Disney Wish Atrium
  • On Jan 18, 2023
    Rachel from NJ Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    What hotel(s) are recommended to stay in the night before departing for a cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL? We are flying into MCO, so not sure if we should get a hotel closer to the hotel or closer to the port. Thanks in advance !

    Hi Rachel,

    Thank you so much for sailing over to planDisney with your Disney Cruise Line planning questions! I am more than happy to help you consider your accommodations for the night before your cruise.

    It sounds like you plan to arrive the day before your cruise and then stay in the area. My family does this every time we cruise. It makes embarkation day so much less stressful if you are already in Florida and know that you will not have to contend with potential airline delays on the day of your sailing!

    My family has done both of the options you are considering, and for us, the choice honestly depends on when our flight is arriving. If our flight is arriving later in the day or in the evening, we stay close to Orlando International Airport. We did this for our last cruise, and in fact stayed at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, right there inside of the airport! While my family chose to book a private car to take us to the ship at Port Canaveral on embarkation day, we did notice that Disney Cruise Line had a shuttle available that morning for guests going from this hotel directly to the ship. You can check out the information on booking ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line for more on how to book this transportation.

    Another option, and an especially good one if you arrive earlier in the day, is to head to Port Canaveral upon your arrival and stay there for the night. You can experience Cocoa Beach and some of the dining and shopping there that evening. We have stayed at many other hotels in this area. We tend to look in the area for a hotel that has a price point that we like. My family also prefers to find a hotel that has an included breakfast as well as included shuttle service to the port, just to streamline our process on embarkation morning!

    If you follow the link for Port Canaveral from Disney Cruise Line, you can find information about the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, as well as the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront. 

    Again, Rachel, both options, staying at the airport or staying in Port Canaveral, have worked well for my family. For us it truly depends on the arrival time of our flight. If you are arriving early and have time to experience some of Cocoa Beach, I would head down toward Port Canaveral and stay there. If you are arriving later and will just want to collapse into bed to get a good night's sleep before embarkation day, staying at or near the airport works really well, too.

    I hope that these thoughts are helpful for you, Rachel! Please feel free to come on back if you have any further questions while planning your magical sailing!

    ~ Mona Leigh
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Meet the Panelist: Mona Leigh, Maryland

I am a wife and mother who works in children's technology design and research. When I'm not at work or with my family, I'm often planning a Walt Disney World trip for my family or friends. I'm a Disney Vacation Club Member, and am excited to help you plan your Disney vacation!  Learn More About Mona Leigh

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