on traffic, so you want to make sure that you have plenty of time to get from one location to the other and then still have additional time for check-in and security at the airport too.
If you would like to book a ground transfer from the port to the airport, then you can
call Disney Cruise Line directly and they will help you add an airport transfer to your reservation. The current cost is $45 per guest, but that price is always subject to change. Personally, I prefer to arrange airport transfers through Disney because it is one less thing that I have to worry about, but private transportation options are also available.
Whether you elect to book an airport transfer directly through Disney or arrange private transportation, I would suggest doing Express Walk-Off on debarkation day if your flight time is close to the earliest recommended time. Guests who choose Express Walk-Off carry all of their own luggage off the ship and are often among the first to disembark. If you do not elect to do Express Walk-Off, then you will receive luggage tags with a designated Disney character and will place your luggage outside your stateroom the night before. You then need to wait until your particular luggage tag character is announced to be able to disembark and collect your belongings, which can take some time. Remember that whichever option you choose, you will still have to present the Key to the World Card for every member of your sailing party prior to disembarking and do not want them to end up deep in your luggage somewhere.
Best of luck with your travel arrangements and I hope you have a magical time aboard Disney Cruise Line. We are always here and ready to help at planDisney, so do not hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions. Happy sailing!
Catherine