Ahoy there, Jane!
Welcome aboard planDisney! With just one week until you set sail, I can practically hear the ship’s horn playing “When You Wish Upon a Star” in the distance! You’re in the home stretch, and it’s smart to be
thinking ahead about those embarkation details so you can breeze through and get to the real magic—like that first bite of soft-serve with ocean views.
First things first: it’s important to remember
your Port Arrival Time of 12:15 PM is the time you’re scheduled to enter the terminal—not your actual boarding time. Think of it as your personal Lightning Lane to the fun. Since you’ll want to be ready and waiting like Simba at the top of Pride Rock, I recommend arriving at the port about 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled Port Arrival Time. This gives you time to navigate parking, luggage drop, and any terminal-specific steps. Just know that arriving too early may have you waiting in the “no boarding zone” outside until your window opens, unless you’re sprinkled with a little extra pixie dust from the Cast Members.
Now, based on where you’re coming from, it sounds like you’re likely sailing from Port Canaveral or Port Everglades. Each port has its own way of rolling out the red carpet, so let me break it down a bit:
At
Port Canaveral’s Terminal 8, you’ll first stop curbside to drop off your luggage before swinging over to the parking garage. This is a great spot for your husband to let you out with the bags—many Guests do just that, and you can walk right over to the terminal entrance like royalty arriving for a royal ball.
If you’re at
Port Everglades’ Terminal 4, things work a little differently. The luggage drop is on the first floor of the parking garage, and sometimes it’s a bit trickier to safely exit the car there. I recommend asking the friendly porters or Cast Members on-site—sometimes they’ll suggest continuing closer to the terminal before dropping off Guests, or they might prefer that both Guests remain in the car until you're safely parked. Port Canaveral’s Terminal 10 follows a process similar to this one.
The good news? No matter the port, there’s always someone to guide you step-by-step like your very own Fairy Godparent (minus the pumpkin carriage).
I hope this helps you feel ready to conquer embarkation day like Moana setting sail beyond the reef. You’ve planned, you’ve packed, and now all that’s left is to let the countdown hit zero and soak up every magical moment ahead.
Sea ya real soon as May brings sunshine, magical ports, and maybe a Mickey bar or two,
Dustin