Hi there, Carol! Thanks so much for cruising on over to planDisney. I'm as pleased as can be to help with your departure day plans to make the start of your
Disney Cruise Line voyage smooth sailing!
While you don't
have to arrive the day before your cruise, I like to go that route myself. In case of any unpredictable weather or flight delays, this gives us a cushion so we don't risk missing our trip! If you fly into the Orlando International Airport (about an hour from
Port Canaveral), you can stay overnight at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport that's located in the airport. It is a great opportunity for people-watching, and we love hanging out at the rooftop pool which offers amazing views of airplanes taking off and landing.
Carol, for an easy-breezy departure day, you can
call to book ground transfers through Disney Cruise Line (I recommend doing this as soon as possible, as they do fill up) and you can board your transportation at the airport, while the DCL crew will take your luggage directly to the ship. Not having to juggle your bags definitely makes your port arrival and boarding process much less stressful!
You can complete Online Check-In for your cruise beginning 30 days before you sail. During this process, you can select a Port Arrival time--the sooner you check in, the more options you will have for a time you prefer. If you decide to fly in on the same day, I recommend choosing a later arrival time in case you experience any delays.
Hopefully, this information is just what you need for your planning purposes. Thanks again for visiting planDisney, Carol--don't hesitate to reach out anytime if we can help with any other cruise queries!
Life is the Bubbles!
Susan