Ahoy, Alison!
Welcome aboard planDisney! It sounds like you’re charting a course to start your vacation before you even step foot on the ship—and I love that! After all, a Disney Cruise Line vacation isn’t just about the time at sea, it’s about sprinkling pixie dust on the entire journey from start to finish.
At the moment, the
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is the only hotel offering
ground transfers for sailings after October 3rd. As you mentioned, these transfers do come with an additional fee—currently $21 per person (ages 3 and up) for a one-way trip to the port. Of course, Disney magic is always evolving, so there’s a small world chance another option could be added in the future, but no guarantees from Captain Mickey just yet.
If you choose another nearby hotel, I’d recommend calling ahead to see if they offer shuttles to Port Everglades or at least to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, since some do. Another easy option is to book a rideshare like Uber or Lyft—often quick, convenient, and sometimes even a little less than the transfer fee (which means more treasure left for souvenirs once you’re onboard).
I hope this helps you
set sail with a solid plan for getting from land to sea without a hitch. Whether you’re whisked to the port by a Disney motorcoach or hop into a rideshare, the most important part is that the adventure begins the moment you leave the hotel lobby. Here’s to smooth sailing from your pre-cruise stay all the way to the gangway!
Sea ya real soon as we ride the wave of summer’s final stretch in Disney style,
Dustin