Hey Howdy Hey, Karen, and welcome to planDisney! It sounds like a magical voyage is on the horizon for you, so I’m delighted to help you chart the course.
Fort Lauderdale happens to be my favorite embarkation port, and a big part of that is just how convenient it is. The Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is only a few miles, or about 10–15 minutes, from Port Everglades. When there’s not a lot of traffic, it makes getting to and from the port feel as breezy as a magic carpet ride.
That said, I just sailed on the
Disney Destiny out of Port Everglades last Sunday, and I’ll tell you the truth, the traffic on embarkation day was heavy getting into the port terminal. Sundays can be especially busy with multiple ships coming and going, so I recommend building in extra time, just to keep your embarkation day relaxed and stress-free.
As for check-in, here’s the scoop: once you complete
Online Check-In and select your Port Arrival Time, you’ll want to arrive during that assigned window. Disney Cruise Line tends to stagger arrivals to keep the boarding process smooth. There isn’t an official “latest arrival time” posted, but boarding typically wraps up roughly 60–90 minutes before the ship sails. In other words, don’t cut it too close; aim to be at the terminal well within your assigned window so you can breeze through security and start enjoying all the amenities of the ship as soon as possible (including that unlimited soft-serve ice cream!).
Karen, I hope this helps you feel even more prepared for your upcoming adventure! If any other questions pop up while you're planning, I hope you’ll sail back our way here at
planDisney.
SEA ya real soon,
Sami