Family eating ice cream on deck of Wish
  • On Mar 27, 2025
    Tiffany from TN Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Our first Disney Cruise is under 100 days and we are so excited to be boarding the Magic. Is there a Boarding Time advantage to staying at a Disney resort (with Disney transportation to the ship) vs staying at a hotel close to the port?

    Hiya, Tiffany!

    I don't blame you for feeling so excited! My family and I sailed on the Disney Magic last year. I can attest that it is an amazing feeling sailing aboard the first ship to join the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

    The process of transporting Guests to the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral has a lot of moving parts that can vary from cruise to cruise. So I hesitate to definitively state which hotel or resort might have an advantage over any others for securing an early boarding group. One major advantage of booking transportation to the port through the Disney Cruise Line is that you won't need to worry about selecting a Port Arrival Time during online check-in. Besides the luggage transfer to your stateroom onboard and various transportation logistics being managed for you, you will also enjoy a relatively early boarding group after your coach drops you off at the cruise terminal. So whether you book a stay at a participating Disney Resort Hotel or a stay at a featured pre-cruise hotel, the Disney Cruise Line portion of your vacation experience will feel that much more like the relaxing time you deserve.

    If you opt to arrange for transportation to the port on your own, you will have the opportunity to select a Port Arrival Time during the online check-in process. Guests with earlier Port Arrival Times are more likely to be placed into earlier boarding groups after they arrive at the cruise terminal. Note that Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members and Guests booked in a concierge stateroom may benefit from earlier online check-in.

    Tony's Tip: Guests sailing aboard the Disney Cruise Line for the first time may benefit from completing online check-in as soon as possible, at 12:00 AM Eastern time 30 days before their sail date. This may give the best chance for selecting an earlier Port Arrival Time. The online check-in process is made easier if you already have photos of your travel documents and selfie photos of each stateroom Guest stored on the computer or device being used for online check-in. Other helpful information to have on hand for the online check-in process includes a credit card for your onboard account and contact information for each Guest as well as for someone Disney Cruise Line may reach out to in case of an emergency.

    Thanks for cruising on into planDisney to ask your question, Tiffany. If you have any more questions as you prepare to set sail, we'd love to hear from you again.

    See ya real soon, Tiffany!
    ~Tony

thumbnail image for Tony

Meet the Panelist: Tony, Utah

Coming to you from the Beehive State, I’m a Disney-loving dad and husband, buzzing with excitement to share advice and tips for making your Disneyland Resort vacation as magical as possible! I’m excited to help you discover the storytelling magic of the “Happiest Place on Earth!” Learn More About Tony

Related Video

  • thumbnail image for Disney Cruise Line First Timer Tips | planDisney Podcast – Season 2 Episode 1

Didn't find what you were looking for? Click the Ask a Question button to open the Ask a Question dialogue box. If you are not logged in a dialogue box will appear to signin in order to ask a question.

To submit your question, please log in now if you have not already done so.

Ask a QuestionOpens the Ask a Question dialog box.
x

Update Browser

For a better experience browsing this website, please download an updated version of Internet Explorer.


Or you can continue browsing without updating.