Ahoy, Jacqueline! Time at the
Most Magical Place on Earth and aboard the most magical ships at sea is my favorite vacation combination. I'm thrilled you are considering enjoying the best of both worlds. Let's talk transportation so you can turn your "Disney Dreaming" into "Disney Planning!"
With a
Disney Cruise Line vacation departing from Port Canaveral, you can book a
land and sea package, adding a stay at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel and
transportation from your hotel to the port. Disney makes it so easy! The Front Desk at your resort will tell you when you can board your bus to the port and where to leave your luggage. Later that day, your bags will
automagically appear outside your stateroom door on the ship. It's the best!
You can also reserve a ride from the port to the airport or back to a Walt Disney World Resort hotel at the end of your cruise, depending on where you are headed.
My dad is a NASA retiree, and I grew up on the Space Coast, so I appreciate your interest in exploring the wonders of space and the achievements of these bold explorers and scientists. Adding a trip to the Kennedy Space Center gets a little tricky. The Disney Cruise Line buses do not stop here, so you would need to arrange private transportation.
We went with my parents and in-laws after a Disney Cruise. Even though we had been there before, we spent five hours or more touring the facility. And, if you want to go to the Saturn V building (which is a highlight of the Center), it is a bus tour that takes about 2 hours. While the exact times vary by cruise, Disney Cruises typically begin boarding around 11 a.m. and all guests will be on board by approximately 3:45 p.m. Whatever you plan, you do not want to miss being on board at the time specified in your cruise documentation, which means arriving at the port at least 45 minutes before departure to check in and go through security.
If you are interested in visiting the Kennedy Space Center before your cruise, you might consider renting a car as your best option. With a rental car, you have control over your schedule and can leave your luggage in the vehicle while at the Space Center. There are a few car rental companies near Port Canaveral that offer transportation to the port.
Jacqueline, if you have any follow-up questions, you can
ask me directly. And you are always welcome to come to
planDisney for information, advice, recommendations and tips to help plan a perfect Disney vacation!
SEAS the Adventure!
Jana